JPH07323571A - Ink jet recording apparatus and data processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always ensure a good printing grade by controlling the drive means of a suction means in the restoration processing function sucking ink from the ink emitting part of a recording means to restore the ink emitting capacity of the recording means on the basis of selected ink sucking quantity and suction pressure. CONSTITUTION:An ink jet recording apparatus is equipped with a restoration processing mechanism 13 for restoring the ink emitting deficiency of a recording head 2 to a good state at the position opposed to the recording head 2 but shifted from a platen 9. The restoration processing mechanism 13 has a cylinder 1302 generating suction negative pressure by the reciprocating movement of a piston 1301 and the ink sucked from a cap 1304 is discharged to a waste ink tank by the suction negative pressure and ink sucking quantity and suction pressure are selected corresponding to the kind of a recording means. The restoration processing mechanism 13 separates the cap 1304 along the inclination of a guide rail 1314 with respect to the recording head 2 by the movement of a cap guide 1312.

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 outputting information such as characters and images on a recording medium, and a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a word processor and a personal computer using the apparatus as an output means. Etc. regarding information processing systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper, cloth, plastic sheet, O
A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium such as a HP sheet (hereinafter also simply referred to as recording paper) can be equipped with recording heads of various recording methods, for example, a wire dot method, a thermal method, a thermal transfer method, and an inkjet method. It has been proposed as a form.

Among these methods, the ink jet method is one of the low-noise, non-impact methods of ejecting ink and directly adhering it to recording paper. It is a continuous method depending on the method of forming ink droplets and the method of generating ejection energy. It is roughly classified into a method (including a charged particle control method and a spray method) and an on-demand method (including a piezo method, a spark method and a bubble jet method).

In the continuous system, ink is continuously ejected and only necessary liquid droplets are charged. The charged droplets adhere to the recording paper, and the rest is wasted. On the other hand, in the on-demand method, ink is ejected only when printing is necessary, so that there is no waste of ink and the inside of the device does not get dirty. Further, since the on-demand method starts and stops the ink ejection, the response frequency is lower than that of the continuous method. Therefore, increasing the number of nozzles realizes high speed. Therefore, most of the recording devices currently on the market are of the on-demand type, and a recording device equipped with such an ink jet type recording head is capable of high-density and high-speed recording operation.
A printer as an output terminal of the information processing system, for example, an output terminal such as a copying machine, a facsimile, an electronic typewriter, a word processor, a workstation, or a handy or portable printer provided in a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk device, a video device, or the like. It is used as and is commercialized. In this case, the inkjet recording apparatus has a configuration corresponding to the function, usage pattern, etc. peculiar to these apparatuses.

Generally, an ink jet recording apparatus comprises a recording means (recording head), a carriage on which an ink tank is mounted, a conveying means for conveying recording paper, and a control means for controlling these. Then, the recording head for ejecting ink droplets from the plurality of ejection ports is serially scanned in the direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction), while the recording paper is set to the recording width when not recording. The same amount is intermittently conveyed. This recording method is
Ink is ejected onto a recording sheet according to a recording signal to perform recording, and it is widely used as a quiet recording method with low running cost. Further, by using a recording head in which a large number of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged in a straight line in the sub-scanning direction, the recording head scans the recording paper once to perform recording with a width corresponding to the number of nozzles. It Therefore, it is possible to speed up the recording operation.

Further, in the case of a color ink jet recording apparatus, a color image is formed by superimposing ink droplets ejected by recording heads of a plurality of colors. Generally, when performing color recording, yellow (Y),
There are required four types of recording heads and ink cartridges corresponding to the three primary colors of magenta (M) and cyan (C) or the four primary colors including black (B). Recently, an apparatus capable of forming an image in full color, which is equipped with such a recording head of 3 to 4 colors, has been put into practical use.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus can be configured so that large-format recording such as A1 can be performed relatively easily. That is, a plotter such as a printer for CAD output, for example, a recording device compatible with A1 version color recording for connecting a reader for reading an image and copying an original has been commercialized. On the other hand, various usages have been demanded, and there is an increasing demand for recording on an OHP film that can be projected for presentations at conferences, lectures and the like. In order to meet such demands, when a recording medium having different ink absorption characteristics is selected as needed, a recording apparatus capable of performing the best recording regardless of the type of the recording medium is being developed and commercialized. .

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus is in high demand in a wide range of industrial fields (for example, the apparel industry) as an excellent recording means, and it is also required to provide higher quality images.

However, in the recording head mounted on the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, there are cases where dust, bubbles, or the like are mixed in the ink supply system from the ink tank to the recording head to cause defective ink ejection. That is, the ink ejection port formed in the recording head and the liquid passage communicating with the ink ejection port generally have a small inner diameter of about several microns. for that reason,
When dust or air bubbles reach the liquid passage of the recording head, they adhere to the liquid passage and obstruct the flow of ink. As a result, the ink ejection efficiency may be lowered, or in extreme cases, clogging may occur to cause ink ejection failure.
Further, even when the ink is not ejected for a long time while the recording device is filled with the ink, the components constituting the ink are precipitated. Therefore, the ink ejection abnormality occurs as in the above case.

In order to solve these problems, it is desirable to recover the ink ejection state of the recording head to a good state. As a method to perform such state recovery,
Conventionally, a pressure recovery method, a suction recovery method, etc. are known. For example, the suction recovery method includes a step of closing the periphery of the ink discharge port with a cap, and a method such as sucking the ink from the discharge port using a suction pump or the like and causing obstacles such as ink adhered matter, bubbles, and dust accumulated in the liquid passage. And removing the object from the liquid path. Further, the suction recovery mechanism to which such a suction recovery method is applied is driven for the following purposes in addition to the above obstacle removal. First, it is used to fill the ink supply path from the ink cartridge to the recording head with ink at the time of initialization (initialization) such as when the power is turned on. Secondly, it is used to prevent the ejection port of the recording head from drying. That is, in the latter case, the periphery of the ejection port is sealed with the cap during printing standby.

FIG. 20 is an external perspective view for explaining a schematic structure of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a conventional suction recovery mechanism (also referred to as a head recovery device).

In the figure, reference numeral 220 is an ink jet head (recording head) of an ink jet head cartridge IJC having nozzle groups for ejecting ink so as to face the recording surface of the recording paper fed onto the platen 224. is there. A carriage HC that holds the recording head 220 is connected to a part of a drive belt 218 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 217, and slides with two guide shafts 219A and 219B that are arranged in parallel with each other. By making it possible, the reciprocating movement of the recording head 220 over the entire width of the recording paper becomes possible. During this reciprocating movement, the recording head 220 records an image according to the received data on the recording paper. Each time this main scanning is completed, the recording paper is conveyed by a predetermined amount and sub-scanning is performed.

