JPH0531912A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protrude a stopper in the movement path of a carriage and prevent a recording head from forgetting to be fixed to a capping position and to be released from the position, with the help of the stopper by closing an operating member of a switching tray for loading a recording medium. CONSTITUTION:A stopper 65 provided on an operating member 62 for opening a discharge aperture 63 as an opening is released from a locking position with a recording head 1 by opening the operating member 62, and the recording head 1 is unlocked at a capping position. On the other hand, after the completion of use of an ink jet recording device and the movement of the recording head to the capping position, a stopper 65 comes in contact with the recording head 1 by rotating the operating member 62 in (a) direction for closing the discharge aperture 63. Further, the stopper 65 moves to a capping lock position where the recording head 1 is fixed to the capping position. That is, it is possible to completely prevent the lock ON/OFF operation from failing to be performed or a faulty operation from being executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a composite electronic device including a computer, a word processor, etc. An image is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as a plastic thin plate. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, etc., depending on the recording method.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a serial scan system in which main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is recorded. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit mounted on a carriage that moves along the material, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance) after the recording of one line is completed, and then the recording is stopped again. The entire recording material is recorded by repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next row on the recording material. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records only by sub-scanning in the conveyance direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is collectively performed, and then a predetermined amount is recorded. The entire recording material is recorded by repeating the operation of performing the paper feeding (pitch feeding) and recording the next row all at once.

Among the above-mentioned recording apparatuses, an ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) discharges ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material to perform recording, so that the recording means can be made compact. Easy and
High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without any special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method produces less noise and multicolor images. It has advantages such as easy recording of a color image using ink. Above all, a line type apparatus using a line type recording means in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up recording.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material,
In recent years, ordinary recording materials such as paper and resin thin plates (OHP)
Etc.), thin paper and processed paper (paper with punched holes for filing, perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.) have been required to be used.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
Ejection failure (including non-ejection) when foreign matter such as paper powder or dust adheres to the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head), or the ink at the ejection opening portion dries and thickens or sticks.
As a means for preventing this, a method of sealing the ink ejection portion with a cap during non-recording is adopted. The contact portion of the cap is generally formed of a rubber-like elastic material.

In the above-mentioned serial type ink jet recording apparatus, when the recording is not executed, the carriage on which the recording head is mounted is stopped at a position facing a cap provided outside the recording range, and the cap is used for the recording head. The method for preventing the ink in the ejection port of the recording head from drying or leaking is adopted by sealing (hereinafter, referred to as "capping") the ink ejection portion (the ejection port forming surface). Therefore, in order to prevent the carriage carrying the recording head from moving and coming off the cap due to vibration or shock during transportation or the like, a fixing metal fitting, which is a detachable component, is attached to the carriage. A method of fixing the carriage at the capping position with a fixing bracket has been proposed. However, in the configuration using this fixing metal fitting, it is necessary to remove the fixing metal fitting after transportation, the handling of the recording apparatus is troublesome, and the removed fixing metal fitting may be lost.

[0008]

Therefore, in the previous application by the same applicant, as a measure for solving the inconvenience of the above-mentioned fixing metal fitting, a lock lever capable of protruding and retracting with respect to the carriage movement path is provided on the exterior of the recording apparatus. There has been proposed a structure in which the carriage is fixed to the capping position by operating the lock lever. That is, at the time of transportation or the like, the locking lever is projected into the carriage travel path to bring the projected portion into contact with the carriage or the recording head, and this contact prevents the recording head from moving in the direction away from the cap. An inkjet recording apparatus configured to do so has been proposed.

However, in such a structure, since it is necessary to operate a special lock lever for fixing the carriage, there is a possibility that the user forgets to operate the lock lever during transportation. However, there is a possibility that ink leakage from the recording head and ink drying in the ejection port may occur, which may cause a great inconvenience. Further, after transportation, there is a possibility that the operation of releasing the lock lever may be forgotten, and in that case, the components may be damaged by turning on the power of the apparatus main body while the carriage is fixed.

The present invention has been made in view of such prior art, and an object of the present invention is to prevent forgetting to fix the recording head to the capping position and forgetting to release it, and to eliminate erroneous operation at that time. And moreover,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can simplify the apparatus configuration and reduce the cost.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a recording means for ejecting ink to a recording material to perform recording, a moving means for moving the recording means along the recording material, and a non-recording time are used. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a capping means for covering an ink ejection portion of a recording means and an opening / closing member formed by a part of an exterior, a stopper is projected in a moving path of a moving means by closing the opening / closing member. The above-mentioned object is achieved by adopting a constitution in which the moving means is held at the capping position by means of.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above structure, the stopper is a part of the opening / closing member, or the opening / closing member is a tray for loading recording materials. The above object is achieved more efficiently.

[0013]

According to the above construction, when the recording apparatus is not used, the recording head is automatically fixed to the capping position by the closing operation of the opening / closing member which is naturally performed after the recording apparatus is used. Further, when the recording apparatus is used, the recording head and the carriage are automatically released from the fixed state by the opening operation of the opening / closing member which is naturally performed at the start of use, and the movable state is achieved. In the above configuration, it is preferable that the opening for opening the recording material is opened and closed by opening and closing the tray.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an essential configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, showing a state in which an opening / closing member formed of a tray for loading recording materials is opened. is there. In FIG. 1, an opening / closing member 62 forming a part of the exterior of the apparatus is attached to the front surface of an exterior main body 61 of the inkjet recording apparatus so as to be openable and closable. The main body of the device opened and closed by the opening / closing member 62 is
An opening for passing the recording material, that is, a paper discharge port 63 for discharging the recording material in the illustrated example is formed. Further, the opening / closing member 62 forms a cover for covering the opening 63 when not in use, and also serves as a front tray for loading a recording material (in the example shown, discharged recording material). . Therefore, the opening / closing member 62
Is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 64 provided on the exterior body 61. The opening / closing member 62 is opened / closed by a user's operation so that it opens when the recording apparatus is used and closes after the recording apparatus is used.

Inside the opening / closing member (tray) 62,
A stopper 65 for fixing the recording means (recording head) 1 to the capping position is provided. The stopper 65 projects into the movement path of the carriage 2 having the recording head 1 mounted thereon when the opening / closing member 62 is rotated in the direction of arrow a to be closed, and abuts on the carriage 2 or the recording head 1 to thereby make the recording head. 1 for holding (or fixing) 1 in a capping state (a state in which the ink ejection portion is sealed with a cap described later), and in the example shown in the figure, it is formed by a protrusion integrated with the opening / closing member 62.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 2, a recording means (recording head) 1 is mounted on a carriage 2, and the carriage 2 is guided and supported so as to be capable of reciprocating along two guide rails 3 installed on the apparatus main body. A carriage motor 4 for moving the carriage 2 is mounted on one end of the apparatus body, and an idler pulley 5 is arranged on the other end. The guide rail 3 is provided between the carriage motor 4 and the idler pulley 5.
A timing belt 6 is stretched in parallel with and a part of the timing belt 6 is connected to the carriage 2. Further, the timing belt 6 is given a predetermined tension by a tension spring 7 provided on the idler pulley 5. Thus, the carriage motor 4
The carriage 2 is reciprocated by forward rotation and reverse rotation, and the position of the carriage 2 (position of the recording head 1) is controlled by the rotation amount of the carriage motor 4.

At a position facing the ink ejection portion of the recording head 1, a platen 8 having a length substantially covering the width of the recording material is provided.
Is provided in parallel with the guide rail 3. The platen 8 is for regulating the position of the recording material at the recording position (such as a gap with the ink ejection portion). A feed roller (not shown) is arranged in parallel with the guide rail (carriage guide shaft) 3 on the upstream side of the platen 8 through which the paper passes. A pinch roller 10 supported by a pinch roller guide 9 is brought into pressure contact with this feed roller, and the recording material fed from the automatic paper feeder 15 is recorded by the feed roller and the pinch roller 10 on the recording section (on the platen 8). It is configured to be transported to.

A discharge roller 11 and a spur (not shown) for discharging the recording material that has passed through the recording portion are provided on the downstream side of the platen 8 through which the paper is passed. The recording material is sent out by a frictional conveyance force between the spur and the recording material. The platen 8
A recovery device 16 is provided at a position outside the recording area on the right side of the. The recovery device 16 is provided with a cap 17 capable of sealing the ink ejection portion of the recording head 1. The recovery device 16 generates a negative pressure in the cap 17 by a suction pump or the like in a state where the ink ejection portion is sealed, and sucks out the thickened ink or the fixed ink in the ejection port of the recording head 1 to thereby eject the recording head. 1 is configured to recover the ink ejection performance.

The cap 17 is used as a negative pressure chamber in the above-described recovery operation of the recording head 1, and is also used for preventing ink drying in the ejection port. That is, at the time of non-recording or transportation, the carriage 2 carrying the recording head 1 is moved to the right end portion (position facing the cap 17) in FIG. 2, and the cap 17 is moved forward toward the recording head 1. By doing so, the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 1 is configured to be sealed (capped). The automatic paper feeding device 15, the feed roller (not shown), the paper discharge roller 11, and the recovery device 1.
6 and the like are driven by the LF motor 12 as a drive source through a transmission mechanism including gear trains 13, 14 and a clutch (not shown).

The recording head 1 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 1 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Is.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head) 1.
In FIG. 3, the recording material and a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.
5 to 2.0 mm) and the discharge port forming surface 5 facing each other
1, a plurality of discharge ports 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch,
An electrothermal converter (a heating resistor or the like) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of each liquid passage 54 that connects the common liquid chamber 53 and each ejection port 52. In this example, the recording head 1 has the ejection port 52.
Are mounted on the carriage 2 in such a positional relationship that they are arranged in a direction intersecting with the scanning direction of the carriage 2. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid path 54 to film-boil, and the ejection port 52 is caused by the pressure generated at that time.
A recording head 1 is configured to eject ink from the recording head 1.

In the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an opening / closing member (a front tray in the illustrated example) 62 is provided with an arrow in FIG. 1 in order to open a discharge port 63 which is an opening when the apparatus is used. By rotating to b side,
The opening / closing member 62 is used as a tray for stacking recording materials after recording. Therefore, the stopper (projection) 65 provided on the opening / closing member 62 is removed (retracted) from the contact position (lock position) with the recording head 1 by the operation of opening the opening / closing member 62, and the capping of the recording head 1 is performed. The position lock is released. On the other hand, after the use of the inkjet recording apparatus is finished and the recording head 1 is moved to the capping position, the opening / closing member (front tray) 62 is rotated in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1 to close the discharge port 63. As a result, the stopper 65 comes into contact with the recording head 1 and moves to the capping lock position where the recording head 1 is fixed (locked) at the capping position. By such an operation, it becomes possible to completely prevent forgetting of the lock on / off operation or erroneous operation when locking and unlocking the recording head 1 in the capping state after and before use of the recording apparatus. .

In the above embodiment, the stopper 65 is brought into contact with the recording head itself in order to lock the recording head 1 in the capping state. However, the stopper 65 is brought into contact with the carriage 2 to be in the capping state. You can lock it. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the stopper 65 is formed integrally with the opening / closing member 62. However, this is provided with a stopper (lock member) that is a separate member,
The stopper may be moved to the lock position by bringing a part of the opening / closing member 62 into contact with the stopper to lock the recording head 1 in the capping state. In this case, normally, when the opening / closing member 62 is opened, the stopper (lock member) is automatically moved to the unlock (retract) position by the return spring or the like.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the essential parts of a second embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 4, the open / close operation of the openable top tray 19 forming a part of the exterior is utilized to lock and unlock the recording head 1 at the capping position. This top tray 19
It covers the recording material loading port 18 of the automatic paper feeding device 15 when not in use, and functions as an auxiliary tray for supporting the recording material for paper feeding in a loaded state when in use. The top tray 19 is rotatably supported by the exterior body 61 so as to be openable and closable (rotatable), and is locked when the top tray 19 is rotated in the direction of arrow c in FIG. By pushing the pin (stopper) 20 downward and the shaft portion 21 below the lock pin 20 is fitted into the lock hole 22 of the carriage 2, the carriage 2 is locked at the capping position. Here, the lock pin (stopper) 2
0 is the guide portion 2 provided on the exterior body (cover) 61.
3 is guided by the shaft portion 21 so as to be linearly movable in the vertical direction, and is constantly urged upward by the pin spring 24.

In a use state (state shown in FIG. 4) in which the top tray (opening / closing member) 19 is rotated in the direction of the arrow d in FIG. 4 to open the loading port 18, the lock pin 20 moves the top tray (open / close member). Since the member 19 is pushed downward, the lock of the recording head 1 at the capping position is released. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the carriage 2 is configured to be locked via the lock pin 20 which is a separate member, but this is a protrusion-like stopper for locking the carriage 2 on the top tray 19 itself. May be integrally formed. Further, instead of the carriage 2, the recording head 1 may be engaged and locked.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the essential parts of a third embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In this embodiment, the front tray (opening / closing member) 32 is slid in the arrow ef direction with respect to the exterior main body 61 to open / close the paper discharge port 38. In FIG. 5, a lock lever (stopper) 33 is rotatably supported on a shaft 34 provided on the exterior main body 61 in a direction indicated by an arrow g-h, and the lock lever 33 is constantly springed by an arrow h. It is biased to the side.

Therefore, the front tray (opening / closing member) 32
5 is located on the arrow f side in FIG. 5, and when the discharge port 38 is open for recording, the lock lever (stopper) 33 is retracted from the movement path of the recording head 1 as shown in the figure. The recording head 1 is not locked at the capping position.

