JPS6082355A - Capping apparatus for inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent drying at the tip of nozzles and mixing of color in ink by pressing the tips of different color nozzles with ink absorbing bodies wet provided corresponding thereto during the capping. CONSTITUTION:An elastic member 15 made of synthetic rubber or the like is inserted into a cap case 14 and additionally separates ink absorbing bodies 16A-16D made of porous material are so arranged to be allowed to contact the tips of all inkjet nozzles to subtanks 10A-10D and at intervals the same as those of the nozzles. Therefore, a cap 13 is moved in the direction B and when the tip face of a recording head 10 is being capped, wet ink absorbing bodies 16A-16D are pressed against respective nozzle tip faces so that the elastic member 15 closes the perimeter of each color nozzle separated from the other color nozzle. On the other hand, when the capping is released, this ink absorbing body is higher in the water absorptivity than the nozzle like a sponge to eliminate building up of ink at the tips of nozzles.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention is used in an inkjet recording apparatus having multi-inkjet nozzles with a multicolor configuration, and the nozzles 7 are sprayed while preventing color mixing between each nozzle.

(Prior Art) Generally, the inkjet nozzle of an inkjet recording device dries easily, and therefore, conventionally, the tip of this nozzle has been sealed with a cap. However, when a multi-color multi-inkjet nozzle, in which multiple nozzles eject ink of different colors, is sealed with a conventional cap, the ink adhering to the cap mixes, and when capping is performed again, the mixed color There was a risk that the ink would discolor the ink inside the nozzle. In addition, some conventional caps have poor water absorbency, and when the cap is released and the nozzle is run, ink may accumulate at the tip of the nozzle. This ink pool occurs particularly when using a capping device equipped with a so-called suction recovery function that removes non-discharge from the nozzle by suction.Figures 1 to 6 explain such a conventional example. On the carriage (not shown)
A multi-ink jet nozzle 2 is provided at the tip of a sub-tank 1 provided with K, and when a printing failure such as non-ejection occurs, a cap 6 moves toward the nozzle side and seals the multi-ink jet nozzle 2 with an elastic member 4.

When the negative pressure suction pump 6 is operated with the multi-ink jet nozzle/I/2 sealed by the elastic member 4, a negative pressure is created in the space 7 via the connecting tube 5, and ink flows into the space 7 from the nozzle. The air layer inside the nozzle, which is the cause of non-ejection, is discharged from the nozzle and ejection becomes possible. However, when the middle threading is opened in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The ink is pulled in both directions toward the cap and the nozzle by surface tension, and even if the area around the nozzle is made water repellent, some ink will remain, creating an ink pool 9 around the nozzle as shown in FIG. If there is an ink pool 9 at the tip of the nozzle as described above, the nozzle will very often fail to eject.

(Purpose) The present invention was made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a capping device that opens the cap while effectively preventing color mixing of ink.〇 (Example) Fig. 4 shows the present invention. In this embodiment, the recording head 10 on the inkjet recording apparatus side is aligned with the guide rail 11.
move in a straight line in a direction. Recording spatula)"10tj: , stores each color ink of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, and transfers the stored ink to an inkjet nozzle dedicated to each tank (nozzle 10D in Figure 5).
It consists of sub-tanks 10A, 10B, 100, and 10D that discharge water toward the front from (only N is shown). Each tank is arranged parallel to the A direction, so that when the recording head moves in the A direction, ink of each color can be overprinted onto the same dot.

In addition, each sub-tank has a sub-tank/IOD shown in Figure 5.
Similarly, a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a straight line in the vertical direction perpendicular to the guide rail 11, making it possible to record half of a character-character or a character-line in -times of scanning. The entire nozzle in each sub-tank forms a multicolor multi-inkjet nozzle. 013 is a cap that seals the nozzle surface of the recording head 10 and blocks each nozzle from the atmosphere, and the capping device of this embodiment constitutes the main part of The cap 13 is constructed by fitting an elastic member 15 made of synthetic rubber or the like into a cap case 14 whose interior is cut out so that the cross section in the direction parallel to the width direction is U-shaped. Separate porous ink absorbers 1 (5A, 16B, 16G) made of
, 16D. Each ink absorber 1
6A to 1ATII+J-4-IzI41 ivy=a+-goJ-/A4n^-qnn It has a length in the vertical direction and a width that can contact all the inkjet nozzle tips, and furthermore, each i/a The containers 16A to 16D are arranged at intervals equal to the intervals between the inkjet nozzles of each subtank 10A to IOD. Therefore, when the cap 13 is moved in the direction B, which is approximately perpendicular to the direction A, and the tip surface of the recording head 10 is capped, each subtank IO
Each nozzle tip of A to 10D has an ink absorber 16.
1 to 16D, and at the same time, the periphery of the nozzle tip of each tank is sealed by the elastic member 15. Coupled with the property that the ink for inkjet recording devices does not easily dry, each of the ink absorbers 16A to 16D continues to swell for several months at room temperature once wetted. In this way, each nozzle tip opening is sealed by the elastic member 15, and the wet ink absorber 1 (SA
~16D, the nozzle is extremely resistant to dryness. In addition, the capping operation of the tip surface of the recording head 10 by the cap 13 is performed.
mmtk W t A = 4 t h, ay is pressed against the tip surface of each nozzle, and then the elastic member 15 seals the periphery of each color nozzle while separating it from other color nozzles. Since the ink absorber has almost no air layer, it is difficult to force air into the nozzle when it comes into pressure contact with the nozzle. On the other hand, when the capping is open, this ink absorber is like a sponge and has stronger water absorption than the nozzle, so the sucked ink is always retained on the cap side, eliminating ink and accumulation at the tip of the nozzle, and immediately sending an electrical signal. Normal discharge can be performed from the nozzle depending on the conditions.

The cap 13 is connected via tubes 17A, 17B, 170° 17D, which are independent and not connected to each other.
It is connected to a suction pump 18 which is a negative pressure generation source, and the capping device of this embodiment has a nozzle suction recovery function by this suction pump 18. Each tube 17A~1
7D are attached in one-to-one correspondence with each ink absorber 16A to 16DIC, and the ink sucked from each nozzle via each ink absorber is mixed until it is sucked into the suction bong. There is no

The suction pump 18 is a piston type negative pressure generating bong,
By pushing down the knob 19, a sealing member 20 (FIG. 6), which is a piston fixed to the knob 19, slides within the cylinder 21, which is the main body of the suction pump 18, to generate negative pressure. In the example of the cylinder 21 on the same circumferential line, ink suction ports 21A, 21B, 21G, and 21D are formed to protrude, and each of the suction ports is connected to each of the tubes 17A to 17D. In this way, the ink suction port 21
Since A, 21B, and 210.21D are on the same circumferential line of the cylinder 21, each suction port 21A to 21D is located on the sixth
As shown in the figure, when the sea # member 20 is at the home position, the pressure is
Km is removed simultaneously by this sealing member 20. Therefore,
The inks do not mix colors even if left in the state shown in Figure 6.

As described above, in this embodiment, during capping,
The tips of the nozzles that eject ink of different colors from each other are pressed by ink absorbers in a moist state that are individually provided for each nozzle, so the tips of the nozzles are always moist and never dry during capping. Moreover, when the capping is released, an ink pool is formed at the tip of the nozzle.Furthermore, color mixing of ink can be completely prevented during this time.

Furthermore, the capping device of this embodiment is equipped with a suction recovery function, and ink is sucked from each nozzle via each ink absorber 16A to 16D, so that the ink absorber is always kept moist with the sucked ink. It is highly preferred to prevent the nozzle from drying out.

In addition, in this embodiment, not only the ink absorber in the cap but also the connection tube with the suction pump are independent for each color. Since the connecting tubes are isolated from each other by the sealing member, color mixing of ink is completely prevented.The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example, the negative pressure generation source may only be a piston type. Instead, it may be a rotary set or something else.

Further, the elastic member within the cap may not be integrated, but may be separated for each color nozzle. It is also clear that a negative pressure pump is not necessarily required for the invention.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, ink color mixing is effectively prevented, and no ink pools are formed at the nozzle tip when the cap is opened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the conventional example, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the capping shown in Fig. 1 when it is opened, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the ink reservoir, Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment according to the present invention, and Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment according to the present invention. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the suction pump. 10...Recording head 16...O...Cap 15...Elastic member 16A-16D...Ink absorber 17A-17D
Sac...Tube 18...Suction pump 20...Elastic sealing member Applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Togari 1st layer 2nd port ZICYlu Z (7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) A capping device for an inkjet recording device that seals the tip of a multicolor multi-inkjet nozzle with a cap, characterized in that an ink absorber is provided that independently contacts each nozzle with the internal pressure of the cap. Capping it for an inkjet recording device. (2) The capping device for an inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorber is made of a porous material that swells in a wet state. (6) The capping device 0 for an inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a negative pressure generation source and has a nozzle suction recovery function. (4) The cap and the negative pressure generation source are 4. A camping device for an inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each color is connected by an independent tube.