JPH06115097A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to improve recording speed and reduce a noise level by providing an auxiliary discharged ink receptacle for auxiliary discharge control to maintain the performance of a means for ink jet recording, and setting the receptacle to a recording scan start position. CONSTITUTION:An auxiliary discharge receptacle 5a is provided for receiving ink discharged when an auxiliary discharge control is performed. In addition, the ramp-up start position P1 of a carriage is so designed as to coincide with the auxiliary discharge position P2 of a recording head. That is, a position where the auxiliary discharge receptacle 5a is set is the same as the ramp-up start position of the carriage. Consequently, the subject ink jet recording device does not allow the scan range of the carriage to run farther than the scan range of the carriage during recording. Therefore, the carriage does not overrun beyond its actually used range as seen in a conventional ink jet recording device. Thus it is possible to improve a recording speed and further, reduce a noise level.

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 in response to a signal, and more particularly to preliminary ejection control for stabilizing ink ejection of a recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a recording device such as a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile drives a energy generating body of a recording head on the basis of image information transferred to a dot pattern on a recording sheet such as paper or a plastic thin plate. Is configured to record an image consisting of.

The recording apparatus has an ink jet method, a wire dot method, a thermal method,
The inkjet method (inkjet recording apparatus) can be divided into a laser beam method and the like. Among them, an ink (recording liquid) droplet is ejected and ejected from an ejection port of a recording head and adhered to the recording sheet to perform recording. Is configured to do.

The recording mechanism is classified into a full-multi type and a serial type. The full-multi type has a recording means over the entire recording width and performs recording by moving a recording sheet in the sub-scanning direction. In the serial type, the recording means mounted on the carriage movable in the main scanning direction is scanned, and the recording sheet is moved in the sub scanning direction to perform recording. In particular, since the serial type recording apparatus does not require a wide recording means, the apparatus becomes inexpensive and is widely used at present. Further, in the carriage which is the serial type main scanning means, a driving force from a driving source such as a motor is normally transmitted to a belt via a pulley, and is driven in the main scanning direction by the belt.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, when the non-recording state continues for a long time, the viscosity of the ink rises due to the evaporation of water from the ink ejection port, and the ejection speed of the ink becomes slower. May be clogged.

As a means for eliminating such a cause of ink ejection failure, for example, a cap made of elastic rubber or the like is pressed against the ink ejection port to prevent water evaporation from the ejection port. A capping mechanism that prevents defective ejection of ink is used.

Further, in an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink ejection port composed of a plurality of nozzles, a nozzle that is used less frequently occurs during a recording operation, and similarly, the viscosity of the ink increases due to water evaporation from the nozzle. In some cases, the ejection speed of ink may be slow, or the nozzles may be clogged.

Therefore, at the start of the recording operation, a predetermined time during the recording operation, or a predetermined nozzle usage rate is counted, and a predetermined number of dots of ink are ejected from the nozzles inside the cap or in the preliminary ejection receiver. Prevents the viscosity of the ink from rising, slowing down the ink ejection speed,
So-called preliminary discharge control is performed to prevent the nozzles from being clogged.

FIG. 7 shows the recording operation and preliminary ejection control in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the drawings. When performing recording such as "A ... A" on the recording sheet 51, the carriage movement control is as shown by the line 52. When a print start command arrives, the carriage starts the run-up from the ramp-up (run-up) start position 53 and records in a reciprocating motion. At this time, in order to prevent defective ink ejection from the nozzles, a predetermined time during the recording operation by the preliminary ejection control,
Alternatively, a predetermined nozzle usage rate or the like is counted, the carriage is moved to the preliminary ejection position 55 where the preliminary ejection receiver 54 is located, and an operation of ejecting a predetermined number of dots of ink from the nozzle to the preliminary ejection receiver 54 is performed. The movement control of the carriage during the preliminary discharge control is performed by moving the carriage from the ramp-up position 53 to the preliminary discharge position 55 as indicated by 52a in the line 52.

[0010]

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the position of the carriage when performing the preliminary ejection in order to prevent defective ink ejection is within the range in which the carriage scans during recording (broken line X- in FIG. 7). Y
However, the recording speed was reduced and noise was generated.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve recording speed and reduce noise.

[0012]

The structure of a typical ink jet recording apparatus for achieving the above object is a conveying means for conveying a recording medium and an ink jet for recording by ejecting ink according to a signal. A recording unit, a carriage that is movable by mounting the inkjet recording unit, and a preliminary ejection receiver that receives ink when preliminary ejection control is performed to maintain the performance of the inkjet recording unit. It is characterized in that the position of the ejection receiver is set as the run-up start position of the recording operation.

[0013]

In the ink jet recording apparatus having the above structure, since the position of the preliminary ejection receiver is set at the same position as the starting position of the carriage during the recording operation, the recording speed can be improved and the noise can be reduced. Become.

[0014]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] Next, an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. still,
FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of an ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a sectional configuration diagram.

(Description of Overall Structure) First, the overall structure of the apparatus will be described. This apparatus uses a recording medium (paper, cloth, OH).
P sheet 1) is conveyed by the conveying means 2 and the recording medium 1
On the other hand, the recording head 4 mounted on the carriage 3 is reciprocally moved, and ink is ejected according to an image signal to perform recording. Then, the recording medium 1 after recording is discharged to a predetermined discharge portion, and the recording head 4 is configured to be recovered by the recovery mechanism 5. Hereinafter, the configurations of the respective units will be sequentially described.

(Conveying Means) The conveying means 2 conveys the recording medium 1 to the recording position IP and ejects the recording medium 1 after recording to the ejecting portion. With this device, ASF (Auto
Automatic feeding with sheet feeder) and manual feeding 2
Types are possible.

The ASF feeding is performed by the A mounted on the main body 6 of the apparatus.
The recording medium 1 is set on the SF 2a, the recording medium 1 is nipped between the conveying roller 2b and the pinch roller 2c which is pressed against the conveying roller 2b and is driven to rotate, and the conveying roller 2b is driven and rotated to impart a conveying force. The transport roller 2b transmits the driving force of the transport motor 2d via the gear train 2e.

The recording medium 1 after recording has a discharge roller 2f.
And, it is discharged to the discharge portion by the spur 2g which is pressed against and rotates by rotation.

On the other hand, in the manual feeding, the sheets are manually fed one by one from the manual feeding port 2h and are linearly conveyed by driving the conveying roller 2b and the discharging roller 2f.

A recording position of the recording head 4 and a platen 2i as a supporting member for supporting the back surface of the recording medium 1 are provided downstream of the recording position in the conveying direction of the recording medium.

(Carriage) The carriage 3 is for moving the recording head 4 back and forth, and two guide shafts 3a and 3b are installed in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium 1. The carriage 3 is slidably attached to the shafts 3a and 3b.

A drive pulley 3c1 and a driven pulley 3c2 are attached near both ends of the guide shaft 3a, a timing belt 3d engaged with the carriage 3 is hung between the pulleys 3c1 and 3c2, and tensioned by a tension spring 3e. It is hung. A carriage motor 3f is connected to the drive pulley 3c1 and the carriage 3 reciprocates along the guide shafts 3a and 3b by the forward and reverse driving of the motor 3f.

(Recording Head) The recording head 4 is the conveying means 2
The image is recorded by ejecting ink onto the recording medium 1 conveyed by, and this apparatus uses an ink jet recording method in which ink droplets are ejected for recording. That is, the recording head 4 has a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid passage, and an energy acting portion provided in a part of the liquid passage, and energy for generating droplet forming energy that acts on the liquid in the acting portion. Equipped with generating means.

As the energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, electromagnetic waves such as a laser are radiated to generate heat, and droplets are ejected by the action of the heat generation. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, a recording method using an energy generating means for heating a liquid and discharging the liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor.

Among them, a recording head used in an ink jet recording method for ejecting a liquid by thermal energy has a high density of liquid ejection ports (orifices) for ejecting recording liquid droplets to form ejection liquid droplets. Since they can be arranged, high resolution recording is possible. Among them, the recording head using the electrothermal converter as the energy generating means can easily be made compact, and has the advantages of the IC technology and the microfabrication technology, which have been remarkably improved in technology and reliability in the recent semiconductor field. This is advantageous because it can be used in two parts, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

(Recovery Mechanism) The recovery mechanism 5 is for preventing clogging of the recording head 4 after recording, and in this embodiment, a preliminary ejection receiver 5a and a recovery system 5b are provided.
The preliminary ejection receiver 5a is for receiving the ink ejected from the ink ejection port of the recording head 4 when the preliminary ejection control is performed. The recovery system 5b is a capping mechanism for preventing defective ink ejection of the recording head 4, and a cap made of rubber or the like which is an elastic body is pressed against the ink ejection port of the recording head 4 to evaporate water from the ejection port. Etc. are prevented. Further, the recovery system 5b is capped,
A mechanism is provided to make the inside of the cap a negative pressure by a pump or the like to draw out the thickened ink in the ink ejection port to improve the ejection.

Next, the recording operation and preliminary ejection control of the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, when recording such as “A ... A” on the recording medium 1, when a recording start command is received, the carriage starts at the run-up start position (hereinafter referred to as the ramp-up start position) P.
Starting from ₁ and reciprocating, the built-in recording head records according to the signal. At this time, the carriage reciprocates as shown by the line L. In the line L, L ₁ indicates the movement of the carriage when the preliminary ejection control is performed.

Preliminary discharge control will be described below.
In a recording head having a large number of nozzles, the viscosity of the ink increases due to water evaporation from the nozzles that are rarely used among the nozzles, and the ejection speed of the ink from the nozzles slows down, The nozzle may be clogged.

Therefore, the preliminary discharge control is performed to count a predetermined time during the recording operation, a predetermined nozzle usage rate, or the like, and the predetermined number of dots of ink are discharged from the nozzles to the preliminary discharge receiver 5a to discharge the ink. By preventing the viscosity from increasing, it is possible to prevent the ejection speed of the ink from being slowed and the nozzles from being clogged.

The above-described preliminary ejection receiver 5a is provided to receive the ejected ink when this preliminary ejection control is performed. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the ramp-up start position P _{1 of the} carriage is set. And the preliminary ejection position P ₂ of the recording head are arranged at the same position. That is,
The installation position of the preliminary discharge receiver 5a is the same position as the ramp-up start position P _{1 of the} carriage.

Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, since the scanning range of the carriage does not exceed the scanning range of the carriage during recording, the carriage moves excessively as in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus (see FIG. 7). The recording speed is improved and noise is reduced.

Further, although the preliminary ejection receiver 5a is provided only on one side in the ink jet recording apparatus, the present invention is not limited to this, and the preliminary ejection receiver 5a may be provided on both sides of the ink jet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. good. By doing so, for example, recording is performed only on one side of the recording medium 1 as shown in “A ... A” of FIG. 4, and when the carriage does not move to the right side of the drawing as indicated by the line L, preliminary ejection on the left side is performed. Preliminary ejection control can be performed using the receiver 5a to shorten the recording time.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the preliminary ejection receiver 5a is provided at the same position as the ramp-up position of the carriage, but in the present embodiment, the preliminary ejection receiver 5a is provided over the entire movement range of the carriage. It is characterized by the provision of.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective explanatory view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Incidentally, the above-mentioned first
The description of the configuration equivalent to that of the embodiment is omitted. The members having the same function are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 5, on the platen 2i which guides the recording medium 1 in the recording section, the platen 2i is provided at a position opposite to the nozzle position (ink ejection port) of the recording head 4 over the entire moving range of the carriage 3. A discharge receiver 5a is provided. Further, the carriage 3 is provided with a reflection type photo interrupter (not shown) as a detecting means for detecting the width of the recording medium 1 in the lateral direction (scanning direction of the carriage), and the recording medium 1 on the platen 2i is provided with the reflection type photo interrupter. It is installed at the opposite position.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the preliminary ejection can be performed anywhere outside the width direction of the recording medium 1, and is particularly effective for a recording medium of a small size (for example, a postcard, an envelope, etc.). Is.

[Third Embodiment] In the above-described second embodiment, the preliminary ejection receiver 5a is provided over the entire range of movement of the carriage, but in the present embodiment, a recording medium of a typical size, for example, letter size, It is characterized in that a preliminary ejection receiver is provided outside the paper width of B5 size, A4 size and the like.

FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Incidentally, the above-mentioned first
The description of the configuration equivalent to that of the embodiment is omitted. The members having the same function are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the platen 103 which guides the recording medium 1 in the recording portion, the preliminary ejection ports 5a1 and 5a2 are respectively provided on the platen 103 outside the typical size such as letter size, B5 size and A4 size. Is provided.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the width of the recording medium can be detected and the preliminary discharge can be performed by the preliminary discharge receiver located at the shortest position in the same manner as in the second embodiment.

[Other Embodiments] Further, although the ink jet recording system is used as the recording means in the above-described embodiments, the heat energy applied by the electrothermal converter is energized according to a recording signal. Therefore, it is more preferable to perform the recording by ejecting the ink from the ejection port due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles generated in the ink by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but in the case of the on-demand type in particular, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise beyond nucleate boiling,
This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid can be formed in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid 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 bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, so that particularly excellent liquid ejection can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface 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 linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

Further, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure 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 are disclosed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely 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 medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type described above, it is possible to electrically connect to the apparatus main body and supply ink from the apparatus main body by mounting the recording head fixed to the carriage or the carriage. A replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means, electrothermal conversion type or other heating element or a preheating means by a combination thereof,
It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads mounted on the carriage, 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 of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a combination of a plurality of recording heads integrally formed, but a mixed color of different colors or a mixed color It is also applicable to a device with at least one of the full colors according to

In addition, although the ink is explained as a liquid in the above-mentioned embodiments, it is an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or in the ink jet recording system. 30 inks
Generally, the temperature is controlled in the range of ℃ or more and 70 ℃ or less to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is in the stable ejection range. good. In addition, it is possible to prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or to use ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation. However, in any case, when heat ink is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or when the ink reaches the recording sheet, it begins to solidify. It is also applicable when using an ink that has the property of being liquefied for the first time by energy.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-568.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 47 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 60-71260, a form in which the electrothermal converter is opposed to the electrothermal converter in the state of being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. Also good. The most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, as a form of the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus, 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 further a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form or the like.

[0054]

As described above, when performing the preliminary ejection control for preventing defective ink ejection of the recording head,
By configuring the position for performing the preliminary discharge, that is, the position of the preliminary discharge receiver to be the same position as the running start position of the carriage for the recording operation, the scanning range of the carriage does not exceed the scanning range of the carriage during recording. Therefore, unnecessary movement of the carriage as in the conventional inkjet recording apparatus can be omitted, the recording time can be shortened, and the noise can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording operation and preliminary ejection control of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording operation and preliminary ejection control of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

P ₁ ... Carriage start position P ₂ ... Preliminary ejection position 1 ... Recording medium 2 ... Conveying means 2a ... ASF 2b ... Conveying roller 2c ... Pinch roller 2d ... Conveying motor 2e ... Gear train 2f ... Ejecting roller 2g ... Spur 2h ... Manual feed port 2i ... Platen 3 ... Carriage 3a, 3b ... Guide shaft 3c1, 3c2 ... Pulley 3d ... Timing belt 3e ... Tension spring 3f ... Carriage motor 4 ... Recording head 5 ... Recovery mechanism 5a, 5a1, 5
a2 ... Preliminary discharge receiver 5b ... Recovery system

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location B41J 19/04 9212-2C 29/50 B 9113-2C (72) Inventor Haruyuki Yanagi Ota-ku, Tokyo Shimomaruko 3-30-2 Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Satoshi Satagawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hideaki Kawakami 3-Chome Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 30-2 Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kinoshita 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 30 Canon Inc. (72) Masahiro Taniguro 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A conveyance means for conveying a recording medium, an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink according to a signal to perform recording, a carriage on which the ink jet recording means is mounted and movable, and the ink jet recording. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a preliminary ejection receiver for receiving ink when performing preliminary ejection control for maintaining the performance of the means, and the position of the preliminary ejection receiver is set as a run-up start position of a recording operation. . 2. A carrying means for carrying a recording medium, an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink in accordance with a signal for recording, a carriage carrying the ink jet recording means and movable, and the recording medium. A recording medium width detection unit for detecting the width of the ink jet recording unit, and a preliminary ejection receiver that receives ink when preliminary ejection control is performed to maintain the performance of the inkjet recording unit. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that the ink jet recording apparatus is provided at each of the running start positions according to the width of the medium. 3. A conveyance means for conveying a recording medium, an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink according to a signal to perform recording, a carriage on which the ink jet recording means is mounted and movable, and the recording medium. A recording medium width detection unit for detecting the width of the ink jet recording unit, and a preliminary ejection receiver that receives ink when preliminary ejection control is performed to maintain the performance of the inkjet recording unit. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by being provided over the entire width of a medium. 4. The ink jet recording means ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter as means for generating thermal energy for ejecting the ink. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3. 5. The ink jet recording unit ejects ink from an ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Inkjet recording device.