JPH0768792A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate adhesion of ink to a platen to prevent a rear surface of paper from being contaminated and eliminate problems, such as skew and wrinkle of paper and damage of a recording head, caused by ink adhesion on the platen when recording is made on large-size paper after small-size paper, or even when recording is made on paper having gaps between fibers or on processed paper having openings. CONSTITUTION:Ink adhering to a platen 29 is removed by absorbing and wiping by a first cleaning member 102 rotating along the surface of the platen 29 in contact state and a second cleaning member 105 sliding and rubbing on the same in contact state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as (OHP). The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is set. An image (including characters, symbols, etc.) is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scanning) along, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). An image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in the sub-scanning direction in which the recording material is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed at one time. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is a means for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is possible to record a high-definition image at high speed. It is possible to record on plain paper without special treatment, and because it is a non-impact method, it is less noisy and advantageous in terms of running cost. Moreover, it records color images using multicolor inks. It has the advantage that it is easy to do. Above all, a line type apparatus using a line type recording means in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up recording.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of the IC technology and the micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long or planar (two-dimensional), and it is easy to make the recording means long and high density. . On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material, and in recent years, in addition to the ordinary recording material such as paper and resin thin plate (OHP, etc.), thin paper and processed paper (with punch holes for filing) Paper, perforated paper, paper of arbitrary shape, etc.) have come to be required.

[0006]

However, when various recording materials are used in the ink jet recording apparatus,
The platen, which is arranged to face the recording means (recording head), is contaminated with ink for the following reasons, which causes the back surface of the recording material to be contaminated and the adhesive force of the thickened ink on the platen to cover the platen. There is a problem to be solved in that the slip property between the recording material and the platen is lost and problems such as poor conveyance, jamming, skewing, wrinkles and waviness occur. The reasons for ink contamination of the platen are listed and explained below.

First, even when a normal recording material is used, when the recording material is skewed or when recording is performed on the recording material in the whole area recording mode, the ink is directly applied to the platen. May be discharged. Further, even when a recording material jams near the recording position, the ink may be directly ejected to the platen. Further, the ink mist may adhere to the platen due to the recording operation for a long time. Especially when recording large size paper after recording small size paper,
The ink mist on the platen may be transferred to stain the back of the large-sized paper, and further, the conveying means on the downstream side of the recording position may be contaminated with the ink.

Secondly, when recording on processed paper, etc.,
When the filing punch holes or perforations such as perforations enter the recording area, ink is also ejected directly to the platen. Even if the recording area is set within a certain range in advance, ink may adhere to the platen due to an erroneous operation at the time of setting or skew of the recording material.

Thirdly, in the case of recording on a woven fabric having an interfiber gap, the diameter of the ink droplets ejected from the recording means (recording head) is usually as small as about 30 microns,
Part of the ejected ink may pass through the interfiber gap and reach the platen. Further, when recording on thin paper, since the ink holding capacity is small, the ink may penetrate to the back surface and adhere to the platen.

Generally, since the distance between the recording head and the platen is very small, 1 mm or less, if wrinkles or the like occur on the recording material, they may come into contact with the recording head and significantly deteriorate the image quality. Further, paper dust or the like may adhere to the ejection port surface to hinder ink ejection, or the recording material may be clogged between the recording head and the platen to damage the recording head or the apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to carry out recording of large size paper after recording of small size paper, or an object having a gap between fibers. Even when a recording material or processed paper having an opening is used, it is possible to prevent the ink from adhering to the platen and prevent the back surface of the recording material from becoming dirty. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of stably maintaining the recording quality by eliminating problems such as skew of the recording material, wrinkles, damage to the recording head, etc.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a cleaning for cleaning a surface of a platen supporting the recording material. The above-mentioned object is achieved by adopting a structure having means. In addition to the above configuration, the inventions of claims 2 to 6 are
The cleaning means has a configuration including a first cleaning member that is in rolling contact with the surface of the platen and a second cleaning member that rubs against the surface of the platen. The cleaning means is provided with a grinding member that grinds and removes the adhered ink on the platen. A configuration, a configuration in which a solvent supply unit that supplies a solvent for dissolving the fixed ink on the platen is provided in the cleaning unit, a configuration in which the cleaning unit operates at predetermined time intervals, and the cleaning unit includes a recording unit. The above object can be achieved more efficiently by adopting a configuration having a cleaning member for cleaning the wiping member for cleaning.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing the construction of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
The inkjet recording apparatus P of the present embodiment is configured to perform recording based on an image signal from a reading device that reads a document or the like. In FIG. 1, the recording material 1 is wound and stored in a roll shape at the bottom of the recording device P.
The recording material 1 is first conveyed while being pulled out by a first conveying roller 2 including a pair of rollers and a second conveying roller 3 including a pair of rollers. Then
After passing through the recording material cutting means 4 such as a cutter,
It reaches the sub-scanning roller 5 composed of a pair of rollers and the pulling roller 6 composed of a pair of rollers. Further, the recording material 1 which has been cut into a standard size in advance is sent out one by one from the paper feeding section 7 by the pickup roller 8 and, in the illustrated example, is fed to the second carrying roller 3 and is similar to the above. After passing through the recording material cutting means 4 such as a cutter, a sub-scanning roller 5 including a pair of rollers and a pulling roller 6 including a pair of rollers are reached.

Recording (image formation) on the recording material 1
This is performed by the recording unit 20 provided between the sub-scanning roller 5 and the pulling roller 6. The recording unit 20 is provided with recording means (recording head) 21 and a platen 29 for forming an image on the recording material 1. The platen 29 supports the back surface of the recording material 1 in order to regulate the position of the recording surface of the recording material 1. In addition to having a normal supporting surface, the platen 29 is positively covered by electrostatic attraction or air suction. The recording material 1 may be configured to be closely held.
The recorded recording material 1 is discharged from the discharge port 10 to the outside of the apparatus by a discharge roller 9 including a pair of rollers.
The recording means 21 is mounted on a carriage 24, and the carriage 24 has a pair of guide rails 11 and 1.
Along the line 2, the recording material 1 is guided and supported so as to be capable of reciprocating in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface) of the recording material 1.

2 and 3 are perspective views of the recording unit 20 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention of FIG. 1 is applied, as seen from the front. FIG. 2 shows a state during the recording operation, and FIG. The state where the platen is being cleaned by the cleaning means after the recording operation is finished is shown. 2 and 3, the recording means (recording head) 21 mounted on the carriage 24 includes four recording means (recording heads) 21C, 21M, 21Y, and 21B that use different inks.
It is composed of. In the case of color recording, for example, each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is used as the color of the ink used in these recording heads 21C, 21M, 21Y, and 21B. In the following description, when referring to any one or all of the recording means 21C, 21M, 21Y and 21B, the recording means 2 is simply referred to.
1 or the recording head 21.

The recording means (recording head) 21 is provided with an electrothermal converter which generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. Further, the recording unit 21 ejects ink from the ejection port based on a change in the state of the ink including generation of bubbles due to film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejecting portion of the recording means (recording head) 21.
In FIG. 3, the recording material 1 and a predetermined gap (for example,
A plurality of ejection openings 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch on the ejection opening surfaces 51 facing each other at about 0.5 to 1.5 mm), and each of the common liquid chambers 53 communicates with each ejection opening 52. Liquid path 5
An electrothermal converter (heat generating resistor, etc.) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of No. 4. In the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the recording units (recording heads) 21 have a positional relationship such that the plurality of ejection ports 52 are arranged in a direction intersecting with the main scanning direction (moving direction) of the carriage 24. , The carriage 24
It is installed in. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid path 54 to film-boil, and the ink generated from the ejection port 52 is ejected by the pressure generated at that time. A recording unit (recording head) 21 is configured.

2 and 3, the recording means 2 is used.
An ink tank (for example, an ink cartridge) 13 for supplying ink to the first unit is mounted on a carriage 23 that moves in the main scanning direction in synchronization with the carriage 24. The ink tank 13 includes four ink tanks 13C, 13M, 13Y corresponding to the four recording units 21.
13B, and inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are stored in these ink tanks. And these ink tanks 13
The ink in C, 13M, 13Y, 13B is supplied to the tubes 22C, 22M, 22Y, 22B by a pump (not shown).
Through recording means 21C, 21M, 21Y, 21B
Is supplied to. In the following description, when referring to any one or the whole of the ink tanks 13C, 13M, 13Y and 13B and the tubes 22C, 22M, 22Y and 22B, the ink tank 13 and the tube 22 are simply referred to. I will show you.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the carriage 24 of the recording means 21 is driven by the motor 14 to drive the pulley 1.
5, reciprocatingly driven in the direction of arrow B via the driven pulley 16 and the belt 17. The motor 14 is for controlling the main scanning (recording position of the recording material 1 in the width direction) of the recording means 21, and is drive-controlled with high precision. The carriage 23 of the ink tank 13 is driven by the motor 18.
The drive pulley 19, the driven pulley 25, and the belt 26 are also reciprocally driven in the direction of arrow B in synchronization with the carriage 24 of the recording means. In this embodiment, by making the ink tank 13 movable in the main scanning direction together with the recording means 21, the stress applied to the ink supply tube 22 is eliminated, and the carriage 2 of the recording means 21 can be eliminated.
4 and the carriage 23 of the ink tank 13 are separately driven to prevent the vibration and the like generated by the movement of the ink tank, which is a relatively heavy body, from propagating to the recording unit 21 side.

Further, the sub-scanning roller 5 and the pulling roller 6 are connected to a motor (not shown) so that they can be synchronously driven. At the time of conveyance, the pulling roller 6 rotates at a slightly higher peripheral speed than the sub-scanning roller 5. The sub-scanning roller 5 is for accurately feeding the recording material 1 to the recording means 21, and its rotation is accurately controlled.

2 and 3, the recording material 1 is
The sub-scanning roller 5 composed of a pair of rollers and the pulling roller 6 composed of a pair of rollers are sandwiched, and the recording means 21 records between both rollers. Pulling roller 6
Is set to be slightly higher than the conveyance speed of the sub-scanning roller 5, and the recording material 1 is driven so as to maintain the flatness of the recording material 1 by applying a predetermined tension. A surface (back surface) of the recording material 1 opposite to the recording surface is supported by a platen 29 having a flat surface portion facing the recording means 21. The platen 29 is for restricting the position of the recording surface of the recording material 1 in the recording unit 20, and may have a structure having an ordinary supporting surface. The recording material 1 may be positively supported in close contact by suction. The recording material supporting surface of the platen 29 is arranged so as to slightly project toward the recording head 21 side from the conveying surface formed by the sub-scanning roller 5 and the pulling roller 6.

The discharge port surface 51 of the recording means 21 is cleaned outside the range of the platen 29 (outside the recording area on the left side of the platen 29 in FIGS. 2 and 3) within the moving range of the recording means 21. The wiping member 30 and the ink absorber 31 for receiving the ink that is ejected from the ejection port 52 of the recording unit 21 are provided. The wiping member 30 is in contact with the ejection port surface 51 of the recording unit 21 and uses the movement of the carriage 24 to wipe off ink or dust adhering to the ejection port surface 51, that is, an adhering substance that interferes with normal ink ejection. It is configured to be removable. Further, in the illustrated example, since the same wiping member 30 is brought into contact with the four recording means 21, there is a possibility that the inks in the vicinity of the respective ejection openings 52 will mix. Therefore,
At a predetermined timing (such as before recording), an operation of ejecting ink having a possibility of color mixture and discarding it from the ejection port 52 of each recording unit 21 (idle ejection) is performed. The ink absorber 31 is for receiving the ink that is ejected in idle.

Therefore, the recording means 21 starts recording from the left side in FIG. 2 on the recording material 1 which is stopped, and the image recording 32 having the recording width H is performed to the right side to record one line. finish. The recording by the recording unit 21 is performed based on the image information obtained by the image reading unit R (FIG. 1). When the recording for one line is completed, each carriage 23, 24 is returned to a predetermined position on the left side (carriage return). By driving the sub-scanning roller 5 and the pulling roller 6 by a predetermined amount during the return movement of the carriages 23, 24, the recording material 1 is moved in the direction of arrow A (conveying direction) by a predetermined amount (usually a width of one line). The paper is fed by the amount corresponding to H). After the sub-scanning roller 5 and the pulling roller 6 are stopped to terminate the paper feeding, recording of the next line is started. Recording is performed on the entire area of the recording material 1 by repeating the same recording operation thereafter.

