JPH0354055B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inkjet head having a line-type head unit having a plurality of ink ejection ports, and an inkjet device equipped with the inkjet head.

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 that can be used is an extremely useful method for realizing printing devices such as various printers and word processors and copying machines.

This inkjet recording method uses various operating principles to fly small droplets of recording liquid (referred to as ink in the following explanation).
Recording is performed by attaching it to a recording material such as paper. An ink droplet generating device used in such an inkjet recording system, that is, an inkjet device, mainly consists of an inkjet head section for forming ink droplets and an ink supply system for supplying the ink to the inkjet head section.

By the way, some of the ink jet heads have a line type head unit having a plurality of ink ejection ports. Conventionally, in order to supply ink to an inkjet head, it was necessary to provide an ink tube that exits from the ink supply section, travels around the bottom of the device, and then reaches the inkjet head in a largely bent state. Are known. Therefore, with this conventional configuration, the ink supply system cannot be made compact, and there is a risk of inadvertently damaging the ink tube. Moreover, even if ink were to leak from the ink tube, which normally never occurs, there was a problem in that it would be difficult to detect the ink leak because the ink tube crawled around the bottom of the device.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, makes it possible to make the device compact, reduces the risk of inadvertently damaging the ink supply section, and even if the ink supply section should be damaged, it can be easily damaged. The present invention provides an inkjet head that can be discovered and an inkjet device equipped with the inkjet head.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples using drawings.

The embodiments described below will be explained using an example of an inkjet system using a full-line multi-array type head used for printing one line of paper substantially simultaneously.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus constructed with a recording head to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 101 is a recording head unit, and this recording head unit 101 has a plurality of orifices 1 arranged in a line.
02, a drive control section 104, and a wiring section 105. The head units 101 are connected to each other and are set so that by inputting a recording signal to the wiring section 105, the head units 101 can perform printing operations individually. Reference numeral 106 denotes a support plate for the head unit 101, and a plurality of the head units 101 are arranged side by side on both the front and back sides as shown in the figure, and the orifice 102 is so-called a full width support plate for a predetermined width of printing paper (that is, one line). It is arranged in a line arrangement. Then, each head unit 1
01 is a head positioning plate 107 attached to a support plate 106 whose fixing position in the left and right direction is adjusted.
The fixing position of the head in the vertical direction is adjusted by a head holding plate 108, and the head is detachably attached to the support plate 106.

109 is a matrix flexible printed board for transmitting an output signal from a signal output section (not shown) to the wiring section 105 of each head unit 101 via a cable 110 and a connector 111; The head unit 101 is pressed into contact with the individual wiring portions 105 and is electrically connected to each wiring portion 105 . In this way, the printed board 109 and each wiring section 105 are not bonded to each other and can be freely attached and detached.

Reference numeral 113 denotes a lead terminal mounting plate, which connects another signal line 114 from a signal output section (not shown) for driving the head unit 101 and each head unit 10.
A signal line (not shown) that is directly connected to the head portion 103 of the head 1 is removably connected by screwing or the like.

115 and 115' are both ink tanks 116
This is an ink supply pipe for supplying ink from the ink to each head section 103. Ink supply pipes 115, 11
Two supply pipes 115 and 11 are connected to each head 103 during ink discharge.
Ink is supplied to the head portion 103 through the ink tank 116 through the ink tank 116, and by a valve mechanism (not shown) provided in the ink tank 116, one side is used for pressurized feeding and the other is used for ink recovery.
The ink can also be circulated under pressure between the head portion 103 and the head portion 103.

The ink tank 116 is equipped with a cylinder block 117 containing a pressure pump for operating the valve mechanism, and an air filter block 118 having a ventilation hole. A removable cap 119 is attached to prevent the water from scattering.

Further, the ink tank 116 is provided with an ink replenishment port (not shown), through which the ink tank 1
Ink is replenished from the replenishment tank 120 so that the ink level within the replenishment tank 120 is maintained approximately constant. This replenishment tank 120 is the ink tank 1
The ink tank 116 is removably locked to the ink tank 116 by fixing claws 121, 121' provided on the 16 side, making it possible to replace the old and new tanks as necessary.

The ink tank 116 is fixed on an ink tank base (not shown), and the ink tank 116 is fixed on an ink tank base (not shown).
2' is also fixed to the support plate 106.

Reference numeral 123 designates a cover for the head unit 101, which is provided with grooves for fixing the ink supply pipes 115, 115'. belongs to.

Reference numerals 124 and 124' indicate positioning pins, which are fitted into pin holders attached to a paper conveyance system (not shown) to align the orifice 1 of each head section 103.
A predetermined distance and positional relationship between 02 and the recording paper are set. Also, the positioning pin 124
and 124' are the respective brackets 125 and 12
5' is fixed to the support plate 106.

Reference numeral 126 denotes a board for mounting the illustrated inkjet recording apparatus on the main body of the device (not shown) with the support plate 106 placed thereon. A mechanism, a capping mechanism for the orifice 102, etc. are attached.

Further, the support plate 106 has its front part supported by support plate guides 127, 127', and its rear part supported by hinge stands 128, 12 attached to the support plate 106.
8' and supported by hinge holders 129, 129'. This hinge holder 12
9 and 129' are guide shaft collars 130 and 129', respectively.
Two guide shafts 131, 13 via 130'
1'. The guide shaft 131 is attached to the guide shaft bracket 13 on the board 126.
2 (the guide shaft 131' side is not shown).

Here, by moving the guide shaft collars 130, 130' forward or backward along the respective guide shafts 131, 131', the support plate 106 also slides on the guides 127, 127', as shown by the arrows in the figure. The front end surface of the head can be set at a predetermined position such as a recording position, a capping position, a maintenance position, etc.

133 is a head for capping and cleaning the orifice 102, and the side facing the orifice has an ejection hole for ejecting air and cleaning liquid toward the orifice, and a suction hole for suctioning the head (both are (not shown). The ejection hole and the suction hole are connected to pressure side tubes 134, 134' and suction side tubes 135, 135', respectively, at locations not shown, and are connected to joints 136 and 13, respectively.
7, the pressure-side joint 136 is connected to the joints through a relubricator (not shown), and the suction-side joint 137 is connected to the joints through a filter (not shown), respectively.
It is connected to the pressure side and suction side of a pump (not shown). Note that the cleaner head 133, which also serves as a cap, also moves in response to the movement of the support plate 106.
It is set so that it can take a recording posture, a capping posture, and a maintenance posture.

The support plate 106 also has hinge bases 128 and 12.
Hinge pins 138 and 13 attached to 8'
Orifice 10 of support plate 106 with 8' as the pivot
The two sides can rotate in an arc,
This support plate 106 is constructed by crimping a stay 141, one end of which is pivotally attached to a stay angle 140 fixed to the substrate 126, to a stay angle 139 joined to the support plate 106 with a screw 142, so that the surface of the substrate 126 is fixed. It can be fixed at a desired angle.

Furthermore, attach the fixing screw 142 to the stay angle 139.
By removing the support plate 106 from the substrate 12
It can also be easily removed from 6.

Incidentally, 143 is tube 134, 134', 1
35, 135' on the board 126, and 144 is a tube guide for fixing the cable 11
0, a protective case for the signal line 114. This prevents the cable 110 and the signal line 114 from being damaged or cut due to unexpected application of external pressure when the illustrated inkjet recording device is installed in a device body (not illustrated).

Next, the recording head unit 101 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 202 denotes a head unit board, and an inkjet head part 201 is fixedly installed on one of its short sides, and a wiring part support stand 203 is mounted on the rear end side of the head part 201.
It is placed on two sides. This support stand 203 is locked by screws 211 fixed to the substrate 202, but the support stand 203 and the substrate 202 are not bonded, and the support stand 103 is slid on the substrate 202. Alternatively, by removing the screw 211, the two can be separated. Furthermore, a wiring board 205 and a multilayer wiring board 208 are placed in series on the upper surface of this support stand 203, and are connected by bonding 206. Incidentally, 2
Reference numeral 07 denotes a cover of the bonding section 206, which can be removed from the wiring board 205 and the multilayer wiring board 208 as necessary. Further, the back surfaces of the wiring board 205 and the multilayer wiring board 208 are provided with a support stand 20.
3 and can be easily glued together and separated if necessary.

204 is a drive control unit, which is connected to the wiring board 20
5, and an electrical connection is made.

210 is a flexible printed board including lead wires related to the inkjet head section 201;
One end of the wiring board 20 is held by a holding jig 209.
5 to establish an electrical connection between the two. Then, by loosening the setscrews 209b of the upper plate 209a of the holding jig 209, the flexible printed board 210 and the wiring board 205 can be separated.

As mentioned above, the recording head unit 101
Main parts consisting of the head part 201, flexible printed board 210, wiring board 205, drive control part 204, and multilayer wiring board 208, which have been separated in advance, are assembled on a common board 202, and if necessary, , each part is easy to replace.

In the main text of the present invention, detailed explanations of the ink supply system related to the inkjet head section, the drive system of the head, etc. are omitted for convenience.

In this way, in the recording head of the above-described embodiment, the inkjet head, which is the main component of the head, and its drive control section and wiring section are each constructed independently and are easily replaceable. Therefore, in addition to the effects described later in the embodiment described above, the performance of each component is carefully examined at the time of assembling the recording head unit, and it is possible to assemble only those with good performance. In addition, as mentioned above, even if it becomes necessary to replace due to damage etc., only the relevant parts need to be replaced, making maintenance work extremely efficient.
Moreover, it is economical.

As described in detail above, the present invention provides a cover that covers the drive unit and the wiring unit, and then provides the ink supply section along the top surface of the cover to reach the head unit. Therefore, according to the present invention, since the ink supply section crawls along the upper surface of the head, the ink supply section does not bend significantly and can be made compact.
Further, the operator can easily visually recognize the ink supply section. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operator from inadvertently touching the ink supply section or bringing the ink supply section into contact with the main body of the apparatus during operation. Moreover, since the present invention is provided with the cover, even if ink leaks, which normally never occurs, the circuit will not be damaged by the leaked ink, and the ink leak can be detected immediately. It has the following effects:

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus constructed with the recording head of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating the detailed configuration of the recording head of the present invention. In the figure, 101 is a recording head unit;
02 is an ink ejection orifice, 103 and 201 are ink jet head parts, 104 and 204 are drive control parts, 105 is a wiring part, 106 is a support plate, and 10
7 is a head positioning plate, 108 is a head holding plate,
109 and 210 are printed boards, 110 is a cable, 111 is a connector, 112 is a pressing jig, 1
13 is a lead terminal mounting plate, 114 is a signal line, 11
5, 115' is an ink supply pipe, 202 is a substrate, 2
03 is a support stand, 205 is a wiring board, 206 is a bonding part, 208 is a multilayer wiring board, and 209 is a holding jig.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an inkjet head that records on a recording medium, a drive control unit that controls a line-type head unit having a plurality of ink ejection ports, and wiring for inputting recording signals to the drive control unit. a cover that covers the drive control unit and the wiring unit; and an ink supply section that extends along the top surface of the cover and extends to the head unit in order to supply ink to the head unit. Inkjet head. 2. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the line type head unit, drive control unit, and wiring unit are each constructed independently and are easily replaceable. 3. In an inkjet device for recording on a recording medium, the drive control unit controls a line type head unit having a plurality of ink ejection ports, a wiring unit for inputting a recording signal to the drive control unit, and the drive control unit. and an inkjet head, the inkjet head having a cover that covers the wiring unit, an ink supply section extending along the upper surface of the cover to the head unit for supplying ink to the head unit, and a rear side of the inkjet head. established in
An inkjet device comprising: an ink tank connected to the ink supply section; and a capping member for capping the ink ejection opening of the inkjet head. 4 The ink supply section is a supply pipe, and two pipes are connected to the head unit, and when discharging ink, ink can be supplied through the two supply pipes, or one can be used for pressurized supply and the other can be used to supply ink. 4. The ink jet device according to claim 3, wherein ink can also be circulated between the head unit and the ink tank for recovery. 5. The inkjet device according to claim 3, wherein the inkjet head is removable from the main body of the device.