JP3061661B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

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 for performing recording by discharging ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having a function such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like, or a recording device used as an output device of a composite electronic device or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is based on image information. It is configured to record an image on a recording material (recording medium) such as paper or a thin plastic plate. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like according to a recording method.

In a serial type recording apparatus employing a serial scanning system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction crossing a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and then the recording is performed. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording means (recording head) mounted on a carriage moving along the material, and after a recording of one line is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch transport), and thereafter, By repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next row on the stopped recording material again, the recording of the entire recording material is performed. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records only by sub-scanning in the transport direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position,
After the recording for the line is performed, a predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and further, the operation of collectively recording the next line is repeated, thereby performing the recording on the entire recording material.

Among the above recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material. Easy,
High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, recording can be performed on plain paper without special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise, and It has advantages such as easy recording of a color image using ink. Above all, a line-type apparatus using a line-type recording means in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged in the paper width direction can further increase the recording speed.

[0005] In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for discharging ink by using thermal energy,
Through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, sputtering, etc., an electrothermal converter, an electrode,
By forming the liquid path wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high-density liquid path arrangement (discharge port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material,
In recent years, ordinary recording materials such as paper and resin thin plates (OHP
Etc.), thin paper and processed paper (paper with perforated holes for perforation, perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.) have come to be required.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
If foreign matter such as paper dust or dust adheres to the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head), or if the ink in the ejection port portion dries and thickens or adheres, the ejection port becomes clogged and defective ejection (improper) occurs. (Including ejection). Therefore,
In order to prevent this clogging, the ink ejection section is sealed with a cap during non-printing, and the ink is sucked from the ejection port through the cap by a suction means such as a pump to recover the ejection port. The device is being used. In the above-described serial type ink jet recording apparatus, when recording is not performed,
A method of stopping a carriage on which a recording head is mounted at a position facing a cap provided outside a recording range, and sealing the ink discharge portion (discharge port forming surface) of the recording head with the cap (hereinafter referred to as “capping”). Has been adopted.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus having a conventional suction recovery device.
In FIG. 14, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording head provided with a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets according to recording information by a built-in energy generating means (piezoelectric element, resistance heating element, etc.) (recording means); , A carriage shaft that slidably supports the carriage 2, 4 a sheet-like recording material to be recorded, and 5 a recording material 4 according to the recording condition. Transport (paper feed)
Feed roller.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a pulse motor serving as a drive source for the feed roller 5 and the automatic paper feeder. Reference numeral 7 denotes a cap unit for covering (sealing) the discharge port forming surface of the recording head 1. A movable pump carriage, 8 is a guide shaft for guiding the parallel movement of the pump carriage 7, and 9 is a return spring for urging the pump carriage 7 rightward in FIG. The pump carriage 7 is provided with an arm portion 7a, and a distal end portion thereof is provided with a hole 7b into which a projection 2a provided on the right side of the carriage 2 can be fitted. When the carriage 2 moves to the left side in FIG. 14, the projection 2a fits into the hole 7b, so that when the cap 10 is pressed against the discharge port forming surface of the recording head 1, the carriage 2 rotates around the carriage shaft 3. Is prevented from rotating.

When the carriage 2 moves from right to left in FIG. 14, the arm portion 7a is pushed by the carriage 2, and the pump carriage 7 moves leftward along the guide shaft 8. A rear portion of the cap 10 mounted on the pump carriage 7 is engaged with a rail 11, and the rail 11 is formed so as to protrude toward the left as it goes to the left. 1 and is pressed close to the discharge port forming surface. That is, when the cap 10 mounted on the pump carriage 7 moves to the left end by the movement of the carriage 2, the recording head 1 is sealed by the cap (capping state) due to the shape of the rail 11 described above.

In this capping state, the pulse motor 6
Is driven, the pump cam 13
Is driven, and the piston of the pump 14 is driven by the cam 13 (the pump 14 is driven). A tube 15 is connected to the pump 14 via a joint 16, and the tube 15 is connected to the inside of the cap 10. Therefore, by driving the pump 14 in a state where the recording head 1 is located at the left end, an operation of sucking ink from the ejection openings of the recording head 1 through the tube 15 and the cap 10, that is, a recovery operation is performed.

[0011]

However, in the conventional recovery device as described above, the cap 14 is moved from the pump 14 to the cap 1.
Since the distance to 0 is long, the initial amount of air when suction is performed by the pump 14 increases, and there is a problem that the initial suction force at the time of suction cannot be sufficiently obtained. Further, in order to secure a suction force, an unnecessarily large pump must be used as the pump 14. Further, the pump 14
16 and tube 15 between
Since suction is performed through such components as above, there are many problems such as the occurrence of negative pressure leakage (leakage) and the problem that it is difficult to ensure reliability. There is also a problem that the number of parts is large and the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to increase the initial suction force in the recovery operation and eliminate the possibility of confidential leakage, thereby improving the reliability of the recovery device. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can be improved and which can achieve miniaturization of the apparatus by optimally arranging each component.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: recording means for discharging ink to record on a recording material; and a carriage mounted with the recording means and moving. A cap for capping the ink discharge portion of the recording means, a cylinder provided directly connected to the cap, for performing suction from the ink discharge portion through the cap, and a piston movable in the cylinder; And a pump having the pump, wherein the movement of the carriage causes the cylinder to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage, thereby causing the cap to cap the ink ejection unit. Features.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each of the embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 14, and portions other than those shown have substantially the same configuration as that of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. is there. Also,
Each drawing shows the configuration outside the recording area of the ink jet recording apparatus (in the example shown, a portion near the right end of the recording apparatus). FIGS. 1 to 5 show the main parts of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
And FIG. 2 are diagrams showing the main part of the ink jet recording apparatus in which the position of the carriage is different when viewed from the front, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively different views of the recording apparatus when viewed from the right at different positions in FIG. 5 is a plan view of the printing apparatus of FIG. 2 as viewed from above, and FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view schematically showing a structure of an ink discharge unit of a printing unit (print head) in FIG. It is.

FIG. 1 shows a state where the recording head 1 is not capped, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the recording head 1 is moved to the right end and capped. In FIG. 1, a recording head 1 is mounted on a carriage 2 so as to discharge ink downward in the figure, and moves on a recording material 4 while moving the carriage 2 along a guide shaft 8 (main scanning). Record images. When the printing of one line is completed, the printing operation (ink ejection) is interrupted, and the recording material 4 is fed by a predetermined amount in the direction perpendicular to the carriage movement direction (sub-scanning direction), and then the carriage 2 is guided again. While moving (main scanning) along the axis 8, the image of the next row is recorded. The recording material 4 is pressed against the feed roller 5, and the recording material 4
Is carried out by rotating the feed roller 5 by a predetermined amount.

The driving source of the feed roller 5 is a motor (pulse motor) 6 whose rotational force is
The transmission and shutoff can be controlled by switching means such as a switching lever 18. The first pump gear 19 is configured to drive a pump cam 22 via a second pump gear 20 and a third pump gear 21.

A wiper 23 is mounted outside the recording area of the ink jet recording apparatus (at a position off the feed roller 5) in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage 2, and the wiper 23 moves the recording head 1 by the movement of the carriage 2. Is configured to perform wiping (wiping and cleaning) of the ink discharge section (discharge port forming surface) 51 of the ink jet printer. Further, the slide lever 24 is located at a position outside the recording area.
The slide lever 24 is urged leftward in FIG. 1 by a slide spring 26. The slide lever 24 is provided with a head contact portion 24a, and the recording head 1
When the recording head 1 is located on the left side depending on the position, the recording head 1 and the head contact portion 24a are separated, and when the recording head 1 moves out of the recording area and moves to the right in FIG. The contact of the contact portion 24a causes the slide lever 24
Is moved rightward with the recording head 1 (carriage 2). Further, even when the recording head 1 moves leftward from the right end position, the slide lever 24 moves in conjunction with the carriage 2 by the urging force of the slide spring 26 until the head contact portion 24a separates.

A cylinder 27 is provided which is rotatable about a rotation shaft 27a in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage 2. A cap 29 for covering (sealing or capping) the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1 is directly connected (fixed) to the cylinder 27. The cap 29 is usually formed of a rubber-like elastic material that easily ensures airtightness. The cylinder 27 is a cylinder spring 2
1, the cap 29 is normally urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, and in a normal state, as shown in FIG. 1, the cap 29 faces obliquely (the recording head 1 is not capped). Has become. The cylinder 27 is provided with an engagement portion 27b extending toward the cap 29. When the slide lever 24 moves rightward, the engagement with the cylinder drive portion 24b provided on the slide lever 24 is performed. The portion 27b is configured to engage.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the carriage 2 has been further moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the right end. In FIG. 2, when the recording head 1 presses the head contact portion 24a of the slide lever 24, the slide lever 24
5 moves rightward against the urging force of the slide spring 26. With the rightward movement of the slide lever 24,
The cylinder drive unit 24b of the slide lever is the cylinder 2
7, and rotates the cylinder 27 right (clockwise) around its rotation shaft 27a against the urging force of the cylinder spring 28. In this manner, at the position shown in FIG. 2, the cap 29 directly connected (fixed) to the cylinder 27 is located in front of the recording head 1, and the cap 29 is in a capping state in which the ink ejection section (ejection port forming surface) 51 is sealed. ing.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the periphery of the cylinder 27. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the transmission mechanism of the pump driving force and the periphery of the wiper 23. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the engagement portion 27b of the cylinder 27 is pressed by the cylinder driving portion 24b of the slide lever 24, the cylinder 27 rotates about the rotation shaft 27a, and the cap 29 is moved to the ink ejection portion (ejection) of the recording head 1. (The outlet forming surface) 51 (closed state) (capping state).

In FIG. 3, a piston 30 is mounted on the cylinder 27 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction in the figure. When the pump cam 22 is driven to rotate by the rotation of the pump gear 19, the piston 30 moves in the left-right direction by the cam surface provided on the pump cam 22, and from the discharge port of the recording head 1 via the cap 29 in the capping state. The ink is sucked into the cylinder 27, and the sucked ink (waste ink) is supplied to a waste ink pipe 31 provided in the cylinder 27.
It is configured to discharge more. That is, a recovery device for recovering the ejection performance of the recording head 1 is configured by these components.

In FIG. 4, the wiper 23 is fixed to a wiper holder 32, and the amount of overlap between the wiper 23 and the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1 is as follows.
A wiper holder 32 having a cam shape that follows the right side of the ink discharge section (discharge port forming surface) of the recording head 1
Are managed by the projections 32a. The wiper holder 32 is rotatably mounted on a rotation shaft 32b provided in parallel with the carriage moving direction. 34 urges the recording head 1 toward the ejection port forming surface 51 side.

When the carriage 2 moves rightward in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wiper 23
The wiper cam portion 24c (FIG. 4) repels the wiper cam 33 against the urging force of the wiper spring 34, and the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1 has an overlap amount secured by the wiper holder projection 32a. Wiping (wiping and cleaning).

On the other hand, when the carriage 2 moves to the left, the wiper cam 33 is pushed downward in FIG. 4 by the wiper cam portion 24c of the slide lever 24, and the wiper cam 33 on which the wiper cam 33 is mounted. 32 rotates leftward (counterclockwise) in FIG. 4 around the rotation shaft 32b against the wiper spring 34. Accordingly, the wiper 23 held by the wiper holder 32 is separated from the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the state of FIG. 2 as viewed from above. In FIG. 5, the cylinder 27, the cap 29 and the piston 30 are indicated by broken lines. In FIG. 5, a leaf spring 35 is provided on the apparatus main body side to press the rear guide portion 2b of the carriage 2 to secure a pressing force for capping. The rear guide 2b normally slides along the rear guide 36 on the apparatus main body side, but when the carriage 2 comes to the position shown in FIGS. The notch 36a faces the notch 36a, and play occurs between the notches 36a, so that the pressing force of the leaf spring 35 acts on the carriage 2 effectively. In this state, the carriage 2 is urged by the leaf spring 35 around the guide shaft 8 in the rotation direction in which the recording head 1 contacts the cap 29. By this rotational urging force, the pressing force for capping is secured.

In this embodiment, the capping pressure between the recording head 1 and the cap 29 is ensured by a leaf spring 35 provided at the rear of the carriage 2. The capping pressure may be secured by utilizing the elasticity of the cap 29 by fixing the rear side.

The recording means (recording head) 1 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink using thermal energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Further, the recording means 1 utilizes film boiling generated by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer, and discharges ink from a discharge port by a pressure change generated by growth and shrinkage of bubbles due to the film boiling to perform recording. Is performed.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection section of the recording means (recording head) 1.
In FIG. 6, the discharge port forming surface 51 facing the recording material 4 such as recording paper or a plastic thin plate with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm) has a predetermined pitch. A plurality of discharge ports 52 are formed, and an electrothermal converter (heat generating resistor or the like) for generating energy for ink discharge along the wall surface of each liquid path 54 that communicates the common liquid chamber 53 and each discharge port 52. ) 55 are provided. In this embodiment, the recording head 1 is configured such that the ejection port 52 is
Are mounted on the carriage 2 in a positional relationship such that they are arranged in a direction crossing the scanning direction. In this manner, the corresponding electrothermal transducer 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 54 to boil, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port 52 by the pressure generated at that time. The recording head 1 is configured.

According to the embodiment described above, since the cap 29 is directly connected to the cylinder 27 forming the suction recovery pump, an extra space between the pump 27 and the cap 29 can be omitted. Thus, the initial suction force of the pump 27 can be increased during the recovery operation. In addition, since parts between the pump 27 and the cap 29 are omitted, the reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved by reducing the possibility of airtight leakage (leak), and the number of parts can be reduced. Cost reduction.

FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 are diagrams showing the main components of a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the recording apparatus when the carriage 2 has not reached the capping position. FIG. 8 is a front view of the recording apparatus when the carriage 2 has reached the capping position.
FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 7 to 9, the cylinder 27 provided with the cap 29 has an arm 27d.
7, the cap 29 is normally held at a position inclined (a position where no capping is performed) away from the recording head 1 as shown in FIG. That is, when the carriage 2 is at the position shown in FIG.
Is substantially opposed to the recording head 1, but at a position where the ink ejection portion (ejection port forming surface 51) of the recording head 1 is opened.
The recording head 1 is not capped.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a state where the carriage 2 on which the recording head 1 is mounted moves rightward from the position shown in FIG. 7 and reaches the capping position at the right end. In the state shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the recording head 1
By pressing the head lever portion 27c of the cylinder 2,
The cap 7 rotates against the cylinder spring 28, and the cap 29 is in a capping state in which the cap 29 is in close contact with the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1. Also in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the cylinder 27 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 27a, and the piston 30 fitted to the cylinder (pump) 27 is driven by the pump cam 22. 7 to 9
The configuration and operation of other parts of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.
It is substantially the same as the embodiment, the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed description is omitted.

According to the second embodiment shown in FIGS.
The same effects as those of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 were obtained. That is, since the cap 29 is directly connected to the cylinder 27 forming the suction recovery pump, an extra space between the pump 27 and the cap 29 can be omitted. It became possible to increase power. In addition, since parts between the pump 27 and the cap 29 are omitted, the reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved by reducing the possibility of airtight leakage (leak), and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts. I was able to go down.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are side views showing a main part of a first embodiment relating to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a state where the recording head 1 mounted on the carriage 2 is not capped. FIG. 11 shows a state where the recording head 1 is capped. FIG.
In FIG. 0 and FIG.
The cylinder 27 is rotatably supported so that the cap 29 takes a closed position and an open position around a tilt center 27e as a rotation center. The cylinder 27
Is biased toward the cap closed position (upward in the figure) by a cap spring 38, and the cap closed position and the cap open position of the cylinder 27 are moved by a cap cam 37 driven by a drive source (not shown). It is configured to be regulated.

In the state shown in FIG.
Is rotated by the cap cam 37 in a direction (counterclockwise) in which the left end in the figure is tilted downward about the tilt center 27 e as a rotation center against the cap spring 38. For this reason, a gap is formed between the cap 29 and the recording head 1, and the discharge port forming surface 51 is in an open state. On the other hand, in the state of FIG.
Is rotated to a position where the cylinder 27 is not restricted.
The cap 29 is rotated around (e) to a position where the cap 29 contacts (presses) the discharge port forming surface 51. Therefore, the recording head 1 is in a capping state in which the recording head 1 is sealed by the cap 29.

The reference examples of FIGS. 10 and 11 are different from the above-described first and second embodiments in the points described above, but have substantially the same configuration in the other parts, and correspond to the respective embodiments. Portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Therefore, also in this reference example, the cap 29 is directly connected to the cylinder 27 forming the suction recovery pump as in the above-described embodiments, so that an extra space between the pump 27 and the cap 29 is provided. The space can be saved, and the initial suction force of the pump 27 can be increased during the recovery operation. In addition, since parts between the pump 27 and the cap 29 are omitted, the reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved by reducing the possibility of airtight leakage (leak), and the number of parts can be reduced. Cost reduction.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are side views showing a main part of a second embodiment relating to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a state where the recording head 1 mounted on the carriage 2 is not capped. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the recording head 1 is capped. 12 and 13, the cap 29 is the cylinder 2
The cylinder 27 in this case is fixed so as not to rotate around its axis. The cap 29 is fixed to the cylinder 27 at a predetermined angle (slight angle) in the direction in which the left end in the figure is lowered. On the other hand, a notch 36a as shown in FIG. 13 is formed at the right end (capping position) of the rear guide 36 that engages with the rear guide 2b at the upper rear of the carriage 2. A leaf spring for urging the carriage 2 counterclockwise (counterclockwise) about the guide shaft 8 is provided on a portion of the apparatus body corresponding to the capping position of the carriage 2 as in the case of FIG. 35 (FIG. 13) are provided.

When the carriage 2 is at the normal position other than the capping position, the rear guide portion 2a engages (locks) with the rear guide 36 as shown in FIG. Recording position)
Is held in. Then, when the carriage 2 moves from the normal position in FIG. 12 to the position (capping position) in FIG. 13, the position of the rear guide portion 2b matches the position of the notch portion 36a, and Is pushed by the leaf spring 35 from behind. Therefore, the carriage 2 rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the guide shaft 8, and the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1 is constantly pressed against the cap 29 which is attached while being inclined. Thus, the recording head 1 is automatically brought into the capping state by the movement of the carriage 2.

The reference examples of FIGS. 12 and 13 are different from the above-described embodiments and the first reference example in the points described above, but have substantially the same configuration in other parts, and correspond to the respective examples. Portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiments and the first embodiment,
Since the cap 29 is directly connected to the cylinder 27 forming the suction recovery pump, an extra space between the pump 27 and the cap 29 can be omitted, and the initial suction force of the pump 27 can be reduced during the recovery operation. It became possible to increase. In addition, since parts between the pump 27 and the cap 29 are omitted, the reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved by reducing the possibility of airtight leakage (leak), and the number of parts can be reduced. Cost reduction.

In the above-described embodiment, the case of an ink jet recording apparatus for monochromatic recording using one recording head has been described as an example. The same applies regardless of the number of recording heads, such as an inkjet recording device for color recording using a recording head, or an inkjet recording device for gradation recording using multiple recording heads that record with the same color and different density inks The same operation and effect can be achieved.

Further, the recording means (recording head) 1 is of a cartridge type in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, or of a constitution in which the recording head and the ink tank are separated and connected by an ink supply tube. Regardless of the configuration of the recording means and the ink tank, the present invention can be similarly applied and the same effects can be achieved.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using, for example, a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. The present invention brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus of a type in which ink is ejected. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
Preferably, this is done using the basic principles disclosed in US Pat. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which Then, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the film is boiled on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head). As a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed one-to-one corresponding to the driving signal. It is valid.

By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in 463359 and 4345262 are suitable. In addition, US Pat. No. 4,431,131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of JP-A No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, the recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head. In addition, even with the serial type printer as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main unit or attached to the main unit enables electrical connection with the main unit and supply of ink from the main unit. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type print head or a cartridge type print head having an ink tank provided integrally with the print head itself is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus in the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
For the recording head, a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suctioning unit, a preheating unit using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, and a discharge other than recording. Performing the preliminary ejection mode is also effective for performing stable printing.

The types and the number of recording heads to be mounted also correspond to, for example, a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities, in addition to a recording head having only one corresponding to a single color ink. May be provided in plurality. That is, for example, as the recording mode of the recording apparatus, not only the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black,
The recording head may be formed integrally or by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, but the present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of multiple colors of different colors or full color by mixing colors.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet ink In general, in the method, the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. What is necessary is just to be liquid. in addition,
Whether to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or use ink that solidifies in a standing state to prevent evaporation of the ink In any case, the ink is liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal, and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time by thermal energy, such as one that starts to solidify when it reaches a recording medium, is used.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which the liquid sheet or the solid sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It may be. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also a copying apparatus combined with a reader and the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. And the like.

[0051]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention (claim 1), recording means for discharging ink to perform recording on a recording material, and mounting the recording means. And a cap for capping the ink ejection portion of the recording means,
A pump that is provided directly connected to the cap and that has a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, for performing suction from the ink ejection unit through the cap;
The movement of the carriage has a configuration in which the cylinder is rotated around an axis in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage, and the cap is used to cap the ink discharge unit. By directly connecting the cap to a suction pump comprising a piston movable in the cylinder, the initial suction force in the recovery operation can be increased, and the possibility of leakage of confidential information can be eliminated, and the reliability of the recovery device can be improved. In addition, by moving the carriage, the cylinder is rotated around an axis perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage to perform capping, thereby eliminating a driving source for capping and reducing the number of parts. Inkjet printers that can reduce the size of the device by optimally arranging the parts because they can reduce costs Door recording apparatus is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, when the carriage is at the capping position outside the recording area, the spring biasing means provided on the apparatus body side. A configuration in which the carriage is pressed from back to front to apply a rotational urging force about the guide shaft to the carriage, and the rotational urging force secures a pressing force for bringing the recording unit mounted on the carriage into contact with the cap. Therefore, the above effect can be more efficiently achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial front view showing a configuration of a main part of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing a state where a recording head is capped by the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a cylinder and a carriage of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a wiper and a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of a main part of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 2 as viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view schematically showing a structure of an ink ejection unit of a recording unit of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial front view showing a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial front view showing a state in which the recording head is capped by the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 7;

9 is a side view showing a cylinder and a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a configuration of a main part of a first reference example relating to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

11 is a side view showing a state in which the recording head is capped by the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating a main configuration of a second reference example related to the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

13 is a side view showing a state in which the recording head is capped by the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a conventional recovery device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording means (recording head) 2 Carriage 2b Rear guide part 4 Recording material 5 Feed roller 6 Pulse motor 8 Guide shaft 17 Feed gear 18 Switching lever 19 1st pump gear 20 2nd pump gear 21 3rd pump gear 22 Pump cam 23 Wiper 24 Slide lever 24a Head contact part 24b Cylinder drive part 25 Slide rail 26 Slide spring 27 Cylinder 27a Rotating shaft 27b Engaging part 27c Head lever part 27d Arm part 27e Tilt center 28 Cylinder spring 29 Cap 30 Piston 31 Waste ink pipe 32 Wiper Holder 35 Leaf spring 36 Rear guide 36a Notch 37 Cap cam 38 Cap spring 51 Discharge port forming surface 52 Discharge port 55 Electrothermal transducer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Haruyuki Yanagi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takashi Nojima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Shinnosuke Taniishi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Junichi Asano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) reference Patent Sho 63-53047 (JP, a) JP flat 3-136858 (JP, a) JP Akira 60-30348 (JP, a) (58 ) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ⁷ B41J 2/165 B41J 2/18 B41J 2/185

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A recording means for ejecting ink to perform recording on a recording material; a carriage mounted with the recording means and moving; a cap for capping an ink ejection portion of the recording means; A pump having a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder for sucking from the ink discharge section through the cap,
Ink jet recording, wherein the movement of the carriage causes the cylinder to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage, thereby causing the cap to cap the ink ejection unit. apparatus. 2. When the carriage is at the capping position outside the recording area, the carriage is pressed from the rear to the front by spring biasing means provided on the apparatus main body side, thereby rotating the carriage about the guide shaft. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an urging force is applied, and the pressing force for bringing the recording means mounted on the carriage into contact with the cap is secured by the rotational urging force. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means is an ink jet recording means provided with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. 4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said recording means discharges the ink from a discharge port using film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. .