JPH06344565A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the cleaning of a blade by uniformizing the wiping-out pressure of the blade to the emitting orifice surface of a recording head to eliminate not only the accumulation of ink in the vicinity of an emitting orifice but also the change of the wiping-out condition due to the position error of the recording head. CONSTITUTION:The emitting orifice surface 51 of a recording head 1 is formed from the inclined surface part 28 inclined in the direction right-angled to the arrangement direction of emitting orifices 52 and a blade 11 composed of a rubbery elastomer moving in the arrangement direction of the emitting orifices 52 to wipe out and clean the inclined surface part 28 is provided and the leading end part 30 of the blade 11 is set to such an arrangement dimension that the leading end part 30 is parallel to the inclined surface part 28 and at least one of the side ends of the blade is received within the inclined surface part 28.

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,
Foreign matter such as ink liquid, dust, dust, and paper dust may adhere to the ejection opening surface of the recording head (inkjet head) due to the recording operation. As a means for removing the foreign matter, a rubber formed of urethane rubber or the like is used. It has been practiced to use a wiping means for rubbing the blade of the elastic body against the ejection port surface to wipe and clean it.

As one mode of the wiping operation of the blade in the wiping means, the blade is slid on the ejection port surface while moving along the arrangement direction of the ejection ports. Further, as a blade driving mechanism in that case, a mechanism for moving the blade along a straight line parallel to the arrangement direction of the discharge ports, or moving the blade along an arc in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the discharge ports A mechanism can be adopted. Also,
As an ink jet recording means such as a head cartridge, there may be used one having a structure in which a step-like inclined surface portion is formed on the front surface, and the ejection ports are arranged on the inclined surface portion.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the discharge port surface composed of the inclined surface portion is wiped with a conventional blade.
In FIG. 11, the blade 90 is a discharge port surface 9 facing downward.
The discharge port surface 91 is wiped off by moving in the front-back direction along the arrangement direction of the discharge ports formed in No. 1. Recording head (head cartridge) 92
A first parallel surface portion 93 on the right side in the drawing and a second parallel surface portion 94 on the left side in the drawing are formed on the front surface of the with a step of a predetermined height, and a step portion between these parallel surface portions 93, 94 is provided with a slope. As a result, an inclined surface portion serving as the ejection port surface 91 is formed. The blade 90 is arranged such that its tip is parallel to the first and second parallel surface portions 93 and 94, and the tip portion of the blade 90 has the inclined surface portion 91 of the inclined surface portion 91 as shown in the drawing. The width W is sufficiently larger than the width, and the edges on both sides of the width W are arranged in the range of the first parallel plane portion 93 and the range of the second parallel plane portion 94, respectively.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, the ejection port surface is capped during non-recording for the purpose of preventing the ink from drying near the ejection port and protecting the ejection port surface. This capping is
Including the case where the discharge port surface is formed by the inclined surface portion 91, a cap made of a rubber-like elastic material provided on the apparatus main body side is pressed against the discharge port surface.

[0010]

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, there are the following inconveniences when the ejection port surface composed of the inclined surface portion is wiped by the blade. First, in FIG. 11, since one end of the tip portion of the blade 90 reaches the first parallel surface portion 93 of the recording head 92, the blade 90 cannot contact the recording head uniformly as illustrated. The tip of the blade 90 does not come into contact with the vicinity of the discharge port of the inclined surface portion 91. Secondly, the contact pressure of the blade 90 on the inclined surface portion (discharge port surface) 91 becomes uneven, and a wiping trace remains. Thirdly, ink is collected near the boundary between the ejection port surface 91 and the first parallel surface portion 93, and the ink is greatly scattered when the blade 90 separates from the recording head 92. Fourthly, the wiping conditions are different due to variations in the position of the recording head 92.