In the illustrated ink jet recording apparatus, a full color image can be formed by using the four recording means 21. When the roll-shaped recording material 1 is used, it is cut to a desired length by the recording material cutting means (cutter) 4 in FIG. When 1 is used, the recording material cutting means 4 does not cut. When the recording is completed, the recording material 1 is ejected from the ejection port 10 to the outside of the machine by the ejection roller 9 composed of a pair of rollers.

In the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, the cleaning means 100 for cleaning the surface of the platen 29 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Is provided. The cleaning unit 100 includes a carriage 10 connected to a part of a belt 26 for reciprocating a carriage 23 having an ink tank 13 mounted thereon.
1 and a cleaning member (details will be described later) mounted on the carriage 101 in a swingable manner. In this embodiment, the cleaning means 100 is provided separately from the carriage 23 of the ink tank 13, but the cleaning means 100 may be mounted on the carriage 23 or the carriage 24 of the recording means 21.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the construction and operation of the first embodiment of the cleaning means 100 to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 5, the cleaning means 100 mounted on the carriage 101 includes a first cleaning member 102 that is in rolling contact with the surface of the platen 29, and the platen 2.
Second cleaning member 10 that rubs against the surface of
5 and. The first cleaning member 102 is
It has a roller shape and is rotatably supported (mounted) about a vertical shaft 104 provided on the first pressing leaf spring 103.
The second cleaning member 105 has a sheet shape and is fixed to the second pressing leaf spring 106.

First cleaning member 102 and second cleaning member 102
Each of the cleaning members 105 is a porous member (for example, a brand name
Rubicell Clean, etc.). The first and second pressing leaf springs 103 and 106 to which the first and second cleaning members 102 and 105 are attached.
Are the support shafts 10 provided on the carriage 101, respectively.
It is attached to an arm 108 that can swing around 7.

Therefore, the solenoid 1 which is the swing drive means.
09 by exciting the arm 108 against the return spring 110 to swing (rotate) from the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line to the position indicated by the solid line. The platen surface (which supports the recording material 1) is pressed into contact therewith. On the other hand, the solenoid 10
When the magnet 9 is demagnetized, the return spring 110 causes the arm 108
Is rotated in the return direction (direction from the solid line position to the alternate long and two short dashes position) until it contacts a part of the carriage 101, and the cleaning members 102 and 105 are separated from the surface of the platen 29.

The cleaning of the platen 29 by the cleaning means 100 is performed when the recording material 1 does not exist on the platen 29 (for example, between the recording material 1 before and after), as shown in FIG. When the recording of the predetermined number of recording materials 1 is completed, the recording head 21 and the ink tank 13 are
And the cleaning means 100 is at the right end in FIG. The process of returning these to the home position of the recording head 21, that is, the carriages 23, 2
4, the cleaning members 102, 105 are moved to the platen 2 when the cleaning members 102, 105 move toward the left end in FIG.
While contacting the surface of 9 and rolling and rubbing,
The ink adhering to the platen 29 is absorbed and removed and wiped off. The moving direction of the carriage 101 when cleaning the platen 29 is indicated by an arrow F in FIG.

First cleaning member 102 and second cleaning member 102
The cleaning unit 100 including the cleaning member 105 is preferably arranged upstream of the recording unit (recording head) 21 in the main scanning direction for recording as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The reason is that when ink is ejected for recording, an ink mist is generated, and at that time, minute droplets that do not contribute to the image are also ejected at the same time, and when the main droplet for recording lands on the recording material 1, a part of Since the ink mist is generated by the minute droplets generated by the splashing, by arranging the cleaning unit 100 on the upstream side of the recording head 21, it is possible to prevent the cleaning unit 100 from being directly contaminated with the ink mist.

When the cleaning means 100 is arranged on the downstream side of the recording head 21, it is arranged at a position distant from the recording head or during the recording operation (the cleaning members 102 and 105 are separated from each other). The cleaning members 102 and 105 may be covered with a cover or the like so as not to be exposed. Note that the position away from the recording head, for example, the ejection frequency at a recording density 400dpi there is 2.5KH _Z (main scanning speed 158.75mm / se
In the case of c), the cleaning means 100 is arranged at a position 50 mm or more, preferably 1001 mm or more away from the nearest recording head.

