JPH09216387A - Ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ink from being mixed up one another ion the wiping member by furnishing discharge ports in accordance with a carious kinds of ink in one recording means, employing at least one wiping member, and allowing a plurality of blade angles top wipe the recording means respectively under a certain condition. SOLUTION: On the discharge port face 11, a group of discharge ports 120C, 120M, 120Y of each recording ink and a group of discharge ports 120W of pretreatment ink are disposed in a straight line, and a blade 12 curves to partition the cleaning range at a position passing through between the group of discharge ports of 120C, 120M, 120Y and the group discharge ports of 120W of pretreatment ink, The angle is a positive angle α in its right side and a negative angle βin its side. Thus, by wiping motions under the blade angle and relative moving direction, recording ink stayed on the discharge port face 11 moves to the left-downward direction, and pretreatment ink moves to the right-upward direction. Accordingly, recording ink and treatment ink around the center are obstructed from coming in contact with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having a function such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like, or a recording device used as an output device such as a composite electronic device including a computer or a word processor or a workstation, is based on paper based on the recording information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording medium (recording material) such as a recording medium or a plastic thin plate. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like according to a recording method.

In a serial type recording apparatus for recording while performing main scanning in a direction intersecting with the recording medium conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction), after the recording medium is set at a predetermined recording position, it is recorded on the recording medium. The entire recording medium is recorded by combining the recording operation by the recording means moving along with the conveying operation of feeding the recording medium in the direction intersecting the moving direction of the recording means.

On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus for recording a recording medium only by sub-scanning in the transport direction, the recording medium is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed while performing the recording, and an image is recorded on the entire recording medium.

[0005] Among the above recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording medium. Easy,
High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, recording can be performed on plain paper without special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise, and It has advantages such as easy recording of a color image using ink. Above all, a line type using a full multi-type recording means in which a large number of discharge ports are arranged in the paper width direction can further increase the recording speed.

[0006] In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for discharging ink by using thermal energy,
Through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, sputtering, etc., an electrothermal converter, an electrode,
By forming the liquid path wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high-density liquid path arrangement (discharge port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording medium (recording material), and in recent years, in addition to paper and a resin thin plate (OHP, etc.) which are ordinary recording media, thin paper and processed paper (filing). Bunched perforated paper, perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.) have been required.

As one form of the above ink jet recording apparatus, at least one ink jet recording head capable of ejecting a plurality of types of ink from one recording head and having ejection ports corresponding to the type of ink is used. There is a configuration for recording. Further, some inkjet recording apparatuses of this type eject an image quality improving agent that insolubilizes or aggregates the recording ink and the coloring material in the recording ink onto the recording medium. The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device of such a form.

The ink jet recording apparatus originally has the following unique problems. Firstly, since recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head onto a recording medium such as paper or an OHP film, fine ink droplets (mist) generated other than the ejected main ink droplets and recorded objects are recorded. If ink adheres to the ejection port surface of the recording head due to the bounce of ink droplets ejected onto the medium, and a large amount of ink collects around the ejection port, or if foreign matter such as paper dust adheres to it, ink ejection is impeded. It causes an adverse effect such that the ink droplets are ejected in an unexpected direction (deflection) or the ink droplets are not ejected (non-ejection).

Secondly, when the recording head does not eject accurately for a long period of time during non-printing, the ink in the ejection port evaporates and dries, and the thickened and solidified ink is clogged in the ejection port. It causes ejection defects such as twisting and non-ejection.

Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus,
A recovery means is provided for eliminating the above-mentioned inconvenience. As a means for cleaning and removing unnecessary ink and foreign matter such as paper dust on the discharge port surface due to the bounce of ink droplets from the mist or recording medium, the discharge port surface is formed by a blade (wiping member) formed of an elastic member such as rubber. Wiping
The mechanism to do is generally used.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the following constitution is generally adopted as a means (recovery means) for solving the problem of ejection failure due to evaporation and drying of the ink in the ejection port. First, by capping the recording head at the time of non-recording, it is possible to prevent the ink in the ejection port from evaporating and drying to increase in viscosity and adhere. In the unlikely event that the ink thickens and sticks causing ejection failure, or if the blade cannot remove foreign matter adhering to the ejection port surface, use a suction pump connected to the cap to remove the thickened ink in the ejection port. By discharging, a suction recovery process is performed to recover the recording head to a state in which it can exhibit a normal ejection function.

