JP4964474B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a recording head for image recording by ejecting ink, more particularly Positioning of the maintenance mechanism for maintenance of the recording head.

In general, an image recording apparatus using an ink jet head performs image recording by ejecting ink from the nozzles of the ink head. Therefore, maintenance for preventing the nozzles from being clogged with ink regularly or according to the number of times of recording is performed. is necessary.
For this maintenance, suction maintenance that removes and prevents nozzle clogging by sucking ink remaining from the nozzles, wiping maintenance for removing ink stains from the nozzle surface and suction drops, and dedicated maintenance There is spitting maintenance for forcibly ejecting ink to the ink receiver. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a maintenance device as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b).

  In this maintenance apparatus, a recording head unit 71 including four recording heads 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d arranged along the sheet conveyance direction (X direction) is provided. The recording heads 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d are provided with a nozzle row in which a large number of nozzles for ejecting ink are linearly arranged in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the paper transport direction. These nozzle rows have a length equal to or greater than the width of the recording paper.

  Each recording head 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d is provided with a recovery processing device (maintenance device 74) including a cap (including a wiping blade) 72 and an oil pan 73 for maintenance. As shown in FIG. 13A, the cap 72 and the oil pan 73 are retracted in a storage space provided between the recording heads 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d during image formation. During maintenance, the recording heads 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d are taken out by the moving mechanism (not shown) so as to slide down, and the nozzle rows of the recording heads and the maintenance caps 72 face each other.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13B, the platen mechanism 75 is lifted together with the frame of the maintenance device 74 by rotating a pair of arms 76 of the platen mechanism 75, and the recording heads 71a, 71b, The cap 72 is brought into contact with each of 71c and 71d, and maintenance is performed. After the maintenance is completed, the platen mechanism 75 is lowered to separate each cap 72 from the recording head 71 portion, the maintenance device 74 is lowered, and the moving mechanism stores the recording heads 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d. Store in space.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-11939

  In Patent Document 1 described above, the lifting and lowering of the maintenance device is simply placed on the conveyor belt of the platen mechanism 75 and raised. Therefore, the accuracy of the height position of the maintenance device depends on the accuracy of the height position of the conveyor belt.

  When the image recording apparatus is installed in a place that does not have the flatness and levelness specified based on the design specifications and operates for a long period of time, that is, when the apparatus frame is operated for a long time with a biased load on the apparatus frame, There is a risk of distortion in the apparatus frame. Or, in order to rotate the arm 76, if there is a configuration using a drive transmission means for transmitting a driving force by a motor or the like as a driving source, for example, a transmission mechanism by a gear or a wire rope, an adjustment residual or a member aging There is a risk that the frame body supporting the arm 76 may be distorted due to a general deformation or the like.

  As described above, the platen mechanism 75 is lifted and lowered by the rotation of the two arms 76. The distortion of the frame body affects the height of the support point at the rotation center position 77.

  If the height of the support point changes, the ascending position of the platen mechanism that is supported when ascending changes, and when a plurality of arms are used, the level is lost and tilt or the like occurs. As a result, the cap 72 of the maintenance device cannot properly contact the recording head unit 71. For example, if there is a difference in height between the upstream side and the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction, a portion where the cap mounted on the maintenance device is not properly addressed to the nozzle row occurs. In this state, when ink is ejected, the ink spills from the cap 72, or when wiping is performed, the wiping blade does not wipe the nozzle surface properly, and there is a problem that stains due to ink droplets on the nozzle surface remain. To do. Further, when the support point of the rotation center position 77 is largely displaced, the recording head unit 71 that is not maintained is generated.

The present invention aims to provide an image recording apparatus capable allot the proper maintenance mechanism to the recording head.