Next, the first and second cleaning members 102 and 105 which are brought into rolling contact with and rubbed against the platen surface 29.
Function, and then the function and effect of the first embodiment will be described. In the inkjet recording device,
Jam or skew of recording material 1, or carriage 101
If the step out occurs, the platen may be directly recorded on the platen 29 to contaminate the platen with a large amount of ink. Platen 29 contaminated with such ink
Need to be cleaned by the cleaning members 102 and 105.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a case where the platen 29 contaminated with ink is cleaned only by the roller-shaped first cleaning member 102 which is in rolling contact, and FIG. 7 is rubbed against the platen 29 contaminated with ink. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a case where only the sheet-shaped second cleaning member 105 is used for cleaning, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the first cleaning member 102 and 105 for cleaning the platen 29 contaminated with ink. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of an Example.

When cleaning with the roller-shaped first cleaning member 102 which is in rolling contact, as shown in FIG. 6, the first pressing member spring 103 presses the platen surface 29, and the first cleaning member 102 is removed. The ink I is absorbed while rolling along the platen surface 29. In that case, if the ink amount on the platen 29 is large, most of the ink is absorbed and removed, but not completely removed, and a part of the ink remains, as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the case of cleaning with the sheet-like second cleaning member 105 that rubs, as shown in FIG.
The second pressing spring 106 presses the platen surface 29, and the second cleaning member 105 moves the platen surface 29.
The ink I is absorbed while rubbing along. In that case, if the ink amount on the platen 29 is large, it cannot be completely absorbed and wiped off, and as shown in FIG. I will end up.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 5, the first and second cleaning members 1
Since 02 and 105 are provided, as shown in FIG.
The roller-shaped first cleaning member 102 that is in rolling contact absorbs the ink I, and the slightly remaining ink is completely wiped off by the rubbing sheet-shaped second cleaning member 105, so that the ink adheres to the platen surface 29. The ink can be completely cleaned and removed.

The timing for operating the cleaning means 100 is such that the recording material 1 on the roll-shaped recording material 1 shown in FIG. Control is performed so that the operation is performed by selecting a time when the recording material does not exist. By such a cleaning operation, it is possible to clean and remove the ink mist generated during the normal recording operation and adhering to the platen 29. Further, when a problem such as a jam (paper jam) occurs, if the cleaning unit 100 is operated to clean the platen that may be contaminated with ink after the jam recovery, the ink adheres to the platen surface 29. It is possible to completely eliminate the conventional inconvenience.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the construction and operation of the second embodiment of the cleaning means 100 to which the present invention is applied. For example, when the main component of the ink is volatile alcohol or the like, the ink adhering to the platen surface 29 begins to dry quickly and cannot be completely removed only by the porous member having excellent absorption performance. Is gradually fixed on the platen 29. Therefore, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a sheet-like second cleaning member 105 to be rubbed is rubbed.
A grinding member 111 such as sandpaper is provided on a part of the above. The other structure of the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment of FIG. 5, corresponding portions are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

According to the second embodiment of FIG. 9, when the first cleaning member 102 and the second cleaning member 105 with the grinding member 111 are brought into pressure contact with the platen surface 29 and the carriage 101 is moved in the arrow F direction. First, the roller-shaped first cleaning member 102 that is in rolling contact absorbs the ink I adhering to the platen 29, and then the grinding member 111.
Scrap off the ink that has adhered or stuck. Usually, the collection ability of the grinding member 111 itself can hardly be expected. Then, further, the foreign matter on the platen 29 is wiped and removed by the sheet-shaped second cleaning member 105 which is rubbed. In this way, the platen surface 29 can be completely cleaned. When sandpaper is used as the grinding member 111, it is suitable that the mesh has a mesh of about 400 to 1000 mesh.

Next, the cleaning means 1 to which the present invention is applied
A third example of No. 00 will be described. When the ink on the platen 29 is fixed, if it is re-dissolved, it can be absorbed and wiped off by the cleaning means of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the ink solvent is impregnated into at least one of the first and second cleaning members 102 and 105 as means for cleaning and removing the fixed ink on the platen 29 in the first embodiment. There is. Then, these cleaning members 102 and 105 are pressed against the platen surface 29 so as to be rotatively contacted and rubbed, whereby the fixed ink is redissolved and absorbed and removed by wiping.

The present embodiment (third embodiment) is different from the above-mentioned first embodiment only in the above points, and has substantially the same configuration in other parts. Further, as a modification of the present embodiment, clear and colorless clear ink is used as an ink solvent, a recording head dedicated to the clear ink is mounted, and when the cleaning unit 100 operates, the clear ink is directly applied from the recording head to the platen surface. The fixed ink is supplied (discharged) to re-dissolve the fixed ink, and thereafter, the first and second cleaning members 102 and 105 are pressed against the platen surface 29 to make rolling contact and rubbing to absorb the re-dissolved ink. It may be configured to be removed and wiped away.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a recording portion of an ink jet recording apparatus having a fourth embodiment of the cleaning means to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, as the cleaning means 100, a roller-shaped cleaning member 102 that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) is used, and when the carriage 101 is moved to perform the cleaning operation,
The cleaning member 102 is rotated and pressed against the platen surface 29 to clean the platen surface. In that case, the roller-shaped cleaning member 102
Are rotationally driven at a peripheral speed different from the moving speed of the carriage 101, and the platen surface 29 is cleaned with a desired peripheral speed difference. The other structure of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 10 is shown in FIG.
3 is substantially the same as that of each of the above-described embodiments shown in FIG. 3, corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Also in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 10, as the material of the cleaning member 102, a porous member whose product name is BELEATER, RUBYCEL CLEAN, etc. can be used as described above. According to the fourth embodiment having the above-described structure, since the roll-shaped cleaning member 102 is pressed against the platen surface 29 with a peripheral speed difference, more outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member 102 abuts on the platen surface. While removing the ink, the ink on the platen surface can be absorbed and removed and wiped off.
The platen surface 29 can be effectively cleaned with only two.

FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a fifth embodiment of a cleaning means to which the present invention is applied. The fifth embodiment is a platen roller 121 including rollers having a polygonal cross section as well as a circular cross section.
In the recording apparatus using, the cleaning unit 100 is arranged at a position substantially opposite to the recording position. In FIG. 11, the recording material 1 is guided by a pair of guides 120, 120 by a conveying unit (not shown), and is introduced to the recording position 122 on the platen roller 121. The recording head 123 is mounted on the carriage 126 together with the ink cartridge 124. This carriage 126
Are guided and supported so as to be capable of reciprocating along main scanning rails 125, 125 arranged parallel to the platen roller 121. At the time of recording, ink is ejected from the recording head 123 to record on the recording material 1 while moving the carriage 126 in the depth direction in the drawing.

In FIG. 11, an ink solvent supply section 130 and a wiping section 134 which constitute the cleaning means 100 are arranged on the side opposite to the recording position of the platen roller 121. The ink solvent supply unit 130 includes a tank 132 that stores a colorless and transparent clear ink 131 and a felt 133 that guides the clear ink 131 to the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 121. The clear ink 131
Is for dissolving the ink adhered to the platen roller 121 and thickened or fixed, and the clear ink 13
As 1, there may be used, for example, an ink liquid before addition of a dye or the like for color development.

The wiping portion 134 is the platen roller 1.
21 has a structure in which a roller-shaped ink absorber 136 is attached (axially supported) to a shaft 135 arranged in parallel with the shaft 21, and the ink absorber (roller) 136 contacts the platen roller 121 and rotates in the arrow direction. . According to the configuration of FIG. 11 (fifth embodiment) described above, the ink (thickened or fixed ink) attached to the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 121 is redissolved by the clear ink supplied from the ink solvent supply unit 130, This liquid ink is absorbed and removed by the ink absorber 136 of the wiping portion 134. In this way, the platen roller 121 has a completely cleaned outer peripheral surface, and the recording material 1
Will be supported.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a sixth embodiment of the cleaning means 100 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the present embodiment, in the recording unit of FIGS. 2 and 3, a wiping member 30 for wiping and cleaning the ejection port surface 51 of the recording head 21 is provided within the moving range of the recording head 21 on the platen 29. In the cleaning means 100 of FIG. 12, a third cleaning member 112 for cleaning the wiping member 30 is provided at the other end of the arm 108 supporting the first and second cleaning members 102 and 105. . This third
The cleaning member 112 is formed of a roll-shaped ink absorber, and is rotatably supported by a shaft 113.

Although this embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in the above points, it has substantially the same configuration in the other portions, and the corresponding portions are designated by the same reference numerals and their detailed description will be given. Is omitted. In the sixth embodiment of FIG. 12, during the recording operation by the recording head (recording means) 21, as shown, the first and second cleaning members 102 and 105 supported by the arm 108 are separated from the platen surface 29. The third cleaning member 112, which is separated from the arm 108 and is supported by the other end of the arm 108, is configured to be in a position close to the platen surface 29 with a predetermined gap.

According to this embodiment (sixth embodiment), when the carriage 108 is moved in the direction of arrow F with the arm 108 in the position shown in FIG. When the platen surface that supports the recording material 1 (recording material transport area) is passed and further moved, the third cleaning member 112 contacts the wiping member (member that cleans the ejection port surface 51) 30, and this contact Alternatively, the carriage 101 is stopped when passing. Therefore, the cleaning means 10 of this embodiment
According to 0, the first and second cleaning members 10
The ink adhering to the platen surface 29 can be cleaned by 2, 105, and at the same time, the ink adhering to the wiping member 30 can be absorbed and removed by the third cleaning member 112.

The wiping member 30 has a recording means 21.
Ink or dust (paper dust, etc.) scraped off from the discharge port surface 51 of the above easily adheres, and if these thicken or adhere, the thickened ink or the like will be reversed when cleaning the discharge port surface 51 again. In some cases, the ink may be transferred to the ejection port surface side, which may cause ink ejection failure or print misalignment. However, according to the sixth embodiment, the thickening ink, dust, and the like on the wiping member 30 can be cleaned and removed by the third cleaning member 112, so that such a problem can be completely eliminated.

Further, when the cleaning means 100 passes the wiping member 30, the solenoid 109 is operated to operate the first or second cleaning member 102 or 10.
Although the wiping member 30 may be cleaned in step 5, since a relatively large amount of ink adheres to the wiping member 30, if the first cleaning member 102 or the second cleaning member 105 is used for the cleaning, On the contrary, the collected foreign matter may be transferred to the platen surface 29 side. Therefore, as in the embodiment of FIG. 12, it is more preferable to provide the third cleaning member 112 that comes into contact with and wipes only the wiping member 30.

According to the embodiment described above, the recording material 1
Since the cleaning means 100 for cleaning the surface of the platen 29 that supports the recording medium is provided, when recording a large size paper after recording a small size paper, or having a recording material or an opening having a gap between fibers. Even when recording on the processed paper, it becomes possible to prevent the ink from adhering to the platen 29 and prevent the back stain of the recording material 1. In addition, skewing or wrinkling of the recording material 1 due to ink (particularly thickening or sticking ink) adhering to the platen 29,
Alternatively, by eliminating problems such as damage to the recording head 21 caused by these, and further by cleaning the wiping member for cleaning the ejection port surface 51 of the recording head 21, image defects such as defective ink ejection are caused. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of stably maintaining the recording quality by preventing the occurrence is provided.

In each of the above embodiments, the case of the serial type in which the recording head 21 and the cleaning means 100 are reciprocally moved by using the carriage that moves along the recording material 1 has been described as an example. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be similarly applied regardless of the type of scanning method, such as a line type inkjet recording apparatus using a line recording unit having a length corresponding to the whole or a part of the width direction recording area of the recording material. The same effect can be achieved.

The recording means (recording head) in each of the above embodiments is a replaceable cartridge type recording means in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated.
Alternatively, the recording head and the ink tank may be separately provided, and recording means having various structures such as a recording means having a structure in which the recording head and the ink tank are coupled via a coupler and a tube can be used. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the case of a color recording apparatus having a plurality of recording means for recording in different colors has been described as an example, but the present invention includes one recording means (recording head). A recording device such as a recording device or a recording device for gradation recording that uses a plurality of recording devices having the same color but different densities can be similarly applied regardless of the number of recording devices, and can achieve similar operational effects. .

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among others, thermal energy is used. In this way, an excellent effect is brought about in an ink jet recording apparatus of the type that ejects ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , Generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. So effective.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the 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 respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a structure based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a structure in which the discharge section is associated with the discharge section. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, as described above, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. . As such a recording head,
Either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the device main body,
Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the device body and supply ink from the device body when mounted on the device body, or an ink tank is integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means to the recording head provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus in the present invention because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, in addition to the above-mentioned capping means, cleaning means, and suction recovery means for the recording head, a pressure-type recovery means, an electrothermal converter, or a heating other than this. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary heating means using an element or a combination thereof and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording.

As described above, regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of recording heads having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to the ink. 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 may be either the recording head is integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of color colors or full colors by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink that has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is described in JP-A-54-
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a mode in which it is held as a liquid or a solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0065]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means onto the recording material, the platen for supporting the recording material is provided. Since it is configured to have a cleaning means for cleaning the surface, even when recording a large size paper after recording a small size paper, or when using a recording material having a gap between fibers or a processed paper having an opening , It is possible to prevent ink from adhering to the platen to prevent the back surface of the recording material from being soiled, and also to prevent the ink from adhering to the platen (particularly, thickening or sticking ink) on the recording material, such as skewing, wrinkling, An ink jet recording apparatus capable of stably maintaining recording quality by solving problems such as damage to a recording head is provided.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 6, in addition to the above-mentioned structure, the cleaning means includes a second cleaning member which slides against the first cleaning member which is in rolling contact with the surface of the platen. A configuration having the above configuration, a configuration in which the cleaning unit is provided with a grinding member for grinding and removing the fixed ink on the platen, a configuration in which the cleaning unit is provided with a solvent supply unit for supplying a solvent for dissolving the fixed ink on the platen, Since the cleaning means operates at a predetermined time interval, and further, the cleaning means has a cleaning member for cleaning the wiping member for cleaning the recording means, it is more efficient and small size paper can be obtained. When recording on large size paper after recording, or with recording material or gap that has a gap between fibers Even when using a coated paper, by eliminating the ink adhering on the platen can be prevented backside contamination of the recording material, also, the ink adheres to the platen (in particular,
(EN) An ink jet recording apparatus capable of maintaining stable recording quality by eliminating problems such as skewing of the recording material, wrinkles, and damage to the recording head due to thickening or sticking ink).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a state at the time of recording operation of a main part configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view showing the same portion as in FIG. 2 during a cleaning operation for cleaning the platen.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view schematically showing a part of an ink ejection portion of the recording unit in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the cleaning means of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which the platen surface is cleaned only by the first cleaning member in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a state in which the platen surface is cleaned only by the second cleaning member in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a state in which the platen surface is cleaned by the cleaning means of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the cleaning means of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view showing a main configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus including a cleaning unit according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of an inkjet recording apparatus including a cleaning unit according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a sixth embodiment of the cleaning means of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording material 5 Sub-scanning roller 6 Pulling roller 9 Ejecting roller 13 Ink tank 14 Carriage motor of recording means 18 Carriage motor of ink tank 20 Recording unit 21 Recording means (recording head) 23 Carriage of ink tank 24 Carriage of recording means 29 Platen (Platen surface) 30 Wiping member 31 Ink absorber for idle discharge 32 Recorded image 51 Discharge port surface 52 Discharge port 53 Common liquid chamber 54 Liquid path 55 Electrothermal converter 100 Cleaning means 101 Carriage 102 Cleaning member 103 rolling contact First pressing leaf spring 104 Vertical shaft 105 Sliding cleaning member 106 Second pressing leaf spring 107 Support shaft 108 Swing arm 109 Swing driving means (solenoid) 110 Return spring 111 Grinding member 112 Third cleaning Member 121 platen roller 122 recording position 123 wipe the recording head 125 main scanning rail 126 carriage 130 ink solvent supply unit 131 clear ink 132 tank 133 felt 134 136 roller-shaped ink absorber I adherent ink

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, characterized by comprising a cleaning means for cleaning a surface of a platen supporting the recording material. apparatus. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit has a second cleaning member that slides against a first cleaning member that is in rolling contact with the surface of the platen. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning means is provided with a grinding member for grinding and removing the fixed ink on the platen. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning means is provided with a solvent supply means for supplying a solvent for dissolving the fixed ink on the platen. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit operates at a predetermined time interval. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit has a cleaning member for cleaning a wiping member for cleaning the recording unit. 7. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an inkjet recording means including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. .