By the way, in recent years, a recording head has been used in which a plurality of types of ink are ejected onto a recording medium. When such a recording head is used in an apparatus that performs recording using a plurality of types of ink, the number of recording heads can be reduced, and the cost of the entire recording apparatus can be reduced. There is an advantage that the space required for the recording operation can be reduced and the overall size and weight of the recording apparatus can be reduced.

When the ejection port surface of the recording head having such a structure is wiped (cleaned), ink is naturally attached to the blade (wiper). As described above, in a recording apparatus configured to perform image recording using a plurality of types of ink, a plurality of types of ink are mixed near the ejection port when wiping the ejection port surface (hereinafter referred to as mixed color). ) It will be. In addition, a part of the mixed ink also enters the ejection port, and when performing the next recording, the mixed color ink in which a plurality of types of ink are mixed is ejected to the recording medium in the initial stage. .

As a countermeasure against this, ink ejection unrelated to printing (hereinafter referred to as preliminary ejection) is performed at a predetermined timing to remove mixed color ink near the ejection port. Further, the color mixture as described above also occurs when the suction recovery is performed. Against this, in general, the mixed color ink is removed by performing the preliminary ejection described above.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 64-63185 discloses a technique in which a colorless ink that insolubilizes a dye is attached onto a recording medium (recording paper) by an ink jet recording head. Further, in JP-A-5-202328, an ink containing a chemical dye having a carboxyl group and a polyvalent metal salt solution are used, and the ink is applied after applying the polyvalent metal salt solution. There is disclosed a technique for obtaining an image having a color difference and no color bleed.

In particular, when ejecting a solution for insolubilizing a dye with an ink jet head as described above, when the recording ink and the insolubilizing solution come into contact with each other in the main body of the recording apparatus, not only insolubilization but also viscosity increase. In a recording apparatus that ejects a plurality of types of ink from a single ink jet head onto a recording medium, when a colorless ink that insolubilizes a dye and an ink that includes a normal dye are used, normal wiping is performed. As a result, these inks come into contact with each other on the blade, and become insoluble and thicken as described above.

Further, if the wiping is carried out as it is, the insoluble and thickened ink adheres to the vicinity of the ejection port of the ink jet head, and the ejection of the ink is hindered and ejected in an unexpected direction (inking). However, there is an adverse effect such as not ejecting (non-ejection).

[0018]

As described above, in a recording apparatus that ejects a plurality of types of ink from a single ink jet head onto a recording medium, when ejecting a plurality of colors of ink using the ink jet head, It is necessary to perform the preliminary ejection for preventing the color mixture as described above.
However, since the ink is consumed by the preliminary ejection, there are disadvantages that the running cost is increased and the throughput of the recording apparatus is decreased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a plurality of kinds of inks from being mixed on a wiping member when wiping a recording means. This makes it possible to prevent the above-mentioned color mixture even when a plurality of colors of ink are used, and is a colorless ink that insolubilizes a dye as one of a plurality of types of ink ejected from one inkjet head. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus provided with a wiping mechanism in which different types of ink do not come into contact with each other on the wiping member to cause insolubilization or thickening even when ink is used.

[0020]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording unit onto a recording medium, a plurality of kinds of ink can be ejected from one recording unit. At least one recording unit having an ejection port corresponding to the type of ink is provided, and at least one wiping member is used to wipe the recording unit under the condition that there are a plurality of blade angles for at least one wiping member. With the configuration, the above object is achieved.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 5, in addition to the structure of claim 1, at least one wiping member is used, and at least one wiping member is at least according to the type of ink to be ejected. Under the condition that there are two blade angles, the wiping of the recording means is performed, the bent supporting member bends and supports the wiping member, the plural supporting members bend and support the wiping member, or the recording is performed. The above-described object can be achieved more efficiently by using the wiping member whose length in the direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface of the recording unit is not uniform in the width direction to wipe the recording unit.

According to the invention of claims 6 to 8, in addition to the structure of claim 1, the amount of penetration differs depending on the type of ink to be ejected for each portion of the wiping member corresponding thereto. When viewed from the direction perpendicular to the discharge port surface of the means,
A structure in which the length of the bent portion of the wiping member is shorter than the length of the other portion, or a cleaning member bent according to the shape of the wiping member is provided, and the wiping member is brought into contact with the wiping member by contacting the cleaning member. The above-mentioned object can be achieved more efficiently by adopting a structure for cleaning the member.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG.
In FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 1 includes a paper feed unit 2, a paper feed unit, a paper discharge unit 4, a carriage unit 5, and a cleaning unit 6. The paper feeding unit includes a pinch roller guide 30, a platen 34, a paper feeding roller 36, and a pinch roller 37.
The paper discharge unit 4 includes a paper discharge roller 41, and the carriage unit 5 includes a carriage 50. Also,
The cleaning unit 6 includes a pump 60 and a cap 61.

