JP5381064B2 - Head array unit manufacturing method and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The invention, prepared how the head array unit, an image forming apparatus.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying apparatus, a plotter, and a complex machine of these, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus is known as an image forming apparatus of a liquid discharge recording method using a recording head for discharging ink droplets. . This liquid discharge recording type image forming apparatus ejects ink droplets from a recording head onto a conveyed paper to form an image (recording, printing, printing, and printing are also used synonymously). Serial type image forming device that forms an image by ejecting droplets while the recording head moves in the main scanning direction, and a line type that forms images by ejecting droplets without the recording head moving There is a line type image forming apparatus using a head.

  In the present application, “image forming apparatus” means an apparatus for forming an image by landing ink on a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc. "Image formation" is not only the application of images with meanings such as characters and figures to the medium, but also the addition of images with no meaning such as patterns to the medium (simply applying droplets to the medium) Also means landing). The “ink” is not limited to the ink, but is used as a general term for all liquids that can perform image formation, such as a recording liquid, a fixing processing liquid, and a liquid. The term “paper” is not limited to paper, but includes the above-described OHP sheet, cloth, and the like, and means that ink droplets adhere to the recording medium, recording medium, recording paper, recording It is used as a general term for what includes what is called paper.

  A full line type head having a nozzle row length equivalent to the paper width used in the line type image forming apparatus or a long head having a nozzle row length equivalent to half the paper width (both of them are simply referred to as “long head ")" Is known in which a plurality of short heads are arranged side by side in the paper width direction (arrayed).

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a head unit in which a functional liquid droplet ejection head is attached to a head plate through a head holding member fixed to the functional liquid droplet ejection head so that the position can be adjusted.
JP 2007-136254 A

In Patent Document 2, an intermediate holding member is arranged between a component and a component support to which the component is assembled, and the component, the intermediate holding member, and the portion between the component support and the intermediate holding member. It is described that a liquid adhesive is applied to a vertical first adhesive interface and a substantially horizontal second adhesive interface, and the component and the component support are bonded and fixed via the intermediate holding member. Yes.
Japanese Patent No. 3552522

Patent Document 3 describes that a plurality of inkjet heads are fixed with respect to an adjuster plate by adjusting their positions with respect to a reference hole of the adjuster plate, and fixed by fitting with a reference hole of the adjuster plate and a reference pin of the plate. Has been.
International Publication No. WO04 / 022344

In Patent Document 4, in order to arrange a plurality of head portions accurately on a single sub-carriage and make a long head, a head portion image acquisition unit, a head unit position adjustment unit, and a sub-carriage movement unit are used. It is described that the head of the head is adjusted and assembled.
JP 2001-162892 A

  As described above, it is difficult to form a full line head with one head for reasons such as yield, and therefore, a plurality of heads arranged side by side (this is referred to as a “head array unit”) is used. ing. In such a head array unit, it is necessary to position and fix a plurality of heads with high accuracy with respect to an array member that is a member for arraying and fixing the plurality of heads.

  However, as described in Patent Document 4, fixing to an arrangement member that arranges a plurality of heads while adjusting the position at an optical position causes a problem that assembly equipment becomes large and positioning with high accuracy is difficult.

  Further, as described in Patent Document 3, the head is positioned and fixed to an intermediate positioning member (adjuster plate), and the reference hole of the intermediate positioning member is fitted to a reference pin provided on the array member (plate) for positioning. In such a configuration, it is necessary to provide a large number of reference pins on the array member with high accuracy, and there is a problem that the configuration of the array member becomes complicated and the cost of the head becomes extremely high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to enable a plurality of heads to be positioned and fixed with respect to an array member with a simple configuration with high accuracy.

