JPH06143555A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the size, thickness and cost of an ink jet recorder by embodying an electrostatic protection remedy of an electric circuit by a simple and compact structure without requiring an electrostatic protective circuit, etc., when a user charged with static electricity attaches or detaches a head cartridge, etc., to or from a carriage. CONSTITUTION:When a cartridge having a recording head 4 is detachably mounted in a reciprocatingly movable carriage 3 and the carriage 3 is moved to a cartridge replacing position, a switching member for the carriage, a head cover 10, etc., is conducted to an electric ground member 1 via an earth member 17.

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 multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as (OHP). The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a 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 set. An image (including characters, symbols, etc.) is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scanning) along, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). An image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in the sub-scanning direction in which the recording material is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed at one time. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is a means for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact 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 uses multicolor inks. Therefore, it has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. is there.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus, an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording means (recording head) is provided. Replaceable cartridge type ink tank (ink cartridge)
Is being used. Then, the recording head and the ink cartridge are exchangeably (detachably) mounted on a carriage that can reciprocate along a recording material. Further, it has been practiced that a recording head and an ink tank are integrated to form a head cartridge, and the head cartridge is replaceably (removably) mounted on the carriage.

On the other hand, the carriage is provided with a wiring member (for example, a flexible cable) for supplying an electric signal and driving power to the recording head, and when the ink cartridge or the head cartridge is replaced, the user is charged with static electricity. In this case, the static electricity may damage the electric circuit of the recording apparatus (including the recording head). For this reason, in this type of recording apparatus, conventionally, an electric circuit is provided with means for countermeasures against static electricity.

[0008]

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, it is necessary to provide a protection circuit as a countermeasure against the above-mentioned static electricity, resulting in cost increase.
There is an inconvenience that the circuit board becomes large and it is difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the device. The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a countermeasure against static electricity at the time of cartridge replacement with a simple and compact structure without requiring a protection circuit or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can be made smaller, can be made thinner, and can be reduced in cost.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, the recording means or the ink tank can be removably attached to a reciprocating carriage. When the carriage is mounted and the carriage is at a position where the recording means or the ink tank can be attached and detached, at least a part of the carriage is electrically connected to an electric ground member of the recording apparatus. It achieves the purpose.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, the recording means or the ink tank is removably mounted on a reciprocating carriage, and the recording is performed. The above object is achieved by a configuration in which at least a part of the opening / closing member of the recording apparatus is electrically connected to the electrical ground member of the recording apparatus when the means or the ink tank is attached / detached.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a state when a recording head and an ink cartridge of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied are removed, and FIG. 2 is a side view seen from the direction of line A in FIG. is there. 1 and 2, 1 is a chassis of the apparatus main body, 2 is a lower case for supporting the chassis 1, 3 is a carriage, 4 (FIG. 2) is a recording means (recording head) detachably mounted on the carriage 3,
Reference numeral 5 (FIG. 2) denotes an ink cartridge (ink tank) that is detachably mounted on the carriage 3. In this embodiment, four recording heads 4 are mounted, and in the case of color recording, these recording heads 4 are, for example, black,
Used for recording with cyan, magenta, and yellow inks.

A guide rail 6 and a support shaft 7 are attached to the chassis 1, and the carriage 3
Are guided and supported so as to be reciprocally movable along the guide rails 6, and rotation around the guide rails 6 is restricted by the support shaft 7. A part of a belt 8 is coupled to the carriage 3, and the carriage 3 is moved via the belt 8 by a motor (not shown). A head cover 10 that is rotatable (openable / closable) around a shaft 9 is attached to the carriage 3. 1 and 2, the head cover 10 in the open position is shown by a solid line, and in FIG. 2, the head cover 10 in the closed position is shown by a chain double-dashed line.

In FIG. 1, 11 is an ink jet recording electrode connector provided on the head cover 10.
2 is a spring for fixing the guide rail 6, 13 is a shaft fixing member for fixing the support shaft 7, 14 is a lead wire for electric wiring, 15 is a recording head 4 and a recording material 16 (FIG. 2). Paper spacing lever for adjusting the gap between the paper, 17
Is a ground member fixed to the chassis 1. The ground member 17 is formed of a spring member, and when the carriage 3 is at the head replacement position (position at which the recording head 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are attached / detached), the head cover 10 is provided.
The head cover 10 is attached so as to secure electrical connection (ground) with the head cover 10. In addition, 18 in FIG. 2 is a screw for fixing the ground member 17 to the chassis 1.

The recording head 4 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording means records the ink by ejecting ink from the ejection port by utilizing the pressure change caused by the growth and contraction of the bubbles due to the film boiling caused by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. is there.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording head 4. In FIG. 3, the recording material 16 and a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to
(About 2.0 mm), the discharge port surface 81 facing each other,
A plurality of ejection openings 82 are formed at a predetermined pitch, and an electrothermal converter for generating energy for ejecting ink along the wall surface of each liquid passage 84 that connects the common liquid chamber 83 and each ejection opening 82 ( A heating resistor or the like) 85 is provided. In this example, the recording head 4 is mounted on the carriage 3 in such a positional relationship that the ejection ports 82 are arranged in a direction intersecting with the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage 3.
In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 85 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 84 to film-boil, and the ink generated from the ejection port 82 is ejected by the pressure generated at that time. Recording means (recording head)
4 are configured.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the chassis 1 is shown.
Also forms an electrical ground member (ground member) of the recording apparatus. The head cover 10 is a conductive grade molded product, and the material thereof is, for example, A
A resin material in which a metal filler, a carbon filler, or the like is mixed with a synthetic resin such as BS, modified PPO, or PC to give conductivity is used. In FIG. 2, the head cover 10 rotates in the direction of arrow B with respect to the carriage 3,
At the closed position indicated by the chain double-dashed line, the recording head 4 is positioned and fixed on the carriage 3. When the recording head 4 or the ink cartridge 5 is replaced when the carriage 3 is at the head replacement position (for example, the standby position of the carriage 3), the head cover 1 is placed at the closed position (two-dot chain line).
By pinching the knob portion 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of No. 0, the claw portion 20 of the head cover 10 is engaged with the engaging hole 2 of the carriage 3.
1, and then the head cover 10 is rotated into the open state shown by the solid line. In this open state, the recording head 4 or the ink cartridge 5 is replaced, and the head cover 10 is returned to the closed position indicated by the chain double-dashed line.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the earth member 17 is formed of a leaf spring material (SUS plate, phosphor bronze, etc.), and the carriage 3 is a head replacement position (position where the recording head 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are attached and detached). , The ground member 17 contacts the side surface of the head cover 10 when it is moved to the standby position of the carriage 3, for example. The abutting portion 22 of the earth member 17 with the head cover 10 has a projection-like point contact by embossing or drawing. Further, the contact portion 23 of the head cover 10 with the earth member 10
Is formed in a concave shape so that the head cover 10 can be held in the open position by the grounding member 17. Further, the ground member 17 is bent and raised 24
Is provided, the head cover 10 can be smoothly opened. When the head cover 10 is opened at the head exchange position, the spring property of the ground member 17 causes the ground member 17 to move.
And a contact pressure (electrical conduction) with the head cover 10 is secured.

According to the embodiment described above, when the recording head 4 or the ink cartridge 5 is replaced, the user has to pinch the head cover 10 to open it, and at that time, the head cover 10 is always grounded.
Therefore, even if a user who is charged with static electricity exchanges the static electricity, the static electricity will be guided to the chassis 1 through the conductive head cover 10 and the grounding member 17, and to the electrode connector 11 shown in FIG. Static electricity does not flow.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a second embodiment in which the shape and structure of the earth member 17 in the first embodiment is changed, and FIG. 5 is a top view of the earth member 17 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 4 to 6, a grounding member 17 fixed to the chassis 1 with a screw 18 is provided with a protruding contact portion 22 that contacts the head cover 10 and a bent portion 25 that contacts the carriage 3. Then, the contact portion 22
Are formed by embossing so as to come into contact with the center of rotation of the head cover 10. Although this embodiment is different from the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the above points, the other parts have substantially the same configuration as the case of the first embodiment, and the corresponding parts are the same. Reference numerals are used, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

According to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in addition to the same operational effect as in the case of the first embodiment, the contact portion 22 between the earth member 17 and the head cover is provided in the head cover. Since the head cover 10 is provided at the position of the center of rotation 9, the opening and closing of the head cover 10 can be smoothly performed. Further, the ground member 17 fixed to the chassis 1
On the other hand, the contact portion 22 makes the head cover 10 electrically conductive, and the bent portion 25 makes the carriage 3
Since the configuration is also made conductive, when the recording head 4 is attached or detached, the static electricity charged to the user can be guided to the chassis 1 from the carriage 3 side as well, and the effect that the electrostatic countermeasure can be further perfected is obtained. Was given.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a third embodiment in which the shape and structure of the earth member 17 is changed in the first embodiment described above, and FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross section taken along line 8-8 in FIG. It is a figure. In FIGS. 7 and 8, a grounding member 17 formed of a leaf spring material is attached to the head cover 10 so that the grounding member 17 contacts the chassis 1 when the carriage 3 moves to the head replacement position. Has been done. That is, the ground member 17 is formed with the hole 26 and the convex portion 27, and the hole 26 is formed in the ground member 17.
Of the earth member 1 by fitting the shaft 27 (rotating support shaft of the head cover 10) 9 and locking the convex portion 27 in the hole 28 formed in the knob portion 19 of the head cover 10.
A head cover 10 and a head cover 10 are rotatably attached to the carriage 3.

The grounding member 17 is provided with an abutting portion 29 which is bent to the outside of the head cover 10 and has a most projecting portion at a position substantially coaxial with the hole 26 (the shaft 9). Then, when the carriage 3 moves to the head exchange position, as shown in FIG. 8, the abutting portion 29 is pressed against the chassis 1 and its elastic force secures the press contact force. In this embodiment, the convex portion 27 of the earth member 17 is fitted or abutted and locked in the hole 28 formed in the knob portion 19 for releasing the claw portion 20 of the head cover 10. When the head cover 10 is opened at the head replacement position, the static electricity charged by the user is always conducted to the convex portion 27 of the ground member 17, and is further guided to the chassis 1 from the contact portion 29 of the ground member 17. . In addition, the convex portion 27
Is preferably slightly protruding from the outer surface of the head cover 10 in the fitted state with the hole 28, but normally the head cover 10 and the ground member 17 are in contact with each other at each portion, so that the convex portion 27 is not necessarily protruding. You don't have to let it.

Although this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the above points, the other parts have substantially the same structure as the first embodiment and correspond to each other. Portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Also according to the third embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the same effects as those of the above-described first and second embodiments can be obtained.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing the state when the case cover of the fourth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied is opened, and FIG. 10 is the ground conduction in the state where the case cover is closed in FIG. It is a typical sectional view showing a portion along with an earth member. 9 and 10, an outer case 31 is provided so as to surround the chassis 1, and the recording head 4 is provided on the front upper part of the outer case 31.
A case cover 32, which is opened when the (FIG. 2) or the ink cartridge 5 (FIG. 2) is attached or detached, is rotatably (opened / closed) attached. The case cover 32 is attached to the outer case 31 so as to be rotatable around the shaft portion 35. A first grounding member 33 made of a leaf spring material is attached to the case cover 32. On the other hand, a second grounding member 34 made of a leaf spring, which is in contact with the first grounding member 33, is fixed to the chassis 1, which is an electrical grounding member, with a screw 18. The fixed position of the second ground member 34 is selected near the rotation center 35 of the case cover 32.

