JPH0858173A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To improve the positional accuracy of the dot forming means with respect to the guide rail for guiding and supporting the carriage, and to enable good image recording with high accuracy. A recording head 1 is positioned and fixed on a carriage 2, and main scanning is performed by the carriage 2 while sliding the recording head 1 on guide rails 5 and 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording on a recording material by recording means.

[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. Images (including characters and symbols) on recording materials (recording media) such as (sheets for OHP)
Is configured to record. 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. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material, and in recent years, in addition to the ordinary recording material such as paper and resin thin plate, thin paper and processed paper (paper with punch holes for filing and perforation). Paper, paper of any shape, etc.)
It has been required to use such as.

In the serial type recording apparatus, a recording material is conveyed (sub-scanning) by a conveying roller, and one line of recording is performed by moving a carriage (main scanning) on which a recording head is mounted. The main scanning is alternately repeated to print the entire page. In that case, the carriage moving mechanism includes a belt driving method in which a belt directly connected to the carriage is driven by a motor and a pulley to move the carriage, and a lead screw having a spiral groove (lead groove) is rotated. It can be roughly classified into a lead screw drive system in which a carriage having a pin that engages with a groove is moved as the lead screw rotates.

[0007]

However, in the conventional serial type recording apparatus, from the guide rail that guides and supports the movement of the carriage and determines the recording direction to the ink ejection port of the recording head. Since a large number of components intervene, there is a case in which a cumulative error occurs in a portion that affects the printing accuracy, such as variation in the inclination of the ink ejection port, which causes a problem.

That is, the play between the guide rail and the bearing hole of the carriage causes the recording head mounting surface of the carriage to be inclined (inclination angle α) with respect to the axis of the guide rail. Next, due to the presence of dust or the like between the printhead mounting surface of the carriage and the reference surface of the printhead itself, an inclination (inclination angle β) occurs between the two that should be in close contact and should be parallel to each other. There is. Next, the arrangement direction of the ink ejection ports, which should be perpendicular to the reference surface of the recording head itself, may have an inclination γ with respect to a vertical line due to a component error of the recording head. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the ink ejection ports is defined by the cumulative error of these inclinations α, β, and γ.
From the vertical line of the axis of the original guide rail, θ = α + β + γ
Will only lean.

If there is such inclination θ in the arrangement direction of the ink ejection ports, there arises a defect that vertical ruled lines are not connected when a table or a vertical line is recorded on a recording material, and the image quality is deteriorated. It will be. This becomes a serious problem as the number of ink ejection ports is increased in order to improve the recording throughput.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the positional accuracy of the dot forming means with respect to the guide rail, and to perform good recording with high accuracy. Is to provide.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a recording means is mounted on a carriage which moves along a guide rail.
In the recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by the recording means while performing main scanning with the carriage, the recording means is configured to be main-scanned by the carriage while sliding in contact with the guide rail. Is achieved.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a member attached to the carriage and the recording means are brought into contact with the guide rail to perform main scanning, or a carriage. A belt for transmitting the driving force of the drive motor to the carriage is provided, and the force component of the tension of the belt is applied to the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, so that the recording unit is guided to the guide rail. By adopting a configuration of pressing and contacting, the above-mentioned object can be achieved more efficiently.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus suitable for applying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the recording head is removed in the recording apparatus of FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 is an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink from an ejection port to perform recording on a recording material while main scanning is performed by a carriage, and 2 is a recording head 1 mounted in the main scanning direction. A carriage 3 for reciprocating movement, a carriage motor 3 for driving the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction, a belt 4 for transmitting the driving force of the carriage motor 3 to the carriage 2, and a guide 5 for guiding and supporting the carriage 2 for main scanning. A pair of guide rails arranged in parallel to each other, 6 a conveyance roller for conveying a recording material such as a sheet of plastic thin plate in the sub-scanning direction, 7 a conveyance motor for driving the conveyance roller 6, 8 a control circuit,
Reference numeral 9 is a flexible cable for transmitting the recording signal of the control circuit to the inkjet recording head 1, 10 is a paper guide, and 26 is a recording material.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view schematically showing the ink jet recording head 1. In FIG. 3, 11 is an ejection port group (ink ejection port) formed by arranging a plurality of fine openings for ejecting ink droplets, and 12 is the ink ejection port 1.
1 is an electrode that receives a recording signal for driving 1. The recording head 1 is composed of a replaceable inkjet cartridge in which an ink storage portion (ink tank) is integrally formed, and is separable from the recording device as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 13 denotes a recording signal from the flexible cable 9 for the electrode 1 of the recording head 1.
2 is a connector for transmitting the signal.

The recording head 1 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 1 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Is.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording head 1. In FIG. 4, the ejection port surface 8 that faces the recording material (recording paper or the like) 26 with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm).
1, a plurality of ink ejection openings 11 are formed at a predetermined pitch, and energy for ejecting ink is generated along the wall surface of each liquid passage 84 that connects the common liquid chamber 83 and each ink ejection opening 11. An electrothermal converter (e.g., heating resistor) 85 is provided. The plurality of ink ejection ports 11 are arranged in such a positional relationship that they are arranged in a direction intersecting the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the recording head 1. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 85 is driven (energized) on the basis of the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 84 to film-boil,
A recording unit 1 is configured to eject ink from the ink ejection port 11 by the pressure generated at that time.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the control circuit 8 of the recording apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 5, a CPU 14 in the form of a microprocessor is connected to a host computer 15 through an interface 16, and recording data from the host computer 15 stored in a ROM 17 such as a program memory or a RAM 18 such as a buffer memory. The recording operation is controlled based on the.

Further, the CPU 14 controls the motor driver 2
The carriage motor 3 and the conveyance motor 7 are controlled via 2 and 23, and the recording head 1 is controlled via the head driver 21 based on the recording information stored in the RAM 18. The recording status of the recording device is the operation panel 19
Can be confirmed based on. Reference numeral 20 is a timer for regulating the timing of the control operation of the control circuit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the mounting relationship between the recording head 1 and the carriage 2 of the recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as seen from the direction of the main scanning cross section, and FIG. 7 is the same direction as FIG. FIG. 8 is an exploded side view schematically showing the separated state of the recording head 1 and the carriage 2, and FIG. 8 is a schematic front view showing the mounting relationship between the recording head 1 and the carriage 2 of FIG. 7 as seen from the ink ejection port side. It is a figure.

6 to 8, mounting claws 2c and 2c for mounting the recording head 1 are provided at both ends in the moving direction of the carriage 2, and the recording head 1 is carried by the mounting claws 2c and 2c. It is mounted on 2. Guide slide surfaces 1d and 1e are provided on the bottom of the recording head 1 at both ends in the main scanning direction corresponding to the guide rails 5 and 5, respectively. On the other hand, sliding members 24, 24 are attached via elastic members 25, 25 at positions corresponding to the guide rails 5, 5 below the carriage 2.

Then, the carriage 2 and the recording head 1
Is for mounting and holding the recording head 1 on the carriage 2 by the mounting claws 2c, 2c, and the guide sliding surfaces 1d, 1e of the recording head 1 and the sliding member mounted on the carriage 2. The guide rails 5 and 5 are assembled by sandwiching the guide rails 5 and 5 from above and below (in a state of being pressed by elastic force).

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, during the main scanning of the recording head 1, the guide sliding surfaces 1d and 1e provided on the recording head 1 directly contact the guide rails 5 and 5, respectively. Since the above state is maintained, the guide sliding surfaces (guide rail contact surfaces) 1d, 1e provided on the recording head 1 itself do not have a plurality of factors involved in mounting the recording head unlike the conventional example. Ink ejection port 1 with only accuracy
The position accuracy of 1 will be determined. Therefore, the positional accuracy of the ink ejection port 11 can be improved and the accuracy of image recording can be improved as compared with the related art.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the mounting relationship between the recording head 1 and the carriage 2 of the recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the main scanning sectional direction, and FIG. 10 is the same as FIG. FIG. 11 is an exploded side view schematically showing the separated state of the recording head 1 and the carriage 2 when viewed from the direction, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing the mounting relationship between the recording head 1 and the carriage 2 of No. 0 as viewed from the ink ejection port side.

9 to 11, mounting claws 2c and 2c for mounting the recording head 1 are provided at both ends of the carriage 2 in the moving direction, and the recording head 1 is mounted on the carriage by these mounting claws 2c and 2c. It is mounted on 2. The guide sliding surface 1 is provided on the bottom of the recording head 1 at both ends in the main scanning direction corresponding to the guide rails 5 and 5.
d, 1e are provided. These guide sliding surfaces 1d,
As shown in FIG. 9, 1e is in contact with the two guide rails 5 and 5 from above.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the belt 4 connected to the carriage 2 generates a force for pressing the carriage 2 toward the guide rails 5 and 5 (downward) by the vertical component of the tension. It is stretched in the direction. Therefore, the recording head 1 positioned and fixed on the carriage 2 has its guide sliding surfaces 1d and 1e directly in contact with the guide rails 5 and 5, respectively.
5 will slide on.

9 to 11, also in the main scanning of the recording head 1, the guide sliding surfaces 1d and 1e provided on the recording head 1 directly contact the guide rails 5 and 5, respectively. Since the state is maintained, a plurality of factors relating to the mounting of the recording head are not present unlike the conventional example, and the guide sliding surfaces (guide rail contact surfaces) 1d and 1e provided on the recording head 1 itself are not affected. The positional accuracy of the ink ejection port 11 is determined only by the accuracy. Therefore, the positional accuracy of the ink ejection port 11 can be improved and the accuracy of image recording can be improved as compared with the related art.

That is, according to the embodiment described above, the recording head 1 having one or a plurality of means for forming dots on the recording material 26 (a group of ejection ports in the case of ink jet recording), A carriage 2 that carries a recording head 1 and performs recording by scanning in the main scanning direction;
In a recording apparatus provided with cylindrical guide rails 5 and 5 that serve as guides when the carriage slides in the main scanning direction, the recording head 1 slides in contact with the guide rails 5 and 5 and the carriage. Since the main scanning is performed by 2, the positional accuracy of the dot forming means formed on the recording head 1 with respect to the guide rails 5 and 5 can be restricted only by the accuracy of the recording head 1 itself. Therefore, compared to the conventional form, the ink ejection port 11
It is possible to improve the position accuracy of, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of image recording.

In the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the wire dot type, heat sensitive type, thermal transfer type, laser beam type and the like. The same can be applied to the recording apparatus using the recording means of the method (3), and the same operation and effect can be obtained.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the recording apparatus using one recording means has been taken as an example, but the present invention records using a plurality of recording means such as for color recording and gradation recording. The present invention can be applied regardless of the form of the recording means, such as an apparatus or a recording apparatus in which one recording means is provided with a plurality of types of dot forming means, and similar effects can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, in the case of an ink jet recording apparatus, when a replaceable head cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated is used, or the recording head and the ink tank are provided separately, and ink is supplied between them. The present invention can be similarly applied to any arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank, such as the case of connecting with a tube or the like, and the same effect can be obtained.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus which uses a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among others, thermal energy is used. The present invention brings excellent effects in an ink jet recording apparatus that uses a recording means of a type that ejects ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, 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.

The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles 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 straight 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, according to the present invention, a recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus even of the serial type as described above,
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. It is also effective when the above-mentioned cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means to the recording head provided as a 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 or 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, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or the ink is solidified in a standing state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In either case, the ink is liquefied by the application of the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected, or the one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium, etc. The present invention can also be applied to the case of using an ink that has the property of being liquefied for the first time by thermal energy as described above.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-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 transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording means is mounted on the carriage which moves along the guide rail, and the recording means records while the main scanning is performed by the carriage. In the recording apparatus for recording on the material, the recording means is configured to be main-scanned by the carriage while sliding in contact with the guide rail, so that the positional accuracy of the dot forming means with respect to the guide rail is improved, and high accuracy is achieved. Provided is a recording device capable of performing good recording.

According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3,
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, a member mounted on a carriage and a recording unit are brought into contact with the guide rail to perform main scanning, or a belt for transmitting a driving force of a carriage drive motor to the carriage. Since the force component of the tension of the belt is applied to the carriage in the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the recording means is pressed into contact with the guide rail, so that the guide rail is more efficient. There is provided a recording apparatus capable of performing high-accuracy and favorable recording by improving the positional accuracy of the dot forming means with respect to the.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a recording apparatus suitable for applying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the recording head is removed in the recording apparatus of FIG.

3 is a schematic external perspective view of the recording head in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording head of FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view schematically showing an embodiment of the mounting relationship between the recording head and the carriage of the recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is an exploded side view schematically showing a state in which the recording head and the carriage are separated when viewed from the same direction as in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the mounting relationship between the recording head and the carriage of FIG. 7 as viewed from the ink ejection port side.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view schematically showing another embodiment of the mounting relationship of the recording head and the carriage of the recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is an exploded side view schematically showing a state in which the recording head and the carriage are separated when viewed from the same direction as in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of the mounting relationship between the recording head and the carriage of FIG. 10 viewed from the ink ejection port side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Means (Recording Head) 1d Guide Sliding Surface 1e Guide Sliding Surface 2 Carriage 2c Mounting Claw 3 Carriage Motor 4 Belt 5 Guide Rail 6 Conveying Roller 7 Conveying Motor 8 Control Circuit 9 Flexible Cable 11 Ink Discharge Port (Dot Formation) Means) 12 electrode 13 connector 14 CPU 24 sliding member 25 elastic member 26 recording material 81 discharge port surface 83 common liquid chamber 84 liquid path 85 electrothermal converter

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus in which recording means is mounted on a carriage that moves along a guide rail, and recording is performed on a recording material by the recording means while main scanning is performed by the carriage, the recording means is provided on the guide rail. A recording apparatus, wherein main scanning is performed by the carriage while sliding in contact. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a member mounted on a carriage and a recording unit are brought into contact with the guide rail to perform main scanning. 3. A recording device having a belt for transmitting a driving force of a carriage driving motor to the carriage, and applying a force component of tension of the belt to the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means is brought into pressure contact with the guide rail. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is an inkjet recording unit that ejects ink to perform recording. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording unit is an inkjet recording unit including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter.