JP3535714B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image by ejecting ink onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of ink jet recording apparatus, there are a serial type and a line type. A serial type ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the recording material conveyance direction, and alternately conveys the recording material at a predetermined pitch and reciprocates the carriage alternately. Meanwhile, an image is recorded on the recording material. The line type inkjet recording apparatus uses a recording head having a length substantially equal to the width of the recording material, and records an image on the recording material as the recording material is conveyed. In recent years, for reasons such as high image quality of images,
The above-mentioned two types of ink jet recording apparatus are adopted.

[0003]

However, since the ink jet recording apparatus ejects ink for recording, minute ink particles called ink mist are generated when the ink is ejected, and these ink particles are ejected. However, there is a problem in that the particles are scattered inside the recording material or the recording device to stain them. Further, if the ink mist scattered in the recording apparatus accumulates on the mechanism section for recording operation in the recording apparatus, the means for controlling the same, etc., it may cause malfunction. In order to prevent this, a method may be adopted in which a suction fan is provided in the recording apparatus and the scattered ink mist is collected by this suction fan. However, even if a fan is provided, it is difficult to efficiently collect the ink mist, and since the ink mist may be diffused in the opposite direction, the above-mentioned problems have not yet been solved. is there.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by efficiently controlling the scattering direction of the ink mist generated by the ejection of ink, stains in the recording apparatus are eliminated, or ink in a portion that causes malfunction due to accumulation of stains. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus which is excellent in reliability and prevents mist from accumulating and stably records an image for a long period of time.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying a recording material, and a recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording on the recording material. A carriage for reciprocating in a direction intersecting the direction of conveyance of the recording material, and an air flow generating means for generating an air flow for controlling the flow of ink mist generated when ink is ejected from the recording head. in the ink jet recording apparatus having the recording
Reciprocation of the carriage when ejecting ink from the head
When one end of the moving range is set as the reference position, the carry
Is moving from the reference position to the other end.
When the ink is ejected from the recording head, ink is ejected from the recording head when the recording head ejects ink from the reference position to the other end of the carriage when ejecting the ink from the recording head. Direction and an air flow from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above, ink is ejected from the recording head to record on the recording material when the carriage is moved. Negative pressure is generated. Therefore, the ink mist generated by ejecting the ink from the recording head is sucked into the moving area of the carriage. Here, since the airflow generating means generates an airflow moving from the reference position of the carriage toward the other end at this time and from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction, the airflow generating means moves into the moving area of the carriage. The air flow is canceled by the air flow generated by the air flow generating means, and as a result, the ink mist is prevented from scattering in the moving area of the carriage.

Further, in order to improve the accuracy of the ink landing on the recording material, when one end of the reciprocating range of the carriage when ejecting the ink from the recording head is set as the reference position, the carriage moves from the reference position. Ru ink is ejected from the recording head when moving toward the other end.
In this case, as the air flow generating means, a blowing fan for blowing air into the area where the carriage is moved is used, and the blowing fan is installed on the reference position side so that the ink is ejected from the recording head. The flow of air in the moving direction of the carriage during ejection can be easily obtained. Further, in this case, a head recovery unit that performs recovery processing on the recording head in order to maintain the ejection characteristics of the recording head is provided on the reference position side, and air is also blown to this head recovery unit, so that the recording head Ink mist is prevented from adhering to the head recovery unit, which is important for maintaining the above.

Further, as the air flow generating means, in addition to the blowing fan, a suction fan for sucking air from the downstream side of the recording head in the conveying direction of the recording material is used, Since the ink mist generated by ejecting the ink is sucked by the suction fan, the scattering of the ink mist within the moving area of the carriage is more effectively prevented. Particularly, an air suction path having a plurality of air suction ports opened along the moving direction of the carriage is provided on the downstream side of the recording head with respect to the conveying direction of the recording material. By connecting to the air suction path at the downstream end, air is sucked from the suction path without obstructing the flow of air generated by the blowing fan. In this case, by making the opening area of the air intake port larger near the reference position than at the position far from the reference position, the air flow in the suction path is kept substantially constant. .

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is
From a recording head, a carriage for conveying a recording material, a carriage for reciprocating a recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording on the recording material in a direction intersecting a conveying direction of the recording material, In an ink jet recording apparatus having an airflow generating means for generating an airflow for controlling a flow of ink mist generated when ink is ejected, the airflow generating means is provided in an area where the carriage is moved. The air blower has a blow-out fan for blowing air, and the blow-out fan has the carriage as the reference.
It is arranged on the reference position side and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the moving direction of the carriage when the ink is ejected from the recording head by moving from the position toward the other end. It may be one.

In this way, the blower fan as the air flow generating means moves the carriage from the reference position to the other end.
Reference position side and by installing the <br/> upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the moving direction of the carriage at the time of ejecting the ink from the recording head is selfish move, ink generated by ejection of ink from the recording head It becomes possible to blow air directly to the mist. As a result, the ink mist can be efficiently discharged from the periphery of the recording head, and the ink mist is prevented from scattering around the recording head.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. The inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment mounts a recording head 1 on a carriage 2 that is reciprocally moved in a direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction. 1 is a serial-type ink jet recording apparatus that records ink on a recording material by ejecting ink from the recording head 1 while the recording head 1 is moving while alternately repeating feeding of a material at a predetermined pitch. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the conveyance direction of the recording material at an intermediate portion in the width direction of the recording material (moving direction of the recording head 1).

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the periphery of the recording section of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. less than,
A mechanism relating to a recording operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The carriage 2 is a plate-shaped chassis 2 which serves as a base of a recording operation mechanism section of the ink jet recording apparatus.
Carriage shafts 3 arranged parallel to each other at 0 and fixed
Also, it is slidably supported by the guide rail 4. A portion of a timing belt (not shown) that is wound around two pulleys (not shown) that are rotatably provided at intervals in the axial direction of the carriage shaft 3 is fixed to the carriage 2. The carriage 2 is rotated by a carriage drive motor (not shown) in the forward and reverse directions.
Are reciprocated along the carriage shaft 3.

The recording head 1 has a plurality of ejection openings (not shown) for ejecting ink, and is removably mounted on the carriage 2 with the ejection opening surface, which is the opening of these ejection openings, facing downward. The method of ejecting the ink from the ejection port is roughly divided into one in which heat energy is applied to the ink by a heater and a change in the state of the ink due to this heat energy (such as generation of bubbles) is used, and a method in which the piezoelectric element is used for the ink Some types of recording heads may be applied to the recording head of the present invention.

The recording head 1 and the carriage 2 are electrically connected to each other by mounting the recording head 1 on the carriage 2 (head contact portion).
Have. A recording signal is applied to the recording head 1 from the control unit on the ink jet recording apparatus main body side via the electrical connection unit, and thermal energy or mechanical energy is applied to the ink based on the recording signal.

A scale 32 is attached to the chassis 20 along the moving direction of the carriage 2 with the carriage 2, and a reading for reading the scale 32 is made on a portion of the carriage 2 facing the chassis. A sensor 31 is attached, and the scale 32 and the reading sensor 31 constitute a linear encoder that detects the position of the carriage 2 in the width direction of the recording material.

As the linear encoder, an optical type or a magnetic type can be used. For example, in the case of an optical type, a large number of slits are provided in the scale 32 at a predetermined pitch in the moving direction of the carriage 2. An optical sensor is provided as the read sensor 31. The position of the carriage 2 detected by this linear encoder is used for feedback control of the carriage drive motor and control of ink ejection timing from the recording head 1. That is, this linear encoder constitutes a means for moving the carriage 2 together with the carriage shaft 3 supporting the carriage 2.

Below the carriage 2, a transport mechanism for transporting the recording material is provided. In the present embodiment, it is possible to selectively convey the recording material from the auto sheet feeder 200 provided behind the carriage 2 or the cassette 300 provided below the carriage 2.

The auto sheet feeder 200 stacks and holds a large number of recording papers 150 as recording materials, and a paper feed roller 202 provided at the lower end side of the recording papers 150 is rotated to contact the recording papers 150. Upon contact, the recording paper 150 is separated sheet by sheet by the action of the separation claw 203 and is conveyed in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. Separated recording paper 150
Is guided to the supply path 101 by the recording paper direction regulation plate 204 and is driven by a paper feed drive motor (not shown), and the conveying roller 10 is driven by a biasing spring 105.
It is rotatably supported by a pinch roller holding plate 104 that is biased toward 2, and is nipped by a pinch roller 103 that is arranged to face the transport roller 102. Here, by driving the paper feed drive motor, the recording paper 150 is conveyed to a position below the recording head 1, that is, to a position facing the ejection port surface.

