JPH07101082A - Ink jet head and ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an ink jet head, in which the growth of ink due to the accumulation of satellite-like infinitesimal ink mist into drop can be fundamentally settled by a method wherein ink absorbing members are provided in the neighborhood of the delivery ports in a delivery port surface region, in which a large number of the delivery ports are equipped, and a recording device. CONSTITUTION:On the delivery port surfaces of respective heads 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1BK, since ink absorbing members 38 are provided so as to allow to absorb ink mist still under infinitesimal state by the members 38 even when the infinitesimal ink mist 15 developed at the delivery of ink drops 14 by the respective heads adhere to the delivery port surfaces of the heads, the growth of ink due to the accumulation of the ink mist into ink drop can be prevented from developing. Accordingly, no lowering of recording characteristics also occurs and stable recording can be attained. Concretely, by providing the members 38, favorable recording can be attained without realizing large-sized device as a whole, employing an air sucking device and employing a forced cleaning means such as a rubber blade, resulting in allowing to settle the poor delivery from the heads and the staining of the recording medium by ink due to ink mist.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet head and an ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink droplets to form a desired image on a recording medium such as plain paper, processed paper, cloth and OHP paper. More specifically, the present invention relates to an invention that solves the occurrence of recording defects due to ink mist that occurs in a recording gap formed between a recording medium and an inkjet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink jet technology has been put to practical use as a printer, a copying machine, a printer incorporated in a computer, or a printer section of a word processor. In this practical application, a technique using a thermal energy generating element such as an electrothermal converter that discharges and flies droplets by the action of heat generation instead of the piezo element has made a great contribution. An ink jet head using a technique using a heat energy generating element such as an electrothermal converter has the following a),
It is also known that there are advantages such as b) and c).

A) Ejecting recording liquid droplets and arranging ejection ports for forming flying liquid droplets at a high density to easily obtain a suitable structure for recording with high resolution. Is possible. b) It is easy to make the structure compact. c) It is possible to adopt technological innovation in the semiconductor field, fully utilize the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, lengthen and planarize the head (two-dimensional), multiple ejection ports, high density And the microfabrication of the discharge port surface can be performed more easily, and the mass production is good and the manufacturing cost is low.

As an ink jet head having multiple discharge ports manufactured by a semiconductor process using an electrothermal converter as an energy generating means, liquid paths corresponding to the respective discharge ports are provided as shown in FIG. There is known a structure in which an electrothermal converter is provided for each liquid passage and liquid is supplied to each liquid passage from a common liquid chamber communicating with each liquid passage. This head is composed of an electrothermal converter 3, a electrode 4, a liquid path wall 5, and a top plate 6, which are formed on the substrate 2 through a semiconductor process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering.

The recording liquid 12 is supplied from a liquid storage chamber (not shown) into the common liquid chamber 8 of the recording head 1 through the liquid supply pipe 7. Reference numeral 9 is a liquid supply connector. The liquid 12 supplied into the common liquid chamber 8 is supplied into the liquid passage 10 by a capillary phenomenon and is stably held by forming a meniscus at the discharge port surface at the tip of the liquid passage. Here, by energizing the electrothermal converter 3, the liquid on the surface of the electrothermal converter is rapidly heated, and preferably, a firing phenomenon such as film boiling occurs, and the ejection port surface 11 is generated by the energy of the firing. A droplet is ejected from. With this configuration, the liquid channel density is 16
It is possible to manufacture a multi-fluid ink jet recording head having 128 liquid passages or 256 liquid passages with a high-density liquid passage arrangement of liquid passages / mm.

By the way, when the recording ink is ejected and ejected using the recording head as described above and the recording operation is continued, a multi-color (Y, M, C, Bk) ink jet head structure is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 8, satellite-like fine ink mist (fog-like ink) 15 generated when recording ink droplets are ejected from each liquid path of the head 1 is attached to the surface of the ejection port surface 11 of the head 1. When the ink is accumulated and the amount of adhesion is increased, it grows into a large ink droplet 19 and spreads to the ink ejection port on the ejection port surface of the head 1 to spread.
Of ink droplets from each liquid path of the recording paper 1
In some cases, problems such as adhesion to the surface of No. 3 and stain of the recorded image may occur.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, in order to solve the problem due to the minute ink mist 15 generated when the ink droplets 14 are ejected from the head 1 as described above, the ejection port surface 11 of the head 1 is By installing an air suction device in the vicinity,
The method of sucking and removing the ink mist 15 and the head 1
A rubber blade is regularly contacted with the discharge surface 11 of
A cleaning method is used in which the adhered ink droplets 19 generated by the adherence and accumulation of the fine ink mist 15 are scraped off.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the case of a multi-color (Y, M, C, Bk) ink jet head structure, the adhered ink drop 19 removed by the rubber blade is next cleaned. Since there is a problem of color mixing due to adhesion to the surface of the head, a structure is also known in which an ink absorber is provided in the space between the ejection port surfaces of each head to prevent color mixing. It does not prevent the accumulation and growth of the rubber, but merely functions as a cleaning means for the rubber blade.

[0009]

However, when the conventional air suction device is used, not only the size of the device is increased but also the noise is large, and not only the suction of the satellite-shaped fine ink mist 15 but also the original The air flow that also changes the flying state of the ejected ink droplets 14 for forming the image is generated, and the recording position of the recording dot on the recording medium 13 is displaced from the original position. It was observed.