The paper feeding section 2 is composed of a pressure plate 21 mounted on a base 20, a movable side guide 23, and the like. The carriage 50 is provided with a contact portion which is electrically connected to the head cartridge as a recording means when the head cartridge is mounted on the carriage 50. The contact portion is provided at one end of the flexible cable 56, and the other end of the flexible cable 56 is connected to a circuit board (not shown) in the apparatus body.

The carriage 50 is capable of reciprocating along a guide shaft 81 and a guide rail 82 for reciprocating scanning in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording medium (recording paper or the like), Recording is performed by ejecting ink from the recording means in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 50. The guide shaft 81 and the guide rail 82
Is attached to the chassis 8 of the apparatus body. The reciprocating movement of the carriage 50 is performed by transmitting a driving force from a motor (not shown) to the carriage 50 via a timing belt 83 stretched around a motor pulley 85 and an idle pulley 84. In FIG. 1, 28 is a switching lever, and 62 is a drive switching arm.

The cleaning section 6 comprises a pump 60, a cap 61 and a blade (wiper). The cap 61 operates so as to cover the ejection port surface (capping) in order to prevent ink from drying near the ejection port of the head cartridge mounted on the carriage 50 and to prevent dust from adhering from the outside. . The pump is connected to the cap 61 and operates in a state where the ejection port surface is capped to suck ink from the ejection port.

The blade is for removing (wiping) dust adhering to the ejection port surface and ink droplets adhering to the vicinity of the ejection port after the suction operation, and is usually a plate-like rubber-like elastic member. Formed in the body. The material of this blade is preferably non-hydrolyzable urethane rubber or HNBR rubber because it has no reactivity with the ink and further minimizes damage to the ejection port surface.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the ink tank of the head cartridge 101 as a recording means mounted on the carriage 50 is not mounted, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the central portion of FIG. 2, and FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 2, and FIG.
6 is a bottom view of the inside of FIG. 6, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 2. FIG.
The head cartridge 101 in FIG. 6 is a color head cartridge having a configuration capable of ejecting cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks and a colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye. Also called a color head.

The cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks are called recording inks. Also,
A colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye is called a pretreatment ink, and is shown as (W) for convenience of explanation. In this embodiment, when recording, first, the pretreatment ink is ejected onto the recording medium, and the recording ink is ejected in the vicinity thereof to form an image.

Head cartridge 10 as recording means
1 is provided with ink tank mounting portions 110 and 111. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in the color head 101, an ink tank storage space is provided inside a housing 103 including a pair of side plates, a back plate connecting the side plates, and a front plate 113. Is formed, and the ink tank storage space portion is divided into two regions (spaces) 1 by the intermediate plate 104.
It is divided into 10, 111. One space 110 is a mounting portion for a color ink tank, and the other space 111 is a mounting portion for a pretreatment ink tank.

At the bottom of the color head 101 is provided an ink lead-out tube 107 for guiding a plurality of types of ink in the ink tank to the recording head section 120 when the ink tank is inserted. The recording head unit 120 has ejection ports 120W, 120C, 12 corresponding to each type of ink.
0M and 120Y, and the ink outlet tube 107
Also corresponds to ink types C, M, Y, W, 107C, 1
07M, 107Y, 107W are provided. These ink lead-out tubes 107 project into the tank mounting portions 110 and 111 by a predetermined length so that they can be inserted into the mounted ink tanks.

The leading ends of the lead-out tubes 107C, 107M, 107Y and 107W arranged on the side of the mounting portions 110 and 111 on which the color ink tanks and the pretreatment ink tanks are mounted are open inside the housing. As shown in FIG. 6, filters 109C, 109M, and 109 are provided in the openings.
Y and 109W are provided.

On the bottom surface of the head cartridge 101, as shown in FIG. 5, ink supply pipes 106C, 106M, 1 for connecting the respective ink lead-out pipes 107 and the recording head section 120.
06Y and 106W are provided. Further, on the surface of the tank mounting portions 110 and 111 on which the lead-out pipes 107 are arranged, an elastic plate 108 having a predetermined thickness is provided so as to surround each lead-out pipe 107.
a and 108b are laid. Each elastic plate 108a, 1
The rib 08b prevents ink from leaking into the color head due to pressure contact of a rib provided at the ink supply port of the ink tank.

