JPS60204344A - Liquid jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled apparatus capable of mounting a recording head to an accurate position, by constituting a support means for supporting a liquid jet means in a detachable manner of a guide means, an energizing means and an engagement means. CONSTITUTION:A recording head 1 is inserted into an opening and closing case 12 in such a state that said case 12 is opened and further pushed in against a spring 15. Then, the opening and closing case 12 is closed and an orifice 7 is passed through an opening part 20. The recording head 1 is pressed to the side of the orifice 7 by a press plate 14 and fixed in a state closely contacted with a press plate 19 while electrodes 5, 21 are also closely contacted and electrically connected. There is no variation in an ink emitting direction due to the replacement of the recording head 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to a liquid jet recording apparatus in which a recording head can be easily mounted in an accurate position.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in a recording device using a liquid jet (inkjet) recording head, the recording liquid necessary for recording is stored in a recording liquid reservoir (ink tank) or a flexible pipe provided at a location separate from the recording head. supplied by the supply pipe,
Furthermore, electrical signals for driving the electrothermal transducer of the recording head are supplied by connecting a flexible wiring cable to a drive circuit section provided at a location separate from the recording head.

In such a recording apparatus, the recording head is fixed to a carriage portion, and the recording liquid supply tube is fixedly connected to a supply tube connecting member provided on the recording head by means such as press-fitting, screwing, or gluing.

- The flexible cable for guiding electrical signals to the recording head can be connected by crimping the wiring node provided on the recording head to the connecting node of the flexible cable, or by wire bonding, soldering, thermocompression bonding, etc. After being bonded to each other using methods such as these, they were fixed to the recording head.

As mentioned above, in conventional recording devices, the recording head is fixed to the carriage, and the recording liquid supply tube and electric signal cable are fixedly connected to the recording head, and the user operates the recording head. It was not easy to remove it from the recording device.

Therefore, if the recording head breaks down during use, there is a problem in that the user cannot immediately remove the recording head and replace it with another recording head.

In addition, in order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, the recording head must have high reliability over a very long period of time, but it is difficult to provide such a recording head, and at the same time, it is difficult to produce such a recording head. The disadvantage is that the recording head becomes expensive due to lower yields, more complex structures, and stricter selection of materials.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, an inkjet recording head of a type in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated has been proposed. With this type of inkjet recording head, if the recording head breaks down, it is easy to replace.
Moreover, since it is not necessary to remove the ink supply tube from the recording head when replacing it, the ink often stains the hands. In terms of the design of the recording device, since the ink supply tube and ink tank are integrated with the head, there are no restrictions on the scanning of the carriage, allowing for free design.

However, even with such an improved print head, although it is easier to replace the print head, the ink ejection direction cannot be determined accurately after the print head is installed, and good print results are not necessarily obtained. Ta.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional art, and its object is to provide a liquid jet recording device which has a simple configuration, allows a recording head to be mounted in an accurate front position, and which can be easily removed. There is a particular thing.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the liquid jet recording device according to the present invention includes a support means that includes a guide means that allows the liquid jet means to move only in the liquid jet direction, and a guide means that allows the liquid jet means to move in one direction in the liquid jet direction. It is characterized by comprising a biasing means for biasing, and a locking means for stopping the liquid ejecting means biased by the biasing means in a fixed position.

Here, the liquid ejecting means is an inkjet recording head, such as one using a piezoelectric element or one using thermal energy of a heating element. Furthermore, it is desirable that a tank for storing the liquid (ink) to be ejected is integrated.

The support means supports the recording head, and is, for example, a carriage.

The guide means may be anything that orients the recording head in the ink ejection direction when the recording head is mounted, and may be, for example, a tube into which the recording head can be inserted, or a recess that engages with a convex portion provided on the recording head. Good too.

[Embodiments of the invention]

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings.

(5) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a recording head 1 in a first embodiment of a liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, a nozzle 3 is fixed to a case 2 that also serves as an ink tank, and a cylindrical piezoelectric element 4 is mounted around the nozzle 3.
is provided. An electrode 5 for supplying current to the piezoelectric element 4 is exposed on the bottom surface of the case 2.

The ink 6 in the case 2 is sent to the orifice 7 by the nozzle 3.
When the piezoelectric element 4 is energized, it is ejected from the orifice 7 in the form of droplets.

Note that the filter 8 provided on the top surface of the case 2 also serves as a ventilation means for keeping the pressure inside the ink tank constant.

In this way, the recording head 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with only the orifice 7 protruding.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the carriage in this embodiment. In the figure, a support member 10 is fixed on the moving part 9 and rotatably supports both ends of a shaft 110. Axis 11
The opening/closing case 12 is fixed to the opening/closing case 12, and panels (6) (not shown) are provided at both ends to urge the opening/closing case 12 in the direction of the arrow 13.