Further, a general cleaning method using a rubber blade is performed when the recording area is large such as A1 size (Japanese Industrial Standard) because cleaning is performed in the cleaning area where the rubber blade is arranged. In some cases, satellite-like minute ink mist may accumulate and grow while moving in the recording area, and it may not be possible to cope with it. In the case of a fixed type full-line ink jet with a long head, a rubber blade is used because it takes a long time to move the head to the operation area of the cleaning means, and it is necessary to interrupt the recording. A general cleaning method is not optimal as a countermeasure against satellite-like minute ink mist.

On the other hand, when the conventional technique is examined from a different point of view, one of the ordinary cleaning means is stopped relative to the ink jet recording head during the action of removing the ink droplet 19 itself adhering to the ejection port surface. Due to the state or the difference in speed, the ejection port surface may be damaged, the ink droplets 19 themselves adhering to the ejection port surface may be packed in the ejection port, or may remain concentrated around the ejection port. As a result, defective recording and disturbance of the recording ink droplet ejection direction were also observed. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, if such a phenomenon occurs in the case of a multi-color (Y, M, C, Bk) inkjet head configuration, the probability of occurrence of color mixture of recording liquids can be increased. I was seen.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first object of the present invention is to accumulate satellite-like fine ink mist by improving the ejection opening surface area itself of an ink jet head from the viewpoint that no attention has hitherto been made. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet head and an inkjet recording device that can fundamentally solve the growth caused by the above. A second object of the present invention is to improve the use efficiency of the present invention for achieving the first object, and to obtain reliability and a growth prevention effect by accumulation of satellite-like fine ink mist over a long period of time. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet head and an inkjet recording device that can perform the above.

A third object of the present invention is to change the viewpoint of the conventional cleaning technique so that the ink droplets 19 themselves are not packed in the ejection port, and the ink droplets are collected by the cleaning means on the ejection port surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel cleaning method and an inkjet recording apparatus capable of fundamentally solving the problem. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus which can simultaneously satisfy the third object and either one of the first and second objects.

The present invention is an ink jet head having an ejection port surface area provided with a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, wherein an ink absorbing member is provided at least in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface area. Provided is an inkjet head and a device characterized by being provided. According to this invention, the satellite-like minute ink mist is
Since it is absorbed and diffused in the absorber before being accumulated, its growth itself can be fundamentally solved. In particular, it is preferable that the ink absorbing member is located on both sides of the row-shaped region formed by the large number of ejection ports.

Further, by making the ink absorbing member movable in the vicinity of the discharge port in the discharge port surface area, the absorption characteristic of the ink absorbing member can be kept new or improved, so that reliability and long-term It is possible to obtain an effect of preventing growth due to the accumulation of satellite-like fine ink mist. Further, when the inkjet head is a scanning type head which is mounted on a carriage having an ink absorbing member and is scanned, the ink absorbing member and the carriage-carrying ink absorbing member are provided in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface area. By having the connecting means (preferably the ink absorbing member) which is substantially connected, the effect of the present invention can be made long-term reliable. In addition, the present invention can remarkably improve the above-mentioned effect by having the cleaning means having the ink absorbing property for cleaning the discharge port surface area.

Further, according to the present invention, a carriage for carrying out reciprocating scanning on which an ink jet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets is mounted, and a cleaning for cleaning the ejection port surface region. An ink jet recording apparatus including a means, wherein the cleaning means includes a rotatable or movable ink absorbing member having an abutting surface that is driven by abutting on the ejection outlet surface region that is reciprocally scanned. A characteristic inkjet recording apparatus is provided.
According to the present invention, since the ink absorption can be efficiently achieved by the follower, unnecessary friction and ink scraping do not occur. Therefore, there is a problem of the ejection port surface damage, and the ink droplet itself attached to the ejection port surface is packed in the ejection port. It is possible to solve the problems such as the occurrence of the problem, the phenomenon in which the ink is concentrated and left around the ejection port, and the problem of defective recording and disturbing the ejection direction of recording ink droplets.

In particular, in the present invention, by adopting a constitution in which the ink absorbing head is provided at least in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface region as the ink jet head, satellite-like fine ink mist is accumulated. Before the ink is absorbed, the ink is absorbed and diffused in the absorber, and moreover, the ink absorption can be efficiently achieved by the driven part including the portion without the absorber on the ejection port surface, so that the effect is optimum.

[0018]

【Example】

(First Embodiment): A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention. In this apparatus, the continuous recording paper 13 wound in a roll shape is guided by the guide rollers 21 and 2.
After passing through 2, the sheet is conveyed by the rotational frictional force of the sheet feeding roller 23 and discharged in the direction of arrow c. On the front surface of the recording paper 13 between the upper and lower guide rollers 21 and 22, the inkjet heads 1Y, 1 fixed to the head holder 18 are provided.
A carriage 27 on which M, 1C and 1Bk are mounted as a head unit is arranged, and this area serves as a recording area of the inkjet head.

A guide shaft 25 arranged in parallel with the guide rollers 21 and 22 is provided in the recording area.
The carriage 27 performs reciprocal scanning along the line. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, this head is an inkjet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, and at least in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface region. An inkjet head having an ink absorbing member. The head holder 18 includes four inkjet heads 1Y, 1M,
1C, 1Bk are mounted, and each head 1Y, 1M, 1C,
Ink (not shown) supplies yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) inks to 1Bk, respectively.

The heads 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1Bk are intermittently fed by the print width of each head, and while the recording paper 13 is stopped in the feeding direction c, the recording heads are moved to the arrow P.
Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets from a head according to an image signal while scanning the carriage in a direction. The carriage 27 is reciprocally driven by a carriage motor (pulse motor) 28 via a timing belt 26, the sheet feeding roller 23 is rotationally driven by a sheet feeding motor 29, and each motor is controlled by a control circuit 30.

Further, the image data 35 consisting of the three primary colors of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) is converted by the image processing circuit 31 into image information of Y, M, C and Bk. In response to the signal, the control circuit 31 outputs a drive signal to each head via the flexible cables 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20Bk, and the recording ink droplets are actually ejected from each head. The details of the ink jet recording head mounted on this recording apparatus are shown in FIG. Figure 2
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the carriage unit of FIG. 1. As is apparent from this figure, the ink absorbing member 38 is provided on all ejection port surfaces of the ejection ports of the heads 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk except the ink ejection port array region.

In this way, each head 1Y, 1M, 1C,
By providing the ink absorbing member 38 on the ejection port surface of 1 Bk, even if the minute ink mist 15 generated when each head ejects the ink droplet 14 adheres to the ejection port surface of the head, the ink absorbing member 38 Since the mist can be reliably absorbed in a minute state, it is possible to prevent the ink mist from accumulating and growing as an ink droplet. Therefore, the recording characteristics do not deteriorate and stable recording can be achieved. That is, by providing the ink absorbing member 38, it is not necessary to use the air suction device as described in the related art without increasing the size of the entire device,
Good recording can also be achieved without using a forced cleaning means such as a rubber blade. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problems such as the ejection failure of the head due to the ink mist and the ink stain on the recording medium, which have been problems in the past.

As the ink absorbing member 38 used here, for example, a polymer porous material can be used. When a polymer porous body is used as the ink absorbing member 38, a volume change due to absorption of ink mist is not remarkable like a polymer foam, and there is a type that does not change volume even when absorbing ink. Preferably, for example, a foamed formal resin type can be mentioned as a suitable one. Further, a heat-sintered type polymer porous body can be used as the ink absorbing member 38, and examples thereof include low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, high molecular weight polyethylene, composite polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate. , Polystyrene, acrylonitrile-based copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, fluorine resin, a heat-sintered material such as a phenol resin can be mentioned, among them, from the viewpoint of excellent ink mist absorption and ink resistance, Low density polyethylene,
It is preferable to use high density polyethylene, high molecular weight polyethylene, or polypropylene.

Further, in order to improve the ink mist absorbency of the ink absorbing member 38 made of these polymer porous bodies, these polymer porous bodies are treated with a surfactant to obtain a contact angle with ink. It is also preferable for the present invention to lower the wettability and improve its wettability.

The capping structure in the structure shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. When the recording apparatus of the present embodiment is in a resting state, each head 1Y, 1
M, 1C, 1Bk are all covered by the capping means 40, and prevent dust and dirt from the outside from adhering to the ejection port surface, especially the ink absorbing member 38. The structure to be noted is the ink absorbing member 39 provided inside the capping means 40. The ink absorbing member 39 is also incorporated in the flexible tube 41, and the flexible tube 41 is used for the waste ink bottle 4
Connected to 2. Further, the ink absorbing member 39 has excellent ink absorbability, such as the material having a higher porosity than the ink absorbing member 38 on the head ejection port surface, and the ink absorbing member 38 on the head ejection port surface. It is possible to recover the function of the ink absorbing member 38 by recovering the ink absorbed in the ink.

Now, at rest, the ink absorbing member 39 is brought into contact with the ink absorbing member 38 provided on the ejection port surface of each of the heads 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk to generate during the recording, and the ink absorbing member 38 is generated. The ink absorbed by the ink is moved to the ink absorbing member 39, and is held by the ink absorbing member 39 having a relatively excellent ink absorbing power and ink storing capacity from the ink absorbing member 38. Since the ink absorbing member 39 is capillaryly continuous with the waste ink bottle 42, the absorbed ink diffuses and is stored in the waste ink bottle 42 by the capillary principle. Waste ink bottle 4
For 2, the waste ink may be periodically disposed by providing a recovery amount detecting means or the like.

As described above, when the ink absorbing member 39 is in contact with or in pressure contact with the ink absorbing member 38 provided on the ejection opening surface of the head, the accumulation of ink mist on the ejection opening surface is prolonged. It has become possible to prevent time.

(Second Embodiment): A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an essential part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this example,
Similar to the first embodiment, each head 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1B
An ink absorbing member is provided on all of the ejection port surfaces other than the arrangement region of the ink ejection ports on the ejection port surface of k, and an ink absorbing member 38 that holds the extended portion of the head holder 18 is further provided. , The ink absorbing member 38
An ink collecting member 43 is provided in a vertically downward direction of the extended portion of the ink continuous member with the ink absorbing member 38.

The ink collecting means 43 is composed of an ink collecting container 44 filled with an ink absorbing member and a known attachment / detachment guide mechanism which makes it possible to attach / detach the ink collecting container 44.
Therefore, the ink recovery container 44 can be removed from the apparatus as a cartridge. By adopting this embodiment, the structure becomes simpler, the ink recovery means 43 can be easily attached and detached, and the ink recovery capacity can be freely set. You will be able to set it freely. Also, by making the ink absorbing member 45 in the ink recovery container 44 replaceable, the ink recovery container 44 can be reused.

(Third Embodiment): A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this example,
Similar to the first embodiment, each head 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1B
This is a configuration in which a web-shaped continuous long-type roll-up type ink absorbing member 381 is provided on all the ejection port surfaces excluding the arrangement region of the ink ejection ports on the ejection port surface of k. The elongated ink absorbing member 381 covers the entire recording surface of the head unit in the left and right areas of the arrangement area of the ink ejection ports, and feeds the web from the web feed roller 60A to the web take-up roller 60B at a constant rate or at a constant rate. It is sent under arbitrary conditions. This feed amount depends on the ink absorption capacity of the ink absorption member 381, and the surface of the ink absorption member 381 that is new or still has ink absorption capacity is at least the arrangement area of the ink ejection ports before the performance is satisfied. It may be set so as to exist in the left and right regions. Further, the web take-up roller 60B is given a rotational force by the driving means 61, and the web feed roller 60A is caused by a known web remaining amount detecting means (not shown).
The remaining amount of web is detected.

With the above configuration, the ink absorbing member 3
The reference numeral 81 absorbs unnecessary ink generated by ink mist and the like, and the absorbed portions are sequentially sent from the bottom to the top (or from the top to the bottom), so that the ink on the ejection port surface of the ink absorbing member 381 is absorbed. Since the formed portion does not stay on the ejection port surface for a long period of time, the above-described conventional problems of the ejection port surface can be solved for a long period of time. The ink absorbing member 381 of this embodiment may be in the form of a thin sheet, and the ink absorbing property per unit area may be lower than that of the first embodiment. Web take-up roller 6
0B, by making the web feed roller 60A replaceable, a new web can be supplied periodically according to the detection of the remaining amount of web on the web feed roller 60A.

(Fourth Embodiment): A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this example,
Similar to the first embodiment, each head 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1B
In the configuration in which the ink absorbing member 38 is provided on all the ejection port surfaces except for the ink ejection port array region on the ejection port surface of k, there is a region that covers the entire surface of the head holder on the recording region side excluding the ejection port surface. The ink absorbing member 62 is replaceable and is arranged in contact with the ink absorbing member 38. The ink absorbing member 62 is provided with a groove 40 that engages with the head holder 18, and has a replaceable structure that can be removed from the head holder 18 by shifting it in the direction of arrow D.

As described above, by making the ink absorbing member 62 replaceable, when the ink absorbing member 62 is used for a certain period of time and the absorbability of the ink mist deteriorates, the ink absorbing member 62 is replaced with a new ink absorbing member 62. Only by doing so, it is possible to secure the ink absorbability of the ink absorbing member 38 on the ejection port surface.
Also in this embodiment, not only the effect of the present invention described above can be further improved, but also the ink mist with respect to the entire head holder can be absorbed, so that the effect of dispersing and absorbing the ink mist concentrated in the ejection port surface region can be expected. Further, since the ink attached to the head holder can also be diffused, it is possible to prevent ink droplets from accumulating and adhering to the recording medium side from the head holder.

As can be understood from the above first to fourth embodiments,
With the configuration in which the ink absorbing member is provided on the ejection port surface of the present invention, it is possible to fundamentally solve the growth due to the accumulation of the satellite-like fine ink mist only by improving the ejection port surface area itself of the inkjet head. It was able to give long term reliability. Furthermore, since it does not cause unnecessary friction and scraping of ink, it causes a problem of damage to the ejection port surface, a problem of stuffing the ink droplets adhering to the ejection port surface itself into the ejection port, a phenomenon of concentrating and remaining around the ejection port, It is possible to provide an inkjet head and an inkjet recording apparatus that can solve problems such as defective recording and disturbing the ejection direction of recording ink droplets.

(Fifth Embodiment) A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 9
Although a configuration similar to that of FIG. 1 is included, a configuration including the configurations of the first to fourth embodiments will be described, but a configuration overlapping with the configurations of the first to fourth embodiments will be omitted. FIG. 9 is characterized in that the relative cleaning means of the present invention has a rotatable or movable ink absorbing member having an abutting surface that is driven by abutting on the ejection port surface region that is reciprocally scanned. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus that performs

The ink jet heads 1Y, 1M of FIG.
Inkjet head 2a corresponding to 1C and 1Bk,
A carriage 1K on which 2b, 2c and 2d are mounted is arranged, and an area P becomes a recording area of the inkjet head.
A guide shaft 25, which is arranged in parallel to the guide rollers 21 and 22, is provided so as to face the recording area.
5, the carriage 1K performs reciprocal scanning. As described above, each of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is an ink jet head having an ejection port surface area provided with a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, and at least in the ejection port surface area. An ink jet head having an ink absorbing member in the vicinity of an ejection port.

