JP2002321351A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device capable of reducing effects on the position accuracy and precision in movement of a moving record body caused by force added to the moving record body by a flexible member, in a recording device equipped with a plurality of flexible members such as cables and tubes for connecting the moving recording body which serially moves to the recording device main body side. SOLUTION: The recording device which records on a recording medium has the moving record body including a recording head 1 and a carriage 4 for recording on the recording medium while serially moving relative to the recording device main body in opposition to the recording medium, a moving mechanism for making a serial movement of the moving record body, and a plurality of flexible members such as a recording head flexible cable 22 and an ink tube 3 for connecting the moving record body to the recording device body. The plurality of flexible members are connected between the recording device body and the moving record body, holding the moving channel of the moving record body between and from the opposite side respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus provided with a moving recording body for serially moving toward a recording medium and performing recording on the recording medium. A carriage alone, a recording head mounted on the carriage, a recording head mounted on the carriage, an ink tank, an ink tank, etc.) and a flexible member such as an electric cable or an ink supply tube for connecting the recording apparatus main body. The present invention relates to a recording device including a plurality of recording devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording medium is conveyed through a recording area where recording is performed by a recording head as recording means.
There is a so-called serial printing apparatus that performs desired printing on the surface of a printing medium using a printing head while moving a carriage in the width direction of the printing medium being conveyed. In general, this serial type recording apparatus needs to transmit an electric signal for causing a recording head mounted on a carriage to perform a recording operation from a control board of the apparatus main body, and the carriage and the control board are electrically connected via a cable. Connected to. When a plurality of recording heads are mounted on a carriage, there is a case where the number of electric cables is plural.

Further, in the above-described serial type recording apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by ejecting ink droplets from ink ejection ports provided in a recording head and attaching the ink droplets to a recording medium or the like has recently been used. Spreading rapidly. The ink jet recording head mounted on this ink jet recording apparatus is often of a type in which an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording head is mounted on a carriage together with the recording head. However, recently, 1
In order to increase the amount of ink that can be supplied from one ink tank, the ink tank is mounted on a fixed installation location of the apparatus main body without being mounted on the carriage, and ink is supplied from this ink tank to the recording head on the carriage with a tube or the like There is a so-called tube supply type ink jet recording apparatus. When a plurality of ink jet recording heads are mounted on the carriage, some ink supply tubes may be plural.

[0004] In a serial recording apparatus, these cables for electrical connection or tubes for supplying ink are used.
Once connected or fixed to the moving carriage, it is connected to a recording head or ink tank mounted thereon, or is directly connected to a recording head or ink tank mounted on the carriage. The cables and tubes are formed of a flexible member, and can be deformed in accordance with the movement of the carriage so as not to hinder the movement.

[0005]

However, the conventional recording apparatus as described above has the following problems.

A moving carriage, or a cable or tube connected to a recording head or an ink tank mounted on the carriage has a length that allows the carriage to move within a predetermined range. Bending occurs on the way. In the bent portion, a restoring force is generated to return the carriage straight, and the force is applied to the carriage and becomes a load (external force acting on the carriage). For example, a load is applied to the carriage from an electrical connection cable or a tube. There are cases.

Such a load on the carriage affects the positional accuracy and the movement accuracy of the carriage. In addition, the load fluctuates during the movement of the carriage, which hinders a stable and accurate printing operation. May be
This may lead to a decrease in recording quality.

[0008] In addition, the cable and the ink tube usually have some slack at least during the movement of the carriage. Therefore, there is a problem that the cable and the ink tube may hang down over time due to their own weight. In particular, except when the recording operation is being performed, the carriage is moved to a predetermined position and stands by, but at this time, if the cable and the ink tube are held for a long time with slack, The cable or the ink tube may be deformed by its own weight, and the deformation may remain as a steady deformation. If the cable or ink tube hangs down in this way, it may come into contact with other members in the recording device, causing damage to the cable or ink tube itself or the member that has come into contact, or deformation of the ink tube due to twisting of the ink tube or the like. There is a concern that factors that impair the reliability of the recording operation, such as instability of the recording, may increase.

[0009] The above-described problem arises when the flexible member connecting the carriage or the member mounted thereon and the main body side is only a cable or only a tube. It can happen as well.

