JPH0229343A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent dust or paper dust from adhering to a blade by providing a flexible blade for wiring an orifice surface of a recording head, and a blade cap means for protecting the blade. CONSTITUTION:A flexible blade 14 for wiping an orifice surface of a head 6 is provided on a front surface of a head cap means 10. After wiping is finished, the blade 14 is retracted into a holder, and is enclosed in the state of being protected from dust or paper dust by a blade cap means 24. Therefore, a wiping part of the blade 14 can be constantly maintained in a clean state free of dust or paper dust.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to head cleaning means for cleaning the orifice surface of a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

An inkjet recording apparatus is configured to perform recording by ejecting ink from fine orifices formed on the orifice surface of a recording head based on image data.

In the above inkjet recording device, when not in use, the ink solvent evaporates, the ink viscosity near the orifice increases, ink sticks, paper scraps and dust adhere to the orifice surface, and furthermore, the ink near the orifice Orifice clogging may occur due to the formation of air bubbles within the orifice.

As a method to eliminate or reduce ink ejection failure caused by such clogging, in addition to head capping means and ink property recovery means, head cleaning means that wipes the orifice surface with a flexible blade (plate-like member) is available. is used.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, with conventional head cleaning means, even if the orifice surface of the recording head is capped after recording, the blade (plate-like member) remains exposed, so dust and paper particles adhere to it. There is a possibility that the orifice surface may be wiped by the blade, and dust or paper powder may adhere to the orifice surface, causing ink discharge failure.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, to prevent foreign matter such as dust and paper powder from adhering to the blade that wipes the orifice surface of a recording head, and to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the orifice surface. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device that can maintain good recording.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention achieves the above object with an inkjet recording apparatus including a flexible blade for wiping the orifice surface of a recording head and a blade cap means for protecting the blade.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention.

In Figure 9, B'lh is placed at a predetermined interval above and below °C1.
A carriage 5 that moves along a guide shaft 4 is provided in front of a sheet (recording medium) 3 that is fed in the direction of arrow A through a sheet feed roller 1.2, and a recording head 6 is mounted on the carriage. It is installed.

The surface (front surface) of the recording head 6 facing the sheet 3 is an orifice surface, in which fine orifices for ejecting ink are formed.

The carriage 5 is reciprocated in the direction of arrow P by a carriage motor 8 via a belt transmission mechanism 9.

During recording, ink droplets are ejected from the orifice of the recording head 6 based on image information in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 5.

After recording is completed, the carriage 5 moves to the home position H outside the recording area.
A head cap means 10 for sealing the orifice surface of the recording head 6 is provided at the home position. The head cap means 10 moves forward and backward between a position where it seals the orifice surface and a position where it separates from the orifice surface.

According to the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, a flexible blade for wiping the orifice surface of the recording head 6 and a blade camping means for protecting the blade from adhesion of dust, paper powder, etc. are provided.

In each of the following embodiments, the blade is provided as a part of the head cap means 10.

However, the blade 1 can be installed at other locations, and the present invention is not limited to this installation location.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blade-equipped head cap means 10 of an ink shared recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (A) in FIG. (B) shows the state in which the blade 14 is stored in the retracted position where it is protected from dust and paper powder.

In Figure 1, the case ll fixed to the main body of the recording device
A head cap means 10 is guided and supported therein so as to be movable in the front and rear direction, and the head cap means 10 has a structure in which a camp 13 and a blade 14 are attached to the front surface of a holder 12. Further, a blade cap means 24 is provided in the opening 23 of the holder 12 for protruding the blade 14.

The cap 13 is required to have sealing properties and is generally made of a rubber-like elastic material.

The blade 14 is also made of a flexible plate material such as rubber or plastic so as to uniformly contact the orifice surface.

A head gap drive means consisting of a cap motor 16 and a cam 17 is provided on the side of the case 11.

Note that numbers 18 and 19 indicate tubes for connecting the inside of the cap 13 to, for example, a suction pump (not shown) or a ventilation valve (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows the blade 1 of the head cap means 10 of FIG.
FIG. 2(A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the blade 14, and FIG. 2(B) is a longitudinal sectional view of the blade 14.
Each shows the stored state.

3 is a horizontal sectional view of the head cap means 10 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3(A) shows the state in which the blade 14 is protruding, and FIG. 3(B) shows the state in which the grade 14 is retracted. Each state is shown below.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, a blade 14 made of a flexible plate-like member is supported by a holder 12 so as to be movable back and forth.
It is driven to the protruding position and the retracted position by the movement of the first movable part (plunger) 22.

