JPH0569556A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the durability or reliability of a cleaning member by arranging the cleaning member in a state approachable to and separable from the ink emitting orifice forming surface in a recording means and preventing the contact of the cleaning member with other member at the time of the movement of the cleaning member with respect to said surface. CONSTITUTION:When foreign matter 24 such as an ink droplet or waste refuse is bonded to the emitting orifice forming surface of a recording head 2, at first, a carriage 14 is moved in a direction (a) to oppose a cleaning member 22 to the recessed part 25 formed to the emitting orifice forming surface 51. Next, a holder 23 is moved in a direction (b) to allow the cleaning member 22 to penetrate in the recessed part 25 without bringing the leading end part thereof into contact with the recessed part 25. Continuously the carriage 14 is further moved in the direction (a) and the cleaning member 22 is brought into slide contact with the emitting orifice surface 51 to wipe off the foreign matter 24. Thereafter, the holder 23 is moved in a direction (c) to retract the cleaning member 22. By this constitution, the contact of the cleaning member 22 with other member is prevented and the durability or reliability of the cleaning member 22 is enhanced.

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 type 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 device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording type.

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 (generally mounted on a carriage) that moves along the material, and a predetermined amount of paper is fed (conveyed material to be recorded) after one line of recording is completed, After that, the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next row is repeated on the recording material that has stopped again, thereby recording the entire 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 the
After recording for one line, the paper is fed by a predetermined amount (recording material is conveyed), and then the recording of the next row is collectively performed. Be done.

Among the above recording apparatuses, an ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and the recording means can be made compact. Easy and
High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise, and multicolor It has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using ink. Above all, the line type apparatus using the line type recording means in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up the 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 (discharging 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 plate (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 unit (recording head), or the ink at the ejection opening portion dries and thickens or sticks.
As a means for preventing this, a recovery means that seals the ink ejection portion and sucks ink from the ink ejection portion at the time of non-recording, or a cleaning member that wipes and cleans the ejection port forming surface is used. ..

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, it is necessary to clean the deposits (especially ink droplets) attached to the discharge port forming surface (droplet discharging surface) of the recording head. The ink droplets may be attached during recording or may be attached during the suction recovery operation. The suction recovery operation is an operation for sucking ink from the ejection port to eliminate clogging of the recording head, and the sucked ink may remain on the ejection port forming surface. In these cases, for the purpose of removing the ink adhering to the ejection port formation surface, a cleaning operation is performed in which a rubber blade such as urethane is rubbed against the ejection port formation surface to wipe off the adhered matter.

As a structure for the cleaning operation, for example, after moving the rubber blade (cleaning member) from the retracted position (non-cleaning position) to the forward position (cleaning position), the carriage is moved to form the ejection port forming surface. In addition, a structure is adopted in which the tip of the cleaning member is rubbed to remove foreign matter from the discharge port forming surface, and then the cleaning member is returned to the non-cleaning position.

[0009]

However, in the conventional configuration, the cleaning member also rubs against the other portion of the ejection port forming surface, that is, the portion of the carriage or the portion other than the ejection port forming surface of the recording head. Therefore, there is a problem that the durability of the cleaning member is reduced. In other words, the rubbing portion (tip portion) of the cleaning member is scraped or chipped due to abrasion, which causes cleaning failure. There is also a problem that the cleaning member must be frequently replaced because the durability is lowered.

Further, in the case where a structure for detecting the floating of the recording material, the paper size, or the like, or a member for suppressing the floating of the recording material is arranged on the front surface of the carriage, the discharge port forming surface The cleaning member accompanied by the removed adhered matter comes into contact with them, and this adhered matter causes a detection failure, or when adhered to the recording material suppressing member, the adhered matter is adhered to the recorded material. There is a problem of lowering the image quality by transferring.

Further, the cleaning member vibrates at the moment when the cleaning member is released from the sliding state with the movement of the carriage, and this vibration causes the adhered matter removed from the ejection port forming surface to scatter from the cleaning member to the periphery. There is also a problem to be solved that the image quality deteriorates by being attached to the recording material.

Therefore, the cleaning member is moved from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position on the upstream side of the cleaning of the recording head (immediately upstream of the ejection port forming surface), and the carriage is moved to the downstream side of the cleaning of the recording head within the area of the carriage. A configuration in which the cleaning member is moved from the cleaning position to the non-cleaning position immediately after performing the cleaning operation has been considered. With this configuration, the sliding area of the cleaning member can be minimized to improve the durability and reliability of the cleaning member. Further, contact between the cleaning member and a detection unit for detecting the floating or size of the recording material on the carriage or a paper holding member for suppressing the recording material can be prevented, and detection accuracy and image quality can be improved. Further, it is possible to avoid scattering of the adhered matter when the cleaning member is released from the sliding state.

