JPH0712660B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to a structure for attaching and detaching an ink cartridge that is replaceably mounted on a carriage.

[Prior art]

The ink jet recording apparatus guides the ink in the ink cartridge (or ink container) to a recording head, and outputs a print data signal to a nozzle group (for example, a nozzle group in which 24 nozzles are arranged in one vertical column) provided in the print head. It is configured to eject ink toward a sheet to record by driving in accordance with the above, and is used in printers, facsimiles and the like.

This ink jet recording method is easier in color printing than other methods such as a wire dot method and a heat sensitive method. For color printing, multiple (for example, four black, red, blue, and yellow)
In the ink jet method, a plurality of ink cartridges containing these color inks are mounted.

As an internal configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus, there is one in which a carriage that moves along a sheet is provided and the ink cartridge is attached to the carriage together with the recording head.

Also, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink cartridge must be replaced after the ink has been consumed, and this replacement work is generally performed quite frequently.

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus of this type,
Since the ink cartridge cannot be replaced directly from the outside, and the cover of the outer case is removed and the hand is put inside the case, there is a problem that the workability is poor and the work is troublesome.

In addition, it is not only dangerous to directly put a hand inside the device, but it may damage the device or intrude dust into the device, which poses a problem in terms of safety and reliability.

〔Purpose〕

The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional structure,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of safely and easily detaching and mounting an ink cartridge mounted on a carriage from the outside.

[Summary]

The present invention has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, and a recording head and an ink cartridge that can be attached to and detached from a carriage that moves along a sheet during recording and is located at a home position during non-recording. In an ink jet recording apparatus that is equipped with an ink jet head, guides ink in the ink cartridge to the recording head, and drives a nozzle group of the recording head based on print data, the home of a case body that constitutes an exterior of the inkjet recording apparatus. An opening corresponding to the ink cartridge that allows the ink cartridge to be attached to and detached from the carriage and an opening / closing lid that opens and closes the opening are provided at a position corresponding to the position.

Since the ink cartridge can be replaced only at the home position where the carriage is not recording, the recording head etc. can be secured in a protected state by the cap etc. at the home position, and it is extremely safe. The ink cartridge can be replaced.

Also, since the opening is provided only in the portion corresponding to the home position, it is possible to prevent inadvertent contact with other components inside the device and intrusion of unnecessary dust when replacing the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge can be replaced with a safe and stable work.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment, in which a platen roller 2 for backing up a sheet 1 and feeding the sheet in the direction of an arrow is axially supported by the apparatus main body and installed in parallel with the platen roller 2. A carriage 4 is pivotally supported by the guide shaft 3.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper surface of the carriage 4 has 4
It has a recording head 5 and a carriage 4
Two ink cartridges 6 and 7 are replaceably installed inside.

Around the platen roller 2, pressure rollers 8, 8 and a paper pan 9 for guiding the paper 1 to a recording (printing) surface, and a paper bail for guiding the discharge direction of the paper 1
Ten are provided.

Of the ink cartridges 6 and 7, black ink and a waste ink absorber are stored in the cartridge cartridge on the upper side,
The lower cartridges contain inks of three primary colors of red, yellow, and blue, and the ink cartridges 6 and 7 and the recording heads 5 are connected by ink supply pipes 11, respectively. In the illustrated example, a hollow needle connected to each ink supply tube 11 is provided on the inner surface of the ink cartridge mounting portion of the carriage 4.
12 is fixed, and when the ink cartridges 6 and 7 are inserted, the hollow needles 11 are pierced into the receptacles thereof to form the ink outlets.

The carriage 4 is axially supported by the guide shaft 3, and a guide groove 13 provided on the opposite side thereof is engaged with a rail member 14 on the apparatus main body side.

However, the carriage 4 sticks to the guide shaft 3 and is driven to reciprocate left and right by a driving source such as a pulse motor, while the recording head 5 records on the sheet 1. Recording may be performed from both directions such as reciprocal printing, but may be recorded while traveling from left to right and return (runaway) from right to left. When the recording device is not used or when the recording operation is not executed, the carriage 4 is stopped at a constant home position. The home position is generally provided with a cap for preventing the nozzles of the recording head from drying and a recovery means for eliminating the clogging of the nozzles, and the recording head is covered with the cap during non-recording. In this example, this home position is selected and provided at the left end position facing the apparatus.

Reference numeral 15 in FIGS. 1 and 3 indicates an outer case of the recording apparatus, and the left side in FIG. 1 corresponds to the front surface of the recording apparatus.

An opening for detaching (removing and mounting) the ink cartridge from the outside at a position corresponding to the ink cartridges 6 and 7 when the carriage 4 is at the home position on the front surface of the outer case 15. 16 is formed, and an opening / closing lid 17 is provided in the opening.

The opening / closing lid 17 shown in the drawing is formed of a plate member that rotates around a hinge provided below the opening 16, and when opened and closed as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Each of the ink cartridges 6 and 7 located at can be taken out from the outside by hand. The same applies when the ink cartridges 6 and 7 are attached, and after the attachment / detachment work is completed, the ink cartridges 6 and 7 are rotated to the closed position indicated by the solid line.

According to the structure of the embodiment described above, the opening 16 is formed in the outer case 15 at a position corresponding to the ink cartridges 6, 7 when the carriage 4 is at the home position, and the opening / closing lid 17 is provided in the opening. Therefore, when the recording apparatus is stopped, each cartridge ridge 6, 7 can be easily taken out from the outside by a simple operation of opening the opening / closing lid 17, and it can be mounted in the same manner. It is possible to improve workability when attaching and detaching 6,7.

Although the example in which the recording heads 5 are four and the inks of four colors are stored in the two ink cartridges is shown as an example, the present invention can be carried out regardless of the number of recording heads and ink cartridges. You can

Further, the opening / closing lid 17 can be of various types such as a sliding type or a double door type as well as the one-side hinge type shown in the figure. In some cases, the opening / closing lid is made of a transparent material (resin). Etc.) and make it possible to check the inside.

〔effect〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the carriage that moves along the paper during recording and is located at the home position during non-recording is equipped with the recording head and the ink cartridge that is detachable from the recording head. ,
In an inkjet recording apparatus that guides the ink in the ink cartridge to the recording head and drives a nozzle group of the recording head based on print data, it corresponds to the home position of a case body that forms the exterior of the inkjet recording apparatus. Since the position is provided with an opening corresponding to the ink cartridge that allows the ink cartridge to be attached to and detached from the carriage, and an opening / closing lid that opens and closes the opening, when the ink cartridge is replaced, the recording head or the like is set to the home position. The ink cartridge can be easily and safely attached to and detached from the opening while it is protected by the cap in the position, and it is only necessary to provide the opening at the portion corresponding to the home position. Carriage at work An ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing inadvertent touching of other components such as a scanning area and intrusion of unnecessary dust, and capable of easily and safely exchanging an ink cartridge from the outside. Will be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view seen from the line III-III of FIG. 1 ... Paper, 4 ... Carriage, 5 ... Recording head, 6,7 ... Ink cartridge storage, 15 ... External case, 16 ... Opening, 17 ... Opening / closing lid.

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 29/12 A

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording head and an ink cartridge attachable to and detachable from the recording head are mounted on a carriage that moves along a sheet during recording and is located at a home position during non-recording. In an inkjet recording apparatus that guides to a recording head and drives a nozzle group of the recording head based on print data, a carriage of the ink cartridge is provided at a position corresponding to the home position of a case body that forms an exterior of the inkjet recording apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: an opening corresponding to the ink cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the ink cartridge; and an opening / closing lid that opens and closes the opening.