Further, the conventional capping in which the cap made of rubber-like elastic material provided on the apparatus main body side is brought into pressure contact with the discharge port surface composed of the inclined surface portion has the following disadvantages. First, since the ejection port surface is not a single flat surface but is formed of an intermediate small-area inclined surface portion 91, the cap position on the apparatus main body side, the movement accuracy of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted, etc. Capping in place often has the inconvenience of leaks. Secondly, since the cap on the apparatus main body side is formed of a rubber-like elastic material, deterioration of the material occurs over time or due to ink or the like. Thirdly, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconveniences caused by the leakage and material deterioration, it is necessary to provide an equalizing operation mechanism for moving the cap in the pressure contact / separation direction, and the mechanism for that is complicated and expensive. In addition, the mechanism frequently suffers from failure, which makes the handling complicated. Fourthly, there is no member that protects the ejection port surface, ink flows out of the ejection port surface, and folds or wrinkles of recording paper contact the ejection port and damage the ejection port surface. Is likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems. A first object of the present invention is to wipe an ejection port surface formed of an inclined surface section with a uniform blade pressure, and to eliminate ink accumulation near the ejection port.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can maintain the same wiping conditions even if there is some variation in the position of the recording head, and that can easily perform cleaning for cleaning the blade.

A second object of the present invention is to eliminate the leak when capping the discharge port surface, to eliminate the problem of elastic deterioration of the rubber or the like of the sealing material such as the rubber-like elastic body, and to prevent the cap. By reducing the equalizing operation and simplifying the device, it is possible to reduce the failure rate and reduce the cost, and it is possible to enhance the protection function of preventing the vicinity of the ejection port on the ejection port surface from being damaged. A recording device is provided.

[0014]

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 ejection port surface of the recording means is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the ejection ports. It is formed by the inclined surface part that is inclined in the direction,
The inclined surface portion can be wiped and cleaned with a blade of a rubber-like elastic body that moves in the direction of arrangement of the discharge ports, and the tip end portion of the blade is parallel to the inclined surface portion and at least one of the blade side ends is By having a configuration that has a width dimension that fits within the inclined surface portion, it is possible to wipe the discharge port surface composed of the inclined surface portion with a uniform blade pressure,
An ink jet that can eliminate ink accumulation near the ejection port, maintain the same wiping conditions even if there is some variation in the position of the recording head, and can easily perform cleaning for cleaning the blade. A recording device is provided.

In addition to the above-mentioned constitution, the invention of claim 2 and claim 3 is such that the blade moves along a straight line parallel to the arrangement direction of the discharge ports, or the blade has an arrangement direction of the discharge ports. By moving along an arc in the same direction as, the same purpose is achieved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material, the ejection port surface of the recording means is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the ejection ports. A fence-shaped ejection port protection member that is formed of a surface portion and surrounds the ejection port is provided on the ejection port surface, and the ejection port is protected from outside air by the ejection port protection member when the recording unit is at a predetermined position such as an ink suction position. By being cut off and in a capping state,
Leakage when capping the discharge port surface can be eliminated, the problem of elastic deterioration of the rubber etc. of the sealing material such as rubber-like elastic body can be eliminated, and the equalizing operation of the cap can be omitted to simplify the device. By providing the above, it is possible to realize a reduction in failure rate and cost reduction, and to provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of enhancing the protection function of preventing damage to the vicinity of the ejection port on the ejection port surface.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Figure 1
In FIG. 1, the recording means (recording head) 1 is mounted on the carriage 2. The carriage 2 is drivably supported by a lead screw 3 and a guide shaft 4 installed on the apparatus body. A carriage motor 5 for moving the carriage 2 is attached to one end of the apparatus main body, and the carriage 2 reciprocates in the main scanning direction by the action of the lead screw 3 which is rotationally driven by the carriage motor 5.

Thus, the carriage 2 is reciprocated by the forward and reverse rotations of the carriage motor 5, and the carriage 2 is moved by the rotation amount of the carriage motor 5.
Is controlled (the position of the recording head 1). Recording is performed by ejecting ink from the ejection ports of the recording head 1 toward the recording material (recording paper or the like) while the carriage 2 is moving. The recording means (recording head) 1 of this embodiment is composed of a replaceable head cartridge in which an ink tank for supplying ink is integrated.

