JP2009083175A - Ink-jet head and ink-jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet head whose relative position in a sub-scanning direction can be easily and highly accurately placed when a plurality of ink-jet heads are used and to provide an ink-jet recording device. <P>SOLUTION: The ink-jet head is provided with: a plurality of nozzle openings 101 for discharging ink; a nozzle row 104 configured by arranging the nozzle openings 101 at a constant interval; and a plurality of positioning projections a102 and a plurality of positioning projections b103 arranged in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row. When the arrangement direction of the nozzle row is defined as an X-direction, the discharge direction of the ink is defined as a Z-direction and a direction perpendicular to the X-direction and the Z-direction is defined as a Y-direction, the lengths of the other positioning projections b103 are changed by arbitrary dimensions respectively in the X-direction, with respect to the positioning projections a102 being a reference. The ink-jet head and the ink-jet recording device are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet head and an ink jet recording apparatus applied to a printer, a fax machine, and the like.

  A serial printing type ink jet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 is reciprocated in a main scanning direction which is mounted on a carriage 2 and transported at least in a sub scanning direction (not shown) and is mounted on a carriage 2 and orthogonal to the sub scanning direction. A moving inkjet head 1 is provided. The ink-jet head 1 has a large number of nozzle openings arranged at regular intervals in the sub-scanning direction, and ejects ink from the ink-jet head 1 at a desired timing on the basis of print data so as to land on the surface of the recording medium. It is the structure which forms.

  Particularly, in a large-sized ink jet recording apparatus that forms a large image on a relatively large recording medium, a large capacity main tank 5 is provided on the ink jet recording apparatus main body side as an ink supply source in order to consume a large amount of ink. Furthermore, a configuration is adopted in which a sub tank 9 is provided in the middle of an ink supply tube a7 connecting the main tank 5 and the inkjet head 1 to supply ink to the inkjet head 1.

  When an image is formed using a plurality of inkjet heads 1 such as when printing with multiple colors, the relative positions of the inkjet heads 1 need to be installed with high accuracy. As a method for accurately setting the relative position, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-162811, a method of fixing the inkjet head 1 using positioning protrusions, or as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-113679. A method of adjusting individual inkjet heads 1 is common. In particular, when a large number of ink-jet heads 1 are used for each color, the physical resolution is determined by the relative positions of the ink-jet heads 1 in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, management of dimensional accuracy greatly affects the print quality. .

  The main tank 5 serving as an ink supply source has a structure that can be attached to a main tank storage portion 6 provided at a predetermined position in the apparatus. The main tank 5 is equipped with an air shielding container 5a capable of storing ink sufficiently deaerated during the ink injection process. In this example, the air shielding container 5a is a gusset type formed of a flexible material. This is a bag-shaped ink pack, and a sufficient quality gas barrier property is secured by providing an aluminum foil layer on one layer of a flexible material.

  A rubber septum (not shown) is provided at the coupling end of the air shielding container 5a with the ink supply path, and is stored in the air shielding container 5a by the insertion coupling of the needle 6a provided in the main body main tank housing portion 6. The main tank 5 is detachably disposed in the main tank housing 6 without reducing the deaeration rate of the deaerated ink. The needle 6a provided in the main tank housing portion 6 is connected to an ink supply tube a7 made of a flexible tube, and one end of the ink supply tube a7 is extended from the ink inlet of the sub tank 9 by a flexible tube. It is connected to a coupling member (not shown) provided at the end portion. A suction pump 8 for pumping the deaerated ink stored in the main tank 5 to the sub tank 9 is disposed in the middle of the ink supply tube a7.

  The sub tank 9 is provided with a flexible ink bag, and an ink supply tube made of a flexible tube is connected to a connecting member provided at a terminal portion extended from the ink outlet of the sub tank 9 by a flexible tube. One end of b10 is connected, and the other end of the ink supply tube b10 is connected to the inkjet head 1 via the pressure buffer 20 on the carriage 2. In this embodiment, the sub-tank 9 is attached to a sub-tank holder (not shown) that is easily disposed at a predetermined position of the main body by detaching the connecting member, the ink supply tube a7, and the ink supply tube b10 provided near the ink outflow inlet. 9 can be attached and removed.

Further, a service station for cleaning the inkjet head 1 and the like is provided outside the non-printing area in the main scanning direction. The capping unit 3 for sealing the nozzle formation surface of the inkjet head 1 is disposed in this service station. Has been. A negative pressure can be applied to the capping unit 3 by the suction pump 4, and an air release valve is provided so that the negative pressure state of the capping unit 3 can be opened. With this configuration, a cleaning operation for removing dust accumulated in the inkjet head 1 and an initial ink filling operation into the apparatus can be performed.
JP 2001-162811 A JP 2001-113679 A

  As described above, when a plurality of the same inkjet heads are used, the relative position between the inkjet heads greatly affects the print quality. When positioning a plurality of ink-jet heads individually, it is necessary to adjust each ink-jet head each time the ink-jet heads are re-installed for maintenance or the like. In addition, when positioning a plurality of inkjet heads using positioning protrusions, a positioning plane is required for each inkjet head, and as a result, there are many processing surfaces that require high processing accuracy in the carriage. The processing cost of the carriage becomes expensive.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet head and an ink jet recording apparatus that can easily and accurately set the relative position in the sub-scanning direction when a plurality of ink jet heads are used.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, in the inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging ink and a nozzle array configured by arranging the nozzle openings at regular intervals, the nozzle array A plurality of positioning projections for positioning the inkjet head in the arrangement direction of the nozzle array, the arrangement direction of the nozzle row is the X direction, the ink discharge direction is the Z direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction is Y In the inkjet head, the length in the X direction of the other positioning protrusions is different from the length in the X direction of the positioning protrusion as a reference.

  A second aspect of the present invention is an ink jet head according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of positioning protrusions are arranged side by side in the Y direction.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the ink jet head according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of positioning protrusions are arranged side by side in the Z direction.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the difference between the plurality of positioning protrusion lengths is an integral fraction of the nozzle interval in the X direction of the nozzle openings. In the characteristic inkjet head.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is an ink jet head according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the plurality of positioning protrusions are machined to increase positioning accuracy.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage for arranging a plurality of the inkjet heads according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein an arbitrary position of the inkjet head is set at one installation position of the inkjet head. In the carriage, the positioning projections are positioned by being in contact with an arbitrary positioning plane on the carriage.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the carriage according to the sixth aspect, wherein the plurality of positioning planes are configured on the same plane.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the carriage according to the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the plurality of inkjet heads that are positioned in the same plane are the plurality of inkjet heads that eject ink of the same color. is there.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the carriage according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, wherein the positioning plane in contact with the positioning protrusion can be disassembled.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus comprising the ink jet head according to any one of the first to fifth aspects and the carriage according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects. .

  By adopting the above structure, the relative positions of the inkjet heads can be installed with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a basic configuration relating to ink supply of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a carriage 2 is mounted with an inkjet head 1 and is supported on a recording medium (not shown) disposed below the inkjet head 1 so as to be able to reciprocate in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. .

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating the inkjet head 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The inkjet head 1 of the present invention includes a plurality of nozzle openings 101 for ejecting ink, a nozzle array 104 configured by arranging the nozzle openings 101 at regular intervals, and a plurality of nozzle arrays arranged in the nozzle array arrangement direction. Positioning projections a102 and positioning projections b103 are provided. When the nozzle array 104 is arranged in the X direction, the ink ejection direction is the Z direction, and the X direction and the direction perpendicular to the Z direction are the Y direction, the reference positioning The length of the other positioning protrusion b103 in the X direction is different from the length of the protrusion a102 in the X direction.

  In FIG. 2, the positioning protrusions a <b> 102 and the positioning protrusion b <b> 103 are arranged side by side in the Y direction, but may be arranged side by side in the Z direction as shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange them side by side on the YZ plane, such as arranging them in the vertical and horizontal directions in the Y and Z directions. 2 and 4, there are two positioning projections a102 and positioning projections b103. However, the present invention is applicable even when there are three or more positioning projections a102 and positioning projections b103.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram when the ink jet head 1 of FIG. 2 is viewed from the Z direction. As shown here, the nozzle openings 101 form a nozzle row 104 with a nozzle interval p105 in the X direction. Further, the positioning projection a102 and the positioning projection b103 have a projection length difference s106. In the case where three or more positioning protrusions a102 and positioning protrusions b103 are provided, the reference positioning protrusion a102 is longer than the reference positioning protrusion a102 by an integral multiple of the protrusion length difference s106, such as s × 1, s × 2, s × 3. It is desirable to change the length. Details thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the arrangement when the inkjet head 1 of the present invention is placed on the carriage 2. At this time, the X direction is the sub-scanning direction, and the Y direction is the main scanning direction.

  FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram when FIG. 5 is viewed from the Z direction. Each inkjet head 1 is positioned in the Y direction so that the nozzle rows 104 are parallel to each other. In the X direction, a positioning projection a102 and a positioning plane a202, and a positioning projection b103 and a positioning plane b203 are arranged such that only an arbitrary positioning projection is in contact with an arbitrary positioning plane with respect to one inkjet head 1. ing. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the positioning plane a202 and the positioning plane b203 of the carriage 201 may be divided into two parts, and the inkjet head may be positioned by contacting each with a positioning projection. As shown in FIG. 5, the positioning plane a202 and the positioning plane b203 may be configured on the same plane. When the positioning planes are configured in the same plane, it is unnecessary to align the relative positions in the X direction of the respective planes as compared with the case where the positioning planes are divided into two. It is possible to reduce the relative dimensional tolerance of the plane b203. By adopting such a configuration, the relative positions of the inkjet heads 1 can be installed with high accuracy in the X direction without adjusting the positions of the individual inkjet heads 1.

  Here, the effect by shifting the relative position of the inkjet head 1 using this invention is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 6, when the number of inkjet heads 1 is two, if the protrusion length difference s106 is set to s × 2 = nozzle interval p105, the inkjet heads 1 are arranged side by side to be arranged in the X direction. The nozzle density is doubled. In the Y direction, which is the main scanning direction, by adjusting the ejection timing and ejecting ink, the output result recorded on the recording medium has twice the resolution as compared with the case where one inkjet head 1 is used. be able to. Similarly, even when there are n inkjet heads 1 for which relative positions are to be ensured, if s × n = p, it is possible to obtain a resolution that is n times that of the case where one inkjet head 1 is used. In general, since the relative position of the inkjet head 1 that discharges the same color ink needs to be positioned with particularly high accuracy, the positioning plane a 202 and the positioning plane b 203 should be the same plane for each ink of the same color. Further, the positioning accuracy can be further increased by finely machining the positioning protrusion a102 and the positioning protrusion b103.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram in the case where the positioning plane a202 and the positioning plane b203 in the present invention are structured to be disassembled. In an ink jet recording apparatus, an image is recorded by reciprocating the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction. Therefore, in order to reduce the weight of the carriage 2, a light metal such as aluminum is often used as the material of the carriage body 201. Many. Since the positioning protrusion a102 and the positioning protrusion b103 provided on the inkjet head 1 are small in shape, scratches or the like due to pressing on the positioning plane a202 and the positioning plane b203 are likely to occur. Accordingly, the positioning member 204 can be exchanged by providing the positioning plane a 202 and the positioning plane b 203 as separate components as the positioning member 204. In addition, it is possible to prevent a decrease in positioning accuracy due to repeated loading and unloading by using a material having high surface hardness such as stainless steel to make it difficult to be scratched.

Although the form of this figure demonstrated the structure containing the some inkjet head 1 corresponding to 1 color of printing in a serial-type inkjet recording device, if it is along the main point of this embodiment, other embodiment will be excluded. It is not a thing.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a basic configuration of an inkjet head according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which showed typically the inkjet head which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed typically the inkjet head which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram when the schematic diagram of the inkjet head which concerns on Example 1 of this invention is seen from a Z direction. It is the block diagram which showed typically arrangement | positioning when the inkjet head of this invention is mounted in a carriage. It is the block diagram which showed typically the arrangement | positioning when the inkjet head of this invention is mounted in a carriage when it sees from a Z direction. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a case where a positioning plane can be disassembled in the carriage of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Inkjet head (recording means)
2 Carriage 5 Main tank 7 Ink supply tube a
9 Sub tank 10 Ink supply tube b
101 Nozzle opening 102 Positioning protrusion a
103 Positioning protrusion b
104 Nozzle row 105 Nozzle spacing p
106 Difference in protrusion length s
201 Carriage body 202 Positioning plane a
203 Positioning plane b
204 Positioning member

Claims (10)

In an inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle openings for ejecting ink and a nozzle array configured by arranging the nozzle openings at a constant interval,
A plurality of positioning projections for positioning the inkjet head in the nozzle row arrangement direction are provided, the nozzle row arrangement direction is the X direction, and the ink ejection direction is the Z direction, the X direction and the Z direction perpendicular to the nozzle direction. An inkjet head characterized in that when the direction is the Y direction, the length of the other positioning projections in the X direction is different from the length of the positioning projections serving as a reference in the X direction.   2. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioning protrusions are arranged side by side in the Y direction.   2. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioning protrusions are arranged in the Z direction.   4. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein a difference between the lengths of the plurality of positioning protrusions is an integral fraction of a nozzle interval in the X direction of the nozzle openings.   5. The ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioning protrusions are machined to improve positioning accuracy.   6. A carriage for arranging a plurality of the ink jet heads according to claim 1, wherein only an arbitrary positioning projection of the ink jet head is arbitrarily positioned on the carriage at an installation position of the one ink jet head. A carriage characterized by positioning by contacting a flat surface.   7. The carriage according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of positioning planes are configured on the same plane.   8. The carriage according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of inkjet heads positioned on the same plane are the plurality of inkjet heads that eject ink of the same color.   9. The carriage according to claim 6, wherein a positioning plane in contact with the positioning projection can be disassembled.   An ink jet recording apparatus comprising the ink jet head according to claim 1 and the carriage according to claim 6.

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