Reference numeral 226 is a head recovery device,
It is arranged at one end of the movement path of the recording head 220, for example, at a position facing the home position. The head recovery device 226 is operated by the driving force of the motor 222 via the transmission mechanism 223, and the recording head 220 is capped. The cap portion 226 of the head recovery device 226
Ink absorption (suction recovery) by an appropriate suction means (for example, a suction pump) provided in the head recovery device 226 in association with the capping portion of the recording head 220 by A.
Then, the ejection recovery process such as removing the thickened ink in the ejection port by forcibly ejecting the ink from the ejection port is performed. Further, the recording head is protected by capping at the end of recording. Such an ejection recovery process is performed when the power is turned on, when the recording head is replaced, or when the recording operation is not performed for a certain period of time.

Reference numeral 231 is a blade as a wiping member which is disposed on the side surface of the head recovery device 226 and is made of silicon rubber. The blade 231 is held by the blade holding member 231A in the form of a cantilever, and is operated by the motor 222 and the transmission mechanism 223 like the head recovery device 226, and can be engaged with the ejection surface of the recording head 220. As a result, the blade 23 can be ejected at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the recording head 220 or after the ejection recovery process using the head recovery device 226.
1 is projected into the moving path of the recording head 220, and dew condensation, wetting, or dust on the ejection surface of the head 220 is wiped off as the head 220 moves.

In the suction recovery method, the ink in the head is sucked from the discharge port by operating the suction pump in a state where the ink discharge port to the suction pump are sealed from the atmosphere. The suction pressure / amount of suction is set by a combination of the operation of the suction pump and the closing / opening operation for the atmosphere. As a means for sealing / opening with respect to the atmosphere, there is a method of opening and closing a valve provided in the vicinity of the cap or the like while sealing the periphery of the ink ejection port with the cap
Cap closely adheres to the area around the ink ejection port /
There is a method of separating them, but the latter is advantageous for downsizing and cost reduction because the mechanism is simple.

Among the latter methods, as a method of pressing the cap and the head (cap pressure generating method), the cap does not move, the head approaches the cap, and the cap pressure is applied by a spring from the rear side of the head. There is a method to generate the cap pressure and a method to generate the cap pressure by pressing the cap against the head while the cap approaches the head without moving the head, but the head main scanning drive mechanism is simplified and the reliability of capping is improved. In many cases, the latter method is adopted from the viewpoint of the above. Furthermore, among them, a mechanism in which the cap is pressed against the head by the moving force of the carriage carrying the head is the most general.

[0017]

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, in accordance with the characteristics of the recording head to be used, obstacles such as ink adhered matter, air bubbles, dust, etc. accumulated near the ejection port or in the liquid passage. The above-mentioned suction pressure / amount of suction was set so that the above could be removed all at once. That is, the suction pressure is set to be equal to or higher than the pressure capable of sucking all the air bubbles and foreign matters floating or adhering to the liquid chamber formed inside the ejection port of the recording head, and the suction amount is capable of sucking all the ink in the liquid chamber. It was generally set above the amount.

For this reason, in a single recovery operation, a certain amount of ink is sucked / discarded regardless of the degree of ink ejection failure and the frequency of use of the recovery operation. May have increased.

Further, in order to control the refilling state of the ink to the ejection port of the recording head, it has been attempted to hold a bubble for buffer in a part of the liquid chamber, but the recovery by the suction pressure described above is attempted. In the operation, all the bubbles including the buffer bubbles are sucked, so that the bubbles for the buffer had to be formed again each time the recovery operation was performed.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-181648 discloses a sealing cap for sealing an ink discharge port, a suction tube and an atmosphere opening tube connected to the sealing cap, A negative pressure generation source that generates a negative pressure in the closed cap through the suction tube and a solenoid valve that opens and closes the atmosphere opening tube are provided, and the opening and closing timing of the solenoid valve is controlled to control the ink suction negative pressure. Disclosed is an ink recovery device characterized by controlling generation time.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional recording apparatus, in the method of moving the cap by the movement force of the carriage to cap the cap, since the member holding the cap is slid on the rail or the like, a negative force for recovering the cap and the head is used. Although a tube is used to connect to the recovery processing mechanism that generates pressure, there is a problem that the ink is accumulated in the tube or the tube itself comes off the cap, which is very unreliable. Further, in the recovery device disclosed in the above-mentioned reference, since the suction tube and the atmosphere release tube are connected to the sealing cap, and these tubes are connected to the suction pump or the electromagnetic valve, not only the above problem but also the apparatus is complicated. There is also the problem of turning into. Such complication is against the user's demand for simplification and miniaturization of the device which has been rapidly increasing in recent years.
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to execute and control the close contact / separation (capping operation) of the cap and the generation of the negative pressure in the cap by the pump independently, and the tube by using the tube. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that does not have problems such as omissions and can always maintain good print quality and reduce running costs, and an information processing system using the apparatus as an output unit.

[0022]

An ink jet recording apparatus based on the present invention is equipped with a recording means for recording input image information on a recording medium, a carriage moving along the main scanning direction, and ink of the recording means. In an inkjet recording apparatus having a recovery processing mechanism that recovers the ink ejection performance of a recording unit by sucking ink from the ejection unit, the recovery processing mechanism causes the ink ejection unit of the recording unit to interlock with the movement of the carriage. A cap portion that removably covers and a cap holding portion that holds the cap, a pressure contact means that presses the cap means against the ink ejection portion, a suction port that communicates with the cap member, and an atmosphere. A suction means having an open port communicating with the suction means, and a driving means for driving the suction means. And a control means for selecting an appropriate ink suction amount and suction pressure from the selected plurality of ink suction amounts and suction pressures, and controlling the drive of the drive means based on the selected ink suction amount and suction pressure. Is characterized by.

Preferably, the cap holding portion has an ink flow path whose one end is open to the cap portion and the other end is in direct communication with the suction port of the suction means, and the cap holding portion and the suction means are further provided. And are rotatably connected.

Preferably, the suction means comprises a cylinder and a piston that slides in the cylinder, and further, the suction port and the opening port are formed separately from each other on the peripheral surface of the cylinder. , The ink suction amount changes according to the sliding distance of the piston.

Preferably, the control means selects the ink suction amount and suction pressure according to the type of the recording means, and more preferably the type of the recording means by the identification number attached to the recording means. Identify.

Preferably, the control means selects the ink suction amount and suction pressure in accordance with the history of recovery processing.