A platen 106 is arranged on the downstream side of the conveying direction of the recording paper 150 by the conveying roller 102 and the pinch roller 103 so as to face the ejection opening surface of the recording head 1, and the recording head is placed on the platen 106. Ink is ejected from No. 1 to perform recording on the recording paper 150. Platen 1
A paper pressing plate 107 formed of a plate member having rigidity is provided on 06, and the conveying roller 102 and the pinch roller 1 are provided.
The recording paper 150 sandwiched between 03 and 03 is conveyed while being pressed by the platen 106 against the paper pressing plate 107. This prevents the recording paper 150 from coming into contact with the ejection port surface of the recording head 1, and keeps the facing distance between the recording sheet 150 and the ejection port surface constant to increase the ink landing position on the recording sheet 150. It maintains accuracy.

The recording paper 15 conveyed on the platen 106
Reference numeral 0 denotes a paper discharge roller 108 arranged further downstream in the transport direction and a spur 10 pressed against the paper discharge roller 108.
9, and the sheets are discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 120 and stacked. Although the spurs 109 will be described in detail later, a plurality of spurs 109 are provided at intervals in the width direction of the recording paper 150.

The cassette 300 also holds a large number of recording papers 150, and the automatic seed feeder 2 separates the recording papers 150 stacked in the cassette 300 into individual sheets.
00, the pickup roller 202 and the separation claw 20
3 and is carried in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. The recording paper 150 conveyed in the direction of arrow B is
Feeding roller 204, which is a driving roller, and feeding roller 20
Feed roller roller 205 which is a driven roller pressed against 4
And the feed path 1 through the cassette carrying path 206.
It is led to 01. Subsequent conveyance paths and operations are similar to those of the automatic sheet feeder 200, so description thereof will be omitted.

The chassis 20 includes the above-mentioned carriage shaft 3, guide rails 4, automatic sheet feeder 200,
The carriage drive motor, the paper feed drive motor, etc. are positioned and held, and the transport roller 102 and the paper discharge roller 10 are also provided.
8 is rotatably held.

As shown in the plan sectional view of FIG. 3, the ejection function of the recording head 1 is maintained or recovered on the right end side outside the area where the recording paper 150 passes within the reciprocating range of the carriage 2. In addition to recording, a suction mechanism for forcibly sucking ink from the discharge port, a wiping mechanism for wiping the discharge port surface to clean the discharge port surface of the recording head 1, and a recording head 1 at the time of non-recording A head recovery system unit 10 having a capping mechanism for sealing the ejection port surface of the recording head in order to prevent the ink in the ejection port from drying is arranged.

The recording head 1 is moved to a position facing the head recovery system unit 10 at the time of non-recording and at regular time intervals, and at this position, a predetermined suction operation by a suction mechanism or a wiping operation by a wiping mechanism is performed. By performing the recovery process, good ejection characteristics are maintained.
The reference position (home position) of the recording operation by the recording head 1 is the recording area (the carriage 2 during the recording operation).
Is set to the end portion on the side where the head recovery system unit 10 is provided in the range in which the carriage 2 is reciprocally moved. Based on this reference position, movement of the carriage 2 for recording by the recording head 1 and movement of the recording head 1 are performed. The movement of the carriage 2 for the recovery process is controlled.

In the present embodiment, the ink ejection operation from the recording head 1 is performed only when the recording head 1 is moving from the reference position side to the non-reference position side (right side to left side in FIG. 3). Be seen. This is because the moving direction of the recording head 1 when ejecting ink is always constant,
Improves ink landing accuracy on recording paper 150,
This is because it is possible to record a highly accurate color image.

