JPH09131882A - Ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the useless consumption of ink, to simplify the constitution of the selection change-over (suction change-over) mechanism of a recording head which sucks ink, and to reduce costs. SOLUTION: By a method in which a first member 41 in which ink sucking communication holes 42-45 which communicate with cap members 26-29 are formed is attached to a sled member 30 which moves with a carriage 10, a second member 53 in which an ink sucking communication hole 54 which communicates with a suction pump 51 is formed is fixed to the side of a fixed part, and the carriage 10 is moved, the sled member 30 is moved so that the ink sucking communication holes 42-45 of the first member 41 are made to communicate selectively with the ink sucking communication hole 54 of the second member 53.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device, and more particularly to a head recovery device for an inkjet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an inkjet recording apparatus, a recording head composed of, for example, an inkjet head is mounted on a carriage, an image receiving material is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the recording head while scanning the recording head, and droplets are formed from nozzles of the recording head. There is one in which a desired image is recorded on an image receiving material by ejecting ink.

Therefore, when the ink is dried and the head is clogged or dust adheres to the head, the image quality is deteriorated. Therefore, the cap is brought into contact with the head in the standby state to seal the head to dry the ink. It is designed to prevent dust from adhering. At the same time, in order to recover the head when ink is clogged or dust adheres, a suction pump is connected to the cap, and this suction pump generates a negative pressure in the cap, thereby clogging the head. We try to remove the remaining ink and dust.

By the way, when a plurality of recording heads including ink jet heads such as a color ink jet recording apparatus are provided, if the recovery operation is performed for all the heads regardless of the state of use of the heads,
The wasteful consumption of ink will increase.

Therefore, as a conventional color ink jet recording apparatus, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-1325, a cap that abuts against a black recording head and seals it, and recording for yellow, magenta, and cyan colors. A cap that seals against the head is provided, and a switching valve that switches the communication system to each cap is provided on the side of the common suction pump that communicates with these caps.Suction is performed by driving this switching valve with a solenoid. It is known to switch the head for performing.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional color ink jet recording apparatus, a switching valve is provided for switching the head sucked by the suction pump, and the switching valve is driven by the solenoid. However, there is a problem that the suction switching mechanism becomes complicated and the cost becomes high because a solenoid, a drive power source for the solenoid, etc. are required.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus having a carriage carrying a plurality of recording heads each including an ink jet head. A plurality of cap means for abutting and sealing each other, a cap holding means for interlocking with the carriage and abutting the cap means on the recording head in a head recovery area, a suction pump for ink suction recovery, A first member having an ink suction communication hole communicating with the cap means, a second member having an ink suction communication hole communicating with the suction pump, and one of the first member and the second member Is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage to move the ink suction communication hole of the second member to the first member of the first member. The click suction passage and a suction switching means for selectively communicating.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the first member is attached to the cap holding means, and the cap holding means moves the first member together with the movement of the carriage. The suction switching means is also used for moving.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein:
A third member having an atmosphere releasing communication hole for communicating the cap means with the atmosphere, a fourth member blocking the atmosphere releasing communication hole of the third member, and the third member and the fourth member. One of them is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage to release the atmosphere of the third member in a state where the ink suction communication hole of the first member and the ink suction communication hole of the second member communicate with each other. Atmosphere opening switching means for selecting opening and closing of the communication hole is provided.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the ink jet recording apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the third member is attached to the cap holding means, and the cap holding means moves the third member in synchronism with the movement of the carriage. The air release switching means is also used for moving.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the end surface position of the ink suction communication hole of the first member is the same as the cap surface position of the cap member. I set it to a high position.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, in which the end face position of the atmosphere opening communication hole of the third member is the same as the cap face position of the cap member. I set it to a high position.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a mechanical section of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a head reliability maintenance recovery station (head recovery area) of the mechanical section, and FIG. 3 is the same reliability maintenance. FIG. 6 is a side view of the recovery station, FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of an atmosphere release switching unit of the reliability maintenance / recovery station, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of an ink suction switching unit of the reliability maintenance / recovery station.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part as viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 5.

In this ink jet recording apparatus, a carriage 10 having a plurality of recording heads 1 to 4 composed of ink jet heads and ink cartridges 5 to 8 for supplying ink to the recording heads 1 to 4 is mounted on a left and right side of a frame 11. Guide rod 1 mounted between the side plates 11a and 11b of the
2 is slidably attached to the carriage 2, and the carriage 10 is provided with a driving belt 13 between the motor 1 and a stepping motor or the like.
4 is moved along the guide rod 12 in the main scanning direction.

On the other hand, the platen roller 17 is attached to the frame 11
Is rotatably mounted between the left side plate 11a and the intermediate side plate 11c, a gear 18 is attached to the shaft portion of the platen roller 17, and the platen roller 17 is rotated by the motor 20 via the gear 19 and the gear 18. As a result, the recording paper 23 sandwiched between the platen roller 17 and the paper pressers 21 and 22 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction.

As described above, the carriage 10 is moved in the main scanning direction, the recording paper 23 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and the recording heads 1 to 4 are driven according to the recording signal to eject ink droplets. A desired image is recorded on the recording paper 23.

In this ink jet recording apparatus, a head reliability maintenance / recovery station 25 as a head recovery area is provided outside the printing area within the moving area of the carriage 10. In the head reliability maintenance / restoration station 25, cap members 26 to 2 which are cap means for contacting and sealing the recording heads 1 to 4 respectively.
9 is held by a sled member 30, which is a cap holding member having a substantially U-shaped cross section.

Here, the cap members 26 to 29 oscillate in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage 10 by fitting the pin members 31 provided on both side faces into the recesses 32 formed in the sled member 30. The cap members 26 to 29 are held so as to be swingable about a moving center, and a spring 33 (see FIG. 3) is interposed between the bottom surfaces of the cap members 26 to 29 and the sled member 30, so that the cap members 26 to 29 are attached to the recording heads 1 to 4. So that it can be pressed against.

At the end of the sled member 30 on the side plate 11b side, a pin member 34 capable of contacting the carriage 10 is provided upright, and four guide pins 35 are provided on both side surfaces of the sled member 30.
The guide pins 35 are slidably fitted in the guide grooves 37 formed in the guide frame 36 fixed to the frame 11, and the spring 38 is provided between the sled member 30 and the guide frame 36. After the pin member 34 of the sled member 30 comes into contact with the carriage 10, the sled member 30 follows the guide groove 37 of the guide frame 36 against the restoring force of the spring 38 by being driven by the return movement of the carriage 10. When the carriage 10 moves forward, the restoring force of the spring 38 causes the carriage 10 to move together.

Here, the guide groove 3 of the guide frame 36
7 is a first guide groove 3 for positioning the sled member 30 in a state where the cap members 26 to 29 are separated from the recording heads 1 to 4.
Secondly, the sled member 30 is positioned so that the cap member 26-29 comes into contact with the recording heads 1-4 to hermetically seal them.
The guide groove 37b and the first guide groove 37a and the second guide groove 37a
A third guide groove 37c that obliquely connects with the guide groove 37b is continuously formed.

Further, the side plate 11b is provided on one side surface of the sled member 30.
The first member 41 is attached to the end portion on the side, and the first member 41 is attached.
Is formed with communication holes 42 to 45 for ink suction, and cap members 26 to 29 are formed in the communication holes 42 to 45 for ink suction.
The other ends of the tubes 46 to 49 having one end connected to are connected to the ink suction communication holes 42 to 45 to communicate with the cap members 26 to 29, respectively.

Here, in the first member 41, as shown in FIG. 3, the end surface positions of the ink suction communication holes 42 to 45 (the upper surface of the first member 41) are the same as the cap surface positions of the cap members 26 to 29. It is attached to the sled member 30 so that the height A is substantially higher.

A suction pump 51 for head recovery and a drive motor 52 for driving the suction pump 51 are installed on the upper surface of the end portion of the frame 11 on the side plate 11b side. The sled member 30 is the cap members 26 to 29 and the recording heads are recording heads. The second member 53, which is in contact with the upper surface of the first member 41 and is opposed to the upper surface of the first member 41 in a state where the second member 53 moves to the position where the first to fourth members abut, is provided with the ink suction communication hole 54 in the second member 53. The ink suction communication hole 54 is connected to the suction pump 51 via a tube 55.

The ink suction communication hole 5 of the second member 53.
As shown in FIG. 6, a part 4 of the side which contacts the first member 41 is formed in an elongated hole shape, and the first member 4 is formed as shown in FIG.
Even if the relative position with respect to No. 1 shifts, the communication state with the ink suction communication holes 42 to 45 can be maintained within a required range.

On the other hand, the side plate 11b is formed on the other side surface of the sled member 30.
The third member 57 is attached to the end on the side of the third member 57.
Is formed with communicating holes 58 to 61 for releasing the atmosphere, and the communicating holes 58 to 61 for releasing the atmosphere are connected to the other ends of the tubes 62 to 65 each having one end connected to each cap member 26 to 29. , Communication holes 58 to 61 for releasing the atmosphere to the cap members 26.
~ 29 are in communication with each other. A fourth member 66 is provided on the fixed portion side so as to shield the atmosphere releasing communication holes 58 to 61 of the third member 57.

The atmosphere releasing communication holes 58-61 of the third member 57 are the ink suction communication holes 42- of the first member 41.
Although it is formed with the same pitch as 45, the facing width between the third member 57 and the fourth member 66 is reduced so that any of the ink suction communication holes 42 to 45 of the first member 41 has the second member 53.
In the state of communicating with the ink suction communication hole 54 of
The member 66 is a communication hole 58 to 61 for releasing the atmosphere of the third member 57.
Can be released and shielded.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the third member 57 is located at the end face positions of the atmosphere releasing communication holes 58 to 61 (third member 57).
Is attached to the sled member 30 such that the upper surface) is the same as the cap surface position of the cap members 26 to 29 or is substantially higher by the height B.

The operation of maintaining and recovering the reliability of the head of the ink jet recording apparatus having the above structure will be described. First, when the carriage 10 is in the print area, the warp member 30 causes the guide pin 3 to move due to the restoring force of the spring 38.
5 is engaged with the first guide groove 37 a of the guide groove 37 of the guide frame 36. And the carriage 10
Moves (returns) to the area of the head reliability maintenance recovery station 25 (head recovery area), the carriage 10
Contact the pin member 34, the sled member 30 moves in response to the movement of the carriage 10, and at this time, the guide pin 35 moves following the guide groove 37, so that the sled member 30 gradually rises and the cap member The members 26 to 29 come into contact with the recording heads 1 to 4 of the carriage 10 to cap them. When the carriage 10 moves (forward) from this state to the printing area, the restoring force of the spring 38 also causes the sled member 30 to return to the initial position.

As the sled member 30 moves, the first member 41 also rises to the position where it contacts the second member 53.
45 and the ink suction communication hole 54 of the second member 53 can communicate with each other. When the carriage 10 is set to the home position, the ink suction communication hole 45 of the first member 41 and the ink suction communication hole 54 of the second member 53 communicate with each other as shown in FIGS. There is.

If the recording head 4 needs to be recovered, the suction pump 51 is driven to drive the tube 5
5, the cap member 29 capping the recording head 4 via the ink suction communication hole 54 of the second member 53, the ink suction communication hole 45 of the first member 41, and the tube 49.
The inside of the recording head 4 is recovered by setting a negative pressure inside the nozzle of the recording head 4 to suck ink. As described above, at the home position of the carriage 10, the ink suction communication hole 45 of the first member 41 and the ink suction communication hole 54 of the second member 53 corresponding to the recording head 4 communicate with each other. The recording head 4 is used as a head that ejects the most frequently used black ink.

If it is necessary to recover the recording heads 1 to 3, the sled member 30 is moved forward by a predetermined amount so that the sled member 30 is restored by the spring 38.
Since it moves in unison with 0, the required ink suction communication hole of the ink suction communication holes 42 to 44 of the first member 41 is selectively communicated with the ink suction communication hole 54 of the second member 53. It is possible to recover the head by driving the suction pump 51 in the state of being connected in the same manner as described above.