Preferably, the plurality of suction amounts are at least first and second suction amounts, and the second suction amount is less than the first suction amount, more preferably the first suction amount is 0. 1 to 5 g, the second suction amount is 0.01 to 1
It is g.

Preferably, the apparatus main body further has a detection means for detecting attachment / detachment of the recording means or attachment / detachment of an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording means, and the detection means is the recording means or the ink. When the attachment / detachment of the tank is detected, the control means selects the first suction amount.

Preferably, when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on, the suction recovery mechanism performs a recovery operation of sucking the first suction amount.

Preferably, the press contact means has a contact member, a contact member for contacting the carriage via the contact member, and a lever member having a rotation shaft concentrically provided with the suction means. A tension spring for urging the contact portion of the lever member in a predetermined direction, and a cap spring and an ink ejecting portion of the recording means are separated or brought into close contact with each other in accordance with the rotation of the lever member. And rotation interlocking means.

Preferably, the pressure contact means is a rail member having a step with which the cap means is slidably engaged.

Preferably, the recording means is an ink jet recording head having an electrothermal converter for causing film boiling in the ink as a means for generating energy for ejecting the ink droplets.

Next, an information processing system according to the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with an output means composed of the ink jet recording apparatus.

[0034]

With the movement of the carriage, the cap means rotates about the connecting portion with the suction means as an axis and comes into close contact with the ink ejecting portion of the recording head. The suction means directly communicates with the cap means without a tube and performs a suction operation based on the suction amount set by the control means by driving the driving means.

Further, the contact / separation (capping operation) of the cap is performed by the movement of the carriage, and the negative pressure in the cap by the pump is generated by another drive source (for example, a stepping motor). It is possible to drive / stop with.

Further, the recording means records the ink by ejecting the 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.

[0037]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 is of a type in which a head cartridge in which an ink tank for supply and a recording head are integrated is mounted on a carriage.

In FIG. 1, a recording material (recording sheet) 1 such as a sheet of paper or a plastic thin plate is fed to a printer unit by a paper feeding device such as a manual feed or a cut sheet feeder, and a paper feeding roller (not shown) is rotated. By controlling the amount, the recording medium is conveyed to the recording unit (cueing position) and is set in the recording start state. The recording means (recording head) 2 is an inkjet recording head, and the recording head 2 is attached to a carriage 3. In the case of an inkjet recording apparatus, a plurality of ejection ports are vertically arranged on the front surface (ejection surface) of the recording head 2. Carriage 3
Is reciprocally supported by sliding shafts 4 and 5, and is reciprocally driven by a drive motor 6 via a timing belt 8 stretched between the drive motor 6 and the idle pulley 7.

The carriage 3 is mainly scanned in the digit direction of the recording material 1 (the direction traversing the recording material 1) to record an image for one line, and a sub-scan is performed by feeding the paper every time one line is recorded. And record the next line.

At a position facing the recording head 2, a platen 9 also serving as a guide plate for guiding the recording sheet 1 along the conveyance path is arranged. The platen 9 may also function as a fixing device by attaching a heater wire (not shown) to a sheet metal to form a plate heater. The recording material 1 is a portion below the recording area (upstream side), which is a range in which the recording head 2 performs main scanning, and is as close as possible to the recording area.
It is pressed against the platen 9 by 0, which prevents the recording material 1 from floating. The recording material 1 that has passed through the recording portion is discharged by a discharge roller 11 arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction and a spur roller 12 that is pressed against the discharge roller 11.

On the other hand, a recovery processing mechanism 13 for recovering the symptom of defective ink ejection of the recording head 2 to a good condition is provided at a position facing the recording head 2 and away from the platen 9. There is. Further, the paper feed roller (conveyance roller) is provided with a paper feed knob 14 for manually feeding the recording material 1.

The recording head (recording means) 2 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 2 is
Recording is performed by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Therefore, since the ink droplet ejection ports can be arranged at a high density, it is possible to perform high resolution recording.

Here, a brief description will be given of a bubble jet type ink droplet forming process performed by the recording head.

First, when the heating resistor (heater) reaches a predetermined temperature, film bubbles covering the heater surface are generated. The internal pressure of this bubble is very high and pushes out the ink in the nozzle. The ink is moved toward the common liquid chamber outside the nozzle and in the opposite direction by the inertial force due to this extrusion. As the movement of the ink progresses, the internal pressure of the bubble becomes a negative pressure, and the flow path resistance is added, so that the speed of the ink inside the nozzle becomes slow. Nozzle port (also called discharge port or orifice)
Since the ink ejected from the outside is faster than inside the nozzle, the ink is separated due to inertial force, flow path resistance, bubble contraction, and ink surface tension variation, resulting in separation and droplet formation. And
At the same time when the bubbles contract, ink is supplied from the common liquid chamber into the nozzle by the capillary force and waits for the next pulse.

As described above, the recording head using the electrothermal converting element as the energy generating means can generate air bubbles in the ink of the liquid passage in one unit by the driving electric pulse signal, and can be immediately and appropriately used. Since it is possible to cause the bubbles to grow and contract, it is possible to achieve ink droplet ejection with excellent responsiveness. In addition, the recording head can be easily made compact, and the advantages of IC technology and microfabrication technology, which have been significantly improved in technology and reliability in the recent semiconductor field, can be fully utilized, and high-density mounting is easy. This is advantageous because the manufacturing cost is low.

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

In FIG. 2, a plurality of discharge surfaces (discharge port forming surfaces) 201 facing the recording material 1 with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm) at a predetermined pitch. Electrothermal converters (heat generating resistors, etc.) 205 for generating energy for ejecting ink along the wall surface of each liquid passage 204 which forms the ejection port 202 of the common liquid chamber 203 and connects each ejection port 202. Is provided. In this example, the recording head 2 has a positional relationship such that the ejection ports 202 are arranged in a direction intersecting the scanning direction of the carriage 3,
It is mounted on the carriage 3. Thus, the corresponding electrothermal converter 205 is based on the image signal or the ejection signal.
The recording head 2 is configured to drive (energize) to cause the ink in the liquid path 204 to film-boil and eject the ink from the ejection port 202 by the pressure generated at that time.

Further, in this example, the ejection port 202 of the recording head 2 has a multi-nozzle structure having 70 or more nozzles in the sub-scanning direction. It is intended to realize high speed operation of the device.

