JP2004148770A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress increase of a load of a carriage driving motor when a plurality of recording heads are cleaned by wiping by means of a wiper utilizing movement of a carriage, thereby reducing the necessary driving force of the carriage driving motor. <P>SOLUTION: The plurality of wipers 84a, 84b for cleaning and wiping ink ejection sections by rubbing the ink ejection sections of the recording heads 300 by utilizing the movement of the carriage 64 are provided to this recorder. The timings for starting the wiping of the ink ejection sections by wipers are made different by each wiper. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink onto a recording material from a plurality of ink discharge units mounted on a carriage.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a serial-tamped ink jet recording apparatus discharges liquid ink onto a recording material from a recording head as an ink discharging unit mounted on a carriage supported reciprocally in a recording area on the recording material. And an image is formed. In such an ink jet recording apparatus, it is ideal that ink droplets fly straight in the discharge direction of the ink discharge section during recording. However, if ink is continuously discharged, the ink discharge section (recording) Ink mist (spattering of ink) and dust such as paper dust generated near the discharge port of the head) adhere to the discharge port surface (the surface on which the discharge port is formed), so that the discharge port surface becomes wet. Due to this, there is a technical problem to be solved in that the ink droplets do not fly straight, which adversely affects the image formed on the recording material. Further, if the ink is dried while remaining on the ejection port surface of the recording head (ink ejection section), the same inconvenience may occur because the dried ink adheres to the vicinity of the ejection port.
[0003]
The ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a recovery mechanism as a recovery means for eliminating such ink ejection failure and maintaining and recovering a good recording operation, and a recovery method applied to each ink jet recording apparatus is implemented. Have been.
The recovery mechanism includes a capping unit that covers the ink ejection unit with a cap made of an elastic member, and a suction device that covers the ink ejection unit (capping state) to apply a negative pressure to the inside of the cap to suck ink from the ejection port. Means, and wiping means for wiping and removing ink, dust, and the like attached to the ink ejection section are provided.
The wiping means is generally configured to wipe off the ejection opening surface of the recording head with a blade made of a rubber-like elastic body. As the wiping means, the blade is disposed on the printing apparatus main body side, and the blade is moved to a discharge port surface by using a movement of a carriage on which a print head is mounted. What is comprised so that it may be rubbed with is used.
[0004]
On the other hand, in recent years, the image quality of color recording by an ink jet recording apparatus has been improved, and in addition to the conventional recording of four colors of black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y, for example, light ink (light cyan c, light cyan c) In order to perform printing of six colors to which magenta m) is added, there is provided an ink jet printing apparatus in which a print head as a plurality of ink discharge units is mounted on a carriage.
That is, two recording heads that eject dark ink and light color ink are provided, recording dots are formed with light ink from a light portion to a middle portion of an image, and dark dots are formed from a middle gradation to a dark portion. There has been provided a method of realizing high image quality by forming recording dots with ink so as to make the granularity due to the dots inconspicuous.
[0005]
Also, as another method of improving image quality, a method of realizing high color developability by using a pigment-based ink mixed with a mineral-based substance, in addition to a method of forming a color by mixing a conventional chemical dye with the ink. Is also provided.
Further, as a method of obtaining higher image quality output, there is a method of using a reactive ink such as adopting an anionic ink as one ink and employing a cationized ink as the other ink. In practice, for example, a method is adopted in which cyan ink is used as an anionic ink and black, magenta, and yellow are used as cationized inks. According to the method using such reactive ink, the anionized ink and the cationized ink ejected on the recording material are mixed at the boundary of each ink image forming area on the recording material or in the image forming pattern. In addition, effects such as suppression of bleeding and improvement in water resistance can be obtained.
[0006]
In an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of ink ejection units (recording heads) mounted on a carriage in order to realize high image quality as described above, an ink ejection unit mounted on the carriage serves as wiping means of a recovery mechanism. In some cases, the same number of wipers are provided.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a conventional inkjet printing apparatus in which a plurality of printheads (ink ejection units) are mounted on a carriage and the same number of wipers as the number of printheads are used to wipe and clean the ejection port surfaces of these printheads. When a plurality of recording heads are simultaneously wiped with a plurality of wipers, the load on the carriage drive motor due to the rubbing resistance acting on the wipers increases, so that a large torque that generates high torque is used. A special motor is required.
[0008]
As a method for avoiding an increase in the load on the carriage drive motor as described above, one wiper blade is provided for a plurality of recording heads, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-8004. Has been proposed to reduce the load on the carriage drive motor by performing a wiping operation. However, in such a method, when a recording head using a reactive ink such as an anionized ink or a cationized ink is mounted for high image quality, one wiper is attached to the ejection opening surfaces of both recording heads. Since the ink is rubbed, a reaction by the reactive ink occurs on the surface of the discharge port or at the tip of the wiper, and the thickened ink having increased viscosity adheres to the vicinity of the discharge port, or the thickened ink is discharged from the discharge port. May cause ink sticking or ink ejection failure.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such a technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanism even when a plurality of ink ejection units are wiped and cleaned by a plurality of wipers using movement of a carriage. The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus and a method for recovering the recording apparatus, in which the load on the carriage driving motor can be suppressed, and the required driving force of the carriage driving motor can be reduced to reduce the size and cost of the motor. To provide.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a plurality of ink discharge units mounted on a carriage to a recording material, wherein the ink discharge unit utilizes movement of the carriage. A plurality of wipers for wiping and cleaning the ink discharge portion by rubbing the ink discharge portion, and different timings for starting wiping of the ink discharge portion by the respective wipers.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear. . In this embodiment, the inkjet recording apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is constituted by a multi-head serial printer (a serial recording type recording apparatus having a plurality of recording heads).
In the ink jet recording apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 31 is a housing for accommodating the main body of the recording apparatus, 32 is an access door, 34 is an automatic feeder (automatic paper feeder), and 36 is an automatic feeder 34. An automatic feed adjuster, 37 is a manual feeder (manual paper feeder), and 39 is a manual feed adjuster.
[0012]
Further, reference numeral 40 denotes a recording material discharge port, 41 denotes a discharge tray, and 42 denotes a tray receptacle (tray receiving portion). The access door 32 is provided with an indicator light 43, a power button 44, and a resume button 46. 2 and 3, 47 indicates a power supply, 49 indicates a power cord, 50 indicates an interface, and 55 indicates a tray of the automatic feeder 34.
The housing 31 houses an internal mechanism of a recording apparatus including a printer engine (recording operation unit) for recording an image on a recording material, and the access door 32 can be opened and closed on the housing 31. Installed. The access door 32 is used by a user to access an internal mechanism of the recording apparatus 30. In particular, the access door 32 can be manually opened and closed so as to access an ink cartridge and the like mounted inside the apparatus main body. .
