JPH0585004A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control backlash of a carrier and prevent the deterioration of the printing quality such as slippage of rules by using a pressing component and an elastic component and pressing the carrier to a guide component. CONSTITUTION:A carrier 7 which can mount a recording head and a guide component 14 guiding the carrier 7 being in parallel to a face to be recorded of a recording medium are installed. An elastic component 37 supported by the carrier 7 and a pressing component 35 receiving the pressing force by the elastic component 37 and pressing the guide component 17 are provided, and the carrier 7 is pressed and retained on the guide component 14. As a result, backlash of the carrier is controlled and the deterioration of the printing quality such as the slippage of a rule can be prevented.

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 ejecting ink for recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an operating unit (hereinafter referred to as a carrier) equipped with a recording head that reciprocates vertically with respect to a conveyance direction of a recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as recording paper or simply paper) such as paper and OHP sheet. A so-called serial type recording device (hereinafter referred to as a serial printer) having
It has been proposed in a form in which recording heads of various recording systems are mounted. The recording head used in this serial printer includes a wire dot system, a thermal system, a thermal transfer system, an inkjet system, and the like.

Among them, the ink jet method is currently attracting attention as a quiet recording method because the ink jet method directly ejects the ink onto the recording paper and thus the running cost is low. In such an ink jet system, the recording head is provided with a certain gap with respect to the recording medium and is always in a non-contact state, and the ink ejected from the recording head is discharged between the recording head and the recording medium. After flying through the space, the recording medium is reached and desired recording is performed.

[0004]

By the way, in the serial printer as described above, since the carrier 7 is guided so as to be movable along the carrier shaft 14, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, there is always a gap 39 between the carrier shaft 14 and the bearing portion of the carrier 7.

Particularly, in the case of an ink jet type serial printer, the sliding load on the carrier is much smaller than that in the case of a heat-sensitive type or a thermal transfer type in which recording is performed while contacting with a recording sheet, and it is affected by external vibration. Cheap. Therefore, when printing is performed while the carrier 7 is moving along the carrier shaft 14, when the sliding load changes, the carrier 7 swings in the directions of arrows H and I in FIG. Print position misalignment G1 and G2 and print inclination may occur. Due to this effect, for example, when a ruled line is printed in response to the ruled line, the ruled line is slightly deviated between the rows, resulting in a ruled line having variations, resulting in deterioration of print quality.

Conventionally, as a measure against the ruled line deviation, the precision of processing is improved by adopting a structure in which another component (bearing or the like) having a high dimensional accuracy is integrally molded with the carrier or by post-processing the bearing portion of the carrier. However, it was attempted to suppress rattling, but improving the processing accuracy leads to an increase in cost, and when providing a small-sized and inexpensive inkjet recording device, attention should be paid to improvements. It was something that was done.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which improves the above-mentioned points of improvement and prevents the carrier from rattling and does not cause a ruled line shift to have high printing quality.

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, and a carrier on which a recording head can be mounted and a carrier are arranged parallel to a recording surface of a recording medium. A recording apparatus having a guide member for guiding, comprising: an elastic member supported by the carrier; and a pressing member that presses the guide member by receiving a pressing force by the elastic member, and presses and holds the carrier on the guide member. It is characterized by doing.

[0009]

Since the carrier is pressed against the guide member using the pressing member and the elastic member, useless play between the members can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to reliably eliminate the rattling between the carrier and the guide member with a simpler structure, and it is possible to provide an inexpensive inkjet recording apparatus with good printing quality.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a word processor as an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied for carrying out recording by mounting an ink jet recording head, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic constitution of a recording section.

First, the entire apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus has a keyboard 1 for inputting information, a display section 2 including a CRT for displaying the input information, and the input. The main components are a floppy disk driver 4 for storing information and a recording device 3 for recording the input information on a recording medium 5.

In this device, when character information or the like is input by the keyboard 1, the input information is displayed on the display section 2.
To output this information, set the recording medium 5 in the recording device 3, and press the recording start key to drive the recording device,
The information is recorded on the set recording medium.
The recording device 3 used in this word processor is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, 6 is a detachable head cartridge having an ink jet recording head and an ink tank, which will be described later, and 7 is a head cartridge mounted with an arrow A.
It is a carrier for scanning in the direction. 8 is a hook for attaching the head cartridge 6 to the carrier 7, 9
Is a lever for operating the hook 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes a support plate which has an electric connection portion for transmitting a recording signal to the electric connection portion of the head cartridge 6 and which supports the head cartridge. Reference numeral 12 is a flexible substrate for connecting the electric connection part of the support and the main body control part,
A desired recording is achieved by transmitting a recording signal instructed from the main body through the flexible substrate. A carrier shaft 14 serves as a guide for guiding the carrier 7 in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Further, 16 is a timing belt to which the carrier 7 is fixed and which transmits power for moving the carrier 7 in the direction of arrow A, and is further stretched around pulleys 15a and 15b arranged on both sides of the device. A driving force is transmitted from the carrier motor 17 to the one pulley 15b through a transmission mechanism such as a gear, and a recording area and a non-recording area of the recording apparatus are scanned according to a recording signal.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a conveying roller for regulating the recording surface of a recording medium such as paper and for conveying the recording medium at the time of recording, which is driven by a conveying motor 19. 20
Is a paper pan for guiding the recording medium to the recording position, 21
Is a pinch roller which is disposed in the middle of the feeding path of the recording medium to press the recording medium toward the conveying roller 18 and convey the same. Reference numeral 22 denotes a platen that faces the ejection port of the head cartridge 6 and regulates the recording surface of the recording medium. Reference numeral 24 denotes a paper discharge roller which is arranged on the downstream side of the recording position in the recording medium conveyance direction and discharges the recording medium toward a paper discharge port (not shown). Reference numeral 25 is a spur provided corresponding to the paper discharge roller, and presses the paper discharge roller 24 through the recording medium to generate a conveying force of the recording medium by the paper discharge roller 24. Reference numeral 26 is a release lever for releasing the bias of the pinch roller 21 and the spur 25 when setting the recording medium.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a cap formed of an elastic material such as rubber which faces the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head at the home position, and is supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the recording head. The cap 27 is used for protection of the recording head during non-recording, and for ejection recovery processing of the recording head. What is the discharge recovery process?
The ink is ejected from all ejection ports by driving the energy generating element that is provided in the ejection port and is used for ejecting ink. As a result, bubbles, dust, thickened ink, etc. A process of removing the cause of ejection failure (preliminary ejection), and a process of removing the cause of ejection failure by forcibly ejecting the ink from the ejection port while the ejection port formation surface and the cap 27 are covered separately, are performed. This is a process for improving the recording characteristics including.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a pump which acts as a suction force for forcibly discharging the ink and which is used for sucking the ink received by the cap 27 during the discharge recovery process by the forced discharge or the discharge recovery process by the preliminary discharge. is there. 29 is a waste ink tank for storing the waste ink sucked by this pump, and 30 is a tube for connecting the pump and the waste ink tank 29. Also, 31
Is a blade for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, and moves to a position for protruding to the recording head side for wiping in the course of head movement and a retracted position that does not engage with the ejection port forming surface. Supported as possible. Three
Reference numeral 2 denotes a cam device that receives power transmitted from the motor 33 to drive the pump 28 and move the cap 27 and the blade 31 respectively.

Next, the above-mentioned head cartridge 6 will be described. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a head cartridge 6 in which an ejection unit 6a forming an ink jet recording head body and an ink tank 6b are integrated. In the figure, 6e is provided on a carrier 7 when the head cartridge 6 is mounted. The hook 8 is hooked by the hook 8. Further, the front ejection unit 6 of the head cartridge 6
Although not shown in the figure, a positioning abutting portion is provided near a. Reference numeral 6d denotes a head opening in which a support plate that is erected on the carrier 7 and supports a flexible substrate (electrical connection portion) is inserted. Reference numeral 6c is an electrical connection portion on the cartridge side for transmitting a recording signal from the apparatus main body to the ejection heater of the head for the ejection unit 6a.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of the carrier 7 according to the present invention. The structure of the carrier will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The flexible board 12 passes through a hole formed in the carrier from the back surface of the carrier, and one end of the flexible board 12 is fixed to the support plate 10 for supporting the electrical connection portion. Further, the back surface of the flexible board 12 is fixed to the carrier 7 by the flexible board holder 34. Has been done. The carrier 7 receives the carrier shaft 14 by guide receiving portions 7a and 7b formed on the carrier and is supported so as to be movable and scannable in the arrow A direction. Reference numeral 35 is a roller as a pressing member that applies a pressing force to the carrier shaft 14,
6 is rotatably held. The roller shaft 36, on which the rollers 35 are arranged, is formed on the carrier 7 in the vicinity of the center of the guide receiving portions 7a and 7b so as to face each other with the carrier shaft 14 interposed therebetween.
It is arranged in the groove portion of c · 7d so as to be movable along the groove. A spring 37 having both ends supported by hooks and holes formed in the guide receiving portions 7a and 7b is hooked on both sides of the roller shaft 36 with the roller 35 in between. At this time, spring 3
By the action of 7, the roller 35 presses the carrier shaft 14 via the roller shaft 36. As a reaction to this, the carrier 7 receives a downward force (direction of arrow B) with respect to the carrier shaft 14 at the guide receiving portions 7a and 7b, so that the play between the through hole of the guide receiving portion and the carrier shaft 14 is removed. With the one pressing member and the elastic member configured as described above, a substantially uniform pressing force can be generated on the carrier shaft 14 and the two guide receiving portions 7a and 7b, and the backlash therebetween can be substantially uniform. can do. As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible substrate 12 is connected to the printer base 13 from the back surface of the carrier 7 with a U-shaped curve, and the elastic force of the flexible substrate 12 pushes the carrier 7 upward. Works. In particular, the force of pushing the carrier 7 upward by the flexible substrate 12 becomes maximum when the carrier 7 moves to the left in FIG. 2 and the U-shaped curved portion of the flexible substrate comes directly under the carrier 7. Considering such upward acting force, the sum of the downward force received by the carrier 7 by the spring 37 and the downward force due to the own weight of the carrier 7 is always larger than the force pushing the carrier 7 upward by the flexible substrate 12. The pressing force of the spring 37 is set to.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the carrier shaft of the carrier 7 taken along a plane perpendicular to the carrier shaft 14 to show the carrier shaft 14, the roller 35, the roller shaft 36 and the spring 3.
7 clearly shows the positional relationship of No. 7. As shown in the figure, the contact surface of the roller 35 with the carrier shaft 14 is the carrier shaft 14
The outer shape of the carrier shaft 14 is always in line contact with the outer shape of the carrier shaft 14.

As described above, since the carrier 7 is attached to the carrier shaft 14 via the roller 35 and the spring 37, the carrier 7 is always arranged without extra play, and the carrier 7 can be moved by scanning. 7 is stably scanned without rattling. In addition, in this example, since the carrier shaft 14 has a cylindrical shape, the roller 35 has a drum shape. With such a shape, the sliding load on the carrier at the time of printing can be reduced, and relatively stable scanning of the carrier 7 can be performed.
The pressing force of (1) also acts extremely effectively, so that the carrier 7 driving scan can be achieved with almost no burden on the carrier driving system. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus in which the printing quality is improved without causing the ruled line shift or the like that is caused by the rattling of the carrier.

Next, the recording medium transport mechanism will be described.

FIG. 6 is a right side sectional view of the recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIGS. 2 and 6, a pinch roller 21 is pressed by a spring (not shown) against the conveying roller 18 arranged in parallel with the guide 14.

The recording medium 5 inserted from an insertion opening (not shown) is placed along the paper pan 20 and the pinch roller 21.
6 is conveyed in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 6 and is supported at a position facing the recording head. The recorded recording medium is further conveyed by the conveying roller 18 in the direction of arrow F, reaches the discharge roller 24 which is urged by a spur 25 by a spring (not shown), and is further conveyed to a discharge port (not shown).

The carrying roller 18 is connected to a carrying motor via a gear train 19a, and the carrying roller is rotated by driving the carrying motor.

Next, the control means for driving and controlling the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the control system. This block diagram shows only the connection relationship of each block, and detailed control lines are omitted. The portion surrounded by the broken line is the CPU unit.

The CPU 40 is a central processing unit, which reads programs and various data from a ROM 41, a floppy disk driver 4 and the like, which will be described later, performs necessary calculations and judgments, and performs various controls.

The ROM 41 is a read-only memory, and is used for various programs, character codes, and dot patterns (character generator; C) for the CPU 40 to operate.
G) stores various data necessary for recording.

The RAM 42 is a read / write memory, and a working area for temporarily storing the data in the CPU 40 and an operation result, the keyboard 1, the external interface section 44 or the floppy disk driver 4.
It is composed of a buffer area for storing various data input from the etc. and a text area for storing documents. The CPU unit is the recording head driver 4
5, it is connected to the printer unit 3 via the motor driver 46 and the detector 47.

The recording head driver 45 drives the recording head 6 provided in the printer unit 3 under the control of the CPU 40, and the motor driver 46 drives the carry motor 19, the carrier motor 17, etc. under the control of the CPU 40. ..

The detecting section 47 transmits detection information to the CPU 40 from a carrier home position sensor for detecting the position of the carrier provided in the printer unit 3 or a paper sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a recording medium. Power 48
Is a power source V _H for driving the recording head 6, a conveyance motor 19,
The power supply V _M for driving the carrier motor 17 and the like, the power supply V _FDD for driving the floppy disk driver 4, and the power supply V _CC for other logic circuits are controlled. Further, the controller 43 controls the recording head 6 under the control of the CPU 40.
Recording data transfer, changing the voltage / current of the driving power supply V _H , and performing various controls. The keyboard 1 is connected to the CPU unit via a keyboard connector (KBC) 40 for inputting various data required for recording and editing. The CPU unit is also connected to a display unit 2 composed of a CRT for displaying data and various information input from the keyboard 1 via a CRT connector (CRTC) 50. The display unit 2 may have another structure such as a liquid crystal display instead of the CRT.

Further, a floppy disk driver 4 is connected to the CPU unit via a floppy disk driver connector (FDDC) 51. A hard disk or an external RAM may be connected instead of the floppy disk.

The CPU unit is an RS232C for controlling the recording device 3 by an external control device and communicating with an external device via an interface connector (IFC) 52.
It is also possible to connect an interface such as 53 Centronics 54, modem 55, or the like.

Next, the control procedure of the carrier when recording is performed by the recording apparatus having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When a recording command is designated (step S101), the recording apparatus opens the cap that protects the ink ejection port of the recording head (step S102). After that, the carrier is shifted to the recording position of the recording medium (step S103) and recording is performed (step S104).
It is judged whether or not the time during recording or waiting for data transfer to the recording head, that is, the time during which the cap is in the open state has passed a predetermined time T seconds (step 106), and When T seconds have elapsed, recording is temporarily stopped and the current position of the carrier is stored (step S107).

Further, the carrier is shifted to the preliminary discharge position (step 108) and the preliminary discharge is performed (step 1).
09). When the preliminary ejection is completed, the carrier is shifted to the position stored in step S107, and recording is continued. Then, the recording is ended by designating the recording end command (steps S105 and S110).

FIG. 10 shows one of other embodiments according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a slider 35a is provided as a pressing member, and the slider 35a is arranged so as to be movable in the C direction along with the rail portions formed on the guide receiving portions 7a and 7b. Then, one end of the spring 37a is attached to one end of the slider 35a, and the other end of the spring 37 is attached to the hook of the carrier 7, so that the spring 37a pulls the slider 35a toward the carrier 7 side, and the carrier shaft 14 moves to the slider 35a. By pressing, backlash between the carrier shaft 14 and the guide receiving portions 7a and 7b is removed. by this,
Rattling during scanning of the carrier 7 can be suppressed, deviation of ruled lines and the like can be prevented, and recording with improved print quality can be performed.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the spring 37b, which is an elastic member, is in the form of a leaf spring, one end of which is fixed to the carrier 7 and the other end of which the pressing member 35b is attached. The pressing member 35b is pressed by the pressure of the leaf spring 37b.
Presses the carrier shaft 14, which causes the carrier shaft 14
The play between the guide receiving portions 7a and 7b can be removed. In the present embodiment, the pressing member and the elastic member are composed of separate parts, but they may be combined into a single part.

Further, in this embodiment, the bubble jet method using the electrothermal converting element is used for ejecting the ink, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink is converted by converting the electricity into the force. Piezo jet method to discharge,
The present invention can be applied to a recording method in which a recording head is arranged in non-contact with a recording medium and ink is ejected to perform recording. Further, the present invention is not limited to the ink jet system, and can be similarly applied to a thermal transfer system or a wire dot system recording apparatus.

Further, the recording head is integrated with the ink tank and can be detached from the carrier, but the invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to electrically connect to the apparatus main body and supply ink from the apparatus main body. It is also applicable to a replaceable chip type recording head, or a system in which the recording head is not replaceable and a replaceable ink tank for supplying ink is used.

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. A plurality of pieces may be provided. Further, as the method of conveying the recording medium, the method of winding the recording medium around the conveying roller and conveying the recording medium by the pressing force of the pinch roller and the guide has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the recording medium is, for example, the conveying roller. The present invention can also be applied to a horizontal transfer method in which the transfer is carried out horizontally without winding.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of 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 transmission / reception function can be used. It may take a form.

The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating heat energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and the heat energy is used to generate the heat energy. The present invention has excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type that causes a change in ink state. This is because such a method can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, for example, the specifications of US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 47407.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in the '96 patent is preferred. This method is applicable to both so-called on-demand type and continuous type,
Particularly in the case of the on-demand type, the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink) corresponds to the record information, and the rapid temperature exceeding the boiling point is met. By applying at least one drive signal that gives rise, thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, causing film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, resulting in a one-to-one correspondence of this drive signal to the liquid. This is effective because bubbles can be formed in the (ink). Due to the growth and contraction of the gas, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one liquid.

It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because the growth and contraction of the bubbles 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. No. 446 is used.
Those described in Nos. 2259 and 4345262 are suitable. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,121, which discloses an invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 4 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed. As the structure of the recording head, in addition to the combination structure of the discharge port and the liquid path electrothermal converter (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification, the heat acting portion is bent. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations arranged in the region. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a slit common to a plurality of electrothermal converters is used as the discharge portion of the electrothermal converter, and a discharge portion having an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The effect of the present invention is effective even when the configuration based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461 of 1984, which discloses the configuration corresponding to the above.
Further, 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 device,
As disclosed in the above specification, a combination of a plurality of recording heads may satisfy the length, or a single recording head integrally formed may be used. The effects described above can be more effectively exhibited. It is also 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. If these are specifically raised, the capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means for the recording head are effective for performing stable recording.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is particularly effective for a device provided with at least one of full colors by color mixing.

[0046]

According to the present invention, by pressing the carrier against the guide member using the pressing member and the elastic member, the backlash between the carrier and the guide member is eliminated, so that the scanning of the carrier can be extremely stabilized. It is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that is simple and inexpensive and that does not cause deviation of ruled lines and that has good printing quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of a Japanese word processor equipped with an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outline of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a head cartridge mounted in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a carrier to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between a pressing member, an elastic member, a guide and the like of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a right side sectional view of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a carrier driving procedure of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a conventional example of a carrier of an inkjet recording device.

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the carrier showing one of other embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a right side view of a carrier showing one of other embodiments of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Keyboard 2 Display Section 3 Recording Device 5 Recording Medium 6 Head Cartridge 7 Carrier 12 Flexible Cable 14 Guide 16 Timing Belt 17 Carrier Motor 35 Roller 37 as Pressing Member Spring as Elastic Member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus having a carrier on which a recording head can be mounted and a guide member for guiding the carrier in parallel to a recording surface of a recording medium, the elastic member being supported by the carrier, and the elastic member. A pressing member that receives a pressing force from a member and presses the guide member, and presses and holds the carrier on the guide member. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is disposed substantially at the center of two guide receiving members of the carriage attached to the guide member.