JPH08192554A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent that a plurality of flexible cables are abnormally deformed when a recording head runs. CONSTITUTION: A recording head cartridge loaded with a recording head not shown in a drawing runs along a guide rail reciprocally while elastically deforms a plurality of flexible cables 31, 32 into a loop shape. The outside flexible cable 31 has a high friction contact part preventing the slip (slide) between the cable 31 and a guide wall 23 and the inside flexible cable 32 has a high friction contact part 32a preventing the slip between both cables. Therefore, both flexible cables 31, 32 have no fear of generating abnormal deformation by slipping.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called serial type recording apparatus in which a recording head runs in the width direction of recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called serial type recording apparatus for recording (printing) by causing a recording head to travel in the width direction of a recording sheet, the traveling recording head is supplied with an electric signal to a droplet discharge section of the recording head. A flexible cable is used to connect to a supply source or the like.

The flexible cable follows the reciprocating movement of the recording head while elastically deforming. When the recording head travels toward the fixed end of the flexible cable, the flexible cable bends in a loop shape, and the recording head is flexible. When moving away from the fixed end of the recording head, the loop-shaped flexible cable is stretched flat along the guide wall arranged parallel to the traveling path of the recording head.

In recent years, the recording apparatus has been downsized, and it is desired to save the space for accommodating the flexible cable as much as possible. However, if the accommodating space for the flexible cable is made small, the flexible cable formed when the recording head moves. Since the radius of curvature of the loop becomes small, the elastically deformed portion returns slowly to its original shape, which makes it difficult for the flexible cable to abnormally deform and form a normal loop.

In particular, when the recording head changes its moving direction at the end of its running path, that is, when the recording head moves while stretching the loop of the flexible cable, it moves while curving into a loop shape. A slip occurs with the guide wall, and as a result,
The flexible cable may be deformed abnormally and hinder the running of the recording head.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process in which the flexible cable deforms abnormally as described above. As shown in FIG. 7A, the carriage 112 for mounting a recording head (not shown) fixes the flexible cable 131 by the rotation of the lead screw 121. When moving away from the end 131a, the loop of the flexible cable 131 is gradually extended along the guide wall 123, and when the carriage 112 changes its traveling direction at the end of the traveling path as shown in FIG. The radius of curvature of the loop is minimal.

When the accommodation space of the flexible cable 131 is small, the radius of curvature of the loop formed when the carriage 112 travels is generally small. Therefore, when the carriage 112 reaches the end of the traveling path, the flexible cable 131 is not moved. The elastic deformation is accompanied by a slight creep deformation, and even if the carriage 112 starts traveling in the opposite direction, the flexible cable 131 cannot recover the original shape, and as shown in (c), the flexible cable 131 cannot be recovered. It slips and deforms abnormally, and finally buckles as shown in (d).

In order to prevent such buckling of the flexible cable, conventionally, it is common to prevent the sliding of the flexible cable and the guide wall by increasing the friction coefficient of the surface of the guide wall with which the flexible cable contacts. there were. If the friction coefficient of the surface of the guide wall is high, as shown in FIG. 8A, the force F ₁ pulling the loop of the flexible cable 131 when the carriage 112 changes the traveling direction causes the flexible cable 131 and the guide wall 123 to move. The frictional force F ₂ between them becomes larger. As a result, slippage of the flexible cable 131 is avoided, and a normal loop is formed as shown in FIG.

[0009]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, it is not possible to prevent the inner flexible cable from being abnormally deformed when two flexible cables are stacked and used.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the carriage 212 changes its traveling direction at the end of its traveling path, the outer flexible cable 231 is guided by the guide wall 223.
9 is in contact with the high-friction surface 224 of FIG. 9 and is prevented from slipping to form a normal loop, but the inner flexible cable 232 is abnormally deformed with respect to the outer flexible cable 231 because slipping cannot be avoided, and Buckling as shown in b).