[0013]
FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 as viewed from the front. In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a sensor (not shown) for detecting when the access door 32 is opened and closed is provided, and the access door 32 is opened. When it is detected that the print heads (ink cartridges in the illustrated example) 300a and 300b are mounted, the carriages 64a and 64b on which the print heads 300a and 300b are mounted are moved to positions corresponding to the opened access door 32. In the illustrated example, two carriages 64a and 64b are used corresponding to each of the recording heads 300a and 300b. This is because a plurality of recording heads 300a and 300b are mounted on one carriage 64. The present invention can be similarly applied to any case, and has the same effect.
[0014]
1 to 3, an automatic feeder (automatic paper feeder) 34 mounted on a housing 31 of the recording apparatus 30 constitutes a supply unit of a recording material such as recording paper in the recording apparatus 30. That is, the automatic feeder 34 stores a recording material on which an image is recorded by the recording unit of the recording device 30.
In FIG. 3, an ink jet recording apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment records an image using two recording heads (recording means) 300a and 300b. The two cartridges constituting the recording heads 300a and 300b are mounted (held) on the respective carriages 64a and 64b in a state where they are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction. These carriages 64 are movably guided and supported along a guide shaft 69 installed in the apparatus main body, and reciprocate via a timing belt 67 by a carriage drive motor (also simply referred to as a carriage motor) 66. Driven. By driving each of the recording heads 300a and 300b based on the image information in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 64 (64a and 64b), an image can be recorded on the recording material in both left and right directions. Can be. Usually, the carriage drive motor 66 is constituted by a pulse motor, but may be constituted by a DC servomotor.
[0015]
The illustrated ink jet recording apparatus 30 has a suction unit including a wiping unit having a plurality of wipers 84a and 84b, a plurality of caps 88a and 88b, and a negative pressure generating unit (not shown) such as a suction pump connected to these caps. And a recovery mechanism 86 provided with The caps 88a and 88b have a function of protecting the ink discharge section and suppressing ink evaporation from the discharge port by being brought into close contact with the discharge port surfaces of the recording heads 300a and 300b during non-printing. . These caps 88a, 88b are disposed at the home position (HP) 87 of the recording heads 300a, 300b (carriages 64a, 64b).
At the time of non-printing such as when the power of the printing apparatus 30 is turned off or when the printer is in a standby state with the power on, the cap 88 is in close contact with the ejection opening surface of the print head 300 mounted on the carriage 64, A capping state covering the discharge port surface is set. In such a capping state, for example, the negative pressure generating means (suction pump) of the recovery mechanism 86 is driven by a recovery motor using the line feed motor 61 in combination, so that the cap 88 is connected via a connection tube or the like. By introducing a negative pressure into the inside and sucking ink from the ejection openings of the recording head 300, it is possible to maintain and recover the ink ejection performance of the recording head 300.
[0016]
The wiper 84 is for wiping and removing foreign matter such as ink and dust attached to the ejection opening surface of the recording head 300. When predetermined conditions are established, the wipers 84a and 84b are operated to contact and rub against the ejection opening surfaces of the recording heads 300a and 300b using the movement of the carriages 64a and 64b. . For example, when the number of dots recorded (printed) by the recording heads 300a and 300b reaches a predetermined number, the carriages 64a and 64b are moved to a recovery area outside the recording area, and the wipers 84a and 84b are moved to the recording heads. By moving the carriage from the recovery area to the recording area while approaching (upward) to a position overlapping with the ejection port face, the operation is performed to perform wiping and cleaning of the ejection port face.
[0017]
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a monochromatic recording head of black or the like attached to one embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus 30 to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the front. FIG. 5 is an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a multi-color recording head for cyan, magenta, yellow, etc. attached to one embodiment of the present invention viewed from the front, and FIG. 6 is a view of the recording head shown in FIGS. It is a typical perspective view shown.
4 and 5, the recording heads 300a and 300b have ejection opening surfaces (wiping surfaces) 301a and 301b on which ejection opening arrays each including a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink are formed. The recording head 300a in FIG. 4 is a recording head that discharges a single color (for example, black only) ink, and the recording head 300b in FIG. 5 is a recording head that can discharge a plurality of colors (for example, cyan, magenta, and yellow) inks. It is.
[0018]
In the present specification, when there are a plurality of members having the same name such as the wipers 84a and 84b and the recording heads 300a and 300b, in addition to distinguishing the individual members, the entirety of the members having the same name Alternatively, when any one is indicated, the individual members such as the wiper 84 and the recording head 300 are simply shown without distinction. The same applies to other components made up of a plurality of members.
The recording head 300 as a recording unit or an ink discharge unit is an ink jet recording unit that discharges ink using thermal energy, and includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Further, the recording head 300 causes film boiling in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer, and discharges the ink from the discharge port by utilizing the pressure change due to the growth and shrinkage of the bubble generated at that time. Recording (printing).
[0019]
FIG. 29 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection unit of the recording head 300. In FIG. 29, a discharge port surface 301 facing a recording material (recording medium) such as recording paper with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.2 to about 2.0 mm) is provided at a predetermined pitch. An electrothermal converter for forming an ejection port array including a plurality of ejection ports 182 and generating energy for ink ejection along a wall surface of each liquid passage 184 communicating the common liquid chamber 183 and each ejection port 182. (E.g., a heating resistor) 185 is provided. The recording head 300 is mounted on the carriage 64 such that the plurality of ejection ports 182 are arranged in a direction crossing the main scanning direction (the moving direction of the recording head 300). In this manner, the corresponding electrothermal transducer 185 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 184 to boil, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port 182 by the pressure generated at that time. A recording head 300 as a recording unit or an ink ejection unit is configured.
[0020]
In FIG. 6, on the back surface of each recording head 300, there is provided a contact portion 302 for transmitting an ejection signal via the carriage 64 (64a, 64b) and an electrical contact. Although the recording head 300 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is a cartridge type in which an ink tank is integrally built, the present invention is directed to a recording means (recording head) in which an independent ink tank is mounted and only the ink tank is replaced. ) Can be similarly applied to the case where a recording head of another form is used, and the same operation and effect can be obtained.
[0021]
7 to 12 are schematic front views showing the configuration and operation of a main part of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 7 shows that a carriage equipped with recording means moves from a recording area to a recovery area. 8 shows a state in which the carriage that has moved from the recording area to the recovery area is engaged with the recovery slider and holds the recovery slider at the capping position. FIG. When the carriage is moved from the capping position 8 to the recording area, the recovery slider is raised to the wiping-possible position, but the wiper has not yet slidably contacted the ejection port surface. FIG. 10 shows the state shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows a state in which only one of the two wipers starts rubbing the ejection opening surface of the recording head by further moving the recovery slider toward the recording area from FIG. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the recovery slider further moves toward the recording area from the state of FIG. 10 and both wipers rub against the ejection opening surface of the recording head. Is moved further toward the recording area, so that one wiper is still in contact with the ejection port surface, but the other wiper has already passed through the ejection port surface.
[0022]
7 to 12, the ink jet recording apparatus 30 includes a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) ink discharge units (recording heads) mounted on a carriage 64 supported and guided reciprocally along a guide shaft 69. The recording is performed by ejecting ink from 300a and 300b to the recording material, and a plurality of ink ejection sections 300a and 300b are provided on a recovery slider 81 mounted on the apparatus main body side. A plurality (two in the illustrated example) of wipers 84a and 84b are attached. The recovery mechanism unit 86 having the plurality of wipers 84a and 84b is configured to use the movement of the carriage 64 to wipe and clean the ink discharge unit (discharge port surface) of each recording head 300 by the wiper.
[0023]
The carriage 64 is provided with a trigger portion 65 (FIGS. 19 and 20) described later. The trigger portion 65 wipes and cleans (wipes) the ejection opening surface 301 of the recording head 300 with the wiper 84 as described later. Later, the wiper 84 is moved to a standby position (a position separated from the recording head 300).
The plurality of wipers 84a and 84b are arranged on the recovery slider 81 at a predetermined distance B by wiper stoppers 83a and 83b, and the recovery slider 81 is disposed in the recovery mechanism 86. In this embodiment, a plurality of (two) wipers 84a and 84b are configured to rub against the ejection opening surfaces of a plurality (two and both) of the recording heads 300a and 300b, respectively.
[0024]
The recovery slider 81 is provided with two pairs of sliding posts (engaging protrusions) 81a and 81b. The recovery slider 81 is moved toward the apparatus main body via the two pairs of sliding posts 81a and 81b. While being guided by the provided cam surfaces 86a and 86b, the guide is held so as to be slidable in the vertical and horizontal directions as shown. The recovery slider 81 is always urged by a slider spring 82 in one direction (to the left in the drawing).
The recovery slider 81 is provided with a recovery slider projection (engaging portion) 81c for moving the recovery slider 81 rightward in the figure by contacting the carriage 64 moving from the recording area to the recovery area. Is provided.
[0025]
7 to 12, on the recovery slider 81, caps 88a and 88b for covering the ejection opening surfaces of the recording heads 300a and 300b on the carriage 64 are provided. These caps 88a and 88b are made of a rubber-like elastic member such as rubber, and are brought into close contact with the ink ejection section (ejection port face 301) of the recording head 300 during non-recording to seal the ejection ports, so that the ejection ports can be closed. It has a function to prevent evaporation of the ink. Each cap 88a, 88b is held on a cap holder 89a, 89b. Further, these cap holders 89a and 89b are equalized (or so that the caps 88a and 88b adhere to the corresponding ejection head surfaces 301a and 301b of the corresponding recording heads 300a and 300b with uniform pressing force over the entire surface following the posture of the ejection openings 301a and 301b. It is supported on the recovery slider 81 by an equalizable mechanism, and is always urged by a cap spring 85 so as to generate a predetermined cap pressing force.
[0026]
FIGS. 10 to 12 show an operation of wiping (wiping and cleaning) the ejection opening surfaces of the recording heads 300a and 300b by the plurality of wipers 84a and 84b. The recovery slider 81 is provided with a wiper lock mechanism (to be described later) (FIG. 13). 20), the carriage 64 on which the recording heads 300a and 300b are mounted is moved from the recovery area to the recording area by the carriage driving motor 66 at a predetermined speed by the timing belt 67 (FIG. 3). See).
That is, in the present embodiment, the recovery slider 81 is moved to a predetermined wiper wiping position (wiping) as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 while the wiper 84 rubs against the ejection opening surface of the recording head 300 (while wiping). Position) is fixed (locked) by a wiper lock mechanism (see FIGS. 13 to 20).
[0027]
At the time of wiping, each wiper 84 elastically deforms so that its tip is bent when it comes into contact with each recording head 300, and rubs the ejection opening surface 301 of the recording head 300 in the same posture until the recording head 300 passes. Then, the dust, the ink thickened material, and the like deposited (adhered) on the discharge port surface 301 are wiped and removed. After the recording head 300 has passed the wiper 84, the trigger portion 65 provided on the carriage 64 comes into contact with the wiper lock 90 at a certain timing as shown in FIG. 19 or 20, so that each of the wipers 84 (84a, 84b). The recovery slider 81 to which is fixed is moved along the cam surfaces 86 (86a, 86b) in a direction in which the wiper is retracted (separated) from the recording head (ink ejection section).
[0028]
The configuration in which a plurality of (two) wipers 84 are provided for a plurality (two) of print heads 300 as in the present embodiment is such that reactive ink such as anion / cation ink as described above is supplied from each print head. When the recording head is wiped with the same wiper in the case of a recording apparatus configured to discharge, the viscosity of the ink and the accumulation of dust are accelerated inside or near the discharge port of the recording head, and the recording operation and the recording quality are reduced. This is to solve the problem that a problem occurs.
7 to 12, a plurality (two) of recording heads 300a and 300b are arranged on the carriage 64 at a predetermined distance A in the carriage moving direction. This distance A is determined by the printing apparatus to a desired value, and is a value determined by the resolution of the ejection openings of the plurality of print heads, the capacity and shape of the ink tank, and the like. In the recovery mechanism 86 corresponding to the recording heads 300a and 300b arranged at such an interval A, the caps 88a and 88b seal the discharge port surfaces of the recording head from the atmosphere (a gap between the recording head and the atmosphere). Are arranged at substantially the same interval as the above-mentioned interval A.
[0029]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the interval A in the carriage movement direction of the plural (two) recording heads 300a and 300b mounted on the carriage 64 is set to the plural (two) wipers mounted on the recovery slider 81. A value different from the distance B between the carriage movement directions 84a and 84b is selected. In the illustrated example, the recording head interval A is configured to be smaller than the wiper interval B. In practicing the present invention, on the contrary, the configuration may be such that the interval A between the recording heads is larger than the interval B between the wipers.
In the above configuration, when the carriage 64 is not in the recovery area, such as during a recording operation, a wiper lock mechanism (FIGS. 13 to 20) described below is in an unlocked state (released state), and the recovery slider 81 is The slider post 82 is biased toward the recording area (left side in the figure), and its sliding posts 81a and 81b are engaged with the lower left portions of the cam surfaces 86a and 86b on the apparatus main body side in the figure. Therefore, the wipers 84a and 84b on the recovery slider 81 are at positions retracted from the recording heads 300a and 300b, and are held at positions where they do not come into contact even when the recording head passes. In this state, of course, the caps 88a and 88b are sufficiently separated from the recording head.
[0030]
When the carriage 64 is moved from the recording area to the recovery area as shown in FIG. 7 at the time of non-recording such as at the end of the recording operation or at the time of standby, the carriage 64 is moved to the engagement portion (recovery slider projection) 81c of the recovery slider 81. In contact with the carriage 64, the recovery slider 81 is moved rightward in the figure against the slider spring 82, and moves to a capping position (usually a home position or a recovery position) as shown in FIG. In this capping position, the sliding posts 81a and 81b engage with the high positions on the right side of the cam surfaces 86a and 86b on the apparatus main body side in the drawing, so that the recovery slider 81 is raised and the cap on the recovery slider 81 is raised. The caps 88a and 88b are brought into close contact with the ink discharge portions (discharge port surfaces 301a and 301b) of the recording heads 300a and 300b, and the capping state is completed. At this time, since the carriage 64 and the recovery slider 81 move together, the relative position between the wiper 84 and the recording head 300 is kept constant, so that the ejection opening surface of the recording head 300 is wiped (slided) by the wiper 84. ) Will not be.
[0031]
As described above, by moving the recovery slider 81 together with the carriage 64 while the carriage 64 moves rightward in the drawing from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the capping position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, a state is realized in which the recovery slider 81 can be fixed at the wiping preparation position where the wiping operation can be performed.
Therefore, when the recording heads 300a and 300b are wiped and cleaned by the wiping means including the wipers 84a and 84b, the carriage 64 is recovered via the timing belt 67 by operating the carriage drive motor from the capping state in FIG. It is moved at a predetermined speed from the area to the recording area (to the left in the drawing).
At this time, the recovery slider 81 slightly moves leftward in accordance with the leftward movement of the carriage 64 in the drawing, and is then held at the wiping position (fixed position) in FIG. 9 by a wiper lock mechanism described later.
[0032]
As described above, while the carriage 64 is moved from the recovery area to the recording area, and the recovery slider 81 is held at the wiping position (FIGS. 9 to 12) by the wiper lock mechanism, a plurality of wipers 84a and 84b are used. The wiping operation of the plurality of recording heads 300a and 300b (the operation of wiping and cleaning the ejection opening surfaces) is executed.
In the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, ink jet recording is performed by discharging ink from a plurality (two) of ink discharge units (recording heads) 300a and 300b mounted on the carriage 64 onto a recording material. In the apparatus 30, a plurality of (two) wipers 84a, 84b for wiping and cleaning the ink discharge portions (the discharge port surfaces 301a, 301b) by using the movement of the carriage 64 to rub the ink discharge portions. And the timing at which the wipers 84a, 84b start wiping the ink discharge units 300a, 300b is made different, thereby reducing the load on the carriage drive motor 86.
[0033]
In this embodiment, as a means for changing the timing of starting the wiping of the ink ejection units 300a and 300b, the arrangement interval B of the plurality of wipers 84a and 84b arranged on the recovery slider 81 is arranged on the carriage 64. The arrangement interval A of the plurality of ink ejection units 300a and 300b is different from the arrangement interval A. In the illustrated configuration, the recording head is arranged so that the interval A between the recording heads is smaller than the interval B between the wipers.
When the carriage 64 moves from the position shown in FIG. 9 toward the recording area (to the left in the drawing) to perform the wiping operation (wiping and cleaning), the distance B between the wipers 84a and 84b disposed on the recovery slider 81 becomes larger. Since the distance is larger than the distance A between the recording heads 300a and 300b, first, the right recording head 300b close to the carriage operation start point contacts the right wiper 84b (FIG. 9), and the wiping of the recording head 300b starts. It is started (FIG. 10).
[0034]
Generally, at the time of the wiping operation, the overlap amount is set so as to secure a predetermined penetration amount of the wiper 84 with respect to the ejection port surface, so that the wiper 84 comes into contact with the recording head 300 and bends. Therefore, the load (the driving force required to move the carriage 64) in the area called the entry point, which is the first entry area of the wiper 84, increases.
Next, after the wiper 84b passes through the entry point as shown in FIG. 10 and assumes a steady bending posture during the wiping operation, the other wiper 84a contacts the other recording head 300a as shown in FIG. Contact and start bending.
Next, the carriage 64 is continuously moved, and the wiping operation (wiping operation) of the recording heads 300a and 300b by the wipers 84a and 84b is performed. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the wiper 84b that has started the wiping operation (wiping operation) is released from the recording head 300b first, and then the wiper 84a that has started the wiping operation with a delay has a predetermined time difference. And is released from the recording head 300a.
[0035]
In practicing the present invention, the timing of the end of the wiping operation of the plurality of wipers 84a and 84b (release from the recording head 300) does not necessarily require that the one that started the wiping operation be released first. It may be released after a delay, and can be selected as needed.
After the recording head 300a wiped with a delay passes the wiper 84a, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the trigger unit 65 provided on the carriage 64 is moved at a predetermined timing with the unlocking unit 90d of the wiper lock mechanism. The recovery slider 81 is locked by the wiper lock mechanism (fixed at the wiping position) by rotating the lock member (lock lever) 90 to separate the claw 90c from the cam surface 86c on the apparatus main body side. 7), the sliding posts 81a and 81b are moved to the original state by the spring force of the slider spring 82, that is, as shown in FIG. And the recovery slider 81 is located at the lowest position, so that the wiper 84 and the cap 88 Retracted from 300 it is caused to return to (spaced) condition.
[0036]
13 to 20 are views showing the configuration and operation of a wiper lock mechanism for holding the recovery slider 81 at the wiping position at a predetermined timing, and FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of the wiper lock mechanism. 14 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the structure of the pivot portion of the lock member 90 in FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 recovers the state of the wiper lock mechanism when the carriage 64 is in an area other than the recovery area such as the recording area. FIG. 16 is a schematic front view showing the state of the wiper lock mechanism when the carriage 64 moves from the recording area to the recovery area together with the recovery slider. FIG. 17 is a schematic front view showing the state of the wiper lock mechanism moving to the recovery area. The wiper lock mechanism is recovered when the recovery slider is locked slightly by moving the recovery slider slightly to the right in the figure. It is a schematic front view showing with rider.
[0037]
FIG. 18 is a schematic front view showing the state of the wiper lock mechanism together with the recovery slider when the recovery slider moves further from the position shown in FIG. 17 to the right in the drawing together with the carriage and enters the capping state. FIG. 20 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the wiper lock mechanism is held at the wiping position while moving from the capping position 18 to the recording area (a state at the end of wiping). FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing a state where the lock of the recovery slider 81 to the wiping position is released by further moving the carriage toward the recording area.
[0038]
13 to 20, a wiper lock mechanism having a lock lever 90 as a lock member fixes the recovery slider 81 to the wiping position at a predetermined timing in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 64, and recovers after the end of the wiping operation. It functions to return the slider 81 to the standby position.
The lock lever 90 is swingably supported by a rotation shaft 81h on the recovery slider 81, and is always urged to a position where the recovery slider 81 can be locked at the wiping position by a wiper lock spring 91 composed of a torsion coil spring. Have been. At the tip of the lock lever 90, there is provided a claw 90c that can be hooked to the cam 86c on the apparatus main body side. That is, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, the recovery slider 81 is moved to the wiping position by the hook 90c being engaged with the cam portion 86c and being urged leftward by the slider spring 82 in the drawing. Is locked (fixed).
[0039]
At the other end of the lock member (lock lever) 90 (left end portion, a portion on the recording area side), a lock release portion 90d that can be engaged with the trigger portion 65 of the carriage 64 is provided. The lock release unit 90d is pressed by the trigger unit 65 on the carriage 64 at a predetermined timing after the wiping (wiping and cleaning) of the recording heads 300a and 300b by the wipers 84a and 84b is completed. It operates to rotate 90 in the release direction. That is, by using the movement of the carriage 64 to release (unlock) the lock member 90 via the lock release portion 90d, the recovery slider 81 is moved to the cam surfaces 86a and 86b by the spring force of the slider spring 82. Along the standby position (both the cap 88 and the wiper 84 are separated from the recording head 300).
[0040]
Next, the operation of the wiper lock mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 13, a lock member (lock lever) 90 rotatably supported by the recovery slider 81 via a rotation shaft 81h always has a wiper lock spring 91 in a predetermined direction (in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13). It is urged in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 13). FIG. 15 shows a state in which the carriage 64 is located in the recording area or the like and not in the recovery area. At this time, the recovery slider 81 (the sliding posts 81a and 81b) is urged by the slider spring 82 to the lowermost portion of the cam surfaces 86a and 86b provided on the recovery mechanism portion (apparatus main body side) 86 at the left end in the drawing. Being located. FIG. 16 shows a state in which the carriage 64 moves from the recording area to the recovery area, contacts the engaging portion 81c on the recovery slider 81, and moves the recovery slider 81 together with the carriage 64 slightly rightward in the figure.
[0041]
In the state of FIG. 16, the recovery post 81 is located slightly closer to the recording heads 300a and 300b on the carriage 64 as the sliding posts 81a and 81b move upward along the cam surfaces 86a and 86b. At this time, the lock member (lock lever) 90 slides against the wiper lock spring 91 by the sliding movement of the claw portion 90c of the lock member (lock lever) 90 against the cam portion 86c of the recovery mechanism portion 86 (apparatus body side). It rotates counterclockwise in the figure around 81h.
FIG. 17 shows a state in which the carriage 64 has moved to the right in the drawing from the position shown in FIG. In this state, the claw portion 90c of the lock member 90 has passed over the cam surface 86c on the apparatus body side (the recovery mechanism 86).
[0042]
FIG. 18 shows a state where the carriage 64 has moved further to the right in the drawing than the position shown in FIG. In the state of FIG. 18, the sliding posts 81a and 81b further rise along the cam surfaces 86a and 86b on the apparatus main body side (recovery mechanism section 86), and the recovery slider 81 moves to the recording heads 300a and 300b on the carriage 64. At the closest position, the caps 88a and 88b are in close contact with the ejection port surfaces 301a and 301b of the recording heads 300a and 300b, and the ejection ports are covered (sealed) by the caps 88a and 88b.
FIG. 19 shows a state immediately after the carriage 64 has moved from the capping position in FIG. 18 to the recording area, and has wiped (wiped and cleaned) the ejection opening surfaces 301a and 301b of the recording heads 300a and 300b with the wipers 84a and 84b.
[0043]
At the time of the wiping operation shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, as shown in FIG. 19, the claw portion 90c of the lock member 90 is engaged with the cam surface 86c of the apparatus main body, and the recovery slider 81 is turned leftward in the drawing by the slider spring 82. By being urged, it is held at the wiping position.
In the state of FIG. 19 in which the wiping operation has been completed, the trigger portion 65 provided on the carriage 64 comes into contact with the lock release portion 90d of the lock member (lock lever) 90.
FIG. 20 shows that the carriage 64 is further moved from the position shown in FIG. 19 toward the recording area, and the trigger portion 65 of the carriage 64 pushes the unlocking portion 90d. The figure shows a state in which it rotates counterclockwise around. When the carriage 64 further moves from the position shown in FIG. 20 toward the recording area, the lock member 90 further rotates counterclockwise, and the claw portion 90c separates from the cam portion 86c. The lock (fixed to the wiping position) is released, and the recovery slider 81 is returned by the slider spring 82 to the standby position as shown in FIGS.
[0044]
FIG. 21 is a partial front view schematically showing the moment when the wiper 84 comes into contact with the recording head 300 on the carriage 64 and starts wiping (wiping and cleaning) of the discharge port surface. This is the timing at which the wiper 84 is bent. But also. This moment is also when the force (torque) required to drive the carriage 64 is maximized.
In FIG. 21, the force F for driving the carriage 64 is transmitted to the timing belt 67 via the belt engaging portion 102 on the carriage 64, and is determined by the driving torque of the carriage drive motor 66 and the radius r of the motor pulley 101. As the carriage driving motor 66, a motor having a sufficient margin with respect to the driving torque Trq = F × r required for driving the carriage 64 is required, and such a motor is selected.
[0045]
The ink jet recording apparatus according to the above-described embodiment (first embodiment) uses the movement of the carriage 64 to rub against the ink ejection units 300a and 300b to wipe and clean the ink ejection units. , 84b, the plurality of wipers 84a, 84b are arranged on a recovery slider 81 whose position is controlled by the movement of the carriage 64, and the arrangement interval B of the wipers 84a, 84b is set to the plurality of ink ejection units 300a. , 300b, the timing at which the wipers 84a, 84b start wiping the ink ejection units 300a, 300b is different. In the illustrated embodiment, the interval B between the wipers 84 is set to be larger than the interval A between the ink ejection units (printing heads) 300. (Recording head) The interval may be set to be smaller than the interval A of 300.
[0046]
According to the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied (including the recovery method thereof), when the wiping operation is performed using the plurality of wipers 84, each of the wipers 84 has the recording head 300. At the time of starting wiping (wiping by rubbing) (entry point where the wiper comes into contact with the recording head and starts bending), that is, one wiper 84 when the carriage 64 is moved by the carriage drive motor 66 to perform wiping. It is possible to disperse (eliminate concentration) the wiping start time at which the force F (FIG. 21) required per hit becomes the largest by shifting the timing for each wiper 84. Therefore, even when the plurality of ink ejection units 300a and 300b are wiped and cleaned by the plurality of wipers 84a and 84b using the movement of the carriage 64, it is possible to suppress an increase in the load on the carriage drive motor 66 with a simple mechanism. An ink jet recording apparatus and a method for recovering the recording apparatus, which can reduce the size and cost of the carriage driving motor 66 by reducing the required driving force of the carriage driving motor 66, are provided. In the present embodiment, the case where the number of the wipers 84 and the recording heads (ink ejection units) 300 is two has been described as an example, but the present invention is directed to the case where the number of the wipers 84 and the recording heads 300 is three. The same can be applied to the above case, and the same operation and effect can be achieved.
[0047]
FIG. 22 is a table exemplifying characteristics of a required driving torque (required driving force of the carriage 64) F of the carriage driving motor 66. FIG. 22A shows an arrangement interval between a plurality of recording heads and a plurality of wipers. FIG. 22B shows the characteristic (solid line) of the drive torque (output torque) required for the carriage drive motor 66 when the wiping start times of the respective wipers are the same, and FIG. As in the embodiment, by displacing (differently) the arrangement intervals of the plurality of recording heads 300 and the plurality of wipers 84, the carriage drive motor 66 is required when the wiping start time of each wiper 84 is different. This shows the characteristics (solid line) of the driving torque (output torque).
When the wiping start times of the respective wipers are simultaneous as shown in FIG. 22 (a), the time (entry point) at which the drive torque required for each wiper is maximized overlaps, so that the drive required for the carriage drive motor 66 is performed. The torque F1 increases to a plurality of times (approximately twice in the case of two wipers), and a large output is required. However, the required maximum torque F1 is a value slightly smaller than twice the driving torque F0 when a single wiper is used.
[0048]
When the wiping start times of the respective wipers 84 are made different as shown in FIG. 22B, the required driving torque of the carriage drive motor 66 is shifted by shifting the entry point at which the required driving torque of each wiper 84 is maximized. F2 is a value smaller than F1 at the time of simultaneous rush in FIG. F3 in FIG. 22 indicates a required driving torque (required driving force of the carriage 64) when each wiper passes through the entry point and constantly wipes each recording head.
Note that the values of F0, F1, F2, and F3 in FIG. 22 are different values depending on the amount of the wiper 84 entering the recording head 300 and conditions such as the width, material, thickness, and free length of the wiper 84. However, the magnitude relationship between F0, F1, F2, and F3 does not change.
[0049]
7 to 12, the case where the interval A between the recording heads (ink ejection units) 300 is smaller than the interval B between the wipers 84 has been described. However, even if the distance A is set to be larger than the distance B. good. When the distance A is larger than the distance B, the recording head 300b starts wiping (wiping operation) first as in this embodiment, whereas the recording head 300a only starts wiping first. By shifting the entry point of each wiper 84 as in the case of the present embodiment, the load on the carriage drive motor 66 can be reduced.
[0050]
23 to 28 are schematic front views showing the configuration and operation of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 shows a carriage that has moved from a recording area to a recovery area. FIG. 24 shows a state in which the recovery slider is held at the capping position by engaging with the carriage, and the recovery slider is raised to the wiping-possible position by moving the carriage toward the recording area from the capping position of FIG. FIG. 25 shows a state in which the wiper has not yet come into sliding contact with the ejection port surface. FIG. 25 shows that the carriage is further moved toward the recording area from the state of FIG. FIG. 26 shows the state when the rubbing of the ejection port surface is started. FIG. 26 shows that the carriage is further moved toward the recording area from the state shown in FIG. Shows a state in which rubs the discharge port surface of the recording head (ink ejecting portions).
[0051]
23 to 28, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 22 indicate the same or corresponding parts. In FIG. 23, of a plurality of (two) wipers 84a and 84b disposed on the recovery slider 81, one wiper 84a is fixed to the recovery slider 81 by a wiper stopper 83a, and the other wiper is used. 84b is fixed on the wiper holder 121. The wiper holder 121 is supported by a guide 122 provided on the recovery slider 81 so as to be movable up and down, and is urged upward by a wiper spring 123. A cam portion (cam surface) 120 is formed on the upper portion of the wiper holder 121, and the cam portion 120 is arranged so as to be able to slide on a cam portion (cam surface) 110 provided on the carriage 64.
In this embodiment, the distance A between the plurality of recording heads 300a and 300b on the carriage 64 and the distance A between the plurality of wipers 84a and 84b on the recovery slider 81 are both set to the same distance.
[0052]
FIG. 23 shows that the carriage 64 that has moved from the recording area to the recovery area comes into contact with the engagement portion 81c of the recovery slider 81, and the carriage 64 further moves rightward in the drawing together with the recovery slider 81 to ascend. This shows a capping state in which the caps 88a and 88b are in close contact with the ejection port surfaces of the recording heads 300a and 300b. When the carriage 64 moves in the leftward direction in the drawing (the direction from the recovery area to the recording area) from the capping state in FIG. 23, the recovery slider 81 on which the wipers 84a and 84b and the caps 88a and 88b are mounted becomes the recovery slider 81 shown in FIGS. Is fixed (locked, held) at the wiping position by the wiper lock mechanism described in (1). At this wiping position, as shown in FIG. 24, each cap 88 is retracted (separated) from the recording head 300 by a predetermined distance, and each wiper 84 moves the ink ejection unit (recording head) 300 with the movement of the carriage 64. Is located at a height position where wiping (wiping and cleaning) can be performed.
[0053]
After the recovery slider 81 is fixed at the wiping position, the carriage 64 is further moved leftward (toward the recording area) in the drawing, whereby the wiping operation of the recording head 300 by each wiper 84 as shown in FIGS. (Wiping operation) is started.
When the wiping operation is started, first, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the wiping operation by the wiper 84a fixed to the recovery slider 81 is started. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, at the time when the wiping operation by the fixed wiper 84a is started (entry point) and at a time near the same, the cam portion 120 of the wiper holder 121 on which the movable wiper 84b is mounted is moved by the carriage 64. The wiper holder 121 is pushed down along the guide 122 against the wiper spring 123 in order to slide with the downwardly protruding portion of the cam portion 110 on the side, so that the movable wiper 84b is separated from the recording head 300b. ing.
[0054]
When the carriage 64 further moves toward the recording area from the state shown in FIG. 25, and the wiper 84a starts wiping operation and bends, the load on the carriage drive motor 66 passes a rush point at which the load reaches a maximum value (the rush point). 26, the downward projecting portion of the cam portion 110 on the carriage 64 passes through the cam portion 120 of the wiper holder 121, and the wiper holder 121 is moved by the wiper spring 123, as shown in FIG. It is moved upward. As a result, the movable wiper 84b rises to a height position (wiping height) at which the movable wiper 84b can rub against the recording head 300b, and the wiping operation (wiping operation) of the recording head (ink ejection unit) 300b by the wiper 84b is started. . That is, the wiping cleaning of the ink ejection unit 300b by the movable wiper 84b is started when the wiping and cleaning of the ink ejection unit 300a by the fixed wiper 84a is started and a steady wiping state is entered (after the entry point).
[0055]
In this embodiment, the cam portions (cam surfaces) 120 and 110 are provided on the rear side of the wiper 84b of the carriage 64 in the carriage movement direction and the wiper 84b on the front side of the carriage 64 in the carriage movement direction. A cam portion (cam surface) may be provided at a portion of the carriage 64 and the wiper 84a facing the wiper 84a, and the rear wiper 84b may be fixed to the recovery slider 81, or both wipers 84a and 84b may be provided. May be configured as movable wipers, and the wipers may be driven by the cam portions so that the wiping operation start timings of the respective wipers are different.
In this embodiment, the case where the number of the wipers 84 and the recording heads (ink ejection units) 300 is two has been described as an example, but the configuration of the present embodiment is based on the number of the wipers 84 and the recording heads 300. Can be similarly applied to the case of three or more, and the same operation and effect can be achieved.
[0056]
FIG. 27 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the wiper 84 is separated from the recording head 300 by the cam portion 110 on the carriage side pressing the cam portion 120 of the wiper holder 121. FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the wiper 84 is raised to a height position at which the wiper 84 can rub against the recording head 300 by moving away from the cam portion 120 of the wiper holder 121.
As shown in FIG. 27, when the cam portions 120 (120a, 120b) of the wiper holder 121 and the cam portions 110 (110a, 110b) on the carriage 64 are in sliding contact with each other, the wiper holder 121 moves the cam portions 120, 110. Due to the pressure contact force therebetween, the carriage 64 is moved in a direction away from the recording head 300 against the urging force of the wiper spring 123, and the carriage 64 can be moved with the recording head 300 and the wiper 84 kept separated so as not to contact. It is.
[0057]
Also, as shown in FIG. 28, in a region where the cam portion 110 (110a, 110b) on the carriage 64 side is separated from the cam portion 120 (120a, 120b) of the wiper holder 121, the wiper holder 121 uses the wiper spring 123. As a result, the ejection port surface 301 of the recording head 300 can be wiped and cleaned by the wiper 84 with the movement of the carriage 64.
According to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 to 28, the wiper holder 121 supporting the wiper 84 is mounted on the recovery slider 81 so as to be able to enter and separate from the recording head 300, and the cam provided on the wiper holder side 121 is provided. In the case of the first embodiment described above, the timing of the wiping start timing (wiping operation start timing, rush point) of each of the plurality of wipers is made different by the section 120 and the cam section 110 provided on the carriage 64 side. Similarly to the above, the required maximum torque (required driving force) of the carriage driving motor 66 can be reduced by shifting the entry point at which the load on the carriage driving motor 66 becomes a maximum value. By employing the carriage drive motor, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus.
[0058]
That is, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 28 uses the movement of the carriage 64 to rub against the plurality of ink ejection units 300 to wipe and clean the ink ejection units. The wiper holder 121 that holds at least one of the plurality of wipers is mounted on the recovery slider 81 whose position is controlled by the movement of the carriage 64 so as to be able to approach and separate from the ink ejection unit 300, The wipers are moved closer to the ink ejection unit by the cam units 110 and 120 provided on the wiper holder and the carriage so as to start wiping at a different timing from the other wipers. The wiping start timing is configured to be different.
[0059]
According to the second embodiment configured as described above, similarly to the case of the above-described first embodiment, when performing the wiping operation using the plurality of wipers 84, each of the wipers 84 wipes the recording head 300 ( This is necessary at the time of starting wiping by rubbing (entry point where the wiper comes into contact with the recording head and starts bending), that is, per wiper 84 when the carriage 64 is moved by the carriage drive motor 66 to perform wiping. It is possible to disperse (eliminate concentration) the wiping start time at which the maximum force F (FIG. 21) is greatest by shifting the timing for each wiper 84. Therefore, even when the plurality of ink ejection units 300a and 300b are wiped and cleaned by the plurality of wipers 84a and 84b using the movement of the carriage 64, it is possible to suppress an increase in the load on the carriage drive motor 66 with a simple mechanism. An ink jet recording apparatus and a method for recovering the recording apparatus, which can reduce the size and cost of the carriage driving motor 66 by reducing the required driving force of the carriage driving motor 66, are provided. In this embodiment, the case where the number of the wipers 84 and the recording heads (ink ejection units) 300 is two has been described as an example, but this is because the number of the wipers 84 and the recording heads 300 is three or more. The same operation and effect can be achieved in the case of the above.
[0060]
In each embodiment described above, embodiments of the present invention as described below are described.
Embodiment 1: In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a plurality of ink discharge units mounted on a carriage to a recording material, the ink discharge unit is rubbed by using movement of a carriage. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of wipers for wiping and cleaning an ink discharge section; and different timings for starting wiping of the ink discharge section by each wiper.
[0061]
Embodiment 2: The plurality of wipers are arranged on a recovery slider whose position is controlled by the movement of the carriage, and the arrangement interval of the wipers is different from the arrangement interval of the plurality of ink ejection units. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 1.
Embodiment 3: A wiper holder holding at least one of the plurality of wipers is mounted on a recovery slider whose position is controlled by the movement of the carriage so as to be able to approach and separate from the ink ejection unit, and the wiper is 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiper holder and the cam provided on the carriage approach the ink ejection unit so as to start wiping at a different timing from other wipers.
Embodiment 4: The ink jet recording apparatus according to Embodiment 2 or 3, wherein the recovery slider is held at the wiping position at a predetermined timing accompanying the movement of the carriage.
Embodiment 5: The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the number of the wipers is equal to the number of the ink ejection units arranged on the carriage and is two or more. .
[0062]
Embodiment 6: In a recovery method of an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a plurality of ink discharge units mounted on a carriage to a recording material, the ink discharge units are rubbed by using movement of a carriage. A method of providing a plurality of wipers for wiping and cleaning the ink discharge section, and different timings for starting wiping of the ink discharge section by each wiper.
According to the recovery method of the sixth embodiment, even when a plurality of ink ejection units are wiped and cleaned by a plurality of wipers using the movement of the carriage, it is possible to suppress an increase in the load on the carriage drive motor with a simple mechanism. By reducing the required driving force of the carriage drive motor, the size and cost of the motor can be reduced.
Embodiment 7: The plurality of wipers are arranged on a recovery slider whose position is controlled by the movement of the carriage, and an arrangement interval of the wipers is made different from an arrangement interval of the plurality of ink ejection units to thereby reduce the number of the ink ejection units. The method for recovering an ink jet recording apparatus according to embodiment 6, wherein the timing of starting wiping is made different.
[0063]
Embodiment 8: A wiper holder holding at least one of the plurality of wipers is mounted on a recovery slider that is position-controlled by the movement of the carriage so as to be able to approach and separate from the ink ejection section, and the wiper is attached to the wiper. The method according to claim 6, wherein the wiper holder and the cam provided on the carriage approach the ink ejecting unit so as to start wiping at a different timing from other wipers.
Embodiment 9: The recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to embodiment 7 or 8, wherein the recovery slider is held at the wiping position at a predetermined timing accompanying the movement of the carriage.
Embodiment 10: The inkjet recording according to any one of Embodiments 6 to 9, wherein the number of the wipers is equal to the number of the ink ejection units arranged on the carriage and is two or more. How to recover the device.
[0064]
The present invention uses a color ink jet recording apparatus for recording in a plurality of different colors, an ink jet recording apparatus for gradation recording for recording in a plurality of densities of the same color and different densities, or an ink jet recording apparatus in which these are combined. The present invention can be implemented without being limited to the type and number of inks, and includes all of these configurations within the range.
Further, the present invention provides a configuration using a replaceable inkjet cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated, a configuration using recording means for detachably attaching an ink tank to the recording head, or a configuration using a recording head and an ink tank. The same configuration can be applied to any arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank, such as a configuration in which the recording head and the ink tank are connected separately by an ink supply path or the like, and the same effects can be obtained.
[0065]
Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to an inkjet recording apparatus using a recording head driven by another operation method, such as a recording head using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, A similar effect can be obtained.
In particular, the present invention brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording head of a method of discharging ink using thermal energy. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the movement of the carriage is utilized in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a plurality of ink discharge units mounted on the carriage to a recording material. Since a plurality of wipers for wiping and cleaning the ink discharge portion by rubbing against the ink discharge portion is provided, and the timing of starting the wiping of the ink discharge portion by each wiper is made different,
Even when a plurality of ink ejecting sections are wiped and cleaned by a plurality of wipers using the movement of the carriage, an increase in the load on the carriage drive motor can be suppressed with a simple mechanism, and the required drive force of the carriage drive motor is reduced. Accordingly, an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the size and cost of the motor is provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the front.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear.
FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when viewed from the front.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a monochromatic recording head of black or the like mounted on an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the front.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a multi-color recording head for cyan, magenta, yellow and the like mounted on an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the front.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the recording head shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as viewed from the back side.
FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing a state where a carriage on which a recording unit is mounted moves from a recording area to a recovery area in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
8 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the carriage that has moved from the recording area to the recovery area engages with the recovery slider and holds the recovery slider at the capping position in the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. .
FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the recovery slider has moved up to a wiping-possible position by moving the carriage from the capping position in FIG. 8 to the recording area, but the wiper has not yet slidably contacted the discharge port surface; FIG.
FIG. 10 shows a state in which only one of the two wipers starts rubbing the ejection port surface of the recording head by further moving the recovery slider toward the recording area from the state of FIG. 9; It is a schematic front view.
11 is a schematic front view illustrating a state in which the recovery slider further moves toward the recording area from the state of FIG. 10 and both wipers are rubbing against the ejection opening surface of the recording head. .
FIG. 12 shows that one wiper is still in contact with the ejection port surface, but the other wiper has already passed through the ejection port surface by further moving the recovery slider toward the recording area from the state of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing a state when the vehicle is in a state of being closed.
FIG. 13 is a schematic front view showing a wiper lock mechanism for holding the recovery slider at the wiping position at a predetermined timing.
14 is a schematic partial perspective view showing a structure of a pivot portion of a lock member of the wiper lock mechanism of FIG.
FIG. 15 is a schematic front view showing a state of a wiper lock mechanism together with a recovery slider when the carriage is in an area other than a recovery area such as a recording area.
FIG. 16 is a schematic front view showing a state of the wiper lock mechanism together with the recovery slider when the carriage moves from the recording area to the recovery area.
FIG. 17 is a schematic front view showing a state of the wiper lock mechanism together with the recovery slider when the recovery slider is slightly moved rightward in the drawing and is locked by the carriage that has moved to the recovery area.
18 is a schematic front view showing the state of the wiper lock mechanism together with the recovery slider when the recovery slider and the carriage are further moved rightward in the drawing from the position shown in FIG. 17 to be in a capping state.
19 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the wiper lock mechanism is held at the wiping position while moving from the capping position to the recording area in FIG. 18 (a state at the end of wiping).
20 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the lock of the recovery slider to the wiping position is released by further moving the carriage toward the recording area from the state of FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a partial front view schematically showing the moment when the wiper comes into contact with the recording head on the carriage and starts wiping.
FIGS. 22A and 22B are diagrams illustrating characteristics of a required driving force F of a carriage drive motor, where FIG. 22A illustrates a case where a plurality of wipers simultaneously start a wiping operation, and FIG. 22B illustrates a case where a plurality of wipers are wiped; The case where the operation start timings are different is shown.
FIG. 23 shows a state in which the carriage that has moved from the recording area to the recovery area is engaged with the recovery slider and holds the recovery slider at the capping position in the second embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is a schematic front view.
FIG. 24 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the recovery slider has moved up to a wiping-possible position by moving the carriage from the capping position in FIG. 23 to the recording area, but the wiper has not yet slidably contacted the ejection port surface; FIG.
FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which only one of the two wipers starts rubbing the ejection port surface of the recording head by further moving the carriage toward the recording area from the state of FIG. 24; FIG.
26 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the carriage further moves toward the recording area from the state of FIG. 25, and both wipers are rubbing against the discharge port surface of the recording head.
FIG. 27 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the wiper is separated from the print head by the cam on the carriage pressing the cam of the wiper holder in the second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 28 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the cam portion on the carriage side is separated from the cam portion of the wiper holder in the second embodiment of FIG. is there.
FIG. 29 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a structure of an ink ejection unit of the recording unit in FIG. 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
30 Inkjet recording device
34 Automatic feeder
40 Recording material discharge port
60 transport roller
61 Line feed motor (transport motor)
64 carriage
65 Trigger section
67 Timing belt
69 Guide shaft
81 Recovery Slider
81a, 81b Sliding post
81c engaging part
81h rotation axis
82 Slider spring
83a, 83b Wiper stopper
84 Wiper
85 cap spring
86 Recovery mechanism
86a, 86b Cam surface
87 Home Position (HP)
88 cap
89 Cap Holder
90 Lock member (lock lever)
90c claw
90d Unlock section
91 Wiper lock spring
110 Cam part (cam surface)
120 Cam (cam surface)
121 Wiper holder
122 Guide
123 Wiper spring
182 outlet
183 Common liquid chamber
184 fluid path
185 Electrothermal converter
300 recording means (recording head, ink ejection unit)
301 Discharge port surface

Claims (1)

In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a plurality of ink discharge units mounted on a carriage to a recording material,
A plurality of wipers for wiping and cleaning the ink discharge unit by rubbing against the ink discharge unit using the movement of a carriage are provided, and the timing of starting wiping of the ink discharge unit by each wiper is characterized by being different. Inkjet recording apparatus.

Images