JPH0354059B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device equipped with a capping system for preventing clogging of ink discharge ports in the inkjet device.

Among the various recording methods currently known, this non-impact recording method generates almost no noise during recording, is capable of high-speed recording, and can record on plain paper without requiring any special fixing process. The so-called inkjet recording method, which has the following advantages, is recognized as an extremely useful recording method.

However, this inkjet recording method also has the disadvantage that the ink ejection opening of the inkjet device used in this method is extremely fine (generally, the diameter is about several tens of microns), so when the device is at rest, They also have the disadvantage that they are easily clogged, and if the ejection ports become clogged, ink cannot be ejected normally, resulting in poor recording.

Due to the above-mentioned circumstances, we believe that it is important to provide a means for preventing and releasing clogging of the ink ejection port (due to adhesion of dust or drying of ink) in the inkjet recording method. It is being

In the past, many proposals have been made as means for preventing and removing clogging of this type, but the devices are complicated and large-scale, a large amount of cleaning liquid is required, and the clogging removal effect of cleaning is not sufficient. However, none of these methods has reached the level where they can be put to practical use.

Moreover, these conventional measures cannot be applied to a multi-array orifice type ink jet device having hundreds to thousands of ink ejection ports arranged in parallel.

For example, JP-A-54-159226 discloses an inkjet in which cleaning liquid is supplied into the cap in a closed position where the cap seals a large number of multi-nozzles provided in the inkjet head over one line length. A head cleaning device is described. However, this ink jet head cleaning device only moves the cap from the retracted position to the closed position in order to seal the multiple nozzles of the ink jet head. That is, this inkjet head cleaning device maintains an appropriate distance between the multi-nozzle and the recording paper during recording, for example, relatively close, and also quickly connects the multi-nozzle and the cap using a simple mechanism when capping. Moreover, it is insufficient to satisfy the technical requirement of accurate positioning. Furthermore, this publication does not focus on such technical requirements.

Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the actual situation related to such inkjet recording technology, when a multi-array orifice type inkjet device is adopted, a new configuration that guarantees good recording quality is provided with a clogging prevention system. The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device with the following features. In other words, the main object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that guarantees reliable and stable ink ejection with a simple system and enables high-speed, high-quality inkjet recording.

An inkjet recording device of the present invention that achieves the above object comprises: an inkjet head provided with a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink; a recording position for performing printing by ejecting ink from the large number of ejection ports; a retreat position in which the plurality of ejection ports are retreated from a recording position; a head moving means for moving the ink jet head to a retreat position in which the plurality of ejection ports are moved; a cap for covering the ejection port; a recovery means for recovering ink absorbed by an ink absorber disposed in the cap via a recovery path; an ink absorber disposed in the recovery path; and the head moving means. As the ink jet head moves from the recording position to the retracted position, the cap is moved to a position covering the plurality of ejection ports, and the ink jet head is moved to the retracted position by the head moving means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a cap moving means for moving the cap from a position covering the plurality of discharge ports to a retracted position as the cap moves from the position to the retracted position.

By the way, the above-mentioned cap is usually not only equipped for the purpose of preventing the ink discharge ports from drying out and clogging, but also for the purpose of supplying ink to the ink jet head initially or during preliminary ejection by pressurization. It should also be provided for the purpose of preventing the surroundings of the device from being contaminated by ink leaking from the ejection ports. If the ink leaked from the ink ejection port is absorbed by an absorber provided in the cap, it can be prevented from scattering to some extent (if it is a small amount of ink). However, there is a limit to unnecessarily increasing the volume of the ink absorber disposed in the cap in order to increase the ink absorption capacity, since this increases the size of the device.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems with the configuration described in detail below.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention. In this Figure 1, 101,
101' is a multi-array type inkjet head; 102 is the head and semiconductor attached substrate 1;
Flexible printed circuit board connecting 06, 10
3 is the joint 1 for connecting from the ink tank 108
09 is a supply pipe for supplying ink to the heads; 104 is a common pad for connecting a plurality of lead wires that drive the multi-head;
It is connected through the lead wire 105, lead terminal 130, lead terminal mounting plate 123, and drive circuit connection line 129 to a signal output section (not shown) attached to the main body of the device to which the illustrated inkjet recording apparatus is installed. Other lead wires 10 necessary for driving
2 is wired in a matrix on the multilayer wiring board 107 via 106, and connected to a signal output section (not shown) via a connector 127 and a drive circuit connection line 128. 110 is head 1
This is the board to which 01 or 101' is attached, and the head fixing claw 1
At 11, the head is fixed. Further, 110 is fixed to an ink tank holding plate 124 by a joint 125. 112 is a cap common to all heads, and 113 is a contact pressure adjusting plate between this cap 112 and the head. 114 is a spring, and 115 is an inkjet recording device shown in the apparatus body (not shown).
Fixed block, motor 119 for setting
is a driving force source for the drive screw 120 and the housing 121, and causes the head mounting plate 110 connected to the housing 121 to reciprocate back and forth. The stop position is determined by detecting the position of the detection plate 116, which moves together with the housing 121, by a backward stop sensor 117 and a forward stop sensor 118. 12
2 is a guide rail when the housing 121 moves, and 131 is a stopper. Head mounting plate 1
10 and the fixing block 115 are joined with mounting screws 132.