The ink jet heads 2a, 2b, 2c,
2d includes ink tanks 111a, 111b, 111c,
The inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) are supplied from 111d, respectively. While the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are intermittently fed by the print width of each head, and the recording paper 13 is stopped in the feeding direction c, an image signal is generated while scanning each recording head by the carriage in the arrow P direction. Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the corresponding head. Further, the image data composed of the three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is processed by the image processing circuit 31 into Y, M, C, and
It is converted into Bk image information, and in response to this signal, the control circuit 30 causes the head drivers 24a, 24b,
A drive signal is output via 24c and 24d, and recording ink droplets are actually ejected from each head.

In this embodiment, the heads 2a, 2b, 2c,
A head heater H and a temperature detecting means S are provided in each 2d, and a detection signal from the temperature detecting means S is supplied to the control circuit 30.
Is determined by the CPU, and the driver 5 is determined according to the determination result.
9. The heating of the heater H is controlled via the power supply 65, and each head is controlled to a predetermined set temperature within the range of 35 to 50 degrees. Further, the capping means 40 is driven forward by the cap driving means 55 so as to face the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d during non-recording, and covers the male cap 39 so as to include the entire ejection rear surface of the head for capping. Be seen. The capping means 40 stores a volatile component solution of ink in its closed space and a liquid holding member impregnated with this solution. Thereby, the volatile vapor of the solution is filled in the closed space of the capping means 40, the evaporation of the volatile components of the ink from the head ejection ports is prevented, and the composition ratio of the ink in the head liquid passage is not changed. ing. As the volatile component, the ink itself or a solution of the component obtained by removing the dye from the ink is effective, and in the case of a water-based ink, distilled water is effective. As the liquid holding member, a sponge-like porous member or a plastic sintered body is effective.

Reference numeral 57 is a clogging preventing means for receiving the ejected ink for preliminary ejection ejected by the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d for recovery or preparation other than the recording information. The clogging prevention means 57 is provided with a liquid receiving member 56 as a liquid receiving member that faces the heads 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d and absorbs the ink that has been preliminarily ejected, and is provided between the capping means 40 and the recording area. Is located in. Liquid receiving member 56
As the liquid holding member of the capping means 40, a sponge-like porous member or a plastic sintered body is effective.

FIG. 10 shows details of the ink jet recording head and the cleaning section mounted on this recording apparatus. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the carriage unit and the cleaning unit of FIG. 9. In the area opposite to the position areas of the liquid receiving member 56 and the capping means 40 in the recording area P in FIG. 9, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 10, a rotatable ink absorbing roller 47 and an ink absorbing roller are provided. A rotatable ink recovery roller 48 that is pressed and driven by 47 is provided. The ink absorbing roller 47 is configured to be pressed and driven by a contact depth (hereinafter referred to as an intrusion amount) δ which is an elastic deformation amount in the radial direction caused by the contact of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d with the ejection port surface. Has been done.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view for explaining the mutual relationship between the cleaning operation and the movement of the ink jet head in the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 11, SS is a recording start position detection sensor, PS is a preliminary ejection position detection sensor,
Each of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d moves to face each other and detects the reference position of the preliminary ejection operation for performing the preliminary ejection. KS is a capping means position detection sensor, and detects the capping possible position where the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d face a predetermined capping means.

As is known in the publicly known procedure, the recording operation is uncapped by the recording start signal from the capping state by the capping means position detection sensor KS and moved in the direction of arrow A by the carriage driving means. Meanwhile, each of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d detected by the preliminary ejection position detection sensor PS performs preliminary ejection, and dots are recorded in the recording area P according to the recording information after the detection signal of the recording start position detection sensor SS is input. Image recording is performed in a matrix pattern.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, the head 2
a, 2b, 2c, 2d are sent for P1 pulses from the recording start position to print ink droplets on the recording material 13, then the carriage 1K is sent to the position for P2 pulses, and the recording for one scan is completed. . Thereafter, the carriage 1K is reversed and driven in the direction of arrow B to return to the preliminary ejection position, and the recording material 13 is conveyed only in the recording area P in the recording medium conveyance direction of arrow C, and the recording signal is again output. In some cases, the above process is repeated, and at the end of the recording signal, the recording medium is moved to the capping position and capped.

Here, with reference to FIG. 12, an ink absorbing roller 47 as a cleaning means, which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention.
The details and operation of the ink recovery roller 48 will be described. FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory view of the cleaning means of the embodiment of FIG. 9, and shows (a) A direction scanning, (b) reversal, and (c) B direction scanning.

The rotatable ink absorbing roller 47 is pressed against the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d with a penetration amount δ, and the surface of the roller 47 moves without rubbing the head discharge port surface due to its deformed state. In addition, the surface of the discharge port is not damaged. At the same time, ink droplets adhering to the ejection port surface can be efficiently absorbed. When the ink absorbing member is provided in the ejection port surface as in the first to fourth embodiments as in the present embodiment, the ink mist collected in the absorbing member is efficiently absorbed without damaging the absorbing member. It is possible to move and reliably absorb even minute ink droplets in the ejection port array region. The rotatable ink recovery roller 48, which is pressed against the ink absorption roller 47, and the ink absorption roller 47 are also supported rotatably around the illustrated rotation center axis, and their surface portions can absorb and accumulate ink. It is composed of an ink absorber.

As the ink absorber of the movable or rotatable member which is driven by the pressure contact, for example, a polymer porous body can be used. When a polymer porous body is used, it is preferable that the volume change due to the absorption of ink mist is not remarkable like a polymer foam, and that the volume does not change even when absorbing ink. Formal resin type can be mentioned as a suitable thing.
A heat-sintered type polymer porous body can also be used, and examples thereof include low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, high molecular weight polyethylene, composite polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate,
Polystyrene, acrylonitrile-based copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, fluorine resin, a heat-sintered body such as phenol resin can be mentioned, among them, from the viewpoint of excellent ink mist absorption and ink resistance, low. It is preferable to use density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, high molecular weight polyethylene, or polypropylene.

Further, in order to improve the absorbability of the ink mist of these polymeric porous materials, these polymeric porous materials are treated with a surfactant to reduce the contact angle with ink and to wet them. It is also preferable for the examples of the present invention to improve the property. In this embodiment, a foamed formal resin type is used for the ink absorbing roller 47 and the ink collecting roller 48, and the head 2 of the ink absorbing roller 47 is used.
The amount of penetration into a, 2b, 2c, and 2d was set to 2 mm.
The ink recovery roller 48 has a higher porosity of the material than the ink absorption roller 47 and has a relatively higher absorption rate.

In FIG. 12, (a) the heads 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d come into contact with the ink absorbing roller 47 after the completion of printing during the scanning in the A direction, and the ink absorbing roller 47 follows the moving speed of the head. Rotate to effectively clean not only the head outlet surface but also the head-to-head surface. At this time, since the ink collecting roller 48 is pressed and driven by the ink absorbing roller 47 at the same time, the ink absorbed by the ink absorbing roller 47 is efficiently collected. That is, the ink absorbing roller 4
No. 7 has recovered its absorption capacity. (B) When reversing, once the ink absorbing roller 47 and the heads 2a, 2b, 2
The contact state with c and 2d is released. It is preferable that the contact state is released, and preferably, all of the worked surface that has cleaned at least the ejection opening surface area of the ink absorbing roller is collected by the ink collecting roller 48, but these contact states are not released. Is also good.

(C) When scanning in the B direction, the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are often scanned back at a normal high reversal speed, but in this embodiment, the heads 2a, 2b, and 2 are scanned.
Since they are driven by pressure contact with c and 2d, the relative speed difference can be made extremely small. Therefore, the heads 2a, 2b,
2c and 2d again contact the ink absorbing roller 47,
The ink absorbing roller 47 rotates in accordance with the moving speed of the head, and more effectively cleans not only the head ejection port surface but also the inter-head surface. At this time, since the ink collecting roller 48 is pressed and driven by the ink absorbing roller 47 at the same time, the ink absorbed by the ink absorbing roller 47 is efficiently collected.

Therefore, when the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d restart recording, the head state is good, and the head surface can be kept good.
Further, by making the ink recovery roller 48 detachable, it becomes possible to perform regular cleaning and replacement.
The cleaning effect can be maintained for a long period of time.

(Sixth Embodiment): A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a structural explanatory view of an embodiment in which the cleaning means having the ink absorbing member of FIG. 12 is changed to a web-shaped ink absorbing member, and FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory diagram of the web-shaped ink absorbing member of FIG. Directional scanning, (b) inversion, (c) B-directional scanning, and (d) separation. The present embodiment is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that it has a movable ink absorbing member having a contact surface that is driven by contacting the surface area of the ejection port that is reciprocally scanned. .

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 52 is an ink absorbing web in which the ink absorbing body is in the shape of a web. Reference numeral 50 denotes a web winding roller, which is provided with a coupling gear B (not shown). Reference numeral 49 denotes a web feed roller, which includes a coupling gear C (not shown). 51 is an ink absorbing web for the head 2
A pressure roller for pressing and driven by a, 2b, 2c and 2d, which is made of an elastic material such as sponge. Pressure roller 51
Also includes a coupling gear A (not shown). Connecting gears A, B,
C is a gear that rotates in the same direction as each roller, and the connecting gear A is connected to each of the connecting gears B and C.
The connecting gears B and C rotate in the opposite directions with respect to the rotating direction of. Since the ink absorbing web 52 is wound as shown in FIG. 13, when the pressure roller 51 rotates in the moving direction of the ink absorbing web, the connecting gear A and the connecting gears B and C move in opposite directions. Since it rotates, the pressure contact driven of the ink absorbing web with respect to the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is executed without deviation. The web take-up roller 50 is connected when necessary by the roller driving means 53 for forcibly taking up the ink absorbing web, and takes up the necessary amount of the ink absorbing web. The cleaning means of this embodiment is also provided at the same position as the cleaning means of the fifth embodiment.

Next, referring to FIG. 14, the operation of the web-shaped ink absorbing member will be described (a) when scanning in the A direction, (b) when reversing,
The description will be made in the order of (c) B-direction scanning and (d) separation.
(A) shows the state during the front scan after the printing is completed during the A-direction scanning. The carriage is scanned in the direction A, and the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and the pressure roller 51 are scanned.
When the ink absorption web 52 ejected to the head side in the figure starts to contact with the pressure roller 51, which is an elastic body, rotates while deforming, and the connection gear A also rotates with this rotation. , The connecting gears B and C rotate in reverse. Therefore, the ink absorbing web 52 is not
b, 2c, 2d can be pressed to follow the contact area, and the ink absorbing web 52 can be fed by the heads 2a, 2b, 2c,
Follow the moving speed of 2d.

Therefore, the ink-absorbing web is formed by the head 2a,
The ejection outlet surfaces of 2b, 2c and 2d can be cleaned effectively without rubbing. As mentioned in the previous embodiment, this head 2
By adopting a configuration in which the ejection port surfaces of a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are the same as those of the first to fourth embodiments, when the ejection port surface is provided with an ink absorbing member, this absorbing member may be particularly damaged. In addition, the ink mist collected in the absorbing member can be efficiently absorbed and moved, and even if the ink droplets in the ejection port array region are minute, they can be reliably absorbed.

(B) shows the time of reversal, in which the contact state between the ink absorbing web 52 and the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is once released. In the case of the present embodiment, this contact state may be maintained during reversal. (C) shows the time of B-direction scanning, and (a) performs the same cleaning step as in A-direction scanning. However, in this step, the rotational movement directions of the connection gears A, B, C, the ink absorbing web 52, and the pressure roller are opposite. At least the ink absorbing capacity of the ink absorbing web 52 is sufficient for the reciprocating scanning.

(D) is a separation time, and when the reciprocating scanning is completed and the cleaning of each of the reciprocating steps is completed, the roller driving means 53 acts on the web take-up roller 50 to use it for the reciprocating scanning of the ink absorbing web. The web part of the range is head 2
The ink absorbing web is wound up to a position where it is not interposed between a, 2b, 2c, 2d and the pressure roller. by this,
The portions of the ink absorbing web that act on the ejection opening surfaces of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d can always be kept unused, and the ink absorbing capacity can be restored to the maximum.
Of course, depending on the material characteristics of the ink absorbing web, it is possible to set the step (d) at the time of separation to be performed when necessary. Also, the cleaning means of this embodiment can be replaced periodically by detecting the remaining amount of the ink absorbing web.

(Seventh Embodiment): A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of an embodiment in which the cleaning means having the ink absorbing member of FIG. 12 is changed to an ink absorbing member which is in rolling contact. Reference numeral 160 denotes a rotatable elastic ink absorbing roller, which is provided around the rotating shaft 160C.
A columnar ink absorber 160A which has a length corresponding to the entire width of the ejection port surface in the head part arrangement direction of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and is elastically deformable, and the columnar ink absorber 1
This columnar ink absorber 160 is located inside 60A.
The ink absorber 160B inscribed in A is provided.

The ink absorber 160B is the ink absorber 16
The ink absorbency is superior to that of 0A. Also in this embodiment, the arrangement of the cleaning means is the same as in the previous example. The elastic ink absorbing roller reciprocates in the ejection port array direction of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d as shown in the figure, and is located at the upper position S.
And the lower position P are supported so as to be capable of rolling contact with the head ejection port surface. 161 is the absorber roller 16
It is a drive unit that moves the rotation center axis of 0 between an upper position S and a lower position P to bring the absorber roller 160 into rolling contact with the head ejection port surface.

As a specific operation example, first, when a print signal is input, the carriage 1K starts the front scan, the head stops in the cleaning area slightly before the reversal area, and the absorber roller 160. Is in contact with the upper position S and the lower position P on the head ejection port surface, and in the state where there is no relative friction, the ink absorber 160A achieves cleaning of the ejection port surface similarly to the above-described embodiment. . Then, after the end of the second scanning and before the reversal, the head similarly stops, and the absorber roller 160 rolls on the head ejection port surface from the lower position P to the upper position S, and the relative position. In the absence of friction, cleaning is achieved as in the previous example. Hereinafter, this is repeated, but of course, the reverse may be repeated.

In this embodiment, since the ink absorber 160B contained therein has a better ink absorbability than the outer peripheral ink absorber 160A, the ink absorbed by the absorber roller 160A is retained inside. Since the absorbed ink is absorbed by the absorber roller 160B, the absorber roller 16B
The 0A surface layer is not saturated with ink, and the cleaning effect can be maintained and improved in the long term. Also, the absorber roller 16
If 0 is removable from the apparatus, the recording head can be cleaned for a long period of time by periodically replacing or cleaning. Further, in the present embodiment, since cleaning is performed in the ejection port array direction of the recording head, there is an advantage that the problem of color mixing can be solved even with one cleaning member even in the case of the color heads such as the heads 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d. .

As described in the previous embodiment, this embodiment also adopts the structure in which the ejection port surfaces of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are the same as those of the first to fourth examples, and thus the ejection port surface is When the ink absorbing member is provided inside, the ink mist collected in the absorbing member can be efficiently absorbed and moved without damaging the absorbing member, and the ink droplets in the ejection port array region are minute. Even if there is, it can be reliably absorbed.