In order to solve the above problems, a method of manufacturing a head array unit according to the present invention includes:
A step of positioning and fixing a head for discharging droplets to a head holding member to form a head unit;
An arrangement provided in a jig for determining the position of the head unit with respect to the arrangement member in an arrangement reference hole provided in the arrangement member for arranging and fixing the plurality of head units in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the head. Fit a reference pin, position the array member with respect to the jig,
Inserting the positioning pin of the jig into the opening provided in the array member and projecting it on the surface of the array member;
Fitting a positioning reference hole for arrangement formed in the head holding member of a plurality of the head units into a positioning pin of the jig;
Fixing a plurality of the head units to the array member;
Sequentially removing the jig from the array member,
The head holding member is provided with two positioning reference holes for arrangement,
One of the alignment positioning reference holes has a notch shape formed at an end portion of the head holding member, and the notch shape has an arrangement direction of the plurality of head units as an arrangement direction of the head units. In this case, the length of the head units in the arrangement direction is longer than the length in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

By the present invention lever, it becomes possible to accurately positioned and fixed relative to the alignment members a plurality of heads in a easy single configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a plan explanatory view of the apparatus.
This image forming apparatus is a line type image forming apparatus, and includes an apparatus main body 1, a paper feed tray 2 on which paper P is stacked and fed, a paper discharge tray 3 on which printed paper P is discharged and stacked, and paper P A transport unit 4 that transports the paper from the paper feed tray 2 to the paper discharge tray 3, a head array unit 5 that discharges and prints droplets on the paper P transported by the transport unit 4, and the head after printing is completed or at a required timing And a cleaning device 6 which is a maintenance / recovery mechanism that performs maintenance / recovery of each head of the array unit 5.

  The apparatus main body 1 includes front and rear side plates and stays (not shown), and the sheets P stacked on the sheet feed tray 2 are fed one by one to the transport unit 4 by the separation roller 21 and the sheet feed roller 22. Is done.

  The transport unit 4 includes a transport drive roller 41a, a transport driven roller 41b, and an endless transport belt 43 wound around these rollers 41a and 41b. A plurality of holes (not shown) are formed on the surface of the transport belt 43, and a suction fan 44 that sucks the paper P is disposed below the transport belt 43. Further, conveyance guide rollers 42a and 42b are respectively held on guides (not shown) on the conveyance driving roller 41a and conveyance driven roller 41b and are in contact with the belt 43 by their own weight.

  The conveyance driving roller 41 a is rotated by a motor (not shown), so that the conveyance belt 43 rotates. The paper P is sucked onto the conveyance belt 43 by the suction fan 44 and is conveyed by the circular movement of the conveyance belt 43. The transport driven roller 41 b and the transport guide rollers 42 a and 42 b rotate following the transport belt 43.

  A head array unit 5 composed of a head array unit that discharges droplets to be printed on the paper P is disposed above the transport unit 4 so as to be movable in the arrow A direction. In addition, the head array unit 5 slides above the cleaning device 6 during the maintenance / recovery operation (cleaning).

  The head array unit 5 is a head array unit in which five head units 51 for discharging droplets per row are arranged and fixedly arranged on an arrangement member (holding member) 100 over almost the entire width of the paper. From the upstream side in the paper transport direction, the first row (also referred to as row a) is head units 51a1, 51a2, 51a3, 51a4, 51a5, and the second row (also referred to as row b) is head units 51b1, 51b2, 51b3, 51b4. , 51b5, the third row (also referred to as c row) is head units 51c1, 51c2, 51c3, 51c4, 51c5, and the fourth row (also referred to as d row) is head units 51d1, 51d2, 51d3, 51d4, 51d5, respectively. It is configured. When the head units in each row are collectively referred to, for example, the head unit 51 in the row a is represented as “head unit 51 a”.

  The head units 51a to 51d in the first to fourth rows are arranged in a staggered manner. Each head unit 51 has two nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, and one nozzle row of each head unit 51 of the first row head unit 51a and the second row head unit 51b has yellow ( Y) Magenta (M) droplets are ejected from the other nozzle row, and cyan (C) is produced from one nozzle row of the second row head unit 51c and each head unit 51 of the second row head unit 51c. The other nozzle row ejects black (K) color droplets to form a staggered arrangement so that an image for one line can be formed.