However, in such a conventional structure, when the cleaning member moves from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position, the tip portion of the cleaning member comes into contact with the carriage or the recording head, and a deforming force is applied to the cleaning member. Therefore, the cleaning member may be deformed in a direction opposite to the shape during normal cleaning. If the carriage is moved and rubbed in that state, it may reverse to the shape during normal cleaning in the middle, but in any case, it rubs while deformed in the opposite direction or vibrates during inverting. Therefore, there is a problem to be solved that cleaning becomes defective. further,
When moving from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position, the tip portion of the cleaning member collides with the carriage or the recording head, so that the edge of the rubbing portion of the cleaning member is scraped off, resulting in poor cleaning and reduced durability. ..

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the durability and reliability of a cleaning member, and to perform stable cleaning of a discharge port forming surface. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device that can perform operations.

According to the present invention, there are provided a recording means for recording on the recording material by moving relative to the recording material, and a cleaning member for rubbing the ejection port forming surface of the recording means to remove the adhered matter. In the inkjet recording apparatus having the cleaning member, the cleaning member has a non-cleaning position separated from a cleaning position capable of sliding on the ejection port forming surface, and when the cleaning member is moved from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position, the cleaning member is replaced with another member. The above-mentioned object is achieved by adopting a structure that does not contact with. Further, in addition to the above-mentioned configuration, another aspect of the present invention is such that when a recess is formed in the carriage or the recording unit and the cleaning member is moved from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position,
The cleaning member is configured to enter the concave portion in a non-contact state so as to more efficiently achieve the above object.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1, the recording material 1 is intermittently fed in a predetermined direction by a conveying (sub-scanning) mechanism, and recording is performed while moving the recording means 2 in a direction intersecting with the direction (main scanning). It is configured.

In FIG. 1, a recording material 1 made of paper, a plastic thin plate, or the like is indicated by an arrow A by a paper feeding device (not shown).
Is guided in a direction and guided between an upper guide 4 and a lower guide 5 fixed to the bottom plate 3. Further, the recording material 1 is guided in the traveling direction by both guides 4 and 5, and a conveying roller (sub-scanning roller) 6 and a conveying driven roller (sub-scanning driven roller) 7 are provided.
Between the pair of conveying rollers. The pair of conveying rollers 6 and 7 are rotationally driven by a conveying motor 8. The recording material 1 is controlled by driving and controlling the pair of conveying rollers 6 and 7.
Are carried out onto the platen 9 fixed to the bottom plate 3,
While being supported by the platen 9, the sheet reaches a space between a pair of paper discharge rollers composed of a paper discharge roller 10 and a paper discharge driven roller 11, and the conveyance is temporarily stopped there. The discharge roller pair 10, 11
Is conveyed by the conveying motor 8 to the conveying roller pairs 6, 7
It is driven synchronously with.

A paper ejection guide 12 is supported on the bottom plate 3, and the recording material 1 conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the paper ejection roller pair 10 and 11 is guided by the paper ejection guide 12. It is discharged to the outside of the device body. The transport roller 6 and the discharge roller 10 have a particle size of 10 on their surfaces.
Aluminum particles of 00 to 2000 are adhered,
Chloroprene rubber is baked on each of the driven rollers 7 and 11. Therefore, the recording material 1 can be transported with high transporting force and high accuracy.

At the upper back side of the platen 9, the conveying roller 6 is provided.
A main scanning rail (guide rail) 13 is fixed in parallel with the axial direction of. The recording unit 2 is mounted on a carriage 14, and the carriage 14 has a bearing portion 15 into which the guide rail 13 is inserted.
Can be moved along. The recording means 2 mounted on the carriage 14 in the present embodiment is composed of a plurality of (four) recording means using different inks, and in the case of full color recording, for example, black, cyan, magenta, yellow. 4 colors of ink are used. Further, each recording means (recording head) 2 of the present embodiment is a cartridge type in which an ink tank and a recording portion (ink ejection portion) are integrated, and each of them is positionably mounted on the carriage 14 in a replaceable manner. ..

