Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
  • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
  • B41J2/01—Ink jet
  • B41J2/135—Nozzles
  • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
  • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
  • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
  • B41J2/16544—Constructions for the positioning of wipers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
  • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
  • B41J2/01—Ink jet
  • B41J2/135—Nozzles
  • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
  • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
  • B41J2002/16576—Cleaning means pushed or actuated by print head movement

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a maintenance mechanism for an ink jet printer in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage.
• an ink jet printer of a type in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage includes a driving operation for cleaning a print head portion of the ink cartridge and a driving operation for preventing drying of a print head portion. It has a maintenance mechanism to perform.
• a movable frame for wiping and a lever for locking the movable frame in a forward movement position are separately provided, and a connecting member is attached to the movable frame.
• Some levers are mounted via a support shaft as described above to lock the movable frame body to its forward movement position or to unlock the movable frame body through its forward / reverse rotation operation. No. 5-096674).
• the maintenance mechanism described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H05-096674 is configured such that the lever and the movable frame that needs to have the lever are separately formed.
• a lever and a movable frame body that needs to be provided with a lever can be integrally molded of synthetic resin to reduce the number of parts.
• synthetic resin for example, -2 3 3 5 17 Reference.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional inkjet printer maintenance mechanism.
• the ink cartridges 51, 51 are mounted (removably) on the carriage 52, and the carriage 52 is slidably supported by the metal frame 61 of the apparatus main body.
• the printing operation is performed by the ink cartridge 51 while being guided by the shaft 62 and reciprocating in the main scanning direction.
• Caps 53, 53 for capping the print head portion of the ink cartridges 51, 51 and wipers 54, 54 for wiping are held by a slide member 56, and the slide member 56
• the protrusions 56 b and 56 b are provided in the guide holes 55 b and 55 b of the base member 55 fixed to the device main body so that the member 56 can be inclined and slidable in the horizontal direction. It is loosely fitted in
• the slide member 56 has a pawl member 57 for rocking the slide member 56 during the wiping operation, which is pivotally supported via a support shaft 57 a so as to be swingable. Is always urged clockwise in the figure by a tension spring 59, whereby the slide member 56 is urged downward and to the left in the figure. .
• FIG. 6A shows a state in which the heads of the ink jet heads 51 and 51 are cabbed by caps 53 and 53.
• the slide member 56 is composed of a slide member and a carrier engagement portion.
• the carriage 52 is engaged with the right side surface of the carriage 52 via 56a, and is pushed up to the uppermost position.
• FIG. 6 (b) shows a state in which the operation has shifted to the printing operation.
• the slide member 56 is returned obliquely downward to the left by the tensile force of the tension spring 59, and after passing through the wiper position, Stop at the lowest position, but also the claw members 5 7
• the carriage 52 moves to the left and does not interfere with the projection 52 a attached to the lower right of the carriage 52, and the carriage 52 is allowed to pass through the print position as shown in the figure.
• the maintenance mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-230335 shown in FIG. 6 focuses on the mutual positional relationship between the wiper 54 and the claw member 57 in the left-right direction (main scanning direction).
• the upper left projection of the claw member 57 is located further to the left than the left wiper 54, that is, closer to the sheet transport area. Therefore, in order to avoid interference between the claw member 57 and the projection 52a of the carriage 52 or the paper, it is necessary to keep this distance away from the paper transport area. As a result, the width of the device increases accordingly.
• the slide member 56 is once moved by the claw member 57 in the wiper operation.
• the guide hole 5 5b is locked in the middle of the guide hole 5b, but before the wiper 54 wipes the entire nozzle surface of the ink cartridges 51 and 51, the protrusions 52a of the carriage 52 are claw members. Since the lock is released by engaging with the projection portion 57, the wiper 54 moves down diagonally to the lower left with the slide member 56, and as a result, there is a possibility that poor cleaning of the nozzle surface may occur. .
• the pawl member 57 is pivotally supported by the slide member 56, the pawl member 57 is further moved toward the paper transport area than the wiper 54 in the printing process. As described above, it is necessary to set a wide interval between the paper transport area and the wiper 54, and as described above, it is difficult to reduce the width of the apparatus.
• the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has an ink jet printer that can reduce the width of the apparatus and reduce vibration and collision noise of a maintenance mechanism when the carriage is reversed.
• the purpose is to provide a maintenance mechanism. Disclosure of the invention
• Means for Solving the Problems are configured as follows.
• the ink jet printer maintenance mechanism that performs capping and wiping operations on the print head of the ink cartridge attached to the carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction.
• Slide biasing means for returning the slide member to a predetermined position on the base member while sliding the slide member
• a claw member that is swingably supported by the base member and locks the slide member with respect to the base member during a wiping operation by the wiper;
• Claw biasing means for biasing the claw member in a locking direction
• a claw pressing projection provided on the slide member for abutting on the claw member and pressing the claw member downward; provided on the lower portion of the carriage; and printing after the wiping operation is completed.
• the carriage comes in contact with the claw member, and the claw member A lock release projection that releases the locked state of the slide member and returns the slide member to a predetermined position of the base member.
• the lock release protrusion is configured such that, with the return operation of the slide member, the claw push-down protrusion contacts the claw member, and pushes the claw member down to a position lower than the lock release protrusion. It is characterized in that it is configured to avoid mutual interference with the carriage.
• a claw member for fixing the slide member to the base member is swingably supported by the base member during the wiping operation, and this is pressed down by the claw pressing protrusion of the slide member in the printing process.
• the position of the claw member in the printing process is set below the paper surface.
• the claw member and the wiper can be sunk under the paper by setting the claw member stop position during printing to be below the paper surface. That is, since the position of the wiper and the sheet conveyance area can be overlapped, the apparatus width can be further reduced.
• a damper is provided which prevents the inertial force of the slide member accompanying the return operation to the predetermined position from being transmitted directly to the base member and the apparatus main body.
• the slide member includes a fixing portion for integrally fixing the wiper and the damper.
• the wiper and the damper are provided on the fixed portion of the slide member. It is fixed integrally and the damper can be easily attached.
• the damper is made of a compression spring having a shape that can be fixed to the fixing portion.
• the wiper is made of an elastic member having a shape that can be fixed after the damper is fixed to the fixing portion.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a carriage and a maintenance mechanism of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a side view of the carriage and maintenance machine of the inkjet printer.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a wiping operation by the maintenance mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the cabbing operation by the maintenance mechanism.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of fixing the damper and the wiper to the slide member according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional ink jet printing maintenance mechanism. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a carriage and a maintenance mechanism of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 1 (a) is a plan view showing a carriage containing an ink cartridge with a print head and a maintenance mechanism for wiping and capping the print head.
• Fig. 1 (b) is a plan view showing the maintenance mechanism.
• FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a portion A_A
• FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of a portion BB in FIG.
• FIG. 2 is a side view of the carriage and the maintenance mechanism shown in FIG.
• reference numeral 1 denotes an ink cartridge integrally formed with a 1-pen type print head unit (not shown).
• Reference numeral 2 denotes a carriage formed of, for example, a synthetic resin and carrying the ink cartridge 1.
• Reference numeral 2a denotes an unlocking projection projecting downward from the bottom of the carriage 2.
• Reference numeral 3 denotes a cap made of a non-conductive material such as a synthetic resin and covering the print head at the print standby position.
• Reference numeral 4 denotes a wiper made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber and wiping (wiping) ink or dust adhered to the surface of the print head.
• Reference numeral 6 denotes a slide member provided with a cap 3 and a wiper 4.
• 5 is a base member for sliding the slide member.
• Reference numeral 7 denotes a claw member for locking the slide member 6 with respect to the base member 5 during the wiping operation of the print head unit.
• reference numeral 5 a denotes a guide hole formed integrally with the base member and guiding the slide member 6.
• 6a is a guide projection formed integrally with the slide member 6 to receive guidance by the guide hole 5a
• 6b is a lower portion of the carriage 2 when the carriage 2 moves to the print standby position.
• a slide member formed so as to be engaged with the projection provided on the carriage carriage engaging portion 6 c is a lock claw that engages with the claw member 7 to lock the slide member 6 to the base member 5.
• Reference numeral 8 is from a pull panel spanned between the claw member 7 and the base member 5.
• Reference numeral 9 denotes a slide urging means including a pull panel spanned between the slide member 6 and the base member 5.
• Reference numeral 10 denotes a guide shaft made of, for example, a stainless steel material for stably guiding the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction.
• Reference numeral 11 denotes, for example, a metal frame (main chassis) made of a zinc-plated steel plate and provided in the main body of the apparatus for loading the components of the inkjet printer.
• Reference numeral 12 denotes a damper that is formed of, for example, a compression panel and that prevents the inertial force of the slide member 6 accompanying the return operation from being directly transmitted to the base member 5.
• the carriage 2 includes a movable slide member 6, a base member 5 having a guide hole 5a, and a claw member 7 for locking the slide member 6 at the wiper position.
• the cap 6 and the wiper 4 are attached to the member 6. Further, the base member 5 is fixed to the metal frame 11 of the apparatus main body.
• a slide urging means 9 is attached to the slide member 6, and is always urged in a direction to be returned to a predetermined position.
• the claw member 7 is rotatably held with respect to the base member 5, and is constantly urged by a pull panel 8 in a direction in which the claw is locked.
• the carriage 2 on which the detachable ink cartridge 1 is mounted is slidably supported by the metal frame 11 provided on the main body of the apparatus, guided by the guide shaft 10 and extends the printing area. While moving back and forth in the main scanning direction, the printing operation is performed by the ink ejected from the printing head of the ink cartridge 1.
• a base member 5 is fixed vertically to the apparatus main body, and a slide member 6 is mounted on the base member 5 in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction of the carriage 2 and the sub-scanning direction (of paper). So that it can slide in the direction (vertical when the main unit is placed horizontally). Is held.
• the base member 5 is formed with guide holes 5a, 5a extending diagonally left and right, and the projections 6b, 6b protruding from the slide member 6 are loosely fitted into the guide holes 5a, 5a. (See Figure 1 (b)). '
• the slide member 6 is constantly urged in a direction to return to a predetermined position by a slide urging means 9 constituted by a pull panel, and a cap 3 and a wiper 4 are provided at an upper portion thereof.
• a claw member 7 for locking the slide member 6 with respect to the base member 5 during the wiping operation by the wiper 4 is pivotally supported on the base member 5 via a support shaft 7a.
• the claw member 7 is constantly urged in the locking direction by claw urging means 8 composed of a pull panel.
• the operation direction in which the slide member 6 returns to the standby position is a movement to the paper transport side.
• the guide projection 6a of the slide member 6 and the lower end of the guide hole 5a of the base member 5 are in contact with each other and are positioned.
• a damper 12 is provided between the die 4 and the metal frame 11, and the damper 12 is configured to abut the metal frame 11, and a shock is absorbed by the damping effect of the damper 12. To suppress collision noise (see Fig. 1 (c)).
• a compression spring and a sponge can be used as the damper 12.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a wiping operation by the maintenance mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• 6 d is provided on the slide member 6, These are claw pushing-down projections which come into contact with the claw member 7 and push the claw member 7 downward.
• a slide member / carriage engagement portion 6b provided to protrude upward from the right end of the slide member 6 and is brought into contact therewith. Push it to the right and push up the slide member 6 to the middle height position.
• Wiping operation cleaning of the ink nozzle surface
• Wiping operation is performed by sliding the print head of the ink force cartridge 1.
• the carriage 2 moves to the left, so that the unlocking projection 2 a projecting from the lower portion of the carriage 2 comes into contact with the upper left projection of the claw member 7, and the claw member 7 is released. Rotate clockwise. As a result, the engagement of the lock claw 6c with the claw member 7 is released, the locked state of the slide member 6 is released, the slide member 6 is returned to a predetermined position, and the claw protruding from the slide member 6 is provided.
• the claw member 7 rotates counterclockwise by the push-down protrusion 6d, and its upper left protrusion is lowered to a position where it does not interfere with the lock release protrusion 2a of the carriage 2 (see FIG. 1 (b)).
• FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a capping operation by the maintenance mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• the carriage 2 moves to the right end, so that the right end of the carriage 2 slides. Abuts against the carriage engaging portion 6b (not shown), pushes it to the right end, pushes up the slide member 6 to the highest position, and the cap (lid) 3 holds the ink cartridge 1 in place.
• the print head (ink nozzle) is cabbed.
• the cap 3 and the wiper 4 provided on the slide member 6 are lowered below the upper end of the claw member 7, and Since the left end of the member 7 does not protrude leftward from the left end of the base member 2, the printing operation due to the reciprocating movement of the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction performed in the printing area is not hindered by the maintenance mechanism. Therefore, the apparatus can be made compact in the width direction.
• the claw member 7 pivotally supported by the base member 2 only swings at a predetermined position with respect to the slide member 6 that moves diagonally left and right. ), There is no left and right movement. As a result, there is no obstacle that protrudes leftward from the base member 2 and restricts the print area, so that the apparatus can be made compact in the width direction.
• the apparatus can be further compacted in the width direction.
• FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a method of fixing the damper and the wiper to the slide member according to one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 5 (a) shows the damper and the wiper.
• 6 e is a fixing portion for integrally fixing the wiper 4 and the damper 112 in the slide member 6.
• the damper 12 is composed of a compression panel having a shape that can be fixed to the fixing portion 6e.
• the wiper 4 has a shape that can be fixed after the damper 12 is fixed to the fixing portion 6e, and is made of an elastic material.
• the damper 12 may be fixed to the metal frame 11 facing the wiper 4.
• the so-called one-cartridge type printer having a single ink cartridge mounted on the carriage has been described as an example.
• the maintenance mechanism of the present invention is not limited to this.
• the present invention can be similarly applied to a multi-cartridge type printer equipped with a plurality of ink cartridges.
• the claw member for locking the slide member during the wiping operation is swingably supported by the base member so as not to move left and right, and the claw member is moved downward by the slide member during the printing operation. By pressing down on the carriage, it does not interfere with the carriage, so that the claw member does not restrict the printing area, and the width of the apparatus can be reduced.
• the claw member stop position during printing is set to a position lower than the paper surface, the claw member and the wiper can be sunk under the paper, and the paper position and the paper conveyance area are overlaid. It is possible to make one wrap, and it is possible to further reduce the width of the device.
• the vibration of the maintenance mechanism and the generation of collision noise during the return operation of the maintenance mechanism can be suppressed by the damper.
• the wiper and the damper can be integrally fixed to the fixing portion of the slide member, and the work of mounting the damper can be facilitated.

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• Ink Jet (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32095405

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (21)

Citations (3)

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• 2002
  • 2002-12-24 JP JP2002372702A patent/JP2004181919A/ja active Pending
• 2003
  • 2003-10-08 WO PCT/JP2003/012861 patent/WO2004033213A1/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2003-10-08 US US10/530,525 patent/US7316466B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-10-08 DE DE60335482T patent/DE60335482D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-08 AU AU2003271121A patent/AU2003271121A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-10-08 EP EP03751374A patent/EP1555126B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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