JPH04257476A - Serial device and serial recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a flexible cable from tending to bend by a simple structure. CONSTITUTION:A bent wire part 15a which has been formed by bending a flexible cable 15 in a direction normal to a transfer direction of a cariage 2 is provided to the flexible cable 15 connecting electrically a fixing connector 17 to the carriage 2. Further, a serial type ink jet recorder is constructed by using said flexible cable 15. Though the flexible cable 15 whjch uses, for instance, a polyimide or polyethylene film as a base is easy to have a tendency to bend, when it is once bent, restoring force against force which is likely to keep the bend acts on the bent-up wire part 15a, and the flexible cable 15 becomes hard to fall into the tendency of being bent.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a serial device and a serial recording device in which a reciprocating carriage and a fixed connector are electrically connected by a flexible cable.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Today, serial recording devices are widely used in printers, electronic typewriters, etc. because they can be easily miniaturized. As shown in FIG. 5, this serial recording device has a carriage 51 on which a recording head 50 is mounted so that it can reciprocate along a carriage shaft 52, and the recording head 50 is controlled by a signal from a control section in accordance with a recording signal. By driving, recording is performed on a recording sheet. For this purpose, the carriage 51 and a fixed connector 53 of the main body of the apparatus are electrically connected by a flexible cable 54.

[0003] In recent years, many flexible cables 54 are constructed by printing wiring on polyimide or polyethylene film. Therefore, if the non-recording state continues for a long period of time, that is, if the carriage 50 remains stopped at the home position (the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5) for a long period of time, the cable 54 is 5
Part A) has a bend. The flexible cable 54 with this bend is attached to the carriage 51.
When it moves (the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5), it comes into contact with the upper exterior surface 55, increasing the possibility of damage.

[0004]Therefore, there is no problem if the exterior surface 55 can be made sufficiently high, but if the device is required to be miniaturized, the exterior surface 55 cannot be made high. Therefore, conventionally, Figure 6
As shown in FIG. 3, a polyester sheet or a plate spring 56 is provided at the part where the flexible cable 54 is fixed to the main body of the apparatus to bias the cable 54 and press down the flexible cable 54 when the carriage moves, so that the cable 54 is protected from the exterior. It was made to avoid contact with the surface 55.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the configuration in which the sheet is pressed down by the sheet or leaf spring 56,
(2) Since the carriage 51 moves while receiving the load from the sheet and the leaf spring 56, the recording position is likely to be misaligned. (2) Furthermore, if the carriage 51 is stopped at the home position for a long period of time, the seat and the leaf spring 56 will creep. ■Furthermore, there were problems such as an increase in the number of parts and an increase in costs due to the complexity of assembly.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a serial device and a serial recording device that have a simple structure and can prevent damage to a flexible cable.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A typical means according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a serial device in which a reciprocating carriage and a fixed connector are electrically connected by a flexible cable. The flexible cable is configured in a flat plate shape, and the flexible cable is provided with a bent line portion in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage.

[0008]

[Function] According to the above means, when a polyimide or polyethylene film is used as the base of the flexible cable, the portion once bent will not become bent in the opposite direction. Therefore, even if the carriage is stopped at the home position for a long period of time, it is difficult to bend the cable, and at the bent line, a force that tries to straighten the bend is applied with an undoing force, which prevents the flexible cable from rising too high. Nor. Therefore, when the above configuration is used in a recording apparatus, the movement of the carriage is stable and good recording can be performed.

[0009]

Embodiment Next, a serial recording apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention to which the above-mentioned means is applied will be specifically explained. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a serial recording apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a bent state of a flexible cable.

First, the overall configuration of the recording apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG. This recording apparatus uses an inkjet recording method as a recording means, and an inkjet recording head 1 is mounted on a carriage 2, and this carriage 2 is slidably attached to a carriage shaft 4 fixed at both ends to an apparatus main body 3. ing. Furthermore, a driving pulley 5a and a driven pulley 5 are provided near both ends of the carriage shaft 4.
b, and a timing belt 6 stretched between both pulleys 5a, 5b is connected to the carriage 2. Therefore, by driving the carriage motor 7 connected to the drive pulley 5a in forward and reverse rotation, the carriage 2
moves back and forth along the carriage shaft 4. An ink image is recorded on the recording sheet 8 by driving the recording head 1 in synchronization with this movement.

A recording head 1 serving as a recording means discharges ink from an ink discharge port by applying energy in accordance with a recording signal transmitted by a flexible cable, which will be described later. This embodiment is particularly equipped with a means (such as an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) that generates thermal energy as energy used to eject ink among inkjet recording systems, and this thermal energy causes a change in the state of the ink. I use things that make me feel good. According to this method, high density recording,
This is because high definition can be achieved.

A capping means 9 is provided at a position opposite to the home position of the carriage 2. This capping means 9 is used to prevent the ejection ports of the recording head 1 from drying out or to prevent dust from adhering to the ejection ports. When the carriage 2 is at the home position, the sensor 10 detects this and stops printing. This is to cap and protect the vicinity of the ink ejection ports of the recording head 1 in the current state.

Further, as a structure for conveying the recording sheet 8, a conveyance roller 11 for conveying the recording sheet 8 in parallel with the carriage shaft 4 is provided.
A pinch roller 12 is in pressure contact with. A conveyance motor 14 is connected to the conveyance roller 11 via a gear 13, and the conveyance roller 11 is rotated by the drive of this motor 14 to convey the recording sheet 8.

Next, the flexible cable 15 for transmitting recording signals to the recording head 1 will be explained. This flexible cable 15 is constructed by printing signal lines on a base made of polyimide or polyethylene film, and is formed into a flat plate shape as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, it is fixed to the chassis 16 of the device main body 3 and connected to the fixed fixed connector 17. This flexible cable 15 is used to transmit recording signals from the control section to the recording head 1 mounted on the carriage 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible cable 15 runs in a direction that intersects with the moving direction of the carriage 2, in this embodiment, a direction that is orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 2. The folded line portion 15a is provided so that the folded line appears in the width direction. As shown in FIG.
It can be easily and reliably bent and formed by fixing it to the stand 18 and pressing the jig 19. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, two bent line portions 15a are provided near the portion fixed to the base 15 that protrude inward from the loop formed by the flexible cable 15.

Once the bent line portion 15a is bent, a force to undo the bend is applied to it, and as a result, even if the carriage 2 is stopped at the home position for a long time, the flexible cable 15 The cable 15 is not bent like the conventional cable shown in FIG. .

[Other Embodiments] (Flexible Cable) In the first embodiment described above, the flexible cable 15 connects the bent line portion 15a to the chassis 16.
Although an example is shown in which the bent line portions 15a are provided at two locations near the carriage 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the bent line portions 15a may be provided near the carriage 2. In this way, B in Figure 4
Even if the cable 15 has a bent part, when the carriage 2 is moved, the cable 15
This prevents the cable 15 from rising too high and the cable 15 from coming into contact with the exterior surface 20.

Further, in the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the bent line portions 15a are provided at two locations, but this bent line portion 15a is provided at one location.
The same effect can be obtained even if it is provided only at one location or when it is provided at three or more locations. Furthermore, the above-mentioned folded line portion 15a was formed by being bent so as to protrude inside the loop formed by the flexible cable 15.
This may be formed by bending so as to protrude outside the loop (see FIG. 4).

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the flexible cable 15 is provided with the bent line portion 15a in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage 2, but this is strictly perpendicular (90 degrees with respect to the direction of movement of the carriage). Needless to say, the above-mentioned effect can be obtained even if the angle is not the direction (crossing the degrees).

(Recording Means) In the above-described embodiment, an inkjet recording method was used as a recording means, but electricity is supplied to an electrothermal transducer in accordance with a recording signal, and heat generated by the electrothermal transducer exceeds film boiling. It is more preferable to perform recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port as bubbles grow. 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, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to the recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer disposed corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the This is effective because it causes the electrothermal transducer to generate thermal energy to cause film boiling on the heat-active surface of the recording head, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid that correspond one-to-one to this drive signal. The growth of this bubble,
The contraction causes liquid to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one drop. If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, bubble growth and contraction will occur immediately and appropriately.
Particularly excellent liquid ejection can be achieved, which is more preferable.

The pulse-shaped drive signal is described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 434,526.
Those described in Specification No. 2 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning 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. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459 disclose a configuration in which a heat acting part is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 600 is also included in the present invention. Furthermore, for a plurality of electrothermal converters, there is disclosed a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part of the electrothermal converter, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part of the electrothermal converter. The effects of the present invention are also effective even with a structure based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1985 which discloses a structure corresponding to the above. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, according to the present invention, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.

In addition, even with the above-mentioned serial type, the recording head is fixed to the carriage, or by being attached to the carriage, it becomes possible to electrically connect to the main body of the apparatus and to supply ink from the main body of the apparatus. 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 may be used. Further, in the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which a capping means was provided as a recovery means for the recording head, but this recovery means may also include a cleaning means, a pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal conversion type, or a similar type of recovery means. Preheating means using a separate heating element or a combination thereof and a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing are also effective for stable printing.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads mounted on the carriage, for example, in addition to only one recording head for single-color ink, there are also configurations for recording multiple inks with different recording colors and densities. It is also possible to provide a plurality of them. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may also be a recording mode of a plurality of colors that integrally constitute the recording head, or a combination of multiple colors of different colors, or a mixed color. It can also be applied to devices with at least one full color according to the invention.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the ink is described as a liquid; however, ink that solidifies at room temperature or below, softens or liquefies at room temperature, or inkjet recording method may be used. 3 ink itself
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 even if the ink is in a liquid state when the recording signal is applied. Good. In addition, the temperature rise caused by thermal energy can be actively prevented by using the energy to change the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or ink that solidifies when left standing is used to prevent ink evaporation. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal, and the liquid ink is ejected, or the ink has already begun to solidify by the time it reaches the recording sheet. It is also applicable when using ink that is liquefied only by energy. The ink for such cases is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-56847 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-712.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 60, the material may be held in a liquid or solid state in a porous sheet recess or through-hole and face an electrothermal converter. The most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is one that performs the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned inkjet recording device can be used as an image output terminal for information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying device combined with a reader, etc., or a facsimile device having a sending/receiving function. It may be something that takes a certain form.

(Serial Device) Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, a serial recording device was exemplified as a serial device that electrically connects a carriage and a fixed connector with a flexible cable, but the serial device is not necessarily limited to a recording device. It is not necessary to do this, and it is also possible to apply the present invention to a reading device that serially reads information written on a document by mounting a reading means on a carriage and moving the carriage back and forth along the document.

[0028]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention has a simple configuration in which a bent line portion is provided in a flexible cable, thereby preventing the flexible cable from becoming bent even when the carriage is stopped at the home position for a long period of time.
It is possible to prevent the flexible cable from rising high and coming into contact with the exterior surface when the carriage moves. This eliminates the need for springs to hold down the flexible cable, reducing the number of parts and improving ease of assembly.
This makes it possible to reduce costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a serial recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a folded line portion of a flexible cable.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of providing a fold line to a flexible cable.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique in which a flexible cable has a bend.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique in which a leaf spring is provided at the base of a flexible cable.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a recording head, 2 is a carriage, 3 is an apparatus body, 4 is a carriage shaft, 5a, 5b are pulleys, 6 is a belt, 7 is a carriage motor, 8 is a recording sheet, 9 is a capping means, 10 is a sensor, 11 is a Conveyance roller, 12 is a pinch roller, 13 is a gear, 14 is a conveyance motor, 15 is a flexible cable, 15a is a folded line part, 16 is a chassis,
17 is a fixed connector, 18 is a stand, 19 is a jig, and 20 is an exterior surface.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A serial device in which a reciprocally movable carriage and a fixed connector are electrically connected by a flexible cable, wherein the flexible cable is configured in a flat plate shape, and the flexible cable is configured to control the movement of the carriage. A serial device characterized in that a polygonal line section is provided in a direction that intersects with the direction. 2. The serial device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cable is based on polyimide or polyethylene. 3. In a serial recording device in which a recording means is mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage, and the carriage and a fixed connector are electrically connected by a flat flexible cable, the flexible cable is configured in a flat plate shape. A serial recording device characterized in that the flexible cable is provided with a bent line portion extending in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage. 4. The serial recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the serial recording apparatus uses an inkjet recording method in which the recording means performs recording by ejecting ink according to a signal. 5. The serial recording device employs an inkjet recording method in which the recording means energizes an electrothermal transducer in response to a signal and ejects ink using thermal energy from the electrothermal transducer to perform recording. 5. The serial recording device according to claim 4. 6. In the serial recording device, the recording means energizes the electrothermal transducer in response to a signal, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port by the growth of bubbles generated by heating exceeding film boiling by the electrothermal transducer. 6. The serial recording apparatus according to claim 5, which is an inkjet recording method for performing recording.