In this example, the recording head 2 is constructed as a head cartridge in which the supply ink tank and the recording head are integrated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic external perspective view illustrating a head cartridge in which a recording head (ejection unit) and an ink tank are integrated.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 2a indicates an ejection unit portion for ejecting and recording ink, and 2b indicates an ink tank portion for storing ink. The head cartridge 2 is provided with a claw 2001 that is hooked by a hook (not shown) provided on the carriage 3 when the head cartridge 2 is mounted. The claw 2001 is arranged inside the entire extension of the recording head. Further, a positioning abutting portion (not shown) is provided near the ejection unit 2a on the front portion of the head cartridge 2. Reference numeral 2002 denotes a head opening into which a flexible board (electrical connection portion) erected on the carriage 3 and a support plate for supporting a rubber pad are inserted.

FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of the head cartridge 2 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is an assembled perspective view thereof. The head cartridge 2 is of a disposable type in which a recording head (ejection unit) 2a and an ink containing portion (ink tank) 2b which is an ink supply source are integrated.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 2003 denotes an electrothermal conversion element (ejection heater) on a Si substrate and A for supplying electric power thereto.
It is a heater board in which wirings such as l are formed by a film forming technique. Reference numeral 2004 denotes a wiring board for the heater board 2003, and the corresponding wiring is connected by, for example, wire bonding. Reference numeral 2005 denotes a top plate provided with a partition wall and a common liquid chamber for limiting the ink flow path,
In this example, it is made of a resin material that integrally has a discharge surface. Reference numeral 2006 denotes, for example, a metallic support,
Reference numeral 07 is a presser spring, and a heater board 20 is provided between them.
03 and the top plate 2005 in a state of being sandwiched between them, by the urging force of the presser spring 2007,
The heater board 2003 and the top plate 2005 are fixed by pressure. Further, the wiring board 2004 can be provided with a positioning reference for the carriage 3 that scans the recording head. Further, the support body 2006 includes the discharge unit 2
It also functions as a member that dissipates and cools the heat generated in the heater board 2003 with the driving of a. 2008 is a sub tank. The sub-tank 2008 receives ink supply from the ink tank portion 2b which is an ink supply source,
It functions as a sub-tank that guides ink to the common liquid chamber formed by joining the heater board 2003 and the top plate 2005. Reference numeral 2009 designates a filter arranged at a portion in the sub tank 2008 near the ink supply port to the common liquid chamber,
Reference numeral 10 is a lid member of the sub tank 2008. 2011
Is a supply body for impregnating ink, and is arranged in the ink tank portion 2b. 2012 is each part 20
An ink supply port for supplying ink to the ejection unit (recording element) 2a composed of 03 to 2010. In the process before disposing the ejection unit 2a in the part 2013 of the ink tank portion 2b, the ink supply port 20
By injecting the ink from 12 into the ink tank portion 2b, the absorber 2011 can be impregnated with the ink. Reference numeral 2014 denotes a lid member for the ink tank portion 2b.
Reference numeral 15 is an atmosphere communication port for communicating the inside of the ink tank portion 2b with the atmosphere. 2015A is the air communication port 201
5 is a liquid-repellent member disposed inside 5 and prevents ink leakage from the atmosphere communication port 2015. When the ink filling into the ink tank portion 2b via the ink supply port 2012 is completed, the ejection unit 2a including the respective portions 2003 to 2010 is positioned and arranged at the portion 2013 of the ink tank portion 2b.

The positioning and fixing at this time can be carried out by fitting the projection 2016 provided in the ink tank portion 2b and the hole 2017 provided in the support body 2006 with respect to the projection 2016. 4 (B)
The head cartridge 2 as shown in is completed. The ink is stored in the ink tank portion (inside the cartridge) 2b.
From the ink supply port 2012, the hole 2018 provided in the support body 2006, and the introduction port provided on the back surface of the sub tank 2008 in FIG.
Further, the ink passes through the inside of the sub tank 2008, and then flows into the common liquid chamber from the inlet through the appropriate supply pipe and the ink inlet 2019 of the top plate 2005. A packing made of, for example, silicone rubber or butyl rubber is provided in the connection portion for ink communication as described above, whereby sealing is performed and an ink supply path is secured.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining the schematic structure of the recovery processing mechanism 13 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

Inside the recovery processing mechanism 13, there is provided a cylinder 1302 for generating a suction negative pressure by reciprocating the piston 1301. Further, a suction port 1302a and a waste ink port 1302b are formed separately from each other on the peripheral surface of the cylinder 1302. The suction port 1302a is connected to the cap 1304 by a cap tube 1303. Also, the waste ink port 1
302b is connected to a waste ink processing means (waste ink tank or the like) not shown. Therefore, the ink sucked from the cap 1304 by the negative pressure generated by the cylinder 1302 is discharged from the waste ink port 1302b to the waste ink tank.

The cap 13 communicating with the cylinder 1032.
04 is supported by the cap holder 1305.
Further, the cap 1034 is configured to be in close contact with / separated from the recording head 2. That is, the cap 1
By driving the above-mentioned cylinder 1302 in a state where 304 is brought into close contact with the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 2,
The ink is sucked from the ejection port to remove obstacles such as fixed ink, bubbles and dust accumulated in the liquid passage of the recording head 2.

A blade 1306 and a wiping material 1307 are provided inside the recovery processing mechanism 13.
The blade 1036 is made of a material such as rubber, and is used to remove excess ink droplets, dust, and the like around the ejection port of the recording head, and is supported by the blade holder 1308. On the other hand, the wiping material 1307 is composed of an ether-based polyurethane continuous pore body or the like, and is used to remove foreign matter or ink adhered matter that is pressed against the ejection port forming surface of the recording head and adheres to the periphery of the ejection port. Material holder 1
It is supported by 309. Further, the blade 1306 and the wiping material 1307 are configured to come into contact with / separate from the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 2.

The ink, impurities, etc. attached to the ejection surface of the recording head 2 are removed as follows. That is, the blade 1306 or the wiping material 1307 moves to a position where it overlaps with the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 2. Next, the recording head 2 is moved by the carriage 3 to the front surface of the blade 1306 or the wiping material 1307, for example, by an arrow mark in a state where the holders supporting the respective members are advanced.
Move from A direction to B direction. By this movement, ink, impurities, and the like attached to the ejection surface of the recording head 2 are removed, and ejection stability of the recording head 2 is secured.

Further, the recovery processing mechanism 13 is provided with a preliminary ejection unit 1310 for receiving ejection (preliminary ejection) as a recovery operation. This preliminary discharge unit 131
The ink ejected to 0 is held by the preliminary ejection absorber 1311 provided inside. The other end of the preliminary discharge absorber 1311 is connected to the waste ink tank (not shown) described above, and the retained ink is gradually transmitted to the waste ink tank. Therefore, the retained ink due to aging or environmental changes Will never overflow.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are side sectional views for explaining a schematic structure of the recovery processing mechanism 13 of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG.