As described above, the first member having the ink suction communication hole communicating with each cap means and the second member having the ink suction communication hole communicating with the suction pump,
One of the first member and the second member (here, the first member
Member) is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage, and the second
By providing the suction switching means for selectively communicating the ink suction communication hole of the member with the ink suction communication hole of the first member, it is possible to suck the ink for each recording head and wasteful consumption of ink. Can be reduced,
The head for ink suction can be switched without providing a special drive source, the structure of the suction switching mechanism can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

By attaching the first member to a sled member (cap holding member) that moves together with the carriage, the cap holding means also serves as the suction switching means, so that the first member moves along with the carriage. A special member for moving the member is not required, which further simplifies the structure.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the first member 41 has the end surface positions of the ink suction communication holes 42 to 45 (first member 4).
Sled member 3 so that the upper surface (1) is the same as the cap surface position of cap members 26 to 29 or is substantially higher by height A.
Since it is attached to No. 0, tubes 46 to 4 after ink suction
The ink remaining in the ink 9 is discharged through the ink suction communication holes 42 to 45.
It does not overflow from the outside and pollute the surrounding area.

On the other hand, as the sled member 30 moves as described above, the third member 57 also rises to a position where it can contact the fourth member 66. Any of the above can be shielded by the fourth member 66. At this time, as described above, the ink suction communication hole 54 of the second member 53 is formed in a long hole shape, and the ink suction communication hole 42 of the first member 41 is formed within a required range.
~ 45 to be able to maintain a communication state,
Since the contact width between the member 57 and the fourth member 66 is narrowed, any one of the ink suction communication holes 42 to 45 of the first member 41 and the ink suction hole 54 of the second member 53, as described above. By moving the third member 57 while keeping the communication, it is possible to select either the atmosphere release or the shielding.

Therefore, for example, the ink suction communication hole 45 of the first member 41 and the ink suction hole 54 of the second member 53.
When the ink is sucked from the recording head 4 by communicating with the recording head 4, the carriage 1 is sucked after the ink is sucked while the communication hole 61 for releasing the atmosphere of the third member is shielded by the fourth member 66.
0 is moved by a predetermined amount to shift the fourth member 66 from the atmosphere releasing communication hole 61 of the third member 57 to the atmosphere releasing state,
By driving the suction pump 51, the cap member 2
The ink accumulated in 9 can be sucked.

In this way, a third member is provided with an atmosphere releasing communication hole for communicating each cap means with the atmosphere, and a fourth member for shielding the atmosphere releasing communication hole of the third member,
Either one of the third member and the fourth member is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage to release and block the atmosphere release communication hole of the third member and the ink suction communication hole of the first member.
By providing the atmosphere opening switching means that selects the ink suction communication hole of the member in a communicating state, it is possible to suck and discharge the ink accumulated in the cap member without performing an operation such as separating the cap from the head. Therefore, the structure for discharging the ink in the cap member becomes simple.

Then, the third member is attached to a sled member (cap holding member) which is driven by the carriage, and the cap holding member also functions as an atmosphere opening switching means. The structure is further simplified by eliminating the need for a special member for moving the.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the third member 57 has the end surface positions of the atmosphere releasing communication holes 58 to 61 (the third member 5).
Since the upper surface 7 is attached to the sled member 30 so that the cap surface position of the cap member 26 to 29 is substantially the same as the cap surface position of the cap members 26 to 29, the post-ink suction tube 62 is attached.
Ink that has entered the inside of ~ 65 is a communication hole for opening to the atmosphere 58 ~ 6
It does not overflow from 1 and pollute the surrounding area.

[0040]

As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the first aspect, the first member provided with the ink suction communication hole that communicates with each cap means and the ink suction device that communicates with the suction pump. A second member having a communication hole is provided, and one of the first member and the second member is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage, and the communication hole for ink suction of the second member is moved to the first member. Since it is configured to selectively communicate with the ink suction communication hole, it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of ink and simplify the configuration of the selection switching (suction switching) mechanism of the recording head that performs ink suction. And the cost will be low.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the second aspect, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the first aspect,
Since the first member is attached to the cap holding means so that the first member moves along with the carriage, the first member moves along with the carriage to move the recording head for ink suction. Will be easier.

According to the ink-jet recording apparatus of the third aspect, in the ink-jet recording apparatus of the first or second aspect, a third member having an atmosphere releasing communication hole for communicating each cap means with the atmosphere, and the third member are provided. And a fourth member for blocking the atmosphere-releasing communication hole of the three members, and one of the third member and the fourth member is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage so that the first member communicates with the ink. Since it is possible to select the release and blocking of the atmosphere release communication hole of the third member in the state where the hole and the ink suction communication hole of the second member communicate with each other,
The ink accumulated in the cap means can be discharged without performing an operation such as separating the cap means from the recording head, and the ink discharging mechanism in the cap means becomes simple.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the third aspect,
Since the third member is attached to the cap holding means so that the third member moves along with the carriage, the configuration is such that the third member moves along with the carriage in order to switch between atmospheric release and shielding. It will be easy.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the fifth aspect, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the end surface position of the ink suction communication hole of the first member is the same as the cap surface position of the cap member. Since it is set at a substantially high position, it is possible to prevent ink from overflowing from the ink suction communication hole of the first member and polluting the surrounding area.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the sixth aspect, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the end surface position of the atmosphere releasing communication hole of the third member is the same as the cap surface position of the cap member. Since it is set at a substantially high position, it is possible to prevent ink from overflowing from the atmosphere opening communication hole of the third member and polluting the surrounding area.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a mechanical section of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a head reliability maintenance / recovery station (head recovery area) of the mechanism section.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the reliability maintenance and recovery station.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of an atmosphere release switching unit of the reliability maintenance / restoration station.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of an ink suction switching unit of the reliability maintenance / recovery station.

6 is an enlarged view of a main part as seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-4: recording head, 10 ... carriage, 11 ... frame, 12 ... guide rod, 26-29 ... cap member,
30 ... Warp member, 34 ... Pin member, 36 ... Guide frame, 41 ... First member, 42 to 45 ... Ink suction communication hole, 51 ... Suction pump, 53 ... Second member, 54 ... Ink suction communication hole, 57 ... 3rd member, 58-61 ... Communication hole for atmosphere release, 66 ... 4th member.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet recording apparatus having a carriage on which a plurality of recording heads composed of inkjet heads are mounted, and a plurality of cap means for abutting and sealing each of the plurality of recording heads, and head recovery linked with the carriage. A cap holding means for bringing the cap means into contact with the recording head in an area, a suction pump for ink suction recovery, a first member provided with an ink suction communication hole communicating with each of the cap means, and the suction means. Second with an ink suction communication hole that communicates with the pump
A member, and one of the first member and the second member is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage, and the communication hole for ink suction of the second member is moved to the communication hole for ink suction of the first member. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a suction switching unit for selectively communicating with the. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first member is attached to the cap holding means, and the cap holding means moves the first member in synchronism with the movement of the carriage. An inkjet recording apparatus, which also functions as a switching unit. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a third member is provided with an atmosphere release communication hole for communicating each of the cap means with the atmosphere, and the atmosphere release communication of the third member. A fourth member for blocking the hole,
A state in which one of the third member and the fourth member is moved in synchronism with the movement of the carriage so that the ink suction communication hole of the first member and the ink suction communication hole of the second member communicate with each other. In addition, the inkjet recording apparatus is provided with an atmosphere opening switching unit that selects opening and closing of the atmosphere opening communication hole of the third member. 4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the third member is attached to the cap holding means, and the cap holding means moves the third member in synchronism with the movement of the carriage. An inkjet recording apparatus, which also functions as a switching unit. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end surface position of the ink suction communication hole of the first member is set to be the same as or substantially higher than a cap surface position of the cap member. An inkjet recording device characterized by the above. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an end face position of the atmosphere releasing communication hole of the third member is set to be the same as or substantially higher than a cap face position of the cap member. An inkjet recording device characterized by the above.