JPH08267773A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an ink jet recording device which can protect the surface of a cap member provided for covering an ink j et face of an ink jet head or sucking thereon from dust and the like under the environment of use of the ink jet recording device. CONSTITUTION: A cap 9 for blocking an ink jet face of an ink jet head on the given position in the range of movement of a carriage is provided, and the ink jet face of the ink jet head is blocked on the given position, and also the cap 9 is covered by a cap cover 34 in the state of not blocking the ink jet face of the ink jet head.

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 having a recording head which ejects ink to form an image on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recording device having a function of a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc., or a recording device used as an output device of a composite type electronic device or workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., based on image data. An image is recorded on a recording medium such as recording paper or plastic. Such a recording device can be classified into, for example, an inkjet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, etc., depending on the recording system.

Now, the conveying direction of the recording medium (sub-scanning direction)
In a serial type printing apparatus that prints by scanning the print head in a direction intersecting with (the main scanning direction), an image is printed by the print head mounted on the carriage, and when printing for one line is completed, the printing width A predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance) according to the above, and then the image of the next row is recorded (main scanning) on the recording medium stopped again, and the image is recorded on the recording medium. are doing.

On the other hand, in a recording apparatus which conveys only the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction and records in line units, after setting the recording medium at a predetermined position and recording one line,
The recording medium is conveyed (pitch feed) by a predetermined amount according to the recording width. After that, the entire recording medium is recorded by repeating the operation of recording the next line.

Among such recording apparatuses, the inkjet recording apparatus ejects ink from a recording head onto a recording medium to perform recording. The recording means can be downsized and a high-definition image can be recorded at high speed. be able to. In addition to the advantages that the running cost is low and the non-impact method causes less noise, it also has the advantage that it is easy to record a color image using multicolor inks. Above all, according to the line type printer device using the line type ink jet head in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the width direction of the recording medium, the printing speed can be further increased.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, when paper dust, dust or the like adheres to the ink ejection surface of the ink jet head, the ink ejection direction is changed, the nozzle is clogged, and the ink is not ejected. Ink ejection failure occurs. In order to prevent such defective ejection of ink, it is necessary to cover the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head with a rubber cap or the like when the recording head is not used.

Further, in order to discharge the ink remaining in the nozzle of the ink-jet head with increased viscosity and the air entering the nozzle, a rubber cap or the like is brought into close contact with the ink ejection surface, and the pump is ejected from the ink ejection surface. There is a method to suck ink. Such a suction process is called a recovery operation, and is necessary for stabilizing the amount of ink ejected from the inkjet head and obtaining a good image.

[0008]

However, when the cap provided for covering the ink ejection surface of the ink jet head or performing the suction process does not perform the recovery operation, that is, during the printing operation by the ink jet head, the cap is removed. Is open. Therefore, when the ink jet recording apparatus is used in an environment where there is a lot of dust, dust or the like may adhere to the surface of the cap. This cap has ribs formed on its surface in order to improve the adhesion to the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head. Therefore, if dust or the like adheres across the ribs, there is a problem in that the adhesion between the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head and the cap deteriorates, and the original function of the cap cannot be exhibited. That is, even though the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head is covered with a cap, the adhesion is poor, so that the ink ejection port is clogged due to the entry of dust or the like and the ink drying. However, there is a problem that ink suction is incomplete.

On the other hand, an ink jet recording apparatus which conveys only a recording medium in the sub-scanning direction and prints in line units,
That is, in a line type ink jet recording apparatus using a line type ink jet head in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the width direction of a recording medium, a movable type ink jet head is used to suck ink from the ink ejection surface of the line type ink jet head. The cap is provided, and the cap is moved with respect to the fixed inkjet head,
A configuration has been proposed in which the ink ejection surface of an inkjet head is brought into close contact with the ink ejection surface and ink is sucked from the ink ejection surface. In this case, the cap moves away from the inkjet head and moves to another place during the printing operation by the line type inkjet head. A cap cover for the purpose of protecting the cap surface is provided at the moving position, and the cap and the cap cover are engaged at that position. However, in such a configuration, since the cap for sucking ink is movable, the mechanism for moving the cap is large because the pump for sucking ink is connected to the cap. In addition, there is a problem that it takes time to move the cap.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and the surface of the cap member provided for covering the ink ejection surface of the ink jet head or for performing the suction treatment is dusty under the environment in which the ink jet recording apparatus is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device that can be protected from the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing clogging of an ink ejection port and reliably sucking ink to perform a recovery operation of an ink jet head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing defective ink ejection of an ink jet head and stabilizing the amount of ink ejected from the ink jet head to obtain a good image. .

