JPH03189162A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent waste ink from spilling by a method wherein a blocking up means which blocks a discharge tube of ink in non-installing of a cartridge, and a means which the blocking means by installing operation of the cartridge are established. CONSTITUTION:When an ink cartridge 4 is inserted along an insertion mouth 21 wall from right, a hollow needle pierces an installing stopper of an ink bag 44, and is connected to an ink supply system. Besides, an operation pin 46 enters from a discharge mouth 40A of a discharge tube 40 to push a sphere in against spring force of a spring 42. Therefore, the discharge pipe 40 is kept under a state coming in slight contact with or near a wall part 45A of an elastic waste ink absorbing material under a state wherein the discharge tube 40 is opened, and becomes a state capable of receiving waste ink in recovery operation. Further, when the ink cartridge 4 is drawn out rightward, the opera tion pin 46 is retreated together therewith. Thereby, it is extracted from the discharge mouth 40A, and the sphere 41 is biased toward a throttled part 40B with the spring 42. Then, the discharge mouth 40A is blocked up, and waste ink is prevented from being discharged erroneously and spilling at the time of non-installing of the cartridge.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device, and in detail,
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus having a replaceable cartridge equipped with means for accommodating waste ink sucked from a recording head.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of inkjet recording device is configured such that waste ink is discharged from a removable cartridge equipped with a waste ink storage means through a waste ink passage consisting of a tube and a discharge pipe. When the storage means is filled with waste ink, it is replaced with a new waste ink storage means.

Furthermore, such a waste ink storage means is integrated with a supply ink storage section and stored in a cartridge, and this can be attached to and detached from the mounting section of the main unit, thereby reducing the labor and effort of replacing the cartridge and streamlining the system. There is something.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when disposing of waste ink in such conventional inkjet recording devices, a waste ink discharge tube protruding from the recording device body is fitted into a window provided on the front side in the insertion direction of the cartridge, and the waste ink discharge tube of the recording head is The ink sucked through the ink ejection port is absorbed and retained by the ink absorbing member within the cartridge through the discharge pipe. Therefore, when the cartridge is removed from the mounting section for replacement, the ink ejection tube protruding from the main body of the apparatus is exposed and its ejection port is left open. If a suction operation is performed for recovery, there is a risk that waste ink will be scattered around the discharge port and make a mess, or that residual ink may drip from the discharge port.

An object of the present invention is to focus on the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to solve the problems, the discharge port of the ink discharge pipe is opened and closed by the mounting and pulling operation when replacing the cartridge, thereby preventing waste ink from spilling. The object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device that can perform the following functions.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a mounting portion that can detachably attach a cartridge that can accommodate waste ink sucked from a recording head, and a cartridge that can store waste ink sucked from a recording head. In the inkjet recording apparatus, the inkjet recording device is configured to lead to a discharge pipe fixed to the mounting part, and from the discharge pipe to a cartridge mounted in the mounting part, a closing means for closing the discharge pipe when the cartridge is not mounted; The present invention is characterized in that it includes means for opening the closing means by the mounting operation of the cartridge in the mounting portion.

[For production]

According to the present invention, since the discharge pipe is closed by the closing means when the cartridge is not installed, waste ink is not discharged from the discharge pipe to the surrounding area due to a suction operation due to an erroneous operation, and the cartridge is not contaminated. When the cartridge is mounted, a portion of the cartridge engages and operates the opening means, thereby opening the discharge pipe and maintaining the cartridge in a state for receiving waste ink.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below in detail and specifically based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention. Here, 1 is a recording head mounted on a carriage 2, and the carriage 2 is driven by a timing belt stretched between an idler pulley (not shown) and a carriage drive motor (not shown). By reversing the rotation, it is reciprocated along the guide shaft 3. Incidentally, ink is supplied to the recording head 1 from an ink cartridge 4 via an ink tube (not shown), and while the carriage 2 is moving from left to right, the recording head 1 is supplied with ink from an ink ejection port (not shown) to a recording material such as a recording material. Ink is ejected toward the recording sheet 5, and recording is performed.

6 is a plate-shaped fixed platen that holds the recording sheet 5 at a position facing the ejection surface of the recording head 1 at a predetermined interval; 7 is a feed roller that feeds the recording sheet 5; 8 is in pressure contact with the feed roller rough; A pinch roller 9 is driven to sandwich the recording sheet 5 between them, and 9 is a pinch roller holder for applying pressure to the pinch roller 8. The holder 9 is made of a stainless steel plate or the like, and the spring force of the holder 9 causes the pinch roller to 8 is biased toward the feed roller rough. 10 and 11 hold the recording sheet 5 fed manually, etc., and a feed roller rough and a pinch roller 8
An upper guide and a lower guide for guiding between.

A guide rail IOA is provided on the upper part of the upper guide 10, and a leaf spring portion 2^ provided on the lower surface side of the carriage 2 is slidably held along this guide rail IOA. In this way, the carriage 2 itself is urged toward the fixed platen 6 by the spring force of the leaf spring 2A, and a part of the carriage 2 is slidably brought into contact with the sheet holding plate 13 provided on the front surface of the platen 6. A predetermined distance is maintained between the ink ejection surface IA of the head 1 and the recording sheet 5. Note that the feed roller 7 of the sheet presser plate 13 comes into contact with the portion of the sheet presser plate 13 that a part of the carriage 2 contacts. When the sheet presser plate 13 is moved back by that amount due to the passage of the recording sheet 5, the carriage 2 is also moved back. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the above-mentioned interval at a predetermined interval regardless of paper thickness and form a high-quality recorded image.

The recording sheet 5 fed by the feed roller 7 and the pinch roller 8 is held by a fixed platen 6 tilted rearward at an angle of approximately 30 degrees, making it easy to see the recording results. 5 is held between the discharge roller 12 and a spur (not shown) that presses against the discharge roller 12, and is discharged to the stacker section.

Next, the ink supply device, recovery device, sheet feeding device, etc. according to the present invention will be described. These devices are concentrated on the left side of the recording area in Fig. 1, and in order to simplify the drive transmission mechanism and compact the space, the drive source is shared, and 20 is the drive source. This is the feed motor provided. The feed motor 20 can drive the feed roller 7 and the discharge roller 12 as well as the ASFlB, and can also cause a series of recovery operations to be performed by the recovery device.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a cartridge insertion opening, and 22 denotes a hollow needle that pierces the ink cartridge 4 when inserted from the insertion opening 21 to supply ink to the recording head 1 via a tube (not shown) or an ink remaining amount detector. be. In addition, the recovery device operates toward the ink ejection surface IA of the recording head 1 as the cap member 23, the cap guide shaft 24 that movably holds the cap carrier 23^ carrying the cap member 23, and the cap member 23 move. The cap member 23 is provided with a rail 25 for guiding the cap member 23, a spring 26 for biasing the cap member 23 toward the initial position on the right side, a pump 27 for suctioning ink, and the like.

In addition, the cap carrier 23^ is provided with an arm portion 23B that protrudes toward the travel path of the carriage 2, and when the carriage 2 moves B to the left from the position shown in FIG. 1 and returns to the initial position. 2 comes into contact with and engages with the upper arm portion 23B, and moves further leftward together with the cap member 23. Reference numeral 28 denotes a fixed shutter for detecting the initial position. When the carriage 2 is guided to the initial position, the fixed shutter 28 is detected by a transmission type sensor 29 provided on the carriage 2, and the initial position is determined. Note that during the subsequent movement, capping of the ink ejection surface l^ is performed by the cap member 23, and the timing of completion is determined by a counting means (not shown) counting the number of steps of the carriage drive motor from the above-mentioned detection point. be judged by.

In addition, in a recovery operation after capping, a negative pressure is generated in the cap member 23 by driving a pump 27 connected to the cap member 23 through a tube (not shown), and ink is removed from the nozzles of the recording head 1. However, such a recovery operation is performed by the feed motor 20 by switching by a driving force switching means (not shown). 3
1 is a pump cam for driving the pump 27, 32 is a pump output gear, 33 and 34 are ASF output gears and sheet feeding output gears provided coaxially with the pump output gear 32, and 35 is a gear train. 36 and is an idler gear that can rotationally drive the feed roller 7 via the feed gear 37.

40 is a waste ink discharge pipe provided in parallel with the hollow needle 22 in the cartridge insertion port 21, and the waste ink discharge pipe 40 is connected to the suction pump 27 via a tube (not shown), and the waste ink discharge pipe 40 is connected to the suction pump 27 through a tube (not shown). The waste ink sucked from the recording head 1 through the cap member 23 is directed to an ink absorber (not shown) in the ink cartridge 4 and is disposed of. Note that when the ink cartridge 4 is installed, the hollow needle 2
2 is inserted into a rubber stopper (not shown) provided on the front surface of the ink cartridge 4, whereby ink is supplied to the recording head 1 from an ink storage section (not shown) in the ink cartridge 4 via a hollow needle 22. Now, the operation of the waste ink processing system when the above-mentioned ink cartridge 4 is installed will be explained with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the waste ink discharge pipe 40 is fixed to the inner wall of the cartridge insertion port 21 together with a hollow needle (not shown).
It is formed to be narrowed in a stepped manner at B, and the narrowed part 4
At 0B, the sphere 41 is biased by the spring force of the coil spring 42. In this example, the locking end of the coil spring 42 has a large winding diameter as shown in the figure so that it is locked to the pipe wall when the spring 42 and the coil spring 42 are installed inside the pipe. A tube 43 connects the waste ink discharge pipe 40 and the pump 27.

On the other hand, in this example, the ink cartridge 4 is provided with a waste ink absorber 45 along with a disposable ink bag 44 containing ink. Further, a window 4A for a waste ink discharge pipe is provided on the front surface of the insertion side of the ink cartridge 4.
A part of the waste ink absorber 45 is raised inside the window 4A. Further, as shown in the figure, 46 is an operating pin that penetrates the raised wall portion 45^ of the waste ink absorber 41 and projects toward the window 4A.

In the cartridge mounting mechanism configured in this way,
When the ink cartridge 4 is inserted from the right side along the wall of the insertion port 21, the hollow needle 22 shown in FIG. At the same time, the operating pin 46 enters from the discharge port 40^ of the discharge pipe 40 and pushes the sphere 41 against the spring force of the spring 42. Therefore, in the open state, the discharge pipe 40 is maintained in a state in which it lightly contacts or approaches the waste ink absorber wall portion 45A of the elastic body, and is in a state in which waste ink can be received during the recovery operation. Further, when the ink cartridge 4 is pulled out to the right, the operating pin 46 moves back together, and the discharge port 4
0^, the sphere 41 is biased toward the constriction part 40B by the spring 42 to close the discharge port 40^ and prevent waste ink from being erroneously discharged or leaked when the cartridge is not installed. I can do it.

FIG. 3 shows a waste ink processing system and cartridge device mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the waste ink discharge pipe 40 is opened and closed in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the ink cartridge 4. Here, 50 to 53 are gear trains arranged on the outside of the cartridge insertion port 21 almost along the bottom surface, and among these, the drive gear 50 meshes with the rack gear 54 provided at the bottom of the ink cartridge 4. However, this rotational movement allows the interlocking gear 53 to be rotated via the intermediate gear train 51, 52.

55 is a lid member that can be opened and closed coaxially with the interlocking gear 53;
A sealing member 56 is attached to the lid member 55 to prevent leakage of waste ink, and the sealing member 56 is made of a material capable of absorbing ink or an elastic material suitable for sealing. Although the lid member 55 and the sealing member 56 are not shown, it is desirable that they are always biased toward the discharge port 40A by a torsion coil spring or the like. Explanation omitted.

In the waste ink processing system and cartridge mounting mechanism configured in this way, when the ink cartridge 4 is inserted from the right side along the insertion port 21, the rack gear 54 provided on the bottom of the ink cartridge 4 meshes with the drive gear 50. gear train 50
-53 are interlocked to rotate the lid member 55 and the sealing member 56 in the clockwise direction to open the discharge port 40^. Moreover, when the ink cartridge 4 is pulled out from the insertion port 21,
The gear trains 50 to 53 are rotated in the opposite direction to the direction in which the cover member 55 and the sealing member 56 are erected, thereby closing the discharge port 40A.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Here, 60 is an interlocking gear coaxially attached to the rotating shaft 55^ of the lid member 55, 61 is a fan-shaped rack gear that meshes with the interlocking gear 60, 61^ is the rotating shaft of the fan-shaped rack gear 61, and 62
is mounted around the rotating shaft 61^, and the fan-shaped rack gear 6
This is a torsion coil spring that biases 1 in the clockwise direction. Further, on one side of the ink cartridge 4, an actuating protrusion 4B that comes into contact with the arm portion 61B of the fan-shaped rack gear 61 is provided on the side surface thereof.

In the waste ink processing system and ink cartridge mounting mechanism configured as described above, as the ink cartridge 4 is inserted from the right side, the operating protrusion 4B comes into contact with the arm portion BIB of the fan-shaped rack gear 61, and the actuation protrusion 4B contacts the arm portion BIB of the fan-shaped rack gear 61. Rotate counterclockwise against the spring force. Therefore, the lid member 55 is rotated clockwise via the interlocking gear 60 to open the discharge port 40A and introduce the discharge pipe 40 into the ink cartridge 4 through the window 4A. Further, when the ink cartridge 4 is pulled out, the fan-shaped rack gear is rotated clockwise by the spring force of the spring 62 as it retreats to the right, and the lid member 55 is kept in the closed state.

In the embodiments described above, the ink cartridge is an integral type in which the ink storage part for ink supply and the waste ink absorber are housed in the ink cartridge, but the present invention is applicable to such an ink cartridge. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the case in which the ink storage section and the means for absorbing and retaining waste ink are housed in separate cartridges.

Further, the present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in a bubble jet type recording head and recording apparatus among inkjet recording types.

This is because such a system can achieve higher recording density and higher definition, and it is expected that the fixing speed will be even slower depending on the recording pattern.

Regarding typical configurations and principles, it is preferable to use the basic principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,129 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,796. , continuous type, but especially in the case of on-demand type, an electrothermal converter is placed corresponding to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the liquid path. To,
Generating thermal energy in the electrothermal transducer and producing film boiling on the thermally active surface of the recording head by applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise above nucleate boiling. As a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal, which is effective. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, bubble growth and contraction will occur immediately and appropriately.
Particularly responsive liquid (ink) ejection can be achieved,
More preferable pulse-shaped drive signals include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262.
Something like the one described in the specification is running. Furthermore, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning the invention regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

The configuration of the recording head includes, in addition to the combination configuration of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section. US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,4591i00 disclose a configuration in which the
The present invention also includes a configuration using the specification of the above specification.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a hole that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy is disclosed. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1983-1989 discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge part.
The effects of the present invention are also effective even with a configuration based on Publication No. 9-138461. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, fixing can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium that can be recorded by a recording apparatus.

Such a recording head may have either a configuration in which the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

Further, it is preferable to add a preliminary auxiliary means to the recovery means for the recording head, which is provided as a component of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element, or a combination thereof; It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing in order to perform stable printing.

In addition, regarding the type and number of recording heads installed, for example, in addition to one type that corresponds to single-color ink, there is also a plurality of recording heads that correspond to multiple inks with different recording colors and densities. It may be something that can be done.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, a means for closing the discharge pipe for discharging waste ink is provided in the mounting part of the cartridge, and the discharge pipe is closed in response to the mounting operation of the cartridge in the mounting part. Since the blocking means can be opened, it is possible to prevent the waste ink from being discharged from the discharge pipe by mistake when the cartridge is not installed, staining the surrounding area, or leaking the waste ink remaining in the discharge pipe. became.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are sectional views showing examples of the configuration of a waste ink processing system and a cartridge mounting mechanism according to the present invention, respectively. be. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Recording head, 2... Carriage, 4... Ink cartridge, 4^... Window, 4B... Operating protrusion, 21... Cartridge insertion slot, 22... Cartridge guide, 40 ...waste ink discharge pipe, 40^...discharge port, 40B -...throttle section, 41...ball, 42...coil spring, 43...tube, 44...ink bag, 45 ...waste ink absorber, 46...operating bottle, 50-53...gear train, 55-...lid member, 60...interlocking gear, 61...sector gear, 62...torsion coil spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) The cartridge has a mounting part that can be detachably attached to a cartridge capable of storing waste ink sucked from the recording head, and the waste ink is guided to a discharge pipe fixed to the mounting part. An inkjet recording apparatus configured to lead a discharge pipe to a cartridge mounted on the mounting section, further comprising: a closing means for closing the discharge pipe when the cartridge is not mounted, and a closing means for closing the discharge pipe when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting section. An inkjet recording device comprising: means for releasing the means. 2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes a member that engages with and operates means for opening the closing means when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion. 3) The cartridge has an ink storage section that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head, and when the cartridge is installed, the ink is supplied from the ink storage section to the recording head. 1 or 2
The inkjet recording device described in .