JPH0354058B2 - - 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, a new configuration is provided that guarantees good recording quality even when a multi-array orifice type inkjet device is adopted, and is equipped 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; Head moving means for moving the ink jet head between a first retreat position where the plurality of ejection ports are retreated from the recording position and a second retreat position where the ejection ports are further retreated from the first retreat position. an ink absorber is disposed at a location facing the plurality of ejection ports; a cap for covering the plurality of ejection ports; and the ink jet head is moved from the recording position to the print position by the head moving means. As the ink jet head moves to the first retracted position, the cap is moved to a position covering the plurality of ejection ports, and the ink jet head is moved from the first retracted position to the second retracted position by the head moving means. When moving to a position,
The cap is held without moving, and when the ink jet head is moved from the second retracted position to the first retracted position by the head moving means, the cap is held without moving. , a cap for moving the cap from a position covering the plurality of ejection ports to a retracted position as the ink jet head is moved from the first retracted position to the recording position by the head moving means; It is characterized by comprising a means of transportation and the following.

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 a flexible printed circuit board for connecting the head to the semiconductor attached board 106;
03 is a supply pipe for supplying ink to the head from the ink tank 108 via the connection joint 109, and 104 is a common pad for connecting multiple lead wires that drive the multi-head. Drive circuit connection line 129 via wire 105, lead terminal 130, and lead terminal mounting plate 123
It is connected to a signal output section (not shown) attached to the main body of the device to which the illustrated inkjet recording device is installed. Other lead wires 102 necessary for driving are connected to the multilayer wiring board 10 through 106.
7 and wired to the matrix on connector 12
7. Connected to a signal output section, also not shown, via a drive circuit connection line 128. Reference numeral 110 denotes a board on which the heads 101 and 101' are mounted, and the heads are fixed with head fixing claws 111. Also, 110
is fixed to the 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, 11
5 is a fixed block for setting the illustrated inkjet recording device in the main body of the device (not shown), and a motor 1
Reference numeral 19 denotes a driving force source for the drive screw 120 and the housing 121, which causes the head mounting plate 110 connected to the housing 121 to reciprocate back and forth. The stop position is determined by setting the position of the detection plate 116, which moves together with the housing 121, to the backward stop sensor 117.
This is detected by the forward stop sensor 118.
122 is a guide rail when the housing 121 moves, and 131 is a stopper. The head mounting plate 110 and fixing block 115 have mounting screws 132
It is joined with.

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. Further, the cap 209 is always pulled toward the head mounting plate 217 by a spring 210, and when not recording, contact pressure adjustment plates 213 fixed to both ends of the head mounting plate 217 are used.
and is in contact with a roller 212 attached to its tip. At this time, the head 214 is
It is in close contact with a porous body 215 provided inside the cap 209 for the purpose of absorbing ink. During recording operation, the motor 201 and its control mechanism 202
The head mounting plate 217 moves in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure and stops at a predetermined position (recording operation position of the head) shown by the two-dot chain line.At this time, the cap 209 moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure. It rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure about the support shaft 211, and is pushed down to the position shown by the two-dot chain line.
The roller 212 serves to smoothly push the cap 209 at this time.

When the head 214 stops recording,
The mounting plate 217 retreats to a predetermined position (shown by the solid line), but at this time, the cap 209 smoothly returns to its original position due to the contraction force of the spring 210 while contacting the roller 212, and all the heads are 214
is captured. Next, the process in which the cap 301 is pushed down by the movement of the mounting plate 302 will be explained with reference to FIG. The important point here is that when the cap 301 moves, the tip of the head (not shown) fixed on the head mounting plate 302 that is moving at the same time comes into contact with the upper end of the cap 301.
This may cause damage to the head. In order to prevent this, it is necessary that the movement of the cap 301 is sufficiently faster than the movement of the head mounting plate 302.
For this purpose, it is advantageous that the support shaft 303 of the cap 301 and the roller 304 fixed to the head mounting plate 302 are closer to each other.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 also details another capping state. Porous body 4 attached to cap 401
03 and the head 402 is relatively effective against clogging of the ejection port due to dry ink, but in this case, the ink is absorbed from the head 402 by the capillary force of the porous body 403. In that case, there is also the drawback that the amount of ink consumed increases.

In this example, the porous body 403
It is possible to bring the head 402 into close contact with the head 402. To explain the actual driving situation, as the head 402 retreats from the recording paper surface (not shown), the cap 4
01 rises up so that it touches the head 402. At this point, the lower portion of cap 401 contacts cap stop 404. Since the stopper 404 is fixed to the fixed block 405, the cap 401 cannot be moved back any further. On the other hand, the head 402 can be moved back to a predetermined position by a drive control mechanism (not shown). In this case head 4
The preferred retracted position of 02 is within a range where a semi-closed space can be maintained between the cap 401, the head 402, and the cap stopper 404.

FIG. 5 shows a mechanism in which the cap 501 moves in the direction of the arrow to wipe the tip of the head (not shown). Here, a detailed explanation of the operation of the cap will be given using FIGS. 2 and 5.

The eccentric cams 205, 502 are connected to the motor 203,
It is rotated by gear 204. Eccentric cam 2
05,502 is the stepped screw 2 on the fixed block 208.
A cap rocking transmission plate 206 having two protrusions 503' fixed at 07, and the protrusions 503'
They are connected in such a way that they are fitted in between.
As a result, the swing transmission plate 206 rotated by the motor 203 performs a reciprocating circular motion around the stepped screw 207 . The swing transmission plate 206 is connected to the caps 209,5
01 through support shafts 211 and 504. The support shafts 211, 504 are fixed using caps 209, 50.
1 is a screw 505, and the swing transmission plates 206, 503
and are fixed by arm bending rings 506, respectively.
As a result, the caps 209, 501 perform linear reciprocating motion in the direction of the arrow in the figure in response to the reciprocating circular motion of the swing transmission plates 206, 503. arm bending ring 506
is used to eliminate distortion when exchanging reciprocating circular motion with linear reciprocating motion.

From FIG. 2 onwards, details of the ink supply system, head drive device, etc. related to the ink jet head are not shown for convenience of explanation.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the inkjet head and the capping member are detachably attached to the respective support substrates so that the parts can be replaced when any of them becomes malfunctioning. .

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 with an extremely simple system, and stable inkjet recording can be guaranteed at all times.

It is possible to completely prevent clogging of the ink ejection port due to drying of ink or adhesion of dust, etc., without requiring any 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 kinking of a large number of ejection ports arranged in 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, in the present invention, the inkjet head can be moved to two retracted positions, a first and a second retracted position.
It is possible to select an appropriate protection state for the inkjet head during non-recording. For example, the first
At the retracted position, preliminary ejection, pressurization to remove foreign matter from the vicinity of the ejection port, or initial injection of ink is performed, and at the second retracted position, a state of protection sufficient to maintain a semi-sealed space is maintained. It can be done. In particular, when the ink jet head moves from the second retracted position to the first retracted position, the ejection orifice cleaning effect can be greatly improved if the ejection orifice comes into contact with the ink absorber arranged in the cap. improves.

[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 FIGS. 3 to 5 are examples of the present invention. FIG. In the figure, 101 and 101' 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, 1
07 is a multilayer wiring board, 108 is an ink tank, 1
09 is a pipe connection joint, 110 is a head mounting plate, 111 is a head fixing claw, 112 is a cap, 113 is a cap contact pressure adjustment plate, 114 is a spring, 115 is a fixing block, 116 is a detection plate, 1
17 is a reverse stop sensor, 118 is a forward stop sensor, 119 and 126 are motors, 12
0 is a drive screw, 121 is a housing, 122 is a guide rail, 123 is a lead terminal mounting plate, 124
is the tank holding plate, 125 is the holding plate fixing part, 127
is a connector, 128 and 129 are drive circuit connection lines, 130 is a lead terminal, 131 is a stopper,
132 is a mounting screw, 201 and 203 are motors,
202 is a drive control mechanism, 204 is a gear, 20
5,502 is an eccentric cam, 206,503 is a swing transmission plate, 207 is a stepped screw, 208,405 is a fixed block, 209,301,401,501 is a cap, 210 is a spring, 211,303,504 is a spindle , 212, 304 is a roller, 213, 40
4 is a cap stopper, 214,402 is a head, 215,401 is a porous body, 217,302
503' is a head mounting plate, 503' is a protrusion, 505 is a set screw, and 506 is an arm bending ring.

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 between a first retracted position where the outlet is retracted and a second retracted position where the ejection port is further retracted from the first retracted position; and the plurality of ejection ports. An ink absorber is disposed opposite to the ink jet head, and the ink jet head is moved from the recording position to the first retreating position by a cap for covering the plurality of ejection ports and the head moving means. Accordingly, when the cap is moved to a position covering the plurality of ejection ports, and the ink jet head is moved from the first retracted position to the second retracted position by the head moving means,
The cap is held without moving, and when the ink jet head is moved from the second retracted position to the first retracted position by the head moving means, the cap is held without moving. , a cap for moving the cap from a position covering the plurality of ejection ports to a retracted position as the ink jet head is moved from the first retracted position to the recording position by the head moving means; An inkjet recording device comprising: a moving means; 2. The head moving means includes: a guide member used as a guide when moving the inkjet head; the recording position, the first retracted position, and the second retracted position;
2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: defining means for defining a stop position of said inkjet head, including a retracted position of said inkjet head. 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.