[0010] Further, the ink tube for supplying a large amount of ink is meticulously paid attention to ink leakage from the ink tube and the like, and measures against leakage are taken. There is a concern that contact with a non-compliant component, such as a control board or an electric cable, may cause a major trouble such as failure of the electric component. Therefore, it is necessary to configure the apparatus so as to protect the electric components including the electric connection cable as much as possible even in an emergency where ink leakage occurs from the ink tube.

An object of the present invention is to provide a moving recording body (for example, a carriage alone, a recording head mounted on the carriage, a recording head mounted on the carriage, an ink tank, an ink tank, etc.) which moves serially, and a recording apparatus main body. In a recording apparatus having a plurality of flexible members such as a cable and a tube connected to the side, recording that can reduce the influence on the positional accuracy and the movement accuracy of the moving recording body due to the force applied to the moving recording body by the flexible member. It is to provide a device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus which can prevent deformation of a flexible member such as a cable or a tube connected to a moving recording body of a serial recording apparatus due to its own weight. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the ink from coming into contact with the electric components even if ink leaks from the ink tube connected to the moving recording body of the serial recording apparatus or its surroundings. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device which can perform the recording.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus wherein a first flexible member and a second flexible member for connecting a serially moving moving recording body and a main body of the recording apparatus are provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which is connected to a moving recording medium from opposite sides with respect to a path.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus of a serial moving type, in which even if a liquid leaks at a connection portion of a tube to a recording means, the leaked liquid is transferred to the recording means and a carriage. It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which has a low possibility of wrapping around to a side opposite to a connecting portion of a tube, and can prevent liquid from contacting a connecting portion of a cable provided on the opposite side.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a serial moving type recording apparatus in which a first flexible member and a second flexible member for connecting a moving recording body and a recording apparatus main body side are provided. The moving recording body is connected to the moving recording body from opposite sides with respect to the moving path of the moving recording body, and the curved shape of the first flexible member and the curved shape of the second flexible member correspond to the movement of the moving recording body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device having shapes symmetrical with each other with respect to a path.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention is a recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium, wherein the recording apparatus faces the recording medium and serially moves with respect to the recording apparatus main body. Recording medium for performing recording on the recording medium, a moving mechanism for serially moving the moving recording medium, and a plurality of flexible members connecting the moving recording body and the recording apparatus main body. The member is connected from the recording apparatus main body to the moving recording body from opposite sides with respect to the moving path of the moving recording body.

According to this configuration, the forces applied to the moving recording medium by the flexible members can be weakened by the forces applied by the flexible members connected from opposite sides.

The flexible member may be an electric cable and / or an ink tube.

The moving recording medium may include a carriage for serially moving the recording head, a recording head mounted on the carriage, and an ink tank mounted on the carriage.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The recording apparatus used in the following description mainly has an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage, and electrically connects the ink jet recording head to a control board on the apparatus main body side by a flexible cable for electric connection. In addition, an ink supply tube is connected between the ink jet recording head and the ink tank on the apparatus main body so that ink can be supplied. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and the carriage includes not only an ink jet recording head but also an ink tank, and a tank information holding memory attached to the ink tank and a control board on the apparatus body side. May be connected by a cable, or ink may be supplied to the ink tank mounted on the carriage from a large ink tank on the apparatus main body side by a tube.

Further, a form in which these cables and tubes are directly connected to an ink jet recording head, a form in which these cables and tubes are directly connected to an ink tank, a method in which cables and tubes are once connected to a carriage, and The connection may be made to the ink jet recording head and the ink tank via the internal piping. That is, the other side where the flexible member such as a cable or a tube is connected to the apparatus main body side may be a member mounted on a carriage such as an ink jet recording head or an ink tank, or the carriage itself.

In any case, according to the present invention, two or more flexible members are connected to the apparatus main body side with respect to the carriage or the members mounted on the carriage (all of them are referred to as a recording moving body). It can be suitably used in the recording apparatus described above, and has an effect.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a tube supply type ink jet recording apparatus as an embodiment according to the present invention. 2 and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the lateral direction, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the carriage. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are plan views of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
Shows an enlarged view of the vicinity of the carriage. FIG.
5 to 5 show the configuration of the mechanism in a state where a case forming the outer shell of the recording apparatus is removed.

This ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a means for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink (liquid) among the ink jet recording methods, and the state change of the ink is changed by the thermal energy. A recording head 1 of a type which causes the recording head 1 is mounted. By using this method, the density of pixels can be increased,
High resolution of recorded images has been achieved.

The recording head 1 discharges ink toward a recording medium 6 such as recording paper conveyed by a conveying means, that is, the recording head 1 is provided with a surface (ink discharging surface) provided with a discharge port for discharging ink downward. Is mounted on the carriage 4. The carriage 4 is slidably mounted on a guide shaft 5 fixed to a chassis 17 and extending in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction on the conveyance path of the recording medium 6. A timing belt 25 is connected to the carriage 4 so as to circulate around the carriage pulleys 13a and 13b. The carriage motor 12 is connected to the carriage pulley 13a.
3a, the carriage 4 can be reciprocated via the timing belt 25.

The recording head 1 has a recording head flexible cable 21 for transmitting a signal for selectively driving a means for generating energy for ejecting ink, a driving power, and the like, and supplies the ejecting ink to the recording head. And an ink tube 3 for connection. They are,
The recording head 1 is connected to the recording head 1 from the side opposite to the recording head 1. In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, a panel operation unit (panel unit) 24 including an operation switch that allows a user to input various commands and a display unit that displays the state of the apparatus is provided. An ink tube 3 is connected from the front side where main operations are performed. Then, the recording head flexible cable 2
1 is connected from the back side.

At this time, the flexible cable 21 is connected to the recording head 1 via a carriage board 36 provided on the back of the carriage 4. That is, the flexible cable 21 is connected to the rear side of the carriage board 36 via the flexible connector 38, and the recording head 1 is configured such that the recording head electric contact portion 33 provided on the rear side thereof is connected to the front side of the carriage board 36. And is connected by being in contact with a head connector 37 provided at the same time.

The ink tube 3 is connected by inserting a tube joint 35 provided at an end thereof into a recording head ink joint 34 provided on the front side of the recording head 1.

The connection of the ink flow path and the connection of the electrical connection portion of the recording head 1 are performed as follows. First, by mounting the print head 1 at a predetermined position on the carriage, the print head electrical contact portion 33 is pressed into contact with the head connector 37 to be electrically connected. Next, the ink flow path is connected by inserting the tube joint 35 into the recording head ink joint portion 34 by pressing it in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At this time, the direction of the force applied to the recording head 1 when pressing the tube joint 35 is determined by moving the recording head The direction is in contact with the connector 37. Therefore, the force applied to the recording head 1 when the ink flow path is connected does not cause the pressure contact connection to be released from the electrical contact portion to be released or to shift the connection position. I will not give.

The recording head flexible cable 21 is
It extends from a control board (control mechanism) 18 fixed to a chassis 17 on the back side of the device. The recording head flexible cable 21 has a plate-like shape, a plurality of wirings are arranged substantially in parallel in the width direction, is formed of a flexible member, and is particularly flexible in the thickness direction. The recording head flexible cable 21 may be configured by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped cables.

Then, the recording head flexible cable 2
On the control board 18 side, the control board 18 passes through the chassis 17 to the front of the chassis 17, and is fixed in a middle part of the moving direction of the carriage 4 in a posture in which the width direction is substantially vertical. From there, the recording head flexible cable 21 keeps almost the state in which the width direction is substantially vertical, and when the carriage 4 is at the standby position at the right end as shown in FIG. Chassis 1
7 and extends to the carriage 4 in a curved manner toward the right end near the position facing the carriage 4 so as to draw a convex arc. At this time, the recording head flexible cable 21 has a certain degree of rigidity, and is held relatively stably by the fact that the curved portion is formed as described above. That is, the recording head flexible cable 21 is rigid, and the restoring force generated in the curved portion is applied in the direction in which the recording head flexible cable 21 is pulled.
And near the curved portion, is pressed toward the front surface of the chassis 17 by the restoring force generated in the curved portion, and is stably held by the frictional force generated thereby. Further, by forming the curved portion, it is possible to suppress the recording head flexible cable 21 from being partly inclined from the direction in which the width direction is oriented in the vertical direction and twisted.

The ink tube 3 is located at the right end of the recording device.
Further, it extends from the ink tank section 2 disposed in front of the movement path of the carriage 4. In the ink tank section 2, four ink tanks (liquid tanks) 2a,
2b, 2c and 2d are independently and interchangeably mounted. The recording head 1 is also not shown in detail,
It is composed of four parts for ejecting inks of different colors. In response to these, the ink tubes 3
Is constituted by connecting four tubes for flowing inks of different colors, respectively, and each ink tank 2a, 2
The inks from b, 2c and 2d are supplied to the corresponding components of the recording head 1.

The ink tube 3 is a plate-like quadruple tube in which four tubes are connected in a line and formed of a flexible member, and is particularly flexible in its thickness direction. . The ink tube 3 is the ink tank 2
Through the ink tube support 57. The ink tube support 57 extends almost the length of the movement path at the front side of the movement path of the carriage 4, and a wall protruding upward is formed at the front edge thereof. The ink tube 3 extends to the left on the ink tube support 57 first, and is fixed at a position in the middle of the moving direction of the carriage 4 so that the width direction is substantially vertical. From there, the ink tube 3 is maintained in a direction in which the width direction is substantially vertical, and
When the carriage 4 is in the standby position at the right end as shown in FIG. 7, the carriage 4 extends along the front wall of the ink tube support 57 toward the right end, and is convex toward the right end near the position facing the recording head 1. Recording head 1 curved to draw an arc
Extends to. At this time, the ink tube 3 has a certain degree of rigidity, and the ink tube 3 is stably held in the same manner as the recording head flexi cable 21 due to the curved portion as described above. Also, the occurrence of torsion is suppressed.

At the right end of the movement path of the carriage 4, a recovery device 14 for performing a recovery operation for maintaining the ink discharge state of the recording head 1 in good condition is provided. The recovery device 14 includes a cap 15 for covering the ink ejection port of the recording head 1 and a wiper 1 for wiping the ink ejection surface of the recording head 1.
And a suction pump (not shown) for sucking ink from the ink discharge nozzles of the recording head 1. When the recording operation is not being performed, the carriage 4 moves the recording head 1 to the recovery device 1 as shown in FIG.
4 is held at the rightmost stand-by position that is disposed opposite to the front end.

Next, a description will be given of the structure of a conveying means for conveying the recording medium 6 through a recording area where recording is performed by the recording head 1. Recording medium 6 usually used for recording
Is set in the cassette 9. The cassette 9 is removably mounted near the lower end of the main body of the recording apparatus by being inserted from the front side and pulled out. The upper surface of the cassette 9 is covered with a cassette cover 32. When the recording medium becomes low, the cassette 9 can be pulled out from the main body of the recording apparatus, and the cassette cover 32 can be opened to supply the recording medium.

On the upper surface of the cassette 9, a cassette cover 3 is provided.
An opening is left on the leading end side in the insertion direction of the cassette 9 in a state of being covered by the cassette 2, and the recording apparatus main body is provided with a paper feed arm 40 at a position above the opening. The paper feed arm 40 is rotatably supported around a rotation fulcrum 41, and a paper feed roller 10 is rotatably attached to the rear end. The paper feed roller 10 is driven to rotate by a driving force transmitted through a first transmission gear 44 and a second transmission gear 45 by a paper feed drive shaft 43 connected to and driven by a drive source (not shown). The paper feed arm 40 normally rotates clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 3 by its own weight, and the paper feed roller 10 comes into contact with the upper surface of the recording medium 6 loaded in the cassette 9. In FIG. 2,
A sheet feeding arm spring 53 that urges in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 is attached. Even if the loading amount of the recording medium 6 changes due to the feed arm spring 53, the feed roller 10
The contact force of the paper feed roller 10 is adjusted so that the recording medium 6 does not enter the recording medium 6 with excessive contact force. The paper feed arm spring 53 is attached to a position substantially equal to both ends of the paper feed roller 10 in the paper width direction.
In this configuration, there is little variation in the abutting force on the recording medium 6 in the paper width direction.