As shown in FIG. 4, a notch 112 is provided on the front plate 113 at a position facing the tank mounting portion 111. Ribs formed in the pretreatment ink tank containing the pretreatment ink can be inserted into the notch 112, and an error occurs between the notch 112 and the color ink tanks containing the yellow, magenta, and cyan inks. Designed to prevent wearing.

In the color head 101 having such a structure, the ink tank containing the pretreatment ink is attached to the tank attaching portion 111, and the color ink tanks containing the inks of yellow, magenta and cyan are the tanks. It is mounted on the mounting unit 110.

FIG. 7 is a partially broken side view showing a schematic structure of the W ink tank 201 containing the pretreatment ink, FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of FIG. ,
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the upper side of FIG. In FIGS. 7 to 10, 201 is a pretreatment ink tank, 202 is a housing for containing ink, 203 is a lid member, and 204 is an upper member.
The lid member 203 is provided with an opening 205 for communication with the atmosphere. The upper member 204 is provided with a grip portion 204a used when attaching and detaching the ink tank.

At the bottom of the W ink tank 201, there are provided an ink supply opening 208 into which the lead-out pipe 107W of the color head 101 is inserted, a rib 215 protruding around the opening 208, and inclined portions 214a and 214b. It is provided. The inclined portions 214a and 214b connect the ink supply opening 208 and the rib 215.

A rib 212 is formed on a part of the side surface of the pretreatment ink tank 201 on the side where the knob portion 204a is provided.
Is provided. The rib 212 is provided on the color head 1
This corresponds to the notch 112 provided in the front plate 113 of the tank mounting portion 111 of No. 01, and prevents the pretreatment ink tank 201 from being erroneously mounted. Also, this rib 21
2 is also used as a guide when mounting the ink tank 201.

7 to 10, reference numeral 206 is a porous ink container made of a material such as urethane, 207 is an ink lead-out member composed of a fiber bundle-shaped ink holding member, 2
Reference numeral 09 is a support member for supporting the ink lead-out member 207 inside the tank.

FIG. 11 is a partially broken side view showing a schematic structure of the color ink tank, FIG. 12 is a partially broken front view of FIG. 11, FIG. 13 is a bottom view of FIG. 11, and FIG.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of FIG. 11. 11 to 14, a color ink tank 321 containing yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) inks has a structure in which the ink tanks containing these inks are integrated. There is. The structure is the same as that of the pretreatment ink tank described with reference to FIGS.

The color ink tank 321 has a structure in which the inside of the ink housing 322 is partitioned by partitioning members 336 and 337 having a substantially T shape. The storage amounts of the color inks stored in the respective ink tanks thus partitioned are substantially equal to each other.

Next, the structure of the color ink tank 321 will be described. The color ink tank 321 includes an ink housing 322, a lid member 323, and an upper member 324. The lid member 323 covers the housing 322, and the atmosphere communication opening 325Y of each color ink tank,
It is equipped with 325M and 325C. The upper member 324
Is attached to the upper portion of the lid member 323 and has a space serving as a buffer chamber so that ink leakage from the atmosphere communication openings 325 does not reach the outside, and a position of each atmosphere communication opening 325 is provided in a part thereof. It has one atmosphere opening at a different position. Further, the upper member 324 is provided with a knob portion 324a used when attaching / detaching to / from the color head 101.

At the bottom of the color ink tank 321, an ink supply opening 328 (Y, M, C) into which the lead-out pipe 107 (Y, M, C) of the color head 101 is inserted, and a projection around the opening 328. Ribs 335 (Y,
M, C) and inclined portions 334a (Y, M, C), 334b
(Y, M, C) are provided. The inclined portion 334
a (Y, M, C) and 334b (Y, M, C) are ink supply openings 328 (Y, M, C) and ribs 335 (Y, M,
C) and is connected.

The operation of mounting the color ink tank 321 on the color head (color head cartridge) 101 is performed by utilizing the rotating operation. During this rotation operation, the ink supply opening 328 (Y, M, C) is connected to the outlet pipe 107.
The inclined portion 334a is provided so as not to hit the tip portions of (Y, M, C) and hinder smooth mounting.
The (Y, M, C) side is an inclined surface with a gentle angle.

Ink containers 326 (Y, M, C) are housed inside the color ink tanks 321, and each ink container 326 (Y, M, C) and each ink supply opening 328 (Y). , M, C) between the ink lead-out member 32
7 (Y, M, C) are provided. The inside and outside of the ink tank 321 are provided at a part of the inner surface of each of the support members 329 (Y, M, C) for supporting the ink lead-out member 327 (Y, M, C) inside the ink tank 321. There is a slit communicating with and.

As the ink composition of the pretreatment ink, a recording quality which is superior to that of so-called plain paper which is generally used and which has a high character quality such as text and a good sharpness is used. In addition, as the ink composition of the color ink, an ink is used in which the image of the boundary hardly bleeds even when the inks are adjacent to each other.

Further, the color head (color head cartridge) 101 has a structure in which a pretreatment ejection port and three types of color ejection ports (Y, M, C) are arranged in a straight line. Specifically, regarding the pretreatment ink, 6
Four ejection openings are provided, and the ejection amount of ink droplets is designed to be ejected at about 90 ng / dot (1 ng = 1 × 10 ⁻⁹ g).

As for the color discharge ports, 24 discharge ports are provided for each of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and the discharge amount of ink droplets is designed to be about 40 ng / dot. The distance between the ejection port groups for each color is set to a distance corresponding to about 8 ejection ports.
The recording drive frequency is the same as that of the W head cartridge.
It is set to KH _Z.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the color ink tank 321 is attached to the head cartridge (ink jet unit) 101. In FIG. 15, the color ink tank 321 is mounted in the head cartridge 101 while using a part of the housing 103 as a guide portion and rotating with respect to the upper portion 114 of the front plate 113. FIG.
6 and 17 show the color ink tank 32 on the main body of the apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state of a replacement operation of the first and pretreatment ink tanks 201.

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the relationship between the ejection port surface and the blade (wiper) when wiping the recording head in the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 19 is the wiping shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ejection opening surface and the blade when performing the above, as viewed from the front of the ejection opening surface of the recording head. 18 and 19, the arrow A indicates the direction in which the inkjet head 101 moves during wiping. In this embodiment, FIG. 18 and FIG.
As shown in, the wiping of the discharge port surface 11 is performed using the curved blade 12.

18 and 19, the discharge port surface 11
In the above, ejection port groups 120C, 120M, and 120Y for recording inks of cyan, magenta, and yellow and ejection port group 120W for pretreatment ink are arranged in a straight line. The blade 12 is bent at a position passing between the ejection port group 120 (C, M, Y) for the recording inks of cyan, magenta, and yellow and the ejection port group 120W for the pretreatment ink. That is, the cleaning range is divided between the ejection opening groups (120C and 120W in the present embodiment) of the ink that is not particularly desired to be mixed among the plurality of types of ink.

The angles α and β in FIG. 19 are the normals of the wiping direction (relative movement direction) of the blade 12 to the discharge port surface 11 and the surface of the blade 12 when the discharge port surface 11 is viewed from the front during wiping. Indicates the angle to and from the vector. For convenience of explanation, the angles α and β are referred to as blade angles, and the clockwise direction in the drawing is positive and the opposite direction is negative.
The blade 12 is bent near the center, and the blade angle is a positive angle on the right side (shown in FIG. 19) in FIG.
The left side (β in the figure) in FIG. 19 has a negative angle.

In FIG. 18, by wiping under the blade angle and the relative movement direction as described above, the recording ink (C, M,
Y) moves to the lower left direction in FIG.
The pretreatment ink W accumulated on the ejection port surface 11 moves in the upper right direction in FIG. That is, the blade 12 is cleaned (wiped) with respect to the relative movement direction of the recording head 101 and the blade 12 within the ejection port surface 11 where the ejection port group 120 (C, M, Y, W) is formed. Is divided into inks that should not be mixed, and each of the divided inks is bent so as to move to both ends of the ejection port surface 11.

As a result, the contact between the recording ink (C, M, Y) and the pretreatment ink W near the center of the blade 12 is prevented, and the harmful effects (insolubilization and increase) caused by the contact between the recording ink and the pretreatment ink are prevented. It is possible to prevent (adverse effects of stickiness). Further, with respect to ink droplets generated during wiping, it is possible to set the scattering directions of the pretreatment ink and the recording ink to be different directions.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of attaching the blade 12 to the recording apparatus. In FIG. 20, the blade 12 is not bent as a single component, but is attached to the recording apparatus via a bent mounting component (holding member) 13 to be mounted in a curved posture (state) as illustrated. .

FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing the shape of the blade 12 itself. The blade 12 used in this embodiment has a shape in which the central portion 14 is appropriately depressed as shown in the drawing. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the length (entry amount) S from the ejection port surface 11 to be wiped to the tip of the blade 12 not to be wiped. In addition, in FIG. 22, the shape of the blade 12 is the same as the conventional one in order to facilitate understanding of the definition of the entry amount S of the blade 12 during wiping.

The blade 12 is pressed against the ejection opening surface 11 and bends during wiping. Therefore, the blade 12 presses the ejection opening surface 11 with a certain pressure to move the ink adhering to the ejection opening surface 11. However, in the blade 12 according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, since the central portion is bent, a relatively large force (pressing reaction force) is required to bend at the central portion due to the pressing reaction force from the discharge port surface 11. ) Is required, and the advancing amount S of the blade 12 is
If it is constant between the center and the end of the nozzle, a larger pressing force acts near the center of the discharge port surface 11 than at the end during wiping, resulting in damage to the discharge port surface 11 and premature wear of the blade 12. It causes inconvenience.

Therefore, the blade 1 used in this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 21, the shape of the blade 2 itself is a shape in which the central portion 14 of the blade is appropriately recessed. That is, by making the central portion 14 of the blade 12 a concave shape, the entry amount S in the curved portion of the central portion of the blade is reduced at the time of wiping, so that the other portions are pressed more strongly than the central portion 14. A large amount of bending is performed, which makes it possible to perform wiping with a uniform pressing force over the entire contact surface between the blade 12 and the discharge port surface 11.

FIG. 23 shows a mounting method different from FIG. 20 for mounting the blade 12 on the recording apparatus (second mounting method).
It is a schematic diagram which shows (Example). In the blade mounting method of FIG. 23, the blade 12 is not bent as a single component, but as shown in the drawing, by mounting the blade 12 to the recording device via the mounting components (holding members) 15, 15 at predetermined intervals. , Is mounted in a bent posture (state) as shown.

As a result, the blade 12 can be bent and attached in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 20, and the same effect as in the case of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. In addition to the method shown in the first embodiment of FIG. 20 and the second embodiment of FIG. 23, the blade 12 is, for example,
A bent groove may be formed, and the blade 12 may be fixed by inserting the blade 12 into the groove, and the same effect can be obtained by this mounting method.

FIG. 24 is a front view of another embodiment (third embodiment) of the wiping mechanism using the blade 12 as seen from the direction facing the ejection port surface 11. In the third embodiment, the ink jet head (color head) 101 is
A cleaning member 16 having a shape corresponding to the blade 12 is provided. Then, the cleaning member 16 operates to clean the blade 12 at a predetermined timing.

In FIG. 24, when the inkjet head (head cartridge) 101 is moved in the direction of arrow A to wipe the ejection port surface 11, the blade 12 first contacts the head 101, and the cleaning member 1 is attached to the cleaning member 1.
6 are provided. That is, immediately before the blade 12 wipes the ejection port surface 11 of the inkjet head 101, the blade 12 is brought into sliding contact with the cleaning member 16 to clean and remove foreign matter such as thickened ink adhering to the blade 12. It is configured.

When recording is performed, some ink droplets (ink mist) composed of minute droplets are generated. Therefore, on the blade 12, both the ink attached by wiping and the ink mist of an ink of a different type are attached. According to the configuration of FIG. 24, since the deposits on the blades 12 can be removed before wiping, it is possible to greatly reduce the chances that different kinds of ink are mixed during wiping.

In the third embodiment of FIG. 24, the member 16 for cleaning the blade 12 is provided in the ink jet head 101, but the mounting position of the cleaning member 16 is not limited to this.
The present embodiment is characterized in that the blade 12 is cleaned by using the cleaning member 16 corresponding to the shape of the blade 12. For example, a member for cleaning the blade 12 is attached to the carriage 50 (FIG. 1). It may be provided.

According to each of the embodiments described above, one recording means 10 is provided with the ejection port group 120 (C, M, Y, W) corresponding to the ink type so that a plurality of types of ink can be ejected.
When the ejection port surface 11 of the recording unit is wiped by one wiping member (blade) 12, the wiping member is formed into a curved shape so that the wiping is performed under a plurality of blade angles α and β. Since it is configured to perform, it is possible to prevent mixing of a plurality of types of ink on the wiping member 12 when wiping the recording unit 101, and as a result, even when a plurality of colors of ink are used, as described above. A colorless ink (W) that insolubilizes a dye is used as one of a plurality of types of ink (C, M, Y, W) ejected from one recording unit 101. Inkjet provided with a wiping mechanism in which different types of ink do not come into contact with each other on the wiping member 12 to cause insolubilization or thickening A recording device is provided.

At the same time, it is possible to change the direction in which a plurality of types of ink droplets generated by wiping fly, for each type of ink. As a result, it is possible to avoid mixing of a plurality of types of ink on the wiping member (blade) 12, and it is possible to eliminate the harmful effects of color mixing.

In each of the above-described embodiments (first to third embodiments), the case where the recording ink (C, M, Y) and the pretreatment ink (W) are ejected from the same head 101 has been described. The present invention includes a blade (wiping member) 12
The purpose is to prevent the above-mentioned color mixture, and is not limited to the recording apparatus provided with the recording unit that uses both the recording ink and the pretreatment ink as a plurality of types of ink. The wiping of the present invention is, for example, a plurality of types (eg, two types).
The same effect can be obtained even when the recording ink of (1) is ejected from one head.

That is, by performing the wiping of the present invention when ejecting only plural kinds of recording ink from one recording means 101, the conventional preliminary ejection for preventing color mixture after wiping or suction recovery processing is omitted. It is possible,
It is possible to save ink, reduce the running cost and reduce the amount of waste ink.

In addition, each of the above-described embodiments (first to third embodiments).
In the embodiment, the shape of the wiping member (blade) 12 is curved near the center, but the present invention is not limited to such a blade shape. That is, 1
Various blade shapes can be adopted as long as the shapes can prevent color mixing by wiping under the condition that a plurality of blade angles exist for one blade. For example, a wiping member having a constant curvature (partial arc shape) or an arc shape having a variable curvature may be used.

In addition, each of the above-described embodiments (first to third embodiments).
In the embodiment, the case of the recording apparatus including one inkjet head 101 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be similarly implemented in an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording using a plurality of recording heads, and similar operational effects can be obtained.

For example, a recording apparatus for recording using four color recording inks, wherein two kinds of inks, black and magenta, cyan and yellow, are ejected from two recording heads for recording. In the case of using one wiping member (blade) for wiping according to the present invention, the wiping member (blade) should be configured so as to avoid color mixture of inks having low lightness of black and cyan and inks having high lightness of magenta and yellow. It is also possible to reduce the adverse effects due to the color mixture as described above. However, in this case, since color mixing occurs between black and cyan, or between magenta and yellow, it is necessary to carry out preliminary ejection for preventing color mixing to the extent that no adverse effect of color mixing occurs on the image.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments (first to third embodiments), one wiping member (blade) 1 is used.
Although the configuration using only 2 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be similarly applied to an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a plurality of blades, and similar operational effects can be obtained.

For example, a plurality of types of recording ink (C, M,
Y) and an ink jet head for ejecting the pretreatment ink (W), and a black ink jet head for high-speed recording.
Contact between the pretreatment ink and the black ink causes insolubilization and thickening of the ink, which must be avoided. For that purpose, two blades used individually for each of the two recording heads may be provided. that time,
Conventional straight blades may be used as the black blade need not be curved as shown in the previous embodiment.

Further, each discharge port 120 (C, M, Y, W)
The wiping member (blade) 1 according to the ejection characteristics resulting from the properties of the ink ejected from the nozzle and the diameter of the ejection port.
The two entry amounts S (FIG. 22) may be different. In that case, if the entry amount S is too large, a phenomenon may occur in which the ink in the ejection port is pulled out onto the ejection port surface 11 by wiping. Then, this phenomenon depends on the viscosity and surface tension of the ink, the cross-sectional shape of the ejection port, and the like. Therefore, by changing the amount of entry S depending on the characteristics of the ink and the ejection port, it is possible to perform wiping while suppressing the drawing of the ink from the ejection port.

In the above embodiments, the case of the serial recording method in which the recording means (head cartridge) 101 is moved in the main scanning direction has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the full width or one width of the recording material. The same can be applied to the case of the line recording method in which the line recording means of the length that covers the portion is used to perform the recording only in the sub-scanning, and the same effect can be achieved.

In addition to the recording apparatus for recording with one recording means, the present invention also employs a recording apparatus using a plurality of recording means, or a gradation recording apparatus using a plurality of recording means for recording with the same color and different densities. Further, the same can be applied to the case of a recording device in which these are combined, and the same effect can be achieved.

Furthermore, the present invention uses a replaceable head cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated, a structure in which the recording head and the ink tank are separated, and the space between them is connected by an ink supply tube or the like. The same can be applied to any arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank, and the same effect can be obtained.

The present invention can also be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus which uses a recording means using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, among others. This brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means of ejection type. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

[0079]

As apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means onto a recording medium.
At least one recording unit provided with an ejection port corresponding to the type of ink so that a plurality of types of ink can be ejected from one recording unit, and at least one wiping member is used, and a plurality of units are provided for at least one wiping member. Since the wiping of the recording means is performed under the condition that the blade angle of is, it is possible to prevent the mixture of plural kinds of ink on the wiping member when wiping the recording means, and thereby, the plural colors It is possible to prevent the color mixture as described above even when using the ink of, and even when using a colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye as one of a plurality of types of ink ejected from one inkjet head, A wiping mechanism in which different types of ink do not come into contact with each other on the wiping member to cause insolubilization or thickening. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 5, in addition to the structure of claim 1, at least one wiping member is used, and at least one wiping member is used according to the type of ink to be ejected. A structure for wiping the recording means under the condition that there are at least two blade angles, a structure for bending and supporting the wiping member with a bent supporting member, a structure for bending and supporting the wiping member with a plurality of supporting members, or Since the wiping member has a configuration in which the length in the direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface of the recording unit is not uniform in the width direction, the wiping of the recording unit is performed, so that the above-described effect can be obtained more efficiently. Will be provided.

According to the sixth to eighth aspects of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the amount of penetration differs depending on the type of ink to be ejected for each portion of the wiping member corresponding thereto. When viewed from the direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface of the recording unit, the length of the bent portion of the wiping member is shorter than the length of the other portion, or a cleaning member bent according to the shape of the wiping member is used. Since the cleaning device is provided and the wiping member is cleaned by bringing the cleaning member and the wiping member into contact with each other, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can achieve the above effect more efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which an ink tank of a head cartridge mounted on a carriage is not mounted.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the central portion of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 2;

5 is a bottom view of the inside of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view, partly broken, showing a schematic configuration of an ink tank containing a pretreatment ink.

FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7;

9 is a bottom view of FIG. 7. FIG.

10 is a sectional view of the upper side of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side view, partly broken, showing a schematic configuration of a color ink tank.

12 is a partially cutaway front view of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the color ink tank is attached to the head cartridge.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which an old color ink tank is removed from the apparatus main body.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a state in which a new color ink tank is mounted on the apparatus main body.

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the relationship between the ejection port surface and the blade when wiping the recording head.

19 is a view of the relationship between the ejection port surface and the blade when the wiping shown in FIG. 18 is performed, as viewed from the front of the ejection port surface.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of attaching the blade to the recording apparatus.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing the shape of the blade itself.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a length (entry amount) S from a discharge port surface to be wiped to a tip of a blade which is not wiped.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing another attachment method for attaching the blade to the recording apparatus.

FIG. 24 is a front view of still another configuration example of the wiping mechanism to which the present invention is applied, as seen from the direction facing the ejection port surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink jet recording apparatus 2 Paper feeding section 4 Paper discharging section 5 Carriage section 6 Cleaning section 8 Chassis 11 Discharge port surface 12 Wiping member (blade) 13 Blade mounting part 14 Recessed part near the center 15 Blade mounting part 16 Cleaning member 34 Platen 36 Paper feed roller 37 Pinch roller 41 Paper discharge roller 50 Carriage 60 Pump 61 Cap 81 Guide shaft 82 Guide rail 83 Timing belt 101 Head cartridge (recording unit) 103 Housing 104 Middle plate 110 Tank mounting portion 111 Tank mounting portion 112 Notch portion 113 Front plate 120 Ejection port group 201 Pretreatment ink tank 321 Color ink tank A Moving direction of recording means during wiping α Blade angle β Blade angle

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording medium,
At least one recording unit provided with an ejection port corresponding to the type of ink so that a plurality of types of ink can be ejected from one recording unit, and at least one wiping member is used, An inkjet recording apparatus, wherein wiping of a recording unit is performed under a condition where a blade angle is present. 2. The wiping of the recording means is performed using at least one wiping member, and at least one wiping member has at least two blade angles depending on the type of ink to be ejected. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping member is bent and supported by a bent support member. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping member is bent and supported by a plurality of supporting members. 5. The wiping member is wiped by using a wiping member whose length in the direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface of the recording device is not uniform in the width direction.
The inkjet recording device according to claim 4. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of penetration varies depending on the portion of the wiping member corresponding to the type of ink to be ejected. 7. The bending portion of the wiping member has a length shorter than the length of the other portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface of the recording unit. The inkjet recording device according to any one of 1. 8. The wiping member is cleaned according to a shape of the wiping member, and the wiping member is cleaned by bringing the cleaning member and the wiping member into contact with each other.
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 9. The ink jet recording means according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an ink jet recording means provided with an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. An inkjet recording device according to claim 1. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. .