In order to achieve the above object, the image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium, and at least one recording head so as to be larger than the recording area of the transported recording medium. A line head, a head holding member that holds and fixes the line head, and has a positioning hole in which a plurality of bottom surfaces form conical surfaces, a maintenance unit that performs maintenance of the line head, a plurality of maintenance units that hold the maintenance unit, A maintenance unit holding member having a guide hole, a moving mechanism for moving the maintenance unit holding member toward the head holding member in a state where the line head and the maintenance unit face each other, and the head holding member When the maintenance unit holding member is placed close to the maintenance unit, the maintenance unit On unit holding member, and each of the positioning holes, the positioning part tip have a predetermined length centered standing on each of positions consistent abuts under vertical to each other forms a hemispherical, the When the front end of the positioning portion slides along the conical surface of the positioning hole and stops at the bottom surface, the guide hole having a center that coincides with the center of the positioning portion in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the recording medium. fitting and, as the surface each other and said head holding member opposed to the maintenance unit holding member is interval that by the predetermined length, further comprising a correction unit that corrects the posture of the maintenance unit holding member Features.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus capable allot the proper maintenance mechanism to the recording head.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the relationship between an image recording apparatus and a positioning mechanism of a maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of the image recording apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the external configuration of the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which each component is separated in the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of the image recording unit as viewed from the ejection surface side. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the recording head. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in detail a partial configuration of the maintenance mechanism. FIG. 8 is an external view of an elastic holding member in the correction mechanism.

  In the drawings described in the following embodiments, the recording medium transport direction is the X-axis direction (sub-scanning direction), the direction horizontally orthogonal to the transport direction is the recording medium width direction or Y-axis direction (main scanning direction), and recording A direction perpendicular to the recording surface or the conveyance belt surface of the medium will be described as the Z-axis direction or the vertical direction.

  The image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment stores a recording medium supply mechanism 2 that stores and supplies a plurality of recording media, a control unit 3, a recording medium storage mechanism 4 that stores an image-recorded recording medium, and And a positioning mechanism 11 of the maintenance mechanism of the present invention.

  The control unit 3 of the image recording apparatus 1 controls the recording medium supply mechanism 2 and the recording medium accommodation mechanism 4, and also controls the positioning mechanism 11 of the maintenance mechanism of the present invention.

  The positioning mechanism 11 of the maintenance mechanism of the present invention includes an image recording unit 12 including a recording head support member 14 that supports and fixes the recording head 13, a guide mechanism 15, a maintenance mechanism 16, a correction mechanism 17, and a transport mechanism 18. And a vertical movement mechanism 19.

  Next, the layout of the image recording apparatus excluding the control unit will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image recording apparatus 1 includes a recording medium supply mechanism 2 on the uppermost stream side on the conveyance path, an image recording unit 12, a guide mechanism 15, a maintenance mechanism 16, a correction mechanism 17, a conveyance mechanism 18, and upper and lower sides on the downstream side. The recording medium accommodation mechanism 4 is disposed on the downstream side of the moving mechanism 19.

  A plurality of recording media 41 are stored in the medium tray 42 in the recording medium supply mechanism 2, and the recording media 41 are supplied one by one by a pickup roller 43 provided on the top of the medium tray 42. The recording medium 41 supplied by the pickup roller 43 is temporarily brought into contact with the registration roller pair 44 so as to eliminate the inclination (an oblique shift with respect to the transport direction), and is corrected along the transport direction. 45, the recording medium 41 is transported to the transport mechanism 18 side.

  The transported recording medium 41 is transported on the transport mechanism 18 raised to the image recording position by the up-and-down moving mechanism 19, image recording is performed by the image recording unit 12, and transported to the recording medium accommodation mechanism 4 side.

  The image recording unit 12 forms a line head (recording head group) 21 across the width of the recording medium 41 in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium 41, and from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction. Line heads 21K, 21C, 21M, and 21Y that discharge ink liquids of four colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are supported by the recording head support member 14 at predetermined intervals.

  In addition, the maintenance mechanism 16 is retracted and stored in a position that does not affect the image recording, the guide mechanism 15 is provided between the image recording unit 12 and the maintenance mechanism 16, and the correction mechanism 17 is the maintenance mechanism 16 and the maintenance mechanism 16. It is provided between the mechanism 16.

  The recording medium accommodation mechanism 4 includes a discharge unit conveyance roller 54 for conveying the image-recorded recording medium 41 to the storage tray 53 and a discharge unit discharge roller on the upstream side of the storage tray 53 in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 41. 55 is provided.

  Next, details of each component in the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vertical movement mechanism 19 includes four arms 19 </ b> A that can rotate with the lower end as a fulcrum, and two arms 19 </ b> A in the Y-axis direction are connected by a connecting member. The rotating arm portion is provided. These rotating arm portions are rotated by a drive mechanism and a motor (not shown) to move the transport mechanism 18 supported by the arm tip 19B of the arm 19A up and down in the Z-axis direction. As the transport mechanism 18 moves up and down, a maintenance mechanism 16 described later is lifted and lowered.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transport mechanism 18 is configured integrally by attaching a belt platen portion 40 and an endless belt 51 to a platen exterior frame 52. The belt platen unit 40 is provided with a fan (not shown) having a suction function for the recording medium 41 being conveyed. Further, the endless belt 51 is a belt-like belt provided with innumerable holes, and is rotatable by being wound around a plurality of belt rollers. Further, the platen exterior frame 52 has a triangular shape so that an elastic holding member 17A of the correction mechanism 17 described later can be horizontal (parallel to the recording surface of the recording medium or parallel to the image recording surface of the recording head) on the platen exterior frame 52. Are provided at three positions.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the image recording unit 12 includes a recording head 13 and a recording head support member 14 that supports the recording head. As shown in FIG. 6, the recording head 13 is provided with a nozzle 13 </ b> A as a portion for ejecting ink for image recording, and a nozzle row 13 </ b> B and a nozzle row 13 </ b> B in a state where a plurality of nozzles 13 </ b> A are arranged in a row. The surface is referred to as a nozzle surface 13C, and the nozzle surface and its peripheral portion (head frame surface) are referred to as a nozzle formation region (or ink ejection surface) 13D. The recording head 13 may constitute one recording head with a nozzle array having a length equal to or larger than the width of the recording medium to be used, or a length equal to or smaller than the width of the recording medium as shown in FIG. A plurality of short recording heads provided with the same nozzle array may be provided on the recording head support member 14, and the line head (or recording head group) 21 may be formed so as to be equal to or larger than the width of the recording medium.
Further, the recording head 13 may be a head unit configured integrally by overlapping two recording heads of one nozzle row so as to be parallel. Also, the number of recording heads may be integrated with each other so as to form a plurality of nozzle rows, not limited to two. One recording head may have a plurality of nozzle rows on the nozzle surface.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the width of the recording medium is obtained by arranging the head units integrally formed by superimposing two recording heads 13 that are short with respect to the image recording width in a zigzag manner along the Y-axis direction. The above line head 21 is secured. In this configuration, at least the number of ink colors is divided into four groups of line heads 21 (21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y), and recording is performed with spaces S at equal intervals in the recording medium conveyance direction. It is disposed on the head support member 14. Of course, it is not limited to this, The number and arrangement | positioning form can be suitably changed according to a design. For example, in this embodiment, since four colors of ink are used, four blocks are divided. However, if five colors are used, five blocks may be divided, or the same color may be divided into a plurality of blocks.

  Further, the recording head support member 14 has a fitting hole 15B into which a projection member 15A of the guide mechanism 15 described later is fitted, and a positioning in which the bottom portion forms a conical surface at a predetermined depth in the vicinity of the fitting hole 15B. A hole 15C is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording head support member 14 is suspended and fixed to an apparatus frame (not shown) so that the recording head 13 appropriately ejects ink downward (Z-axis direction).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the maintenance mechanism 16 includes a maintenance unit support member 16A, a maintenance mechanism frame 16B, and a maintenance unit 16C.

  The maintenance unit support member 16A places and supports the maintenance unit 16C. The maintenance unit support member 16A is provided with projection members 15A of a guide mechanism 15 described later at three locations that form a triangle.

  The maintenance mechanism frame 16B includes a side frame 16B1, an elevating frame 16B2, and a connecting member 16B5. The side frame 16B1 includes a holding member 16B6 that holds the maintenance unit support member 16A so as to be movable in the X-axis direction (sub-scanning direction), and a slit 16B3 that is parallel to the recording head support member 14 (recording head 13). It is formed on the side frame 16B1. The slit 16B3 restricts the movement of the maintenance unit support member 16A in the X-axis direction. Further, the side frame 16B1 is supported by four lifting frames 16B2 fixed to an apparatus main body frame (not shown) so as to be movable up and down. In these lift frames 16B2, slits 16B4 are formed in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The side frames 16B1 and the slits 16B4 of the elevating frame 16B2 are overlapped and fitted by a connecting member 16B5 made of screws or the like.

  The side frame 16B1 is provided with a receiving member 17B of the correction mechanism 17 described later at a position corresponding to the elastic holding member 17A.

  The maintenance unit 16C is configured by arranging an oil pan 16C1 and a maintenance suction unit 16C2 so as to coincide with each position of the recording head 13 when facing the recording head 13 fixed to the recording head support member 14. ing. Here, a maintenance unit 16C (16C-K, 16C-C, 16C-M, 16C-Y) divided into four blocks is provided. At the time of image recording and the like, these maintenance units 16 </ b> C are retracted into a space S provided between the line heads 21.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a part of the maintenance mechanism in detail. On the oil pan 16C1 (16C1-K, 16C1-C, 16C1-M, 16C1-Y) provided for each maintenance unit, a maintenance suction unit 16C2 (16C2) arranged to correspond to the recording head 13 respectively. -1 to 16C2-24) are movably provided in the Y-axis direction (main scanning direction). In this embodiment, since the two recording heads 13 are overlapped and integrally configured, there are 24 maintenance suction portions, but they may be provided for each recording head.

  The oil pan 16C1 is provided to collect the discharged ink so that it does not scatter to other components when maintenance is performed.

  FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of one of the maintenance suction portions 16C2 (16C2-1 to 16C2-24). The maintenance suction part 16C2 includes an ink suction part 31 and a cap part 32.

  The ink suction part 31 and the cap part 32 may be integrally configured as shown in the figure, or may be separately arranged.

  The ink suction part 31 is provided with a plurality of suction ports 31A on the upper surface, and is connected to a negative pressure generation part including a suction pump (not shown). When the ink suction unit 31 slides close to and faces the nozzle surface 13C, the ink suction unit 31 sucks ink adhering to the nozzle surface 13C from the suction port 31A. Furthermore, a wiper 31B for wiping the nozzle surface 13C during sliding movement is attached to the ink suction portion 31. The wiper 31B is formed of an elastic member such as rubber, resin, or the like. In this embodiment, the rubber is formed in a plate shape, and the attached ink is wiped off by sliding the rubber tip in a bent state toward the nozzle surface 13C.

  The cap portion 32 is addressed so as to cover the ink ejection surface of the recording head 13 when the image recording by the recording head 13 is not performed and is in a standby state, or shuts off the outside air. The cap portion 32 can prevent the nozzle 13 </ b> A from drying and prevent contamination of other components such as an endless belt due to inadvertent ink dripping. Therefore, it is preferable to cover the ink discharge surface with the cap portion 32 except when the recording head 13 is driven.

  The ink sucked by the ink suction unit 31 and the ink collected by the oil pan 16C1 are collected in a waste liquid tank (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide mechanism 15 includes a projection member 15A provided on the maintenance unit support member 16A, and a fitting hole 15B and a positioning hole 15C provided on the recording head support member 14. Yes.

The projecting member 15A serves to position the maintenance unit 16C and the recording head 13 (nozzle surface) at appropriate positions when performing maintenance processing. The projecting member 15A includes, for example, a projecting portion 15A1 having a cylindrical shape and a positioning tip portion 15A2 having an upper surface of the projecting portion 15A1 having a hemispherical shape. The positioning tip 15A2 is formed of a hard material, and is subjected to a mirror finish. Or surface treatment (coating treatment etc.) which reduces frictional resistance is given.
Further, the protrusion 15A1 and the positioning tip 15A2 may be integrally formed of the same material, or may be bonded after being individually formed of different materials.

  The fitting hole 15B is for inserting the protruding member 15A when the maintenance unit 16C is stored, and is opened larger than the diameter of the protruding member 15A. For this reason, even if there exists some position shift, it can insert.

  The positioning hole 15C has a conical surface at the bottom, and comes into contact with the protruding member 15A during maintenance. The conical surface is similarly subjected to a surface treatment such as a mirror surface treatment to reduce frictional resistance.

  Since the positioning hole 15C and the protruding member 15A are in contact, that is, the state where the positioning tip 15A2 enters the conical surface determines the distance between the maintenance unit 16C and the recording head 13 (nozzle surface). It is desirable to use a material with little change over time such as wear.

  3 and 4, the correction mechanism 17 includes an elastic holding member 17A provided on the platen exterior frame 52 and a receiving member 17B provided on the side frame 16B1.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the elastic holding member 17A includes a cylindrical pin 17A2 and a coil spring 17A1 fitted on the outer periphery of the pin 17A2. The upper end of the pin 17A2 is chamfered and has a tapered surface.

  Further, an outer peripheral surface 52A that is one step lower than the outer periphery thereof is grooved at the connection portion of the pin 17A2 fixed to (or fitted into) the platen exterior frame 52 and its periphery.

  A guide hole 17B1 having a diameter into which the pin 17A2 of the elastic holding member 17A can be fitted is opened on the contact surface of the receiving member 17B.

  Next, FIGS. 9 to 11 are diagrams for explaining the maintenance operation in the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment.

  First, FIG. 2 described above shows a normal image recording position. At this position, the maintenance unit 16C (16C-K, 16C-C, 16C-M, 16C-Y) is retracted in the space S between the line heads 21 (21K to 21Y) shown in FIG. From this state, the maintenance operation is started when the user gives an instruction to perform maintenance on the operation panel of the image recording apparatus (not shown), or when the preset number of processed sheets or accumulated processing time is reached.

  As shown in FIG. 9 from the image recording position, the arm 19A of the up-and-down moving mechanism 19 rotates to lower the arm tip 19B. Accordingly, the transport mechanism 18 (platen exterior frame 52) and the maintenance mechanism 16 (side frame 16B1) are lowered. At this time, the transport mechanism 18 is lowered with the maintenance mechanism 16 placed thereon. This lowering is temporarily stopped at a position where the maintenance unit 16C is slightly lowered from the ink ejection surface of the recording head 13.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the maintenance unit support member 16A is moved to the upstream side in the transport direction by an X-axis direction drive mechanism that drives in the X-axis direction (sub-scanning direction) (not shown), and the maintenance unit 16C is moved to the recording head. 13 stops at a position facing the ink ejection surface.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the arm 19A of the up-and-down moving mechanism 19 is rotated and the transport mechanism 18 (platen exterior frame 52) and the maintenance mechanism 16 (side frame 16B1) are raised by the arm tip 19B. At this time, the transport mechanism 18 rises with the maintenance mechanism 16 placed thereon. This rise stops at a position where only the wiper 31B of the maintenance unit 16C contacts the nozzle surface 13C of the recording head 13 (maintenance position).

  When the transport mechanism 18 is raised by placing the maintenance mechanism 16, the pin 17A2 of the elastic holding portion 17A provided on the platen exterior frame 52 of the transport mechanism 18 receives the receiving member 17B provided on the side frame 16B1 of the maintenance mechanism 16. Is inserted into the guide hole 17B1. At this time, by providing the pin 17A2 with a tapered surface, even if there is a slight misalignment with respect to the guide hole 17B1, the pin 17A2 can be fitted into an appropriate position while correcting the contact position.

  The upper end surface of the coil spring 17A1 contacts the receiving member 17B, and the maintenance mechanism 16 is elastically supported at three locations by the repulsive force of the coil spring 17A1. The maintenance mechanism 5 is raised in a state where an elastic force (repulsive force of the spring) is required.

  Since the connecting portion of the pin 17A2 and its periphery are grooved (outer peripheral surface 52A), when the elastic holding member 17A comes into contact with the receiving member 17B, the outer shape of the coil spring is guided and contracted. Misalignment of the bottom of the spring is eliminated, and biasing of the elastic force due to an unnatural shrinkage due to the misalignment is prevented.

  Further, the positioning tip 15A2 of the projection member 15A provided on the maintenance unit support member 16A of the maintenance mechanism 16 has the bottom provided on the recording head support member 14 of the image recording unit 12 enters and contacts the positioning hole 15C on the conical surface. . Since the positioning hole 15C and the positioning tip 15A2 are configured as described above, the positioning tip 15A2 slides on the positioning hole 15C to correct the contact position even if there is a slight misalignment. The nozzles of the recording head 13 and the maintenance suction portion 16C2 of the maintenance unit are positioned so as to have an appropriate interval. At this time, the center of the positioning tip and the center of the positioning hole coincide with each other in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the recording medium. The maintenance maintenance suction part 16C2 of the maintenance unit is properly pressed against the nozzle surface of the recording head 13 by the repulsive force of the coil spring 17A1.

  For example, when the height of the arm tip 19B of the arm 19A changes due to an adjustment residual of the arm 19A of the vertical movement mechanism 19 or a deformation of a drive transmission member (not shown), the conveyance mechanism 18 (the platen exterior frame 52) The height is not uniform. That is, a difference in height occurs in the recording surface direction of the recording medium set appropriately. For example, a case is assumed where a difference in height (inclination of the recording surface) occurs such that the upstream arm 19A in the transport direction becomes higher and the downstream arm 19A becomes lower.

  In such a state, in the present embodiment, the maintenance mechanism 16 is placed on the transport mechanism 18 (the platen exterior frame 52) and raised during maintenance, and the protrusion member 15A on the upstream side in the transport direction is the cone of the positioning hole 15C first. Contact the surface. Subsequently, when the transport mechanism 18 (platen frame 52) is raised, the coil spring 17A1 on the upstream side contracts, and the projecting member 15A on the downstream side sequentially contacts the conical surface of the positioning hole 15C.

  Therefore, even if the conveyance mechanism 18 (platen exterior frame 52) is inclined (height difference at the arm tip 19B), the elastic force of the coil spring 17A1 when the protruding member 15A presses the positioning hole 15C in the Z-axis direction. This enables proper positioning.

  When the maintenance unit 16C and the recording head 13 are thus positioned, maintenance processing is performed. Maintenance suction part 16C2 is driven in the Y-axis direction (main scanning direction) by a Y-axis direction drive mechanism (not shown). At this time, the wiper 31B of the ink suction unit 31 wipes the nozzle surface of the recording head 13 (wiping maintenance), and the suction port 31a that is suctioned by the negative pressure generation unit sucks the ink remaining in the nozzle 13A. (Suction maintenance) and collect in a waste liquid tank (not shown). The ink scattered at this time is collected by the oil pan 16C1 and sent to a waste liquid tank (not shown).