An opening 23 through which the blade 14 enters and exits is formed on the front surface of the holder 12.

Further, this opening 23 is provided with a play 1' cap means 24 which is formed integrally with the holder 12 and which returns to the position where the opening 23 is closed by elastic force, so that when the blade 14 projects through the opening 23, the play 1' cap means 24 is provided. When the blade cap means 24 is opened as shown and the blade 14 is retracted and stored in the holder 12, the blade cap means 24 is automatically returned to the shown closed position by elastic force.

The blade cap means 24 has a size and shape that closes the opening 23 in a nearly hermetically sealed state to prevent foreign matter such as dust and paper powder from entering through the opening 23.

FIGS. 4A to 4G are schematic plan views illustrating the sequence of operations for wiping the recording head 6 using the head cleaning means shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. FIGS.

In FIG. 4, (A) shows that the carriage 5 is at the home position (capping position), and the head cap means 10 (
The holder 12) is in the forward position, the blade 14 is in the retracted position, the opening 23 of the holder 12 is closed by the blade cap means 24, and the orifice surface of the head 6A is sealed with the cap 13. From this state (A), the head cap means 10 is retracted to the state shown in (B), and the solenoid 21
is activated to cause the blade 14 to protrude.

Therefore, while moving the carriage 5 to the right, the orifice surface of the head 6 is wiped with the blade 14 as shown in (C).

When the rightward wiping is completed and the carriage 5 comes to the right side of the helad cap means 10 as shown in (D), the carriage 5 is stopped, and then the carriage 5 is moved to the left ( As shown in E), the orifice surface of the head 6 is wiped by the blade 14 as the carriage 5 moves to the left.

When the leftward wiping is completed, the carriage 5 reaches the home position as shown in (F), at which point the carriage is stopped, and the solenoid 21 is then activated to retreat the blade 14 into the holder 12. , the opening 23 of the holder is closed with a blade cap means 24 .

Thereafter, the head cap means 10 is advanced, and the orifice surface of the head 6 is sealed with the cap 13, as shown in FIG.

This completes one cycle of head cleaning operation.

According to the embodiment described above, a flexible blade 14 for wiping the orifice surface of the head 6 is provided on the front surface of the rad cap means 10, and
After wiping, the blade 14 is retreated into the boulder and closed and retracted using the °C blade cap means 24 to protect the blade 14 from dust and paper powder, so that the wiping portion of the blade 14 is always protected from dust and paper powder. It was possible to keep the orifice surface of the wiping head 6 in a clean state free of powder, and the cleaning effect of the orifice surface of the wiping head 6 could be enhanced.

FIG. 5 shows a head 6 and blade cap means 26 mounted on a carriage 5 of an ink jet recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.

The head cap means 10 in this embodiment has a structure equivalent to that of the head cap means 10 shown in FIG. cap)
When this happens, the fixed flexible blade 14 fits into the slit 27 of the blade cap means 26 and is protected from dust and paper particles.

In addition, in FIG. 5, 28 indicates an orifice surface, and 29 indicates an orifice (ink ejection port) formed on the orifice surface.
shows.

That is, in this embodiment, compared to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the blade 14 provided on the head cap hand 1to is fixed, and a blade cap means for covering and protecting the blade 14 is provided on the carriage 5. 26, the other parts have substantially the same structure, corresponding parts are denoted by the same numbers, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

6A to 6G are schematic plan views showing the sequence of operations when wiping the orifice surface of the head 6 using the head cleaning means according to the embodiment described in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6, (A) shows that the carriage 5 is at the home position (
camping position), and the head cap means 10 (
When the holder 12) is in the forward position, the cap 13 seals the orifice surface of the head 6 and the blade 14
is shown inserted into the blade cap means 26 on the carriage 5 and protected.

After retracting the head cap means 10 from the state shown in (A) to the state shown in (B), while moving the carriage 5 to the right, the head
Wipe the orifice surface.

When the rightward wiping is completed and the carriage 5 comes to the right side of the head cap means 10 as shown in D), the carriage is stopped, and then the carriage 5 is
is moved to the opposite left, and the orifice surface of the head 6 is wiped by the blade 14 as the ridge 5 moves to the left, as shown in (E).

When the leftward wiping is completed and the carriage 7ji 5 reaches the home position as shown in (F), the carriage 7 is stopped, and then the head cap means 10 is advanced as shown in (G). Then, the orifice surface of the head 6 is sealed with the cap 13, and the blade 14 is inserted into the blade cap means 26 to cover it.

This state (G) is the same as the state (A).

In this way, one cycle of head cleaning operation is completed.

Also according to the embodiments explained above in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A head 6 is attached to the front surface of the head cap means 10.
a flexible blade 14 for wiping the orifice surface of the
In addition, since the blade is inserted into the blade cap means 26 and covered after wiping, it is possible to reliably prevent dust and paper powder from adhering to the blade 14, and to keep the blade clean at all times. This makes it possible to enhance the cleaning effect of the orifice surface being wiped.

FIG. 7 is a control system block diagram of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 7, the central processing unit (CPU) of the recording device
) 30 is connected to a ROM 31 that stores control programs, font data, etc., and a RAM 32 that takes in image data and command information, and is also connected to a host such as a computer via an interface 33.

In addition, carriage position information from the home position sensor 35, remaining ink amount information from the ink sensor 36, information on the presence or absence of the recording sheet 3 from the sheet sensor 37, etc. are input to the CPU 30 via the input port 34. has been done.

On the other hand, a head drive signal is output from the CPU 30 to the driver circuit 39 of the head 6 via the output port 38, and a head drive signal is output to the driver circuit 39 of the head 6 via the output port 41.
2, Carriage motor 8, Cap motor 16 (first
), and a control signal is output to a driver circuit 44 such as a solenoid 21 that moves the blade 14 forward and backward.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the operation of the control system shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, when the power of the recording device is turned on in step 100, it is determined in step 101 whether or not print data has been taken in. If the print data has already been taken in, the process advances to step 102 and a print command is issued. Determine whether or not.

If the print data has not yet been taken in at step 101, the process advances to step 103 to input the print data, returns to step 101 again, and repeats this process until the print data is taken in.

If there is no print command in step 102, step 1
Return to 01 and repeat the above data input operation.

If there is a print command in step 102, step 10
4, the solenoid 21 is operated to set the blade 14 to the protruding position, and in step 105, the recording head 6 is set to the recording start position, and then the procedure advances to step 106, where the input data is transferred to the recording head 6 and recorded. I will continue to do so.

During the recording operation, it is determined at a predetermined interval whether or not recording has ended in step 107. If it has not ended, the process advances to step 108, where the recording in step 106 is continued while scanning the carriage 5 (.

If recording is finished in step 107, the process advances to step 109 to move the hood 6 to the cap position (home position), and in step 110 the solenoid 21 is activated to retract the blade 14, and in step 111 the head cap is moved. It10 is moved forward and the orifice surface of the head 6 is capped at the camp 13.

After completing the recording, the head 6 is capped and the hend wiping blade 14 is stored (or covered) to protect it from dust and the like, completing the series of operations.

In the above embodiment, the case where there is one recording head 6 has been described, but the present invention can be implemented in the same way even when a plurality of recording heads are mounted, such as in a color printer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the blade 14 is mounted on the head cap means 10, but this blade 14 is attached to the head cap means 10.
4 can also be provided separately from the head cap means 10.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention is provided with a flexible blade for wiping the orifice surface of the recording head and a blade cap means for protecting the blade. An inkjet recording device can be obtained that can prevent dust and paper powder from adhering to the inkjet recording device and keep it clean at all times, thereby increasing the cleaning effect of the orifice surface of the wiping head.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of the head cleaning means of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a blade protruding state and a blade retracted state, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are is a vertical cross-sectional view of the blade in Figure 1 when the blade is extended and when the blade is retracted;
3 (A) and (B) are horizontal sectional views of the head cleaning means in FIG. 1 when the blade is protruded and when the blade is retracted, and (A) to (G) in FIG. 4 are horizontal sectional views of the head cleaning means in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the wiping operation of the head cleaning means shown in FIG. 5; FIG.
6A to 6G are schematic plan views showing the wiping operation of the head cleaning means of the ink shared recording apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the control system shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention. 5.----1-----Carriage, 6------.
---Recording head, 10 head camping means (head cleaning means), 13 cap, 14----
...Blade, 24-Blade cap means,
26-・-・--・Blade camping means, 28
−・・−・・・− Orifice surface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a flexible blade for wiping the orifice surface of a recording head and a blade cap means for protecting the blade.