The recording head 1 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 head 1 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Is.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head) 1.
In FIG. 2, a recording material and a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.
A plurality of discharge ports 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch on the discharge port surfaces 51 facing each other at a distance of about 5 to 2.0 mm, and each liquid passage 54 that connects the common liquid chamber 53 and each discharge port 52. An electrothermal converter (a heating resistor or the like) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of the.
In this example, the recording head 1 is mounted on the carriage 2 in such a positional relationship that the ejection ports 52 are arranged in a direction intersecting the scanning direction of the carriage 2. Thus
A recording head that drives (energizes) a corresponding electrothermal converter 55 based on an image signal or an ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid path 54 to film-boil and eject the ink from the ejection port 52 by the pressure generated at that time. 1 is configured.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recording head (head cartridge) 1 as seen from the ejection port surface side. In FIG. 3, the front surface (face surface facing the recording material) 25 of the recording head (head cartridge) 1 has a first
And a second parallel surface portion 27 on the left side of the drawing are formed with a step having a predetermined height.
An inclined surface portion 28 that is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the discharge ports 52 is formed by forming a slope in the step portion between 6 and 27. This inclined surface portion 28 is the discharge port surface 5 in FIG.
In the inclined surface portion 28, a plurality of ejection openings 52 arranged vertically are formed.

In FIG. 1, the ejection port surface 5 of the recording head 1
1, a platen (not shown) having a length that substantially covers the width of the recording material is provided in parallel with the lead screw 3. This platen has a function of holding the recording material at the correct recording position at the recording position, preventing deformation of the recording material, and maintaining an appropriate gap between the recording material and the ejection port surface 51. ing. A conveying roller 8 is arranged in parallel to the lead screw 3 at a position upstream of the recording position of the platen in the sheet passing direction. The transport roller 8 is rotationally driven by the paper feed motor 6.

A pinch roller (not shown) is brought into pressure contact with the conveying roller 8 so that the recording material sent from an automatic paper feeding device (not shown) is recorded at a recording position (a position facing the ejection port surface 51).
It is configured to be transported to. The pinch roller is pressed against the conveying roller 8 to rotate by rotation, and the pressing force of the pinch roller is given by a leaf spring or the like.
A discharge roller (not shown) and a spur (not shown) for discharging the recording material that has passed the recording position are provided at a position downstream of the recording position of the platen from the recording position. However, the recording material is fed (conveyed) by the frictional conveyance force between the paper discharge roller and the spur.

The spurs are driven to rotate by being pressed against a paper discharge roller, and the pressing force of the spurs is applied by a leaf spring or the like through a spur holder or the like (not shown). The pinch roller and the spur can be separated (opened) by operating a lever or the like when the recording material is taken out when the paper is jammed or the like. When the recording material is conveyed in front of the recording head 1, the paper discharge roller removes the slack of the recording material and prevents an error in the recording position and the contact of the recording material with the recording head 1. have.
Therefore, the peripheral speed of the paper discharge roller is usually set to be slightly higher than the peripheral speed of the transport roller 8, and is driven synchronously with the transport roller 8.

In FIG. 1, a recovery device including the illustrated cleaning mechanism 10 is arranged at a position within the movement range of the carriage 2 and outside the recording area. The cleaning mechanism 10 is for wiping and removing foreign matter such as ink and paper dust attached to the ejection port surface 51 of the recording head 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the operation of the cleaning mechanism 10 in FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the cleaning mechanism 10 includes a blade 11 for wiping and cleaning the ejection port surface 51 of the head cartridge 1.
2 and attach the blade holder 12 to the discharge port surface 5
It is configured to be reciprocally driven in the arrangement direction of the one discharge port 52 (direction of arrow A). In the illustrated example, a rack 13 is formed on the blade holder 12, the rack 13 is engageable with a pinion 14 pivotally supported by the main body of the apparatus, and a gear 15 provided coaxially with the pinion 14 is It meshes with a gear 16 provided at one end of the transport roller 8. Thus, the blade holder 12 and the blade 11 can be moved by rotating the transport roller 8 with the paper feed motor 6.

A latch portion 17 is provided on the blade holder 12 in a protruding manner, and a tip portion of the latch portion 17 is engaged with a stopper 18. Furthermore, blade holder 1
2 is provided with a cam follower 19, and when the carriage 2 moves to the cleaning mechanism 10, the carriage cam portion 20 provided on the carriage 2 causes the cam follower 1 to move.
9 is abuttingly engaged.

Next, the cleaning operation of the cleaning mechanism 10 will be described. In FIGS. 1 and 4, when the cartridge head 1 moves and the ejection port surface 51 moves to the cleaning position, the carriage cam portion 20 engages with the cam follower 19, so that the cam follower 19 and the blade holder 10 are engaged. To move. With the movement of the blade holder 10, the pinion 14 and the rack 13 are engaged with each other, and the latch portion 17 is disengaged from the stopper 18. When the pinion 14 and the rack 13 mesh with each other, the gear 15 is rotated by the paper feed motor 6 via the transport roller 8 and the gear 16. With the rotation of the gear 15, the blade holder 10 moves along a straight line indicated by an arrow A, and the tip of the blade 11 mounted on the blade holder 10 causes the discharge port surface 51 (the inclined surface portion 28) to be linear. Wipe clean.

When the cleaning of the ejection port surface 51 is completed and the recording head 1 is returned to the position away from the cleaning position, the pinion 14 is reversed and the blade holder 10 is moved.
Moves in the returning direction, the blade 11 is returned to the original position without contacting the discharge port surface 51, the latch portion 17 rides over the stopper 18, and the pinion 14 is held (held) by the toothless portion of the rack 13. It In this way, the cleaning mechanism 10 returns to the original state (standby state).

FIG. 5 shows the first part of the cleaning mechanism 10.
It is a typical front view showing the important section of an example. In FIG. 5, the blade 11 is formed of a plate member made of a rubber-like elastic material, and its tip portion 30 is parallel to the inclined surface portion 28, and its supporting portion (root portion) 31 is also parallel to the inclined surface portion 28. It is attached to the blade holder 10. The width w ₁ of the blade 11 is dimensioned and arranged such that one end edge (the right end edge in the drawing) of the tip portion 30 has the inclined surface portion 2.
It is set so that it is in 8 and does not reach the first parallel surface portion 26. The other edge of the tip portion 30 of the blade 11 (the left edge in the drawing) slightly protrudes from the inclined surface portion 28. In the first embodiment, the blade 11 having the width w ₁ is set with respect to the inclined surface portion 28 forming the discharge port surface 51.
Are arranged as shown in FIG. 5, and the blade 11 is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4, whereby the ejection port surface 51 is wiped and cleaned.

FIG. 6 shows the second part of the cleaning mechanism 10.
It is a typical front view showing the important section of an example. In FIG. 6, the blade 11 has its tip portion 30 parallel to the inclined surface portion 28, and its support portion (root portion) 31 has a parallel surface portion 2.
Blade holder 10 so as to be parallel to 6 and 27 and oblique to discharge port surface 51 (inclined surface portion 28).
Is attached to. Then, the width w ₂ of the blade 11 is dimensioned and arranged so that one edge (the right edge in the drawing) of the tip portion 30 is inside the inclined surface portion 28 and does not reach the first parallel surface portion 26. Has been done. In the illustrated example, the other end edge (the left end edge in the drawing) of the tip portion 30 of the blade 11 slightly protrudes from the inclined surface portion 28. Also in this second embodiment, the blade 11 having the width w ₂ is attached to the inclined surface portion 28 forming the discharge port surface 51 as shown in FIG.
The blade 11 is arranged as shown in FIG.
By moving the discharge port surface 51 in this direction, the discharge port surface 51 is wiped and cleaned.

FIG. 7 shows the third part of the cleaning mechanism 10.
It is a typical front view showing the important section of an example. In FIG. 7, the blade 11 has its tip portion 30 parallel to the inclined surface portion 28, and its supporting portion (root portion) 31 also has the inclined surface portion 28.
It is attached to the blade holder 10 so as to be parallel to. In the present embodiment, the overall width w ₃ of the blade 11 is dimensioned and arranged such that the one end edge (the right end edge in the drawing) of the tip portion 30 thereof extends beyond the inclined surface portion 28 to the first parallel surface portion 26. I'm out. However, on the side of the first parallel surface portion 26 of the tip portion 30 of the blade 11, there is formed a slit (notch groove) 32 for the inclined surface portion (discharge port surface) 28. Also in the example of FIG. 7, the tip portion 3 of the blade 11 is
The other edge of 0 (the left edge in the drawing) slightly protrudes from the inclined surface portion 28.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the overall width w ₃ of the blade 11 is so wide as to reach the first parallel surface portion 26, but the slit 3 which is formed on the inclined surface portion 28 at the intermediate portion thereof.
Since 2 is formed, the portion of the blade 11 where the inclined surface portion 28 is wiped off has almost the same elastic behavior as the blade having the width w ₁ of the first embodiment. Also in the third embodiment, the blade 11 having the width w ₃ is arranged as shown in FIG. 7 with respect to the inclined surface portion 28 forming the discharge port surface 51, and the blade 11 is indicated by an arrow A in FIG. By moving the discharge port surface 51 in this direction, the discharge port surface 51 is wiped and cleaned.

According to each of the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, the ejection port surface 51 of the recording head 1 is formed by the inclined surface portion 28 which is inclined in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the ejection ports 52, and the ejection port is formed. Blade 1 made of a rubber-like elastic body that moves in the arrangement direction of 52
A cleaning mechanism 10 for wiping and cleaning the inclined surface portion 28 by means of 1 is provided, and the tip portion 30 of the blade 11 is provided.
The arrangement and dimensions in the width direction of the inclined surface portion 2 are parallel to the inclined surface portion 28, and at least one of the blade side ends is
Since it is set so that it can be accommodated within 8, it is possible to wipe off the ejection port surface 51 composed of the inclined surface portion 28 with a uniform blade pressure, it is possible to eliminate ink pools in the vicinity of the ejection port 52, and at the mounting position of the recording head 1. There is provided an inkjet recording apparatus that can maintain the same wiping conditions even if there is some variation, and that can easily perform cleaning for cleaning the blade 11.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the movement of the blade 11 is set to be a linear movement along a straight line parallel to the arrangement direction of the discharge ports 52, as shown in FIG. However, instead of this, the tip portion of the blade 11 is the discharge port 5
The blade 11 may be configured to rotate around a fulcrum so that the blade 11 has an arc motion along the arrangement direction. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing a state of wiping and cleaning with the rotating blade 11. In FIG. 8, an arm-shaped blade holder 35 is rotatably supported around a fulcrum 36, and the blade 11 is attached to a predetermined position of the blade holder 35. Then, the blade holder 35 is rotated in the direction of arrow C by a drive mechanism (not shown) so that the blade 11 wipes and cleans the inclined surface portion 28 (discharge port surface 51).

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the recording means of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 10 shows the recording means of FIG. 9 moved to the ink suction portion of the recovery device. It is a typical front sectional view showing a state at the time. 9 and 10, the front surface 25 of the head cartridge (recording head) 1 that is detachably (replaceable) mounted on the carriage 2 (FIG. 1) has a right side in the figure as in the case of FIG. The first parallel surface portion 26 and the second parallel surface portion 27 on the left side in the drawing are formed with a step having a predetermined height, and the step portion between these two parallel surface portions 26, 27 is provided with an inclination to arrange the ejection ports 52. An inclined surface portion 28 that is inclined in the direction perpendicular to the direction is formed. The inclined surface portion 28 is a flat surface portion corresponding to the ejection port surface 51 in FIG. 2, and a plurality of ejection ports 52 arranged vertically are formed in the inclined surface portion 28.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the inclined surface portion 28 (discharge port surface 51) and the second parallel surface portion 27.
The cap fence 40 having a predetermined height is provided so as to cover both sides of the above and surround the discharge port 52. The fence 40 is made of a rubber-like elastic material such as synthetic rubber and is fixed to the front surface 25 of the recording head 1 by adhesion or the like. The front end surface of the fence 40 is in the same plane over the entire circumference, and is shaped so as to be in close contact with the similarly inclined opposing surface to seal the inside.

In FIG. 10, at a predetermined position outside the recording area of the recording device, an ink suction portion 41 constituting a recovery device.
Is provided. The ink suction unit 41 applies a negative pressure suction force to the ejection port 52 with the ejection port surface 51 capped, thereby sucking foreign matter such as fixed ink, bubbles, and dust inside the ejection port 52 together with the ink. The purpose is to maintain normal ink ejection and to eliminate ejection failure (including non-ejection). On the front surface (the surface facing the recording head 1) of the ink suction portion 41, a flat inclined surface portion 42 inclined in substantially the same direction as the inclined surface portion 28.
Is formed, and an ink suction port 43 communicating with a negative pressure source (suction pump or the like) is opened at the center of the flat slope portion 42.

Then, when the carriage 2 (FIG. 1) moves in the direction of the arrow D and the recording head 1 reaches the ink suction portion 41, the fence 40 comes into sealing contact with the flat inclined surface portion 42, and the ejection port 52 thereof. Shielded from outside air around. That is, the ejection port 52 (ejection port surface 51 = inclined surface portion 28) is capped. The capping is released by moving the recording head 1 in the direction opposite to the arrow D. In this way, the ejection port surface 51 can be capped and released without moving the ink suction unit 41 on the apparatus main body side (without the equalizing operation), only by moving the recording head 1. In addition, since the rubber-like elastic fence 40 surrounding the ejection port 52 is provided integrally with the ejection port surface 51, another member such as a recording material comes into contact with the delicately processed ejection port 52 and the ejection port 52.
Can be prevented from being damaged, and a function as a discharge port protection member can be obtained.

According to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the ejection port surface 51 of the recording head 1 is formed by the inclined surface portion 28 which is inclined in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the ejection ports 52, and the ejection port surface is formed. 51 is provided with an ejection port protection member 40 made of a fence-like rubber-like elastic body surrounding the ejection port 52, and when the recording head 1 is at a predetermined position such as an ink suction position, the ejection port 52 is protected by the ejection port protection member 40. Since it is configured to be shielded from the outside air and to be in a capping state, it is possible to eliminate a leak when the discharge port surface 51 is capped, and to eliminate the problem of elastic deterioration of the rubber or the like of the sealing material 40 such as a rubber-like elastic body. It is possible to reduce the failure rate and reduce the cost by omitting the equalizing operation of the cap and simplifying the device. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can enhance the protective function of preventing the neighborhood from damage.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the fence-shaped discharge port protection member 40 is formed of a rubber-like elastic body, but instead of this, the material of the discharge port protection member 40 is a non-elastic member such as molding resin. The flat slope 4 of the ink suction unit 41.
2 may be formed of a rubber-like elastic material such as synthetic rubber, and similar effects can be obtained even with such a configuration. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the fence-shaped discharge port protection member 4 is used.
Although 0 is arranged so as to extend over both surfaces of the inclined surface portion 28 and the second parallel surface portion 27, it is also possible to accommodate 0 within the inclined surface portion 28 where the discharge port 52 exists, and the same effect can be obtained.

In each of the above embodiments, the recording head 1
Although the description has been given by taking as an example the case of a serial recording apparatus in which the carriage is mounted on the carriage 2, the present invention uses a recording head having a length that covers the entire width or a part of the width of the recording material and only performs paper feed scanning. The same can be applied to the case of a line recording apparatus for recording, and the same effect can be obtained. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the recording is performed by one recording head 1 is illustrated, but the present invention is a color recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads that record in different colors, or an ink having the same color but different density. The present invention can be widely applied to a recording apparatus for gradation recording that uses a plurality of recording heads for recording, and the same effect can be obtained regardless of the number of recording heads or recording colors.

Furthermore, the present invention uses the replaceable head cartridge in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated as described above, and the recording head and the ink tank are separated and connected by a tube or the like. No matter what the arrangement of the head and the ink tank is, the same can be applied and 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 its typical structure and principle, 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.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings 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 discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, 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 above is associated with the discharge portion. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, 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 the 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 and 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 when left standing for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink that has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a 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 the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, besides 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 transmission / reception function. And the like may be used.

[0054]

As is clear from the above description, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material, the ejection port surface of the recording means is ejected. It is formed by an inclined surface portion that is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the outlets, and the inclined surface portion can be wiped and cleaned by a blade of a rubber-like elastic body that moves in the direction of arrangement of the discharge ports, and the shape of the tip portion of the blade. Since the dimensions are parallel to the inclined surface portion and at least one of the blade side ends has a width dimension that can be accommodated in the inclined surface portion, the discharge port surface formed of the inclined surface portion can be wiped with a uniform blade pressure. It is possible to eliminate ink accumulation near the outlet, maintain the same wiping conditions even if there is some variation in the position of the recording head, and clean the blade. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can perform cleaning easily.

According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3,
In addition to the above configuration, the blade is configured to move along a straight line parallel to the arrangement direction of the discharge ports, or the blade is configured to move along an arc in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the discharge ports. The effect similar to the above can be achieved.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material, the ejection port surface of the recording means is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the ejection ports. And a fence-shaped ejection port protection member surrounding the ejection port is provided on the ejection port surface, and the ejection port is protected by the ejection port protection member when the recording unit is at a predetermined position such as an ink suction position. Since it is configured to be in a capping state by being shielded from the outside air, it is possible to eliminate leakage when capping the discharge port surface, and to eliminate the problem of elastic deterioration of rubber etc. of the sealing material such as rubber-like elastic body. By reducing the cap's equalizing operation and simplifying the device, the failure rate can be reduced and costs can be reduced. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can enhance the protective function of preventing from scratching.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of recording means in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the wiping operation of the cleaning mechanism of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the first embodiment of the cleaning mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a second embodiment of the cleaning mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a third embodiment of the cleaning mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing another wiping operation of the cleaning mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the recording means of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view schematically showing the capping operation of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing a conventional example of a cleaning mechanism of a recording unit of an inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Means (Recording Head = Head Cartridge) 2 Carriage 3 Lead Screw 4 Guide Shaft 5 Carriage Motor 6 Paper Feed Motor 8 Conveying Roller 10 Cleaning Mechanism 11 Blade 12 Blade Holder 13 Rack 14 Pinion 19 Cam Follower 20 Carriage Cam 25 Front of Recording Means 26 1st parallel surface part 27 2nd parallel surface part 28 Inclined surface part 30 Blade tip part 31 Blade support part 32 Slit 35 Blade holder 36 Support point 40 Discharge port protection member (fence) 41 Ink suction part 42 Flat slope part 43 Ink Suction port 51 Discharge port surface 52 Discharge port 54 Liquid path 55 Electrothermal converter

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, an ejection opening surface of the recording means is formed by an inclined surface portion which is inclined in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the ejection openings, The inclined surface portion can be wiped and cleaned with a blade of a rubber-like elastic body that moves in the direction of arrangement of the discharge ports, and the tip end portion of the blade is parallel to the inclined surface portion and at least one of the blade side ends is An ink jet recording apparatus having a width dimension that fits within an inclined surface portion. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blade moves along a straight line parallel to the arrangement direction of the ejection ports. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blade moves along an arc in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the ejection ports. 4. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an inkjet recording means including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording means ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. . 6. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, wherein an ejection surface of the recording means is formed by an inclined surface portion which is inclined in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the ejection openings. A fence-shaped ejection port protection member that surrounds the ejection port is provided on the ejection port surface, and the ejection port is shielded from the outside air by the ejection port protection member when the recording unit is in a predetermined position such as an ink suction position or the capping state. Inkjet recording device characterized by the following. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording means is an ink jet recording means provided with an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, 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. .