(Eighth Embodiment): An eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is an illustration of an embodiment in which the cleaning means having the ink absorbing member of FIG. 15 is changed to a swing type ink absorbing member. 70 is a rotation center 70C
Is an oscillating ink absorber having a fan-shaped cross section having an arc corresponding to the cleaning area length of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and having a length in the ejection port array direction of the heads.
Similarly to the seventh embodiment, the oscillating ink absorber 70 also oscillates so as to be in rolling contact with the head ejection port surface, and is pressed to follow the movement of the head (solid line state 70 and broken line state 70 '. Move between). The oscillating ink absorber 70 has a two-layer structure as in the seventh embodiment, and the inner layer 70B is the outer layer 7.
It has an ink absorption capacity superior to that of 0A. This embodiment can also obtain the same effect as that of the seventh embodiment by performing the same use as that of the seventh embodiment.

In this embodiment, the inner layer 70B of the swingable ink absorber 70 is connected to the waste ink bottle 72 via the flexible hose 71 containing the ink absorber. With this configuration, the ink cleaned from the head is absorbed by the outer layer 70A, then collected by the inner layer 70B, then absorbed by the ink absorber in the flexible hose 71, and further accumulated in the waste ink bottle 72. It
By replacing or cleaning the waste ink bottle 72, the semi-permanent effect of the present invention can be obtained.

As an embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that a modified example corresponding to the gist of the above description or a technical idea of the present invention is applied, but the present invention includes all such things, and scanning It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to not only the mold head but also a fixed head, particularly a full-line ink jet head and an apparatus using the same.

[0065]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, at least in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface region. Since the ink jet head and the device are characterized by including the ink absorbing member in the above, the satellite-like fine ink mist is absorbed and diffused in the absorber before being accumulated, thereby fundamentally solving the growth itself. be able to.

Further, the second invention of the present invention is more excellent if it has the constitution of the first invention, but an ink jet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets. An inkjet recording apparatus equipped with a carriage for reciprocating scanning, and a cleaning means for cleaning the surface area of the ejection port, wherein the cleaning means is driven by contacting the surface area of the ejection port being reciprocally scanned. Since the ink jet recording apparatus is characterized by having a rotatable or movable ink absorbing member having a contact surface, the ink can be efficiently absorbed by being driven, and thus unnecessary friction and scraping of the ink do not occur. . Moreover, there is a problem of damage to the ejection port surface, a problem that the ink droplets adhering to the ejection port surface itself are packed into the ejection port, a phenomenon that the ink droplets are concentrated and left around the ejection port, and a problem of defective recording or disturbing the ejection direction of the recording ink droplet Can be solved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a carriage unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of essential parts of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of essential parts of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an inkjet head structure applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the attachment of satellite-shaped minute ink mist to the ejection port surface.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing ink droplets in which satellite-like minute ink mist is accumulated.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view of an ink jet recording apparatus which features a contact driven ink absorbing member on a surface area of an ejection port of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

10 is an enlarged perspective view of a carriage unit and a cleaning unit of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view illustrating the mutual relationship between the cleaning operation and the movement of the inkjet head according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory view of the cleaning means of FIG. 9,
(A) A direction scanning, (b) inversion, and (c) B direction scanning.

13 is a structural explanatory view of an embodiment in which the cleaning means having the ink absorbing member of FIG. 12 is changed to a web-like ink absorbing member.

14A and 14B are operation explanatory views of the web-shaped ink absorbing member of FIG. 13, showing (a) A-direction scanning, (b) reversal, (c) B-direction scanning, and (d) separation.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the cleaning means having the ink absorbing member of FIG. 12 is replaced with an ink absorbing member that is in rolling contact.

16 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the cleaning means having the ink absorbing member of FIG. 15 is changed to a swing type ink absorbing member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Ejection Port Surface 19 Adhering Ink Drops 38 Ink Absorbing Member 381 Movable Ink Absorbing Member 47 Driven Ink Absorbing Member 52 Ink Absorbing Web

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 2/165 B41J 3/04 102 H

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, wherein an ink absorbing member is provided at least in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface region. Inkjet head characterized by. 2. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorbing member is located on both sides of a row region formed by the plurality of ejection ports. 3. An ink jet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, comprising an ink absorbing member movable at least in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface region. Inkjet head characterized in that. 4. A color ink-jet head having a plurality of head portions each having a plurality of ejection port surface areas for ejecting ink droplets, the head portions being spaced apart from each other, at least each of the head portions being at least the ejection port surface. A color inkjet head, comprising an ink absorbing member near the ejection port in the area. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, wherein the inkjet head has at least the ejection port in the ejection port surface region. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising an ink absorbing member in the vicinity thereof. 6. The ink jet head is a scanning type head that is mounted on a carriage having an ink absorbing member and is scanned. The ink absorbing member and the ink loaded on the carriage are absorbed in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface area. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a connecting unit that substantially connects the member. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the connecting means has an ink absorbing member. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus has a cleaning unit having an ink absorbing property for cleaning the surface area of the ejection port. 9. A carriage for carrying out reciprocating scanning, comprising an inkjet head having an ejection port surface region having a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, and a cleaning means for cleaning the ejection port surface region. In the inkjet recording apparatus, the cleaning unit includes a rotatable or movable ink absorbing member having an abutting surface that is driven by abutting on the ejection port surface area that is reciprocally scanned. . 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ink jet head includes an ink absorbing member at least in the vicinity of the ejection port in the ejection port surface region.