In these figures, the cap holder 1305 holding the cap 1304 is constructed so as to be able to come into close contact with / separate from the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 2 while being supported by the cap guide 1312. The carriage guide 1312 has a bearing portion 1312a and a guide shaft 1313.
It is supported by and is movable in parallel with the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction (direction of arrow A). The wall portion 3a of the carriage 3 is the arm portion 131 of the cap guide 1312.
By advancing while pushing 2b in the direction of arrow A, the cap guide 1312 moves in the direction of arrow A while contacting the carriage 3. Further, since the cap guide 1312 is constantly urged in the arrow B direction by a spring (not shown), when the carriage 3 advances in the arrow B direction, the cap guide 1312 also moves in the arrow B direction while contacting the carriage 3. Further, the cap holder 1305 has a convex portion 1305a at one end. The protrusion is slidably fitted and supported by a guide rail 1314 having a step formed by an inclined surface. In addition, the cap holder 130
5 is biased toward the recording head by a compression spring 1320. Therefore, when the cap guide 1312 moves in the arrow AB direction, the cap guide 1305 moves back and forth (in the arrow AB direction) along the slope of the guide rail 1314. As a result, the cap 1304 is indicated by the arrow C in the figure.
Since the cap 1304 moves up and down in the D direction, the suction surface of the cap 1304 can be brought into close contact with or separated from the ejection port forming surface of the recording pad 2, and the cap side generates a pressure contact force to the recording head. It becomes possible.

The cap 1304 is the cap tube 1.
It is connected to the cylinder 1302 via 303. The piston 1301 slides back and forth in the cylinder 1302 to generate a negative pressure in the cap. Piston 1301
The shaft of is connected to a cam (not shown) driven by a drive source (not shown; for example, a stepping motor or the like).

In FIG. 6, the cap 1304 is the recording head 2
2 shows a state in which the ink ejection surface is in close contact (cap closed state). In this state, the ejection port of the recording head 2 is sealed from the atmosphere to prevent drying of the ejection port and adhesion of foreign matter, and a negative pressure is generated in the cap by the pump to suck ink from the ejection port of the recording head 2. As a result, it is possible to recover the ejection failure due to the nozzle clogging or the like.

FIG. 7 differs from the state of FIG. 6 in that the carriage 3
By moving in the direction of the arrow L, the cap 1
304 shows a cap open state in which the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 2 is separated by a gap E. In this state, the negative pressure generated in the cap is released to the atmospheric pressure, and the ink of the recording head 2 is not sucked. In addition,
By driving the pump in the cap open state and sucking a large amount of air from the cap 1304, idle suction for removing the ink between the cap 1304 and the cylinder 1302 and in the cylinder 1302 to the outside is performed.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the present configuration, the cap is brought into close contact / separated (capping operation) by the movement of the carriage, and the negative pressure in the cap by the pump is another drive source (for example, stepping motor). It is possible to drive / stop both of them at any timing.

8 and 9 are schematic views of the negative pressure generating means (suction pump) included in the recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) 13 of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. It is a figure.

In FIG. 8, (1) and (2) are schematic diagrams for explaining the pump operation when the generated pressure is large, and (3) and (4) are schematic diagrams for explaining the pump operation when the generated pressure is small. is there. When the piston 1301 in the cylinder 1302 is in the state (1), the cylinder 1302 and the rubber portion 1301b of the piston form a closed space having a volume V ₀₁ . In the state of (1), the nozzle of the recording head is sealed with a cap connected to the suction port 1302a of the cylinder, and the piston 1301 is moved by a stroke l1 (2)
By setting the above state, negative pressure is generated in the cylinder 1302. The pressure generated from (1) to (2) is

[0070]

[Equation 1]

It is represented by

On the other hand, when the piston 1301 is in the state (3), the pressure generated when the nozzle of the recording head is sealed with the cap and the stroke L _{2 is} moved to the state (4) is

[0073]

[Equation 2]

It is represented by here,

[0075]

[Number 3] (δV ₁ + V ₀₁₎ = because it is _{(δV 2 + V 02) δV} 1> δV 2, the pressure generated by the △ P _1> △ P ₂
Becomes

As described above, according to this configuration, the piston 130
After moving 1 to an arbitrary position, it is possible to generate a plurality of negative pressures by sealing the nozzles of the recording head with a cap unit that can be driven at an arbitrary timing.

FIG. 9 is for explaining a method of setting different suction amounts, and the suction amount increases in the order of (1) → (2) → (3).

That is, in FIG. 9A, the nozzle of the recording head is sealed by the cap means, and the piston 1301 is moved by the stroke L ₁ to suck the ink of the volume V ₁ from the suction port 1302a. In this state, by further separating the cap means that can be driven at an arbitrary timing from the recording head, further suction is not performed. (1)
In the state (3), the cap means is not separated, and the stroke L _{2 is} moved as in the state (2) to move the ink corresponding to the volume V ₂ and the stroke L _{3 is} moved in the state (3) as the volume V _3. The ink can be sucked. However, since it takes some time for the ink to flow from the cap means to the cylinder 1302 via the suction tube, a waiting time is provided after moving the piston 1301 to each of the states (1) to (3), and then the cap is set. It is desirable to separate the means from the recording head. On the contrary, it is also possible to control the suction amount more finely by separating the cap means before the sufficient waiting time is taken.

Further, in the present configuration, since the pressure contact means for the recording head is provided on the side of the cap means as described above, it is not necessary for the recording head or the carriage side to generate pressing force due to movement such as rotation, and the printing accuracy is simple. It is possible to use a high carriage configuration, and even if the distance to the carriage is variable for thick paper or the like, it is possible to follow the recording head by adjusting the amount of movement on the carriage means side.

According to the present invention, the drive of the cap means and the drive of the recovery processing mechanism can be independently operated at arbitrary timing, and if the cap means has a press contact means for the recording head, It can be implemented regardless of the above-mentioned configuration.