A non-recording state (non-use state) in which the front tray 32 is moved in the direction of arrow e in FIG.
Then, the end portion 36 of the lock lever 33 is pressed by the rising portion 39 of the front tray (opening / closing member) 32, and the lock lever 33 is rotated to the arrow g side. When the use of the recording apparatus is finished, the recording head 1 is in the capping state by the predetermined sequence operation. Therefore, when the lock lever (stopper) 33 is rotated toward the arrow g, the protrusion 3 of the lock lever 33 is rotated.
5 enters the moving path of the recording head 1,
And the recording head 1 is locked in the capping state. That is, by closing the front tray 32 after the use of the recording apparatus is finished, the recording head 1 in the capping state is locked as it is at the capping position.

According to each of the embodiments described above, the opening / closing members 62, 19 and 32 forming a part of the exterior of the recording apparatus, such as a tray for opening / closing the paper passage opening, are used to use the recording apparatus. When the opening / closing member is later closed, the recording head 1 in the capping state is locked in the capping position as it is, so that it is possible to reliably prevent forgetting to fix the recording head 1 in the capping state and forgetting to release it from the capping state. Since these operations are performed by opening and closing the recording material stack tray, it is possible to eliminate erroneous operations. Further, by forming the locking projection (stopper) on the recording material stack tray itself, it becomes possible to reliably lock and unlock the recording head 1 without increasing the cost.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the carriage 2
Although the inkjet recording apparatus for single-color recording in which one recording head 1 is mounted is described as an example, the present invention is an inkjet recording for color recording using a plurality of recording heads for recording with inks of different colors. The same effect can be achieved regardless of the number of recording heads, such as an apparatus or an inkjet recording apparatus for gradation recording that uses a plurality of recording heads that record with the same color and different densities. It is possible.

Further, the recording means (recording head) 1 is of a cartridge type in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, or the recording head and the ink tank are provided separately and are connected by an ink supply tube. Even if the recording unit and the ink tank have any configurations, the same can be applied and the same effect can be achieved.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among them, thermal energy is used. In this way, an excellent effect is brought about in an ink jet recording apparatus of the type that ejects ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. Since the electrothermal converter generates heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. It is valid.

The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a structure based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a structure in which the discharge section is associated with the discharge section. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, 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 material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, it is possible to electrically connect to the device body and supply ink from the device body by mounting it on the recording head fixed to the device body or the device body. The present invention is also effective when 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 is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided in the present invention as a configuration of the recording apparatus, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, electrothermal converter or other heating element or preheating means by a combination thereof, and ejection different from recording are applied to the recording head. Performing the preliminary ejection mode is also effective for stable recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode only for mainstream colors such as black,
The recording head may be integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used, but the present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of a mixed color of different colors or a full color by mixing colors.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink that has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a mode in which it is held as a liquid or a solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as a form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, recording means for ejecting ink onto a recording material to perform recording, and for moving the recording means along the recording material. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a moving means, a capping means for covering an ink ejection portion of the recording means at the time of non-recording, and an opening / closing member formed by a part of an exterior, the moving path of the moving means is closed by closing the opening / closing member. Since the stopper is projected and the moving means is held at the capping position by the stopper, it is possible to prevent forgetting to fix the recording head to the capping position and forgetting to release the recording head, and to eliminate erroneous operation at that time. Provided is an inkjet recording apparatus which can simplify the apparatus configuration and reduce the cost.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration,
Since the stopper is a part of the opening / closing member or the opening / closing member is a tray for loading a recording material, an inkjet recording apparatus capable of achieving the above effect more efficiently is provided. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the internal configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording head shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 recording head 2 carriage 4 Carriage motor 8 Platen 11 discharge roller 12 LF motor 15 Automatic paper feeder 16 Recovery device 17 Cap 18 loading port 19 Opening / closing member (top tray) 20 Stopper (lock pin) 22 Lock hole 24 pin springs 32 Opening / closing member (front tray) 33 Stopper (lock lever) 38 Paper exit 39 Rising part 51 Discharge port forming surface 52 Discharge port 55 Electrothermal converter 61 Exterior body 62 Opening / closing member (front tray) 63 Aperture (Paper exit) 65 Stopper (projection)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Haruyuki Yanagi             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Satoshi Saikawa             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording means for ejecting ink onto a recording material to perform recording, a moving means for moving the recording means along the recording material, and an ink ejecting portion of the recording means during non-recording. In an inkjet recording apparatus having a capping means for covering and an opening / closing member formed by a part of the exterior, a stopper is projected in a moving path of the moving means by closing the opening / closing member, and the moving means is brought to a capping position by the stopper. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by holding. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is a part of the opening / closing member. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing member is a tray for loading recording materials. 4. The ink jet recording means, wherein the recording means comprises an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink.
Inkjet recording device. 5. The ink jet recording according to claim 4, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. apparatus.