Recently, the amount of electric signals supplied to the liquid droplet ejecting section tends to increase as the recording head becomes full-colored and has higher definition. Further, a flexible cable is used to supply ink (recording liquid) to the liquid droplet ejecting section. ) Has been developed, and in such a case, a plurality of flexible cables must be stacked and used in order to avoid an increase in size of the device. That is, there is a tendency that the number of cases in which a plurality of flexible cables are stacked and used is significantly increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and even if a plurality of flexible cables are overlapped and used, they may be deformed abnormally and hinder the running of the recording head or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device that does not have the

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a predetermined conveying path and a recording means for traveling across the conveying path. And a plurality of flexible cables each of which has one end fixed to the recording means and overlaps with each other as the vehicle travels and is deformable along the guide means. Among the plurality of flexible cables, the flexible cables that contact the guide means. And the guide means have contact portions having high friction with each other, and among the plurality of flexible cables, those which contact each other have contact portions having high friction with each other.

The friction coefficient of each contact portion is preferably 0.35 or more.

Further, a conveying means for conveying the recording medium along a predetermined conveying path, a recording means for traveling across the conveying path, and one end of each of the recording means are fixed to the recording means and overlap each other as the traveling guides. Equipped with a plurality of flexible cables that are deformable along the means,
Of the plurality of flexible cables, at least one disposed on the side opposite to the side in contact with the guide means,
It may be plastically deformed in the longitudinal direction or in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction.

Further, a conveying means for conveying the recording medium along a predetermined conveying path, a recording means for traveling across the conveying path, and one end of each of the recording means are fixed to the recording means and overlap each other as the traveling guides. Equipped with a plurality of flexible cables that are deformable along the means,
Of the plurality of flexible cables, at least one disposed on the side opposite to the side in contact with the guide means,
It may be made of a material having high rigidity.

[0017]

The flexible cables have one end fixed to the recording means and the other end fixed to the guide means or the like. The flexible cables are arranged in a state of being overlapped with each other, and as the recording means reciprocates, the steps of elastically deforming into a loop along the guide means and then recovering the original flat shape are repeated.

Since the guide means and the flexible cable in contact therewith have the contact portions having high friction with each other, the flexible cable in contact with the guide means can be prevented from slipping and its abnormal deformation can be avoided.

Further, since the contact portions of the flexible cables contacting each other have high friction with each other, the remaining flexible cables are deformed following the flexible cables contacting the guide means. Therefore, there is no possibility that these may be deformed abnormally.

As a result, abnormal deformation of all flexible cables can be prevented.

Conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a predetermined conveying path, recording means for traveling across the conveying path, and one end fixed to the recording means, and overlapping with each other as the recording means travels to serve as guiding means. A plurality of flexible cables that are freely deformable along the direction, and at least one of the plurality of flexible cables disposed on the side opposite to the side in contact with the guide means has a longitudinal direction or a direction crossing the longitudinal direction. If it is a recording device characterized by being plastically deformed, the flexible cable that has been plastically deformed has the property of quickly recovering its original shape when elastically deformed, and the remaining flexible cables are also
Located between the guide means and the plastically deformed flexible cable, the original shape is quickly restored following the flexible cable.

As a result, abnormal deformation of all flexible cables can be prevented.

Further, a conveying means for conveying the recording medium along a predetermined conveying path and a recording means for traveling across the conveying path, and one end thereof fixed to the recording means and being overlapped with each other as the traveling guides. Equipped with a plurality of flexible cables that are deformable along the means,
Of the plurality of flexible cables, at least one disposed on the side opposite to the side in contact with the guide means,
If the recording device is characterized by being made of a highly rigid material, the flexible cable made of a highly rigid material will quickly recover its original shape when elastically deformed, and the remaining flexible cable Also, between the guide means and the flexible cable having high rigidity, the original shape of the flexible cable is quickly restored by following this.

As a result, abnormal deformation of all flexible cables can be prevented.

[0025]

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

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic perspective view showing the main part of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. A recording head cartridge 10 having a recording head, which is a recording means (not shown), and an ink tank 11 mounted on a carriage 12 is The lead screw 21 is rotated to reciprocate along the guide rail 22 to eject ink (recording liquid) from the recording head.