<Embodiment 2> FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a second example of the recovery processing mechanism provided in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In this figure, reference numeral 1501 is a case of the recovery processing mechanism 15, and 1502 is a pump section having exactly the same function as the pump section 1302 described in the above embodiment. Further, in this embodiment, the piston is arranged so that the moving direction of the piston is tilted by 90 degrees with respect to the first embodiment, that is, the piston moves in the vertical direction of the drawing plane (paper surface). Further, the shaft portion 1502C engages with a hole (not shown) of the case 1501, and the pump portion 1502 is rotatably attached to the case 1501. Also, the pump unit 150
2 is a hole 1502a for attaching the other end of a tension spring 1504 for pressing the cap 1503 to the nozzle surface of the head 2 and a first for engaging the lever 1505.
It has a second arm 1502d that supports the arm 1502b and the cap arm 1506 and has an ink flow path inside. Reference numeral 1503 is a cap having exactly the same function as the cap 1304 in the first embodiment, 1504 is a tension spring for generating a pressure contact force between the cap 1503 and the nozzle surface of the head 2, and 1505 is an end surface of the carriage 3. The rib portion 1 is a lever for engaging with the first arm 1502b of the pump portion and serves as a stopper.
501a and an elongated hole 1505b for engaging the shaft 1506a of the cap arm 1506. 1506
Holds the cap 1503 and holds the ink flow path 150 inside.
6b with cap arm, lever slot 1505
A shaft 1506a for engaging b and a hole 1506c for engaging the second arm 1502d of the pump portion are provided. Reference numeral 1507 denotes a tension spring for urging the lever 1505 in the direction of the arrow B, which includes the case 1501 and the lever 15
05 is connected.

In FIG. 10, the head 2 is not in the recovery position at the initial position of the recovery processing mechanism 15. As for the positional relationship between the pump portion 1502 and the cap 1503 in this figure, the initial position is determined at the position shown in the figure, and the positional relationship is determined by the two tension springs 1504 and 1507. The power relationship will be described.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the force relationship at the initial position of the recovery processing mechanism 15. In the figure, a tension spring 1504
, The free length is m ₀ , the length at the initial position is m ₁ , the spring constant is km, the free length of the tension spring 1507 is L ₀ , the length at the initial position is L ₁ , the spring constant is k _L , and the pump part is The length from the center of the rotating shaft of 1502 to the contact point between the lever and the pump portion first arm 1502b is r ₁ , and the length from the center to the spring hook hole 1502a is r ₂ , and the first arm 1502b is the same.
The angle of the lever and lever shown in the figure is θ ₁ , and the hook 1502a
The angle between the tension spring 1504 and the tension spring 1504 is θ ₂ .
Since the pump portion 1502 is now in the state shown in the figure, the conditions of the spring constants of the two extension springs 1504 and 1507 are shown below.

[0085]

[Formula 4] (L ₁ -L ₀ ) × k ₁ × r ₁ × sin θ ₁ > (m ₁ -m ₀ ) × k _m × r ₂
× sin θ ₂ Also, since the side surface 1505c of the lever hits the cover 1501 and serves as a stopper, the pump portion 1502
Does not rotate any more.

Next, the operation up to the pressure contact state (cap operation) between the head 2 and the cap 1503 will be described.

Also in this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the carriage 3 on which the head 2 is mounted hooks the lever 1505 and further moves the mechanism to perform the cap operation. The series of operations will be described.

12, 13 and 14 show the operation from the contact of the carriage with the lever 1505 to the end of the cap operation.

It will be described in order from FIG. In this figure, reference numeral 2 is a head, 2a is a nozzle surface thereof, and 3 is a carriage for moving the head 2 in the main scanning direction.
The carriage 3 moves from the print position to the cap position in order to perform the cap operation of the head 2 during or after printing. The state shown in the drawing is a state in the middle thereof, in which the side surface of the carriage 3 is in contact with the lever 1505.

FIG. 13 shows a state in which the carriage 3 further moves the lever 1505 against the spring force of the spring 1507. As shown in the figure, when the lever 1505 moves in the direction of arrow A, the rib portion 1505a of the lever and the first arm 1502b of the pump portion come into contact with each other and the spring 1504
The pump portion 1502 rotates about the shaft 1502c by the spring force of. Therefore, the fulcrum 1506C of the cap arm 1506 similarly rotates around the pump shaft 1502C, and the shaft 1506a of the cap arm 1506 is engaged with the long hole portion 1505b of the lever 1505, so that the shaft 1506a has the same distance as the lever. Move in the direction of arrow A. In this way, the cap arm 1506 supports the fulcrum 15
The entire body moves downward (approaches the head 2) while rotating clockwise around 06C. Then, the cap 1503 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 2a of the head 2 at a certain position of the carriage (state shown in the figure). That is, when the carriage 3 moves the lever 1505 in the direction of arrow A, the cap 1503 is moved to the cap arm 15
The head 2 moves while rotating clockwise around the fulcrum 1506c of 06. An enlarged view of the locus of the tip of the cap 1503 at this time is shown in FIG.
In the figure, the curve P is the trajectory of the tip of the cap, the point P ₁ is the initial position, and the point q _{1 is the} point where the cap and the head contact. Next, the case where the carriage further moves in the direction of arrow A from the state where the cap 1503 and the nozzle surface of the head 2 are in contact with each other will be described. In FIG. 13, if the carriage further attempts to move in the direction of arrow A from this state, the pump portion 15
02 is further rotated clockwise by the spring 1504, but since the cap 1503 is in contact with the nozzle surface 2a, it becomes a stopper and the movement is restricted. However, the shaft 15 of the cap arm 1506
Since 06a is moved by the lever and moves in the direction of arrow A, the movement of the cap arm 1506 is a fulcrum 1506c.
Rotate clockwise around the center of the cap 15
The cap arm fulcrum 1506c moves so that the end of 03 is regulated by the head 2 and moves in a substantially linear manner in accordance with the movement of the carriage. In other words, the pump unit 1502 rotates clockwise in synchronization with the movement of the carriage until the cap 1503 and the head 2 come into contact with each other.
After the head 503 contacts the head 503, the cap 1503
The pump unit 1502 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise in accordance with the movement of the linear movement of the head while contacting the head 2. The locus of the tip of the cap 1503 at that time is shown in FIG.
Is shown by a straight line q. The straight line q is a straight line moved in the arrow A direction from the point q ₁ where the cap 1503 and the nozzle 2a come into contact with each other while substantially matching the moving distance of the carriage 3. In reality, a perfect straight line is not formed due to the deformation of the cap and the width of the cap, but here, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, a substantially straight line motion is used. The curve p becomes p ₂ after passing q ₁
Although extending to the point, this portion is the locus of the tip of the cap 1503 when the head 2 is not present. The points p ₂ and q ₂ are the positions where the carriage 3 completes the cap operation. The state in which the carriage 3 has completed the cap operation is shown in FIG.
4 shows.

