JPH06320740A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the adhesion of unnecessary ink to a head plate by providing an absorbing member absorbing the ink bonded to the head plate to the contact part of the cap coming into contact with an ink emitting surface under pressure with the head plate so as to prevent the drying of the ink of the ink emitting nozzle parts of a head or the penetration of foreign matter into nozzles. CONSTITUTION:An ink absorbing member 25 is fixed to the outer periphery of the pressure contact part of a cap 2 with a head 5 in a state protruding from the cap 2 and, when the cap 2 moves to a head plate 5', the ink absorbing member 2 is compressed up to the position where the cap 2 comes into contact with the head to stop and the ink absorbed into the ink absorbing member 5 flows into the cap 2. When the cap 2 is separated from the head plate 5', since the ink absorbing member 25 is separated after the cap 2 is separated, the ink on the head plate 5' is absorbed by the ink absorbing member 25.

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, and more particularly, to a capping for covering a nozzle portion of an ink jet head for recording such as printing by ejecting ink onto a recording medium in a printer, a facsimile machine and the like. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a main part (side view of a cap driving device) for explaining an outline of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The cap holder 1 has a cap 2 and an ink suction tube. 3, and the tube 4 for opening to the atmosphere are fixed. Further, a lever 6 for pressing or opening the nozzle portion of the head 5 by the cap 2 is attached to the cap holder 1 rotatably around a fulcrum 7, and the cap holder 1 has a fulcrum 8 on the lever 6.
It is attached so that it does not rotate more than a certain amount around.
Further, a roller 9 is attached to the lever 6, a spring 11 is attached to the roller 9 side of the lever 6 so as to press the roller 9 against the cam 10, and one side of the spring 11 is fixed to the frame 12. When the cam 10 rotates (direction of arrow a), the roller 9 swings, and the cap holder 1 moves or retracts in the direction of the head 5 (direction of arrow b).

The suction tube 3 fixed to the cap holder 1 is connected to the pump 13, and the pump 13
Draws ink from the ink ejection port of the head 5 when the power is turned on or in use. In addition, the tube 4 for opening to the atmosphere
Is connected to the atmosphere opening mechanism 14 that opens and closes the hole of the tube 4 by a solenoid or the like.
By "N-OFF", the air in the cap 2 is shut off from the outside air or opened to keep the air in the cap constant.

FIG. 3 is a view in which the cam 10 is rotated and the cap 2 presses (caps) the head 5, and at the same time when the cam 10 rotates, the cam 15 also rotates and the cap 2 moves the head 5.
After pressing, the roller 17 pressed against the cam 15 by the spring 16 moves up and down, and the pump lever 18 rotates about the fulcrum 19 in the direction of arrow c. When the pump lever 18 rotates, the pump shaft 2 connected to the pump lever 18
0 moves and sucks ink from the ink discharge port of the head 5. After sucking the ink, the inside of the cap is opened to the outside air by the atmosphere opening mechanism 14, and the ink accumulated in the cap 2 is discharged by the pump suction. The sucked ink is discharged to the ink reservoir 22 by the tube 21.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the cap 2 that caps the nozzle portion of the head 5 is fixed to the cap holder 1 so that the ink at the ink ejection port of the head 5 does not dry.
A suction tube 3 is attached to and is connected to a pump 14 that sucks ink from the head 5. Further, an air release tube 4 is also attached to the cap 2, and an air release mechanism 14 such as a solenoid is provided at the end of the tube 4 so that the air pressure inside the cap becomes the same as the outside air after the ink is sucked. ing. On the other hand, the cap holder 1 is rotatably supported by a lever 6 rotatable around a fulcrum 7, a roller 9 is rotatably attached to an end of the lever 6, and when the cam 10 rotates, the frame is rotated. 12 and the spring 11 attached to the lever 6,
The roller 9 pressed by the cam 10 moves up and down, the cap holder 1 moves as the lever 6 rotates, and the cap 2 moves.
Separates from the head 5.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional cap portion,
The cap holder 1 is provided with a lever 6 and a cap 2 that do not rotate about a fulcrum 8 for a certain amount or more. Further, an ink suction tube 3 and an atmosphere opening tube 4 are fixed to the cap holder 1.

FIG. 5 is a view when the cap 2 is pressed against the head 5. Even if the ink accumulated in the cap 2 is discharged after suction, the ink 23 at the contact portion between the cap 2 and the head plate 5'is capped. Remains inside. When the cap 2 is separated from the head plate 5'in this state, the residual ink 23 adheres to the periphery of the ink outlet 24 of the head plate 5 ', as shown in FIG.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the head plate 5'for sealing the cap on the ink ejection port surface of the head to prevent the ink ejection port from drying is provided, Further, the head plate 5'is subjected to a water repellent treatment so that ink does not adhere to the head plate.

[0009]

However, in the ink jet recording apparatus as described above, the head 5 is used.
When the cap 2 separates from the (head plate 5 ′), the ink 23 collects in the contact portion between the cap 2 and the head 5 (FIG. 6), and when the cap 2 separates from the head 5, the ink 23 remains on the head plate 5 ′. If the printing direction (head plate) is horizontal, the ink 23 attached to the head plate 5'moves downward, and if the printing direction (head plate 5 ') is downward, the ink 23 on the head plate 5'. Accumulates (Fig. 6). Ink 2 on the head plate 5 '
When printing is performed with 3 attached, the ink 23 is scattered in the printer by the movement of the head plate 5 ′, or the ink 23 on the head plate 5 ′ is attached to the printer. Further, when heads of different ink colors are mounted on the head plate for color printing, the ink 23 attached to the head plate 5'moves and enters another color head, causing a problem of ink color mixing. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the head plate 5'to prevent the ink 23 from adhering to the head plate 5'before the cap 2 is printed away from the head plate 5 '.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides (1) an ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink from a nozzle of a head to print on a recording medium, the nozzle portion of the head A cap made of an elastic member for covering the ink, an absorber that absorbs ink is attached to the elastic member, and the nozzle portion of the head is capped by the elastic member and the absorber. (2) The outer periphery of the absorbent body is covered with an elastic member such as rubber, or (3) the tip head contact portion of the absorbent body is exposed to the head side of the elastic member. It is characterized by.

[0011]

[Function] The ink adhering to the head plate is absorbed by the head plate contact portion of the cap that presses the ejection surface of the ink so that the ink in the nozzle portion ejecting the ink of the ink jet head does not dry and foreign matter does not enter the nozzle. When the cap is separated from the head plate, the compressed absorber returns to its original shape, so that the spread pores can reliably absorb the ink on the plate, and unnecessary ink on the head plate. Prevents adhesion.
In addition, by sealing the outer circumference of the absorber with an elastic body such as fluororubber or butyl rubber to improve the airtightness, the amount of compression of the absorber is regulated so that the elastic body does not press the absorber more than necessary. This prevents permanent deformation of the absorber.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a sectional view of a cap part, and FIG. 1 (b) is a view when the cap part is pressed against a head. ,
In the figure, parts having the same functions as those of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS.

Thus, in the present invention, the ink absorber 25 is fixed to the outer periphery of the pressure contact portion of the cap 2 made of an elastic member with the head 5 so as to protrude from the cap 2 (FIG. 1A). ), Cap 2 is head plate 5 '
When moved to, the ink absorber 2 is compressed to a position where the cap 2 stops pressing (FIG. (B)). At this time, the ink absorbed by the ink absorber 2 flows into the cap 2. When the cap 2 separates from the head plate 5 ′, the ink absorber 25 separates later than the cap 2, so that the ink on the head plate 2 is absorbed by the ink absorber 25.

Further, by sealing the outer circumference of the absorber with an elastic body such as fluororubber or butyl rubber, the airtightness is improved, and the compression amount of the absorber is adjusted so that the elastic body does not press the absorber more than necessary. By regulating, it is possible to prevent permanent deformation of the absorber.

[0015]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. Effect corresponding to claim 1: When the cap is separated from the head, the ink adhering to the head is absorbed by the absorber, so cleaning is not required after opening the cap, and the printing waiting time can be shortened. Effect corresponding to claim 2: By providing an elastic member on the outer periphery of the absorber to block airflow, the airtightness inside the cap is improved and the ink ejection port of the head can be prevented from drying. Effect corresponding to claim 3: Since the absorber separates from the head later than the elastic member, ink does not adhere to the elastic member and the ink in the head can be reliably absorbed. In addition, since the elastic member keeps the pressure contact force of the cap constant, the absorber is not pressed more than necessary, so that the deformation of the absorber can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a head cap portion in an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and a diagram when the cap portion is pressed against a head.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cap drive unit in an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram when the head cap in FIG. 2 is pressed against the head.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional cap portion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram when the cap shown in FIG. 4 is pressed against the head.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which ink is attached to the head plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Cap holder, 2 ... Cap, 3 ... Ink suction tube, 4 ... Atmosphere opening tube, 5 ... Head, 5 '
... head plate, 6 ... lever, 7 ... roller, 8 ... fulcrum, 9 ... roller, 10 ... cam, 11 ... spring, 12
... Frame, 13 ... Pump, 14 ... Atmosphere opening mechanism, 15
... cam, 16 ... spring, 17 ... roller, 18 ... pump lever, 19 ... fulcrum, 20 ... pump shaft, 21 ...
Tube, 22 ... Ink reservoir, 23 ... Ink, 24 ... Ink ejection port, 25 ... Ink absorber.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink from a nozzle of a head to print on a recording medium, comprising an elastic member cap that covers a nozzle portion of the head, and the elastic member absorbs ink. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a head nozzle portion capped with the elastic member and an absorber. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the absorber is covered with an elastic member such as rubber. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tip head contact portion of the absorber protrudes from the elastic member toward the head side.