JPH0664160A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protect a recording means certainly while the same is not used so that satisfactory recording can be made when the same is reused. CONSTITUTION:Notches 14 for taking out a stored head cartridge 7, 8 are provided on two positions facing each other on the end of an opening 9. A cap 15 is provided to a position corresponding to an ejection port of the inserted head cartridge 7, 8 on the bottom face of the opening 9 so that the cap can be brought into contact with an ejction ports-forming surface 51 for sealing the ejection ports 52. An ink absorbing body 16 is mounted to the inside of the cap 15 for trapping ink that is stuck to the ejection ports-forming surface 51 or dribbled out of the ejection ports 52.

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 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 composite electronic device including a computer, a word processor, etc. An image is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as a plastic thin plate. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, etc., depending on the recording method.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a serial scan system in which 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 recorded. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit (generally mounted on a carriage) that moves along the material, and a predetermined amount of paper is fed (conveyed material to be recorded) after the recording for one line is completed. After that, the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next row is repeated on the recording material that has stopped again, thereby recording the entire recording material. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records only by sub-scanning in the conveyance direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and the
The paper is continuously fed (pitch feed) while recording for a line, and the entire recording material is recorded.

Among the above-mentioned recording apparatuses, an ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) discharges ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material to perform recording, so that the recording means can be made compact. Easy 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 produces less noise and multi-color images. It has advantages such as easy recording of a color image using ink. Above all, the line type apparatus using the line type recording means in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up the recording.

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. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material,
In recent years, ordinary recording materials such as paper and resin thin plates (OHP)
Etc.), thin paper and processed paper (paper with punched holes for filing, perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.) have been required to be used.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
The form of the recording means (recording head) includes a permanent type and a disposable type. The permanent type has a structure in which the life of the recording head used is longer than that of the recording device, and normally the recording head is not removed from the main body of the device. On the other hand, the disposable type is usually composed of a removable head cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated, and when the ink in the head cartridge is used up, the head cartridge is detached from the main body of the apparatus and used. The head cartridge is discarded and a new head cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.

[0007]

However, in the ink jet recording apparatus having the above-mentioned conventional recording means, there are the following inconveniences when multicoloring or colorization is performed. That is, in the above-mentioned permanent type recording head, it is necessary to fixedly mount the number of recording heads corresponding to the type of ink used for multicoloring or colorization, and therefore, the supply for supplying ink to each recording head. The route is complicated, and there is a disadvantage in terms of reliability and cost. Further, in this permanent type, the system for supplying the recording signal to each recording head becomes complicated and the cost also increases.

On the other hand, in the disposable type recording means (recording head), since the ink cartridge (ink storage portion) and the recording head are integrated into a head cartridge, the recording means becomes large in size and multi-colored. If a plurality of recording means are mounted for colorization or colorization, the main body of the apparatus becomes much larger, and further, a large amount of electric power is required to drive a carriage equipped with these, which causes an increase in cost and noise.

In the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, in view of the above-mentioned inconvenience, the ink cartridge capacity is increased in the head cartridge of the color most often used (for example, black), and the ink tank capacity is reduced in other colors. By doing so, a method of reducing the size of the device body as much as possible is adopted. Further, from the viewpoint of downsizing of the recording apparatus and cost reduction, for example, only a black head cartridge is mounted on the carriage on which the recording means is mounted, and for other colors, the head cartridge is replaced only when necessary. Is proposed.

However, in such a conventional measure, an unnecessary head cartridge is removed from the main body of the recording apparatus,
Since other head cartridges are installed and recording is performed,
There were inconveniences as follows. First, the head cartridge removed from the recording apparatus is left for a long period of time, ink is evaporated from the recording head, and the ink in the ejection port is fixed and clogging easily occurs. Secondly, ink spillage tends to occur depending on the method of storing the head cartridge when it is left standing. Thirdly, the ejection surface of the unused head cartridge is easily damaged and the ejection port may be destroyed. Fourthly, dust is likely to adhere to the ejection port forming surface of the head cartridge when it is left standing, and non-ejection of ink is likely to occur when it is reused. Incidentally, such inconvenience can be solved to some extent by the configuration disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-93265, but there is still room for improvement.

The present invention was made in order to further improve the invention disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-93265, and an object of the present invention is to reliably protect a recording means when it is not in use. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can perform good recording when reusing recording means.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a holding means for holding a recording means that is not used for recording in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material. The above object is achieved by providing the holding means with the cap means for closing the ejection port of the recording means. In addition, in addition to the above-mentioned configuration, another aspect of the present invention is such that the cap means is provided with an ink absorber as a moisturizing material, the holding means is provided with guide means for regulating the holding direction of the recording means, and A structure in which a closing means for sealing the opening of the holding means is provided, a structure for providing a locking means for locking the recording means in the holding means, or a structure for releasing the locking means By providing the releasing means, the above object can be achieved more efficiently.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 1 is an inkjet recording apparatus, 2 is a recording material such as paper or a thin plastic plate, 3 is a release lever for releasing a frictional conveyance force such as a conveyance roller (paper feed roller), and 4 is a recording material 2 A sheet feed port for inserting a sheet, a reference numeral 5 denotes an operation panel provided with a switch and a display unit, a reference numeral 6 denotes a carriage which can reciprocate in a direction traversing the recording material 2 along a guide shaft 41 installed in the apparatus main body, Reference numeral 7 denotes a head cartridge (first head cartridge) mounted on the carriage 6 as a recording means in use, 8 denotes a head cartridge (second head cartridge) which is not used and is stored, and 9 denotes a second head cartridge 8. Openings 10 provided in the main body of the apparatus for storage and storage are lid members for sealing the opening 9.

In the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the first head cartridge 7 mounted on the carriage 6 is driven according to a recording signal while moving (main scanning) the carriage 6 by a motor (driving source). The recording material 2 is recorded line by line. The second head cartridge 8 not used for this recording is the opening 9 of the apparatus main body.
It is stored inside.

The recording means (head cartridges 7 and 8)
The recording head section) is an inkjet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal 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. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head portion of the head cartridges 7 and 8). In FIG. 2, recording material 2
And a plurality of ejection openings 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch on the ejection opening formation surface 51 facing each other with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm), and each of the common liquid chambers 53 and An electrothermal converter (a heating resistor, etc.) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of each liquid passage 54 communicating with the ejection port 52. In this example, the recording means 7 and 8 are mounted on the carriage 6 in such a positional relationship that the ejection ports 52 are arranged in a direction intersecting the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage 6. In this manner, the corresponding electrothermal converter 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid path 54 to film-boil, and the pressure generated at that time causes the ink to be ejected from the ejection port 52. Recording means (head cartridge 7, 8
Recording head section).

The first head cartridge 7 and the second head cartridge
The head cartridge 8 uses different inks, but its structure and dimensions are substantially the same. Therefore, when recording with the second head cartridge 8 instead of the first head cartridge 7, first, an eject button (not shown) or the like is pressed to take out the second head cartridge 8 from the opening 9 of the apparatus main body, and The head cartridge 7 is removed from the carriage 6. Next, the second head cartridge 8 is mounted on the carriage 6, and the first head cartridge 8 is inserted into the opening 9 to mount the lid member 10. This lid member 10 prevents dust and the like from entering the opening 9 in view that dust and the like may adhere to the ink discharge portions of the head cartridges 7 and 8 and cause discharge failure and image misalignment. It is for doing.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are views showing the head cartridges 7 and 8. FIG. 3 is a plan view, FIG. 4 is a front view, and FIG. 5 is a right side view, with reference to the posture of mounting on the carriage 6. . In FIGS. 3 to 5, a discharge port forming surface 51 having a plurality of discharge ports 52 arranged vertically is provided on the left side of the front surface of the head cartridge 7 or 8. Means) 7, 8 are formed with guides (notches in the illustrated example) 12 for preventing an error in the posture (insertion direction) when inserting into the opening 9 on the upper right side. .

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the opening 9 when the head cartridge is not inserted, and FIG. 7 is a line 7--in FIG. 6 when the head cartridges 7 and 8 are inserted and the lid member 10 is mounted. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 7. FIG. 6 and 7, the inside of the opening 9 has a shape and dimension substantially corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the head cartridges 7 and 8, and the head cartridges 7 and 8 have their ink ejecting portions (the ejection port forming surface 5).
It is designed to be stored and stored with the position 1) facing down. A guide 13 of the apparatus main body corresponding to the guides 12 of the head cartridges 7 and 8 is formed at the front left corner of the opening 9.

Notches 14 for taking out the stored head cartridges 7 and 8 are formed at two opposite positions of the opening end (upper end) of the opening 9. Also, the opening 9
A cap 15 for contacting the ejection port forming surface 51 and sealing the ejection port 52 is provided at a position corresponding to the ink ejection portion (ejection port 52) of the inserted head cartridge 7 or 8 on the bottom surface of the. ing. An ink absorber 16 for removing and collecting the ink adhering to the ejection port forming surface 51 or the ink dripping from the ejection port 52 is mounted inside the cap 15. The guides 12 of the head cartridges 7 and 8 and the guides 13 of the opening 9 can prevent erroneous insertion when the user erroneously inserts the head cartridges 7 and 8 vertically and horizontally.

8 to 12 are views showing a second embodiment of the head cartridge and the opening according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the first head cartridge 7, and FIG.
10 is a bottom view of the head cartridge 7, FIG. 10 is a front view of the second head cartridge 8, FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the second head cartridge 8, and FIGS. 12A and 12B show that the head cartridge is not inserted. It is a top view which shows two structural examples of the opening part 9 when a lid member is also removed. The first head cartridge 7 is for a single color having one row of ejection ports 52, and the second head cartridge 8 is for a plurality of rows (for example, 3 rows).
It is for multiple colors having the ejection openings 52 of (row).

8 to 11, the ejection opening 52 (ejection opening forming surface 51) of the first head cartridge 7 and the ejection opening 52 (ejection opening forming surface 51) of the second head cartridge 8 are shown.
Are provided on the opposite side of the guide 12 or on the opposite side. In each of FIGS. 12A and 12B, on the bottom surface of the opening portion 9, the positions corresponding to the ejection ports 52 of one row of the first head cartridge 7 and the ejection of three rows of the second head cartridge 8 are performed. Caps 20 and 21 for contacting the ejection port forming surface 51 and sealing the ejection ports 52 are provided at two positions corresponding to the outlets 52. That is, in both the structures (A) and (B), the caps 20 and 21 are provided at two locations, but in the case of (A), the cap 20 and the cap 21 have substantially the same size and shape. In the case of (B),
The cap 21 for sealing the ejection openings 52 of one row of the first head cartridge 7 is a cap 20 for sealing the ejection openings 52 of a plurality of rows of the second head cartridge 8.
The size and shape are smaller than the width. And
In each case of (A) and (B), each cap 2
Ink absorbers 16 and 16 for removing and collecting ink and the like adhering to the ejection port forming surface 51 are mounted inside the nozzles 0 and 21.

According to the structure shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, when the single color head cartridge 7 is unnecessary and is mounted in the opening 9, the discharge port 52 is hermetically protected by the cap 21. On the other hand, the multi-color head cartridge 8 becomes unnecessary, and when it is mounted in the opening 9, the ejection port 52
Is sealed and protected by the cap 20. in this way,
By configuring the ejection port forming surfaces 51 (ejection ports 52) of the multi-color head cartridge 8 and the monochromatic head cartridge to be hermetically sealed and protected by separate caps 20 and 21, respectively, ink between the head cartridges 7 and 8 is formed. It is possible to reliably prevent the color mixture of. Further, if the structure is such that the cap 21 in FIG. 12B has a small width and is brought into close contact with the vicinity of the ejection port 52 in the vicinity thereof, the structure shown in FIG.
Compared with the cap 21 in (A), the margin for ink drying in the ejection port 52 can be improved.

FIG. 13 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of a mounting / demounting mechanism for the head cartridges 7, 8 in the opening 9, and FIG. 14 is a mounting / demounting mechanism for the head cartridges 7, 8 in the opening 9. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view showing another embodiment. 13 and 14 show the case where the first head cartridge 7 is attached and detached, the same is true when the second head cartridge 8 is attached and detached.

In FIG. 13, 23 is a locking projection provided on the head cartridge 7, 24 is a leaf spring provided on the apparatus main body side so as to be able to lock with the projection 23 of the head cartridge 7, and 25 is mounted. The rib is provided at a position (a position inside the opening 9) that does not come into contact with the ink ejection portion 51 of the head cartridge 7. When the head cartridge 7 (shown by the solid line in FIG. 13) mounted in the opening 9 is taken out, the head cartridge 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow B against the leaf spring 24 to be released. Take out in the direction of arrow C.

On the other hand, when the head cartridge 7 is mounted in the opening 9, the head cartridge 7 is inserted in the direction opposite to the arrow C contrary to the above, except for the ejection port forming surface 51 of the head cartridge 7. Rib 2 on the device body side
5 is brought into contact. Next, the head cartridge 7 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B against the leaf spring 24, and the protrusion 2
3 is locked to the leaf spring 24. As a result, the head cartridge 7 is mounted in the opening 9 in a predetermined storage posture.

In FIG. 14, which shows another attaching / detaching mechanism, 28
Is an eject lever for taking out the head cartridge 7, 29 is a return spring for biasing and holding the eject lever 28 in the illustrated position, and 30 is an eject lever 28.
A lock release protrusion (pin) provided on the lock lever 31; a lock lever 31 rotatably supported by a fulcrum 42 on the apparatus body side; and a lock lever 31 between the head cartridge 7 and the lock lever 31. A spring for urging to the locking position, 33 is a push lever for ejecting the head cartridge rotatably supported on the apparatus main body side, and 34 is a locking portion (recess) provided in the head cartridge 7.

When the head cartridge 7 mounted in the storage state shown in FIG. 14 is taken out, the eject lever 28 is pushed in the direction of arrow D. This eject lever 2
8 is pushed in the direction of the arrow D, the protrusion 30 moves the locking lever 3
1 is pushed, the locking lever 31 is disengaged from the locking portion (recess) 34 of the head cartridge 7. The head cartridge 7 is now in the released state. Further eject lever 28
Is pushed in the direction of the arrow D, the tip of the eject lever 28 collides with the push lever 33, and the push lever 33 rotates clockwise in the drawing to move the head cartridge 7
Is extruded in the direction of arrow E (outward) and taken out.

Normally, the eject lever 28 is held at the position shown by a return spring 29. Therefore,
When the head cartridge 7 is mounted in the opening 9, even if the head cartridge 7 is simply pushed in,
It can be mounted at a predetermined position by the reverse operation of the above-mentioned take-out operation. The head cartridge 7 may be inserted and mounted in the opening 9 in a state where the eject lever 28 is pushed to retract the locking lever 31.

In the above embodiment, the case where one opening 9 is provided for storing the head cartridge has been described.
Two or more openings 9 having the same structure may be provided depending on the number of head cartridges used. Also,
The direction of the opening 9 and the mounting direction of the head cartridge can be freely selected with respect to the recording apparatus, and can be freely selected, for example, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, the front-back direction, the diagonal direction. Furthermore, for the head cartridge, black, yellow, cyan, magenta,
Inks of different colors such as green, inks with the same hue but different recording density, inks with different compositions, etc.
Various inks may be used alone or in combination. Further, in the above-described embodiments, the head cartridge in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated has been described as an example, but this may be a recording means (recording head) separate from the ink tank.

According to each of the embodiments described above, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with the storage means for storing and holding the unused recording means, and the storage means (holding means) 9, 1
0, and the cap means 20 for closing the ejection openings 52 of the head cartridges (recording means) 7 and 8 inside the storage means,
Since 21 is provided, it is possible to reliably protect the ink ejection portion of the recording unit, and the ink is fixed due to drying in the ejection port 52, dust and air bubbles are mixed into the ejection port 52, and the ejection port forming surface 5 is formed.
By eliminating the adhesion of foreign matter such as dust to 1, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the quality of the recorded image due to the ejection failure or the deviation of the ejection direction resulting from these, and to obtain a highly reliable inkjet recording device. Was given. In addition, by storing and holding an unused head cartridge in the main body of the apparatus, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally dropping the recording means and mixing bubbles and the like.
It is also possible to prevent electrostatic breakdown and the like when the recording means is left unattended.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording means 7, 8 are used.
Although the description has been given by taking the serial type recording device in which the carriage is mounted on the carriage 6 as an example, the present invention uses a line type recording means having a length that covers the whole or a part of the recording material 2 in the width direction. The same can be applied to a line type printing apparatus that prints only by scanning, and the same effect can be obtained. Further, as the recording means 7 and 8, in addition to a cartridge type in which an ink ejection portion (recording head) and an ink tank portion are integrated, an ink ejection portion (recording head portion) and an ink tank portion are formed as separate components. Whatever the constitution of the recording means, such as the constitution in which it is connected by the supply tube or the like, can be similarly applied, and the same effect can be achieved.

The present invention can be applied to any ink jet recording apparatus that uses 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 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, 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. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, it is possible to electrically connect to the device body or supply ink from the device body by mounting it on the recording head fixed to the device body or the device body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself 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. Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, electrothermal converters or heating elements other than these, or preheating means for the recording head. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which discharge different from recording is performed.

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 inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode only for mainstream colors such as black,
The recording head may be integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used, but the present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of a mixed color of different colors or a full color of mixed colors.

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-
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 transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording unit onto a recording material, a recording unit not used for recording is held. Since the holding means is provided and the holding means is provided with the cap means for closing the ejection port of the recording means, the recording means that is not in use is surely protected, and good recording is performed when the recording means is reused. An inkjet recording device is provided which can be performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration,
A structure in which the cap means is provided with an ink absorber as a moisturizing material, a structure is provided in the holding means for guiding the holding direction of the recording means, and an opening portion of the holding means is for sealing the opening portion. Since the configuration is such that the closing means is provided, the holding means is provided with a locking means for locking the recording means, or the releasing means is provided for releasing the locking means, it is more efficient and (EN) Provided is an ink jet recording apparatus capable of surely protecting a recording means in use and performing good recording when the recording means is reused.

[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 plan view of recording means in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the recording unit of FIG.

5 is a right side view of the recording means of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an opening in FIG. 1 when a recording unit and a lid member are removed.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6 when the recording unit and the lid member are mounted.

FIG. 8 is a front view of first recording means used in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a bottom view of the recording means of FIG. 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a second recording unit used in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a bottom view of the recording unit in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing two structural examples of an opening for storing recording means in an inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a recording means attaching / detaching mechanism in the storage means of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the recording means attaching / detaching mechanism in the storage means of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 inkjet recording apparatus 2 recording material 6 carriage 7 recording means (first head cartridge) 8 recording means (second head cartridge) 9 opening for storing recording means 10 lid member 12 guide 13 guide portion 14 notch 15 cap 16 Ink absorber 20 Cap 21 Cap 23 Locking protrusion 24 Locking leaf spring 25 Rib 28 Eject lever 29 Return spring 30 Protrusion (pin) 31 Locking lever 32 Spring 33 Push-out lever 34 Locking part (recess) 41 Guide shaft 42 Support point 51 Discharge port forming surface 52 Discharge port 55 Electrothermal converter

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 26, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

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FIG. 14

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, comprising a holding means for holding a recording means not used for recording, and the holding means discharges the recording means. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a cap means for closing an outlet. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap means is provided with an ink absorber as a moisturizing material. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is provided with guide means for regulating a holding direction of the recording means. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion of the holding means is provided with a closing means for sealing the opening portion. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is provided with locking means for locking the recording means. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising release means for releasing the locking means. 7. 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. 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. .