As shown in the figure, the pump portion 1502 is regulated by the movement of the cap arm 1506 without interlocking with the movement of the lever 1505, so that the first arm 1502b is separated from the rib portion 1505a of the lever. Further, since the respective component dimensions are adjusted in advance so that the cap arm 1506 is oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the moving direction of the carriage at the cap completion position of the carriage, the cap 1503 is pressed in parallel with the nozzle surface 2a.
As can be seen from the figure, at this time, the pulling force of the spring 1504 is the rotating force of the pump portion 1502. The rotating force is the same as the pressing force of the cap arm 1506 to the head 2, that is, the pressing force of the cap 1503 to the nozzle surface. Has become.
Therefore, at the cap position of the carriage, the cap 1
The pressure contact force between the nozzle 503 and the nozzle 2a acts, and the force is generated on the recovery processing mechanism side. This pressure contact force (referred to as cap pressure) is applied to the cap 1503 and the head 2 shown in FIG.
Occurs at the time of contact, and the force increases as the carriage 3 moves to the cap position. Figure 15
In the cap 150 when the head 2 is not present,
Cap 15 when position p _{2 of} 3 and head 2 are present
The difference L _{1 in} the y direction from the position q _{2 of} 03 is the distance for generating the cap pressure, and the cap 1503 and the head 2
It can be seen that the cap pressure increases from the point q _{1 at which} they contact. Now, assuming that the length of the spring 1504 is m ₄ , the angle shown in the figure is θ ₄ , the distance from the axial center of the pump section to the cap arm fulcrum is r ₃ , and the angle is θ ₃ , the cap pressure F _c is _calculated by the following formula. expressed.

[0092]

F _c = {(m ₄ -m ₀ ) × k _m × r ₂ × sin θ ₄ } / r ₃ × sin θ _{3 As} described above, according to this mechanism, the cap operation is performed by the driving force of the carriage. The cap pressure can be generated on the recovery processing mechanism side.
In addition, since it is not necessary to use a tube, there is no sticking of ink in the tube and there is no loss of tube, which leads to improved device reliability. The ink can be sucked from the head 2 by moving the piston in the state shown in FIG. Since it is possible to further operate independently a negative pressure generating mechanism and the capping mechanism of the pump portion, Example ₁
It is possible to adjust the cap timing described in 1 above and set two or more kinds of suction amount and suction pressure.

<Embodiment 3> FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a third example of the recovery processing mechanism provided in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the second
Only the biasing member of the spring 1504 that generates the cap pressure is different from the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1508
Is a tension spring for generating a cap pressure, one end of which is connected to the first arm of the cylinder and the other end of which is connected to the lever 1505. In this embodiment as well, the cap operation is exactly the same as in the second embodiment, and capping is performed by moving the carriage. The movement of the cap is exactly the same as that of the second embodiment, but only the method of generating the cap pressure is different. According to this embodiment, since the spring force of the spring 1508 is not applied to the lever 1505 as long as the arm of the pump portion 1502 is in contact with the lever 1505, the spring 150 for returning the lever 1505 is used.
The spring 7 can be weakened, and as a result, the force for moving the lever of the carriage can be weakened.

An example of mastering a plurality of types of suction pressures / suction amounts that can be set as described above will be described.

As an example of a plurality of suction pressures, a pressure capable of sucking all the air bubbles or foreign matters floating or adhering to the liquid chamber formed inside the recording head discharge port is set as the first suction pressure, and the discharge pressure of the recording head is set. The second suction pressure is set to a pressure that does not remove the buffer bubbles for controlling the refill state of the ink to the outlet. In this case, the second suction pressure is set as a pressure smaller than the first suction pressure.

As an example of a plurality of suction amounts, a sufficient amount for sucking all the ink in the liquid chamber of the recording head is set as the first suction amount, and foreign matters near the nozzle that directly affect ejection failure are set. The amount that can be suctioned is set as the second suction amount. In this case, the first suction amount is, for example, about 0.15 g, and the second suction amount is set to about 0.01 to 1 g, which is smaller than the first suction amount.

As another embodiment, it is also possible to increase the suction amount in the case of a color head or a multi-nozzle head, or to change the suction pressure depending on the size and shape of the nozzles of the recording head. It is desirable to have information for identifying the type of head.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus which changes the recovery operation based on the information held in the recording head.

When the recovery operation is started (S-1), the type of recording head is first checked (S-2). In the case of a monochrome recording head, the suction amount is set to the first suction amount which is a sufficient amount to suck all the ink in the liquid chamber of the recording head, and the recovery operation is executed based on this suction amount. (S-4). When a predetermined amount of suction has been performed, the recovery operation ends (S-5). On the other hand, if it is not the monochrome one, the second suction amount, which is an amount capable of sucking the foreign matter near the nozzle, which directly affects the ejection failure, is set, and the recovery operation is executed based on this suction amount (S). −
3). When a predetermined amount of suction has been performed, the recovery operation ends (S-5).

Further, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 18, it is possible to have a means for holding the history of the recovery operation and change the recovery operation according to the history. When the recovery operation is started (S-10), the history of the recovery operation is first checked (S-11). When 3 days or more have passed from the previous recovery operation, the suction amount is set to the first suction amount which is a sufficient amount to suck all the ink in the liquid chamber of the recording head, and the recovery based on this suction amount. The operation is executed (S-13). When a predetermined amount of suction has been performed, the recovery operation ends (S-14). On the other hand, when three days or more have not elapsed since the previous recovery operation, the second suction amount, which is the amount that can suck foreign matter near the nozzle that directly affects ejection failure, is set, and the recovery based on this suction amount is set. The operation is executed (S-12). When a predetermined amount of suction has been performed, the recovery operation ends (S-14).

Further, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 19, it is possible to change the recovery operation according to the operating method of the switch for executing the recovery operation.

When the recovery operation is started (S-20), the key ON time is first checked (S-21). When the key ON time is over 3 seconds, the suction amount is set to the first suction amount which is a sufficient amount to suck all the ink in the liquid chamber of the recording head, and the recovery operation based on this suction amount. Is executed (S-23). When a predetermined amount of suction has been performed, the recovery operation ends (S-24). On the other hand, when 3 seconds or more has not elapsed, the second suction amount, which is an amount capable of sucking the foreign matter in the vicinity of the nozzle, which directly affects the ejection failure, is set, and the recovery operation is executed based on this suction amount ( S-2
2). When a predetermined amount of suction has been performed, the recovery operation ends (S-24).

Furthermore, when it is expected that the ink is completely exhausted from the liquid chamber when the recording head or the ink loading tank of the recording head is replaced with a new one, or when the power of the recording apparatus is turned on. In addition, it is also possible to execute the suction operation in which the maximum suction amount is set in order to fill the ink from the ink storage unit to the nozzle.

