JPH07205438A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance a reliability of a recording action, eliminate splash of unnecessary ink that may occur in the wiping of a delivery port surface, and prevent contamination of an inside of a device body with ink by surely wiping off ink adhering to the vicinity of delivery ports. CONSTITUTION:Ink adhering on a delivery port surface 81 of a recording head 3 is wiped by relatively moving a wiping blade 15. The ink wiped by the wiping blade 15 is absorbed or sucked to be removed by an ink-absorbing member 21 or an ink-sucking port adjacent to a delivery port 82. A negative pressure is generated in the ink-sucking port by a suction pump.

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 from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as (OHP). The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is set. An image (including characters, symbols, etc.) is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scanning) along, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). An image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in the sub-scanning direction in which the recording material is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed at one time. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is a means for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact and high definition. Images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise and uses multicolor inks. Therefore, it has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image. Above all, a line type recording apparatus using a line type recording means in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up recording.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. is there.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
Since recording is performed by ejecting ink from a fine ejection port toward the recording material, unnecessary ink droplets tend to adhere to the ejection port surface, and the adhering ink may hinder normal ink ejection. Therefore, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, a wiping member for wiping and cleaning the ejection port surface is provided, and the adhering ink around the ejection port is wiped and removed by relatively moving the wiping member and the recording unit. Is taken.

[0007]

However, it is difficult to completely remove the unnecessary ink from the ejection port surface by simply cleaning the ejection port surface by wiping as in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus. Further, in the conventional inkjet recording apparatus, there is also a problem that the wiped ink is scattered when the wiping member is separated from the ejection port surface, and the inside of the recording apparatus is stained with the ink.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technique, and an object of the present invention is to significantly improve the reliability of the recording operation by effectively cleaning the ejection port surface. It is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can prevent unnecessary ink from scattering during cleaning and can prevent the inside of the apparatus main body from being contaminated with unnecessary ink droplets.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a wiping member for cleaning a discharge port surface of the recording means, and a recording method. An ink absorbing member for absorbing the ink wiped by the wiping member, which is disposed adjacent to the ejection port of the recording unit. With the configuration, the above object is achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a wiping member for cleaning a discharge port surface of the recording means, a recording means and a wiping member. And a driving means for relatively moving the recording means, and further, an ink suction port for absorbing the ink wiped by the wiping member is provided adjacent to the ejection port of the recording means. It achieves the above object. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to this configuration, a pump is connected to the ink suction port, and the suction effect of the ink suction port is enhanced by operating the pump during wiping to perform a suction operation. Thus, the above object can be achieved more effectively.

[0011]

According to the above construction, when wiping is performed by moving the recording means (recording head) and the wiping member relative to each other, the unnecessary ink wiped is removed by the ink absorbing member or the ink suction port disposed adjacent to the ejection port. The unnecessary ink (adhered ink) can be almost completely removed from the surface of the ejection port because the ink is absorbed or sucked in. Also,
According to the above configuration, since the unnecessary ink is absorbed or sucked by the time the wiping member is separated from the ejection port surface, the ink is not scattered and the ink inside the recording apparatus is not contaminated.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The same reference numerals in the following drawings indicate the same or corresponding portions. In the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, an inkjet cartridge 2 as recording means is positioned and mounted on a carriage 5, and the carriage 5 transmits a driving force such as a wire or a belt for transmitting a driving force of a carriage motor 6. It is connected to the means 7 and is guided and supported so as to be able to reciprocate along two guide rails 8 and 9 arranged in parallel with each other. The inkjet cartridge 2 is composed of a disposable (disposable) replaceable cartridge in which a recording head (recording means) portion 3 and an ink tank (ink storage portion) portion 4 are integrated.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1, the carriage 5 moving along the guide rails 8 and 9.
Although the inkjet cartridge 2 is mounted on the above, the inkjet cartridge itself may be directly guided and supported by the guide rails 8 and 9 without using the carriage 5. In that case, the driving force transmitting member 7 such as a wire or a belt is also directly connected to the cartridge. Further, in the flexible cable for transmitting an electric signal from the control circuit of the apparatus main body to the inkjet cartridge, the contact portion thereof is directly connected to the head substrate in the cartridge.

The recording head (recording means) 3 of the ink jet cartridge 2 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. is there. In addition, the recording head 3 utilizes a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling generated by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter,
Ink is ejected from the ejection port to perform recording.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head) 3.
In FIG. 2, the ejection port surface 81 facing a recording material (recording paper or the like) with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm) has a plurality of ejection ports at a predetermined pitch. 82
And an electrothermal converter (heat-generating resistor, etc.) 85 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of each liquid passage 84 that connects the common liquid chamber 83 and each ejection port 82. Has been done. In this example, the recording head 3 is mounted on the carriage 5 in such a positional relationship that the ejection ports 82 are arranged in a direction intersecting the scanning direction of the carriage 5. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 85 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal, and the liquid passage 84 is driven.
The recording head 3 is configured to cause the ink inside the film to boil and eject the ink from the ejection port 82 by the pressure generated at that time.

In FIG. 1, the ejection port surface 8 of the recording head 3 is shown.
A platen 10 is arranged at a position facing 1
The recording material fed to the recording unit is recorded by the inkjet cartridge 2 while being positioned by the surface (platen surface) of the platen 10. That is, the recording material held on the platen 10 is recorded, and each time one row of recording is performed, the recording material is conveyed by a predetermined pitch (paper feed) and the next one row is recorded again. The recording operation is repeated to record an image on the entire area of the recording material.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1,
A recovery device 11 for eliminating ejection failure of the recording head 3 is arranged at a predetermined position (for example, a home position) within the reciprocating range of the inkjet cartridge 2 (recording head 3) and outside the recording area. ing. The recovery device 11 is driven in the contact / separation direction by the recovery motor 12 via the transmission mechanism 13 with respect to the ejection port surface 81 of the inkjet cartridge 2 (recording head 3).
A cap 14 for capping (sealing) the ejection port surface 81 is provided on the front surface of the recovery device 11. The recovery device 11 includes a cap 14 and a discharge port surface 81.
Is hermetically sealed and the ink can be forcibly discharged from each ejection port 82. In this case, the ink is forcibly discharged by an ink suction operation by a suction pump connected to the cap 14 or an ink pressure feeding operation by a pressurizing means in the ink supply path.
By sucking (discharging) the ink in this way, foreign substances such as thickened ink, adhered ink, dust, and air bubbles in each discharge port 82 are discharged together with the ink, thereby restoring the ink discharge function of the recording head 3 to a normal state. Or it can be maintained.

Further, a wiping member (wiping blade) 15 formed of a plate material of a rubber-like elastic body such as silicon rubber is arranged on the side surface of the recovery device 11 on the recording area side. The wiping blade 15 is also movable in the front-rear direction by the recovery motor 12 and the transmission mechanism 13, and comes into contact with the ejection port surface 81 at the forward position. The wiping blade 15 uses the relative movement with the recording head 3 to rub against the ejection port surface 81 to wipe off and remove foreign matter such as ink, thickened ink, and dust attached to the ejection port surface 81. It is a thing.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the ink jet cartridge 2 and the wiping member 15 in FIG. In FIG. 3, a recording head (inkjet cartridge) 2 having a plurality of ejection openings 82 arranged vertically is mounted on a carriage 5.
Is driven by the carriage motor 6 (FIG. 1) and reciprocates along the guide rails 8 and 9. The wiping member 15 for cleaning the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head 2 comes into contact with the ejection port surface 81 at its tip portion each time the carriage 5 is driven and passes the position of the wiping member 15. By rubbing), the unnecessary ink adhering to the ejection port surface 81 is wiped off.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the recording head 3 as seen from the ejection port surface 81 side, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the ejection port surface 81 is cleaned by the wiping member 15 along line 5-5 in FIG. It is sectional drawing shown. In FIGS. 3 to 5, the ink absorbing members 21 and 21 are provided on both sides of the ejection port surface 81 adjacent to the ejection port 82. These ink absorbing members 21 are for absorbing the unnecessary ink wiped off by the wiping member 15. This ink absorbing member 2
1 is formed of, for example, a porous material (foam resin or the like) or a sponge material having a high ink absorption property.

By providing the ink absorbing member 21, the unnecessary ink wiped by the wiping member 15 is removed at the portion of the ink absorbing member 21, and the unnecessary ink does not remain on the ejection port surface 81. Therefore, the phenomenon that normal ink ejection from the ejection port is hindered by the ink remaining in the vicinity of the ejection port 82 is eliminated, and highly reliable recording can be performed. Furthermore, FIG.
According to the configuration of FIG. 5, since the ink is absorbed by the ink absorbing member 21 before the scattering of the ink to be wiped off occurs, it is possible to prevent the ink stain inside the recording device due to the ink scattering. Become.

In FIG. 5, the wiping member 15 moves relative to the recording head 3 in the direction of the arrow (the recording head 3 moves), so that the ejection port surface 81 is cleaned. Since each ink absorbing member 21 expands as the ink is absorbed, the ink absorbing member 21 is located at a position deeper than the ejection port surface 81 so as not to stain the surface of the recording material facing the recording head 3 with a predetermined gap. It is provided.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the second embodiment of the recording head 3 to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the ejection port surface 81 side, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ejection port surface 81 is cleaned by the wiping member 15 along line 7-7 in FIG. 6.
In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a plurality of ink suction ports 2 are respectively provided on both sides of the discharge port surface 81 adjacent to the discharge port 82.
A suction port array consisting of two is provided. In this embodiment,
Each of the suction port rows on both sides is formed by the ink suction ports 22 arranged at substantially the same pitch in parallel with the ejection ports 82. These ink suction ports 22 are for sucking the unnecessary ink wiped off by the wiping member 15.

By providing the ink suction port 22, the unnecessary ink wiped off by the wiping member 15 is sucked and removed into the ink suction port 22, and the unnecessary ink does not remain on the ejection port surface 81. Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the phenomenon that normal ink ejection is hindered by the ink remaining in the vicinity of the ejection port 82 is eliminated, and highly reliable recording can be performed. Further, with the configurations of FIGS. 6 and 7, the ink is sucked into the ink suction port 22 before the ink to be wiped off is scattered, so that the ink is prevented from being contaminated inside the recording apparatus due to the ink splash. It will be possible.

In FIG. 7, the wiping member 15 moves relative to the recording head 3 in the direction of the arrow to clean the ejection port surface 81. At that time, the discharge port 8
The unnecessary ink in the vicinity of 2 is the ink suction port 22 due to the capillary phenomenon.
Is sucked in. Therefore, according to the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 7, the cleaning of the ejection port surface 81 can be effectively performed, so that the reliability of the recording operation can be significantly improved, which occurs at the time of cleaning. (EN) An ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing unnecessary ink from scattering and preventing the inside of the apparatus main body from being contaminated with unnecessary ink droplets.

Further, according to the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 7, since the ink absorbing member 21 or the ink suction port 22 is provided on both sides of the ejection port 82, the recording head 3 of the wiping member 15 is provided. Even if the direction of relative movement with respect to the left or right is either left or right, the unnecessary ink on the ejection port surface 81 can be reliably removed. Further, after the tip portion (wiping surface) of the wiping member 15 is cleaned by the ink absorbing member 21 or the ink suction port 22 in front of the ejection port 82 in the wiping direction, the ejection port surface 8
Since the first cleaning is performed, the unnecessary ink can be wiped off and removed from the ejection port surface 81 more effectively.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view schematically showing the cleaning state of the third embodiment of the recording head 3 and the wiping member 15 to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the ejection port surface 81 is formed as a stepped surface by projecting the ejection port 82 portion of the ejection port surface 81, and the ink absorbing members 21, 21 are formed on the stepped portions on both sides of the ejection port 82. In other respects, the structure is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. According to this embodiment, in addition to the same effect as in the case of the above-described first embodiment, the contact time between the wiping member 15 and the ink absorbing member 21 is lengthened to eliminate unnecessary ink in the vicinity of the ejection port 82. It can be removed more effectively.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the fourth embodiment of the recording head 3 to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the ejection port surface 81 side. The present embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of rows of ink suction ports 22 are provided on both sides of the ejection port 82 of the ejection port surface 81, and in other respects it is the same as the case of the second example of FIGS. 6 and 7. Have a composition. That is, according to this embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the second embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the ink suction for unnecessary ink suction is performed over a plurality of rows on both sides of the ejection port 82. Since the ports 22 are arranged, the discharge port 8
The effect of removing unnecessary ink in the vicinity of 2 can be further improved. Further, in the present embodiment, the effect of removing unnecessary ink can be further improved by adopting the ink suction port arrangement in which the number of the ink suction ports 22 per unit volume is large.

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view schematically showing a cleaning state of the recording head 3 and the wiping member 15 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this example,
In addition to the configuration of the second embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the discharge port 8
The ink suction ports 22 formed on both sides of 2 are communicated (connected) with an unnecessary ink storage tank 23 inside the recording head 3, and the unnecessary ink storage tank 2 is connected via a tube 24.
3 is connected to the suction pump 25. Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment of FIG. 10, in addition to the same effects as those of the second embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the suction pump 25 is operated when the discharge port surface 81 is cleaned. As a result, a pump suction force can be applied to each ink suction port 22, and as a result, the ejection port surface 81
It is possible to further improve the effect of sucking and removing the above unnecessary ink.

Further, in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 10, by reducing the hole length L of the ink suction port 22, the sucked unnecessary ink is completely removed from the unnecessary ink storage tank 23.
It is possible to reach the inside, and it is possible to eliminate the unnecessary ink remaining in each ink suction port 22. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent unnecessary ink from flowing back through the ink suction port 22 and reattaching to the ejection port surface 81.

11 to 13 are views showing an embodiment of means for switching the operation and stop of the suction pump 25 at the time of wiping in the fifth embodiment of FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 is a discharge port surface of the recording head 3. 81 is a perspective view showing a portion 81, FIG.
2 is a plan view showing the state of the switching means when the suction pump 25 is still stopped, and FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the state of the switching means when the suction pump 25 is operating.
11 to 13, a protrusion portion 26 is provided at a position corresponding to a section D for performing pump suction on the front surface of the recording head 3 (a position where the ink suction ports 22 on both sides of the ejection port 82 are provided). On the other hand, below the wiping member 15, a micro switch 27 for switching the operation stop of the suction pump 25 is provided.

11 to 13, the micro switch 27 is used except when the ejection port surface 81 is being cleaned.
Is in the off state shown in FIG. 12 (the suction pump 25 is stopped)
However, the movement of the carriage 5 (relative movement of the wiping member 15) causes the microswitch 27 to move in the section D.
When it reaches, as shown in FIG.
Pushes the bar 28 of the micro switch 27, the micro switch 27 is turned on, and the suction pump 25 operates. After that, when the micro switch 27 passes the section D, the micro switch 27 is turned off again and the suction pump 25 is stopped.

According to the switching means of FIGS. 11 to 13,
Since the suction pump 25 can be selectively operated only in the range of the section D without going through the CPU, the suction pump 25 can be operated and stopped accurately without adding a new function to the control software of the recording apparatus. Can be controlled. Further, since the suction pump 25 is operated only when the ink suction operation is required, it is possible to minimize the power consumption.

14 and 15 are views showing another embodiment of the means for switching the operation and stop of the suction pump 25 at the time of wiping in the fifth embodiment of FIG. 10, and FIG. 14 is a discharge port of the recording head 3. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a portion of the surface 81, and FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view showing a switching operation of the suction pump 25. In this embodiment, operation of the suction pump 25,
It is configured to switch the stop using an optical sensor. In FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, a position (ejection port 82) corresponding to a section D on the front surface of the recording head 3 where pump suction is performed.
At positions where the ink suction ports 22 are provided on both sides of the reflection plate 2 having a higher light reflectance than other portions of the ejection port surface 81.
9 is provided.

On the other hand, at a position corresponding to the wiping member 15, as shown in FIG. 15, a light emitting portion 30 and a light receiving portion 31 of the reflection type photo sensor are arranged. The phototransistor of the light receiving unit 31 is turned on / off to switch the suction pump 25 between operation and stop.

In FIG. 15, when the emitted light from the light emitting section 30 reaches the section D of the recording head 3 by the movement of the carriage 5 (the relative movement of the wiping member 15), the emitted light is reflected by the reflection plate 29 and received. Reach part 31,
The phototransistor of the light receiving unit 31 is turned on to operate the suction pump 25. On the other hand, when it does not reach the section D, the suction pump 25 does not operate because the phototransistor is off. This allows
The suction pump 25 can be selectively operated only in the range of the section D.

14 and 15, the suction pump 25 can be selectively operated only in the range of the section D without using the CPU, so that a new function can be added to the control software of the recording apparatus. The operation and stoppage of the suction pump 25 can be accurately controlled without adding. Further, since the suction pump 25 is operated only when the ink suction operation is required, it is possible to minimize the power consumption.

FIG. 16 is a horizontal sectional view schematically showing a cleaning state of the recording head 3 and the wiping member 15 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this example,
In the fifth embodiment of FIG. 10, unnecessary ink storage tank 2
3 has a pump function, and the suction pump 25 is omitted. In FIG. 16, the unnecessary ink storage tank 23
The outer wall 32 of the tank is formed of a piezoelectric element, and when a voltage is applied with the polarity shown in the figure, the outer wall 32 becomes the tank 23 as shown in the figure.
It deforms to increase the volume of. Due to this deformation, negative pressure is instantaneously generated in the ink suction port 22, and the ink suction effect of the ink suction port 22 is improved.

However, in the case of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 16, the outer wall 32 returns to its original shape at the moment when the applied voltage is turned off,
A pressure in the opposite direction to the above is generated at the ink suction port 22.
At this time, if unnecessary ink is present inside the ink suction port 22, this ink may flow backward and adhere to the ejection port surface 81 again. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to prevent the occurrence of such a problem, the sucked unnecessary ink completely reaches the inside of the unnecessary ink storage tank 23 and does not remain inside the ink suction port 22. 22
The hole length (passage length) L of is as short as possible.

In FIG. 16, unnecessary ink storage tank 2
Of the applied voltage to the piezoelectric element forming the outer wall 32 of
The switch 33 is turned off. Then, by using the micro switch mechanism of FIGS. 11 to 13 or the photosensor type switch mechanism of FIGS. 14 and 15 as the switch 33, without using the CPU,
It is possible to selectively turn on / off the suction pump. According to the sixth embodiment of FIG. 16, it is not necessary to separately provide the suction pump 25 and the like, and an ink suction mechanism that is advantageous in terms of cost and space can be configured.

According to the embodiment described above, since the ejection port surface 81 of the ink jet recording head 3 can be effectively cleaned, highly reliable recording can be performed and the ejection port surface 81 can be cleaned. It is possible to obtain an ink jet recording apparatus that can prevent unnecessary ink from scattering at times and prevent stains due to unnecessary ink inside the apparatus main body.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case of the serial recording method in which the recording means (recording head) is moved in the main scanning direction has been described as an example, but the present invention is the entire width or one width of the recording material. Even in the case of a line recording method for recording only by sub-scanning using a line recording means having a length that covers a portion,
The same can be applied and the same effect can be achieved. Further, the present invention provides a single-color recording device for recording with one recording device, a color recording device using a plurality of recording devices for recording with different colors, or a plurality of recording devices for recording with the same color but different densities. Gradation recording device used,
Furthermore, in the case of a recording device that combines these,
The same can be applied and the same effect can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, when a replaceable head cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated is used, or when the recording head and the ink tank are provided separately and the space between them is connected by an ink supply tube or the like. The same can be applied to any arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank, and similar effects can be obtained.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among them, thermal energy is used. Then, an excellent effect is brought about in an ink jet recording apparatus which uses a recording means of a method of ejecting ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , Generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. So effective.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

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 linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a structure based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a structure in which the discharge section is associated with the discharge section. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, as described above, 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) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. . As such a recording head,
Either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the device main body,
Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the device body and supply ink from the device body when mounted on the device body, or an ink tank is integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means to the recording head provided as the constitution of the recording apparatus in the present invention because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, in addition to the above-mentioned capping means, cleaning means, and suction recovery means for the recording head, a pressure-type recovery means, an electrothermal converter, or a heating other than this. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary heating means using an element or a combination thereof and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording.