A U-turn roller 46, which is rotatably supported, is provided obliquely above and behind the paper feeding arm 40, and a U-turn guide 47 is provided to cover the outer periphery slightly away from the U-turn roller 46. A turn transport path 11 is formed. Here, the paper feed roller 10 and the U-turn roller 46
Means that each roller is divided in the axial direction so that each roller can enter between the other, and as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. The paper feed arm 40 can be rotated up to that. For this reason, the cassette 9 can be inserted to the depth of the recording apparatus to a position where the cassette 9 almost covers the lower part of the U-turn roller 46 without being disturbed by the sheet feeding arm 40.

At the exit of the U-turn transport path 11, a transport roller 8 driven by a feed motor (not shown) is rotated.
Is mounted on the chassis 17, and a pinch roller 48 rotatably supported opposite thereto is provided. The recording head 1 is located in front of the transport roller 8.
A platen 7 supporting the recording medium at a position facing the ink ejection surface of
A discharge roller 23 rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown) and a discharge spur 49 (a rotation member for discharging a recording medium) rotatably supported opposite thereto are provided in front of the discharge roller 23.

As described above, the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment
The recording medium 6 on which recording has been performed is discharged forward by the discharge rollers 23, and is stacked on the cassette cover 32 and a discharge stack lever 50 provided behind the cassette cover 32. The paper discharge stack lever 50 is rotatably supported around a rotation fulcrum 51 provided at the rear end thereof, and is urged clockwise in FIG. I keep my posture. The urging force of the stack lever spring 52 is a weak urging force enough to balance when a predetermined number of recording media 6 are stacked, and when a predetermined number or more of recording media 6 are stacked, the front end of the upper surface of the cassette cover 32 Rotate counterclockwise until it reaches the height of.

In the recording apparatus of this embodiment, the sheet feeding arm 40
The platen 7 is positioned above the platen 7, and the sheet feed arm 40 is arranged so as to have an area substantially equal to or larger than the recording area on the platen 7 and cover the lower part of the platen 7. A flat ceiling portion 54 is provided.
The flat ceiling portion 54 can prevent the recording medium 6 and the like in the cassette 9 from being stained with ink by receiving ink droplets that are erroneously ejected onto the platen 7 and fall from the openings provided in the platen 7. At the same time, ink mist, dust and the like are prevented from falling onto the recording medium 6 in the cassette 9. Further, a stack wall 55 protruding upward is provided at the front edge of the flat ceiling portion 54,
As a result, the discharge stack section and the inside of the device are separated,
It prevents dust from entering the inside of the device.

A manual feed lever 30 rotatably supported around a rotation fulcrum 31 is provided in front of the paper feed arm 40 and near the left end of the recording apparatus. At the front end of the paper feed arm 40, a paper feed arm release projection 42 with which the manual feed lever action section 39 at the rear end of the manual feed lever 30 abuts when the manual feed lever 30 is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 3. Is provided. Therefore, by lifting the front end of the manual feed lever 30 upward and rotating it clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 3, the manual feed lever action portion 39 is brought into contact with the paper feed arm release projection 42 and is pushed down, thereby lowering the paper feed arm 40. By rotating the sheet feeding roller 10 counterclockwise, the sheet feeding roller 10 can be separated from the upper surface of the recording medium 6 loaded on the cassette 9. In this state, a special recording medium such as a recording medium having a size different from that in the cassette 9 is inserted along the upper surface of the cassette cover 32 so that the recording medium 6 loaded on the cassette 9 is 10 and can be used for the next recording. When a special recording medium is manually set as described above, the inserted recording medium is brought into contact with the lower surface of the sheet discharge stack lever 50 and the cassette 9 is set.
Will be guided inside. That is, the discharge stack lever 50 functions as a guide.

The control board 18 on which the control means for controlling the operation of the recording means and the conveying means as described above is mounted
It is provided on the back surface of the chassis 17 as described above. An interface for inputting a recording signal, an MPU for performing arithmetic processing based on a control program,
A ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU, a DRAM for storing various data, and the like are mounted.

A power supply 19 for supplying power consumed by elements such as the MPU mounted on the control board 18, the recording head 1, the recovery means 14, the carriage motor 12, and the driving source of each roller of the transport means, etc. It is provided near the left front end of the main body. Power from the power supply 19 is first supplied to the control board 18 via the power supply cable 20. The control board 18 is electrically connected to the recording head 1 via a recording head flexible cable 21, to the recovery device 14 via a recovery device drive cable 22, and to another motor or the like via a cable (not shown). They are connected and transmit drive power, drive signals, and the like via these cables. The above-mentioned panel operation unit 24 is arranged on the upper surface of the case of the power supply 19.

The mechanism described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 is incorporated in a case as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the appearance of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 7 shows a state of normal use in which the cover 9 is closed, and FIG. 7 shows a state of manual feed operation with the discharge cover 29 opened, or a state of taking out the discharged recording medium.

The case is composed of an upper case 26 and a lower case 27, and the mechanism is incorporated on the lower case 27.
The upper part is covered by an upper case 26. Also,
As shown in FIG. 2, the lower case 27 has a jam opening for removing the recording medium 6 at a position near the lower part of the U-turn roller 46 when the recording medium 6 is caught in the middle of conveyance. 56 are provided. On the upper surface of the upper case 26, near the left front end, an opening is provided at a position where the operation switch and the display unit of the panel operation unit 24 are exposed, and when the upper cover 26 is attached, the operation of the switch can be performed. The display can be confirmed. Also,
An ink cover 28 is provided in the vicinity of the right front end.
Are exposed, and the ink tanks 2a, 2b, 2c,
2d can be exchanged. As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the panel operation unit 24
Is provided, and the ink cover 28 is provided on the front side where normal main operations on the recording apparatus are performed. Therefore, the ink tanks 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2 can be easily provided from the front side of the apparatus.
The exchange operation of d can be performed.

An opening is provided on the front surface of the cover, through which the cassette 9 can be inserted and the recording medium discharged onto the cassette cover 32 can be taken out. Above this opening, a paper discharge cover 29 that can be opened as shown in FIG. 7 is provided. Paper output cover 2
By opening 9, the portion in front of the discharge roller 23 can be exposed, and even when recording is performed on a short recording medium, the discharged recording medium can be easily taken out. Further, the above-described manual feed lever 30 is exposed in a state in which the paper discharge cover 29 is opened, and is easy to operate. That is, when the recording medium is manually set, by opening the discharge cover 29, the setting operation can be easily performed.

The ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a configuration in which a relatively large size, for example, A3 size recording medium can be set in the cassette 9, and the cassette 9 is completely inserted. It protrudes from the front of the case even when it is in the down position. On the other hand, cassette 9
8 and 9 are external views of an ink jet recording apparatus in which a recording medium having a relatively small size, for example, A4 or letter size is set.

In this ink jet recording apparatus, the cassette 9 is accommodated in a line on the front surface of the entire apparatus without protruding from the case. Since the depth of the entire apparatus is short, the manual feed lever 30 can be seen without opening the paper ejection cover 29. However, when the recording medium is manually set,
The operation is easier when the discharge cover 29 is opened.

Next, the outline of the recording operation by the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

The recording medium 6 loaded in the cassette 9
When the feed roller 10 that is in contact with the upper surface is driven to rotate, the sheets are separated and fed one by one. The fed recording medium 6 passes through a U-turn conveyance path 11 around a U-turn roller 46 which is driven to rotate, and is conveyed by conveyance rollers 8.
Supplied to. The transport roller 8 is rotationally driven to guide the supplied recording medium 6 to a predetermined recording position on the platen 7.

When the recording medium 6 is guided to the recording position, the carriage motor 12 is driven to move the carriage 4 along the guide shaft 5, and scanning for determining the recording position in the moving direction is performed. At this time, the recording head 1 is driven to eject ink droplets, adhere to a predetermined position on the recording medium 6, and record an image for one scan.

Next, the recording medium 6 is conveyed by a predetermined amount corresponding to the recording width for one scan, and then the carriage 4 is moved along the guide shaft 5 again to form an image for the next one scan. Done.

After the recording on the predetermined area of the recording medium 6 is completed in this manner, the recording medium 6 is discharged onto the discharge stack lever 50 and the cassette cover 32 by the discharge roller 23 driven to rotate. Is done.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment described above, as described above, the ink tube 3 connected to the recording head 1 mounted on the carriage 4 is connected from the front side, and the recording head flexible cable 21 is connected from the rear side.
Each is connected from the opposite side with respect to the movement path of the carriage 4. