JPS62113559A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable effective and secure resumption of a head operation to be achieved by tightly closing the surroundings of an orifice on a recording head and further providing a member to remove liquid and/or foreign matter attaching to the orifice inside a cap which absorbs liquid in the head. CONSTITUTION:Ink 36 is absorbed through an orifice at the tip of a recording head 3 by putting the head 3 and a cap 4 together tightly and driving an operation resuming pump 11. An ink flow from each nozzle to a tube 13 is formed along the contour of a hollow part of the cap 4. this results in foreign matter 9 adhering to the tip of the head 3 being washed away. A solenoid valve 12' is opened, the interior of the cap 4 is made continuous to the atmosphere and the operation resumption pump 11 is continuously driven to expell ink and foreign matter 9 from the tube 13. The foreign matter 9 is caught by a filter on the suction port of the tube 13, thus removing foreign matter effectively and securely.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of Industry-I] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device, and more specifically, to recovering the operation of the head by suctioning and removing air bubbles, foreign matter, etc. inside and outside the nozzles of the recording head. The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus having a means for controlling the inkjet recording apparatus.

[Prior Art] Inkjet recording devices have been known as devices that are quiet, inexpensive, and capable of recording various images, characters, etc. by dot recording.

This type of device uses liquid ink, and has different technical problems than devices that use an ink ribbon.

For example, in an on-demand type device, ink is ejected from a fine orifice of a nozzle using the driving energy of a piezoelectric element, heating element, etc. only at the timing when a dot is needed, so the viscosity of the ink changes depending on the length of the non-driving period. However, there is a problem in that air bubbles are generated in the nozzle, and paper scraps, dust, dirt, etc. are attached to the orifice, making it impossible to perform two normal recording operations.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, in on-demand type inkjet recording system, +i/j, one stage 1" is required to restore the recording head to the +E normal state. For example, when the recording head is A recovery pump is attached to the orifice to apply negative pressure (7), and a configuration is used in which ink is sucked from the orifice and foreign objects and bubbles are removed by the ink flow. For Y4 products, a method was also used in which the tip of the head was rubbed against a cleaning blade made of rubber or the like.

However, with this type of method, complete recovery is not possible, and to be on the safe side, with conventional methods, equipment was often set to repeat the recovery operation for every ship visited. In addition, the combined use of blades, suction devices, etc. has caused the problem that the configuration of the device tends to be complicated and expensive.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to solve the problem 1- below, the function of the inkjet recording head is improved by sealing the area around the orifice of the inkjet recording head and sucking the liquid inside the inkjet recording head. In the inkjet recording apparatus having a cap having a means for restoring the water, a structure is adopted in which a member for removing liquid and/or foreign matter adhering to the orifice is further provided inside the gap.

[Function] The recovery system has a cap 4, and the gap 4 is inserted into an orifice 88 of a recording head (not shown) in a substantially airtight state. Negative pressure is applied from the tube 13 shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 to suck ink from the orifice at the tip of the nozzle 8 of the recording head 3, thereby sucking up foreign matter 9 at the tip of the recording head.

The hollow part of the cap 4 is shaped to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ink ejection direction of the recording head 3, so that the suction u! As shown in FIG. 4, an ink flow is formed from each nozzle in the direction of the tube, and the blade 16 is rotated and driven to wash away the foreign matter 9. It is possible to achieve a scrubbing effect.

In this way, the operation of the head can be recovered efficiently and reliably.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail in Example No. 1 shown in the drawings.
Explain to l+.

↓±11 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording head recovery device of an inkjet recording apparatus, and this recovery device is provided at a predetermined position such as at the end of the scanning area of the recording spatula I.

The 1i-i1 recovery device is constructed by attaching each numbered member to the gear ridge or pedestal l-, as shown in Figure 5.
, No. 1 4 is a gear 7) made of silicone rubber, etc.
It is attached via a cap holder 15. The cap 4 is attached to the tip of a recording head (not shown) in a substantially airtight state.

This block-shaped member including the cap 4 is moved back and forth by the motor 17 via a gear 17', and the cap 4 is placed on the tip of the recording head that has been moved to a position facing the cap 4.
is installed. Recovery pump 11 is necessary for recovery operation.
It generates dust and is driven by a driving means (not shown). Further, the recovery pump 11 can also be driven manually using a pump lever 18.

The cross-sectional structure of the cap 4 and recording head 3 is shown in Figure 2 (A
). The cap 4 has a hollow portion extending in a superimposing direction with respect to the ink ejection direction of the recording head 3.

The two tubes 12, 13 mentioned above are connected to the bottom of the cap 4, and the tubes 12 are provided with a lunoid-driven valve 12'. Tube 12 communicates with the atmosphere via valve 12'. The other tube 13 is connected to the recovery pump 11 described above. Further, a filter 7 made of a porous material such as a sponge is provided at the suction port of the tube 13. This filter 7 is fitted into the cap 4 in a fixed manner and can be replaced if it becomes dirty.

In the above configuration, in order to perform the recovery operation, first move the recording rad 3 to a position opposite the camp 4 as shown in FIG. 2(A), and then move the cap part in the direction of the arrow by the motor 17. Then, as shown in FIG. 2(B), the recording head 3 and the cap 4 are brought into close contact with each other. In this state, the solenoid valve 12' is kept closed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2(C), negative pressure is applied to the inside of the cap 4 via the tube 13 by the recovery pump 11. As a result, the air in the cap 4 is sucked out from the tube 13 by driving the recovery pump 11, and as the air pressure decreases, the ink 36 is sucked out from the orifice at the tip of the recording head 3.

As the ink is sucked, the cap 4 is filled with ink, and a flow of ink is formed from each nozzle to the tube 13 along the shape of the hollow portion of the cap 4. This ink flow washes away foreign matter 9 attached to the tip of the recording head 3, as shown in FIG. 2(D).

When a certain amount of ink is sucked out for a certain period of time or a certain amount of ink, the result shown in Figure 2 (
As shown in E), open the solenoid valve 12' for the first time,
The inside of the cap 4 is communicated with the atmosphere. As a result, air flows into the cap 4 via the solenoid valve 12', and ink and foreign matter are discharged from the tube 13 by continuous operation of the recovery pump 11. The foreign matter 9 is captured by the filter 7 at the suction port of the tube 13. Remove the filter 7 at an appropriate time and replace it with a new one.

Since the suction pressure is lower in the tube 12, if the valve 12' is open, no ink will flow out from the head, and the ink in the cap 4 will be sequentially discharged from the tube 13. Figure 2 (
When all the ink in the cap 4 is discharged as shown in F), the valve 12' is closed, the pump 11 is stopped, the motor 17 is driven in the opposite direction, and the cap 4 moves backward as shown by the arrow. The cap 4 is separated and the recovery operation is performed at 24'.
□Complete.

As described above, the shape of the cap 4 is set perpendicular to the ink direction, the ink flow is guided perpendicularly to the head during suction, and thereby a cleaning effect is obtained, and foreign matter can be efficiently and reliably removed.

In the above embodiments, the cleaning effect was obtained only by the ink flow, but a blade rotated by the ink flow may be provided in the cap 4 as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

11m 283 The difference between the configuration in Figure 1 and the embodiment in Figure 1 is that
The point is that a plurality of rotary blades 16 are rotatably attached inside the cap 4 attached to the cap holder 15.

FIG. 4(A) shows a cross section similar to FIG. 2(A).

Here, four rotary blades 16 are rotatably supported in the cap 4 in the horizontal direction.

The rotating blades 16 are arranged at intermediate heights of the orifices at the tips of the nozzles so as to block each orifice. The other structure is the same as that in FIG. 2(A).

The rotating blade 16 has a shaft portion 16 as shown in FIG. 5(A).
1" is made by flocking 8 blades in the shape of 1", but as shown in Figure 5 (B), 5 blades may be molded integrally from an elastic material such as rubber using 2 degrees of plasti. is not limited to eight, but may be any number. The blade is not limited to the above-mentioned rotary type, but may be configured to include one or more pleated blades and to be oscillated by an ink flow or other driving source to rub the head. However, the rotary type has better ability to remove foreign matter.

Details of the suction operation in the above configuration are shown in FIGS.
This is exactly the same as shown in connection with F).

However, when an ink flow is formed in the cap 4 at the stages shown in FIGS.
6 to rotate. Since the rotating blade 16 rubs the surface of the recording head 3 while rotating, this causes the recording head 3 to
Foreign matter 9 on the surface is removed.

As described above, the rotation of the blade removes foreign particles that are stuck together with the 1° ink that is difficult to remove.
This has the excellent effect of being able to reliably remove it within a time and quickly returning to the recording operation. In particular, according to this embodiment, a drive mechanism for the rotary blade 16 is not required, so the structure is simple.

Table 1111 Figure 6 shows Infusiella I of the embodiment of ftIJ3 of the present invention.
- A perspective view of a recovery device for a printhead of a printing apparatus. This recovery device has almost the same structure as the embodiment described above, and is provided at a predetermined position such as at the end of the scanning area of the printhead. Here, members that are the same as those of the prior art are given the reference numeral 1), and their explanation will be omitted.

The difference from the above is that a large number of swinging blades 16 are swingably mounted inside the cap 4 attached to the cap holder 15. Further, the cleaning blade and its control mechanism provided on the side of the conventional device are omitted.

A perspective view of the cap 4 is shown in FIG. 7(A).

The gap 4 is integrally molded from silicone rubber or the like, and has a large number of swinging blades provided therein. The shape of the blade of the cap 4 may be extended from the bottom as shown in FIG. 7(A), or may be integrally formed from the side wall within the portal of the cap as shown in FIG. 7(B). Diagram (A)
, (B), the four parts of the cap 4 and the swinging blade cover not only the orifice part of the recording head but also the entire front part where ink tends to adhere, but as shown in Fig. 17 (C), the orifice part It may be configured so that only the necessary minimum area is required. Further, the blade may be configured by a single blade provided in the direction of the lateral force of the cap.

Furthermore, a cross-sectional structure of the cap 4 and recording head 3 viewed from one direction is shown in FIG. 8(A). Two tubes 12.13 are connected to the bottom of the cap 4, and each tube 12.13 has a solenoid-driven valve 12.
', 13' are provided. Tube 12 is valve 12'
It communicates with the atmosphere through. The other tube 13 is connected to the recovery pump 11 via a valve 13'. A filter 7 made of a porous material such as a sponge is provided at the opening of the tube 13.

In the above configuration, in order to perform the recovery operation, first move the recording pad 3 to a position opposite the gap 4 as shown in FIG. 8(A), and then move the cap portion in the direction of the arrow by the motor 17. Then, the recording head 3 and the cap 4 are brought into close contact with each other as shown in FIG. 8(B). In this state, the solenoid valve 12' is kept closed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8(C), negative pressure is applied from the tube 13 into the sealed cap 4 by the recovery pump 11. As a result, the air inside the cap 4 is suctioned from the suction tube 13 by driving the recovery pump 11, and as the pressure decreases, ink is sucked out from the orifice at the tip of the rad 3 to the recording nozzle shown in Figure (A). Air bubbles inside 9.
' is also sucked out and removed from the nozzle.

As a result, the inside of the cap 4 is gradually filled with ink 36 as shown in FIG. 8(D). Ink flow from the orifice at the tip of Rad 3 to tube 13 for recording.

And the swinging blade 16 due to the negative pressure from the tube 13
swings downward to scrape off foreign matter 9 from the tip of the recording head 3. #The escaped foreign matter 9 is caught by the filter 7 provided at the opening of the tube 13.

When a certain amount of ink is sucked out for a certain period of time or a certain amount
As shown in 6), open the solenoid valve 12' for the first time,
The inside of the cap 4 is communicated with the atmosphere. As a result, air flows into the cap 4 via the solenoid valve 12', and ink is discharged from the tube 13 by continuous driving of the recovery pump 11.

Since the suction pressure is lower in the tube 12, the ink does not flow out from the head, and the ink in the cap 4 is sequentially discharged from the tube 13. When all the ink in the cap 4 is discharged as shown in Fig. 8 (...), the valve 12' is closed, the pump 11 is stopped, and the motor 7 is driven in the opposite direction to the above, and the cap 4 part is moved as shown by the arrow. The cap 4 is moved backward, and the cap 4 is separated and the recovery operation is completed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment as well, the oscillating blade can reliably scrape off and remove foreign matter stuck together with ink, which was difficult to remove with the conventional suction recovery operation, in a short period of time. This has the excellent effect of quickly returning to recording operation. In particular, according to this embodiment, a drive mechanism for the swinging blade 16 is not required, so the structure is simple.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the function of the inkjet recording head is restored by sealing the area around the orifice of the inkjet recording head and sucking the liquid inside the inkjet recording head. In an inkjet recording apparatus having a cap having a means for removing liquid and/or foreign matter adhering to the orifice, the inkjet recording apparatus further includes a member inside the cap for removing liquid and/or foreign matter adhering to the orifice. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an excellent inkjet recording apparatus that can quickly perform a recording operation by removing foreign matter from the nozzles of the recording head.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a recovery system in an inkjet printing apparatus, FIGS. 2A to 2F are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the recovery system, and FIG. 3 is a recovery system in an inkjet printing apparatus. Figures 4(A) to (F) are explanatory views showing the operation of the recovery system in Figure 3, and Figures 5(A) and (B) are perspective views showing different structures of the rotating blade. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing different embodiments; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of a recovery system in an inkjet recording apparatus; FIG.
FIGS. 8A to 8C are perspective views showing different embodiments of the foreign matter removal blade, and FIGS. 8A to 8F are explanatory views showing the operation of the recovery system, respectively. 3...Record 4...Cap 9...Foreign object 11...Recovery pump 12.13...
Tubes 12', 13'00. Valve 15...Cap holder 16...Blade Translated by Tadamichi Kasuri Rouda Atsushi 1 Figure m1I4tlノ#1jl (fl Figure 3 Tohe (A) (B)) (D) (E) (F ) Taindo (Chiyumi Moemen No. 4 Box (A) (B) -Tenzure F'ty=Urine Ten Reports, Sen 5 Figure 1 All, Zn-7゛Rebi/) Kaitoho 11 Forces Figure 7-! T ψ ward ta)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An inkjet recording apparatus having a cap having a means for sealing around an orifice of an inkjet recording head and recovering the function of the inkjet recording head by sucking liquid within the inkjet recording head, An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that a member for removing liquid and/or foreign matter adhering to the orifice is further provided inside the cap. 2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter removing member is rotatable. 3) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter removing blade is a swinging type plate blade or a plurality of plate blades. 4) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of orifices are provided.