Further, the motor 126 is a driving force source for swinging the cap 112.

Figure 2 is for explaining the capping mechanism.
The drive mechanism attached to the fixed block 208 is extracted and drawn. For convenience of explanation,
Although the head mounting plate 217 and the head 214 have been described, other parts configured on the plate 217 have been omitted. The cap 209 is connected to a swing transmission plate 206 at its support shaft 211, and the transmission plate 206 is fixed to a fixing block 208 by a step screw 207 that serves as its fulcrum. Furthermore, cap 2
09 is always pulled toward the head mounting plate 217 by a spring 210, and when not recording, the contact pressure adjusting plate 213 fixed to both ends of the head mounting plate 217 and the roller 212 attached to the tip thereof are used. are in contact at some points. At this time, the head 214 is in close contact with an ink-absorbing porous body 215, which is made of felt or various types of sponge, and which is provided inside the cap 209 for the purpose of absorbing ink. During recording operation, the head mounting plate 217 moves in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure under the action of the motor 201 and its control mechanism 202, and stops at a predetermined position (recording operation position of the head) shown by the dashed line. However, at this time, the cap 209 is pushed by the mounting plate 217,
It rotates around the support shaft 211 in the direction of the arrow in the figure and is pushed down to the position shown by the dashed line. At this time, the roller 212 serves to smoothly push the cap 209. When the head 214 stops the recording operation, the mounting plate 217 retreats to a predetermined position (shown by a solid line).
The cap 209 smoothly returns to its original position while contacting the roller 212 due to the contraction force of the spring 210, and all the heads 214 are capped.
Next, the detailed structure of the cap 209 (FIG. 2) will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cap 209 shown in FIG.
2 is a porous material such as felt, sponge rubber, or plastic foam. A protrusion 302T made of the same material is provided in a part of this porous body 302, and the ink absorbed by the porous body 302 is
The protrusion 30 moves within the porous body 302 by capillary force.
After gathering at the 2T site, the ink is collected by capillary force into a tank 305, which is a collection means, through a conduit 303, which serves as a collection channel filled with an ink-absorbing porous body 304 connected to a protrusion 302T. I can do it.

Further, the third illustrated example can be modified as follows.

That is, by connecting a suction pump (not shown) which is an additional recovery means to the tank 305, and sucking the inside of the tank 305 with this pump, the porous body 3
A configuration may be adopted in which the ink in 02 and 304 is forcibly moved toward the tank 305.
In such a case, the amount and rate of collection of ink increases, and the degree to which the ink dries and solidifies within the porous bodies 302 and 304 is reduced, so there is an advantage that functional deterioration of the porous bodies is reduced.

Note that the above-mentioned suction pump does not need to be operated all the time, and it is preferable to operate it in synchronization with the period when the amount of ink impregnated in the porous body increases.

Further, the porous body 302 shown in FIG. 3 can be installed in the cap main body 301 in a detachable manner, or can be fixedly attached.

Further, this porous body 302 can also be constructed by combining a plurality of blocks that have been divided in advance.

However, the porous body 302 needs to cover the entire area of the multi-array ink ejection ports (not shown) facing the cap.

In addition, from FIG. 2 onward, details of the ink supply system, head driving device, etc. related to the ink jet head are not shown for convenience of explanation.

Further, in the present invention, the inkjet head, the cap body, or the porous body are detachably attached to the respective supports, so that the parts can be replaced when any of them becomes malfunctioning. It is also desirable.

By using the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention as described above, clogging of a large number of ink ejection ports can be simultaneously prevented or removed with an extremely simple system, and stable inkjet recording can be guaranteed at all times.

It is possible to completely prevent clogging of ink ejection ports due to drying of ink, adhesion of dust, etc. in multi-type ink jet heads without the need for complicated auxiliary equipment.

Since the position of the ink jet and its capping member can be easily and accurately aligned, the capping for preventing clogging can be reliably achieved.

It is possible to obtain various effects such as.

As described above, the present invention can sufficiently satisfy the high technical requirements mainly related to capping in an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with an inkjet head having a large number of ejection ports. That is, the present invention is constructed so that not only the cap but also the ink jet head can be moved when performing capping of a large number of ejection ports disposed on the ink jet head. Therefore, in the present invention, when recording, the distance between the large number of ejection ports and the recording member is set at an appropriate distance, for example, relatively close, and when capping, the large number of ejection ports and the cap are connected using a simple mechanism. This has the excellent effect of quickly and accurately aligning the cap, and when removing the cap, the cap can be quickly evacuated from a position covering a large number of discharge ports using a simple mechanism.

In addition, the present invention is provided with a collection means for collecting the waste ink absorbed by the ink absorber disposed in the cap through the collection path, so that it does not need to be stored inside the recording device or by the hands of the user of the recording device. Waste ink can be quickly and accurately disposed of without contaminating the surfaces. Furthermore, since the ink absorber is also arranged in the recovery path, waste ink can be recovered more stably and reliably.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view for explaining the main parts of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of one embodiment of the present invention. be. In the figure, 101, 101', 214 are ink jet heads, 102 is a flexible printed board, 103 is an ink conduit, 104 is a common electrode pad, 105 is a lead wire, 106 is a semiconductor attached board, 107 is a multilayer wiring board, 108 is an ink tank, 109 is a pipe connection joint, 110, 2
17 is a head mounting plate, 111 is a head fixing claw, 1
12,209,301 is cap, 113,21
3 is a cap contact pressure adjusting plate, 114 is a spring, 11
5 is a fixed block, 116 is a detection plate, 117 is a backward stop sensor, 118 is a forward stop sensor, 119, 126 are motors, 120 is a drive screw, 121 is a housing, 122 is a guide rail, 123 is a lead terminal mounting plate , 124 is a tank holding plate, 125 is a holding plate fixing part, 127 is a connector, 128, 129 is a drive circuit connection line, 130
is a lead terminal, 131 is a stopper, 132 is a mounting screw, 201, 203 are motors, 202 is a drive control mechanism, 204 is a gear, 205 is an eccentric cam, 206 is a swing transmission plate, 207 is a stepped screw, 20
8 is a fixed block, 210 is a spring, 211 is a support shaft, 212 is a roller, 215, 302, 304
is a porous body, 302T is a protrusion, 303 is a conduit,
305 is a tank.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An ink jet head provided with a large number of ejection ports for ejecting ink, a recording position at which recording is performed by ejecting ink from the large number of ejection ports, and a recording position from which the plurality of ejection ports are arranged. a head moving means for moving the ink jet head to a retracted position where the outlet is retracted; an ink absorber disposed at a location facing the plurality of ejection ports; and a cap for covering the plurality of ejection ports. a recovery means for recovering ink absorbed by an ink absorber disposed in the cap via a recovery path; an ink absorber disposed in the recovery path; as the inkjet head moves from the recording position to the retracted position, the cap is moved to a position covering the plurality of ejection ports, and the inkjet head is moved from the retracted position to the recording position by the head moving means. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a cap moving means for moving the cap from a position covering the large number of ejection ports to a retreated position. 2. A guide member used as a guide when the head moving means moves the ink jet head, and a defining means for defining a stop position of the ink jet head including the recording position and the retracted position. An inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorber is a porous body. 4. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the large number of ejection ports are arranged in the range of several hundred to several thousand in parallel. 5. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recovery means includes a tank. 6. An inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said recovery means includes a tank and a pump connected to said tank.