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can quickly perform capping and its releasing operation by a cap cover.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has the following constitution. That is, it is an inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from an inkjet head, the driving means for scanning and driving a carriage equipped with the inkjet head, and the driving means at a predetermined position within a moving range of the carriage. A cap member for closing the ink discharge surface of the inkjet head, capping means for closing the ink discharge surface of the inkjet head at the predetermined position, and a state where the ink discharge surface of the inkjet head is not blocked, And a cap protecting means for covering the cap member with a cap cover.

[0015]

In the above structure, a cap member for closing the ink ejection surface of the ink jet head at a predetermined position within the carriage movement range is provided, and the ink ejection surface of the ink jet head is closed at the predetermined position.
The cap cover operates to cover the cap member while the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head is not blocked.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment.

The recording head 1 records an image on the recording medium 5 by ejecting ink from the ejection port of the ink ejection surface 1a. The recording head 1 is mounted on a carriage 2, and the carriage 2 is supported by a guide shaft 3 that guides the moving direction and reciprocates while facing the recording medium 5. The recording medium 5 is pressed against the feed roller 4 by the pinch roller 6, and the feed roller 4 is rotated to be conveyed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the carriage 2. Further, the recording medium 5 on which the image has been formed is discharged to the outside of the recording apparatus by the rotation of the discharge roller 7.

Foreign matter such as paper dust and excess ink attached to the ink ejection surface 1a of the recording head 1 is wiped off by a wiper 8 provided outside the image forming area of the recording medium 5. Further, by covering the ink ejection surface 1a, a cap 9 is provided for preventing clogging of the ejection port and for sucking ink from the ejection port from the outside of the recording head 1. Therefore, the cap 9 is provided. Is a pump (not shown)
Is connected.

Reference numeral 11 is a head lever for fixing the inkjet head 1 to the carriage 2, and reference numeral 12 is a flexible substrate, by which a recording data signal can be sent from the control unit of the printer device to the inkjet head 1 mounted on the carriage 2. it can. A rail 13 is provided in parallel with the guide shaft 3 and holds the posture of the carriage 2 that is rotatable about the shaft 3. 10 is a carriage motor for scanning the carriage 2 along the guide shaft 3, and 14 is a timing belt for transmitting the driving force of the carriage motor 10 to the carriage 2.

The recording head 1 of this embodiment is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy and is provided with an electrothermal converter 55 (see FIG. 2) for generating heat energy. . Further, the recording head 1 performs recording by ejecting ink from the ejection port by utilizing the pressure change caused by the growth and contraction of the bubble due to the film boiling of the ink generated by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. It is a thing.

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

In FIG. 2, a plurality of discharge ports 5 are formed at a predetermined pitch on a discharge port forming surface 51 which faces a recording medium with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm).
2 is formed. Furthermore, the common liquid chamber 53 and each discharge port 5
An electrothermal converter (heat-generating resistor, etc.) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink is arranged along the wall surface of each liquid path 54 communicating with 2. In the present embodiment, the recording head 15 is mounted and mounted on the carriage 6 in such a positional relationship that the ejection ports 52 are arranged in a direction intersecting the scanning direction of the carriage 6. Thus, based on the image signal or the ejection signal, the electrothermal converter 55 corresponding to the signal is driven (energized) to cause film boiling of the ink in the liquid path 54, and the ejection port 52 is caused by the pressure generated at that time. The ink is ejected from.

In each of the embodiments described below, an ink jet printer in which one recording head 1 (for single color recording or color recording capable of ejecting ink of plural colors by one) is mounted on the carriage 2 is used. As an example,
Of course, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention uses an inkjet printer for color recording that uses a plurality of recording heads that respectively record with inks of different colors, or a plurality of recording heads that record with inks of the same color but different densities. It can be similarly applied to various types of printer devices regardless of the number of recording heads and ink characteristics such as an inkjet printer for gradation recording.
The same action and effect can be achieved.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described below, the recording head 1 will be described as an example of a cartridge type in which the recording head and an ink tank are integrated.
What is the structure of the recording head and the ink tank, such as a structure in which the recording head and the ink tank are separated and directly connected to each other, and a structure in which these are connected by an ink supply tube? Can be applied in the same manner, and the same effect can be achieved.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of the ink jet printer of this embodiment.

In FIG. 3, 101 is a control unit for controlling the entire printer, which is a CPU such as a microprocessor.
120, a ROM 121 that stores various programs and control programs for the CPU 120, a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU 120 and that stores various data, and the like. Reference numeral 124 denotes a timer, which starts clocking according to an instruction from the CPU 120 and notifies the CPU 120 of the elapsed time.

Reference numeral 103 is a head driver, which is a control unit 101.
The heating element 55 of the recording head 1 is energized to drive the recording head 1 according to the output image data. 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a sensor, which is used to detect whether the carriage 2 has moved to a position where the ink ejection surface 1a of the recording head 1 is capped by the cap 9 of the recovery unit 109. Based on the signal from the sensor 104, the control unit 1
01 can detect whether or not the recording head 1 is capped. Reference numeral 106 is a carriage motor for carrying the carriage 2, and 108 is a paper feeding motor for carrying and driving a recording material, such as recording paper. Each of 105 and 107 is a motor driver for driving a corresponding motor. The recovery unit 109 includes the wiper 8, the cap 9 and a pump for suction described above. A recovery motor 110 is used as a drive source for driving a piston or the like, which will be described later, for sucking ink in the recovery unit 109. Reference numeral 112 denotes a cover motor for moving a cap cover 34 (FIGS. 7 to 9) described later. By rotating the motor 112, the surface of the cap 9 of the recovery unit 109 is covered with the cap cover 34, Alternatively, capping by the cap cover 34 can be released. Each of 111 and 113 is a motor driver for driving a corresponding motor according to an instruction from the control unit 101.

Although not shown in the figure, in addition to this, print data is obtained by controlling communication with an ink cartridge, a sensor for detecting the ink remaining amount in the cartridge, a home position sensor, and a host computer. It has an interface and the like for receiving and inputting.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the recovery unit 109 of the present embodiment, and the portions common to the above-mentioned drawings are indicated by the same numbers. FIG. 4 shows a model view of the pump to which the cap 9 is connected, viewed from the direction A in FIG.

The cap 9 is connected to a cylinder 20. The cylinder 20 is equipped with a piston 21 movable in the left-right direction in the drawing, and a piston shaft 22 for moving the piston 21 in the cylinder 20 in the left-right direction. Has been done.
When the pump cam 17 is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown) via a gear train formed by the pump gears 16a, 16b, 16c meshing with each other, the piston 21 and the piston shaft are driven by the cam surface provided on the pump cam 17. 22 moves in the left-right direction in the drawing. Thus, the ink is sucked into the cylinder 20 from the ink discharge port of the recording head 1 through the cap 9 in the capping state, and the sucked ink is discharged by the waste ink pipe 15 connected to the cylinder 20. are doing.
Reference numeral 23 is a cylinder cap for sealing the cylinder 20, and 24 is a suction pipe portion of the cylinder 20, which are connected by fitting and sealing the cap 9 to the cylinder suction pipe portion 24. Reference numeral 15 is a waste ink pipe for discharging the sucked ink to the outside of the cylinder 20. An ink absorber 18 (see FIG. 5) is attached to the upper half of the cap 9 (on the side of the recording head 1), and the ink absorber 18 is provided on the upper portion thereof.
It is fixed to the cap 9 so as not to fall off by 9 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, the cap 9 is attached to the cylinder 20 so that the ink absorber 18 faces the end opening of the cylinder suction pipe portion 24.

When the piston 21 is pushed from the right side to the left side using a cam or the like from the state shown in FIG. 5, the sliding surface 21a of the piston 21 is pushed.
Due to the frictional resistance between the inner surface of the cylinder 20 and the inner surface of the cylinder 20, the seal surface 21b of the piston 21 becomes
It comes into close contact with the second flange portion 22a and moves from right to left together with the piston shaft 22. During this period, the suction tube 2
The negative pressure in the cylinder 20 increases until 4 communicates with the cylinder 20 in the negative pressure state.

When the suction pipe 24 communicates with the cylinder 20 as shown in FIG. 6, the ink of the recording head 1 whose ejection surface 1a is covered with the cap 9 is sucked into the cylinder 20 through the liquid passage. Going away. When the required suction amount is reached in this way, the movement of the piston 21 is once stopped, and the cap 9 and the cylinder 20 are tilted as shown in FIG. 7 to cancel the sealed state and then the movement of the piston 21 is restarted. At this time, since the end portion of the suction tube 14 on the recording head side communicates with the atmosphere, only air is sucked.

In this way, when the piston 21 moves to the left end in FIG. 5, its moving direction is reversed and the state shown in FIG. 5 is restored.
At this time, the sliding surface 21a of the piston 21 and the cylinder 20
Due to the frictional resistance with the inner surface of the piston 21, the retaining portion 22c of the piston shaft 22 starts to move together after hitting the left end surface of the piston 21. As a result, a gap is created between the sealing surface 21b and the flange portion 22a. Then, as the piston 21 moves from the left to the right, the sucked ink causes a gap formed between the seal surface 21b and the flange portion 22a, a groove portion 22b between the flange portion 22a of the piston shaft 22 and the retaining portion 22c. Through and into the opposite side of the cylinder 20. The left and right reciprocating motions of the piston 21 are repeated, and the ink in the cylinder 20 is discharged to the outside from the waste ink pipe 15.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, a method of capping the ink ejection surface of the recording head and a method of capping the cap with the cap cover in the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described. Note that, also in these drawings, the portions common to the above-mentioned drawings are indicated by the same numbers. 7 to 9 are views as viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the cap 9 is capped by the cap cover 34, and FIG. 8 is a cap cover. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the capping of the cap 9 by the cap 34 is released. FIG.
It is a figure which shows the state in which is capped.

In FIG. 7, the cylinder 20 is fixed in the pump base 30 rotatably by a predetermined angle as indicated by the arrow in the figure. 31 is a slide lever,
It slides on the rail on the pump base 30 (not shown) in the left-right direction in FIG. 7, and is always biased to the left by the slide lever spring 33. At this time, the cylinder 20 is biased to the right by the spring 32 and tilted to the left by a predetermined angle as illustrated. Located above the cap 9 is the cap cover 34, which is the most important element in this embodiment. The cap cover 34 covers the surface of the cap 9 as shown in the drawing when not printing, and prevents dust and the like from adhering to the cap 9. This cap cover 34 is for the rod 3
It is held by 5 and can be moved in the left-right direction in the drawing by the rotation of the rod 35 as shown by the arrow in the drawing.

In FIG. 8, the cap cover 34 is moved by the rotation of the rod 35, and the cap cover 34 is moved to the cap 9.
Away from the cap 9, the cap 9 is released from capping by the cap cover 34, that is, by the cap 9.
It shows a state where the capping of the ink ejection surface 1a of the inkjet head 1 is in a standby state. At this time, the cap cover 34 keeps the ink ejection surface 1 of the inkjet head 1 even if the inkjet head 1 moves.
It is retracted to a position where it does not contact a.

When the carriage 2 carrying the ink jet head 1 further moves to the right from the state of FIG. 8, the carriage 2 or the ink jet head 1 itself hits the slide lever 31 and slides rightward together with the slide lever 31. And the slide lever 3
The first pressing member 31a hits the cylinder 20 to rotate the cylinder 20 in the clockwise direction. As a result,
As shown in, the ink discharge surface 1a of the inkjet head 1 is capped by the cap 9.

From the state shown in FIG. 9, when printing is started by the ink jet head 1, the reverse order described above is followed. That is, the carriage 2 moves to the left, and the cap 9 is momentarily opened in the state of FIG. However, following that, the cap cover 34 moves to the right, and as shown in FIG.
Then, the surface of the cap 9 is covered. As a result, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from adhering due to the surface of the cap 9 being exposed during printing.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the recovery process in the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment. The control program for executing this process is stored in the ROM 121.
It is executed under the control of the CPU 120.

First, in step S1, the cover motor 11 is
2 is rotationally driven so that the cap cover 34 covering the cap 9 is removed as shown in FIG. Next, in step S2, the carriage motor 106 is rotationally driven to move the carriage 2 in the right direction in FIG. 1, and in step S3, the carriage 2 is moved in the right direction until the state shown in FIG. 9 is reached. The ink ejection surface 1a of the head 1.
Is capped by the cap 9. This detection is performed based on the detection signal from the sensor 104 described above.

When the capping is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S4, and the recovery motor 110 is rotationally driven to suck the ink. When the recovery process of the recording head 1 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S5, this time the carriage 2 is moved to the left in FIG. 1, and the cover motor 112 is rotationally driven in step S6, as shown in FIG. The cap 9 is covered by the cap cover 34.

In this embodiment, the cap cover 34 is used.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by transmitting the rotation of the recovery motor 110 to the rod 35 via a clutch or the like, the cap may be moved. It is also possible to cover the cap cover 34 on 9 or to remove it from the cap 9 conversely. In this embodiment, a dedicated motor for recovery is provided, but the rotation of the paper feeding motor may be transmitted via a clutch or the like to operate the piston without providing the dedicated motor.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the surface of the cap member provided for covering the ink ejection surface of the recording head or for performing the suction process is covered by the cap cover when the cap is not used. The cover can prevent the adhesion of dust and the like. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ink of the recording head from being dried or the entry of dust or the like into the ink ejection surface due to the capping failure caused by the cap member. In this way, by holding the recording head in a suitable state, it is possible to realize an inkjet recording device that prevents defective ejection of ink, stabilizes the amount of ink ejected from the recording head, and always obtains a good image. did it.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation of the cap cover 34 and the movement of the carriage 2 are independent of each other. However, the movement of the carriage 2 causes a cap cover lever (not shown) to operate. The rod 35 may be operated by the operation of the cap cover lever to perform capping and retreat by the cap cover 34.

That is, since the cap 9 is provided at the rightmost end of the movable range of the carriage 2, the carriage 2
When the carriage 2 approaches the right end portion to a certain extent or more, the rod 35 is rotated to remove the cap cover 34. Conversely, when the carriage 2 is separated from the right end portion by a predetermined distance or more, the load 35 is automatically rotated to cap the cap 9. A mechanism for covering with the cover 34 is provided. For this purpose, for example, the cap cover 34 is always urged in the right direction of FIGS. 7 to 9 by the spring so as to cover the cap 9, the cap 9 is capped by the cap cover 34, and the carriage 2 is capped. When a predetermined distance from 9 is reached, the rod 35 is rotated counterclockwise by a lever or the like provided on the carriage 2, and the cap cover 34 is moved leftward (away from the cap 9). Is also good.

By doing so, the mechanism for moving the capping cover 34 can be simplified, and the time required for capping the cap 9 by the cap cover 34 and opening the capping can be shortened.

The present invention is particularly equipped 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, and by the thermal energy. The printing apparatus of the type that causes a change in the state of ink has been described. According to such a method, the recording density is increased,
High definition can be achieved.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the liquid crystal is held, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding film boiling. Since the electrothermal converter is caused to generate heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. It is valid. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal in a pulse shape, because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a 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, The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat-acting surface is arranged in a bending region. In addition, for multiple electrothermal converters,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-63, which discloses a structure in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is associated with the discharge portion. A configuration based on Japanese Patent No. 138461 may be used.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum recording medium width that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either of the structure satisfying the requirement or the structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition, by being attached to the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. . Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally configured or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full-color mixed colors.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, or one that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used, or In the inkjet method, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It is sufficient that the ink is liquid.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being used as the energy for the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent the ink from evaporating, an ink that solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat 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 such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. 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 recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and further transmission / reception It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a function.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. The present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the serial type among the ink jet recording apparatuses that eject ink from the nozzles of the ink jet head to print on the recording medium, the ink ejection surface of the recording head. By protecting the surface of the cap provided for covering or for performing suction processing from dust and the like under the usage environment of the inkjet recording device,
It is possible to prevent clogging of the ink discharge port and realize reliable ink suction. As a result, it is possible to prevent defective ejection of ink from the inkjet head, stabilize the amount of ink ejected from the inkjet head, and always obtain a good image.

Further, while having such a function, the time required for the capping operation of the cap cover is short, so that the operating speed of the recording apparatus is not lowered and the size of the added mechanical section is also small. Therefore, an increase in the size of the entire device can be suppressed.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the surface of the cap member provided for covering the ink ejection surface of the ink jet head or for performing the suction treatment is treated with dust or the like under the environment in which the ink jet recording apparatus is used. There is an effect that can be protected from.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent clogging of the ink discharge port, reliably suck ink, and perform the recovery operation of the ink jet head.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent defective ink ejection from the ink jet head, stabilize the amount of ink ejected from the ink jet head, and obtain a good image.

Further, according to the present invention, there is an effect that capping by the cap cover and its releasing operation can be performed quickly.

[0066]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a main configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a recovery device in the inkjet printer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a pump used as an ink suction means.
It is explanatory drawing when it sees from the A direction.

FIG. 6 shows a pump used as an ink suction means.
It is explanatory drawing when it sees from the A direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the cap of the present embodiment is covered with a cap cover.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the cap is not capped by the cap cover of this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head of the present embodiment is capped by a cap.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing control of a capping process in the inkjet recording apparatus of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Head 2 Carriage 5 Recording Medium 8 Wiper 9 Cap 20 Cylinder 30 Pump Base 31 Slide Lever 31a Pushing Member 34 Cap Cover 35 Rod 101 Control Unit 109 Recovery Unit 120 CPU 121 ROM 122 RAM

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Masaya Shinmachi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kinoshita 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Makoto Karama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Haruyuki Yanagi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koichi Tanno 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from an inkjet head, comprising: a driving unit for scanning and driving a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted; and a predetermined unit within a moving range of the carriage. A capping means for closing the ink discharge surface of the inkjet head at a position, and a capping means for closing the ink discharge surface of the inkjet head at the predetermined position; and the ink discharge surface of the inkjet head is not blocked. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a cap protecting unit that covers the cap member with a cap cover in a state. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap protection unit covers the cap member with the cap cover in conjunction with the operation of a carriage that mounts and moves the ink jet head. . 3. The cap member is rotatably supported about a shaft in a moving direction of the carriage, and when the carriage reaches the predetermined position, the ink ejection surface is closed by pressing the carriage. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is an inkjet recording apparatus. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap cover covers the cap member in a state where the cap member is inclined by a predetermined amount toward the cap cover. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap cover releases the cover of the cap member and retracts to a position where the carriage does not come into contact with the carriage when the carriage approaches a predetermined distance. Recording device. 6. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head including an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. The inkjet recording device described. 7. The ink jet recording according to claim 6, wherein the recording head ejects the ink from an ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. apparatus.