An ink ejecting portion (ejection opening forming surface) is provided below each recording means 2, and the ink ejecting portion is formed with a plurality of ejection openings arranged in a direction intersecting with the moving direction of the carriage 14. Has been done. Each ink ejecting section is arranged so as to eject ink toward the platen 9 side through the opening at the bottom of the carriage 14.

The recording means (recording head) 2 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 2 is
Recording is performed by ejecting ink from the ejection port by utilizing the pressure change caused by the growth and contraction of bubbles caused by film boiling caused by the heat energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head) 2.
In FIG. 2, a plurality of ejection openings 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch on an ejection opening formation surface 51 that faces the recording material 1 with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm). Each liquid path 5 that connects the common liquid chamber 53 and each discharge port 52
Electrothermal converters (heat generating resistors, etc.) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink are arranged along the wall surface of No. 4. In this example, the recording heads 2 are mounted on the carriage 14 in such a positional relationship that the ejection ports 52 are arranged in a direction intersecting the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage 14. 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 pressure generated at that time causes the ink to be ejected from the ejection port 52. Recording means (recording head) 2 is configured.

In FIG. 1, a carriage motor (main scanning motor) 16 as a drive source for reciprocating the carriage 14 is fixed to the main body of the apparatus (side plate thereof, etc.). A motor pulley 17 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the carriage motor 16 and can rotate integrally with the rotation shaft. An idler pulley 18 is axially supported on the opposite side of the motor pulley 17, and a main scanning belt (carriage drive belt) 19 is stretched between the motor pulley 17 and the idler pulley 18. Carriage 1
The carriage driving belt 19 is reciprocally driven by rotation of the carriage motor 14.

The home position HP of the carriage 14 is set at a position outside the recording area (or platen 9) within the movement range of the carriage 14. In the vicinity of the home position HP, a cap 20 made of a rubber-like elastic material capable of sealing (capping) the ejection port forming surface of each recording head 2 is arranged. In the vicinity of the cap 20, the ejection port 5 of each recording head 2 is provided.
A recovery device 21 is provided for eliminating the ejection failure due to the second clogging or the like. The recovery device 21, for example, generates a negative pressure at each ejection port 52 in a state where the ejection port forming surface 51 is sealed by the cap 20, and sucks foreign matters such as bubbles and adhered ink together with ink from the ejection port 52. Is configured. This ink suction operation is performed by driving a suction pump (not shown).

A roller (not shown) is rotatably supported on the lower portion of the carriage 14, and the roller rolls on the upper surface of the recording material 1 on the platen 9 so that each recording head 2 The distance between the ejection port forming surface 51 and the recording surface of the recording material 1 is always regulated to be constant. Also, the carriage 1
In the vicinity of the home position HP of No. 4, the cap 20
Is provided, the platen 9 cannot be extended to the home position HP. Therefore, when the carriage 14 moves toward the home position HP, the rollers of the carriage 14 are disengaged from the platen 9. Therefore, at a position outside the platen 9, the carriage 14 rides on a guide plate (not shown) provided on the recovery device 21 via the rollers.

During the recording operation, the carriage 14 is moved by the carriage motor 16 and the recording head 2 is driven according to the image signal, whereby ink is ejected onto the recording material 1 stopped on the platen 9. 1
An image for each line is formed (main scanning). When the recording for one line is completed, the conveying roller pairs 6 and 7 are rotated by a predetermined amount to convey the recording material 1 by a predetermined amount (for example, an amount corresponding to the height of one line) (sub scanning), and the carriage 14 again. Then, the recording head 2 is driven to record the next row (main scanning). Less than,
An image is recorded on the entire recording material 1 by alternately repeating the main scanning and the sub-scanning. Then, the recording material 1 is recorded by a sensor (not shown) arranged at a predetermined position.
When the trailing edge is detected, the recording operation is terminated, and the recording material 1 is ejected by the rotation of the ejection roller pairs 10 and 11.
It is discharged along the line 2 to the outside of the device body.

Each of the four recording means 2 comprises an ink tank portion in which yellow, magenta, cyan and black inks are stored and an ink ejection portion (recording head portion) for ejecting these inks. The section is connected to each ink ejecting section. Then, in accordance with each color-separated image signal, the four color inks are ejected from each ink ejection section (recording head section), and these four colors are superposed to form a full-color image. The recording material 1 is not only fed from the paper feeding device, but also when the operator causes the recording material to enter the abutting portion of the pair of discharge rollers 10 and 11 and reversely rotates the transport motor 8. A method (manual feeding) in which the sheet is once conveyed from the paper discharge side into the sheet feeding device and then fed from the sheet feeding device again can be adopted.

