JPS6321149A - Head cap of ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a cap for transport which is easy to handle and suitable for application to a disposable head formed integrally with a cartridge, by providing a film brought into close contact with a surface of a ink jet nozzle, and forming an ink layer between the film and the surface of the nozzle. CONSTITUTION:A thin ink layer 20 is formed between a film 30 and a surface 12 of a nozzle 10; the film 30 is held on the nozzle surface 12 with the surface tension of the ink layer 20. A relief hole 53 is provided on a cap body 50 so as to prevent a nozzle portion 11 from being pressed up directly by the cap body 50. On the other hand, the film 30 and the cap body 50 are secured to each other by heat sealing or the like, and the outer peripheral portion of the nozzle is pressed up with the cap body 50, whereby the thickness of the ink layer in the pressed portion is reduced; thus, the evaporation of the ink, the melting of the ink into gas, and the infiltration of gas into the ink can be substantially prevented. In addition, the use of the film 30 of a material having a gas permeability resistance and a moisture permeability resistance prevents the ink from evaporating and melting into gas out of the film 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention Technical Field The present invention relates to a head cap of an inkjet recording device;
More specifically, the present invention relates to a head cap for preventing nozzle clogging in an inkjet recording device.

In inkjet recording devices, clogging or pseudo-clogging of nozzles caused by dust in the atmosphere or evaporation of ink, and defective particle formation caused by suction of air bubbles are important issues. Devices and recovery methods have been proposed, but they have been difficult or expensive to use.

For example, in conventional capping devices, the printing device and head are integrated, so in order to ensure long-term reliability, the conventional capping device has a bed cap, a wetting device, and the head's own parts or an ink ejecting device using a pump. It is expensive and has disadvantages such as high ink consumption.

Purpose The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances.
In particular, the purpose of this invention is to provide a transportation cap that is easy to handle and suitable for use with a disposable head in which the head and cartridge are integrated.

Structure In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a film that is closely attached to the surface of a nozzle that ejects inkjet,
It is characterized in that an ink layer is formed between the film and the nozzle surface. An explanation will be given below based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is an inkjet head, 11 is a nozzle, 12 is a nozzle surface, 2o is an ink layer, and 30 is a film, as shown in the figure. By forming the mushroom ink layer 2o between the film 30 and the surface 12 of the nozzle 1o, the film 3
0 is held on the nozzle surface 12 by the surface tension of the ink layer 2o, but at the same time, the ink layer 2o has sufficient surface tension to withstand pressure fluctuations in the head due to vibrations and impacts during transportation, and keeps air bubbles away from the nozzle. This is to prevent it from being sucked into the body.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an example of a head of an on-demand type inkjet recording device to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, 13 is a positioning pin, 14 is an electric signal terminal, and 40
indicates the ink tank section, and the illustrated example is the ink tank 4.
The head 1o and the head 1o are integrated, and when the ink runs out, the head 1o is replaced with another head. In addition to the head and tank, it also has a positioning pin 13° for connecting to the main body of the printer, a terminal 14 for connecting a signal line, and the like.

3 is a perspective view of the nozzle cap according to the present invention attached to the inkjet head shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the cap part, which is part of FIG. 1.

50 is the cap body, 51 is the arm, and 52 is the claw.

53 is an escape hole, and 54 is a positioning hole.The escape hole 53 is provided in the cap body 50 so that the nozzle part 11 is not directly pressed against the cap body 50.

Further, the film 30 and the cap body 50 are fixed together by heat sealing or the like. The cap 50 is fitted and fixed to the head 10 by the positioning pin 13 of the head, the positioning hole 54 of the cap body, and the claw 52.

To press the outer periphery of the nozzle with the cap body 50.

The ink layer becomes thinner in that part, and there is almost no contact between the nozzle ink and the outside air, and the ink evaporates and dissolves into the gas, and the gas hardly enters the ink. Furthermore, by making the film 30 of an air-permeable and moisture-permeable material, ink evaporation and gas dissolution from the film 30 can be prevented. Generally, a laminated resin film having an aluminum layer is preferably used, but a laminated film having polyethylene and polyvinylidene chloride is also sufficiently effective.

By applying corona discharge treatment, oxidation treatment, etc. to the film surface on the nozzle surface side, the hydrophilicity of the film surface can be made higher than that of the nozzle surface. When the camp is removed from the head, most of the ink will adhere to the film side. It becomes easy to process the drain ink on the head side.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which an ink absorbing material is attached to the cap part, and in the figure, 60 is an ink absorbing material;
Reference numeral 61 is an escape hole, and after removing the cap 50 from the head 20, by pressing the back surface of the cap (absorbent material surface) against the nozzle surface, it is possible to treat the drip ink on the nozzle surface. Further, if a relief six 61 is provided as shown in the figure, and the positioning hole 54 is fitted onto the pin 13 and pressed, the nozzle will not be damaged.

Note that the ink filled in the tank has been degassed, and there is little dissolved gas. Since it is a disposable head and will not be used for a long period of time, there is no need for a cap or pump device on the main body of the printing device.

Effects As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, in a disposable type on-demand head in which an ink tank and a head are integrated, ink evaporation, gas dissolution into ink, and vibration during transportation can be avoided. This prevents air bubbles from being sucked in from the nozzle due to impact, and allows for easy cap removal and ink stain treatment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of main parts for explaining the operating principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an inkjet head to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a head cap according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view when attached to an inkjet head, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example of a head cap to which an ink absorbing material is attached. 10... Inkjet head, 11... Nozzle,
12... Nozzle surface, 20... Ink layer, 30...
- Film, 40... Ink tank part, 50... Nozzle cap body, 60... Ink absorbing material.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A head cap for an inkjet recording apparatus, characterized in that it has a film that is closely attached to the surface of a nozzle that ejects inkjet, and an ink layer is formed between the film and the nozzle surface. (2) The head cap for an inkjet recording apparatus according to claim (1), wherein the film is provided on a cap body that is detachably attached to an inkjet head. (3) The film is made of an air-permeable and moisture-permeable material.
) A head cap for the inkjet recording device described in item 2. (4) According to any one of claims (1) to (3), wherein the nozzle contact surface side of the film is treated to improve hydrophilicity. A head cap for the inkjet recording device described. (5) Claims (2) to (2) characterized in that an ink absorbing material is attached to the cap body.
4) A head cap for an inkjet recording device according to any one of the items.