JPH08318623A - Ink-jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To cap a recording head with a simple mechanism and always keep the positional precision and the degree of close contact between the recording head and the cap constant during recovery operation of spouting failure. CONSTITUTION: An ink-jet recorder includes a carriage 32 equipped with a recording head 24 to spout ink and a holder member 26 that holds a cap 25 having sealing and deterioration-recovery functions of the recording head 24. Magnets 30 are provided on either the carriage 32 or the holder member 26 and magnet attracting elements 33 are arranged at positions opposite to the magnets 30 on either the carriage 32 or the holder member 26. The ink-jet recorder is also equipped with restoration springs 31 that produce a tension when the holder member 26 is attracted to the carriage 32 by the magnetic force of the magnets 30 exerted between the holder member 26 and guide members 27 that guide the holder member 26, and return to the original state when the magnetic force is removed. Therefore, the cap 25 is pulled away from the recording head 24 by the tension of the springs 31.

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 an image by ejecting ink from a recording head and adhering the ink to a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording device used for a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like connected to a computer or a word processor, forms an image on a recording medium such as paper or a plastic thin plate based on image information. According to the system, it can be classified into an inkjet system, a wire dot system, a thermal system, a laser beam system, a pen plot system, and the like.

Among the above methods, the ink jet type recording means (the recording means is based on the ink jet type) is as follows.
It is configured to eject ink to a recording medium to perform recording by utilizing a pressure change caused by generation or contraction of bubbles due to film boiling formed by heat energy applied by an electric-heat energy converter. In general, an electro-mechanical converter such as a piezo element is used to change the volume of an ink chamber to eject ink onto a recording medium to perform recording. .

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, what is important in connection with this recording method is a technique for recovering when the recording head has an ejection failure, or how to prevent the recording head from drying during non-printing. It is such a problem. In order to deal with these problems, in the past, preliminary ejection was performed to recover nozzle clogging, a mechanism for sucking ink from the recording head, dust adhering to the surface of the recording head, or ink not used for ejection. A mechanism for wiping the recording head, a mechanism for capping the recording head during non-printing, and the like are used. Further, a method of forming a film of a water repellent agent on the surface of the recording head is also adopted in order to easily wipe off ink droplets and the like adhering to the surface of the recording head.

Next, referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, a recording head drying prevention mechanism (or a printing quality assurance mechanism) for capping the recording head during non-printing and a recording head wiping mechanism for cleaning the recording head are described. A conventional ink jet recording apparatus having the above will be described. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 12 is FIG.
13 is an enlarged schematic view of a recording head drying prevention mechanism and a recording head wiping mechanism showing a print standby state (a state where the recording head is capped) at a recording head standby position in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the recording head drying prevention mechanism and the recording head wiping mechanism showing a state immediately before cleaning the recording head by the recording head wiping mechanism in FIG.

In FIG. 11, 1 is an ink jet recording apparatus, 2 is a wiping member for cleaning the recording head 3 (FIGS. 12 and 13), 4 is a holding member for holding the wiping member 2, 12 is an ink tank and the recording head 3. Carriage shafts for mounting the same, 13 are arranged in the ink jet recording apparatus and guide the carriage 12 in the direction of arrow X (sub-scanning direction), 11 are mounted on the carriage 12, and black, yellow, magenta, and cyan 4 are mounted.
It is an ink tank that stores each color.

Further, 5 is a recording head 3 in a print standby state.
To prevent the print quality from deteriorating due to drying of the recording head 3, 6 is a holding member for holding the cap 5, 10 is a guide member for guiding the operation of the holding members 4 and 6, and 14 is a motor. A timing belt driven by a drive source (not shown) to drive the carriage 12 in the sub-scanning direction along the carriage shaft 13, and 15 is conveyed in the direction of arrow Y (main scanning direction) for printing. It is a recording medium.

Next, in FIGS. 12 and 13, reference numeral 3 denotes a recording head which is mounted on the carriage 12 and a film of a water repellent agent such as a fluorine-based coating agent is previously formed on the surface of the carriage 12 to record on the recording medium 15 by ink jetting. , 7 is a cam for moving the wiping member 2 in and out of the recording head 3, 8 is a cam for moving the cap 5 with respect to the recording head 3 via the holding member 6, and 9 is a motor to which the cams 7 and 8 are attached. (Not shown in the figure) is a rotary shaft that rotates the cams 7 and 8 by being driven by a drive source (not shown). Also, the cap 5,
The protective member 6, the cam 8, the rotating shaft 9, the guide member 10 and the like constitute a recording head drying prevention mechanism, and the wiping member 2, the protective member 4, the cam 7, the rotating shaft 9 and the like constitute a recording head wiping mechanism.

The structure of the conventional ink jet recording apparatus has been briefly described above.
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In the print standby state shown in FIG. 12, the recording head 3 is sealed by the cap 5. Therefore, when printing, the holding member 6 that rotates the rotating shaft 9 by the motor (not shown) to rotate the cam 8 and follow the cam 8
The sealing of the recording head 3 is released by separating the cap 5 from the recording head 3 via the.

On the other hand, the motor (not shown) drives the timing belt 14 (FIG. 11) to start moving the carriage 12 in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. 13, and as shown in FIG. The carriage 12 is moved to a proper position. Then, the wiping member 2 is moved up by being driven by the cam 7 which is rotating together with the rotating shaft 9 which is driven by a motor (not shown), and is fixed at the cleaning position as shown in FIG.

Further, a timing belt 14 (FIG. 11) is driven by a motor (not shown) to move the carriage 12 in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG.
When the carriage 12 moves in the direction of arrow A, the wiping member 2 wipes the surface of the recording head 3 to clean it, and the surface of the recording head 3 becomes clean. further,
When the motor rotates the cam 7 together with the rotating shaft 9, the wiping member 2 is returned to the home position as shown in FIG. 12, and the carriage 12 is driven along the carriage shaft 13 in the direction of arrow X to start printing.

After a series of printing is completed, a motor (not shown) rotates the cam 7 together with the rotary shaft 9, and the wiping member 2 is again fixed to the cleaning position shown in FIG. Therefore, the timing belt 14 is continuously driven by the motor.
When (FIG. 11) is driven, the carriage 12 moves in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 13 and returns to the home position shown in FIG. At that time, the recording head 3 is cleaned by the wiping member 2 fixed at the leaning position.

When the carriage 12 returns to the home position, the motors (not shown) rotate the cams 7 and 8 through the rotary shaft 9 to return the wiping member 2 to the home position shown in FIG. 5 rises to seal the recording head 3. As a result, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 returns to the print standby state and waits for the next print data input.

[0014]

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus configured as described above, since the recording head is pressed against the recording medium only by the weight of the spring, the recording head and the recording medium are separated from each other. If the degree of adhesion between each recording head and the recording medium varies when the gap between the recording heads is adjusted, the ink cannot be sufficiently sucked in the recovery operation of the ejection failure. When capping is performed, or when a recovery operation is performed when the recording head has an ejection failure, etc., if the carriage stop position is displaced for some reason, there is a problem that alignment becomes difficult.

Further, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus as described above, a cam for moving the cap, a drive source for the cam, and a power transmission mechanism must be provided, which is an obstacle to downsizing the apparatus. There was a problem of becoming.

Further, in an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a line type recording head, since the length of the recording head in the sub-scanning direction is long (for example, A4 size requires a minimum of 210 mm), recording with a cap using a cam. When the head is sealed, there is a problem in that the pressing force varies and the sealing cannot be performed well, and if the uniform pressing force is obtained, the pressing mechanism becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when the recording head is capped and the recovery operation is performed when the recording head causes ejection failure without providing a complicated mechanism. In addition, the positional accuracy and adhesion between the recording head and the cap are always kept constant,
An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can be easily applied to a line type recording head without requiring a special mechanism.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has a carriage equipped with a recording head for ejecting ink to print on a recording medium, and a recording head sealed. What is claimed is: 1. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising a holding member which holds a cap having a deterioration recovery function and which is arranged opposite to a carriage, wherein at least one electromagnet is provided on either one of the carriage and the holding member, and the holding member facing the electromagnet is provided. A magnet attracting object is arranged at the position of the carriage, and the holding member is attracted to the carriage by the magnetic force of the electromagnet to seal the recording head with the cap.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is hung between a guide member for guiding the movement of the holding member with respect to the carriage and the holding member, and the holding member is driven by the magnetic force of the electromagnet. Includes a restoring spring that generates tension when attracted to the head and restores when the magnetic force is released, and the holding member is pulled away from the carriage by the tension of the restoring spring due to the release of the magnetic force to release the sealing of the recording head by the cap. It is characterized by doing so.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an electromagnet and a restoring spring in a holding member, and a magnet attracting object is provided at a position facing the electromagnet of the carriage, and is provided with respect to the recording head. The sealing of the cap is characterized by being positioned by the magnetic force of the electromagnet.

In order to achieve the above object, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the recording head is a line type recording head.

[0022]

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is constructed as described above, and in particular, the electromagnet is provided on either the carriage or the holding member, and the magnet attracting object is arranged on the other side in a position facing the electromagnet. Since the recording head is sealed with a cap by magnetic force, the mechanism for moving the cap can be simplified, and the recovery operation is performed when the recording head is sealed with the cap or when the recording head causes ejection failure. When performing the recording, the positioning of the cap is accurately performed even when the recording head is slightly displaced with respect to the cap and stopped, and the positional accuracy and the close contact degree of the cap can always be kept constant.

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a restoring spring which operates so as to forcibly separate the cap from the recording head when the magnetic force of the electromagnet is released. Can be guaranteed. In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a line type recording head because it is configured by using the electromagnet as described above.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An ink jet recording apparatus to which a recording head drying prevention mechanism (details will be described later) according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 7 show a recording head drying prevention mechanism for a normal recording head in a first embodiment of the present invention when applied to an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with a normal (page type) recording head, and FIGS. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a recording head drying prevention mechanism for the line type recording head in the second embodiment of the present invention when applied to an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the line type recording head.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus to which a recording head drying prevention mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown with a partly cut away to show the internal structure. FIG. 2 is an ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. In a print standby state, that is, an enlarged schematic view in the sub-scanning direction around the recording head (including the recording head drying prevention mechanism, the recording head wiping mechanism and the carriage) in a state where the recording head is sealed by the cap of the recording head drying prevention mechanism. FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic diagram in the main scanning direction showing details of a print standby state (a state in which the recording head is capped) around one recording head including the recording head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view in the sub-scanning direction around the recording head shown in FIG. 1 in a state immediately before printing with the wiping member fixed to the cleaning position. FIG. 5 shows the recording head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG. 3 from the recording head. FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic diagram in the main scanning direction around one recording head showing the details of a state immediately before printing separated. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the stop position of the carriage deviates from a predetermined position after the completion of printing. FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic diagram, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control unit in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a recording head drying prevention mechanism for an ordinary recording head in a first embodiment of the present invention when applied to an ink jet recording apparatus having an ordinary recording head mounted thereon. explain. In FIG. 1, 21 is an ink jet recording apparatus, 32 is a carriage on which an ink tank, a recording head 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and a magnet attracting object 33, etc. are mounted, and 35 is arranged in the ink jet recording apparatus and the carriage 32 is indicated by an arrow X. Carriage shaft for guiding in the direction of (sub-scanning direction),
34 is mounted on the carriage 32 and is black, yellow,
An ink tank that stores four colors, magenta and cyan, respectively.

Further, 22 is a wiping member for cleaning the nozzle surface of the recording head 24, 23 is a holding member for holding the wiping member 22 on the main body side of the ink jet recording apparatus, and 24.
Is mounted on a carriage 32, and a film of a water repellent agent such as a fluorine-based coating agent is previously formed on the surface of the recording medium 39.
A recording head for recording with an ink jet, 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a recording head 24 which is prevented from being dried by sealing the recording head 24 in a print standby state to prevent the recording head 24 from drying and also when the printing quality is deteriorated or the ink tank 34 is replaced. A cap having a suction port 16 (FIG. 3) for sucking ink from the ink, 2
Reference numeral 6 is a holding member that holds the cap 25, the electromagnet 30 (described later), the restoring spring 31, and the like.

Further, 27 is a guide member that serves as a guide when the holding member 26 moves with respect to the recording head 24.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of electromagnets 0 are arranged on the holding member 26 to attract the magnet attracting objects 33 and serve as power for sealing the recording head 24 with the cap 25, 28 is an iron core constituting the electromagnet 30, and 29 is an electromagnet. Coils that make up 30,
3 is a magnet attracting object that is arranged on the carriage 32 so as to face the electromagnet 30 held by the holding member 26 and is attracted by the electromagnet 30 to seal the recording head 24 by the cap 25; and 36 is a motor (which will be described later in this embodiment). The carriage shaft 3 is driven by a driving source such as a CR motor).
A timing belt for driving the carriage 32 in the sub-scanning direction along 5 and a recording medium 39 for carrying and printing in the direction of the arrow Y (main scanning direction). Needless to say, the material used for the magnet attracting body 33 may be any ordinary soft magnetic material having a small coercive force and remanence, such as ordinary soft iron.

2 to 6, 16 is a suction port for sucking ink from the recording head 24 when the print quality is deteriorated due to clogging of the recording head 24, 31 is a holding member 26 and a guide. It is a tension spring hung between the member 27 and the holding member 26 together with the cap 25 when the attraction to the magnet attraction object 33 by the electromagnet 30 is released, and the holding member 26 is forcibly separated from the recording head 24 to wait for printing (non-printing state). A restoring spring that restores the closed state, 37 is a cam that moves the wiping member 22 in and out of the recording head 24 via the holding member 23, and 38 is a motor to which the cam 37 is attached (a CAP motor described later in this embodiment). ) Is a rotary shaft that rotates the cam 37 by being driven by a drive source such as.

In each of the components described above, the cap 25, the holding member 26, the guide member 27, the iron core 28, the coil 29, the electromagnet 30, the restoring spring 31, the magnet attracting object 33, and the electromagnet driving circuit 44 (which will be described later with reference to FIG. 7). The recording head drying prevention mechanism (or the print quality assurance mechanism) according to this embodiment is constituted by

Next, before proceeding to the description of the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment, the control section of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 40 is a power supply block that supplies power to each unit of the control unit, 41 is a power supply from the power supply block 40, and controls the mechanical system drive circuit 42, the head drive circuit 43, and the electromagnet drive circuit 44 to control the inkjet recording apparatus 3 is a control block that controls internal operations and data processing.

Further, the mechanical system drive circuit 42 is a recording medium 39.
The driving of the LF motor 45 that conveys the carriage, the CR motor 46 that drives the carriage 32 via the timing belt 36, and the CAP motor 47 that drives the rotating shaft 38 are controlled. The head drive circuit 43 controls the drive of the recording head 24, and the electromagnet drive circuit 44 controls the current to the coil 29 of the electromagnet 30 provided on the holding member 26. Further, a data input interface (I / F) 48 for inputting print data is connected to the control block 41.

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In the print standby state as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a current is passed through the coil 29 to excite the electromagnet 30 by the control of the electromagnet drive circuit 44, and the electromagnet 30 is arranged on the carriage 32 so as to face the iron core 28 of the electromagnet 30. A state in which the holding member 26 is driven toward the recording head 24 against the tension of the restoring spring 31 and the recording head 24 is sealed by the cap 25 by attracting the magnet attraction object 33 that is being attracted to the iron core 28. It is in.

When printing is performed, first, the cap 25 that seals the recording head 24 must be removed to clean the surface of the recording head 24. Therefore, the electromagnet drive circuit 44 cuts off the current flowing in the coil 29 to release the excitation of the electromagnet 30. Then, the holding member 26 is forcibly separated from the carriage 32 by the restoring force (tension) of the restoring spring 31, the cap 25 is removed from the recording head 24 and the sealing is released, and the state shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

Next, the cam 37 is driven by the rotation of the CAP motor 47 which is rotated by the control of the mechanical system drive circuit 42 to bring the wiping member 22 close to the recording head 24 and fix it at the cleaning position. Then, the mechanical drive circuit 42
The timing belt 36 is driven by the driving of the CR motor 46 that rotates under the control of (1) to move the carriage 32 in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. During the movement, the recording head 24 is cleaned by the wiping member 22 fixed at the cleaning position.

Then, the CAP motor 47 is rotated again to rotate the rotary shaft 38, thereby rotating the cam 37,
The wiping member 22 is returned to the home position shown in FIG. afterwards,
Printing is performed while reciprocally moving the carriage 32 in the A and B directions at regular intervals, and the LF motor 45 is printed every time one line is printed.
The recording medium 39 is conveyed by.

When the desired printing is completed, the CAP is restarted.
The motor 47 rotates and the rotating shaft 38 rotates, which causes the cam 37 to rotate and fix the wiping member 22 to the cleaning position shown in FIG. Then, the timing belt 36 is driven by the rotation of the CR motor 46, and the carriage 32
Is moved in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 4 and returned to the home position shown in FIG. The recording head 24 is cleaned by the wiping member 22 while the carriage 32 is moving.

When the carriage 32 is returned to the home position shown in FIG. 2, the CAP motor 47 rotates to rotate the rotary shaft 38.
Rotates, which causes the cam 37 to rotate and the wiping member 22 to rotate.
To the home position shown in FIG. At the same time, a current is passed through the coil 29 to magnetize the iron core 28, thereby exciting the electromagnet 30 and attracting the magnet attracting body 33. Thereby, the holding member 26 is opposed to the tension of the restoring spring 31.
The recording head 2
4 is sealed with a cap 25, and the print standby state is set. In this way, since the ink that has adhered to the surface of the recording head 24 and has not been used for printing is removed after the printing is completed and then the printing standby state is set, the recording head 24 is always kept clean.

In such a returning operation of the recording head 24, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, even when the stop position of the carriage 32 is deviated from a predetermined position, the electromagnet 3 is moved.
Since the magnet attraction object 33 is attracted by the magnetic force of 0, the recording head 24 is attracted to the predetermined position shown in FIG. 2 and is correctly positioned, and is accurately sealed by the cap 25.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, a recording head drying prevention mechanism for the line type recording head in the second embodiment of the present invention when applied to an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the line type recording head. Will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a line type recording head according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is partially cut away to show the internal structure. FIG. 9 is one recording head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic diagram in the main scanning direction showing the details of the print standby state (the state where the print head is capped) around the print head including FIG. 10, and FIG. 10 is the state immediately before printing when the print head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG. 9 is separated from the print head. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram in the main scanning direction around one recording head showing the details of FIG.

8 to 10, 55 is a line type ink jet recording apparatus, 54 is a line type recording head 57 (FIGS. 9 and 10), and a magnet attracting object 56 (FIGS. 9 and 1).
0) and a head block holding the ink tank 52 (corresponding to the carriage in the first embodiment), 48
Is an electromagnet composed of an iron core 59 and a coil 60, 56 is a magnet attracting object which is attracted by the electromagnet 48 and seals the line type recording head 57 with a cap 58, and 49 is a holding member which holds the cap 58, the electromagnet 48 and the restoring spring 51. , 50 are guide members that serve as guides when the holding member 49 moves with respect to the line type recording head 57, and 53 is a recording medium which is conveyed in the direction of the arrow Y (main scanning direction) and printed.

In addition, a film of a water repellent such as a fluorine-based coating agent is previously formed on the surface of the line type recording head 57, and the cap 58 seals the line type recording head 57 in the print standby state to seal the line type recording head. By preventing drying of 57, deterioration of printing quality is prevented, and a suction port 61 for sucking ink from the line type recording head 57 is provided when the printing quality is deteriorated or the ink tank 52 is replaced. , The holding member 4 so that the electromagnet 48 faces the magnet attracting object 56 provided on the head block 54.
9 is attached to the magnet 9 to attract the magnet attracting object 56 and to cap 5.
8 serves as power for sealing the line type recording head 57, the restoring spring 51 is a tension spring provided between the holding member 49 and the guide member 50, and when the attraction of the magnet attraction object 56 by the electromagnet 48 is released. In addition, the holding member 49 together with the cap 58 is forcibly separated from the line type recording head 57 to restore the print standby state (non-sealed state).

In each of the components described above, the magnet attracting body 56, the cap 58, the iron core 59, the coil 60, the electromagnet 48, the holding member 49, the guide member 50, the restoring spring 5 are included.
1 and the electromagnet drive circuit 44 constitute a recording head drying prevention mechanism (or a print quality assurance mechanism) according to this embodiment.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus having the line type recording head according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. In the print standby state as shown in FIG. 9, a current is passed through the coil 60 by the control of the electromagnet drive circuit 44 to excite the electromagnet 48, and the head block 54 is arranged so as to face the iron core 59 of the electromagnet 48. Magnet attraction object 5
By attracting 6 to the iron core 59, the holding member 49 is moved against the tension of the restoring spring 51 and the line type recording head 57 is moved.
And the line type recording head 57 is sealed by the cap 58.

When printing is performed, first, the cap 58 that seals the line-type recording head 57 is removed from the line-type recording head 57. Therefore, the current flowing in the coil 60 is cut off by the electromagnet drive circuit 44 to cut off the electromagnet 48.
De-energize. Then, the holding member 49 moves the restoring spring 5
The tension of 1 forcibly separates it from the head block 54, the cap 58 is removed from the line type recording head 57 and the sealing is released, and a printable state as shown in FIG. 10 is obtained.

After the desired series of printing is completed, when the line type recording head 57 is sealed with the cap 58 again, a current is passed through the coil 60 by the control of the electromagnet drive circuit 44 to excite the electromagnet 48. Then, the iron core 59 of the electromagnet 48
Since the magnet attracting object 56 arranged on the head block 54 so as to face the magnet is attracted to the iron core 59, the holding member 49
The line-type recording head 5 resists the tension of the restoring spring 51.
7, the line type recording head 57 is sealed again by the cap 58, and the print standby state is set.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above,
The number and location of the electromagnets are arbitrary, and the electromagnets are arranged on the holding member side of the cap in the above embodiment, but may be mounted on the carriage or head block side. Further, although the tension spring is used as the restoring spring in the present embodiment, another type of spring such as a compression spring may be used, and the installation place may be arranged on the carriage or head block side.

[0049]

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above, and in particular, an electromagnet is provided on a carriage having a recording head or a holding member for holding a cap, and magnets are attracted at opposing positions. By providing an object and ensuring that the recording head is sealed by the cap with an electromagnet, a mechanism for moving the cap can be easily formed, and when the recording head is sealed with the cap or During the recovery operation in the case of ejection failure, the cap is positioned accurately even if the print head stops after being slightly misaligned with the cap, and the position accuracy and adhesion of the cap to the print head are always kept constant. can do. Further, the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention can provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can be easily applied to a line type recording head without requiring a special mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is partially cut away to show an internal structure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view in the sub-scanning direction around a recording head in a print standby state of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view in the main scanning direction showing details of a print standby state around the print head including the print head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view in the sub-scanning direction around the recording head showing a state immediately before printing in which the wiping member is fixed to the cleaning position in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view in the main scanning direction around the recording head showing details of a state immediately before printing in which the recording head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG. 3 is separated from the recording head.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic diagram in the sub-scanning direction around the recording head showing a state where the stop position of the carriage deviates from a predetermined position after printing is completed.

7 is a block diagram of a control unit in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a line type recording head having a partially cutaway internal structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an enlarged schematic view in the main scanning direction showing details of a print standby state around the print head including the print head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic view in the main scanning direction around the recording head showing details of a state immediately before printing in which the recording head drying prevention mechanism shown in FIG. 9 is separated from the recording head.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a conventional inkjet recording device.

12 is an enlarged schematic view of a recording head drying prevention mechanism and a recording head wiping mechanism showing a print standby state at a recording head standby position in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

13 is an enlarged schematic view of the recording head drying prevention mechanism and the recording head wiping mechanism showing a state immediately before cleaning the recording head by the recording head wiping mechanism in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21 Inkjet recording device 2,22 Wiping member 3,24 Recording head 4,6,23,26 Holding member 5,25 Cap 7,8,37 Cam 9,38 Rotating shaft 10,27 Guide member 11,34 Ink tank 12, 32 Carriage 13, 35 Carriage shaft 14, 36 Timing belt 15, 39 Recording medium 16, 61 Suction port 28 Iron core 29 Coil 30 Electromagnet 31 Restoration spring 33 Magnet suction object 40 Power block 41 Control block 42 Mechanical system drive circuit 43 Head drive circuit 44 Electromagnet drive circuit 45 LF motor 46 CR motor 47 CAP motor 48 Electromagnet 49 Holding member 50 Guide member 51 Restoring spring 52 Ink tank 53 Recording medium 54 Head block 55 Line type inkjet recording device 56 Magnet attracting object 5 Line-type recording head 58 cap 59 the iron core 60 coil

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A carriage equipped with a recording head that ejects ink to print on a recording medium, and a holding member that holds a cap that seals the recording head and has a deterioration recovery function, and that is arranged to face the carriage. An ink jet recording apparatus including: an electromagnet, wherein at least one electromagnet is provided on one of the carriage and a holding member, and a magnet attracting object is arranged at a position of the holding member or the carriage facing the electromagnet. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that the holding member is attracted to the carriage by the magnetic force of (1) to seal the recording head with the cap. 2. A guide member, which guides the movement of a holding member with respect to the carriage, and a hanging member,
The holding member includes a restoring spring that generates a tension when the holding member is attracted to the carriage by the magnetic force of the electromagnet and restores when the magnetic force is released. The holding member is held by the tension of the restoring spring when the magnetic force is released. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a member is separated from the carriage to release the sealing of the recording head by the cap. 3. The electromagnet and the restoring spring are mounted on a holding member, the magnet attracting object is provided at a position facing the electromagnet of a carriage, and the sealing of the cap with respect to the recording head is positioned by the magnetic force of the electromagnet. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is provided. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a line type recording head.