  The configuration of the head portion is not limited to these examples. As a configuration in which two head array units 5 are arranged and one color ink droplet is ejected from each of the two nozzle rows of each head unit 51, The image resolution can be doubled as compared to the above example.

  In the head array unit 5, distributors 52 a to 52 d that are distributors for supplying ink of a desired color to each head unit 51 are arranged above each head unit 51, and a supply tube is provided between the distributor 52 and the head unit 51. 53 is connected. A sub tank 54 is disposed on the upstream side of the distributor 52, and ink is supplied to the head of the head unit 51 due to a water head difference. Further, an ink main tank (not shown) is disposed on the upstream side of the sub tank 54, and ink is supplied to each through a supply tube.

  On the downstream side of the transport unit 4, a transport guide portion 7 that discharges the paper P to the paper discharge tray 3 is provided. The paper P guided and conveyed by the conveyance guide unit 7 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 3. The paper discharge tray 3 includes a pair of side fences 31 that regulate the width direction of the paper P and an end fence 32 that regulates the front end of the paper P.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism (cleaning device) 6 corresponds to the head units 51 in the first to fourth rows of the head array unit 5, and includes five cleaning units 61 a 1 to 61 a 5 in the first to fourth rows, respectively. 61b1 to 61b5, 61c1 to 61c5, 61d1 to 61d5 are arranged in a staggered manner. The notation of each part of the cleaning device 6 is the same as that of the head array unit 5.

  Under each of the cleaning means 61, suction pumps 62 (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d) for sucking ink from the head of the head unit 51 are arranged.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus, after the printing is finished, when the ink of the head unit 51 that discharges droplets is capped by the cleaning unit 61 and ink is sucked from the nozzles, or the nozzle surface of the head of the head unit 51 When the ink adhering to the ink is cleaned by the cleaning means 61, after the printing is stopped, the entire transport unit 4 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1 with the transport driven roller 41 b as a fulcrum, and the space between the head array unit 5 Is made larger than that at the time of image formation, so that the movement space of the head array unit 5 is secured. At this time, the conveyance guide portion 7 disposed on the upper portion of the cleaning device 6 is also rotated upward in the direction of the arrow C at the fulcrum 71, and the upper portion of the cleaning device 6 is opened.

  Then, after the transport unit 4 and the transport guide portion 7 are released (released), the head array unit 5 moves in the paper passing direction (the direction indicated by the arrow A), stops above the cleaning device 6, and the cleaning unit 61. Rises and shifts to a head cleaning operation (maintenance recovery operation) of each head unit 51.

  Next, the head array unit according to the present invention constituting the head array unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the head array unit, FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of the head unit, FIG. 5 is an explanatory front view of the head unit, FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view of the array members, and FIG. Sectional explanatory drawing which follows a X1-X1 line, FIG. 8: is a principal part enlarged plan explanatory drawing of the same arrangement | sequence member.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the head array unit 5 includes five head units 51 each having a head 151 for discharging droplets positioned and fixed to the head holding member 152 (the arrangement direction is the sheet width direction). The individual pieces are arranged side by side on the arrangement member 100 and fixed by the fasteners 101, 101.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, one head unit 51 is positioned with high accuracy by a method such as optical positioning of the head 151 on a head holding member (also referred to as an intermediate member or an attachment) 152. Is fastened and fixed by a fastener 153. The head holding member 152 is provided with a primary reference hole 155 and a secondary reference hole 156 that are positioning holes for arranging the head units 51 on the array member 100, and fixes the head unit 51 to the array member 100. Through holes 157 and 157 penetrating the fastener 101 are provided. The secondary reference hole 156 has a notch shape, but may be a long hole.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the arrangement member 100 is formed with the number of insertion holes 111 through which the head 151 of the head unit 51 is inserted. An opening 112 larger than the reference hole 155 is formed on one side of each fitting hole 111 in the head unit arrangement direction corresponding to the positioning reference hole 155 of the head unit 151, and the other side of the head unit 151 is formed. An opening 113 is formed corresponding to the positioning reference hole 156. Screw holes 114 and 114 for screwing the fasteners 101 are formed on both sides of each fitting hole 111 in a direction orthogonal to the head unit arrangement direction (the paper transport direction). Furthermore, an array main reference hole 121 and a secondary reference hole 122 for positioning a jig to be described later are formed on both ends of the array member 100 in the head unit array direction, and each opening 112 is defined based on the array main reference hole 121. Has been placed.

  In this way, a plurality of head units in which a plurality of heads for discharging liquid droplets are positioned and fixed to the head holding member are arranged side by side and arranged and fixed to the array member, and the alignment reference holes for arrangement are formed in the head holding member of the head unit. Since the opening of the array member is larger than the reference hole corresponding to the positioning reference hole of the head unit, the reference pin and the head unit provided in the jig through the opening of the array member The head unit can be positioned and fixed to the array member by fitting with the positioning reference holes, and there is no need to provide a reference pin on the array member. Positioning and fixing can be performed with high accuracy.

  By providing such a head array unit, each head is positioned with high accuracy, so that a high-quality image can be formed at high speed.

Next, a jig used for manufacturing the head array unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 is an explanatory plan view of the jig, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory sectional view taken along line X2-X2 of FIG.
The jigs 200 are provided as many as the number of head units in which a pair of reference pins 201 and 201 into which the alignment reference holes 155 and 156 formed in the head holding member 152 of the head unit 51 are fitted. The reference pin 201 passes through the openings 112 and 113 of the array member 100 and is fitted into the array positioning reference holes 155 and 156 of the head unit 51 to have a length (amount of protrusion from the surface of the jig 200). A recess 202 is formed between the reference pins 201 and 201 for escaping the head 51 when the head unit 51 is positioned.

  In addition, the jig 200 is provided with an array master reference pin 211 that fits into the array master reference hole 121 of the array member 100 and an array slave reference pin 212 that corresponds to the array slave reference hole 122. Positioning with 200 is also possible. The jig 200 is provided with leg portions 230.

  Next, a manufacturing process of the head array unit 5 using the jig 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 is an explanatory plan view when mounting an arrangement member on a jig and mounting one head unit, FIG. 12 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line X3-X3 in FIG. 11, and FIG. FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part of a fitting portion with the arrangement member, and FIG.

  First, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the head 151 for discharging droplets is positioned with high accuracy on the head holding member 152 by a method such as optical positioning, and the head 151 and the head holding are held by the fastener 153. The head unit 51 is configured by fastening and fixing the member 152.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the array member 100 is disposed on the jig 200. At this time, the array master reference hole 121 of the array member 100 is fitted to the array master reference pin 211 of the jig 200 (FIG. 13), and the array slave reference hole 122 of the array member 100 is inserted into the array slave reference pin 212 of the jig 200. Is inserted into the jig 200 to position the array member 100. As a result, the reference pin 201 of the jig 200 is aligned with the opening 112 and the opening 113 of the array member 100, and the reference pin 201 is reliably inserted into the openings 112 and 113 so as to be aligned. It protrudes on the surface of (Fig. 14).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the inner diameter of the opening 112 is larger than the outer diameter of the reference pin 201 and has a slight margin. Therefore, even if the center of the opening 112 and the center of the reference pin 201 are slightly shifted, the shift can be absorbed by the size of the opening 112, and the array member 100 can be set on the jig 200.

  Next, after positioning the positioning reference holes 155 and 156 of the head unit 51 into the reference pins 201 and 201 of the jig 200 protruding from the surface of the array member 100, the head unit 51 and the array member 100 are moved in this state. The fastener 100 is screwed from the through hole 157 of the head unit 51 to the screw hole 114 of the array member 100 and fastened and fixed. This process is repeated for the number of head units to be arranged, and a required number of head units 51 are arranged and fixed on the arrangement member 100.

  Thereafter, by removing the array member 100 from the jig 200, the head array unit 5 in which a required number of head units 51 are arranged on the array member 100 is obtained.

  Here, the positional relationship between the plurality of head units 51 is aligned by the reference pins 201 provided on the jig 200. Therefore, the inner diameter of the alignment reference hole 155 provided in the head holding member 152 needs to be formed substantially the same as the outer diameter of the reference pin 201. Thereby, the positional relationship between the head units 51 can be easily aligned with high accuracy by forming the jig 200 with high accuracy.

  On the other hand, the opening 112 of the array member 100 is a hole for roughly aligning the array member 100 and the head unit 51. By forming the opening 112 larger than the positioning reference hole 155 for arraying, the opening 112 does not need to be formed with high accuracy like the reference pin 201, and the productivity of the arraying member 100 can be improved. It becomes.

  In this way, a head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging droplets is positioned and fixed to a head holding member to form a head unit, and an opening provided with an array member for fixing a plurality of head units side by side, A step of inserting a positioning pin of a jig for determining the position of the array unit of the head unit relative to the surface of the array member through the insertion of a positioning pin and an alignment positioning reference hole formed in the head holding member of the plurality of head units are cured. Since the step of fitting into the positioning pin of the tool, the step of fixing the plurality of head units to the array member, and the step of removing the jig from the array member are sequentially performed, the jig is provided on the jig through the opening of the array member. The jig can be removed after the fixed reference pin and the positioning reference hole of the head unit are fitted and the head unit is positioned and fixed to the array member. It is not necessary to provide the reference pins into wood, it becomes possible to accurately position and fix the plurality of heads with respect to alignment members with a simple structure.

  In each of the above embodiments, a head array unit in which a plurality of head units each composed of a head and a head holding member are arranged and fixed in an array member has been described. However, the present invention provides a positioning reference hole in the head itself. The present invention can be similarly applied to a head array unit that is provided and directly arranged and fixed on an arrangement member.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a plane explanatory view of the device. It is a plane explanatory view showing an example of a head array unit concerning the present invention. It is a plane explanatory view of a head unit. It is front explanatory drawing of the head unit. It is a plane explanatory view of an arrangement member. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. 6. It is principal part enlarged plan explanatory drawing of the array member. It is plane explanatory drawing of the jig | tool used for manufacture of a head array unit. FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2 of FIG. It is a plane explanatory view when mounting one arrangement unit by mounting an array member on a jig for explaining a manufacturing process of a head array unit using the jig. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line X3-X3 in FIG. 11. It is principal part expanded sectional explanatory drawing of the fitting part of a jig | tool and an arrangement | sequence member. It is principal part expanded sectional explanatory drawing of a head unit mounting part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body 4 ... Conveyance unit (conveyance part)
5. Head array unit (head part)
6 ... Cleaning device (maintenance and recovery mechanism)
51, 51a to 51d: Head unit 61a to 61d ... Cleaning means 100 ... Array member 112, 113 ... Opening 151 ... Head 152 ... Head holding member 155, 156 ... Positioning reference hole for array 200 ... Jig 201 ... Reference pin

Claims (3)

A step of positioning and fixing a head for discharging droplets to a head holding member to form a head unit;
An arrangement provided in a jig for determining the position of the head unit with respect to the arrangement member in an arrangement reference hole provided in the arrangement member for arranging and fixing the plurality of head units in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the head. Fit a reference pin, position the array member with respect to the jig,
Inserting the positioning pin of the jig into the opening provided in the array member and projecting it on the surface of the array member;
Fitting a positioning reference hole for arrangement formed in the head holding member of a plurality of the head units into a positioning pin of the jig;
Fixing a plurality of the head units to the array member;
Sequentially removing the jig from the array member,
The head holding member is provided with two positioning reference holes for arrangement,
One of the alignment positioning reference holes has a notch shape formed at an end portion of the head holding member, and the notch shape has an arrangement direction of the plurality of head units as an arrangement direction of the head units. The head array unit manufacturing method is characterized in that the length in the arrangement direction of the head units is longer than the length in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction. 2. The method of manufacturing a head array unit according to claim 1, wherein an opening provided in the array member is larger than an alignment reference hole for array of the head unit.   An image forming apparatus comprising the head array unit manufactured by the method for manufacturing a head array unit according to claim 1.

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