In the above description, the atmosphere opening means for opening the closed space formed by the ejection surface of the recording head and the cap to the atmosphere is constituted by the relative movement of the recording head and the cap. The same effect can be obtained by using a configuration in which the valve provided in the above is opened and closed at an arbitrary timing by a drive source other than the recovery processing mechanism.

Further, in the above description, the structure using the recording head aiming at speeding up of recording by providing the discharge port of the recording head with multiple nozzles of 70 nozzles or more in the sub-scanning direction has been taken as an example. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to an inkjet recording apparatus using a recording head having an ejection port of less than 70 nozzles or a line head having a large number of nozzles, and a sufficient effect can be obtained as compared with a conventional recording apparatus. Is.

In the above description, the ink jet recording apparatus using one recording head is taken as an example. However, the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads for color recording or gradation recording. The same can be applied to the case of the device, and the same effect can be achieved. Further, the present invention is an inkjet recording apparatus,
For example, when using a recording unit (recording head) that uses an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, or when using an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and that liquefies for the first time by heat energy It is possible to apply.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, it is used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying machine combined with a reader or the like, a facsimile machine having a transmitting / receiving function, a document. It may be in the form of a word processor having a creating function.

(Others) The present invention is particularly provided with means for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) even in the ink jet recording system. The present invention provides excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type that causes a change in the state of ink by the above thermal energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned 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.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 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 is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Furthermore, 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 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 in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus or the ink jet from the main body of the apparatus is electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus by mounting the recording head. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add an ejection recovery processing mechanism of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, and a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. 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 of the present invention, other than 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 can be used. It may be a form or the like.

[0117]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the cap means is rotated about the connecting portion with the suction means as an axis in association with the movement of the carriage, and is connected to the ink ejecting portion of the recording head. In addition, the suction means directly communicates with the cap means without using a tube, and a suction operation based on the suction amount set by the control means is performed by driving the drive means. Further, the cap is closely contacted / separated (capping operation). ) Is performed by moving the carriage, and the negative pressure in the cap by the pump is generated by another drive source (for example, a stepping motor), so both can be driven / stopped at arbitrary timings and are always good. It is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of maintaining high printing quality and reducing running cost.

Further, according to the present invention, since the suction means and the cap means are communicated with each other without the tube, the problem of the tube coming off due to the use of the tube is eliminated, and a highly reliable recovery processing mechanism is provided. It is possible to provide a recording device equipped with it.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording means utilizes the pressure change caused by the growth and contraction of the bubbles due to the film boiling generated by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter, to eject the ink from the ejection port. Eject and print. Therefore, since the ink droplet ejection ports can be arranged at a high density, it is possible to perform high resolution recording.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection unit of a recording unit mounted on the carriage of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a head cartridge in which a recording head (ejection unit) and an ink tank are integrated.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view when the head cartridge is disassembled, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing its assembled state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a suction means of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, where (1) corresponds to the first suction amount and (2) corresponds to (1 When the piston is pulled in the state of (4), (3) is a state corresponding to the second suction amount, and (4) is a schematic diagram showing the case of pulling the piston in the state of (3).

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of suction means of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in which (1), (2) and (3) respectively correspond to different suction amounts. It is a schematic diagram which shows the case.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) included in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing a force relationship of initial positions in a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a locus drawn by the tip portion of the cap means in the process of the suction recovery operation in the recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of a recovery processing mechanism (recovery device) provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining an example of suction recovery operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of suction recovery operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a suction recovery operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a conventional inkjet recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 recording head 3 carriage 13 recovery device 1301 piston 1302 cylinder 1304 cap

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location B41J 2/185 B41J 3/04 102 R (72) Inventor Takeji Niikura 3-chome Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 30-2 Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Nei Koike 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Tsutomu Shimada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masaaki Kakizaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Seiji Ogasawara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Jun Katayanagi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A recording means for recording input image information on a recording medium, the carriage moving along a main scanning direction, and the recording means by sucking ink from an ink ejecting portion of the recording means. In the ink jet recording apparatus having a recovery processing mechanism for recovering the ink ejection performance, the recovery processing mechanism includes a cap portion that removably covers the ink ejection portion of the recording unit in association with movement of the carriage, and the cap. A cap unit including a cap holding unit that holds the cap unit, a pressure contact unit that presses the cap unit against the ink ejecting unit, and a suction unit that has a suction port that communicates with the cap member and an open port that communicates with the atmosphere. A driving means for driving the suction means, and a plurality of ink suction amounts and suction pressures set in advance, An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a control unit that selects a proper ink suction amount and suction pressure, and controls the drive of the driving unit based on the selected ink suction amount and suction pressure. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap holding portion has an ink flow path, one end of which opens to the cap portion and the other end of which directly communicates with a suction port of the suction means. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a cap holding portion and the suction means are rotatably connected. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction means includes a cylinder and a piston that slides in the cylinder, and the suction port and the opening are provided on a peripheral surface of the cylinder. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that a mouth is formed apart from each other, and the ink suction amount and suction pressure change according to a sliding distance of the piston. 4. The inkjet recording according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects the ink suction amount and suction pressure according to the type of the recording unit. apparatus. 5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit identifies the type of the recording unit by an identification number attached to the recording unit. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects the ink suction amount according to a history of recovery processing. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of suction amounts are at least first and second suction amounts, and the second suction amount is greater than the first suction amount. Inkjet recording device characterized by a small number. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first suction amount is 0.1 to 5 g and the second suction amount is 0.01 to 1 g. 9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus further includes a detection unit that detects attachment / detachment of the recording unit or attachment / detachment of an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording unit, The inkjet recording apparatus, wherein the control unit selects the first suction amount when the detection unit detects attachment / detachment of the recording unit or the ink tank. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the suction recovery mechanism performs a recovery operation of sucking a first suction amount when the power of the apparatus is turned on. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure contact means includes a contact member, a contact portion for contacting the carriage via the contact member, and the suction means. A lever member having a rotating shaft concentrically provided with the cap member, a tension spring for urging the contact portion of the lever member in a predetermined direction, and the cap portion and the cap member as the lever member rotates. An inkjet recording apparatus, comprising: a rotation interlocking device for separating or closely contacting an ink ejection portion of the recording device. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure contact means is a rail member having a step with which the cap means is slidably engaged. Inkjet recording device. 13. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is a means for generating energy for ejecting the ink droplets, and an electrothermal converter that causes film boiling in the ink. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: an inkjet recording head having: 14. An information processing system, comprising: an output unit including the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. Description: