JPH04235040A - Ink jet head cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid danger such that a thing such as a finger is caught in a gap during operation by forming a head cartridge so as to have the outer shape following the locus of the moving route of a lever for fixing and releasing the head cartridge. CONSTITUTION:Since an ink jet head corner part 2a takes an almost concentric R-shape with respect to the operation locus of a release lever handle part 22a, the interval between the release lever handle part 22a and an ink jet head 2 becomes almost constant during the rotary operation of a release lever 22 and can be suppressed to a definite value or less through the entire rotary operation region of the release lever. When the release lever 22 is rotated from a lock state to a release state, a link plate 23 moves in the right direction. Therefore, the connector holder 4 integrated with the link plate 23 also moves in the right direction and a head connector 5 and a main body connector 6 are spaced apart from each other and the pressure of a push pin 41 is also released and the ink jet head 2 becomes a release state.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet head cartridge and an inkjet recording apparatus that eject ink to record an image on a recording medium.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows the structure of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus having a replaceable ink jet head. 1 is a carriage with inkjet heads 2a, 2b, 2
c and 2d are mounted and slide on the scanning rail. A drive motor 8 drives and scans the carriage 1 fixed to the drive belt 10 via a drive pulley 9 and a drive belt 10. The inkjet head 2a follows the scanning of the carriage 1.
, 2b, 2c, and 2d according to the image signal to record an image on the recording medium 30.

The carriage position indicated by a broken line A indicates the carriage stop position in a non-printing state. A cap means 31 caps the recording head portion of the ink jet head at the carriage stop position A to prevent ink evaporation and ink scattering when the ink jet head is attached or detached.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a release lever, and the rotation of the release lever 22 shown in FIG.
B, 2C, and 2D are released from the positioning state. The rotation operation at this time is performed manually, and 22a shown in FIG. 5 becomes the handle of the release lever.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the configuration shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the release lever rotates, as shown in FIG.
With respect to the external shape of a, the release lever handle 22a draws an arcuate trajectory with a predetermined point as a fulcrum, so the gap distance between the release lever handle and the inkjet head is not uniform and changes. There were issues that needed to be solved.

(1) The rotation of the release lever is performed manually, and if the finger is applied to the handle of the release lever so much that it reaches the gap between the release lever and the inkjet head, As the gap distance decreases in the first half of the rotation operation, there is a risk that objects may get caught, such as fingers being caught.

(2) In order to prevent the problem in (1) above, in order to keep the gap distance between the release lever and the inkjet head above a certain safe value, the length of the arm of the release lever must be increased. This results in an increase in the size of the entire device.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a head cartridge with an outer shape that follows the locus of the movement path of a lever for fixing and releasing the head cartridge. We have come to the conclusion that this is suitable.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned findings, and includes a recording head section that performs recording by discharging ink, and an ink tank section storing ink to be supplied to the recording head section. In the inkjet head cartridge configured to be freely attachable to and detachable from the apparatus, the ink tank section is processed into a shape that substantially follows a displacement path of an attachment/detachment lever used when attaching to and detaching from the apparatus. .

The present invention also provides an inkjet head cartridge that is detachable from the main body and includes a recording head section that discharges ink to record an image, and an ink tank section that stores ink to be supplied to the head section. In an inkjet recording device equipped with a loading section for making the inkjet head cartridge removable, the loading section includes a fixed support section for loading the inkjet head cartridge, and a release section for fixing or unfixing the inkjet head cartridge to the support section. and a lever, and is configured to fix and release the cartridge by rotating the release lever, and a rotation locus of the release lever while a part of the ink tank portion of the cartridge is rotating; It is characterized by a substantially concentric rounded shape that maintains substantially constant spacing.

According to the present invention, the corner of the inkjet head near the movement path of the handle of the release lever has an R shape that is approximately concentric with the rotation locus of the release lever, so that the entire operating range of the release lever can be adjusted. Through this, it became possible to maintain a substantially constant distance between the release lever handle and the inkjet head.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

In the figure, a carriage 1 for removably mounting an inkjet head cartridge 2 equipped with an ejection head 3 is slidably mounted on a scanning rail 11 and supported on one side by a sliding rail 12. The recording medium 30 is scanned parallel to the recording medium 30 in the direction of arrow S.

According to the scanning of the carriage 1, the inkjet heads 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D (having a plurality of electrothermal transducers (not shown) for forming ink droplets according to image information) Ink supplied from inside the ink tank section 2 is ejected from a plurality of ejection heads (not shown) of the ink tank section 2 according to the image information, and images such as characters and figures are recorded on the recording medium 30. Then, the recording medium 30 is sequentially conveyed by feed rollers 15, 16, 17, and 18 in accordance with image recording to perform image recording.

A guide plate 19 guides the recording medium 30.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a signal line bundle (flexible cable), through which image recording signals are transmitted to the inkjet head cartridges 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D via main body connectors 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d. A connector holder 4 holds the main body connectors 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, and is engaged with the carriage 1 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow M.

A holding plate 20 is fixed to the connector holder 4 with mounting screws 21a and 21b, and fixes the signal wire bundle 14 at the same time.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a release lever, and the operation of the release lever 22 releases the inkjet head cartridge 2A (described later).
, 2B, 2C, and 2D are released from the positioning state.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a link plate that engages with the release lever 22 and the connector holder 4.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a lock claw 25 which is a lock spring and forms a locking means for the release lever when it does not come into contact with the guide portion 33a on the housing 33.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the carriage and its vicinity regarding the rotational movement of the release lever. Here, the solid line indicates the locked state (positioning state) of the inkjet head cartridge 2, and the broken line indicates the released state of the inkjet head cartridge 2.

In FIG. 2, since the inkjet corner 2a has an approximately concentric R-shape with respect to the operating locus of the release lever handle 22a, the release lever handle 22a and the inkjet head 2 are not connected to each other during rotation of the release lever 22. The distance between the release lever and the release lever is substantially constant, and the distance can be kept below a certain value throughout the rotational range of the release lever.

[0023] As an example of the above-mentioned interval, it is desirable to set it to an amount that does not allow fingers to get caught, and is approximately 10 mm. Of course, the interval may be selected arbitrarily and is not limited to this.

In FIG. 2, shaft 2 on the connector holder
0 is integrally coupled with the link plate 23. This axis 20
is fitted into the slide hole 1e of the carriage 1, and is slidable in the left and right direction. Further, the slide hole 23a of the ring plate 23 is fitted with the carriage shaft 1f, and can be slid in the same manner. The release lever 22 is rotatably fitted to the carriage shaft 1f. At the same time, the dowel 23b of the link plate 23 is fitted into the cam hole 22b of the release lever 22, and when the release lever 22 is rotated from the locked state to the released state, the link plate 23 moves to the right. Therefore, the connector holder 4 integrated with the link plate 23 also moves to the right, the head connector 5 and the main body connector 6 are separated, and the pressure of the push pin 41 is also released, so that the inkjet head 2 is in a released state.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the ink jet head 2 is removed from the carriage 1 in a released state.

When the inkjet head is in the released state, the connector holder 4 moves to the right. During this move,
The inkjet head cartridge 2 has a rough guide 1d.
201 and its movement is restricted, the main body connector 6 and head connector 5 are separated from each other, and at the same time, the push pin 41 also separates from the inkjet head cartridge 2 and releases the pressure on the inkjet head cartridge 2. Release from the positioning state.

As shown in the figure, when the head connector 5 of the inkjet head cartridge 2 and the main body connector 6 are separated and the push pin 41 is also separated from the inkjet head cartridge 2, the inkjet head cartridge 2 can be attached and detached in the direction of arrow R. becomes.

Although the first embodiment describes the case where there are a plurality of inkjet heads, a similar configuration can be adopted even when there is only one inkjet head.

(Others) The present invention particularly relates to means for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink in an inkjet recording system.
For example, the present invention provides an excellent effect in a recording head or recording apparatus that is equipped with an electrothermal converter (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) and uses the thermal energy to cause a change in the state of the ink. This is because such a system can achieve higher recording density and higher definition.

For its typical configuration and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
Preferably, it is carried out using the basic principles disclosed in the '796 specification. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, the ink is placed in correspondence with the sheet holding the liquid (ink) and the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer that corresponds to recorded information and that causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, the electrothermal transducer generates thermal energy and heats the recording head. This is effective because film boiling is caused on the working surface, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one drop. It is more preferable to use this drive signal in a pulse form, since the growth and contraction of bubbles can be carried out immediately and appropriately, making it possible to eject liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness. This pulse-shaped drive signal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and U.S. Pat.
262 is suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be achieved.

[0031] In addition to the configuration of the recording head, which is a combination of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 455,833 and U.S. Pat. No. 44 disclose a configuration in which a heat acting part is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 123670 of 1982 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a hole that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy is disclosed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461 of 1982, which discloses a configuration in which the discharge portion corresponds to the discharge portion.

Furthermore, a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus can be produced by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the length or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

In addition, a replaceable chip-type recording head that is attached to the apparatus main body enables electrical connection with the apparatus main body and ink supply from the apparatus main body, or a print head that is integrated into the print head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. for the recording head, which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these include capping means, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means for the recording head using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element, or a combination thereof. ,
It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing in order to perform stable printing.

Furthermore, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only mainstream colors such as black, but may also include recording heads that are integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or multiple colors of different colors or The present invention is also extremely effective for devices equipped with at least one of the following: , full color by color mixing.

Although the embodiments of the present invention described above are explained using liquid ink, the present invention can be applied to ink that is solid at room temperature or ink that is soft at room temperature. Can be used. In the above-mentioned inkjet devices, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within the range of 30°C to 70°C to keep the viscosity of the ink within a stable ejection range. It is sufficient if the ink is liquid. In addition, the temperature rise caused by thermal energy can be actively prevented by using the energy to change the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or an ink that solidifies when left standing is used to prevent ink evaporation. In any case, the ink may be liquefied by application of thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal and ejected as liquid ink, or the ink may have already begun to solidify by the time it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to the use of ink that is liquefied for the first time. In such a case, the ink is held in a liquid or solid state in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may also be in a form that faces the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is to implement the above-mentioned film boiling method.

[0037]

As explained above, in an inkjet recording apparatus having a removable inkjet head, the corner of the inkjet head near the release lever moving path has an R shape that is approximately concentric with the arcuate locus of the release lever. According to 1. Since the unevenness in the distance between the release lever handle and the inkjet head is reduced, the distance can be narrowed to a certain amount or less throughout the operation of the release lever, and objects such as fingers during operation can be kept within the distance. The risk of getting caught can be avoided.

2. Because we were able to change the shape of the inkjet head without causing any problems with the amount of ink stored in the inkjet head, there was no need to increase the length of the release lever arm, and the overall size of the device could be maintained. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Carriage 2 Inkjet head 2a Inkjet head corner 22 Release lever 22a Release lever handle

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet comprising a recording head section for performing recording by discharging ink, and an ink tank section storing ink to be supplied to the recording head section, and configured to be detachable from an apparatus. An inkjet head cartridge, characterized in that the ink tank portion is processed into a shape that substantially follows a displacement path of an attachment/detachment lever used when attaching and detaching the head cartridge. 2. The attachment/detachment lever is configured to rotate about a predetermined point as a fulcrum, and a portion of the ink tank portion has a curved shape along a locus of the rotation operation. The inkjet head cartridge according to claim 1. 3. The inkjet head cartridge is provided with a recording head section that discharges ink to record an image, and an ink tank section that stores ink to be supplied to the head section, and an inkjet head cartridge that is detachable from the main body. In the inkjet recording apparatus, the loading section includes a fixed support section for loading the inkjet head cartridge, and a release lever for fixing to or releasing the fixation to the support section. The release lever is configured to release the fixation of the cartridge by rotating, and a part of the ink tank portion of the cartridge is at an approximately constant interval from the rotation locus of the release lever during rotation. An inkjet recording device characterized by having a substantially concentric R shape that maintains the following characteristics. 4. The recording head section includes an electrothermal conversion element for generating thermal energy used for ejecting ink. inkjet head cartridge. 5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording head section includes an electrothermal conversion element for generating thermal energy used for ejecting ink.