As described above, regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of recording heads having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to the ink. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either the recording head is integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of color colors or full colors by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a 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 within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink that has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which the electrothermal converter is opposed to a liquid sheet or a solid material held in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet. 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, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. And the like may be used.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means onto the recording material, the ejection port surface of the recording means is cleaned. A wiping member for performing the above, and a driving unit that relatively moves the recording unit and the wiping member, and further adjacent to the ejection port of the recording unit,
Since the ink absorbing member for absorbing the ink wiped off by the wiping member is arranged,
Effective cleaning of the ejection port surface can greatly improve the reliability of the recording operation, prevent the spattering of unnecessary ink that occurs during cleaning, and prevent the inside of the main unit from becoming contaminated with unnecessary ink droplets. An inkjet recording device capable of performing the above is provided.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material, a wiping member for cleaning the ejection port surface of the recording means, the recording means and the wiping. And a driving unit that moves the member relative to each other, and an ink suction port for absorbing the ink wiped by the wiping member is arranged adjacent to the ejection port of the recording unit. Therefore, it is possible to significantly improve the reliability of the recording operation by effectively cleaning the ejection port surface, prevent unnecessary ink splattering that occurs during cleaning, and prevent the inside of the device body from becoming dirty with unnecessary ink droplets. There is provided an inkjet recording device that can be prevented.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the structure of claim 2, a pump is connected to the ink suction port,
Since the suction effect of the ink suction port is enhanced by operating the pump at the time of wiping to perform the suction operation, the reliability of the recording operation can be further improved by effectively cleaning the ejection port surface. (EN) Provided is an inkjet recording apparatus which can be greatly improved, can prevent unnecessary ink from scattering during cleaning, and can prevent the inside of the apparatus main body from being contaminated with unnecessary ink droplets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of recording means of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a discharge port surface of the recording unit in FIG.

5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cleaning operation along line 5-5 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the ejection port surface of the recording means of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cleaning operation along the line 7-7 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic horizontal sectional view showing the cleaning operation of the third embodiment of the recording means of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the ejection port surface of the recording means of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic horizontal sectional view showing the configuration and cleaning operation of a recording means of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied in a fifth embodiment.

11 is a schematic perspective view of a recording unit including a suction pump operation stopping unit in the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view showing a state before the operation of the operation stopping means of the suction pump in the configuration of FIG. 10 is started.

13 is a schematic plan view showing a state when the suction pump operation stopping means in the configuration of FIG. 10 is in operation. FIG.

14 is a schematic perspective view of a recording unit including another embodiment of the suction pump operation stopping unit in the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view showing a state when the suction pump operation stopping means in the configuration of FIG. 10 is in operation.

FIG. 16 is a schematic horizontal sectional view showing the configuration and cleaning operation of a recording means of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied, according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 inkjet recording device 2 inkjet cartridge 3 recording means (recording head) 4 ink tank 5 carriage 6 carriage motor 8 guide rail 9 guide rail 10 platen 11 recovery device 12 recovery motor 14 cap 15 wiping member (elastic material blade) 21 ink absorption Member 22 Ink suction port 23 Unnecessary ink storage tank 25 Suction pump 26 Projection part 27 Micro switch 28 Bar 29 Reflection plate 30 Light emitting part 31 Light receiving part 32 Outer wall (piezoelectric element) 33 Switch 81 Discharge port surface 82 Discharge port 84 Liquid path 85 Electric Heat converter

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In an inkjet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a wiping member for cleaning a discharge port surface of the recording means, and a drive for relatively moving the recording means and the wiping member. Means, and further adjacent to the ejection port of the recording means,
An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein an ink absorbing member for absorbing ink wiped by a wiping member is provided. 2. In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a wiping member for cleaning a discharge port surface of the recording means, and a drive for relatively moving the recording means and the wiping member. Means, and further adjacent to the ejection port of the recording means,
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink suction port for absorbing ink wiped off by a wiping member. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a pump is connected to the ink suction port, and the suction effect is enhanced by operating the pump during wiping to perform a suction operation. . 4. The ink jet recording means according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an ink jet recording means provided with an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. Inkjet recording device. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording means ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. .