JPH0428560A - Ink-jet recording device and electronic apparatus equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the volume of a waste ink-storing part to a great extent with the quantity of the waste ink reduced by a method wherein hot air is generated in the title device, and the hot air is exhausted to the outside after being applied to the waste ink-storing part. CONSTITUTION:A high precision lamp such as a tangsten halogen lamp or the like is used as a lamp 3 because a sensor 4 requires a big amount of light when it is an optical sensor in a structure wherein both the lamp 3 and the sensor 4 are provided on a main scanning carriage 2 of a recording device. Heat generated by the lamps 3 is absorbed by air taken into the recording device from the outside through a suction port 15 with a fan 14, and thereby the device is cooled down. The air (hot air), heated to a high temperature by absorbing the heat from the lamp 3, is guided to the upper face of a waste ink-storing part 13 through air passages 17 formed in specified positions of a frame body 16 of the device, and is exhausted to the outside through an exhaust port 18 of the frame body 16 after heating the waste ink in the waste ink-storing part 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device that performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head onto a recording material, and an electronic device equipped with the recording device.

[Prior Art] Recording devices such as printers, copying machines, and facsimile machines are configured to record images consisting of dot patterns on recording materials such as paper and thin plastic plates based on image information. .

The recording device may be an inkjet type,
It can be divided into wire dot type, thermal type, laser beam type, etc. Among them, the inkjet type (inkjet recording apparatus) is configured to perform recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material.

Inkjet recording apparatuses have advantages such as low noise because they are non-impact type, and the ability to easily record color images using multicolored inks.

Furthermore, the recording device is used as a built-in or externally connected output device for electronic devices such as computers, word processors, and copying machines. For example, a copying machine is configured by combining a document reading device and the recording device. has been done.

In conventional inkjet recording devices and electronic equipment such as copying machines that use inkjet recording devices, problems such as ink or dust sticking to the ink ejection part of the print head, ink thickening in the ejection port, or air bubbles forming, etc. Ink failure (
In order to prevent problems (including ejection failure), seal the ink ejection part with a cap, etc., and suction it with a pump, etc., to remove dust, stuck or thickened ink, air bubbles, etc.
The discharged ink is stored inside the device as waste ink.

[Technical problem to be solved by the invention] However,
The waste ink is usually about 0.00 mm per color per suction.
For example, in a full-color inkjet recording device that uses four colors: yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, the lifespan of the device is approximately 30,000 sheets.
Assuming that suction is performed once per sheet in order to reliably prevent the occurrence of non-discharge, the total amount of waste ink is 0.1c.
cX30000 sheetsX4=12000cc.

This amount is quite large for a small-sized ink side printing apparatus, and having six storage units for this amount of waste ink is a major problem in miniaturizing the printing apparatus.

In addition, Canon's bubble jet recording method (film boiling method) is an inkjet recording method in which recording is performed by forming ejected ink droplets by using thermal energy to cause a state change in the ink, including the formation of bubbles. Since the apparatus uses thermal energy, the ink tends to thicken and unnecessary air bubbles are generated, and the above-mentioned ink suction operation is essential, and the total amount of waste ink is a major problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and provides an inkjet recording device that can reduce the amount of waste ink and significantly reduce the volume of the waste ink storage portion, and an electronic device having the recording device. The purpose is to provide

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention focuses on the fact that about 70 to 90% of the components of ink are evaporable liquids, and uses heat generated within electronic equipment to evaporate the liquid components in the ink. The amount of waste ink is reduced by evaporating it and discharging it to the outside.

That is, the present invention provides a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material, a recording material conveyance means that conveys the recording material through a recording section, and a recovery means that discharges ink from an ejection port of the recording head. and a waste ink storage section for storing discharged waste ink, the inkjet recording device is configured to generate hot air within the device, apply the hot air to the waste ink storage section, and then discharge it to the outside. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device that can significantly reduce the volume of a waste ink storage portion by reducing the amount of waste ink, and an electronic device that includes the recording device.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment of a copying machine equipped with an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a document placed on a document glass 1 is illuminated by a lamp 3 while the main scanning carriage 2 of the reading device is moved in the six directions of arrows (FIG. 2). By detecting the reflected light with sensor 4,
It is read in fixed width increments.