The two flexible cables 31 and 32, which supply electric signals and ink to the recording head of the recording head cartridge 10 and the ink tank 11, respectively, have one end serving as the recording head cartridge 10 and the other end serving as guiding means. It is fixed to the guide wall 23 and follows the reciprocating movement of the recording head cartridge 10 while being elastically deformed in a state where the two flexible cables 31 and 32 overlap each other.

That is, when the recording head cartridge 10 travels to the left in the figure as shown in FIG. 1, the flexible cables 31 and 32 are elastically deformed in a loop shape while overlapping each other, and conversely, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when traveling to the right in the figure, the flexible cables 31 and 32 curved in a loop shape return to the original flat plate shape along the guide surface 23a of the guide wall 23 while overlapping each other, and the recording head cartridge When 10 reaches the right end in the drawing, as shown in FIG.
Forms the loop with the smallest radius of curvature.

At least an end portion on the right side of the guide surface 23a of the guide wall 23 is provided with a friction tape 24 having a high friction coefficient surface coated with, for example, a rubber type polymer compound. In addition, each flexible cable 31, 3
2 is a surface 31a located outside of each loop,
At least the right half of 31b of the figure has a high friction surface similar to that of the guide wall 23, and the coefficient of friction between the outer flexible cable 31 and the guide wall 23 and both flexible cables 31,
The friction coefficient between 32 is set to 0.35 or more.

Thus, the flexible cable 31 and the guide wall 2 on the outer side are provided at least in the vicinity of the portion where the radius of curvature of the loop of the flexible cables 31 and 32 is minimum.
The contact portions of 3 have high friction with each other, and the outer flexible cable 31 and the inner flexible cable 32
Since the contact portions of the flexible cables 31 and 32 also have high friction with each other, even if it is delayed in recovering the original shape of the end portions of the flexible cables 31 and 32 when the recording head cartridge 10 starts traveling in the left direction in the drawing. The flexible cable 31 located outside the loop is prevented from slipping on the guide wall 23 due to the frictional force between the flexible cable 31 and the guide wall 23, and the flexible cable 32 located inside the loop is also the outer flexible cable 31. The frictional force between and avoids slippage on the flexible cable 31.

As a result, both flexible cables 31,
A normal loop is formed again as the recording head cartridge 10 runs without abnormal deformation of 32. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, buckling of the flexible cable does not hinder the travel of the recording head cartridge.

Each of the flexible cables 31 and 32 has, for example, a strip-shaped laminated body in which a copper foil for passing an electric current is sandwiched between polyimide and polyethylene films having excellent bending resistance, and as described above, the outside of the loop. Surface 3 located on
It is desirable that at least terminal portions of 1a and 32a are coated with a rubber-based polymer compound.

Instead of applying a rubber-type polymer compound, a fine spherical glue used for memo paper or the like that can be peeled off and reattached is applied to the surfaces 31a and 32a of the flexible cables 31 and 32, respectively. Alternatively, a large number of minute protrusions may be formed by embossing on both surfaces of each of the flexible cables 31 and 32.

In this embodiment, both the guide surface of the guide wall and the surface of the outer flexible cable contacting the guide wall are high friction surfaces, but the friction coefficient between them is 0. If it is 35 or more, only one of the guide wall and the outer flexible cable may have a high friction surface.
Further, depending on the situation, even if the coefficient of friction is 0.35 or less, slippage of both flexible cables may be sufficiently avoided.

Further, instead of providing the high-friction surface on the inner flexible cable, the surface on the side of the outer flexible cable that contacts the inner flexible cable may be a high-friction surface, or both contact surfaces of both flexible cables may be formed. Both can have a high friction surface.

Next, the entire recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, the recording head cartridge 10 having the recording head (not shown) and the ink tank 11 mounted thereon has the projecting portion 10a screwed into the lead screw 21, and both ends of the lead screw 21 are supported by the chassis 41. .

The lead screw 21 is a gear 4 at the left end in the figure.
The recording head cartridge 10 is reciprocally moved along the guide rail 22 by being driven by a drive unit composed of the motors 2, 43 and the motor 44, and the motor 44 is driven in the forward and reverse directions.