The cap 20 is a discharge port 5 of the recording means 2.
The inside of 2 is kept in a wet state to prevent clogging of the ejection port 52 due to ink drying or ink sticking. In addition, the recovery device 21 connected to each cap 20
Is for sucking and removing bubbles, adhered ink, impurities and the like generated inside the ejection port 52 to eliminate ejection failure. Inside the recovery device 28, each cap 20
With each discharge port forming surface 51 sealed, the cap 20
A suction pump (not shown) is provided for depressurizing the inside, sucking bubbles, adhered ink, impurities, and the like together with the ink from the discharge port 52 of each recording unit 2 and removing these from the discharge port 52.

Between the recording area (platen 9) and the cap 20, a rubber-like material for wiping off foreign matters (adhered matters) such as ink droplets and dust adhered to the ejection port forming surface 51 of each recording head 2 is removed. A cleaning member 22 composed of an elastic blade is provided. This cleaning member 22
Is held by a holder 23 and is driven by a drive source (not shown).
It is configured such that it can be driven between a protruding position where it can slide on the ejection port forming surface 51 and a retracted position which is separated from the ejection port forming surface 51.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing the cleaning member 22 and the carriage 14 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
4 and 5 are front views showing the operation of FIG. Figure 3
5A to 5C, the carriage 14 on which the inkjet recording unit 2 is mounted is supported along the guide rail 13 so as to be movable in the arrow a or d direction. In addition, the cleaning member 2 formed of a rubber-like elastic material such as urethane rubber
2 is held by a holder 23, and is attached so as to be movable in the direction of arrow b or c by a drive source (not shown). A recess 25 is formed at a predetermined position of the carriage 14, that is, at a position adjacent to the discharge port forming surface 51 on the upstream side in the cleaning direction (direction of arrow a). This recess 25
Has a shape and dimension such that the cleaning member 22 does not come into contact with the cleaning member 22 even if the cleaning member 22 moves to a protruding position where it can slide on the ejection port forming surface 51.

As described above, ink droplets may adhere to the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 2 during recording, or ink sucked from the ejection port 52 due to suction recovery may adhere. Next, the cleaning operation of the ejection port forming surface 51 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the ejection port forming surface 51 has attached matter 24 such as ink droplets or dust, the carriage 14 is moved in the direction of arrow a, and the cleaning direction of the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 2 (direction of arrow a). ) When the adjacent portion on the upstream side, that is, the portion where the concave portion 25 is formed reaches a position (position in FIGS. 3 and 4) facing the cleaning member 22, the carriage 14 is temporarily stopped. Next, the holder 23 holding the cleaning member 22 is moved in the direction of arrow b by a drive source (not shown). That is, it is moved from the non-cleaning position (the retracted position shown by the chain double-dashed line) to the cleaning position (the protruding position shown by the solid line). At this time, the tip portion of the cleaning member 22 has the concave portion 25.
The recess 2 that enters inside but is part of the carriage 14
5 and the cleaning member 22 are not in contact with each other.

After that, the carriage 14 is further moved in the direction of arrow a. At this time, the movement of the carriage 14 causes the cleaning member 22 to rub against the ejection port forming surface 51, and the foreign matter 24 adhering to the ejection port forming surface 51 is wiped off to the cleaning member 22 side. Then, when the adjacent portion on the downstream side of the ejection port forming surface 51 in the cleaning direction (arrow a direction) reaches the position facing the cleaning member 22, the carriage 14 is stopped again. This state is shown in FIG. After that, the holder 23 is moved in the direction of arrow c by a drive source (not shown), and the cleaning member 22 is retracted from the cleaning position to the non-cleaning position.

By the retreat movement of the cleaning member 22, the vibration of the cleaning member 22 generated at the moment when the cleaning member 22 is released from the sliding state can be suppressed to the minimum, and the cleaning member 22 can be minimized. 22
It is possible to minimize the scattering of the upper deposit 24. Further, even when the detection means for detecting the floating or size of the recording material 1 or the paper holding means for suppressing the recording material 1 is provided in both side areas of the carriage 14, that is, both side areas e, f of the recording head 2. It is possible to prevent the cleaning member 22 from coming into contact with these means (constituents) during the cleaning operation, and it is possible to prevent deterioration of detection accuracy or deterioration of image quality due to the adhering matter 24.

FIG. 6 is a partial front view showing the construction of the carriage and cleaning member in another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Although the recess 25 is formed in the carriage 14 in the above-described embodiment, in this embodiment, the recess 26 corresponding to the recess 25 faces the cleaning member 22 of the recording unit (recording head) 2 (for example, ejection port formation). It is formed on the same surface as the surface 51).
That is, in FIG. 6, a concave portion 26 is formed at a position adjacent to the discharge port forming surface 51 of the recording head 2 on the upstream side in the cleaning direction (direction of arrow a). It has such a shape and dimension that it does not come into contact with the cleaning member 22 even if it moves to a protruding position where it can rub against 51.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the above-described embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 in that the recess 26 is formed in the recording means (recording head) 2, but other parts have substantially the same structure. The corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also according to this embodiment, FIG.
The same action and effect as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 5 can be obtained.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an ink jet recording apparatus for color recording using a plurality of recording means 2 for recording with different color inks has been described as an example, but the present invention is one recording means. The same applies regardless of the number of recording means, such as an inkjet recording apparatus for single-color recording using the same or an inkjet recording apparatus for gradation recording using a plurality of recording means for recording with inks of the same color but different densities. It is possible to achieve the same effect.

Further, as the recording means 2, in addition to the cartridge type in which the ink ejection portion (recording head) and the ink tank portion are integrated, the ink ejection portion (recording head portion) and the ink tank portion are formed separately. Whatever the constitution of the recording means, such as the constitution in which it is connected by the ink supply tube or the like, can be similarly applied and the same effect can be achieved.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus that uses 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 can be obtained 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 US Pat. No. 7,967. 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 holding the 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.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. 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 No. 24 are adopted, even 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 linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of 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 a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration in which the above is associated with the discharge portion. 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 fills the length by combining 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 or supply ink from the device body by mounting it on the recording head fixed to the device body or on 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, and the like, 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 these are specifically mentioned,
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 or 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 the 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. However, the present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of a mixed color of different colors or a full color of mixed 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. Any liquid may be used. 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 ink evaporation 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 which has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one which 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 a concave portion or a through hole of a 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 the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. It may be in the form of the above.

[0049]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the recording means for recording on the recording material by moving relative to the recording material, and the ejection port forming surface of the recording means are rubbed. In an inkjet recording apparatus having a cleaning member for removing adhered substances, the cleaning member has a non-cleaning position separated from a cleaning position capable of sliding on the ejection port forming surface, and the cleaning position is changed from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position. Since the cleaning member is configured so as not to come into contact with other members when moving to the inkjet recording device, it is possible to improve the durability and reliability of the cleaning member and perform a stable cleaning operation of the ejection port forming surface. Will be provided. Also,
According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, when the recess is formed in the carriage or the recording unit and the cleaning member is moved from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position, the cleaning member is not in contact with the recess. Since it is configured so as to enter in, an inkjet recording apparatus that can achieve the above effect more efficiently is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the configuration of an ink ejection section of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing an arrangement configuration of a carriage and a cleaning member in an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state when the cleaning member is moved from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position in the arrangement configuration of FIG.

5 is a front view showing a state in which the cleaning member is retracted to the non-cleaning position after the cleaning is completed in the arrangement configuration of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partial front view showing an arrangement configuration of a carriage and a cleaning member in another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Material 2 Recording Means (Recording Head) 6 Conveying Roller 8 Conveying Motor (Sub-scanning Motor) 9 Platen 10 Paper Ejection Roller 13 Guide Rail 14 Carriage 16 Carriage Driving Motor (Main Scanning Motor) 20 Cap 21 Recovery Device 22 Cleaning Member (Blade for wiping off) 23 Holder 24 Attached matter 25 Recessed portion 26 Recessed portion 51 Discharge port forming surface 52 Discharge port 55 Electrothermal converter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet having a recording means for recording on a recording material by moving relative to the recording material, and a cleaning member for rubbing against a discharge port forming surface of the recording means to remove adhered matter. In the recording apparatus, the cleaning member has a non-cleaning position which is separated from a cleaning position where it can slide on the ejection port forming surface, and when the cleaning member moves from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position, the cleaning member comes into contact with other members. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by not allowing it. 2. A recess is formed in the carriage or the recording means, and when the cleaning member is moved from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position, the cleaning member enters the recess in a non-contact state. Item 1. The inkjet recording device according to item 1. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is an ink jet recording unit including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. ..