JPH0639160B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents
Inkjet recording deviceInfo
- Publication number
- JPH0639160B2 JPH0639160B2 JP58245906A JP24590683A JPH0639160B2 JP H0639160 B2 JPH0639160 B2 JP H0639160B2 JP 58245906 A JP58245906 A JP 58245906A JP 24590683 A JP24590683 A JP 24590683A JP H0639160 B2 JPH0639160 B2 JP H0639160B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- cap
- nozzle
- ink jet
- atmosphere
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005499 meniscus Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013013 elastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
- B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】 （技術分野） 本発明はノズル先端を密閉するキヤツプを備えたインク
ジエツト記録装置に関する。Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having a cap for sealing a nozzle tip.
（従来技術） 通常、インクジエツト記録装置のインクは水溶性の染料
が使用されていて、それを溶解，分散させている主溶媒
は水である。従つて、ノズルからインクの主溶媒である
水が蒸発してノズル表面のインクの粘度が上昇するとイ
ンク滴として噴射出来なくなる場合がある。この様な現
象を防止する為に、記録装置のホームポジシヨンに、待
期状態にあるヘツドをキヤツプで密閉状態にカバーして
内部を高い浸潤状態の雰囲気に保持して、ノズルからの
インクの蒸発を出来るだけ減らす機構が設置されてい
る。(Prior Art) Usually, a water-soluble dye is used in the ink of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the main solvent for dissolving and dispersing it is water. Therefore, if water, which is the main solvent of ink, evaporates from the nozzle and the viscosity of the ink on the nozzle surface rises, it may not be possible to eject it as an ink droplet. In order to prevent such a phenomenon, the head position of the recording device is covered with a cap to cover the head position of the recording device in a hermetically sealed state, and the inside is kept in a highly infiltrated atmosphere so that the ink from the nozzle is A mechanism is installed to reduce evaporation as much as possible.
第１図は従来のインク蒸発防止機構を示したもので、キ
ヤツプ１を記録ヘツド２に押し付けて、ノズル３を外気
から遮断する構造をとつている。ここでキヤツプ１の先
端に取り付けられた弾性体からなるパツキン材４が、キ
ヤツプ１をヘツド２に近づく方向であるＡ方向に押圧し
た際に収縮変形し、キヤツプ１内の圧力が高まる。これ
によりノズル３先端のインク５のメニスカス６がノズル
内部に押し戻され、結果的にノズル３内に空気を押し込
んでしまい、このままではインク滴の噴射が不可能であ
る。FIG. 1 shows a conventional ink evaporation preventing mechanism, which has a structure in which the cap 1 is pressed against the recording head 2 to shut off the nozzle 3 from the outside air. Here, the packing material 4 made of an elastic material attached to the tip of the cap 1 contracts and deforms when the cap 1 is pressed in the direction A, which is a direction approaching the head 2, and the pressure in the cap 1 increases. As a result, the meniscus 6 of the ink 5 at the tip of the nozzle 3 is pushed back into the nozzle, and as a result, air is pushed into the nozzle 3, and it is impossible to eject ink droplets as it is.
（目的） 本発明の目的は上記欠点を除去することであり、キヤツ
プ時にノズル内にメニスカスを後退させないインクジエ
ツト記録装置を提供することである。(Object) It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which does not cause the meniscus to recede in the nozzle at the time of capping.
このような目的を達成する本発明のインクジェット記録
装置は、インクを吐出するノズルを有する記録ヘッド
と、該ノズルから吐出されるインクを貯蔵するインクタ
ンクと、該インクタンク内を大気に連通させる大気連通
手段と、前記記録ヘッドと当接するることで、前記ノズ
ルと前記大気連通手段の開口とを連通させる密閉空間を
形成するキャップと、を有することを特徴とする。An ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention which achieves such an object is a recording head having a nozzle for ejecting ink, an ink tank for storing ink ejected from the nozzle, and an atmosphere for communicating the inside of the ink tank with the atmosphere. It is characterized in that it has a communication means and a cap that is in contact with the recording head to form a closed space for communicating the nozzle with the opening of the atmosphere communication means.
（実施例） 第２図は本発明の実施例であるインクジエツト記録装置
であり、駆動モータ７によつて、タイミングベルト８、
プーリ９を介して直接２本の案内シヤフト１０に沿つ
て、記録ヘツド１１を左右両方向、即ちＢ，Ｃ方向に往
復動作させる。(Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The recording head 11 is reciprocated in both left and right directions, that is, B and C directions along the two guide shafts 10 directly via the pulley 9.
記録ヘツド１１の前面のプラテン１２には記録用紙１３
がセツトされている。A recording sheet 13 is provided on the platen 12 on the front of the recording head 11.
Has been set.
また記録ヘツド１１のホームポジシヨンである、図中左
端位置には、インク蒸発防止機構であるキヤツプ機構１
４が配置されている。At the left end position in the figure, which is the home position of the recording head 11, the cap mechanism 1 which is an ink evaporation prevention mechanism is provided.
4 are arranged.
第３図は第２図のIII−III線断面を示す。記録ヘツド１
１は、図に示す如く、軸１０と嵌合する軸受部１５を一
体に有するキヤリア体１６に、サブインクタンク１７を
一体的に固着し、更にサブインクタンク１７に一端を浸
したインクジエツトノズル１８をキヤリア体１６内に埋
め込んだ構成をとり、インクジエツトノズル１８の先端
吐出部は、キヤリア体１６の記録平面１６ａに突出して
いる。またサブインクタンク１７は、フレキシブルチユ
ーブ１９を介して不図示のメインインクタンクと接続し
ており、インクジエツトノズル１８からインクが吐出さ
れるに従い、メインインクタンクからインクか補給され
る。更にキヤリア体１６のインクジエツトノズル１８上
方の近接した位置には、サブインクタンク１７内を常に
略大気に連通させる為の大気連通管２０が埋め込まれて
いる。大気連通管２０は、一端をサブインクタンク内に
突出し、他端をキヤリア体１６の記録平面１６ａに臨ま
せている。かようにして、インクジツトノズル１８と、
大気連通管２０のそれぞれの先端は、キヤリア体１６の
記録平面１６ａから近接して突出する。ここで大気連通
管２０の内径は、インクジエツトノズル１８の吐出オリ
フイス径の２倍以上に設定する。また大気連通管の断面
が円筒形でなく、矩形状である時には、その最大辺長を
オリフイス径の２倍以上にする。FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken along the line III-III in FIG. Record head 1
As shown in the figure, 1 is an ink jet nozzle in which a sub-ink tank 17 is integrally fixed to a carrier body 16 that integrally has a bearing portion 15 that fits with the shaft 10, and one end is further dipped in the sub-ink tank 17. The ink jet nozzle 18 has a structure in which the carrier body 18 is embedded in the carrier body 16, and the tip ejection portion of the ink jet nozzle 18 projects from the recording plane 16 a of the carrier body 16. Further, the sub ink tank 17 is connected to a main ink tank (not shown) via a flexible tube 19, and the ink is supplied from the main ink tank as the ink is ejected from the ink jet nozzle 18. Further, an atmosphere communicating pipe 20 for always communicating the inside of the sub ink tank 17 with almost the atmosphere is embedded in a close position above the ink jet nozzle 18 of the carrier body 16. The atmosphere communication pipe 20 has one end protruding into the sub ink tank and the other end facing the recording plane 16 a of the carrier body 16. In this way, the ink jet nozzle 18 and
The respective tips of the atmosphere communicating pipes 20 project close to the recording plane 16a of the carrier body 16. Here, the inner diameter of the atmosphere communicating pipe 20 is set to be at least twice as large as the ejection orifice diameter of the ink jet nozzle 18. Also, when the cross section of the atmosphere communicating pipe is rectangular rather than cylindrical, the maximum side length is set to be at least twice the orifice diameter.
記録ヘツド１１がホームポジシヨンに来た時には、キヤ
ツプ機構１４のキヤツプ２１が不図示のソレノイドによ
り記録ヘツド１１に近づく方向、即ちＤ方向に突出し、
キヤツプ２１の先端に固着さたパツキン材２２が、キヤ
リア体１６の記録面１６ａを、インクジエツトノズル１
８及び大気連通管２０を外部から遮断する様押圧する。
これによってインクジエツトノズル１８及び大気連通管
２０の先端の開口は、キャップ内で連通した状態で密閉
されることになる。またキヤツプ２１の内面にはスポン
ジ状のインク吸収体２３が固着されており、キヤツプ内
はインク吸収体２３によつて湿潤状態に保たれ、ノズル
１８からのインクの蒸発を最小限に制限出来る。インク
吸収体２３へのインクの補給はインクの試し噴射等をホ
ームポジシヨンで行なう事によりなされる。When the recording head 11 arrives at the home position, the cap 21 of the cap mechanism 14 is projected by the solenoid (not shown) toward the recording head 11, that is, in the D direction.
The packing material 22 fixed to the tip of the cap 21 causes the recording surface 16a of the carrier body 16 to move to the ink jet nozzle 1
8 and the air communication pipe 20 are pressed so as to be shielded from the outside.
As a result, the openings at the tips of the ink jet nozzle 18 and the atmosphere communication pipe 20 are sealed in a state of communicating in the cap. A sponge-like ink absorber 23 is fixed to the inner surface of the cap 21, and the inside of the cap is kept wet by the ink absorber 23, so that evaporation of ink from the nozzle 18 can be minimized. The ink is replenished to the ink absorber 23 by performing a trial ejection of the ink or the like at the home position.
今、記録ヘツド１１がホームポジシヨンにある時、キヤ
ツプ２１をＤ方向に押圧すると、まずパツキン材２２が
キヤリア体１６の記録平面１６ａに接触する。この後の
更なる押圧によりパツキン材２２が圧縮変形し、この分
だけキヤツプ２１内の圧力が上がる。しかしここでイン
クジエツトノズル１８の先端と大気連通管２０の先端は
連通しているので、この高まるべき圧力が大気連通管20
を介してサブインクタンク内の上部空間２４によりほぼ
吸収される。より厳密には、ノズル１８内はインクが満
ちており、インクの粘性，表面張力等が働いてメニスカ
スの後退に抵抗している。また大気連通管２０には、部
分的又は全体的にインクが存在する事があるが、その内
径がノズルに比べ大きい為、ノズル１８のメニスカスの
後退は発生させない。Now, when the recording head 11 is in the home position and the cap 21 is pressed in the D direction, the packing material 22 first comes into contact with the recording plane 16a of the carrier body 16. By further pressing thereafter, the packing material 22 is compressed and deformed, and the pressure in the cap 21 is increased accordingly. However, since the tip of the ink jet nozzle 18 and the tip of the atmosphere communication pipe 20 communicate with each other here, this pressure to be increased is the atmosphere communication pipe 20.
Is almost absorbed by the upper space 24 in the sub ink tank. More strictly speaking, the inside of the nozzle 18 is filled with ink, and the viscosity and surface tension of the ink work to resist the receding of the meniscus. Ink may partially or wholly exist in the atmosphere communication pipe 20, but since the inner diameter of the ink is larger than that of the nozzle, the meniscus of the nozzle 18 does not recede.
またサブインクタンク１７内の上部空間２４が加圧され
る分だけタンク１７内のインクが押され、ミニスカスを
インクジエツトノズル１８の先端側へ前進させる力が生
まれる。以上説明したように、常時サブインクタンク１
７内の上部空間２４とキャップ２１内との連通状態が維
持されることにより、双方の圧力が等しく保たれるの
で、キャップ時には、インクジエツトノズル内のメニス
カスの後退が発生せず、好ましい。また、キャッピング
後に、サブインクタンク１７内の上部空間２４もしくは
キャップ２１内のどちらか一方の圧力が変動した場合、
例えば温度変化等に起因した圧力変動が生じたとして
も、両者が連通しているため圧力は均一になるので、メ
ニスカスは正常な状態に保たれる。In addition, the ink in the tank 17 is pushed as much as the upper space 24 in the sub ink tank 17 is pressurized, and a force for advancing the mini-scus to the tip side of the ink jet nozzle 18 is generated. As described above, the sub ink tank 1 is always used.
By maintaining the communication state between the upper space 24 in 7 and the inside of the cap 21, both pressures are kept equal, which is preferable because the meniscus in the ink jet nozzle does not retreat during capping. Further, when the pressure in either the upper space 24 in the sub ink tank 17 or the cap 21 fluctuates after capping,
For example, even if a pressure change occurs due to a temperature change or the like, since the two are in communication with each other, the pressure becomes uniform, so that the meniscus is kept in a normal state.
尚、本発明は上記実施例に限定するものではなく、例え
ばインクジエツトノズル及び大気連通管の数は何本でも
良い。また本発明で言うキヤツプ機構は、インクジエツ
トノズル先端を単に密閉するだけでなく、インクジエツ
トノズルのメニスカスの回復を目的として、ノズル先端
を吸引する機構を備えたものを含み、結局インクジエツ
トノズル先端をキヤツプするものであれば本発明を適用
できる。The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and any number of ink jet nozzles and atmosphere communicating pipes may be used, for example. Further, the capping mechanism referred to in the present invention includes not only the one that seals the ink jet nozzle tip but also a mechanism that sucks the nozzle tip for the purpose of recovering the meniscus of the ink jet nozzle. The present invention can be applied as long as it is a cap.
（効果） 以上説明したように本発明は、タンク内を常に略大気に
連通する連通管の先端を、インクジエツトノズルの突出
端に近接して設け、このノズル吐出端と連通管先端を両
者が常時連通した状態を保つようにキヤツプにより密閉
するようにしたので、キヤツプを行なう際に生ずる加圧
によつてインクジエツトノズルのメニスカスが後退する
ことが無い。(Effect) As described above, according to the present invention, the tip of the communicating pipe that always communicates with the atmosphere in the tank is provided in the vicinity of the projecting end of the ink jet nozzle, and both the nozzle discharge end and the communicating pipe tip are provided. Since the cap is hermetically sealed so as to keep the communication state at all times, the meniscus of the ink jet nozzle does not recede due to the pressure generated when the cap is performed.
さらに、タンク内とキャップ内が連通していることによ
り、キャップ内の乾燥防止用インク吸収体による湿潤だ
けでなく、タンクからの湿潤空気による乾燥防止作用も
働くため、長期間確実に乾燥を防止することができる。In addition, since the tank and the cap are in communication, not only wetting by the ink ink for drying prevention inside the cap, but also the function of preventing drying by the moist air from the tank works, so that the drying is reliably prevented for a long time. can do.
第１図は従来のインク蒸発防止機構の部分断面図、第２
図は本発明を適用したインクジエツト記録装置の一例を
示す平面図、第３図は第２図のIII−III線断面図。 １１……記録ヘツド、１４……キヤツプ機構 １７……サブインクタンク、１８……インクジエツトノ
ズル ２０……大気連通管、２１……キヤツプFIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a conventional ink evaporation prevention mechanism, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 11 ... Recording head, 14 ... Capping mechanism 17 ... Sub ink tank, 18 ... Ink jet nozzle 20 ... Atmosphere communicating pipe, 21 ... Cap
───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (51)Int.Cl.5 識別記号 庁内整理番号 ＦＩ 技術表示箇所 Ｂ４１Ｊ 2/185 8306−2Ｃ Ｂ４１Ｊ 3/04 １０２ Ｚ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. 5 Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 2/185 8306-2C B41J 3/04 102 Z
Claims (2)
ドと、 該ノズルから吐出されるインクを貯蔵するインクタンク
と、 該インクタンク内を大気に連通させる大気連通手段と、 前記記録ヘッドと当接することで、前記ノズルと前記大
気連通手段の開口とを連通させる密閉空間を形成するキ
ャップと、 を有することを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置。1. A recording head having nozzles for ejecting ink, an ink tank for storing ink ejected from the nozzles, an atmosphere communicating means for communicating the inside of the ink tank with the atmosphere, and contacting the recording head. Thus, the ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a cap that forms a closed space that communicates the nozzle with the opening of the atmosphere communicating unit.
することを特徴とする特許請求の範囲第１項に記載のイ
ンクジェット記録装置。2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap has an ink absorber on its inner surface.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP58245906A JPH0639160B2 (en) | 1983-12-28 | 1983-12-28 | Inkjet recording device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP58245906A JPH0639160B2 (en) | 1983-12-28 | 1983-12-28 | Inkjet recording device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS60141564A JPS60141564A (en) | 1985-07-26 |
| JPH0639160B2 true JPH0639160B2 (en) | 1994-05-25 |
Family
ID=17140579
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP58245906A Expired - Lifetime JPH0639160B2 (en) | 1983-12-28 | 1983-12-28 | Inkjet recording device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH0639160B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2603610B2 (en) * | 1985-11-08 | 1997-04-23 | キヤノン株式会社 | Ink jet recording device |
| US5311214A (en) | 1985-11-08 | 1994-05-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording apparatus having means for removing foreign material from an ink supply path by first introducing an into the ink supply path |
| JPH0646679Y2 (en) * | 1986-05-01 | 1994-11-30 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Inkjet recording device |
| US5164748A (en) * | 1990-02-13 | 1992-11-17 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Suction recovery device with a cap having a communicating member to aid suction |
| CA2062416C (en) * | 1991-03-08 | 1997-12-30 | Seiichiro Karita | Ink jet recording head and method for preserving same |
| JP2516989Y2 (en) * | 1993-06-04 | 1996-11-13 | 株式会社トーモク | Packaging box |
| JP3755344B2 (en) | 1999-07-07 | 2006-03-15 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | PRINT HEAD DEVICE AND INK JET PRINTER HAVING THE SAME |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS56162661A (en) * | 1980-05-20 | 1981-12-14 | Canon Inc | Liquid jet type recording device |
| JPS57117966A (en) * | 1981-01-16 | 1982-07-22 | Canon Inc | Ink jet recording device |
| JPS57133074A (en) * | 1981-02-12 | 1982-08-17 | Canon Inc | Ink jet printer |
-
1983
- 1983-12-28 JP JP58245906A patent/JPH0639160B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS60141564A (en) | 1985-07-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXPY | Cancellation because of completion of term |