The flexible cables 31 and 32 are repeatedly looped and then returned to the original flat plate shape as the recording head cartridge 10 travels.

The recording head is the recording head cartridge 10.
By ejecting ink in accordance with the recording signal in synchronization with the traveling of the recording medium, one line is recorded on the recording paper W which is the recording medium. That is, this recording head generates a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid flow path and an energy acting portion provided in a part of the liquid flow passage, and a droplet forming energy to act on the liquid in the acting portion. Equipped with energy generation means.

As an energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, electromagnetic waves such as laser are irradiated to generate heat, and droplets are ejected by the effect of the heat generation. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, a recording method using an energy generating means for heating a liquid and discharging the liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistance.

Among them, in the recording head used in the ink jet recording method in which the liquid is ejected by thermal energy, the liquid ejection ports for ejecting the recording liquid to form the ejection liquid droplets are arranged at a high density. Therefore, it is possible to record with high resolution. In particular, the recording head using the electrothermal converter as the energy generating means,
It can be easily made compact, and the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, which have been significantly improved in technology and reliability in the recent semiconductor field, can be fully utilized, high-density mounting is easy, and manufacturing cost is also high. It is advantageous because it is cheap.

When one line of recording is performed by the traveling of the recording head cartridge 10, the recording paper W is conveyed by one line by the conveying means to perform the next line recording. The conveyance of the recording paper W is the conveying means. A conveying roller 45, a rotating body of a pinch roller 46 that is pressed against the conveying roller 45, and a discharge roller 47
And the rotating body of the spur 48 that abuts on it.

To explain this concretely, the recording paper W whose recording surface faces the ejection opening surface of the recording head of the recording head cartridge 10 is pressed against the conveying roller 45 by the pinch roller 46, and the conveying roller 45 is made to contact the recording paper W. Feed motor 49
By appropriately rotating by, the paper is conveyed to the recording position as needed. After recording, the spur 48 presses the recording paper W against the discharge roller 47, and the rotation of the discharge roller 47 discharges and conveys the recording paper W to the outside of the apparatus.

The transport roller 45 and the paper discharge roller 47
Is driven by the paper feed motor 49, but the driving force is transmitted by the reduction gear train 50.

A spur 4 that contacts the recording surface side of the recording paper W
The position of the rotating shaft of 8 is fixed, and the contact position of the spur 48 and the recording paper W does not change regardless of the thickness of the recording paper W, whereas the discharge roller that contacts the non-recording surface side of the recording paper W. 47
Is adapted so that the discharge roller 47 is deformed depending on the thickness of the recording paper W and the thickness of the recording paper W is changed.
Specifically, the discharge roller 47 is made of thin rubber, is formed in a conical shape, and is deformed with a restoring force in the radial direction. Therefore, deformation is performed according to the pressure contact force against the spur 48 and the thickness of the recording paper W.

The same effect can be obtained by constructing the discharge roller 47 with a material having a large elastic deformation, such as a porous sponge or a resin or rubber having a very low hardness. Further, the entire discharge roller 47 may be pressed against the spur 48 by a spring or the like. Therefore, the distance between the recording head and the recording paper W can be maintained at a predetermined amount regardless of the thickness of the recording material paper, and stable conveyance can be performed. A paper sensor 51 detects the presence or absence of recording material paper.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic perspective view showing only the flexible cable of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. This is replaced with the flexible cables 31 and 32 having the high friction surface of the first embodiment, and the width thereof is changed. Two deformable flexible cables 61 and 62 that are uniformly plastically deformed in the direction are used.

When the deformable flexible cables 61 and 62 form a loop, the elastically deformed curved portion 61a,
At 62a, the cross-section in the width direction has a flat plate shape, and internal stress for recovering the original plastically deformed state is generated. In this way, the deformable flexible cables 61, 62
Since the internal stress generated in the curved portions 61a and 62a of the disk serves to quickly restore the curved portions 61a and 62a to the original shape, the deformable flexible cables 61 and 62 are abnormal during the running of the recording head cartridge (not shown). There is no danger of deformation.

Deformed flexible cables 61, 62
5 is a flexible cable manufactured in a flat plate shape and deformed in the width direction by known pressure molding, or as shown in FIG.
(A), when the surface layers 60b and 60c are attached to both surfaces of the center layer 60a made of copper foil or the like, a predetermined tension is applied to one of the surface layers 60b and 60c in the width direction. It is advisable to adhere to the central layer 60a by means of, and to remove the tension after adhering and to bend it as shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the deformable flexible cable 61 deformed in an arc shape toward the inside of the loop,
Although 62 is used, it may be deformed in an arc shape toward the outside of the loop.

Further, instead of using the deformed flexible cables 61 and 62 deformed in the width direction, FIG.
, The surface layers 70b, 7 are formed on both sides of the central layer 70a.
It is also possible to use a deformed flexible cable 70 in which a tension is applied to one of them in the longitudinal direction at the time of adhering 0c, and after adhering, 0c is deformed in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) as shown in (b). In this case, the flexible cable is deformed in the direction opposite to the elastic deformation when forming a loop,
Strengthen the ability to recover the original shape.

Further, instead of using the two deformable flexible cables, only the inner flexible cables may be plastically deformed deformable flexible cables as described above. A flat flexible cable is arranged on the outside. In this case, the inner flexible cable quickly recovers its original shape, and the outer flexible cable follows the inner flexible cable to recover its original shape.

Further, instead of using the deformable flexible cable only for the inner flexible cable, only the inner flexible cable has high rigidity and is quick to recover the original shape even if elastically deformed into a loop shape. It may be a cable. A general flexible cable, which is thin and easily deformed, is arranged on the outer side, and is made to follow the flexible cable on the inner side.

As the high-rigidity flexible cable, a general flexible cable may be made thicker or wider, or a general flexible cable may be laminated with a film having a high elastic coefficient. It may be

[0056]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

Even if a plurality of flexible cables are stacked and used, there is no possibility that they will be deformed abnormally and hinder the running of the recording head or the like.

As a result, it is possible to realize a compact recording apparatus suitable for full color and high definition.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic perspective view showing a main part of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating elastic deformation of the flexible cable according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic perspective view showing only a modified flexible cable according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing the modified flexible cable of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the modified flexible cable according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating abnormal deformation of a flexible cable in a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a principle of avoiding abnormal deformation of a flexible cable due to friction with a guide wall.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating abnormal deformation of a flexible cable in another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Recording Head Cartridge 11 Ink Tank 12 Carriage 21 Lead Screw 23 Guide Wall 24 Friction Tape 31,32 Flexible Cable 61,62,70 Deformable Flexible Cable

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means for transporting a recording medium along a predetermined transporting path, a recording means for traveling across the transporting path, and one end of each of which is fixed to the recording means and overlaps with each other as the transporting is performed. A plurality of flexible cables that are deformable along the means, and one of the plurality of flexible cables that comes into contact with the guide means and a contact portion where the guide means has high friction with each other, and A recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of flexible cables, each of which has a contact portion in which mutually contacting portions have high friction. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the friction coefficient of each contact portion is 0.35 or more. 3. A transporting means for transporting a recording medium along a predetermined transporting path, a recording means for traveling across the transporting path, and one end of each of which is fixed to the recording means and overlaps with each other as the transporting is performed. A plurality of flexible cables that are deformable along the means, and at least one of the plurality of flexible cables disposed on the opposite side to the side that comes into contact with the guide means crosses the longitudinal direction or this. A recording device characterized by being plastically deformed in a direction to perform. 4. A transporting means for transporting a recording medium along a predetermined transporting path, a recording means for traveling across the transporting path, and one end of each of which is fixed to the recording means and overlaps with each other as the transporting is performed. A plurality of flexible cables that are deformable along the means, and at least one of the plurality of flexible cables disposed on the side opposite to the side in contact with the guide means is made of a highly rigid material. A recording device characterized by being provided.