The first grounding member 33 has a hole 36 and a protrusion 3
7 and the claw portion 38 are formed. The case cover 32 has an opening 3 in addition to the shaft 35 serving as the center of rotation.
9 is formed. Therefore, the first earth member 3
3 fits the hole 36 into the shaft portion 35,
The convex portion 37 is exposed (or protrudes) from the opening 39 to the cover surface, and the intermediate portion is heat-welded (or adhered) 40 to the case cover 32 so as to be positioned and fixed to the case cover 32. . Exterior case 3
1, an opening 41 for leading out (penetrating) the second ground member 34 and a hole 42 for locking the claw portion 38 of the first ground member 33 when the case cover 32 is closed are formed. ing. The second ground member 34 has the opening 4
It projects outward through 1 and is pressed (contacted) to the vicinity of the hole 36 of the first earth member 33 by its elastic force. The pressure contact length is set to a length sufficient to ensure electrical continuity regardless of whether the case cover 32 is opened or closed.

Therefore, when the case cover 32 in the closed state is opened, the projection 37 of the first earth member 33 is pushed from the outside in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Remove and rotate the case cover 32 upward. Since the second grounding member 34 fixed to the chassis 1 which is the electrical grounding member of the recording apparatus is constantly in pressure contact with the first grounding member 33, the static electricity charged by the user is transferred from the convex portion 37 to the second grounding member 34. It is guided to the chassis 1 via the ground member 34. Second ground member 3 made of leaf spring
4 has a shape having a sufficient spring property as shown in the drawing, and is pressed against the vicinity of the center of rotation of the first grounding member 33, so that the case cover 32 is always open and closed. It is in a state.

The fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is different from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 in the points described above, but the other portions have substantially the same structure and correspond to each other. The same reference numerals are given to the portions to be referred to and detailed description thereof will be omitted. According to the fourth embodiment, the case cover 32 is used to replace the recording head 4 or the ink cartridge 5.
The user must touch the convex portion 37 of the first ground member 33 when opening the case cover 32. Therefore, even when a user who is charged with static electricity exchanges the static electricity, the static electricity is surely guided from the first grounding member 33 to the chassis 1 through the second grounding member 34, and the electrode connector 11 shown in FIG. Static electricity does not flow to the electric circuit parts such as.

According to each of the embodiments described above, when the carriage 3 moves to a position where the recording head 4 or the ink cartridge 5 is detachable, the opening / closing member such as the head cover 10 or the case cover 32 or the carriage 3 itself records. Since it is configured to conduct to the electrical ground member (chassis) 1 of the apparatus, when a user charged with static electricity attaches or detaches the recording head 4 or the ink cartridge 5, an electrostatic protection circuit or the like is not provided, and therefore,
It is possible to take measures against static electricity with a simple and inexpensive structure without increasing the size of the circuit board, and it is possible to reduce the size and thickness of the recording apparatus.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, when the recording head is not used, the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head is sealed with a cap to prevent ink drying and dust adhesion near the ejection port 82. Therefore, it is necessary to move the carriage 3 to a preset position (usually the home position) at the end of recording or when the power is cut off to perform the capping operation. Therefore, it is preferable that the earth member 17 fixed to the electric ground member 1 of the recording apparatus is arranged to be conductive when the carriage 3 is at a preset position such as the capping position. The reason is that the carriage 3 or the head cover 10
This is because it is necessary to slide the ground member and the carriage 3 in order to constantly connect the ground member 1 to the ground member 1, which is disadvantageous in terms of wear.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the recording head 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are separated and mounted on the carriage 3 in a detachable manner has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the recording head. The same can be applied to the case where the head cartridge integrated with the ink tank is detachably mounted on the carriage, and the same effect can be obtained.

In the above embodiments, the color ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of (four) recording means (recording heads or head cartridges) for recording in different colors has been described as an example. The present invention is applicable to the number of recording means and the recording colors such as an inkjet recording apparatus using one recording means or an inkjet recording apparatus for gradation recording using a plurality of recording means for recording with the same color but different density of ink. It can be widely applied irrespective of, and the same effect can be obtained. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to any inkjet recording apparatus having a structure in which the recording unit is detachably mounted on the carriage, regardless of the arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank. The same effect can be achieved.

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

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

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

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

Further, as described above, 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. . As such a recording head,
Either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the device main body,
Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the device body and supply ink from the device body when mounted on the device body, or an ink tank is integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means to the recording head provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus in the present invention because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, in addition to the above-mentioned capping means, cleaning means, and suction recovery means for the recording head, a pressure-type recovery means, an electrothermal converter, or a heating other than this. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary heating means using an element or a combination thereof and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording.

As described above, 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 recording heads having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to the ink. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either the recording head is integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of color colors or full colors by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies in the standing state is used for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation 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 starts 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 form in which the electrothermal converter is opposed to a liquid sheet or a solid material held in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

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

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material,
When the recording means or the ink tank is removably attached to a reciprocating carriage, and the carriage is at a position where the recording means or the ink tank can be attached and detached, at least a part of the carriage is an electrical ground member of the recording apparatus. Since it is electrically connected to the device, it does not require a protection circuit, etc., and it is possible to realize electrostatic countermeasures when replacing the cartridge with a simple and compact structure, making the device compact, thin, and cost effective. Provided is an inkjet recording device that can be downsized.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material, the recording means or the ink tank is removably mounted on the reciprocating carriage. When the recording means or the ink tank is attached or detached, at least a part of the opening / closing member of the recording device is electrically connected to the electric ground member of the recording device, so that a protective circuit or the like is not required, (EN) Provided is an ink jet recording apparatus which has a simple and compact structure and can implement countermeasures against static electricity at the time of cartridge replacement, and can achieve downsizing, thinning and cost reduction of the apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

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

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial side view showing the main configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the ground member in FIG.

6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic partial side view showing the main configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic partial side view showing the main configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the ground member in the case cover closed state of the main configuration of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Electrical Ground Member (Chassis) 3 Carriage 4 Recording Means (Recording Head) 5 Ink Cartridge 6 Guide Rail 7 Support Shaft 8 Belt 9 Head Cover Rotation Center 10 Head Cover 11 Electrode Connector 16 Recording Material 17 Grounding Member 19 Knob (Head Cover) 20 Claw (Head Cover) 21 Engagement Hole 22 Abutting Part (Embossing) 23 Abutting Part (Concave) 24 Bending Raising Part 25 Bending Part 26 Hole 27 Convex Part 28 Hole 29 Abutting Part 31 Exterior Case 32 Case Cover 33 First earth member 34 Second earth member 35 Center of rotation of case cover 36 Hole 37 Convex portion 38 Claw portion 39 Opening portion 40 Fixing portion 41 Opening 42 hole 81 Discharge port surface 82 Discharge port 84 Liquid path 85 Electrothermal converter

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location 9113-2C B41J 29/00 S (72) Inventor Tetsuhiro Nitta 3-30 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Makoto Takemura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masaru Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Unozawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. ( 72) Inventor Shinji Kanemitsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Toshiyuki Onishi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, the recording means or an ink tank is removably mounted on a carriage which can reciprocate, and the carriage is the recording means or the recording means. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein at least a part of the carriage is electrically connected to an electric ground member of the recording apparatus when the ink tank is at a position where it can be attached and detached. 2. 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. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, 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. . 4. In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, the recording means or the ink tank is detachably attached to a reciprocating carriage, and the recording means or the ink tank is attached. An inkjet recording apparatus, wherein at least a part of an opening / closing member of the recording apparatus is electrically connected to an electric ground member of the recording apparatus when the recording / removing apparatus is attached or detached. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording means is an ink jet recording means including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, 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. .