  Further, when the maintenance mechanism 16 is retracted and stored from the maintenance position to the image recording position, the protrusion member 15A has a diameter larger than that of the protrusion member 15A that is a fixed distance away from the positioning hole 15C provided in the recording head support member 14 in the transport direction. It is made to fit in the large fitting hole 15B. The constant distance is a distance equal to the distance by which the maintenance unit support member 16A moves from the maintenance position in the X direction to the space S between the line heads by the X axis direction driving mechanism. Even if the transport mechanism is lifted at this position, the protruding member is inserted into the fitting hole, so that the lift of the transport mechanism can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the guide mechanism 15 and the correction mechanism 17 are arranged so as to overlap on the same Z axis (perpendicular to the recording surface of the recording medium). That is, the center of the projecting member 15A, the center of the positioning hole 15C, and the center of the guide hole 17B1 are arranged so as to coincide with each other in the Z-axis direction (perpendicular to the recording surface of the recording medium). Of course, the arrangement is not limited to this.

  Next, a modified example in the present embodiment will be described.

  In the above-described embodiment, the maintenance mechanism is elastically supported by the elastic holding member constituted by the pin and the coil spring.

  In this modification, as shown in FIG. 12, a plate spring 17A3 is used as an elastic holding member. The leaf spring 17A3 is bent into a U shape and has a shape having two flat portions and a bent portion. The plate spring 17A3 is tilted sideways, and at least two screw holes are opened on the lower surface, and fixed to the platen exterior frame 52 with screws 61. Further, a notch 62 is provided on the upper surface of the leaf spring 17A3. This is because the side frame 16B1 with which the upper surface of the leaf spring 17A3 abuts is provided with a recess (not shown) that guides the outer shape of the upper surface of the leaf spring or a projection (not shown) that fits into the notch 62, The maintenance unit 16C is configured to be positioned.

  In this configuration, the transport mechanism 18 (platen exterior frame 52) is raised by the vertical movement mechanism 19, and the leaf spring 17A3 contacts the side frame 16B1 of the maintenance mechanism 16. When the platen exterior frame 52 is further raised, the side frame 16B1 is lifted and elastically supported while the leaf spring 17A3 is bent.

  By using the leaf spring 17A3, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the elastic holding member in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the leaf spring has a simpler structure than the elastic holding member composed of the pin and the coil spring, and the cost is reduced and the working efficiency is improved.

  In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the elastic holding member is exemplified by a coil spring and a leaf spring. However, the elastic holding member is not limited to these, and can be appropriately supported by an air damper, an oil damper, a magnetic spring, or the like. Any repulsive force can be used. Moreover, these may be used alone or in combination.

  Further, the positioning tip portion of the protruding member and the bottom surface of the positioning hole are not necessarily limited to the hemispherical shape and the conical surface. Other shapes may be used. For example, the positioning tip may have a conical shape, and the positioning hole may be a perfect circle insertion hole having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the positioning pin.

  Further, the projection member 19A is provided in the maintenance mechanism 16, and the fitting hole 15B and the positioning hole 15C are provided in the recording head support member 14. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the projection member 19A is provided in the recording head support member 14, and the fitting hole is provided. The maintenance mechanism 16 may be provided with 15B and positioning holes 15C.

  Further, the example in which the protruding members are provided at three positions has been described. In this example, the gravity center position in the X and Y axis directions (the recording medium surface direction or the image recording surface) of the transport mechanism and the maintenance mechanism is three positions. It is desirable to be within the connecting triangle.

As described above, according to the present embodiment and this modification , when the maintenance mechanism is raised and lowered using the vertical movement mechanism that raises and lowers the transport mechanism, the maintenance mechanism is brought to the optimum position even if there is an inclination. For each print head placed and arranged, positioning is performed so that the maintenance unit is addressed with relatively high accuracy, and the difference in height accuracy is eliminated by elastic force, which is set in advance. Can be moved to the maintenance position.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing a relationship between a positioning mechanism of a maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus of the present invention and the image recording apparatus. FIG. 3 is a layout view of an image recording apparatus to which a positioning mechanism of a maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an external configuration of a maintenance mechanism positioning mechanism that is an embodiment of a maintenance mechanism positioning mechanism included in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from above. The disassembled perspective view which shows the state isolate | separated into each structure part of the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism with which the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is provided. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure which looked at the image recording part in the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism with which an image recording apparatus is provided from the discharge surface side. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a recording head in a positioning mechanism of a maintenance mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus. It is a figure which shows a partial structure of the maintenance mechanism in the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism with which an image recording apparatus is provided. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the elastic holding member in the positioning mechanism of the maintenance mechanism with which an image recording apparatus is provided. It is a figure which shows the maintenance operation start state of an image recording device. It is a figure which shows the movement process to the maintenance position of an image recording device. It is a figure which shows the maintenance position of an image recording device. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the elastic holding member in a modification. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the maintenance apparatus mounted in the conventional image recording apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image recording apparatus, 2 ... Recording medium supply mechanism, 3 ... Control part, 3A ... Nozzle, 3B ... Nozzle row, 3C ... Nozzle surface, 3D ... Nozzle formation area (or ink discharge surface), 4 ... Recording medium accommodation mechanism DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Positioning mechanism of a maintenance mechanism, 12 ... Image recording part, 13 ... Recording head, 14 ... Recording head support member, 15 ... Guide mechanism, 15A ... Projection part, 15B ... Insertion hole, 15C ... Positioning hole, 16 ... Maintenance Mechanism, 16A ... Maintenance unit support member, 16B ... Maintenance mechanism frame, 16C (16C-K, 16C-C, 16C-M, 16C-Y) ... Maintenance unit, 17 ... Correction mechanism, 17A ... Elastic holding member, 17B ... receiving member, 18 ... transport mechanism, 19 ... vertical movement mechanism, 19A ... arm, 19B ... arm tip, 21 (21K, 21C, 21M, 1Y) ... line head (or recording head group), S ... space.

Claims (4)

A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium;
A line head composed of at least one recording head so as to be at least the recording area of the recording medium being conveyed;
A head holding member that holds and fixes the line head and has a positioning hole in which a plurality of bottom surfaces form a conical surface ;
A maintenance unit for performing maintenance of the line head;
A maintenance unit holding member that holds the maintenance unit and has a plurality of guide holes on the lower surface;
A moving mechanism for moving the maintenance unit holding member toward the head holding member in a state where the line head and the maintenance unit are opposed to each other;
When the maintenance unit holding member is brought close to the head holding member , the respective positioning holes and the respective centers of the maintenance unit holding members are in contact with each other in the vertical direction on the maintenance unit holding member. tip have a predetermined length which is erected and the positioning portion forming a semi-spherical,
The guide hole having a center that coincides with the center of the positioning portion in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the recording medium when the tip of the positioning portion slides along the conical surface of the positioning hole and stops at the bottom surface. a correction unit fitted, like the surface each other and said head holding member opposed to the maintenance unit holding member is interval that by the predetermined length, to correct the posture of the maintenance unit holding member,
An image recording apparatus comprising:   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit includes an elastic member, and the elastic member is disposed between the moving mechanism and the maintenance unit holding member.   The said correction | amendment part has an elastic member, and the said moving mechanism moves, elastically holding the said maintenance unit holding member via the said elastic member, It moves according to Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Image recording device.   The moving mechanism moves the transport mechanism to at least two positions, a recording position where an image is recorded on the recording medium by the line head and a maintenance position where the maintenance of the line head is performed by the maintenance unit. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance unit holding member is placed on the transport mechanism via the correction unit having an elastic member when moving the maintenance unit to the maintenance position. 3. .

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