The recording by the recording head 1 is intended to reduce the diameter and the density of the ejection port of the recording head 1 in order to improve the definition of the image. As a result, the size of the ejected ink droplet also becomes smaller, and along with this, a large number of minute ink particles (ink mist) are generated when ejecting the ink, and are scattered in the inkjet recording apparatus.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to efficiently control the flow of the ink mist, as shown in FIG. 3, the blowing fan 40 and the suction fan 48 are provided.
Two fans are provided to form an air flow in a predetermined direction, which will be described later, inside the recording apparatus. Below, the flow of air by the blowing fan 40 and the suction fan 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that FIG.
5 is a sectional view taken along line HH of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line II of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

The blowing fan 40 is for blowing air from the outside to the inside of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the carriage 2 with respect to the conveying direction of the recording paper 150.
It is arranged on the upstream side of the head recovery system unit 10 on the reference position side in the moving direction of the carriage 2. The blower fan 40 roughly forms a flow of air from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper 150 in the area where the carriage 2 is moved inside the inkjet recording apparatus. As a result, the ink mist generated by ejecting the ink from the recording head 1 flows toward the discharge direction of the recording paper 150, so that the ink mist can be efficiently controlled without being diffused in the inkjet recording apparatus.

The schematic path of the air flow from the upstream side to the downstream side of the recording paper 150 in the transport direction will be described with reference to FIG.

The airflow generated by the blowing fan 40 first collides with the rear surface of the chassis 20 and then the chassis 2
It goes upward along 0 and hits the exterior cover 42 that covers the upper side of the chassis 20. Most of the airflow hitting the outer cover 42 goes over the chassis 20 and heads toward the front of the chassis, but a part of the airflow descends on the back side of the chassis 20 at the non-reference position side (the direction of the arrow indicated by the broken line). Flow). This downward flow is blown onto the paper feed roller 202.

On the other hand, the air flow toward the front of the chassis 20 descends along the shape of the exterior cover 42 and passes between the carriage 2 and the chassis 20 and is blown to the linear encoder, the carriage shaft 3 and the like. . further,
The air flow is generated by the transport roller 102 and the pinch roller 103.
The direction is changed to a direction along the conveyance direction of the recording paper 150 by hitting the paper pressing plate 107 that covers the recording paper 150, and passes between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 150, and particularly through a recording area that is an area facing the platen 106, Paper ejection roller 108 and spur 1
Towards the paper ejection side having 09.

As described above, the blowing fan 4
Since the airflow generated by 0 passes through the recording area, the output of the blowing fan 40 is set to an output at which the speed of the airflow in the recording area does not affect the flight of the ink ejected from the recording head 1. It

The flow of air by the blowing fan 40 will be described in more detail below. As shown in FIG.
The blower fan 40 is arranged so as to blow out air from the lower side to the upper side, and as shown by an arrow D in FIG. 4, forms a flow that sends the air introduced from the outside through the outside air introducing duct 41 to the upper side.

Since the chassis 20 exists between the blowing fan 40 and the carriage 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the air blown from the blowing fan 40 does not directly flow into the carriage 2 side, but this ink jet Entire recording device (chassis 20, carriage 2, transport mechanism, etc.)
To the ceiling portion of the inner wall of the exterior cover 42 that covers the. This ceiling portion forms a concave curved surface when viewed from the inside of the exterior cover 42, and the air hitting the ceiling portion is not exposed to the chassis 2
After passing over 0, it hits the air flow restricting plate 42a formed downward inside the exterior cover 42 and flows downward toward the carriage 2.

In this way, by making the shape of the ceiling portion of the exterior cover 42 a concave curved surface when viewed from the inside, the air hitting the ceiling portion can be effectively guided to the carriage 2 side. In addition, the air flow generated by the blowing fan 40 is
Since the outer cover 42 is used for guiding to the carriage 2 side, it is not necessary to newly form a flow path for this air flow, and the air flow behind the chassis 20 can be forwarded to the front of the chassis 20 with a simple configuration. Can lead to.

Further, the blowing fan 40 is arranged on the side of the reference position of the recording head 1, and the space covered by the outer cover 42 is opposite to the reference position (non-reference position) with respect to the moving direction of the recording head 1. Side) has a larger space than the reference position side, the air hitting the ceiling portion of the exterior cover 42 flows from the reference position side to the non-reference position side, and when flowing downward toward the carriage 2. In the downward direction, an air flow from the reference position side to the non-reference position side is formed together with the downward air flow.

The air flow from the reference position side to the non-reference position side is formed over the entire width direction of the recording paper 150, as indicated by the arrow D in FIG. As shown by an arrow C1 in FIG. 2, most of this air flow is directed to the downstream side of the chassis 20 in the transport direction of the recording paper 150, but a part thereof does not get over the chassis 20 and an arrow E in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the recording paper 150 is directed downward as it is on the upstream side of the chassis 20 in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 150.

The air flowing in the direction of arrow E is supplied to the chassis 20.
To the sheet feeding roller 202 of the auto sheet feeder 200 arranged on the rear side (upstream side of the recording sheet conveying direction). This prevents the scattered ink mist from adhering to the paper feed roller 202. As a result, the recording paper 150 is fed to the auto sheet feeder 2 by the paper feeding roller 202.
It is possible to prevent the surface of the recording paper 150 from being contaminated with the ink mist due to the transfer of the ink mist adhering to the paper feed roller 202 to the recording paper 150 when the sheets are separated one by one from 00.

On the other hand, the air flowing in the direction of arrow C1 in FIG. 2 is used to convey the carriage 2, the scale 32, the carriage shaft 3, and the recording paper 150, that is, the conveying rollers 102, the pinch rollers 103, and the paper pressing plate. It is sprayed on 107 etc.

By blowing air onto the conveying roller 102, the pinch roller 103, and the paper pressing plate 107, it is possible to prevent the ink mist from adhering to these members, and like the case of the paper feeding roller 202, the recording is performed. Paper 1
It is possible to prevent the recording paper 150 from being contaminated with ink mist while the paper 50 is being conveyed. By the way, a plurality of pinch rollers 103 are provided at intervals in the width direction of the recording paper 150, and irregularities are formed by the pinch rollers 103 in the air flow path in this region. When the air is blown to the portion where the pinch rollers 103 are arranged in this way, the air flow is disturbed, and the air flow from the reference position side to the non-reference position side and the upstream direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording paper 150 are generated. The flow of air from the side to the downstream side is obstructed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the paper pressing plate 107 has a shape that covers all the pinch rollers 103 and eliminates the irregularities due to the pinch rollers 103, so that an efficient air flow is formed.

Further, since the air is blown onto the carriage shaft 3, the adhesion of the ink mist to the carriage shaft 3 is prevented, and the increase of the sliding load of the carriage 2 due to the adhesion of the ink mist to the carriage shaft 3 is prevented. It Further, since air is blown to the scale 32, adhesion of ink mist to the scale 32 is prevented,
It is possible to prevent reading failure of the scale 32 by the reading sensor 31. In this way, the carriage shaft 3
By preventing the ink mist from adhering to the scale 32, stable operation of the carriage 2 and reliable position control are possible.

The air blown onto the carriage 2 is an electrical connection portion (head contact portion) between the recording head 1 and the carriage 2, the read sensor 31 and the recording head 1.
After being sprayed on the ejection port surface of the recording sheet 150, the recording sheet 150 passes between the spurs 109 and flows to the discharge side of the recording sheet 150 as indicated by an arrow C2 in FIG. As a result, these head contact parts,
Ink mist is prevented from adhering to the reading sensor 31 and the ejection port surface. By preventing the ink mist from adhering to the ejection port surface of the recording head 1, ink ejection failure due to wetting or dirt on the ejection port surface can be prevented, and the ink mist can be prevented from adhering to the head contact portion. As a result, the electrical connection failure between the recording head 1 and the carriage 2 is prevented, and the ink mist is prevented from adhering to the reading sensor 31, so that the position detection failure of the carriage 2 is prevented, and as a result, It is possible to prevent malfunction of the carriage 2.

Further, the air flowing in the direction of arrow C1 in FIG. 2 is also blown to the head recovery system unit 10 as shown in FIG. At a position facing the head recovery system unit 10, the recording head 1 performs preliminary ejection for ejecting thickened ink, minute dust, or the like in the recording head 1 prior to a recording operation or at regular intervals. Ink mist is also generated. By blowing air to the head recovery system unit 10, the ink mist generated at the time of preliminary ejection is released in the direction of arrow C2 shown in FIG. 2, and the cap mechanism and the wiping mechanism provided in the head recovery system unit 10 are released. It is possible to prevent the ink mist from adhering and prevent the ejection characteristics of the recording head 1 from deteriorating.

Further, as described above, since the ink is ejected from the recording head 1 only when the carriage 2 is moving from the reference position side to the non-reference position side, FIG.
The flow of air from the reference position side to the non-reference position side, which is indicated by the arrow D, can efficiently control the ink mist generated when ink is ejected from the recording head 1.

That is, when the carriage 2 moves from the reference position side to the non-reference position side, a negative pressure is generated behind the carriage 2 in the moving direction. This negative pressure causes the arrow C in FIG.
An air flow in the opposite direction to the two directions, that is, an air flow from the outside of the inkjet recording device toward the reciprocating movement area of the carriage 2 is generated, but in the reciprocating movement area of the carriage 2, along the movement direction of the carriage 2. Since the air flow exists, the air flow cancels the air flow in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow C2, thereby preventing the ink mist from scattering inside the ink jet recording apparatus.

Furthermore, since the air flow by the blowing fan 40 is introduced and formed from the outside of the ink jet recording apparatus, fresh air is introduced into the inside of the ink jet recording apparatus. As a result, the ink mist generated in the ink jet recording apparatus does not circulate in the ink jet recording apparatus, and it is possible to more effectively prevent the ink mist from adhering to the above-mentioned portions.

As described above, the blowing fan 40
Finally, the flow of air generated by (3) passes between the paper discharge roller 108 and the spur 109 and goes in the direction of arrow C2 in FIG.

The air flow directed in the direction of arrow C2 is sucked by the air flow generated from the suction fan 48. The outline of this air flow will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

Ink having a space for accommodating a paper discharge unit 110 and an ink mist on the downstream side of the recording area in which the recording head 1 and the platen 106 oppose each other in the recording paper conveyance direction. The mist collecting path forming member 111 is arranged. The ink mist recovery path forming member 111 includes a spur 10 that constitutes the paper discharge unit 110.
9 (see FIG. 2 etc.) is provided so as to be removable. Also,
The ink mist recovery path forming member 111 is provided with a joint portion 111a that is detachably connected to a duct provided with a suction fan 48 (see FIG. 3 and the like) as described later. As a result, the air in the recording area is discharged from the paper discharge unit 110 and the ink mist collecting path forming member 11
Will be sucked in through 1. In addition, the ink mist recovery path forming member 111 and the paper discharge unit 110.
Can be exchanged as a unit or individually.

The air flow and air suction path by the suction fan 48 described above will be described in detail below.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spur 109 located at the most downstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper 150 in the transport mechanism of the recording paper 150 is a box-shaped spur having a width substantially equal to the width of the recording paper 150. A plurality of bases 45 are provided at intervals in the width direction of the recording paper 150. Each spur 109 is arranged on the upstream end side of the spur base 45 in the transport direction of the recording paper 150, and each spur 109 is provided on the lower wall of the spur base 45.
Suction port 4 in the vicinity of each spur 109
5a is formed.

The spur base 45 is one of the regular replacement units that are regularly replaced for maintenance of the ink jet recording apparatus. Therefore, spur base 4
A joint portion 45b is integrally provided at an end portion (non-reference position side end portion) on the side opposite to the head recovery system unit 10 in the width direction of 5, and the joint portion 45b is a rubber joint having a sealing function. Relay duct 47 through 46
And is detachably connected. Although the tip of the relay duct 47 is fixed to the chassis 20, the relay duct 4 of the chassis 20
An opening corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the relay duct 47 is provided at a position where 7 is fixed, and a suction fan 48 for discharging the air in the spur base 45 through the relay duct 47 is attached to this opening. ing. That is, the suction fan 48 is arranged on the back side of the chassis 20.

By thus providing the suction fan 48 and the blowing fan 40 on the rear side (rear side) of the chassis 20, the driving sound of the suction fan 48 and the blowing fan 40 is blocked by the chassis 20, so that the ink jet recording device The noise to the front can be reduced. In addition, since there are few complicated mechanical parts on the back side of the chassis 20 and a large space can be secured, the inkjet recording device is not enlarged more than necessary.
A blowing fan 40 and a suction fan 48 can be installed.

Further, a suction fan duct 49 is attached to the discharge side of the suction fan 48,
As shown in FIG. 5, the air discharged from the suction fan 48 is guided downward.

As a result, the air flowing between the spurs 109 in the direction of the arrow C2 is sucked into the spur base 45 through the suction ports 45a as shown by the arrow F in FIGS. It is discharged from the back side of the ink jet recording apparatus through 47.

