JPH0443045A - recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an element on a recorder from being destroyed even though a man and a substance come into contact with a contact part after removing a recording head by a method wherein a position at which the recording head is removed from a carriage is limited to within a specific area outside a recording area by abovementioned recording head. CONSTITUTION:Almost all transfer read of a carriage 2 comes to be covered by an armoring cover 8 and a position capable of being operated is limited. Therefore, a window 9 of a size made small to an extent that an operator hardly inserts a finger therein to be able to mount and remove a head 1, is provided, and a position of the window 9 on the armoring cover 8 shall be a position above the recording head 1 when the carriage 2 exists at a home position. An operation panel for operating are recorder is installed on a front face of the armoring cover 8, and a sheet discharge opening 20 or the like for discharging a recording sheet 5 is installed on its upper face. Then, the mounting and removing of the recording head 1 come to be allowed only at the abovementioned standby position by such cover 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording device, and more specifically, a removable and replaceable recording head is mounted on a carriage, and while the carriage is moved along a recording material, The present invention relates to a recording device such as a recording device for Infusiera 1 where recording is performed by a recording head.

[Background technology] In recent years, OA devices such as personal computers and Warb0 have become widespread, and these devices have methods for printing out input information, such as the wire tod method,
Recording apparatuses using various recording methods such as a thermal transfer method and an inkjet method have been developed. Kome 1 et al.'s recording device "U,
The recording head is equipped with a recording head according to each method, and the recording head performs predetermined recording on a recording material such as a recording sheet.

Ingo 7 Jet!・A typical example of a recording device based on the method is
As shown in the schematic diagrams in FIGS. 9(A) to 9(D), the recording head is equipped with a recording head having an ejection port 30 and a liquid path 31 communicating with each other, and the liquid path 31 contains a recording liquid. An electrothermal converter (hereinafter also referred to as a heater) 32 is provided that generates thermal energy used to eject ink from the ejection port 30. The heat generated by the drive of the heater 32 heats the inside of the liquid path 31, causing air bubbles 34 in the ink 33.
is generated, and the ink 33 is ejected from the ejection port 3 ( ) using the pressure to form flying ink droplets 33A, which are then landed on a recording material (not shown) to perform recording.
After driving, the ink 33 is replenished into the liquid path 31 as the bubbles 34 disappear. A recording head is constructed by arranging a predetermined number of liquid channels 31 provided with such heaters 32 in rows. In such an inkjet recording device B, it is possible to arrange the ejection ports 30 and the liquid paths 31 in a line at high density in the recording head, and it is possible to perform high density recording without using a staggered arrangement or the like. becomes.

In addition, in such an inkjet recording apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the need for maintenance to prevent clogging of the liquid path 31 and the ejection port 30, which are microtubular. Furthermore, various measures have been taken to extend the life of the device, such as making the recording head a removable and replaceable part, which is technically a relatively effective way to achieve long-length whitening at a low cost. .

[Issues that Tomei tries to solve] Only 15. Therefore, in the above-mentioned recording apparatus, when a charged object (for example, a human body) touches the contacts on the apparatus side after the replaceable recording head has been removed, electrostatic noise flows in and the element is damaged. There was a risk that it would be destroyed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to solve the problem even if a person or an object touches the contact part after the recording head is removed.
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can prevent elements on the recording device from being destroyed.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to prevent friction between the recording material and the recording head, recording when the recording material is conveyed by a charging belt, and electrostatic concave side V on the RAD at times other than when recording is performed. In order to focus on the problem and try to solve it, at a time other than when recording is being performed, that is, when the element is being driven for recording,
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can prevent direct effects of electrostatic noise on the recording head and elements on the device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording head in which a removable recording head is mounted on a carriage that moves along a recording material, and a removable recording head is mounted on a carriage that moves along a recording material. In a recording apparatus that performs recording using a recording signal that is not sent to the recording head, means for limiting the position at which the recording head is removed from the carriage to a predetermined area outside the recording area of the recording head; The apparatus is characterized by comprising means for interrupting or grounding the signal line connected to the front connection point in conjunction with the movement of the carriage to a position where the recording head is removed.

Furthermore, another form of the present invention is characterized by having means for supporting the recording head at a time other than when recording is performed by the recording head, and for interrupting or grounding the electrical wiring used for the recording. It is something.

[Function] According to the present invention, the position where the recording head is removed and replaced is limited to a predetermined area outside the recording area, and furthermore, the signal line etc. to the contact point provided on the carriage is interrupted or grounded at that position. Therefore, even if electrostatic noise is introduced into the contact point after the recording head is removed from the carriage, it is possible to prevent electrical elements built into the apparatus from being damaged.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent direct influence of electrostatic noise on the recording head and the elements on the apparatus at a time other than when recording is being performed, that is, when the elements are being driven for recording.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below in detail and specifically based on the drawings.

1 to 6 show the structure of a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cartridge-type recording head with an integrally provided ink tank, and 2 mounts the recording head 1, which moves in directions of arrows F and R along a guide shaft 3 by a driving means (not shown). carriage, 4
is a recording sheet as a recording material held at a position opposite to the recording head 1 along the moving direction of the carriage 2 by a platen (not shown). This example is an example of an inkjet recording apparatus, in which a plurality of ink ejection ports IA (see FIG. 3) are arranged on the surface of the recording head 1 facing the recording sheet 4, and the recording head 1 is connected to the recording head 1 while the carriage 2 is moving. Ink is selectively ejected from the ink ejection ports 1A toward the recording sheet 4 in accordance with the supplied recording signal, and recording is performed. Furthermore, each time the recording for the -scan is completed, the sheet is fed in the direction of arrow P, and the recording is repeated.

Reference numeral 5 designates a cap member provided at an opposing position near the home position where the carriage 2 waits during non-recording, and is located at a position outside the recording area of the recording head 1, and is used for recording when no recording is performed. It contacts the ink ejection surface of the head 1 and seals around it to prevent ink from drying. Further, ink is sucked from the recording head 1 through the cap member 5 during a recovery operation performed in preparation for ink failure. 6 is a ground terminal attached to the carriage 2, and the operation and function of this ground terminal 6 will be described later.

Next, a drive system for driving each member of the recording apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG.

Here, 10 is a control unit, and the control unit 10 is a CPU II such as a microprocessor, and a ROM 12 that stores a control program for the CPU II and various data.

The RAM 13 is used as a work area for the CPU II and also includes a RAM 13 for temporarily storing recording data and the like. Reference numeral 14 is a driver for driving the feeding means 15 that feeds the carriage 2 and the recording sheet 4; 16 is a driver for driving the recording head 1; and 17 is a driver for driving the recording head 1; various keys for operation are arranged; 18 is an external device; 18 is an external device;
19 is an interface.

In the drive control system configured in this manner, information regarding recording is input manually from the operation panel 17 to the control section 10 via the interface 19, and recording data is sent from the external device 18 to the control section 10. According to these information and data, the control unit 10 drives each member via the interface 19 and further via the drivers 14 and 16 to perform recording.

By the way, as mentioned earlier, the recording head 1 in this example is removable and replaceable, and in order to accurately transmit recording signals from the control unit 10 to such a recording head 1, it is necessary to It is necessary to maintain an electrical connection function with the carriage 2 that is easy to attach and detach and has excellent durability. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, a point-contact connection method, which is more durable, is used instead of a plug-and-remove connector type.

The third (Fig. j], F], and these are arranged six-contacts'
The recording material is sent to the recording spatula 1 via the recording spatula 1 (as shown in the figure). As mentioned above, when these contacts are touched by a person's hand or an object I, electrostatic noise flows in through the contacts 7, causing damage to the driver 14, 16 and the controller 1. There are mechanisms that destroy CPLIIO in the system.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to eliminate such a risk, the recording head 1 is always attached and detached at the home position, and in that state, the driver 16 is at the home position. Ground terminal 6 between C ridge 2 and earth contact 7
It should be grounded via J and 7. In this way, static noise can be released to the ground, and even if contact 7 is touched by a human hand or an object, it will damage the control system equipment! - There is no risk of it happening.

Hereinafter, the configuration for protection measures taken when the recording head is attached and detached will be explained.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an exterior cover 8 is provided that can cover the entire apparatus including the carriage movement area, and the recording head is placed on the cover 8 at a position corresponding to the pombo position H in all directions. 1 @ Escape window 9 is installed.

That is, in this way, the carriage 2 is protected by the exterior cover 8.
As shown in FIG. 5, the head 1 is so small that the operator can barely insert his/her finger into it to attach/detach the head 1 in order to limit the operable position (as shown in FIG. 5).
The position of the window 9 in the outer cover 8 is as follows when the carriage 2 is in the Bauhm position (standby position). 1
Partial position.

An operation panel 17 for operating the recording apparatus is provided on the front surface of the exterior cover 8, and a sheet discharge port 20 for discharging the recording sheet 5 is provided on the top surface. Therefore, by using such a cover 8, it is possible to
However, the attachment and detachment of the recording head 1 will not be allowed for 5'F.

Note that the means for limiting and regulating the position from which the recording head is removed to be within a predetermined area outside the recording area is not limited to the window provided in the exterior cover described above, and may take various forms. For example, a mechanical or electrical mechanism may be employed in which the recording head is fixed to a carriage in the recording area and the fixation is released only at the Baum position.

Next, we will describe a mini configuration that can prevent element destruction even if electrostatic noise flows in from the contact 7 after the recording head 1 is removed at the hold position. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the configuration is such that when the recording head 1 returns to the standby value 8, the ground terminal 6 of the gear ridge 2 comes into contact with the ground terminal 21 provided on the exterior cover 8. ]ing. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, all the recording signal lines from the driver 16 are connected to the ground terminal 6, so as long as the carriage 2 is in the standby position, there will be no signal coming in from the contact 7. All static noise is grounded through the ground terminal 6.
and is grounded via the ground terminal 21. When the carriage 2 moves from the standby position to perform recording, the ground terminal 6 and the ground terminal 21 are separated, and the recording signal from the driver 16 does not flow to the ground (it is accurately transmitted to the recording head 1).

As stated above (the attachment/detachment position of the recording head 1 is limited to the carriage standby position where no recording is performed, and all signal lines between the contact 7 and the driver 1G are grounded at the carriage standby position). As a result, even if a charged human body or the like comes into contact with the contact surface after the recording head 1 is removed, the elements on the apparatus will not be destroyed.

7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the invention.

In the first embodiment, the recording signal line between the driver and the head is grounded at the recording head attachment/detachment position.
On the other hand, this embodiment is configured to prevent element destruction by mechanically interrupting the recording signal line.

That is, in this example, during the recording operation, the recording signal line is not interrupted in the carriage 2 as shown in FIG.
A signal can be transmitted to the recording head 1. but,
As shown in FIG. 7, when the carriage 2 is guided to the recording head attachment/detachment position, the lower base 2B of the carriage 2 is pushed in the main scanning direction by the protrusion 22 protruding from the outer cover 8, and the upper body of the carriage 2 is 2A and the lower stand 2B are shifted in the main scanning direction.As a result, both opening/closing contacts 23 provided between the upper body 2A and the lower stand 2B become ovens, preventing electrostatic noise from entering from the contact 7. Destruction of elements on the device can be prevented.

Furthermore, when the carriage 2 moves from the recording head attachment/detachment position, the lower stand 2 of the carriage 2 is moved again by the spring 24.
B is pulled back to its original state and returns to the state shown in FIG.

Note that the configuration and operation other than the means for interrupting the recording signal line are the same as those in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, the serial printer
The recording signal sent through the contact provided on the carriage at the head removal position outside the recording area is interrupted or grounded through contact with the grounding means, etc., but the present invention is not applicable in this way. The method is not limited to the head removal position, but is interrupted or grounded at a time other than recording (for example, outside the recording area, at the cap position, or when moving in the other direction in the case of one-way printing). It goes without saying that it is sufficient as long as the recording is interrupted or grounded by the engagement of the carriage-side terminal and the main body-side terminal, for example, other than during the recording.

Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to serial printers but also to line printers, and the case where the recording head is removable to the support means has been described above as a preferred example.
For the purposes of the invention, the recording head need not necessarily be removable from its support means.

(Others) The present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in inkjet recording type recording heads and recording apparatuses, and particularly in bubble jet type recording heads and recording apparatuses proposed by Canon Co., Ltd. .

This is because bubble jet type recording heads are relatively susceptible to the problems associated with the conventional techniques described above, so the present invention is sometimes effectively applied. According to such a system, higher recording density and higher definition can be achieved.

As for typical configurations and principles thereof, it is preferable to use the basic principles disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it is necessary to arrange the liquid (ink) in accordance with the sheet and liquid path that hold it. The electrothermal converter that is
Generating thermal energy in the electrothermal transducer and producing film boiling on the thermally active surface of the recording head by applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise above nucleate boiling. As a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal, which is effective. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, bubble growth and contraction will occur immediately and appropriately.
Particularly responsive liquid (ink) ejection can be achieved,
More preferred. This pulse-shaped drive signal is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262.
Those described in the specification are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

The configuration of the recording head includes, in addition to the combination configuration of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section. US Pat. No. 4,558,333 discloses an arrangement in which a bending area is located in a bending area. "No. 445960
A configuration using specification No. 0 is also included in the invention B. With addition λ, a plurality of electrothermal transducer pairs l11. hand,
JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common sliding slit is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal converter, and a configuration in which an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy is corresponded to a discharge part is disclosed. The effects of the present invention are also effective even if the structure is based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, according to the present invention, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Furthermore, a recording spatula 1' of a norline type having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus:
The present invention can also be effectively applied to such recording heads.6 Such recording heads may be constructed by combining a plurality of recording heads to shorten the length, or if a single recording head is formed integrally and the length of the recording head is shortened. It can be any configuration question.

In addition, even with a serial quive like the one shown above, it is possible to connect the recording head fixed to the main body of the device, or to install it in the main body, so that it can be electrically connected to the main body and the ink can be drawn from the main body of the device. The present invention is also applicable to applications using replaceable chip-type recording heads that can supply ink, or cartridge-type recording heads in which an ink tank is integrated into the recording head itself. .

Further, according to the present invention, as a configuration of the recording device, it is provided as 4):
It is preferable to add a recovery means, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc. to the recording head because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these include capping means, cleaning means,
Stable recording can also be achieved by using a pressurizing or suction means, a preheating means using an electrothermal transducer, a heating element different from the first one, or a combination thereof, and a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from recording. It is effective for carrying out.

In addition, regarding the type and number of recording heads installed, for example, in addition to only one head installed to accommodate single-color ink, there are also options to accommodate multiple inks with different recording colors and densities. A plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording device and 11. In addition to the main color printing mode such as black, it is also possible to use either an integrated printing head or a combination of multiple printing heads, but it is also possible to use multiple colors of different colors, or mixed colors. The present invention is also extremely effective for devices equipped with at least one full color image.

In addition, as explained below, 2I, 2 embodiments of the present invention, 4
In 3., ink is described as a liquid (1, 2), but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or 5. In the jet method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within the range of 30 to 70"C to keep the viscosity of the ink within the stable ejection range. It is sufficient if the ink is in a liquid state.In addition, the temperature increase due to thermal energy can be actively prevented by using the energy of the change in the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or the evaporation of the ink can be prevented. The purpose is to prevent
In any case, depending on the thermal energy recording system, the ink can be used to solidify when left standing. The present invention is also applicable to the case where an ink is used which has a property of becoming liquid for the first time due to thermal energy at tJ, such as one that already begins to solidify at the time of 1". In such a case, the ink is -56847
No. 60-71260 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-71260, a liquid or solid substance is held in a multi-layered sheet, recess, or through hole, and is held facing an electrothermal converter. - form and 1. But that's fine. According to the present invention, the most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is - implementing the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the inkjet/sol-MiF recording apparatus of the present invention can be used as an image output terminal for information processing equipment such as a combicoater, as well as a copying apparatus combined with a layer, etc. A- It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission function.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the recording head removal/replacement position is limited to a predetermined area outside the recording area, and the carriage is guided to that position (by the moving operation of the carriage). In conjunction with this, the signal line connected to the contact is interrupted or grounded, so even if a charged human body or the like comes into contact with the electrical connection surface after the recording head is removed, it is possible to prevent elements on the device from being destroyed.

Furthermore, direct influence of electrostatic noise on the recording head and the elements on the apparatus can be prevented at a time other than when recording is being performed, that is, when the elements are being driven for recording.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration around the carriage of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a contact on the carriage according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the overall external appearance of the recording device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the grounding means and the replacement window according to the first embodiment of the present invention. An explanatory diagram of the grounding means according to the first embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the carriage at the head replacement position according to the second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the ink ejection operation of the inkjet recording apparatus. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Recording head, 2... Carriage, 3... Guide shaft, 4... Recording sheet, 5... Cap member, 6... Earth terminal, 7... Contact, 8...・Exterior cover 9...Window, IO...Control unit, 11...CPU, 12...ROM, 13...RAM, 14, 16...Driver, 21...Ground terminal, 22 ...Protrusion, 23...Opening/closing contact, 24...Spring. , Rate, Brahma's vice (III potion of 10 eight colors 1 pro 11,7
To the garden No. 2 - Sodo misfire: al vassal, power, rere, Luji, O Kong month - City's a fan 1 Fig. 3 OQ January 7) '1 LJyb 1 Chapter 1 ゛ Tomi-kuni No. 4 Fig. Fig. Fig.
tllll garden fig. 6 fig.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A removable recording head is mounted on a carriage that moves along a recording material, and recording is performed by a recording signal sent to the recording head via a contact provided on the carriage. In the recording apparatus, the recording head is removed from the carriage, and the carriage is moved to the position where the recording head is removed. A recording device characterized by comprising means for interrupting or grounding a signal line connected to the contact point in conjunction with the movement of the contact point. 2) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet head that performs recording by ejecting ink. 3) The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inkjet head includes an electrothermal converter as a thermal energy generator that generates thermal energy used to eject ink. 4) A recording apparatus characterized by having means for supporting the recording head and interrupting or grounding the electrical wiring used for recording at a time other than when recording is performed by the recording head.