JPH03253349A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the title ink jet recorder to be miniaturized by decreasing space for arranging a suction port component by a method wherein each suction port component for sucking ink which in effected by following rotation is so constructed as to be capable of sticking fast to a discharge port surface of a recording head corresponding thereto. CONSTITUTION:When a carriage 3 moves from a recording area to an area adjacent thereto, a rack 7 starts meshing with a rotary gear 17. When the carriage 3 further moves, the rotary gear 17, i.e., a suction rotor 6 is rotated in the arrow A direction. By this rotation and movement of the carriage 3, a suction port component 61 comes first in contact with a discharge port surface of a recording head 21. By elasticity of rubber of which this suction port component consists, the suction port component sticks fast to the discharge port surface. Under this adhesion state, air in a suction chamber 60 is attracted with a pump 8, and ink in the discharge port of each recording head is attracted by negative pressure to be generated thereby. Then, the attracted ink is conducted to a waste ink tank 16 via a pipe 60 A. Consequently, at the discharge port of the recording head and its vicinity, a space for arranging the suction port component in order to perform discharge recovery process by sucking ink, and stuck water drop, etc., can be lessened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field 1] The present invention is used as a recording device such as a copying machine, a typewriter, or a facsimile. The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with a recording head.

[Prior Art] An inkjet recording apparatus is equipped with an ejection recovery mechanism to always perform good ink ejection as a means for preventing ink non-ejection or ejection failure.

As one such mechanism, there is a configuration in which a member provided with a suction port is brought into close contact with the surface on which the ejection ports of the recording head are disposed, and suction is performed by a pump in this state of close contact.

By this suction, the ink in the ejection port and the ink liquid path communicating therewith is forcibly discharged, and at this time, if there is thickened ink in the ejection port or the like, it is discharged. This prevents ejection failure caused by clogging due to thickened ink.

Conventionally, for example, a color inkjet recording apparatus equipped with the plurality of recording heads described above has been equipped with a pump and a suction port as the ejection recovery mechanism for each color of ink, that is, for each recording head, or has been equipped with a pump and a suction port that serve as the ejection recovery mechanism. As for the means, only a suction port was provided corresponding to each recording head.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in any of the conventional configurations, a plurality of suction port members corresponding to each recording head are arranged in parallel with the recording head, so the recording apparatus becomes long, especially in the direction in which the recording heads are arranged. This was an obstacle to miniaturizing recording devices.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a device corresponding to each of a plurality of print heads to suck ink from the ejection ports of the print heads, etc. Each of the suction port members provided with a suction port for the purpose of the present invention can change its position by rotation, and as a result of this rotation, each suction port member and the ejection port surface of the corresponding recording head can be brought into close contact with each other. By doing so, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device in which the space for arranging the exhaust port member can be reduced and the device can be downsized.

[Means to solve the problem]

To this end, in the present invention, an inkjet recording apparatus for performing recording by ejecting ink droplets includes: a plurality of printheads having ejection ports and ejecting ink droplets from the ejection ports; and the plurality of printheads. a head moving means for performing the movement related to the recording; and a head moving means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of recording heads and facing the corresponding recording head to apply suction at the ejection port and the vicinity of the ejection port. each suction port member having a suction port for recording, a support member that supports each suction port member, and by rotating the support member, the suction port is made to face the corresponding recording head. The present invention is characterized in that it comprises: a rotating means; and a suction means for performing suction through the suction ports that each of the suction port members has.

[Function] According to the above configuration, by rotating the support member that supports the suction port members, each suction port member is moved to a position where it can face the recording head, and accordingly, the suction port members are moved to a position where they can face the recording head. By moving the recording head corresponding to the suction port member located at , to this opposing position, the suction port and the surface on which the ejection port of each recording head is disposed can be made to face each other. In this opposed state, suction is performed at the discharge port and its vicinity.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing both a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a block diagram of a control configuration in this apparatus.

In FIG. 1, a conveyance roller 14 conveys the recording paper 15 and regulates the recording surface of the recording paper 15, and is rotated by a motor (not shown). 3 is a carriage for mounting and moving the recording head, 12 is a conveyance roller 1
A guide rail 4B extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the carriage 3 and guides the movement of the carriage 3;
This is a wire that is fixed to the guide rail 12 and stretched parallel to the guide rail 12. The wire 4B is stretched by pulleys 4A (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) provided at both ends of the movement area of the carriage 3, and one of the pulleys 4A is rotated by the drive of the carriage motor 4. With the above configuration, the carriage 3 can move along the area where the conveyance roller 14 extends and the area adjacent to this area, and as the carriage 3 moves, the recording paper 15 of the recording head mounted on the carriage 3 is moved. It becomes possible to eject ink droplets onto the recording surface.

21, 22, and 23 are recording heads mounted on the carriage 3, and in this example, each discharges magenta, cyan, and yellow ink droplets. Each of the recording heads 21, 2213 and 23 is provided with a plurality of ejection ports on its front surface in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recording paper 15 is conveyed, that is, the direction in which the carriage 3 moves.

In these recording heads, thermal energy generated by electrothermal transducers causes film boiling in the ink, and ink droplets are ejected as bubbles expand due to the film boiling.

9, lO and 11 are recording heads 23 and 22, respectively.
and 21 through the supply pipes 9A, IOA, and IIA, and is an ink cartridge that stores ink to be supplied to the ink cartridges 9A, 21, and 21 through the supply pipes 9A, IOA, and IIA, and can be replaced for each ink as needed, such as when the ink runs out. A home position sensor 5 is provided at one end of the moving area of the carriage 3 and engages with a portion of the carriage 3 to detect a reference position (home position) in the movement of the recording heads 21, 22 and 23.

A rack 7 is provided along the end of the carriage 3 facing the recording paper 15, and can mesh with the rotor gear shown in FIG. 2 as the carriage 3 moves. A suction rotor 6 has a rotor gear attached to its rotation shaft and is rotatably supported, and four suction members 61, 62, 6311; and 64 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pump, which is provided inside the suction rotor and makes the inside of the suction chamber 60 shown in FIG. 2 a negative pressure through a pipe 8A. Further, 16 is a waste ink tank for storing the sucked ink.

The operations of each part of the inkjet recording apparatus described above are controlled by a control unit 100 provided in the form of a board in this apparatus, using detection signals from each sensor such as the home position sensor 5, recording data signals from the host apparatus 200, and command signals. etc. In the control unit 100, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU, which executes processing of the various signals and the like. L.A.
is a ROM that stores processing procedures etc. that will be described later in FIG. 3 of the CPUI, and IB is a RAM used as a work area in the processing of the CPUI. Host device 20
Signals are exchanged with the recording heads 21, 22, and 23 via the interface IC, and recording data signals and drive control signals are supplied to the recording heads 21, 22, and 23 via the flexible cable 13. Further, signals are exchanged with the home position sensor 5 and each motor via signal lines (not shown).

FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C) are diagrams showing the configuration of ink suction. In detail, FIG. 2(A) is a schematic perspective view mainly showing the configuration for rotating the exhaustion rotor, and FIG. 2(B)
is a schematic cross-sectional view of the suction rotor viewed from above, and Figure 2 (C
) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how the suction chamber member in the suction rotor sucks ink.

Referring to FIG. 2(A), the suction rotor 6 is mounted around a tube 60A provided at both ends of the suction chamber member 60 (see FIGS. 2(B) and (C)), for example via a bearing. The suction chamber member 60 is rotatably supported, and the suction chamber member 60 is housed inside the suction rotor 6 except for a portion of its tube 60A. The portion of the tube 60A that is not stored in the suction rotor 6 is fixed to the main body of the apparatus by a member not shown. A rotor gear 17 is attached to the lower part of the suction rotor 6 so as to be coaxial with the tube 60A and surround the tube 60A. The rotor gear 17 is
As described above, the rack 7 provided on the carriage 3 and the engaging means enable the rotor gear 17 to rotate as the carriage 3 moves. The suction rotor 6 also includes four suction port members 61, 62. [)3.64 is installed. Each of these suction port members is made of rubber and has openings 61A, 62A, 63A larger than the area where the ejection ports of the recording heads 21, 22, and 23 are arranged at the ends thereof.
, 64A are formed, respectively, and these openings communicate with the interior of the suction rotor 6 via communication holes.

When the carriage 3 moves from a recording area where the recording heads 21, 22, 23 perform recording facing the recording paper 15 to an area adjacent thereto, the rack 7 and the rotor gear 17 mesh with this movement. Start, then Carriage 3
When the rotor gear 17 moves in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 2(B), the rotor gear 17, and therefore the suction rotor 6, rotates in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2(B).

Due to this rotation and movement of the carriage 3, the exhaust port member 61 and the ejection port surface of the recording head 21 first come into contact with each other. In this contact, the concave end of the suction port member covers the area where the discharge ports are arranged, and the elasticity of the rubber forming the suction port member brings the suction port member into close contact with the discharge port surface. In this close contact state, ink can be suctioned through the opening 61A.

When the carriage 3 is further moved from the state where the suction port member 61 and the discharge port surface of the recording head 21 are in contact with each other, the suction port member 62 and the discharge port surface of the recording head 22 are brought into contact in the same manner as shown in FIG. (3)), the same close contact state as above is possible, and if the carriage is further moved in the same direction, the suction port member 63 and the ejection port surface of the recording head 23 can come into contact in the same way.

In the above-described close contact state of each of the recording heads 21, 22 and 23, since the suction chamber member 60 is fixed to the apparatus, the opening 60B and the hole communicating therewith are aligned with the communication hole of each suction port member. do. This allows the pump 8 to suck ink from each recording head.

FIG. 2(C) shows the mode of ink exhaustion. The means is the suction chamber 6.
The air in the ink is drawn by the pump 8, and the negative pressure generated thereby causes the suction means to suck ink in the ejection ports of each recording head, and the suctioned ink is guided to the waste ink tank via the pipe 60A.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure when the ink jet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is powered on and during printing.

When the power is turned on, processing associated with power-on, such as initializing the memory counter and moving the recording head to the home position, is performed in step S1, and recording data is transferred from the host device 20 in step S2. wait until When the print data is transferred, in step S3, a print process is performed based on this print data, that is, scanning of the print heads 21, 22 and 23 for printing by moving the carriage 3, and ejection of ink droplets in accordance with this scan. Performs recording processing such as transporting recording paper. Next, in step S4, the unsuction processing time from the power-on or the previous suction processing for each of the recording heads 21, 22 and 23 is calculated.
Based on the timer built into the UI, the addition means also adds up the print amount of each print head in one print scan in step S3, that is, the total number of prints in one scan by the ejection ports of each print head. The non-suction processing time and recording amount are recorded in a predetermined area of RAMIB.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the unsuction processing time for each of the recording heads 21, 228 and 23 exceeds a predetermined time. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not been exceeded, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether the cumulative amount of recording for each of the recording heads 21, 22, and 23 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If this judgment is negative, step S
The process returns to step 2 and continues the recording process. If it is determined in step S5 that the predetermined time has elapsed, or
If it is determined in step 6 that the cumulative recording amount is greater than the predetermined value,
After step S7, ejection recovery processing by suction is performed for each recording head. In other words, if the unsuction processing time exceeds a predetermined time, the ink at the ejection ports that are not ejected or ejected less frequently during this period may thicken, and if the amount of printing exceeds the predetermined amount, the ink near the ejection ports may thicken. The amount of ink droplets and water droplets due to condensation adhering to the ejection port becomes significant and may adversely affect ejection, so the ink inside the ejection port and water droplets near it are sucked.

In step S7, the suction rotor 6 is rotated by moving the carriage 3 toward the home position.

During this time, in step S8, the home position sensor 5
Based on the reference position of the carriage 3 detected by to judge. If it is determined that the recording head 21 is in the close contact position, in step S9, it is determined whether or not this recording head 21 is the recording head for which the unsuction processing time was determined to be at least a predetermined time or the recording amount to be at least a predetermined value in step S5 or S6. Determine whether or not the recording head requires suction processing. If suction processing is required, step SI
By driving the pump 8 with O, ink and water droplets in and near the ejection port are sucked, and step Sl
1 resets the non-suction processing time and cumulative recording amount recorded in RAMIB for the recording head 21. After this process is completed, or if it is determined in step S9 that the suction process is not necessary, the process advances to step S12.

Hereinafter, steps SL2 to S16, steps SL7 to S
In step S21, after performing the same processing as the processing in steps S7 to Sll for the print head 21 for each of the print heads 22 and 23, in step S22, the determining means determines whether or not recording has ended, and if the determination is negative, it performs step s2. If the determination is affirmative, the process ends.

As is clear from the above explanation, since the suction rotor is rotated using the movement of the carriage, rotation is possible with a simple and compact configuration without separately providing a drive source such as a motor, and the gear ratio etc. There is no need for special control for close alignment just by appropriately determining the position.

In the above embodiment, the suction rotor is rotated by using the movement of the carriage, but the scope of the present invention also includes a configuration in which a drive means such as a motor is separately provided for rotating the suction rotor. . In this case, it is necessary to appropriately control the rotation of the suction rotor and the movement of the recording head for the above-mentioned close contact.

Further, although the configuration for capping the recording head during non-recording was not shown in the above embodiments, it may be provided separately, or the user may attach a cap member as necessary. If a capping configuration is provided separately, since there is a configuration for suction in this example, this configuration is simpler than a conventionally known configuration that combines suction and capping configurations.

(Others) 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.

As for typical configurations and principles thereof, it is preferable to use the basic principles disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it is necessary to arrange the liquid (ink) in accordance with the sheet and liquid path that hold it. The electrothermal converter that is
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 in the liquid (ink) can be formed in a 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? This is more preferable since it is possible to eject the ink. This pulse-shaped drive signal is:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359, U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,26
Those described in Specification No. 2 are suitable.

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. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the wafer is placed in a bending region. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1989-5 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part of a plurality of electrothermal converters.
No. 9-123670 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59/1989 which discloses a configuration in which a discharge portion is made to correspond to an opening that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy.
The effects of the present invention are also effective even if the structure is based on the publication No.-138461. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, according to the present invention, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Furthermore, even with the serial type shown above, if the recording head is fixed to the device body or is attached to the device body, electrical connection with the device body and ink supply from the device body can be made. The present invention is also effective when using a replaceable chip-type recording head or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus, to 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. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode for only a mainstream color such as black, but may also be a recording mode in which the recording head is configured integrally or in a combination of multiple colors, The present invention is also extremely effective for devices equipped with at least one full color by color mixture.

Additionally, in the embodiments of the present invention described above,
Although ink is described as a liquid, it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below, but softens or liquefies at room temperature, or in an inkjet method, the ink itself is
Generally, the temperature is adjusted within the range of 0"C or more and 70'C or less so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range, so the ink becomes liquid when the recording signal is applied. In addition, the temperature increase due to thermal energy can be actively prevented by using it as energy to change the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or the ink can be left standing for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal, by using ink that solidifies.
The present invention is also applicable when using ink that is liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one in which liquid ink is ejected or one that already begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The ink in this case is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, the material may be held as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of a porous sheet, facing the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is to perform the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, in addition to being used as an image output terminal for information processing equipment such as a computer, the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention may also take the form of a copying machine combined with a league, etc., or a facsimile machine having a transmission/reception function. It may also be something.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, by rotating the support member that supports the suction port members, each suction port member is moved to a position where it can face the recording head, and accordingly, the suction port members are moved to positions where they can face the recording head. By moving the recording head corresponding to the suction port member located at the facing position to this facing position, the suction port and the surface on which the ejection port of each recording head is disposed can be made to face each other. In this opposed state, suction is performed at the discharge port and its vicinity.

As a result, the installation space for the suction port member for performing ejection recovery processing by suctioning ink, attached water droplets, etc. at the ejection port of the print head or its vicinity can be reduced, and this allows the printing apparatus to It becomes possible to make it small.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(A) is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration for rotating the suction rotor shown in FIG. , FIG. 2(B) is a schematic top sectional view showing the positional relationship between the suction rotor, the recording head, and the suction chamber member in the suction rotor, and FIG. 2(C) is a schematic top sectional view showing the suction chamber member during suction. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of suction processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 16... Waste ink tank, 17... Rotor gear, 21.22.23... Recording head, 60... Suction chamber member, 60A... Tube, 61.62, 63.64... Suction Mouth parts. 6...Suction rotor, 7...Rack, 8...Pump, Fig. 2 (τ/)1) 4A (B) (C) Fig. (zo/)2)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An inkjet recording device for performing recording by ejecting ink, comprising: a plurality of printheads having ejection ports and ejecting ink from the ejection ports; and the plurality of printheads. a head moving means for performing the movement related to the recording; and a head moving means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of recording heads and facing the corresponding recording head to apply suction at the ejection port and the vicinity of the ejection port. each suction port member having a suction port for recording, a support member that supports each suction port member, and by rotating the support member, the suction port is made to face the corresponding recording head. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a rotating means; and a suction means for performing suction through a suction port included in each of the suction port members. 2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation by the rotation means is performed in synchronization with the movement of each of the plurality of recording heads. 3) The head moving means has a carriage for mounting and moving the plurality of recording heads, and the rotating means rotates the support member by utilizing the movement of the carriage. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 4) The recording head causes film boiling in the ink using heat generated by an electrothermal converter, and ejects the ink as bubbles grow due to the film boiling. 4. The inkjet recording device according to item 3.