The air flowing in the direction of arrow C2 shown in FIG. 2 contains ink mist.
Suction of the air flowing in the direction, that is, the conveying direction of the recording paper 150 prevents the recording mist from adhering to the recording paper 150 discharged onto the discharge tray 120 after the recording is completed. Further, by providing the suction port 45a between the spurs 109, the recording head 1 that generates ink mist
Since the ink mist can be sucked at a position closer to, the ink mist can be sucked efficiently.
Further, the suction fan 48 is arranged on the non-reference position side,
By providing the connection portion with the relay duct 47 on the non-reference position side, an air flow from the reference position side to the non-reference position side is formed in the spur base 45, so that the reference position in the moving region of the carriage 2 is formed. The air flow from the side to the non-reference position side is not blocked.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the suction ports 45a has a larger opening area when it is arranged on the upstream side than that arranged on the downstream side in the direction of air flow in the spur base 45. Is set to. Thereby, a sufficient air suction force is generated on the upstream side with respect to the flow of air in the spur base 45, and the flow path resistance in the spur base 45 can be made substantially uniform in the width direction of the spur base 45. Therefore, the air flow in the spur base 45 is kept substantially uniform. As a result, the ink mist is efficiently sucked over the entire width of the recording paper 150.

Moreover, by increasing the opening area of the suction port 45a on the upstream side of the air flow in the spur base 45, that is, on the head recovery system unit 10 side, the ink mist generated during the recovery processing of the recording head 1 is performed. The ink mist can be efficiently sucked, and the ink mist can be prevented from being scattered to important parts such as the capping mechanism and the wiping mechanism of the head recovery system unit 10.

The spur base 45 has a joint portion 45.
Since the ink jet recording apparatus is detachably provided by b, the ink jet recording apparatus is used for a long period of time, ink mist is accumulated inside the spur base 45, and the suction performance of the ink mist from the suction port 45a deteriorates. Alternatively, when ink mist is accumulated on the spur 109 and dirt is transferred to the recording paper 150, the spur base 45 can be removed and the spur base 45 can be easily cleaned or replaced. Moreover, since the spur base 45 can be attached / detached to / from the inkjet recording device only by inserting or pulling out the joint portion 45b into or from the rubber joint 46, the spur base 45 can be attached / detached easily and reliably. As described above, by providing the suction path for the air in which the ink mist is mixed in the spur base 45, which is one of the regular replacement units, the ink adhering to the suction path can be performed simultaneously with the periodic maintenance of the inkjet recording apparatus. The mist is removed. This makes it possible to efficiently suck the ink mist scattered in the inkjet recording device without lowering the suction efficiency of the ink mist in the suction path.

Since the particle size of the ink mist is extremely small, most of the ink mist sucked from the suction port 45a of the spur base 45 adheres to the inner wall surface of the spur base 45 and the relay duct 47, and the ink mist is Although it rarely goes out of the ink jet recording apparatus, if the ink jet recording apparatus is used for a long period of time, the ink mist that has gotten out of the ink jet recording apparatus will accumulate, though very little by little. The outside of the can become dirty. Therefore, the relay duct 4
By attaching a filter that captures the ink mist to at least one of the suction fan duct 49 and the suction fan duct 49, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink mist from flowing out of the inkjet recording apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the case in which the member for accommodating the ink mist and the paper discharge unit can be exchanged has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the ink mist recovery path forming member 111 'is spur 109. It may be provided separately from the'and the paper discharge roller 108 ', and only the ink mist recovery path forming member 111' may be replaceable.

In the above description, the ink ejection from the recording head 1 is performed when the carriage 2 moves from the reference position side to the non-reference position side (unidirectional recording). Even when recording is performed when moving from the recording medium side to the reference position side (bidirectional recording), the same effect can be obtained because the airflow is formed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction. is there.

[0064]

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the reference position of the carriage at the time of ejecting ink from the recording head in the area where the carriage moves .
From the other end to the other end , and by having an air flow generation unit that generates an air flow from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction, the negative pressure generated behind the carriage in the moving direction is generated by this air flow. Since the ink mist is canceled, it is possible to prevent the ink mist from scattering in the moving area of the carriage. As a result, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus with excellent reliability capable of recording high-quality images for a long period of time.

Further, the blowing fan as the air flow generating means is provided with the carriage from the reference position toward the other end.
According to the mobile to the second invention, which is installed upstream of the reference position side and the transport direction with respect to the moving direction of the carriage at the time of ejecting the ink from the recording head, the ink generated by the ejection of ink from the recording head Since the air can be blown directly to the mist, it is possible to efficiently eject the ink mist from the periphery of the recording head and prevent the ink mist from scattering around the recording head. As a result, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus with excellent reliability capable of recording high-quality images for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around a recording unit of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a plan sectional view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is an H-H of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.
It is a line sectional view.

5 is an I-I of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.
It is a line sectional view.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic path of an air flow from the upstream side to the downstream side in the recording paper conveyance direction in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the like.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an airflow sucked from a recording area in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the like.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an air flow sucked from a recording area when a member that stores ink mist is configured separately from a paper discharge unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 recording head 2 carriage 3 Carriage axis 4 guide rails 10 Head recovery system unit 20 chassis 31 reading sensor 32 scale 40 blowing fan 41 Outside air introduction duct 42 Exterior cover 45 spur base 45a Suction port 45b Joint part 46 rubber joint 47 Relay duct 48 suction fan 49 Suction fan duct 101 supply path 102 transport roller 103 pinch roller 106 Platen 107 Paper holding plate 108 paper ejection roller 109 spur 110 paper discharge unit 111 Ink mist recovery path forming member 120 output tray 200 Auto Sheet Feeder 300 cassettes

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-7-17037 (JP, A) JP-A-8-238784 (JP, A) JP-A-2-252564 (JP, A) JP-A-6- 210847 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 2/18 B41J 2/185 B41J 29/377

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transporting means for transporting a recording material, and a carriage for reciprocating a recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording on the recording material in a direction intersecting a transportation direction of the recording material. an ink jet recording apparatus having an air flow generating means for generating an air flow for controlling the flow of ink mist generated when ink is ejected from the recording head, wherein at the time of ejecting the ink from said recording head Carriage
When one end of the reciprocating range of the
The carriage moves from the reference position to the other end.
Ink is ejected from the recording head during movement.
The air flow generating means is a moving direction from the reference position of the carriage toward the other end when ejecting ink from the recording head into a region where the carriage moves,
And an ink jet recording apparatus which is installed so as to generate an air flow from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. Wherein said air flow generating means has a blow-out fan for blowing air into the region where the carriage is moved, the balloon fan according to claim 1 which is installed on the reference position side Inkjet recording device. 3. A head recovery unit is provided on the side of the reference position for performing a recovery process on the recording head in order to maintain the ejection characteristics of the recording head, and the blowing fan supplies air to the head recovery unit as well. Claim to blow out
2. The inkjet recording device according to 2. 4. The air flow generating means further includes, in addition to the blowing fan, a suction fan for sucking air from a downstream side of the recording head with respect to a conveyance direction of the recording material. 2. The inkjet recording device according to 2 or 3 . 5. An air suction path having a plurality of air suction ports opened along the moving direction of the carriage is provided on the downstream side of the recording head with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording material. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the fan is connected to the air suction path at an end portion on the side opposite to the reference position with respect to the moving direction of the carriage. The opening area of wherein said air inlet is in claim 5 larger than the opening area of the air inlet opening area of the air inlet is located far to the reference position that is closer to the reference position The inkjet recording device described. 7. A transporting means for transporting a recording material, and a carriage for reciprocating a recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording on the recording material in a direction intersecting a transportation direction of the recording material. an ink jet recording apparatus having an air flow generating means for generating an air flow for controlling the flow of ink mist generated when ink is ejected from the recording head, wherein at the time of ejecting the ink from said recording head Carriage
When one end of the reciprocating range of the
The carriage moves from the reference position to the other end.
Ink is ejected from the recording head during movement.
The air flow generating means has a blowing fan for blowing air into an area in which the carriage is moved, and the blowing fan is configured such that the carriage moves from the reference position.
Wherein the moving direction of the carriage at the time of ejecting the ink from the recording head to move toward the other end
An ink jet recording apparatus, which is installed at a reference position side and an upstream side in the transport direction .