A suppression plate 14 is slidably provided inside the opening/closing case 12 and is stopped at a fixed position by a spring 15.

Further, the opening/closing case 12 is provided with a fixed key 16 for closing the opening/closing case 12, and an opening 17 for ventilation is provided on the top surface.

Insert the recording head 1 into the opening/closing case 12 in the direction of arrow 1.
Insert in 8 directions with the orifice 7 facing upward.

A presser plate 19 is fixed to the orifice side of the moving part 9, and the presser plate 19 is provided with an opening 20 through which the orifice 7 passes. Further, an electrode 21 on the current supply side is exposed and provided at a position in contact with the electrode 5 of the recording head 1. The keyhole 22 locks the fixed key 16 to keep the opening/closing case 12 closed.

With the opening/closing case 12 open as shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 1 is inserted into the opening/closing case 12 and pushed further against the spring 15. Then, the opening/closing case 12 is closed, and the orifice 7 is passed through the opening 20. In this way, recording head 1
It is extremely easy to install.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage showing the state in which the recording head 1 is set on the carriage in this manner.

In FIG. 3, the recording head 1 is pressed toward the orifice 7 by the pressing plate 14, and is firmly fixed in close contact with the holding plate 19. At this time, electrodes 5 and 21 are also brought into close contact and electrically connected.

FIG. 4 shows a recording head in a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4(,) is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 4(b) is an elevational view thereof.

In this embodiment, an electrode 23 connected to the piezoelectric element 4 is provided on the orifice surface of the recording head 1, and a rail-shaped convex portion 24 is further provided on the bottom surface of the case 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carriage in this embodiment.

In the figure, a groove 25 corresponding to the shape of the convex portion 24, which is wider at the tip side, is provided on the moving portion 9, and a presser plate 26 is provided so as to block the groove 25.

The holding plate 26 is provided with an electrode 27 on the current supply side at a position in contact with the electrode 23, and an opening 28 through which the orifice 7 passes.

Further, a shaft 29 is fixed to the moving part 9, and a shaft 29 is attached to the shaft 29.
39 is rotatably attached. Stotsunogu 30
is biased upward by a spring (not shown) provided on the shaft 29. In the carriage configured in this way, the straight horn J? 3Q is lowered, the convex portion 24 of the recording head 1 is engaged with the groove 25 from the orifice 7 side, and pushed in. The orifice surface is presser plate 2.
6, the stopper 30 is raised and the rear surface of the recording head 1 is pressed.

Due to the shapes of the protrusions 24 and grooves 25 and the pressing force of the stopper 30, the recording head 1 is reliably fixed in all directions, and the electrodes 23 and 27 (9) are brought into close contact to ensure electrical connection. .

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the recording head 1 is inserted into the opening/closing case 12 and pressed by the positioning plate 14, it is fixed very reliably and electrically connected. In the second embodiment, the recording head 1 is oriented by inserting the convex portion 24 into the groove 25, fixed by the stopper 30, and electrically connected.

Therefore, in both embodiments, the recording head 1 can be oriented in the correct ink ejection direction by simply inserting the recording head 1 according to the guide means, and the electrical connection can also be ensured.

In the first embodiment, the electrode 5 is mounted on the bottom of the case 2, but it may of course be mounted on the front as shown in the second embodiment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above in detail, the liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention can (10) accurately position the ink discharge direction without making any special adjustment when the recording head is mounted. Therefore, there is no change in the ink ejection direction due to replacement of the print head, and good printing results can be obtained.

In addition, the recording head can be securely fixed by the biasing means, and the electrical connection can also be ensured. Moreover, since the recording head is slid onto the support means and pressed, it is extremely easy to attach and detach the recording head. It is easy to install and troubles when attaching and detaching are greatly reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a recording head in a first embodiment of a liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a carriage in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a carriage in FIG. Cross-sectional view 1 of the carriage, jig, and recording head when the recording head is installed. Figure 4 (=) is a sectional view of the recording head in the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 (b) is an elevational view 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carriage in the second embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Recording head, 2... Case, 3... Nozzle, 5... Electrode, 6... Ink, 7... Orifice, 12... Opening/closing case, 14... Suppression plate , 19.2
6... Presser plate, 21.27... Electrode, 24.
...Protrusion, 25...Groove, 30...Stopper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a liquid jet recording device having a liquid jetting means and a support means for removably supporting the liquid jetting means, the supporting means is a guide means that allows the liquid jetting means to move only in the liquid jetting direction. and urging means for urging the liquid ejecting means in one direction of the liquid ejecting direction, and locking means for stopping the liquid ejecting means urged by the urging means in a fixed position. Characteristic liquid jet recording device.