On the other hand, in a recording device (inkjet recording device), a sorted recording material 5 such as paper or a thin plastic plate is conveyed to a recording section 8 by a paper feed roller 6 and a recording material conveying roller rough, and the recording head 9 is moved in the direction of arrow C. (FIG. 1) and ejects ink based on the read signal (electrical signal) from the sensor 4.
An image of a constant width is recorded on top of the image.

When recording of a certain width is completed, the sub-scanning carriage 30 of the reading device is moved in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 1) by a certain width, and the recording material 5 is conveyed by a certain width by the conveying roller ruff, and then A similar operation is performed to record the image of the next fixed width of the document onto the recording material 5.

By repeating the above reading and recording operations, the image of the document is copied onto the recording material 5.

In the illustrated example, the recording head 9 has four head portions 9A, 9B, and 9C29D, and in the case of color recording, these head portions are made to correspond to each ink color, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. be able to.

The recording head 9 is an inkjet recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy.

Further, the inkjet recording head 9 performs recording by ejecting ink from the ejection ports by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

Copying machines (electronic equipment) equipped with inkjet recording devices that perform copying using the process described above require timely (
For example, once every time one copy is made or when the power is turned on), the ink ejection section of the recording head 9 is sealed with a camp 10, and the suction pump 11 generates negative pressure in the camp 10, causing the ink ejection section to close. It is configured to remove stuck ink, thickened ink (including dust such as paper dust), or air bubbles generated within the ejection port (liquid path, etc.) by suctioning and discharging the ink together with the ink.

The suctioned and discharged fixed ink, thickened ink, and the like are stored in the waste ink storage section 13 through the tube 12 along with the ink.

On the other hand, the lamp 3 on the main scanning carriage 2 of the reading device
Regarding the sensor 4, when an optical sensor is used as the sensor 4, a large amount of light is required, so a high-intensity lamp such as a halogen lamp is used as the lamp 3.
Therefore, considerably high temperature heat is generated from the lamp 3.

Therefore, a fan 14 is provided at a desired position of the copying machine to prevent the temperature inside the device from rising due to the heat of the lamp 3.

That is, this fan 13 sends outside air into the reading device from a suction port 15 formed at a desired position of the device (in the illustrated example, on the opposite side of the waste ink storage section 13), thereby dissipating the heat of the lamp 3. It is designed to absorb water and cool the equipment.

Further, the air (hot air) whose temperature has increased by absorbing the heat of the lamp 3 is guided to the upper surface of the waste ink storage section 13 through a ventilation passage 17 formed at a predetermined position of the frame 16 of the device. After the waste ink in the waste ink storage section 13 is heated, it is discharged to the outside through an exhaust port 18 formed in the frame body 16.

That is, it is configured to heat the waste ink in the waste ink storage section 13 using heat generated within the electronic device.

As described above, the inkjet recording device according to the present invention and the electronic device equipped with the inkjet recording device, that is, the recording head 9 that performs recording by ejecting ink onto the recording material 2, and the recording material 5 that is conveyed through the recording section 8. an inkjet recording device having a recording material conveyance means 7 for discharging ink from the ejection openings of the recording head 9, a recovery means 10111.12 for discharging ink from the ejection openings of the recording head 9, and a waste ink storage section I3 for storing the discharged waste ink, and the inkjet In an electronic device equipped with a recording device, an inkjet recording device configured to generate hot air within the device, apply the hot air to the waste ink storage section 13, and then discharge it to the outside, and the inkjet recording device. An electronic device equipped with the following is provided.

According to the embodiment described above, the waste hot air inside the electronic 4118 promotes the evaporation of the liquid component of waste ink, and the flow of the waste hot air discharges the evaporated gas to the outside, so that the inside of the waste ink storage part I3 is An inkjet recording device that can significantly reduce the amount of waste ink and a compact device configuration by significantly reducing the volume of the waste ink storage portion, and an electronic device that uses the inkjet recording device have been obtained.

Further, since the evaporated gas is discharged to the outside, it is possible to prevent the gas from condensing inside the apparatus, thereby preventing short-circuiting of electrical components and staining the back side of the document glass 1.

Note that in the embodiment described above, the hot air applied to the waste ink storage section 13 is discharged through the exhaust port 18.
Further, the hot air from the reading device may be configured to be directed to the waste ink storage section 13 and then directly discharged to the outside of the electronic device through a duct or the like to isolate it from the inside of the device.

By configuring the hot air to be discharged directly to the device (or apparatus) in this manner, water vapor is not generated within the 1 m vessel, thereby eliminating recording defects caused by water droplets and the like.

In this case, it is preferable that the hot air outlet is provided in an area before and after the recording section 8 of the recording material 5 and on a side surface different from the discharged paper storage and stock area.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a second embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the installation position of the fan 14 is selected near the waste ink storage section 13, and the fan 14 is configured so that the direction of the hot air from the fan reliably hits the top surface of the waste ink storage section 13. There is.

The other parts of this embodiment have substantially the same configuration as those of the first embodiment described above in FIG.
Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this example, the same effects as in the above-mentioned example were obtained.

Note that the waste ink storage section 13 is heated using the heat generated by the lamp 3.
The position and number of the lamps 3 are not limited to those of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, as long as the temperature of the lamp 3 can be raised and the gas evaporated from the waste ink inside can be discharged to the outside. It can be implemented freely.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the lamp 3 was used as a heat source for generating hot air. However, as long as the lamp 3 is used as a heat source for generating hot air, any other part that generates heat, such as a heat generating part of a power supply, etc., may be used alone or in combination to generate hot air. can be generated.

In that case, a heat-generating electrical component that can be used as a heat source, such as the lower part of the waste ink storage section 13 indicated by the arrow in FIG.
If it is placed near the waste ink storage section 13, it will be more effective in accelerating the temperature rise of the waste ink.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention was applied to a copying machine, but the present invention can also be applied to a single inkjet recording device by using hot air generated by the above-mentioned power source or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the electronic device is a copying machine has been explained, but the present invention can be applied to other electronic devices such as computers, word processors, and facsimiles as long as the electronic device uses the ink side recording device. Even against
Similarly applicable.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the main structure of still another embodiment (third embodiment) of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the upper part of the waste ink storage section 13,
That is, a receiving portion 19 for receiving the evaporated gas is provided at a position where the evaporated gas from the waste ink 3 collides with the waste ink 3.

The other parts of this embodiment have substantially the same structure as the 20th embodiment shown in FIG.

According to this embodiment, after the fan 14 stops, the evaporated gas from the waste ink 31 is condensed in the receiving part 19, and when the dew droplets 20 fall, they are reliably collected in the waste ink storage part 13.
Therefore, in addition to the above-mentioned effect, the evaporated gas generated after the fan 14 is stopped can be prevented from diffusing into the inside of the equipment or device.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the present invention is described as a record.

Although the description has been made by taking as an example the application to a serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus in which the head 9 moves in the direction of arrow C, the present invention uses a line type recording head that covers the recording area in the paper width direction of the recording material. The present invention can be similarly applied to inkjet recording apparatuses using other recording methods, such as line-type inkjet recording apparatuses, and similar effects can be achieved.

Further, in the above embodiment, four head portions 9A to 9D
Although the case of an inkjet recording device using multiple heads such as a color inkjet recording device using a color inkjet recording device has been described, the present invention is applicable to monochrome recording using one head, or gradation recording using a plurality of heads with the same color but different densities. The present invention can be similarly applied to inkjet recording apparatuses, etc., regardless of the number of heads, and can achieve similar effects.

The present invention provides particularly excellent effects in inkjet recording apparatuses that use inkjet recording heads of the Hubble Genoto type inkjet recording head manufactured by Canon Co., Ltd., among other inkjet recording systems.

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 the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it is necessary to place the liquid (ink) on the sheet or liquid path where it is held. By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, the electrothermal transducer generates thermal energy, and the recording head This is effective because it causes film boiling on the heat acting surface of the liquid (ink), resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal.

Due to the growth and contraction of these bubbles, liquid (
ink) 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, so liquids with particularly excellent responsiveness (
Ink) can be ejected, which is more preferable. Suitable pulse-shaped drive signals include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,262.

Further, 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 achieved.

In addition to the configuration of the recording head as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, in addition to the combination configuration of the discharge port, liquid path, and electrothermal converter (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path), thermal effect U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 disclose a configuration in which the portion is arranged in a bending region.
The present invention also includes a configuration using the specification of the above specification.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 123670 of 1982 discloses a configuration in which a common slint is used as a discharge part for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a hole absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy is disclosed. The present invention is also effective with a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461 of 1981, which discloses a configuration in which a discharge portion corresponds to a discharge portion.

Furthermore, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining multiple recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

In addition, by being attached to the main body of the device, it is possible to make electrical connections with the main body of the device and supply ink from the main body of the device. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. for the recording head, which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized.

Specifically, these include capping means, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means for the recording head 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.

Furthermore, the recording mode of the recording device is not limited to only the mainstream color such as black (although the recording head may be configured integrally or by a combination of multiple colors, it may also be possible to record multiple colors of different colors or mixed colors). The present invention is also extremely effective for apparatuses having at least one full color image.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is explained as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and is softened or liquid at room temperature, or in the above-mentioned inkjet, the ink itself is heated at 30°C or higher. Since the temperature is generally controlled within a range of 70° C. or less so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range, it is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the recording signal is applied.

In addition, it is possible to proactively prevent temperature rise caused by thermal energy by using it as energy to transform the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent ink from evaporating by preventing ink from solidifying when left unused. In any case, ink may be liquefied by applying thermal energy in response to a recording signal and ejected as liquid ink, or it may already begin to solidify when it reaches the recording material. It is also possible to use ink that is liquefied only by thermal energy.

In such a case, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 54-56847, the ink is held as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet and is placed facing the electrothermal transducer. It may be in any form.

In the present invention, the most effective method for the above-mentioned ink is the one that implements the above-mentioned film boiling method.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material;
In an inkjet recording apparatus, the inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording material transporting means for transporting the recording material through a recording section, a recovery means for discharging ink from an ejection port of a recording head, and a waste ink storage section for storing the discharged waste ink, The inkjet has a structure in which hot air is generated within the device, the hot air is applied to the waste ink storage section, and then discharged to the outside, so that the amount of waste ink can be reduced and the volume of the waste ink storage section can be significantly reduced. A recording device and an electronic device including the recording device are provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an electronic device equipped with an inkjet recording device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial front sectional view showing a main part of still another embodiment of an electronic device equipped with an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention. Below, symbols representing main components in the drawings are listed. i-11--original glass, 2---1 main scanning carriage (reading device), 3---lamp (heat source),
4 reading sensor, 5-1---recorded material, 6----
Paper feed roller (recording section W), 7----~・Transport roller (
Recording device), 8--Recording unit, 9--1~Recording head, 9A-9D--Head portion, 10--Cap, 11 Pump, 13-Waste ink storage unit, 14-Fan , 15-1---suction port, 17----ventilation passage, 1
B...-Exhaust port, 19---11--Reception part, 20-
・-N liquid, 31.--Waste ink.

Claims (9)

[Claims] (1) A recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material, a recording material conveyance means that conveys the recording material through the recording section, a recovery means that discharges ink from the ejection opening of the recording head, and a discharge means. and a waste ink storage section for storing waste ink, the inkjet recording device is characterized in that hot air is generated within the device, the hot air is applied to the waste ink storage section, and then discharged to the outside. Device. (2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heat source for generating the hot air is arranged near the waste ink storage section. (3) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hot air applied to the waste ink storage section is discharged through an air path. (4) A claim characterized in that the recording head is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink using thermal energy and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Item 1. The inkjet recording device according to item 1. (5) The inkjet recording according to claim 4, wherein the inkjet recording head discharges the ink from the discharge port by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Device. (6) In an electronic device having an inkjet recording device, the inkjet recording device includes a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material, a recording material conveying means that conveys the recording material through a recording section, An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recovery means for discharging ink from an ejection port of a recording head, and a waste ink storage section for storing the discharged waste ink, the apparatus generates hot air within the apparatus, and the hot air is used to store the waste ink. An electronic device characterized by having a configuration in which the electronic device is ejected to the outside after being applied to a storage section. (7) The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus has a configuration in which a heat source for generating the hot air is arranged near the waste ink storage section. (8) The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the inkjet recording device is configured to discharge the hot air applied to the waste ink storage portion through an air path. (9) In an electronic device having a reading device, an inkjet recording device, and a waste ink tank for storing waste ink from the inkjet recording device, hot air from the reading device is applied to the waste ink storage section. rear,
An electronic device that is characterized by being discharged directly to the outside of the electronic device.