JPH03246038A - Recording head and recorder that can be loaded with the same recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the loading/unloading of each recording head and to prevent a malfunction to improve a throughput by providing a positioning part for positioning the head when it is loaded on a recorder and a shielding member for protecting an electric connection part. CONSTITUTION:Each of recoring heads 1-1-1-4 is detachably loaded on a carriage 504. On the carriage 504, ink supply connecting ports 2 made of an elastic body and connecting parts (connector parts) 3 to be electrically connected to the head 1 are provided on the respective loading positions to ensure that the head 1 can be loaded on the carriage 504 in proper contact with each other. On the other hand, on the lower surface of the recording head 1, the recording head 1 is provided with a connecting tube 8 to be inserted to the ink connecting port 2 for receiving ink of each color supplied from an ink tank 501-1-501-4 provided on the carriage 504, a cover member 10 provided with a shielding part 9 to be nested to each of the connector parts 3, and an electric connection part 11 provided inside the cover member 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording head for recording on a recording material and a recording apparatus to which the recording head can be attached.

[Prior Art] Various recording devices have been known in the past, and these devices include impact methods, thermal methods, thermal transfer methods, inkjet methods, and the like. In recent years, these devices have come to be equipped with a plurality of recording heads in order to meet more diverse recording demands such as full-color recording, gradation expression, and faster recording.

On the other hand, a printhead has a finite lifespan, and in a printing device equipped with multiple printheads, the timing at which a printhead becomes unusable varies depending on the frequency of use, so each printhead is replaced with a new one. A recording device that can do this has been proposed.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional example of an inkjet recording apparatus. In the figure, a recording material 501 is a pair of rollers 5
02 and 503 and conveyed in the direction of the arrow, while the roller pair 502 and 503
The carriage 504 is scanned in the direction of arrow B by a guide rail 507 parallel to the arrow B. 509 is carriage 5
This wire is connected to a part of the motor 04 and stretched between pulleys 508, and is driven by a carriage motor 510. 506-1 to 506-4 are recording heads provided corresponding to four colors of ink, and each joint part 506-
The ink supplied via B is discharged onto the recording material 501 to perform recording. Here, the recording heads 506-1 to 50
6-4 have the same shape except for the type of ink ejected, and 506
A notch 506-A is formed, and when replacing the recording head, hold this notch 506-A with your fingertips.
This allows the recording head to be attached and detached.

Note that 511 is a recovery device for performing a recovery operation on the recording heads 506-1 to 506-4 when an ejection failure occurs.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional example described above, it is necessary to keep the pinch between the print heads sufficiently wide so that the operator can easily replace each print head with a fingertip. For this reason, the carriage that holds the recording head also becomes larger, and the stroke of the carriage must also be expanded, leading to an increase in the size of the apparatus. Furthermore, when the stroke of the carriage is expanded, it becomes necessary to scan the carriage by the pitch of the recording head, resulting in a decrease in throughput. Furthermore, there is another problem in that operations are complicated and difficult due to the protection of the electrical contacts of each recording head and its recording elements during installation. Also,
Because the recording heads have the same shape, the operator may mistakenly install each unique recording head in the wrong position.
There is a risk that ink colors may be mixed, and in this case, since the shapes are the same, the only way to identify them is by the color of the recording liquid in the recording head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in order to solve the problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact recording device in which each recording head can be easily attached and detached, and there is no risk of erroneous operation, and the throughput can be improved. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the recording head of the present invention has the following features:
In a recording head that can be attached to a recording device and records on a recording material, the electrical connection portion, the positioning portion for positioning when attached to the recording device, and the electrical connection portion are protected. The invention is characterized by having a shielding member for. Furthermore, the recording apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatus in which a plurality of recording heads for recording on a recording material are detachably attached to respective mounting parts, and each of the plurality of recording heads has a wire around its electrical connection part. A shielding member that surrounds the electrical connection portion and can position the electrical connection portion to the electrically connected portion of the mounting portion, and a protrusion that is formed integrally with the shielding member and that can be held for attachment and detachment. That is.

[Function] According to the present invention, the electrical connection portion of each recording head is surrounded and protected by the shielding member, and when the recording head is attached, the shielding member protects each electrical connection portion from the mounting portion side. Since the recording head is positioned at the electrically connected portion, for example, by making the opposing configurations of the electrically connected portion and the electrically connected portion different for each recording head, it is possible to output a unique connection detection signal via the electrically connected portion. can. In addition, by making the protrusion formed integrally with the shielding member almost perpendicular to the recording material, it is possible to attach and detach the heads without interfering with each other, and to maintain a narrow mounting interval between the heads. be able to.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below in detail and specifically based on the drawings.

1 and 2 show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows each recording head 1 (in this example, a recording head 1 (in this example, a recording head 1) that separately ejects ink of four colors: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
recording heads l-1゜1-2.1-3 and 1-4)
FIG. 2 shows one of these recording heads 1 taken out. The inkjet recording device shown in FIG. 6 is an inkjet recording device to which the present invention can be applied except for the recording head, connector, and ink connection port, and is an inkjet recording device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Use explanation. That is, the carriage 504 moves along the guide rail 507 in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. A unique ink is ejected toward each recording material 501 held by the recording material 501, and recording is performed.

Here, each recording head I-1 to 1-4 is mounted on a carriage 504.
Each carriage 504 is removably attached to the top of the carriage 504, but in order to ensure that they are attached neatly and in contact with each other, there is an ink supply connection port 2 formed of an elastic material at each attachment position on the carriage 504, and an electrical connection port 2 for connecting the head 1. A connecting portion (hereinafter referred to as a connector portion) 3 for physical connection is provided. On the other hand, in the recording head 1, for example, a carriage 504 is inserted into each ink connection port 2 on the lower surface side.
A cover member lO having a connecting tube 8 for receiving supply of ink of each color from the ink tanks 501-1 to 501-4 mounted on the unit and a shielding portion 9 fitted over each connector portion 3. and an electrical connection part 11 provided inside thereof. Therefore, each recording head 1 is configured such that, for example, the recording head 1-1 shown in FIG. The recording head 1 is mounted on the carriage 4 by the operator lowering the recording head 1 from directly above the carriage 504 so that the shielding part 9 fits into the connector part 3 (FIG. 3A).

Figure 3B).

As mentioned above, reference numeral 11 denotes an electrical connection section provided in each recording head l in correspondence with each connector section 3.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the electrical connection section 11 provided on the recording head 1 includes a card-engine type male terminal section 12 formed of a conductive foil layer, and a notch section 13.
The above-mentioned cover member 10 and its shielding portion 9 surround the electrical connection portion 11 to protect it from the outside. As shown in FIG. 1, the position of the notch 13 is different for each recording head 1-1-1-4, and the shape of the electrode formed in the male terminal part 12 is different from that of the notch 13. It differs for each recording head depending on the position. On the other hand, the female terminal portion 14 (see FIG. 3B) provided in the insertion port 3A of the connector portion 3 is also located at a position corresponding to the position of the notch portion 13 of the recording head 1 to be attached. It's a change.

Therefore, when the recording head 1 is installed in the correct position on the apparatus main body side, the electrical connection part 11 is connected to the female terminal part 1 on the main body side.
4, and when the two are connected, electricity is supplied to the recording pad 1.

When electricity is applied, an electrothermal converter (not shown) provided at each discharge port generates heat, causing film boiling to form bubbles, and the growth and contraction of the bubbles causes the flow from the desired discharge port. Recording is performed on the recording material 501 by ejecting ink.

In the recording apparatus configured as described above, when it becomes necessary to replace the recording head 1, hold the protrusion 15 formed at the upper end of the cover member 10 with your fingertips and safely place it on the carriage 4. It can be attached and detached at a predetermined position. Therefore, in the installed state, the ink connection tube 8 on the side of the recording head 1 is inserted into the ink connection port 2 on the side of the carriage 4, and the electrical connection tube 8 of the recording head 1 is inserted into the connector section 3 without touching the electrical connection section 11 of the recording head 1. to be electrically connected. However, in this case, if the recording head is not installed in the correct position by mistake,
Since the forming electrode in the male terminal part 12 and the female terminal part 14 are not connected, the hue identification signal that is sent from the recording head only when the recording head is correctly installed cannot be obtained, and as will be described later, it is incorrectly installed. Warning means 1 provided on the device main body
The operator is notified by 07.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the recording head control means related to the apparatus of this example.

In the figure, 101 is a CPU in the form of a microcomputer, for example, and controls each part based on a processing procedure described later. 103 is a ROM that stores programs and fixed data that correspond to the processing procedures executed by the CPU10I.
It is. Reference numeral 105 denotes a RAM, which stores image information sent from the host device 100, which is an image data supply source, in a state where it is expanded for each color, for example, for one line, and the CPU 10I stores the image information sent from the host device 100, which is an image data supply source, in a state in which it is expanded for each color. The drive is controlled, and 107 is a warning means such as a buzzer or an alarm, which is used to make the operator aware that the state of the device is inappropriate. 130 is recording head 1
A recovery system that includes a cap, pump, and their drive system to prevent and recover from ink clogging.
111 is the carriage 4 shown in FIG.
121 is a drive circuit for driving a line feed motor 120 (not shown) for conveying the recording material. 201-204 are recording heads 1-1-1
This is a drive circuit for driving the ejection energy generating elements 30-1 to 30-N arranged corresponding to each of the ink ejection ports 5 of -4. 205-208 is record rad 1
This is a hue detection circuit that detects hue information obtained through each of the electrical connections 11 from -1 to 1-4.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the processing procedure for recording head detection and control operations by the circuit described above.

This procedure is performed when the power is turned on or when recording is completed, for example, when recording of one line or multiple shares is completed and the carriage 4 starts returning to the movement start position (home position or reverse position) during the recording operation. It can be activated together with one line of recorded material feeding (line feed) processing.

FIG. 5A shows the presence or absence of a recording head and the procedure for detecting and determining the presence or absence of each color. First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the recording head 1 is loaded on each connector section 3 on the carriage 4, and if it is determined that there is not, step S5
The process proceeds to SIO via , and information that there is no recording head 1 in the corresponding connector section 3 is stored in the RAM 105 . Moreover, if it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step S2, and in each step from step S2 onwards, the hue of the stacked recording heads 1 is determined. That is, step S2.
S3゜S4. In S5, it is serially determined whether it is yellow, magenta, cyan, or black, and further, through steps S6 to SIO, the hue information of the recording head 1 attached to the corresponding connector section 3 is stored in the RAM 105. Note that each step above applies to all recording heads 1-
This process is repeated for the connector parts 3 corresponding to numbers 1 to 1-4.

FIG. 5B shows a procedure for transmitting a drive signal to the recording head.

At the same time that image information is sent from the host device 100, which is an image data supply source, first, in step Sl, the RAM 10 is
From the information stored in 5 to each connector section 3, record rad 1
-1 to 1-4 are respectively installed in the correct positions. If there is a connector section 3 to which no recording head is attached, or if the wrong recording head is attached, the process proceeds to step 20, where a warning is issued by a warning means 107 such as a buzzer or an alarm.
The operator is informed that the recording head 1 is not attached. Further, if a negative determination is made in step Sll, that is, if it is determined that all the recording heads are attached, the process proceeds to step S12. In step 12, it is determined whether a plurality of recording heads 1 of the same color are mistakenly stacked. If the judgment is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 20, and the process is the same as above (a warning is generated by the warning means 107 such as a buzzer or an alarm, and the operator is informed that a plurality of recording heads 1 of the same color are loaded. If the determination is negative, the process advances to step 13. In the steps after step 13, the hue of the transmitted information is determined, and based on the affirmative determination, steps S13 to S13 are performed serially for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. After S19,
A drive signal is transmitted to the corresponding recording head drive circuits 201 to 204.

The embodiments described above include yellow, magenta, cyan,
Although the present invention has been described with respect to an inkjet recording apparatus using inks of four different hues, ie, black, the present invention can also be applied to an inkjet recording apparatus capable of expressing gradations using inks of the same hue with different densities.

Further, in the above embodiment, as a detection means for detecting the mounting position of each print head, an example was shown in which the position of a notch provided in the electrical connection part of the print head is changed for each hue of ink. For example, it is also possible to make the fitting state between the shielding part and the connector different depending on the hue of the ink.

In addition, in order to generate different electrical signals depending on the hue of the ink, the hue can be determined by making the properties (e.g., resistance) of the elements arranged on the electrical board of the electrical connection part different for each recording head. It is also possible to do so.

(Others) The present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in a bubble jet type recording head and recording apparatus among inkjet recording types.

This is because such a system can achieve higher recording density and higher definition.

As for typical configurations and principles thereof, it is preferable to use the basic principles disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it is necessary to arrange the liquid (ink) in accordance with the sheet and liquid path that hold it. The electrothermal converter that is
Generating thermal energy in the electrothermal transducer and producing film boiling on the thermally active surface of the recording head by applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise above nucleate boiling. As a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal, which is effective. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes the liquid to be discharged through the discharge opening to form at least one drop.If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, the growth and contraction of the bubble will occur immediately and appropriately.
Particularly responsive liquid (ink) ejection can be achieved,
More preferred. This pulse-shaped drive signal is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262.
Those described in the specification are suitable. Furthermore, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning the invention regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

The configuration of the recording head includes, in addition to the combination configuration of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the wafer is placed in a bending region. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-1999 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as the discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters.
No. 9-123670 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59/1989 which discloses a configuration in which a discharge portion is made to correspond to an opening that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy.
The effects of the present invention are also effective even if the structure is based on the publication No.-138461. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, according to the present invention, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Furthermore, 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 medium that can be recorded by a recording apparatus.

Such a recording head may have either a configuration in which the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, even with the serial type shown above, the recording head is fixed to the device body, or by being attached to the device body, electrical connection to the device body and ink supply from the device body are possible. The present invention is also effective when using a replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus, to the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element, or a combination thereof; It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing in order to perform stable printing.

In addition, regarding the type and number of recording heads installed, for example, in addition to one type that corresponds to single-color ink, there is also a plurality of recording heads that correspond to multiple inks with different recording colors and densities. It may be something that can be done. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording device is not only a recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but also a recording mode of multiple colors of different colors. The present invention is also extremely effective for devices equipped with one or more full colors, or full colors by color mixing.

Additionally, in the embodiments of the present invention described above,
Although ink is described as a liquid, it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below, but softens or liquefies at room temperature, or in an inkjet method, the ink itself is
Generally, the temperature is adjusted within the range of 0°C or more and 70°C or less so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range, so even if the ink is in a liquid state when the recording signal is applied. Bye. In addition, the temperature increase caused by thermal energy can be actively prevented by using the energy to change the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or ink that solidifies when left standing is used to prevent ink evaporation. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal, and the liquid ink is ejected, or the ink has already begun to solidify by the time it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable when using ink that is liquefied only by energy. The ink used in this case is
Publication No. 4-56847 or JP-A-60-71260
As described in the above publication, the porous sheet may be held in a liquid or solid state in the recesses or through-holes of the porous sheet, facing the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is to implement the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, in addition to being used as an image output terminal for information processing equipment such as a computer, the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention may also take the form of a copying machine combined with a league, etc., or a facsimile machine having a transmission/reception function. It may also be something.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, each recording head is provided with a shield that surrounds the electrical connection portion and allows the electrical connection portion to be positioned on the electrically connected portion of the respective mounting portion. By providing a member, each recording head can be mounted safely, securely and easily, improving operability and reliability.In addition, by integrating the shielding member, the protrusion for attaching and detaching can be attached to the recording material, making it possible to attach the recording head almost vertically. Since the recording heads are provided protruding in the direction, the pitch between the plurality of recording heads can be kept to the minimum dimension, making it possible to downsize the apparatus and improve throughput. In addition, since a unique connection detection signal is output from the electrical connection part of each of the plurality of printheads when each printhead is installed, it is possible to eliminate the risk of incorrect installation of the printhead and the resulting mixing of ink colors. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the installed state of the recording head as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one of the recording heads shown in FIG. 1 taken out, and FIGS. 3A and 3B. 1 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the mounting section shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a drive and control circuit of the recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are a detection diagram of the recording head according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus. 1.1-1 to 1-4... Recording head, 2... Ink connection section, 3... Connector section, 4... Carriage, 5... Ink discharge port, 8... Connection tube . 9... Shield part, 10... Cover member, 11... Electrical connection part, 12... Male type terminal part, I3... Notch part, 14... Female type terminal part, 15. ...Protrusion, 30-1 to 30-N...Discharge energy generating element, 1
01...CPU. 103...ROM. ...RAM, ...warning means, ~204...drive circuit, ~208...hue detection circuit. Akebonusu I”?
Figure 1, I21+ = Hosushi Ikkun- no Tsukei 1, Figure 3A Figure 5A Desired Resistance to G0 Figure 3B

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A recording head that can be attached to a recording device and records on a recording material, comprising: an electrical connection portion; a positioning portion for positioning when attached to the recording device; A recording head comprising: a shielding member for protecting the electrical connection portion. 2) The recording head according to claim 1, further comprising: an electrothermal transducer that generates heat when energized from the electrical connection portion; and an ejection port that ejects ink by the heat generated by the electrothermal transducer. 3) The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection section is connectable to an electrically connected section on the main body side when the electrical connection section is installed at a correct position on the main body of the apparatus. 4) A recording device for recording on a recording material, comprising: an electrical connection section, a positioning section for positioning when installed in the recording device, and a shielding member for protecting the electrical connection section. a mounting part to which a recording head having a recording head can be mounted; a control means for controlling energization to the recording head mounted on the mounting part; and a transport means for transporting a recording material. recording device. 5) The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording head discharges ink using thermal energy, and includes an electrothermal converter for generating the thermal energy. . 6) A recording device in which a plurality of recording heads for recording on a recording material can be attached to and detached from respective mounting parts, and each of the plurality of recording heads is provided with a wire that surrounds the electrical connection part thereof and also includes a recording head that can be attached to each of the plurality of recording heads. A recording device comprising: a shielding member capable of positioning an electrical connection portion to an electrically connected portion of the mounting portion; and a protrusion formed integrally with the shielding member and capable of being held for attachment and detachment. 7) The electrical connection portion of each of the plurality of recording heads outputs a respective unique connection detection signal while being positioned at the electrically connected portion of the mounting portion.
Recording device described in . 8) The recording device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion protrudes substantially perpendicularly to the recording material. 9) The recording head is of a type that uses thermal energy to eject ink and performs recording as flying ink droplets. Recording device.