JP2002154214A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of shortening a cleaning member in a width direction and reducing the size of the entire cleaner. A reciprocable carriage, an ink jet recording head mounted on the carriage and ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle forming surface in accordance with print data, and a carriage near a moving path of the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a cleaner 20 having a cleaning member 21 which is disposed to be able to advance and retreat and which wipes a nozzle forming surface, wherein a positioning section 66 for positioning the cleaner 20 in the head cleaning position in the carriage cleaning direction in the carriage 1. The contact pins 65 corresponding to the positioning portions 66 are provided on the cleaner 20.

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 provided with wiping means (cleaner) for scraping ink adhered to a nozzle forming surface of a recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have been used in many types of printing including color printing in recent years because noise during printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such an ink jet type recording apparatus is provided with an ink jet type recording head which receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge, and a paper feeding means for moving a recording sheet relatively to the recording head. Then, recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets on recording paper to form dots while moving the recording head in accordance with the print signal. in this case,
A recording head capable of discharging, for example, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks is mounted on a carriage, and full-color printing is enabled by changing the discharge ratio of each ink.

As described above, the ink jet type recording apparatus has the following problems in relation to printing by discharging ink as ink droplets from nozzles onto recording paper. That is, clogging occurs in the nozzle opening due to an increase in ink viscosity due to evaporation of the ink solvent from the nozzle opening, solidification of ink on the nozzle forming surface, and adhesion of dust, and furthermore, bubbles are mixed in the recording head,
This is a problem of causing printing failure.

For this reason, the ink jet type recording apparatus includes a capping means for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head during non-printing, a suction pump for sucking and discharging ink into the capping means, and a method for discharging ink by the suction pump. A wiping means (cleaner) for cleaning the nozzle forming surface of the recording head after suction and discharge. And
In order to prevent the occurrence of clogging of the nozzle openings and the incorporation of air bubbles into the print head, ink is forcibly sucked and discharged from the print head into the capping means by a suction pump, and then the nozzles of the print head are formed by a cleaner. Wiping the surface is performed.

[0005] Forcibly discharging the ink, which is performed to eliminate the clogging of the recording head or when bubbles remain in the recording head, is called a cleaning operation. This is executed when printing is resumed after a long pause in the recording apparatus, or when the user recognizes a print quality defect such as blurred print and operates the cleaning switch.

[0006]

By the way, the suction pump in the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus performs a pumping operation by rotating paper feed means (motor) in one direction. In this case, the wiping member (cleaner) advances to the moving path of the recording head, and the wiper is set. Then, as the recording head moves in the main scanning direction,
The formation surface is wiped. On the other hand, the suction pump is released by rotation of the paper feed motor in the other direction. In this case, the wiping member (cleaner) is retracted from the moving path of the recording head, and the wiper is reset.

However, since the moving force (advancing / retracting force) of the cleaner is applied from the drive shaft of the suction pump via the friction clutch (clutch plate and cleaner cam), the positioning accuracy of the cleaner at the head cleaning position has been reduced. . As a result, in order to wipe the entire nozzle forming surface of the recording head at the time of cleaning, it is necessary to allow the cleaner member to have a dimensional margin in the width direction, and there is a problem that the entire cleaner becomes large.

Further, an ink jet type recording apparatus having platen gap adjusting means capable of adjusting a platen gap between a recording head and a platen in accordance with the thickness of a recording sheet is employed. In such an ink jet type recording apparatus, since the cleaner moves linearly in the horizontal direction between the cleaning position (wiping position) and the cleaning retracting position, the cleaning member is used when the platen gap is narrow or wide. Have different dimensions from each other. That is, the wiper margin (the vertical dimension of the tip of the cleaning member that contacts the recording head during cleaning) is smaller when the platen gap is wide than when it is narrow. As a result, there is also a problem that the wiper margin changes according to the width of the platen gap, and the reliability in cleaning decreases.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an ink jet recording apparatus capable of shortening the cleaning member in the width direction and thereby reducing the size of the entire cleaner. It is intended to provide. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can set a wiper allowance to a predetermined size regardless of the width of a platen gap, and can increase reliability in cleaning. Things.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a reciprocable carriage, a nozzle forming surface mounted on the carriage and corresponding to print data. 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head that discharges ink droplets from a nozzle; and a cleaner that is disposed near the movement path of the recording head and that is capable of moving forward and backward and that has a cleaning member that wipes the nozzle forming surface. A positioning portion for positioning the cleaner in the traveling direction at the head cleaning position is provided on the carriage side, and a contact portion corresponding to the positioning portion is provided on the cleaner side.

With this configuration, when the cleaner advances toward the head cleaning position during cleaning, the contact portion on the cleaner side contacts the positioning portion on the carriage side, and the cleaner is positioned at the head cleaning position. . Therefore, since the positioning accuracy of the cleaner at the head cleaning position can be improved, the width dimension of the cleaning member can be reliably reduced, and the overall size of the cleaner can be reduced.

In this case, it is preferable that the positioning portion is formed by a projection projecting below the carriage, and the contact portion is formed by a contact pin projecting above the cleaner. With this configuration, when the cleaner is positioned at the head cleaning position,
The contact pin on the cleaner side contacts the projection on the carriage side.

In the cleaning state, a first rib connected to the convex portion and extending in the carriage moving direction and a second rib parallel to the first rib are formed to protrude below the carriage. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a concave groove is provided to restrict the movement of the cleaner in the forward and backward directions due to the movement of the carriage. With such a configuration, when the cleaner-side contact portion is located in the concave groove during cleaning, movement of the cleaner in the retreating direction (the groove width direction of the concave groove) is restricted.

Furthermore, it is preferable that a guide for guiding the insertion of the contact portion into the concave groove accompanying the movement of the carriage be provided continuously at an end of the second rib on the printing region side. With such a configuration, when the contact portion on the cleaner side comes into contact with the guide during the movement of the carriage during cleaning, the cleaner is guided along the guide into the concave groove on the carriage side.

[0015] The cleaner may be configured so that the cleaner moves forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the carriage moving direction and the vertical direction, and a tilting operation from an end position of the linear operation toward a head cleaning position obliquely upward. I can do it. With this configuration, the cleaner is positioned at the head cleaning position through a linear operation and an inclined operation during cleaning. Therefore, the wiper allowance can be set to a predetermined size regardless of the width of the platen gap, and the reliability in cleaning can be improved.

In this case, the positioning portion is formed by a concave portion having a V-shaped cross section extending downward in the carriage movement direction and opening below the carriage, and the contact portion is formed by a contact pin protruding above the cleaner. Configuration. With this configuration, when the cleaner is positioned at the head cleaning position, the contact pin on the cleaner contacts the concave portion on the carriage. Then, when the contact pin is located in the recess during cleaning,
The movement of the cleaner in the forward and backward directions is restricted.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, a carriage denoted by reference numeral 1 is coupled to a part of a timing belt 3 which reciprocates by a carriage motor 2. And it is comprised so that it may be guided by the guide rod 4 and reciprocate in the axial direction of the platen 5.

A recording head for black ink and a recording head for color ink are mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 1 so as to face the recording paper P during printing. On the upper surface of the carriage 1, a black ink cartridge C1 and a color ink cartridge C2 for supplying ink to the two recording heads are detachably mounted. Thus, when ink is introduced into each recording head, printing is performed by discharging ink droplets onto the recording paper P in accordance with the print data.

A capping means 6 is arranged in a non-printing area (home position) at the end of the recording apparatus. The capping means 6 has two cap members (described later) made of an elastic material such as an elastomer formed in a size that can be sealed with a sealed space on the nozzle forming surface of each of the recording heads in parallel in the carriage moving direction. It is arranged in the state where it was done.

When the recording head moves right above the capping means 6, the recording head rises to the head side, and the nozzle forming surface of each recording head can be sealed by the cap member. Also, capping means 7
A suction pump 50 for applying a negative pressure to the internal space of each cap member is disposed below the cap member.

The capping means 6 has a function as a lid for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head during non-printing to prevent drying of ink in the nozzle openings, and a driving signal unrelated to printing for the recording head. And a function as an ink receiver at the time of a flushing operation for causing the ink droplets to be ejected by applying an idle force. The capping means 6 also has a cleaning function of applying a negative pressure from the suction pump 50 to the recording head to suck and discharge ink.

In the vicinity of the printing area side of the capping means 6, a cleaner 20 (cleaning member 21), which will be described in detail later, can move in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the recording head (carriage). Are located in Thus, when the carriage 1 moves toward the capping unit, the cleaning member 21 can move on the moving path of the recording head.

FIGS. 2 to 4 mainly show the configurations of capping means and wiping means in an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 shows a state as viewed from above the recording apparatus, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a non-capping state and a capping state as viewed from the side. 3 and 4, the carriage denoted by reference numeral 1 is coupled to a part of the timing belt 3 (shown in FIG. 1) as described above. And the guide rod 4
(Shown in FIG. 1), and is configured to be able to reciprocate in parallel in parallel with the paper guide plate G.

The capping means 6, which is arranged in a non-printing area (home position) at the end of the recording apparatus, seals the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H (only one is shown) with a sealed space as described above. It has a cap member 7 (only one is shown) made of an elastic material such as an elastomer formed in an obtainable size.

At the bottom of the cap member 7 in the capping means 6, as shown in FIG.
Is provided. One end of a tube (not shown) constituting a part of the suction pump 50 is connected to the ink discharge port 7 a of the cap member 7. As a result, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H is sealed by the cap member 7 during non-printing. Then, when a cleaning command is received, a negative pressure by the suction pump 50 is applied to the internal space of the capping unit 6, and ink can be forcibly discharged from the recording head H. An ink absorbing sheet 8 is accommodated in the cap member 7 so as to absorb the ink from the recording head H and temporarily hold the ink.

The cap member 7 is formed integrally with the cap holder 9 by, for example, a two-color molding method. The cap holder 9 is formed of a rectangular box, and flat plate-shaped spring receiving portions 9a are provided on both side walls so as to protrude in the horizontal direction. The cap holder 9 is held on a slider 10 constituting a slider lifting mechanism, and is constantly urged toward the recording head by a compression spring 11 elastically mounted between the slider 10 and the spring receiving portion 9a. I have.

An engaging portion 9b is provided at the center of one end and both sides of the other end of the cap holder 9, and locking members 10a corresponding to the engaging portions 9b are provided on the slider 10. Have been. Thereby, the cap holder 9 is configured such that each of the engaging portions 9b is
As a result, the upward movement, that is, the movement toward the recording head is restricted.

The slider 10 has a pair of long holes 1 at the bottom.
A pair of horizontal shafts 15 located at the free end of a slider rotating arm 14 are movably held in each of the long holes 12. The opposite free end of the arm 14 is held rotatably with respect to the frame member 13. Thus, the slider 10 can rise up with an arc-shaped locus with respect to the frame member 13 via the arm 14.

Guide pieces 10b are provided at both ends of the slider 10 on the non-printing area side. Each of the guide pieces 10b is
Are configured to be held by the respective guide grooves 16 provided in the guide groove 16. A low portion 16a and a high portion 16b are disposed at both ends of each of the guide grooves 16, and an inclined portion 16c is disposed between the both portions 16a and 16b.

Further, one of the two guide pieces 10b is connected to the frame member 1 as shown in FIG.
3 is connected via a tension spring 17. Thus, the slider 10 is biased so as to approach the printing area and move away from the recording head H, that is, in the present embodiment (FIG. 3), downward.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the carriage 1 is moved directly above the capping means 6, an engaging member 1a provided on the carriage 1 is provided so as to be upright on the slider 10. The slider 10 stands up via the arm 14 against the elastic force of the tension spring 17 by abutting the slider 10c. Thereby, the recording head H
Is sealed with the cap member 7.

When the carriage 1 moves toward the printing area, the contact of the engaging body 1a with the engaging portion 10c is released, and the slider 10
The state shown in FIG. Thereby, the sealing of the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H by the cap member 7 is released.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing surface of the cap member 7, that is, the upper end surface in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H is in a non-parallel state with respect to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H. It is configured to be. In other words, the sealing surface of the cap member 7 is inclined so that the printing area side is located slightly below the end of the home position side (the right side in FIG. 3).

When the cap member 7 seals the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H, the cap member 7 first comes into contact with the nozzle forming surface from the home position side end, and the slider 10
As the pressure rises, it acts to seal the entire nozzle forming surface of the recording head H. When the cap member 7 releases the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H, the cap member 7 is first separated from the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H from the end portion on the printing area side, and is not covered with the nozzle forming surface. It acts to separate in parallel.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H is wiped (wiped) on the printing area side adjacent to the capping means 6 with the movement of the carriage 1. A wiping means (cleaner) 20 is provided. This wiping means 20
Is a wiping member (cleaning member) 21 made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example.
1 is provided.

The wiping means 20 moves in the horizontal direction as described later, advances the wiping member 21 to a wiping position in the moving path of the recording head H, and retreats from the moving position to outside the moving path. It is configured as follows. Therefore, dust and paper dust adhering to the nozzle forming surface before ink suction is removed by the wiping member 21 during the cleaning operation, and ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface after ink suction is wiped off.

In this case, the moving operation of the wiping means 20 and the suction operation of the pump for reducing the internal space of the capping means 6 to a negative pressure are performed by a paper feed motor (for conveying the recording paper 4 on the paper guide 3) (To be described later) is used. The wiping member 21 is configured to advance and retreat inside and outside the moving path of the recording head H with the driving operation of the pump.

In the above configuration, the carriage motor 2
When the carriage 1 is moved to the non-printing area (home position) side by the drive of, the engaging body 1a of the carriage 1 is engaged with the engaging portion 10c of the slider 10. Then, as the carriage 1 still moves to the home position side, the slider 10 rises via the arm 14 against the elasticity of the tension spring 17 as shown in FIG. in this case,
The guide piece 10b of the slider 10 is located at the lower part 1 of the guide groove 16.
From 6a, it moves to the high part 16b via the inclined part 16c.
Thereby, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H is sealed by the cap member 7.

In this way, when the sealing of the nozzle forming surface by the cap member 7 is completed, the cap member 7 shuts off the communication with the atmosphere and becomes airtight, thereby suppressing the evaporation of ink from the nozzle openings. It works to prevent the recording head 5 from being clogged.

On the other hand, when the carriage 1 moves to the printing area side by driving the carriage motor, the engaging member 1a of the carriage 1 separates from the engaging portion 10c of the slider 10. Therefore, the slider 10 is lowered via the arm 14 by the elastic force of the tension spring 17. In this case, the guide piece 10b of the slider 10 is moved from the high portion 16b to the inclined portion 1b.
It moves to the low part 16a via 6c. Thereby, the sealing state of the recording head 5 by the cap member 7 is released.

FIG. 5 shows an example of driving force transmitting means for the paper feeding / discharging mechanism, suction pump and wiping means provided in the above-mentioned recording apparatus. FIG. 6 shows the driving force obtained through the driving force transmitting means. 2 shows a configuration of a driven suction pump. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 31 denotes a paper feed roller. A gear 32 is disposed at one end of the paper feed roller 31. The gear 32 is driven from a pinion 34 disposed on a shaft of a paper feed motor 33 via an idler 35. It is configured to be. A gear 37 is disposed at one end of the feed roller drive shaft 36. The gear 37 meshes with the gear 32 via a moving gear 38 forming a clutch mechanism to transmit power to a cut sheet feeder (not shown), and the recording paper Is configured to perform sheet feeding (loading).

The moving gear 38 is normally held at a position away from the gears 32 and 37 by a spring (not shown) as shown in FIG. 5, and is pressed by the carriage 1 moving to the end facing the home position. The gears move in the axial direction (the direction of arrow A) and are interposed between the two gears 32 and 37 so as to realize meshing between them.

On the other hand, the suction pump 50 is assembled with the pump frame 53 attached to the fixed base 46 as shown in FIG. This suction pump 5
Numeral 0 has a drive shaft 43 supported by the fixed base 46 and the pump frame 53, and a driven gear 45 is mounted on the drive shaft 43 by mounting screws 47. The suction pump 50 is driven by the rotation of the driven gear 45 driven by the paper feed motor 33. In this case, the power from the paper feed motor 33 is applied to the pinion 34 and the idler 3.
9 and the discharge roller gears 40 and 42 on the discharge roller 41, and the power from the gear 42 is transmitted to a driven gear 45 on a drive shaft 43 via an idler 44.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of a tube pump as a suction pump mounted on the recording apparatus described above. FIG. 7 shows a case where the tube pump is driven to rotate forward to perform the pumping action, and FIG. 8 shows a case where the tube pump is driven to rotate backward to be in the release state. 7 and 8, a tube pump (suction pump) denoted by reference numeral 50 is a pump frame 53 as a fixed base, a pump wheel 54 rotated by the drive shaft 43, and rotated by the rotation of the pump wheel 54. Rollers 55a and 55b are provided.

The pump frame 53 has a tube supporting surface 52 for regulating the outer shape of the flexible tube 51 in an arc shape. The pump wheel 54 intersects the radial direction of the wheel between the center of the wheel and the outer periphery of the wheel. It has a pair of roller support grooves 54a and 54b having such a gradient. The rollers 55a and 55b have roller shafts a and b that can move in the respective roller support grooves 54a and 54b.

In such a tube pump, as shown in FIG. 7, by rotating the pump wheel 54 in the forward direction (the direction of arrow C), the rollers 55a and 55b are rotated.
The (roller shafts a, b) are moved to the outer peripheral portions of the wheel in the roller support grooves 54a, 54b, and the flexible tube 51 is continuously crushed in the wheel rotating direction. This allows
A pressure is generated in the flexible tube 51 to apply a negative pressure in the capping means 6. Then, the ink is forcibly discharged from the recording head H by the negative pressure, and the ink discharged into the capping means 6 is further suctioned and sent to a waste tank (not shown).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
4 is rotated in the opposite direction (the direction of arrow D) to move each of the rollers 55a and 55b (roller shafts a and b) to the center of the wheel (the inner periphery of the wheel) of the roller support grooves 54a and 54b. 55a and 55b are flexible tubes 51
Is in a release state in which it touches only a little. This allows
Failure such as sticking of the flexible tube 51 to each of the rollers 55a and 55b is prevented.

Further, guide members 57a, 5a are provided at portions of the pump frame 53 facing the tube support surface 52.
Lock grooves (L-shaped grooves) 56a and 56b for attaching the damper member 7b and the damper member 58 are provided. Each of the guide members 57a and 57b is formed of an elastic material such as rubber. Accordingly, the rotation of the pump wheel 54 makes contact with the rollers 55a and 55b to guide the respective roller shafts a and b in the direction opposite to the wheel rotation direction of the roller support grooves 54a and 54b.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the pump wheel 54 is driven to rotate forward, the rollers 55a and 55b are pushed back by the guide members 57a and 57b in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the pump wheel 54, The roller shafts a and b move to the wheel outer peripheral portions of the roller support grooves 54a and 54b. Therefore, the flexible tube 51 is continuously crushed in the wheel rotation direction by the rollers 55a and 55b, and the reliability of the pump driving operation is improved.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Is driven in reverse, the rollers 55a and 55b are brought into contact with the guide members 57a and 57b and are pushed back. In other words, the rollers 55a, 55b move to the inner peripheral portions of the roller support grooves 54a, 54b while tilting the guide members 57a, 57b with the rotation of the pump wheel 54, thereby crushing the flexible tube 51. Is released and a release state is set.

The damper member 58 is disposed at a position facing the tube support surface 52 in the pump frame 53, and is entirely formed of an arc-shaped body made of an elastic material such as rubber. Thereby, the rollers 55a,
The rollers 55a, 5b are arranged so as to be in contact with the damper member 58 even if the 55b is out of the contact area with the flexible tube 51.
Roller support grooves 54a, 54b of 5b (roller shafts a, b)
Free movement in the area is regulated. In other words, the roller 55
At the moment when the guide members 57a, 57b elastically return with the movement of the guide members 57a, 57b,
The operation of the rollers 55a and 55b colliding against the ends of the roller support grooves due to the repelling is prevented by the damper member 58, and the generation of an impact sound is prevented.

Next, the main part (positioning structure of the wiping means) of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 9 to 13. FIG. 9 shows a wiper reset state in which the cleaner of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been retracted from the movement path of the recording head. FIG. 10 shows a wiper set state in which the cleaner (wiping means) of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is advanced to the moving path of the recording head. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are a perspective view and a bottom view showing a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a front view showing a cleaner of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 9 and 10, a cleaner driving mechanism denoted by reference numeral 60 is interposed between the driven gear 45 and the tube pump 50, and is connected to the fixed base 46 (reference numerals 45, 46, 50).
Are shown in FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 6, the drive mechanism 60 includes a drive shaft 43 as a pump shaft, a clutch plate 61 driven to rotate by the drive shaft 43, and a cleaner cam 63 opposed to the clutch plate 61. A compression coil spring 6 for pressing the cleaner cam 63 against the clutch plate 61
2 is provided. Thus, when the drive shaft 43 is rotationally driven, the clutch plate 61 is rotated, and the cleaner cam 63 is driven by the rotation. A drive lever 64 having a cylindrical drive pin 64a protruding toward the pump (in the horizontal direction) is provided on the cleaner cam 63.
Are provided integrally.

At the upper edge of the holder 22 of the cleaner 20, there is provided a contact pin 65 projecting upward and corresponding to a positioning portion to be described later. Further, the holder 22 is provided with a triangular prism-shaped claw portion 22a for mounting the cleaner 21 and a cylindrical slide pin 22b protruding toward the pump. At the lower end of the holder 22, a concave groove 22c is provided which extends in a direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the movement path of the recording head H. The holder 22 is provided with a long hole 22d extending in the up-down direction and guiding the drive pin 64a.

On the lower surface of the carriage 1, there is provided a positioning portion 66 for positioning the cleaner 20 in the head cleaning (wiping) position in the traveling direction. The positioning portion 66 is formed by a protrusion projecting below the carriage 1. In the present embodiment, the case where the positioning section 66 is provided on the carriage 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the positioning section 66 may be provided on the recording head H.

On the lower surface of the carriage 1, a first rib 67 connected to the positioning portion 66 and extending in the carriage moving direction and a second rib 68 parallel to the first rib 67 are formed. A concave groove 69 is provided for restricting the cleaner 20 from moving in the advancing / retreating direction due to the carriage moving operation in the cleaning state. As a result, when the contact pin 65 on the cleaner side is located in the concave groove 69 during cleaning, the movement of the cleaner 20 in the retreating direction (the groove width direction of the concave groove 69) is restricted.

The ribs 67 and 68 are connected to the cleaner 2.
It is located at a position that crosses the zero advance / retreat path. Of these, the end of the second rib 68 on the printing area side guides the insertion of the cleaner side contact pin 65 into the concave groove 69 accompanying the movement of the carriage 1 as shown in FIGS. Guides 68a are continuously provided. Accordingly, when the cleaner-side contact pin 65 contacts the guide 68a during cleaning, the cleaner 20 is inserted and guided into the carriage-side concave groove 69 along the guide 68a with the movement of the carriage 1.

At the upper end of the pump frame 53,
Extending in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the head moving path and the elongated hole 22d extend) and the slide pin 22b
Are provided. On the head moving path side of the pump frame 53, protruding toward the cleaner side,
A cylindrical fixing pin 53b facing the inside of the concave groove 22c is provided.

In the above configuration, the cleaner cam 63 (drive lever 64) is rotated clockwise by the rotation of the drive shaft 43 in one direction (clockwise) from the wiper reset state shown in FIG. As a result, the cleaner 20 advances to the head cleaning position. In this case, when the cleaner 20 advances toward the head cleaning position,
As shown in FIG. 10, the head cleaning position is determined by the contact of the contact pin 65 with the positioning portion 66. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the recording head H
Since the positioning accuracy of the cleaner 20 at the cleaning position can be improved, the width dimension of the cleaning member 21 can be reliably reduced, and the overall size of the cleaner can be reduced.

When the cleaner 20 advances to the head cleaning position, as shown in FIG.
a moves from the start end (upper end) of the elongated hole 22d and is positioned at the end end (lower end).
2b moves from the start end (left end) of the concave groove 53a and is positioned at the end end (right end). Then, the fixing pin 53b
Is from the beginning (right end) to the end (left end) of the groove 22c.
It is positioned in.

When the cleaner 20 advances toward the head cleaning position, the cleaner 20 advances to the head cleaning position, and the contact pin 65 moves.
It is assumed that the carriage 1 is arranged at a position where the carriage 1 can be brought into contact with the positioning section 66 by executing the operation sequence.

Thereafter, as the recording head H moves in the main scanning direction, the nozzle forming surface is wiped by the cleaning member 21. In this case, the contact pin 65 on the cleaner side is used.
Is located in the concave groove 69, the movement of the cleaner 20 in the retreating direction (the groove width direction of the concave groove 69) is restricted.

On the other hand, from the wiper setting state shown in FIG. 10, the cleaner cam 63 (drive lever 64) rotates counterclockwise by the rotation of the drive shaft 43 in the other direction (counterclockwise). Accordingly, the cleaner 20 retreats from the head cleaning position. In this case, when the cleaner 20 retreats from the head cleaning position, as shown in FIG. 9, the drive pin 64a is moved to the end (lower end) of the long hole 22d.
And the slide pin 22b moves from the terminal end (right end) of the groove 53a and is positioned at the start end (left end).
Then, the fixing pin 53b is positioned from the terminal end (left end) to the start end (right end) of the concave groove 22c.

When the cleaner 20 retreats from the head cleaning position, the carriage 1 operates at a position where the contact pin 65 can be separated from the positioning portion 66 by retreating the cleaner 20 from the head cleaning position. It is assumed that they are arranged by executing the sequence.

Next, the main part (positioning structure of the wiping means) of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 14 and 15. FIG. 14 shows a wiper set state in which the cleaner of the ink jet type recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is advanced to the moving path of the recording head. FIG. 15 shows wiping means in an ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In these drawings, the same members as those in FIGS. 9 to 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 14, the solid line shows the cleaner at the wiper set position when the platen gap is narrow, and the two-dot chain line shows the cleaner at the wiper set position when the platen gap is wide. The present embodiment is directed to an ink jet recording apparatus including a platen gap adjusting unit that can adjust a platen gap (PG) between a recording head H and a platen 5 according to the thickness of a recording sheet. It is. For this reason, the "platen gap adjusting means" will be described first, and then the "positioning structure of the cleaner (wiping means)" which is a main part of the present embodiment will be described.

[Platen Gap Adjusting Means] FIG. 16 shows an example of the platen gap adjusting means mounted on the above-described recording apparatus. In the figure, a carriage denoted by reference numeral 1 is guided by a guide rod 4, and in the present embodiment, is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. A center shaft 4a is rotatably housed in the guide rod 4.

The center shaft 4a is supported at both ends in the axial direction by eccentric shafts 4b supported by left and right frames (not shown). An operating lever 61 having a long hole 61a is connected to the center shaft 4a. An operation lever 62 for applying a rotational force to the operation lever 61 has a slider 62a facing the elongated hole 61a and an operator 62b located at an end on the opposite side of the slider 62a. It is pivoted on the left and right frames.

Thus, when the operation lever 62 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the carriage 1 moves up and down.
That is, as shown in FIG. 16, when the operation lever 62 is turned to the position shown by the solid line, the operation lever 61 is turned clockwise, and the carriage 1 is slightly moved via the eccentric shaft 4b with this turning operation. Descend. Therefore, the recording head H moves downward, and the gap with the platen 5 (shown in FIG. 1) is narrowed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
When the rotary lever 2 is rotated to the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the operating lever 61 is rotated counterclockwise, and the carriage 1 is slightly raised via the eccentric shaft 4b with this rotary operation. For this reason,
The recording head H moves upward, and the gap with the platen 5 (shown in FIG. 1) is widened.

As described above, when the platen gap adjusting means is operated, the gap between the nozzle forming surface of the recording head H and the platen 5 can be adjusted. In this case, the recording head H also moves in the sub-scanning direction by the action of the eccentric shaft 4b, and the amount of movement increases or decreases in proportion to the platen gap amount.

[Cleaner Positioning Structure] In FIG. 14, the driving mechanism for the cleaner (wiping means) indicated by the reference numeral 71 includes the driven gear 45 and the tube pump 50.
And the fixed base 46 (reference numerals 45 and 4)
6, 50 are shown in FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 6, the drive mechanism 71 includes a drive shaft 43 as a pump shaft, a clutch plate 61 driven to rotate by the drive shaft 43, and a cleaner cam 63 facing the clutch plate 61. A compression coil spring 6 for pressing the cleaner cam 63 against the clutch plate 61
2 is provided. Thus, when the drive shaft 43 is rotationally driven, the clutch plate 61 is rotated, and the cleaner cam 63 is driven by the rotation. The cleaner cam 63 has a drive arm 74 having a cylindrical drive pin 74a protruding toward the pump (horizontal direction).
Are provided integrally.

At the upper edge of the holder 22 of the cleaner 20, there is provided a contact pin 75 projecting upward and corresponding to a positioning portion described later. Further, the holder 22 is provided with a triangular prismatic claw 22a for attaching the cleaner member 21 and a cylindrical slide pin 22b protruding toward the pump. At the lower end of the holder 22, a horizontal portion e extending in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) is provided.
Further, a concave groove 22c having an inclined portion f having a slope descending from the horizontal portion e toward the cleaner retreat position is provided. The holder 22 is provided with an elongated hole 22d that extends in the up-down direction and guides the drive pin 74a. On the lower surface of the carriage 1, there is provided a positioning portion 76 having a flat surface for positioning the cleaner 20 in a height direction at a head cleaning (wiping) position.

In this embodiment, the cleaner 2
Although the case where the positioning portion of 0 is a flat surface has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and is a concave portion (not shown) having a V-shaped cross section that opens below the carriage and extends in the carriage movement direction. Is also good. As a result, when the contact pin 75 is positioned in the recess during cleaning, the cleaner 20 is guided in the recess along with the movement operation of the carriage 1, and
Movement in the forward and backward directions is restricted. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the positioning portion 76 is provided on the carriage 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the positioning portion 76 may be provided on the recording head H.

At the upper end of the pump frame 53,
The slide pin 22b is guided, and has a horizontal portion g extending in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the head moving path and the horizontal portion e) and a gradient rising from the horizontal portion g toward the cleaning progress position. Groove 5 consisting of inclined portion h
3a is provided. On the head moving path side of the pump frame 53, there is provided a cylindrical fixing pin 53b projecting toward the cleaner side and facing the inside of the concave groove 22c.

In the above configuration, the cleaner cam 63 (drive lever 74) is rotated clockwise by the rotation of the drive shaft 43 in one direction (clockwise) from the wiper reset state. Moves to the head cleaning position through the linear operation and the tilting operation.
In this case, when the cleaner 20 advances toward the head cleaning position, the cleaner 20 is positioned at the head cleaning position by the contact of the contact pin 75 with the positioning portion 76. Therefore, in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the positioning accuracy of the cleaner 20 at the cleaning position of the recording head H can be improved, and the width dimension of the cleaning member 21 can be reliably reduced. Therefore, the size of the entire cleaner can be reduced.

Here, when the platen gap is narrow, as shown by a solid line (broken line) in FIG.
Advances to the head cleaning position, the drive pin 7
4. The slide pin 22b and the fixing pin 53b are respectively arranged at predetermined positions as shown below. In other words, the drive pin 74a moves from the start end (upper end) of the elongated hole 22d and is positioned at the middle, and the slide pin 22b
Moves from the start end (left end) of the horizontal portion g in the concave groove 53a, and is positioned at the start end (left end) of the inclined portion h via the end portion (right end). Then, the fixing pin 53b is positioned from the starting end (right end) of the horizontal portion e to the starting end (right end) of the inclined portion f in the concave groove 22c.

When the platen gap is wide,
As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 14, when the cleaner 20 advances to the head cleaning position, the drive pin 74a, the slide pin 22b, and the fixed pin 53b are respectively arranged at predetermined positions as shown below. That is, the drive pin 74a moves from the start end (upper end) of the elongated hole 22d and is positioned at the end end (lower end).
b moves from the start end (left end) of the horizontal portion g in the concave groove 53a, and is positioned at the end end (right end) through the end end (right end) and the start end (left end) of the inclined groove h.
The fixing pin 53b is connected to the horizontal portion e
From the start end (right end) to the end (left end) of the inclined portion f.

When the cleaner 20 advances toward the head cleaning position, the cleaner 20 advances to the head cleaning position so that the contact pin 75 is moved.
It is assumed that the carriage 1 is arranged at a position where the carriage 1 can be brought into contact with the positioning section 76 by executing the operation sequence. It is also assumed that the platen gap adjustment has been performed in advance (before the cleaning operation) by rotating the operation lever 62.

Thereafter, as the recording head H moves in the main scanning direction, the nozzle forming surface is wiped by the cleaning member 21. In this case, since the wiper allowance of the cleaning member 21 can be set to a predetermined size regardless of the width of the platen gap, the reliability in cleaning can be improved.

At the time of cleaning, the contact pin 75 on the cleaner side slides on the lower end surface of the carriage 1. Also,
When a concave portion is provided as a positioning portion on the lower surface portion of the carriage 1, when the contact pin 75 is located in the concave portion, the movement of the cleaner 20 in the forward / backward direction is restricted as the carriage 1 moves.

On the other hand, from the wiper set state, the drive shaft 43
Is rotated in the other direction (counterclockwise), so that the cleaner cam 63 (drive lever 74) rotates counterclockwise, and with this rotation, the cleaner 20 retreats from the head cleaning position. Here, when the platen gap is narrow, when the cleaner 20 retreats from the head cleaning position, the drive pin 74a, the slide pin 22b, and the fixed pin 53b are respectively arranged at predetermined positions as described below. That is, the drive pin 74a moves from the intermediate portion of the long hole 22d and is positioned at the start end (upper end),
The slide pin 22b moves from the start end (left end) of the inclined portion h in the concave groove 53a and is positioned at the start end (left end) of the horizontal portion g. The fixing pin 53b is positioned from the starting end (right end) of the inclined portion f in the concave groove 22c to the starting end (right end) of the horizontal portion e.

When the platen gap is wide,
When the cleaner 20 retreats from the head cleaning position, the drive pin 74a, the slide pin 22b, and the fixed pin 53b are respectively arranged at predetermined positions as described below. That is, the drive pin 74a moves from the end (lower end) of the elongated hole 22d and is positioned at the start end (upper end), and the slide pin 22b moves from the end (right end) of the inclined portion h in the concave groove 53a. And positioned at the start end (left end) of the horizontal portion g. Then, the fixing pin 53b
Are positioned from the end (left end) of the inclined portion f in the concave groove 22c to the start end (right end) of the horizontal portion e.

When the cleaner 20 retreats from the head cleaning position, the carriage 1 is moved to a position where the contact pin 75 can be separated from the positioning portion 76 by retreating the cleaner 20 from the head cleaning position. It is assumed that they are arranged by executing the sequence.

[0085]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the cleaning member can be shortened in the width direction, so that the overall size of the cleaner can be reduced. Further, according to another inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, the wiper allowance can be set to a predetermined size regardless of the width of the platen gap, so that the reliability in cleaning can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view mainly showing a configuration of a capping unit and a wiping unit in the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the uncapped state of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the capping state of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a driving force transmission mechanism such as a suction pump and wiping means.

6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a suction pump driven by a driving force from a driving force transmission mechanism in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a roller presses and deforms a flexible tube by a forward rotation drive of a pump wheel in a suction pump to exhibit a pump action.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a case where the pump wheel in the suction pump is driven in reverse rotation to be in a release state.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a wiper reset state in which the wiping unit in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is retracted from the moving path of the recording head.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a wiper setting state in which the wiping unit in the ink jet type recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is advanced to a moving path of the recording head.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the carriage in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is viewed from below.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view showing a carriage in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a wiping unit in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a wiper setting state in which the wiping unit in the ink jet type recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has been advanced to the moving path of the recording head.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a wiping unit in an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a platen gap means in an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carriage 2 carriage motor 3 timing belt 4 guide rod 5 platen 6 capping means 7 cap member 20 cleaner (wiping means) 21 cleaning member 22 holder 22b slide pin 22c, 22d concave groove 43 drive shaft (pump shaft) 46 fixed base 50 tube Pump 53 pump frame 53a concave groove 53b fixing pin 60 drive mechanism 61 clutch plate 63 cleaner cam 64 drive lever 64a drive pin 65 contact pin 66 positioning portion 67 first rib 68 second rib 68a guide 69 concave groove H recording head P recording paper

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A reciprocable carriage, an ink-jet recording head mounted on the carriage and ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle forming surface in accordance with print data, and a reciprocating movement near a moving path of the recording head. And a cleaner having a cleaning member wiping the nozzle forming surface, wherein the cleaner is provided with a positioning portion for positioning the cleaner in a traveling direction at a head cleaning position on the carriage side. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a contact portion corresponding to the positioning portion is provided on the cleaner side. 2. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning portion is formed by a convex portion protruding below the carriage, and the contact portion is formed by a contact pin protruding above the cleaner. Ink jet recording device. 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a first rib connected to the convex portion and extending in the carriage moving direction and a second rib parallel to the first rib are formed so as to protrude below the carriage. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a concave groove is provided for restricting a movement of the cleaner in an advancing and retreating direction with a movement of the carriage. 4. A guide which guides insertion of the contact portion into the concave groove in accordance with the movement of the carriage, is provided at an end of the second rib on a print area side. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3. 5. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cleaner moves forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the carriage moving direction and the vertical direction, and a tilting operation from an end position of the linear operation toward a head cleaning position obliquely upward. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The positioning portion is formed by a concave portion having a V-shaped cross section extending downward in the carriage movement direction and opening below the carriage, and the contact portion is formed by a contact pin protruding above the cleaner. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein