JPH06171104A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] By removing foreign matter adhering to the cap 22 for sealing the ejection port forming surface 113 of the recording head 1, the ejection recovery process is made more complete and the ink ejection performance is high. An inkjet recording apparatus including a recording head is provided. [Structure] An absorbing / adsorbing member 119 provided on the head cartridge 1 is provided as a cleaning means for removing foreign matters adhering to a cap 22 for sealing the ejection port forming surface 113 of the recording head 1, and the absorbing / adsorbing member 119 is provided. The cap 22 is pressed, or the absorbing / adsorbing member 119 and the cap 22 are slidably engaged to remove ink, dust, and the like attached to the cap 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as (OHP). The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is set. An image (including characters, symbols, etc.) is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scanning) along, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). An image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in the sub-scanning direction in which the recording material is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed at one time. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is a means for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact and high definition. Images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise and uses multicolor inks. Therefore, it has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. is there.

In the above-mentioned ink jet type recording apparatus, a recording head in which fine ejection ports are arranged is generally used, and ink liquid, dust, dust, paper powder, etc. are formed on the ejection port surface of the recording head (ink jet head) by recording operation. Foreign matter may adhere. Therefore, bubbles or dust are mixed into the ejection port to make it unsuitable for ejection, that is, not suitable for recording, or increase in viscosity due to evaporation of the ink solvent, that is, ink is not suitable for ejection due to viscosity increase or the like. It may not be suitable for recording. Therefore, in addition to preventing these improper ejection states, a process (ejection recovery process) for removing these ejection failure factors by refreshing the ink when an ejection improper state occurs is performed.

In order to perform such an ejection recovery process, a recording apparatus having a cap capable of sealing the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, or a cap and a cap in communication therewith, apply suction force. There is a recording device configured to include a pump. In the former recording apparatus, ink is ejected by driving the ink ejection energy generating element in the ejection port with the cap facing the ejection port formation surface. In the latter recording apparatus, the suction force is applied by the pump while the ejection port forming surface is sealed by the cap, and the ink is forcibly ejected by suction from the ejection port, which causes the ejection failure factor such as dust together with the ink. It is something to be removed.

Further, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, when ink is ejected at the time of recording, ejection failure factors such as unnecessary ink adhering to the ink ejection port forming surface and dust in the atmosphere adhering to the ejection port forming surface are discharged. To remove
The ink ejection port forming surface is configured to be wiped by a blade made of an elastic body. Further, in order to apply a predetermined suction force or to prevent the ink on the ejection port forming surface of the recording head and the ink in the ejection port from drying, it is necessary to maintain the adhesion between the ink ejection port forming surface and the cap.
Therefore, the cap is made of an elastic body such as rubber.

[0009]

However, since the conventional ink jet recording apparatus does not have the function of cleaning the cap, the ink adheres to the cap itself particularly in the ejection recovery process. The adhered ink increases in viscosity when left in the air, and becomes thickened ink which causes ejection failure. In this way, when the cap having the thickened ink attached thereto is brought into contact with the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, the thickened ink of the cap moves to the ejection port forming surface.
Even if the wiping operation of the ejection port forming surface with the blade is performed in this state, the unnecessary substance cannot be completely removed due to the thickening of the ink, and the thickened ink on the ejection port forming surface is ejected or ejected. It will be attached near the outlet. Therefore, the conventional inkjet recording apparatus has a problem in that the original purpose of the wiping operation is incomplete removal of the ejection failure factor.

Similarly, since dust and the like in the use atmosphere adhere to the cap, if the cap with dust and the like adheres to the ejection port forming surface in this state, the dust and the like will move to the ejection port forming surface. Since dust and the like on the ejection port forming surface are mixed into the ejection port by the wiping operation by the blade, there is a problem that the removal effect of the ejection failure factor is adversely affected. Further, in addition to the ink due to the normal ejection operation, the ink due to the contact of the ejection opening formation surface of the cap adheres to the ejection port forming surface, so that the ink adhering to the blade performing the wiping operation increases. Since the ink adhering to the blade also thickens, there is a problem that the effect of removing the ejection failure factor is adversely affected. The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to remove ink, dust, and the like adhering to a cap, which is a cause of ejection failure, and to perform an ink ejection operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a good recording head.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, foreign matter attached to a cap for sealing a discharge port forming surface of the recording means is removed. The above-mentioned object is achieved by adopting a configuration including a cleaning means for removing. According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the cleaning unit has a configuration provided on the recording unit, or the recording unit has a removable structure, so that the cleaning unit can be more efficiently configured. It achieves the purpose.

[0012]

In the present invention, an absorbing / sucking member for absorbing or sucking and holding ink, dust and the like is provided in the vicinity of the discharging port of the recording head, and the absorbing / sucking member is slidably contacted with the cap to form the discharging port. Unnecessary ink, dust, etc. adhering to the cap when it comes into contact with the surface is absorbed or absorbed and retained to be removed. Therefore, according to the present invention, the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head can be always kept in a state suitable for ejecting ink.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Figure 1
Inkjet recording head 1 as recording means
Are mounted on the carriage 2. The recording head 1
It is attached to the carriage 2 by the action of a hook 3 adapted to be operated by a lever 4. An electric connection portion for the recording head 1 is supported by a support plate 5, and the electric connection portion and the main body control portion are connected by an FPC (flexible printed circuit) 6.

The carriage 2 is guided and supported via a bearing 8 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction, that is, the S direction, along a guide shaft 7 installed in the main body of the apparatus. A carriage motor 11 for moving the carriage 2 is mounted on one end of the apparatus body, and an idler pulley 10A is arranged on the other end. Then, the motor pulley 10B of the carriage motor 11 and the idler pulley 10
A timing belt 9 is stretched between A and A in parallel with the guide shaft 7, and a part of the timing belt 9 is connected to the carriage 2.

In this way, the carriage 2 is reciprocated by forward and reverse rotations of the carriage motor 11, and the position of the carriage 2 (position of the recording head) is controlled by the amount of rotation of the carriage motor 11. Then, recording is performed by ejecting ink from the ejection ports of the recording head 1 toward the recording material while the carriage 2 is moving. The recording means (recording head) 1 of the present embodiment is composed of a replaceable ink cartridge (or head cartridge) in which an ink tank for supplying ejected ink is integrated.

The recording head 1 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 1 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Is.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head) 1.
In FIG. 2, the ejection port surface 5 that faces the recording material 10 with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm).
1, a plurality of discharge ports 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch,
An electrothermal converter (a heating resistor or the like) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of each liquid passage 54 that connects the common liquid chamber 53 and each ejection port 52. In this example, the recording head 1 has the ejection port 52.
Are mounted on the carriage 2 in such a positional relationship that they are arranged in a direction intersecting with the scanning direction of the carriage 2. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid path 54 to film-boil, and the ejection port 52 is caused by the pressure generated at that time.
A recording head 1 is configured to eject ink from the recording head 1.

In FIG. 1, the ejection port surface 5 of the recording head 1
1, a platen 16 having a length that substantially covers the width of the recording material is provided in parallel with the guide bearing 7. The platen 16 has a function of holding the recording material at the correct recording position at the recording position, preventing deformation of the recording material, and maintaining an appropriate gap between the recording material and the ejection port surface. ing. A conveyance roller 12 is arranged in parallel to the guide shaft 7 at a position upstream of the recording position of the platen 16 in the sheet passing direction. The transport roller 12 is rotationally driven by the transport motor 13.

The transport roller 12 has a pinch roller 1 rotatably supported by a pinch roller holder (not shown).
5, the recording material sent from an automatic paper feeding device (not shown) is conveyed by the conveying roller 12 and the pinch roller 15, and is moved to the recording position (the position facing the ejection port surface 51) by the action of the paper pan 14. It is configured to be guided. The pinch roller 15 is pressed against the transport roller 12 and is driven to rotate.
The pressing force of 5 is applied by a leaf spring or the like via a pinch roller holder.

A discharge roller 17 and a spur 18 for discharging the recording material that has passed the recording position are provided at a position downstream of the recording position of the platen 16 from the recording position. The recording material is fed (conveyed) by the frictional conveyance force between the roller 17 and the spur 18. The spur 18 is pressed against the paper discharge roller 17 and is driven to rotate, and the pressing force of the spur is applied by a leaf spring or the like through a spur holder or the like (not shown). The pinch roller 15 and the spur are used when the recording material is taken out when a paper jam occurs.
It can be separated (opened) by operating the release lever 19.

When the recording material is conveyed in front of the recording head 1, the paper discharge roller 17 removes the slack of the recording material, thereby causing an error in recording position and contact of the recording material with the recording head 1. It has a function to prevent Therefore, the peripheral speed of the discharge roller 17 is usually set to be slightly higher than the peripheral speed of the carrying roller 12, and is driven synchronously with the carrying roller 12. Both ends of the platen 16 are the shaft 1 of the paper discharge roller 17.
It is rotatably supported by 7A and is urged from the stop position of the left and right plates 20 toward the front surface portion 21 of the paper pan 14. Further, the transport roller 12 has a groove portion 12A.
Are provided in plurality, and this portion 12A is in contact with the protruding portion 16A formed at the corresponding position of the platen 16.

In FIG. 1, a device for ejection recovery processing is arranged at a position within the movement range of the carriage 2 and outside the recording area. The ejection recovery process (recovery device) is provided with a cap 22 for sealing the ejection port surface 51 of the recording head 1. The cap 22 is made of an elastic material such as rubber and is positioned so as to face the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1 at the home position. The cap 22 is used for protection of the recording head during non-recording and for ejection recovery processing of the recording head.

The cap 22 is used as a method for the discharge recovery process.
Is opposed to the ejection port forming surface 51, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port by driving the energy generating element provided in the ink ejection port, which causes bubbles, dust, and viscosity increase, which is not suitable for recording. There is a method of removing the cause of ejection failure such as viscous ink. Further, a negative pressure is generated in the cap 22 by a suction pump or the like in a state where the ejection port surface 51 is sealed, and the thickened ink, bubbles, dust, etc. in the ejection port of the recording head 1 are sucked together with the ink.
It is also possible to recover the ink ejection performance of the recording head 1. The cap 22 is movable in a direction in which it closely adheres to and separates from the ejection port surface 51, and in addition to the above-described recovery operation, it is closely contacted at the time of non-recording to prevent ink drying and dust from entering the ejection port 52. Also used for. The automatic paper feeding device, the transport roller 12, the paper discharge roller 17, the recovery device, and the like are driven by, for example, a transport motor (paper feed motor) 13 as a drive source and a gear train and a clutch. It can also be performed via a mechanism (not shown).

In order to perform the above-described ejection recovery process, the illustrated ink jet recording apparatus further includes a pump 23. The pump 23 is used not only to remove unnecessary ink and the like by applying suction force to the ejection port forming surface 51 of the recording head 1 for forcibly discharging the ink, but also to suck ink and the like attached to the cap 22. To be The ink sucked and held by the pump 23 is stored in the waste ink tank 24. The waste ink tank 24 is connected to the pump 23 by a tube 28.

The recording apparatus of the present invention further comprises a recording head 1.
The blade 25 is provided for wiping the discharge port forming surface 51. The blade 25 is supported so as to be able to move between a protruding position for wiping while the carriage 2 is moving and a retracted position that does not slide-engage with the ejection port forming surface 51. The drive of the pump 23 and the movement of the cap 22 and the blade 25 are performed by a motor 26 via a cam device 27. The blade 25 is formed of a plate-shaped member made of a rubber-like elastic body such as urethane rubber.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a head cartridge detachably mounted on the carriage 2 of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. The illustrated head cartridge 1 is of a disposable type in which an ejection unit 1a forming an ink jet recording head main body and an ink tank 1b are integrated. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the head cartridge 1 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the head cartridge 1 is
The electrothermal conversion element (ejection heater) and the wiring such as A1 for supplying electric power to the electrothermal conversion element are provided with a heater board 111 formed on the Si substrate by a film forming technique, and a wiring board 112 for the heater board 111. The wiring of the wiring board 112 is connected by, for example, wire bonding. The illustrated head cartridge 1 further includes a top plate 113 provided with a partition wall and a common liquid chamber for limiting the ink flow path. The top plate 113 is made of, for example, a resin material integrally including an orifice plate portion. The heater board 111 and the top plate 113 are sandwiched between, for example, a metal support 114 and a pressing spring 115, and are pressed and fixed by the action of the pressing spring 115. Support 114 and wiring board 1
12 is also assembled by means such as adhesion.

The illustrated head cartridge 1 further includes a supply tank 117. The supply tank 117 functions as a sub tank that receives supply of ink from the ink storage unit 1b serving as an ink supply source and guides the ink to the common liquid chamber formed by the joint between the heater board 111 and the top plate 113. In the vicinity of the ink supply port of the supply tank 117,
A filter 116 is provided. An ink absorption / adsorption member 119 is attached to the lid member 118 of the supply tank 117. The absorbing / adsorbing member 119 has a size capable of covering and sealing the cap 22. An absorber 120 for impregnating the ink is arranged in the ink tank body 1a, and the ink is supplied to the recording element 1a through the supply port 121. The constituent elements 111 to 119 are connected to the portion 122 of the ink tank 1b.
The ink can be impregnated into the absorber 120 by injecting the ink from the supply port 121 before the disposition. The cartridge body is provided with a member 123 as a lid member, and the lid member 123 is provided with an atmosphere communication port 124 for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere.

After the ink tank 1b is filled with the ink through the supply port 121, the ejection chamber 1a composed of the components 111 to 119 is positioned and assembled in the portion 122. This positioning and fixing is performed by, for example, the ink tank body 1b.
The protrusion 125 provided on the
This can be done by fitting the holes 126 provided in the. In this way, the head cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 4 is completed. The ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge into the supply tank 117 through the supply port 121, the hole 127 provided in the support 114 and the introduction port (not shown) provided in the supply tank 117, and passes through the supply tank 117. After that, the supply pipe and the top plate 11 from the outlet (not shown)
It flows into the common liquid chamber through the third ink inlet port 128. A packing made of, for example, silicone rubber or butyl rubber is provided at the connection portion for ink communication to ensure the sealing of the ink supply path.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the main part of the recovery device including the cap 22, the pump 23, the blade 25, the motor 26, the cam device 27, etc. in FIG. An ink absorber 201 is arranged inside the cap 22, and the cap 22 is held by a holding member 203. The cap 22 is adapted to come into close contact with and separate from the ejection port forming surface of the ejection unit 1a by the action of the cap lever 205. Cap lever 20
5 is attached rotatably around a pin 207 and is driven by a force acting on the pin 207. The rotation range of the cap lever 205 is configured to be restricted by the action of the pin 211 that engages with the end portion 209 of the cap lever 205.

The pin 207 of the cap lever 205 is fitted into the hole formed in the jig 213, and the cap lever 205 is fixed to the supporting portion 215 provided in the pump 23 by a member 216.
Install by. The action portion 217 engages with the cap 22, and exerts a force on the cap 22 to bring the cap 22 into contact with and seal the discharge port forming surface. This acting portion 217
Has an inlet 217A for sucked ink. Inside the cap lever 205, inside the pin 207, and the jig 213
An ink flow path is formed inside each of the inside and the inside of the support portion 215. At the center of the end face of the pump 23, a pump shaft 219 having an ink flow passage formed therein is provided so as to project. The pump shaft 219 is rotatably attached to the side wall 220. The turning force of the pump 23 itself acts on the cap lever 205 via the support portion 215, whereby the cap 22 moves forward and backward with respect to the discharge port forming surface.
The flow path forming member 221 is connected to the pump shaft 219, and the tube 28 is attached by the member 223. In this way, an ink flow path is formed inside the pump shaft 219 and inside the flow path forming member 223, and the ink sucked by the pump 23 passes through these ink flow paths and further through the tube 28 to the waste ink tank 24.
Will be introduced to.

The illustrated recovery device further includes a piston 225 of the pump 23, its piston shaft 227, and a packing 2
29, the cap 231 of the pump 23, and the piston shaft 2
And a pin 233 attached to 27 and receiving a force for operating the piston 225. Blade 25
Is attached to a blade lever 235, and is rotatably supported around a pump shaft 219 protruding from the end surface of the pump 23. By the rotating action around the pump shaft 219, the blade 25 can be moved forward and backward with respect to the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 1. The blade lever 235 is attached with a spring 237 that acts on the blade 25 in a direction to project the blade 25, and the pump 23 has a cap 22.
A spring 239 is attached which exerts a turning force in the direction of advancing the recording head to the recording head side.

The illustrated recovery device further includes a gear train 241 for transmitting the rotation of the motor 26 to the cam device 27. The cam device 27 includes an engaging portion 245 provided on the pump 23.
A cam 247 for engaging and rotating the pump 23, a cam 249 for engaging the pin 23 provided on the piston shaft 227 of the pump 23 to operate the pump 23, and an engagement provided on the blade lever 235. A cam 253 that engages with the joint portion 251 to rotate it and a cam 257 that engages with a switch 255 for detecting the home position of the cam device 27 are provided.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. The cap position and the moving position of the carriage 2 can be detected based on the detection of the recovery system home sensor 29 and the carriage home sensor 30. A control procedure such as a program set in advance and stored in the ROM 1002 is executed by the MPU 1000 to control each unit. The RAM 1002 is used as a work area when executing the control procedure, and the timer 1003 measures the time during the execution of the control.

The recording / printing processing procedure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). First, when the power is turned on, the recovery system motor 29 operates to set the recovery system unit to the recovery system home position, retract the cap 22 (cap open), and then set the carriage 2 to the home position. Next, after the carriage 22 is cleaned as described later, the carriage 22 is brought into contact with the ejection port forming surface of the recording head (capping) to wait for a signal of recording (printing) data.

When a print signal is input, the transport motor 13
Is activated to start feeding, and the fed recording medium such as paper is conveyed to a desired recording start position. Then cap 2
2 is opened, the carriage 2 is preliminarily ejected at the home position, and printing for one line is performed. In the present embodiment, the preliminary ejection is performed immediately before the recording is performed, and even during the recording, if a predetermined time (30 seconds in the present embodiment) has elapsed from the previous preliminary ejection, one line is printed. After recording the minutes, the carriage 2 is set to the home position and preliminary ejection is performed. After that, if the recording data signal of the next line is further input, the recording operation is continued. When the recording end signal is input, the recovery system motor 26 operates and the cam 25
3 is rotated, the blade lever 235 is rotated toward the recording head side, and the blade 25 is set to a position where it can contact the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head, and the wiping operation is performed. After that, the cap cleaning operation described below is performed,
The recording head is capped and a series of recording operations is completed.

Next, the wiping operation and the cap cleaning operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Figure 7
After the recording is completed in (b), the process proceeds to the wiping operation S14. When shifting to the wiping operation S14, the head cartridge 1 moves to the upstream side of the arrow in the drawing from the blade 25 as shown in FIG. 8A, and the blade 25 projects toward the recording head by the rotation of the recovery system motor 26. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the head cartridge 1 moves in the arrow direction with the blade 25 protruding. As a result, the blade 25 is brought into sliding contact with the ejection port forming surface 113 of the head cartridge 1 to remove the ink, dust and the like adhering to the vicinity of the ejection port from the ejection port forming surface 113, and then the recovery system motor 26 is turned on again. It is operated to retract the blade 25.

The cap 2 is used when preliminary ejection, which is the ejection recovery process, is performed, or when the suction force of the pump 23 is applied to forcibly eject the ink from the ink ejection port.
Ink adheres to 2. Further, when the cap is opened during the recording operation, dust or the like adheres because it is left in the atmosphere. In FIG. 9, after the head cartridge 1 is moved to a position where the absorption / adsorption member 119 formed on the head cartridge 1 can contact the cap 22, the recovery system motor 26 is rotated to move the cap 22 toward the head cartridge 1. To project. The cap 22 is projected and pressed against the absorbing / adsorbing member 119 to remove the thickened ink, dust and the like adhering to the cap 22. Absorption and adsorption member 1
Suitable for 19 is a foamed polymer resin that easily absorbs ink and adsorbs and holds dust and the like, for example, a polymer absorber such as expanded polystyrene or expanded polyurethane.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the adhesion of ink, dust and the like attached to the cap 22 to the formation surface near the ejection port. Further, as described in this embodiment, when the disposable head is provided with the absorbing / adsorbing member, the absorbing / adsorbing member is used in a new state every time the recording head is replaced, so that the absorbing / adsorbing performance is easily maintained, and There is no need to replace the suction member alone. In addition, if the disposable head is used, the amount of ink to be stored is fixed, so that the amount of ink attached to the ejection port forming surface can be estimated. Therefore, it suffices to provide an absorbing / adsorbing member capable of absorbing the estimated amount of ink, which enables downsizing of the absorbing / adsorbing member, and further downsizing of the apparatus, and high cleaning effect.

The present invention can be carried out over a wide range without being limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. As shown in FIG. 10, the absorption / adsorption member 119 may be provided on the downstream side of the arrow in the figure. Due to the structure of the recording head, the ejection unit 1a
Are projected from the ink tank portion of the head cartridge 1. Therefore, by providing the absorbing / adsorbing member 119 in the gap portion on the ink tank side, the entire structure can be configured without expanding the space occupied by the head. Further, in this embodiment, the cap is pressed against the absorbing / adsorbing member to remove unnecessary ink and dust from the cap.
As shown in, the absorbing / adsorbing member 119 may be configured to be rotatable, and the head cartridge may be moved with the cap kept in contact therewith to remove unnecessary ink and dust. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a recording apparatus that uses a permanent type as a recording head.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among others, thermal energy is used. In this way, an excellent effect is brought about in an ink jet recording apparatus of the type that ejects ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , Generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. So effective.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a structure based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a structure in which the discharge section is associated with the discharge section. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, as described above, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. . As such a recording head,
Either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the device main body,
Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the device body and supply ink from the device body when mounted on the device body, or an ink tank is integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means to the recording head provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus in the present invention because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, in addition to the above-mentioned capping means, cleaning means, and suction recovery means for the recording head, a pressure-type recovery means, an electrothermal converter, or a heating other than this. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary heating means using an element or a combination thereof and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording.

As described above, regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of recording heads having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to the ink. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either the recording head is integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of color colors or full colors by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies in the standing state is used for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink which has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one which starts to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which the electrothermal converter is opposed to a liquid sheet or a solid material held in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0051]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material, the ejection port forming surface of the recording means is closed. Since the cleaning means for removing the foreign matter adhering to the cap is provided, it is possible to remove the ink, dust, etc. adhering to the cap, which is the cause of the ejection failure, and the recording head with a good ink ejection operation. An inkjet recording apparatus including the above is provided.
According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the cleaning unit is provided on the recording unit, or the cleaning unit easily absorbs ink and absorbs and holds dust. Since it is configured to be an absorbent adsorbent,
An inkjet recording apparatus that can achieve the above effects more efficiently is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording means in FIG.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a head cartridge detachably mounted on the carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the head cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a recovery device for an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a recording and printing processing procedure of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a wiping operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a cleaning operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second embodiment in which the position of the absorption / adsorption member is changed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third embodiment in which the structure of the absorbing / adsorbing member is changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Head Cartridge 2 Carriage 3 Hook 4 Control Lever 5 Support Plate 6 FPC 7 Guide Axis 8 Bearing 9 Timing Belt 10 Pulley 11 Carriage Motor 12 Conveying Roller 13 Conveying Motor 14 Paper Pan 15 Pinch Roller 16 Platen 17 Paper Ejecting Roller 18 Spurs 19 Release Lever 20 Plate 21 Paper Pan Front Part 22 Cap 23 Pump 24 Waste Ink Tank 25 Blade 26 Recovery System Motor 27 Cam 28 Tube 29 Recovery System Home Sensor 30 Carriage Home Sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location 9113-2C B41J 29/00 J

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, comprising a cleaning means for removing foreign matter adhering to a cap for sealing a discharge port forming surface of the recording means. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by being provided. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit is provided on the recording unit. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning means is rotatably provided on the recording means. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning means is an absorbing / adsorbing body that easily absorbs ink and can adsorb and hold dust. . 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the absorbing / adsorbing body is a foamed polymer resin. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording unit is removable. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording unit is integrated with an ink tank. 8. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is an inkjet recording unit including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used to eject ink. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. .