JPH05162298A - Ink tank, recording head separated exchange type inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It is possible to prevent the inside of the device, recording paper, hands, etc. from becoming dirty due to the outflow of ink from the ink flow path joint part, and separate the ink tank and recording head to facilitate them independently. Provided is a replaceable inkjet recording device. [Structure] The recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 are integrally tightened in the vicinity of an ink flow path coupling portion by a tank band 22 and a tank band spring 23, and this is fixed to a carriage 3 by pressurizing it with a pressure hook 21. .. With this configuration, the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 can be separated and connected outside the carriage 3, and the above-described object can be achieved.

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 recording by ejecting ink, and more particularly to mounting and fixing of a recording head and an ink tank on a carriage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are many cases in which an ink jet recording apparatus is composed of a recording head which can be semi-permanently used and a replaceable ink cartridge which supplies ink to the head. However, in the case of such a recording head, it is difficult to eliminate accidental failure due to clogging of the nozzle portion or the like, or failure over time due to deterioration of the ejection element, etc. However, a special maintenance service system was required to maintain recording performance.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of improving reliability, the recording head which is liable to malfunction is regularly replaced at a predetermined interval, and from the viewpoint of easy replacement, the recording head is surely replaced for each predetermined ink amount. As can be implemented, an ink jet recording apparatus using a disposable exchange type head cartridge in which an ink tank and a head are integrated has also been put into practical use.

[0004]

However, in such a disposable replacement type head cartridge, the usable ink amount cannot be set to a large value in terms of ensuring reliability and the size and weight of the cartridge itself. There is a problem of user's disadvantage due to increase in running cost. In addition, since the head must be discarded even if it still functions sufficiently when the ink is used up, a contradiction has arisen regarding the global environmental problem, which is a global trend in recent years.

In view of reliability, in recent years, the characteristics of the disposable replacement type have been utilized, and the print head and the ink tank can be independently replaced in consideration of running cost increase and global environmental problems. Ink jet recording apparatuses of the configured type have been proposed. In particular, in order to efficiently supply the ink to the recording head, a structure in which the ink tank and the recording head are integrally combined on the carriage to eject the ink for recording is emphasized. The problem of the ink jet recording apparatus having this configuration relates to fixing and mounting of the recording head on the carriage that holds and prints the recording head, and connection of the ink flow path for supplying ink from the ink tank to the recording head. is there. In addition, since the print head is often electrically controlled, there is a problem regarding mounting and fixing of the print head and electrical connection with a carriage. Solid ink is also a problem when connecting ink channels, but when liquid ink is used, it is possible to prevent the inside of the device, recording paper, hands, etc. from being contaminated due to leakage of ink from the channel coupling section. Doing is an important issue. In particular, regarding the ink flow path coupling, a reliable coupling is required from the above points, and a simple separation is required due to the ease of ink tank replacement, but it is difficult to satisfy both requirements with a simple configuration. However, there are almost no practical examples.

The present invention has been made under such a situation. It is possible to prevent the inside of the apparatus, the recording paper, the hands, etc. from being contaminated due to the outflow of ink from the ink flow path connecting portion, and the ink tank and the recording. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device in which the heads can be separated and easily replaced independently.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following (1),
Configure as in (2).

(1) An ink tank, a recording head arranged to face the ink tank, a tightening means for tightening the ink tank and the recording head in the vicinity of an ink flow path connecting portion, and the ink tank for the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink tank and a recording head are separated and exchanged, and a pressurizing unit for pressurizing one end of the ink tank so as to press the carriage through the ink.

(2) The ink tank / recording head separable exchange type ink jet recording apparatus according to the above (1), in which the electrically connecting means for connecting the recording head and the carriage is pressed in the connecting direction by the pressing means.

(3) The recording head is for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating the thermal energy, as described in (1) or (2) above. Ink jet recording device with separate ink tank and recording head.

[0011]

With the constitutions of (1), (2) and (3), the pressure applied by the pressure applying means is loosened, the ink tank and the recording head are removed from the carriage in the tightened state, and the tightening means is loosened. The recording head can be separated and either or both can be easily replaced. Further, the ink tank and the recording head can be connected by a tightening means, and can be mounted at a predetermined position by being pressed against the carriage by the pressing means.

In the configuration of (2), the pressure causes the electrical coupling means of the recording head and the carriage to be pressurized in the coupling direction.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part in an "ink tank / recording head separation exchange type inkjet recording device" which is an embodiment. The recording head 1 in the present embodiment is of an ink jet type that performs recording using an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling in ink in response to an electric signal.

In FIG. 1, the main structure of the recording head 1 is formed by stacking the head projections 4 and 4a provided on the head base plate 5 as a position reference on the head base plate 5 by bonding or pressure bonding.

The vertical direction in the plane of FIG. 1 is positioned by the reference surface 3d of the front plate 3a and the protrusion 4a, and the horizontal direction in the plane of FIG. 1 is positioned by the front plate 3a and the protrusion 4. Furthermore, FIG.
In the vertical direction of the cross-section, a part of the protrusion 4 protrudes so as to cover the front plate 3a, and the protrusion (not shown) of the protrusion and the front plate 3a are positioned. The heater board 7 is an electrothermal converter (not shown) (not shown) arranged in a plurality of rows on the Si substrate.
A head PC having a wiring in which a pad for receiving an electric signal from the main body device is arranged at an end thereof, and an electric wiring such as aluminum for supplying electric power to the
B17 is connected by wire bonding in association with each wiring. A common liquid chamber 8 that supplies ink to the ink flow path by introducing ink from the ink tank 2 through a partition wall or flow path for partitioning the plurality of ink flow paths corresponding to the discharge heater, and a plurality of discharge ports are provided. Groove top plate 9 integrally formed with orifice 6 to be formed by polysulfone or the like
Is pressed against the heater board 7 with a spring (not shown), and is pressure-bonded and sealed with a sealant to form an ink ejection portion. In order to be able to be connected to the ink tank 2, the flow path 13 that is coupled and sealed to the groove top plate 9 is, in this embodiment, passed through the hole 12 provided in the head PCB 17 and the head base plate 5 and is opposite to the head base plate 5. And the head base plate 5 at the penetrating portion.
It is fixed to the adhesive. Further, a filter 10 is provided at the end of the flow path 13 on the side where the ink tank 2 is connected to prevent dust and involuntary bubbles from flowing into the ejection portion. Further, a head cover 19 is provided in order to protect the ejection portion of the recording head 1 and pads for electrical connection and to make the recording head 1 easier to hold from the handling side.

The ink tank 2 has an ink absorber 14 impregnated with ink packed in a tank case having ribs 15 on the inner surface thereof with almost no space between them, and a flow path end provided with an ink filter 10 of the recording head 1. An ink supply portion (hole) 11 for inserting the ink to connect the ink and an atmosphere corresponding to the outflow of the ink from the ink tank 2 are introduced into the ink tank 2 to prevent an excessive negative pressure from being generated. It has an atmosphere communicating portion (hole) 20. Ink supply unit 11
The rib 1 is formed on the inner wall of the tank in order to prevent the direct communication with the atmosphere through the inner wall of the tank case and to make the most effective use of the ink in the entire area of the ink absorber 14 by using the capillary force.
5 and the atmosphere communicating portion 20 is installed as far away from the ink supply portion 11 as possible. At the same time, the rib 15 also functions as a reinforcing portion of the tank case, and improves the operability when replacing the ink tank 2. The initial amount of impregnated ink in the ink absorber 14 has a functional purpose for imparting a negative hydrohead pressure to the meniscus of the ejection port at the time of coupling with the recording head 1 to enable stable ejection, and an ink tank. (2) For the purpose of operability so that the ink does not leak even if a slight impact is applied during replacement, the ink is filled with a smaller amount than the absorbable amount of the ink absorber 11. .. Note that the ink absorber of the atmosphere communicating portion 20 may be liquid-repellent treated or may be configured by using a separate liquid-repellent absorber to control the leakage of ink from the atmosphere communicating hole 20. The ink supply limit of the ink tank 2 is such that the amount of ink impregnated in the ink absorber 14 is very small, and the ink suction of the ink absorber 14 is larger than the ink supply capability to the recording head 1 due to the capillary force of the nozzle accompanying the ink ejection. This is the case when the force becomes strong or the atmosphere introduced from the atmosphere communicating portion 20 around the filter 10 increases so that a large amount of the atmosphere in the ink absorber 14 is supplied through the filter 10.

Next, the connection state of the ink tank, the recording head and the carriage will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 are connected to each other by attaching a tank band 22 whose one end is fixed (not shown) to the head base plate 5 of the recording head 1 in the vicinity of the ink flow path connecting portion of the ink tank 2. A tank band spring is provided by urging a ring-shaped tank band hook 24 provided at the end of the tank band spring 23 connected to the other end of the tank band along the outer wall while biasing the band projection 25 provided on the head base plate 5. It is integrated by the biasing force of 23. More specifically, the ink tank 2 and the recording head 1 can be connected to each other outside the carriage 3 as shown in FIG. 3. First, the tank guide hole 16a of the head base plate 5 is connected to the tank guide 16 of the ink tank 2.
Start by fitting in b. The position of this engaging portion is arranged close to the point of action of the pressure hook 21 on the carriage 3, and the ink flow path coupling portion (ink supply portion) is separated from the point of action of the pressure hook 21 as much as possible. By arranging them in such a manner, it is possible to reduce the component force of the pressurizing force at the ink supply portion when the carriage 3 is mounted, and it is possible to reliably connect the ink flow path connecting portion. That is,
As is apparent from FIG. 2, the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2
Considering the connection between the tank guide 16 and the pressurizing hook 21 as a force point, the tank guide 16 is rotated when the ink tank 2 is rotated clockwise in the drawing.
Since the ink flow path coupling portion serves as a point of action with the engagement portion b as a fulcrum, a force that inhibits the coupling is generated at the ink flow channel coupling portion. At the ink flow path connecting portion, the ink absorber 14 and the filter 10 are pressed into contact with each other by the binding force of the tank band 22 to connect the ink flow path connecting portion, and at the same time, to the head base plate 5 and the outer wall surface of the ink tank 2. The ring seal 26, which is an elastic body sandwiched between the two, is pressed and deformed and comes into close contact with each other, thereby completely sealing the communication between the inside of the ink tank 2 and the atmosphere in the ink flow path coupling portion. If this sealing is insufficient, the introduction of the atmosphere into the ink tank 2 accompanying the ink supply to the recording head 1 is directly carried out in this portion without passing through the ink absorber 14, so the ink absorber It becomes difficult to effectively use the ink impregnated in 14.

However, in this embodiment, since the coupling force by the tank band spring 23 in the vicinity of the ink flow channel coupling portion is made sufficiently larger than the acting force of the pressure hook 21, the ink is surely attached even when mounted on the carriage 3. Can be combined.

As described above, the pressure hook 21 is set so that the pressure direction thereof is tilted by 10 degrees in order to position the recording head 1 with respect to the carriage 3 in the left direction of the drawing. Since the shape of the head base plate becomes complicated when the pressure hook 21 is hooked on the head base plate 5, it is simpler to construct the head base plate 5 so that the head base plate 5 can be hooked on the ink tank 2 which is relatively tolerant in terms of accuracy. Is. Further, when considering the connection between the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2, a force in the direction orthogonal to the connecting direction is applied, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
6b and the tank guide 16a are engaged with each other to receive a force in that direction. That is, the tank guide 16b is joined to the inner wall of the tank guide hole 16a on the left side of the paper surface, and the head positioning portion positions the recording head 1 and the carriage 3 by the force of the force.

In the present embodiment, the ink in the ink tank 2 is prevented in order to prevent an excessive mechanical force from acting on the flow path directly coupled to the ejection portion of the recording head 1 which requires particularly high accuracy. The play of the flow path in the supply unit 11 is set to be larger than the play of the tank guide 16b in the tank guide hole 16a, and all the force in the direction orthogonal to the connecting direction of the ink tank 2 is received by the connecting unit of the tank guide 16b. There is. The joint portion of the tank guide 16b in the present embodiment is further provided with a function of preventing the ink tank 2 from rotating on the surface of the head base plate 5.
The backlash in terms of its action surface is also taken into consideration so that no extra force acts on the flow path.

The ring seal 26 is made of a slightly thick elastic ring in this embodiment so that the joint with the outer wall of the ink tank 2 can be widened so as to allow the backlash of the ink supply section 11.

Here, the recording head 1 in the recording apparatus 1
The arrangement and operation of the ink tank 2 and the carriage 3 are shown in FIG.
Will be explained. In FIG. 4, the recording medium P is guided from the lower side to the upper side of the paper by using the platen roller 5000, and is pressed against the platen 5000 by the paper pressing plate 5002 in the moving direction of the carriage 3. The carriage 3 is supported and engaged by a lead screw 5004 that operates as a drive source by inserting a carriage drive pin into the spiral groove 5005 and rotating itself, and a slider 5003 that is arranged in parallel with the lead screw 5004. , And reciprocates left and right along the recording surface of the recording medium P guided on the platen roller 5000. Lead screw 500
4 is rotationally drive-controlled via drive transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013.
Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which confirm the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage 3 in this area to check the motor 50.
13 is a home position detecting means for switching the rotation direction of the motor 13 and the like. The image recording signal is sent to the recording head 1 in synchronism with the movement of the carriage 3 carrying the recording head 1, and ink droplets are ejected at a predetermined position to perform recording. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head 1. Reference numeral 5015 is a suction means that sucks the inside of the cap 502.
The suction recovery of the recording head 1 is performed via 3. Reference numeral 5017 is a cleaning blade, and 5019 is a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction.
These are supported by 8. Needless to say, the suction means, the blade, and the like need not be in this form, and known ones can be applied. Reference numeral 5012 is a lever for determining the timing of the suction recovery operation, which is the carriage 3
The cam 5020 that is engaged with the cam 5020 moves, and the driving force from the drive motor 5013 is controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. These recovery means are configured so that when the carriage 3 comes to the home position side area, the desired processing can be performed at a predetermined timing at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5004.

Mechanical and electrical connection of the recording head 1 to the carriage 3 is performed as follows. Carriage 3
The front plate 3 located on the platen side (front side of the head)
a, a support plate 3c for an electrical connection portion that holds a head drive electrode corresponding to a pad on the PCB 17 of the recording head 1,
A head positioning portion 3b for mechanically fixing the recording head 1 and a pressure hook 21 for urging and supporting the ink tank 2 and the recording head 1 in one direction are provided.
The pressure hook 21 of the carriage 3 is constructed so as to generate an urging force in the pressing direction of FIG. 1, that is, in a direction inclined by about 10 degrees with respect to the moving direction of the carriage 3, so that the urging force causes the recording head to move. 1 is pressed in two directions: the front plate 3a direction and the electrical connection support plate 3c. At the same time, the head positioning portion 3b is also urged in the moving direction of the carriage 3 with the support plate 3c for electrical connection as a fulcrum. The pressing engagement of the pressing hook 21 may be performed by any method, but it is preferable that the pressing hook 21 can be operated by a lever or the like that can be operated from the upper surface side of the carriage 3. In any case, when the pressure hook 21 is engaged, the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 are moved to the carriage 3
While slightly rotating above, the positioning protrusions 4 and 4a are attached to the front plate 3.
Since the electrical connection is made after contacting the reference surface of a, the pad on the head PCB and the head drive electrode 18
The positioning with and is surely performed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the ink tank 2 and the recording head 1 are sufficiently coupled to each other, and then the ink tank 2 is urged by the pressure hook 21 so that the carriage 3 and the recording head 1 are urged. Since the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 can be reliably positioned with a simple structure and can be easily separated and combined outside the main body by removing the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2, the replacement operation can be easily performed.

Further, in this embodiment, the carriage (recording apparatus main body) 3 and the recording head 1 are electrically connected at the same time, so that the operability when exchanging the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 is good. However, it is also possible to increase the degree of freedom in the configuration for ensuring the positioning of the recording head 1 and the coupling with the ink tank 2 by using a separate connector connection method or the like for electrical connection.

In this embodiment, the single-color recording apparatus having one recording head 1 has been described, but a plurality of recording heads capable of ejecting ink of different colors, for example, four recording heads Bk, C, M and Y.
The present invention is also applicable to a color ink jet recording apparatus having a head, and is also applicable to a recording head capable of ejecting ink of a plurality of colors with one recording head. In that case, a means for regulating the connecting position and direction of the ink tank. Should be added.

Although an example of using an absorber is shown as a method for holding ink, other ink tanks such as a bladder system may be used.

(Invention and Related Art) The present invention is provided with means for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in an ink jet recording apparatus, and the state of ink by the thermal energy. This is an excellent effect in a recording apparatus of the type that causes a change. This is because such a method can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or the flow path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. It is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. .. The growth of this bubble,
The contraction causes the liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. This pulse-shaped drive signal is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
Those described in 345262 are suitable. Further excellent recording can be performed by adopting the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,244 of the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. The configuration using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose the configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in the bending region, is also effective in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal conversion pair for a plurality of electrothermal conversion elements, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. 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 the ejection portion.

Further, although the serial type ink jet recording apparatus is shown in the embodiment, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum recordable width. As a full-line type recording head, by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification, either a configuration satisfying the length or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed Although good, the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head and a preliminary auxiliary means provided as a constitution of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a preheating means for the recording head, recording and It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which another ejection is performed for stable recording.

Further, regarding the type or number of recording heads and inks to be mounted, for example, single color ink and 1
In addition to one provided with a plurality of recording heads, a plurality of heads may be provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities, and any combination is effective. The present invention is effective not only in the recording mode such as black as the recording mode of the recording apparatus but also in each of the recording modes of full-color due to mixed colors of different colors or mixed colors.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that coagulates at room temperature or lower and that softens or melts at room temperature, or the ink jet described above. Generally, the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted in the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. If it is good. In addition, in order to prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy, is the ink positively used as phase change energy from the solid state to the liquid state?
Alternatively, ink that solidifies while being left for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink is used.In any case, the ink is liquefied and ejected as an ink liquid when applied according to the recording signal of thermal energy, or reaches the recording medium. The use of an ink which has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one which has already started to solidify at the time of application, is also applicable to the present invention.

In the present invention, the most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, the present invention is an ink jet system such as a piezo jet system in which electricity is converted into force to eject ink, and a recording system in which a recording head is arranged in non-contact with a recording medium and ink is ejected for recording. Is effective in.

In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus of the present invention, a recording apparatus integrally or separately provided as an output terminal of information processing equipment such as a word processor or a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a scanner or the like, and further transmission / reception It may be in the form of a facsimile machine having a function.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the ink tank and the recording head can be separated and combined with the ink tank and the recording head removed from the carriage, it is possible to prevent the inside of the apparatus, the recording paper, and the hands from being soiled when the ink tank and the recording head are replaced.

Further, since the electric connection means for connecting the recording head and the carriage is pressed in the connecting direction by the pressurization by the pressurizing means, the electric connection is easily and surely made.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an essential part of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a combined state of an ink tank, a recording head, and a carriage.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a combined state of an ink tank and a recording head.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Head 2 Ink Tank 3 Carriage 21 Pressure Hook 22 Tank Band 23 Tank Band Spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink tank, a recording head arranged to face the ink tank, a tightening unit for tightening the ink tank and the recording head in the vicinity of an ink flow path coupling portion, and the ink tank, the recording head. An ink tank, comprising: a pressurizing unit that pressurizes one end of the ink tank so as to press the carriage through the ink tank,
Inkjet recording apparatus with recording head separated and replaceable. 2. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the recording head and the carriage are separated and exchangeable ink jet type, wherein the electrically connecting means for connecting the recording head and the carriage is pressed by the pressing means in the connecting direction. Recording device. 3. The recording head, which ejects ink by utilizing heat energy, is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating the heat energy. Item 2. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to item 2, wherein the recording head is separately replaceable.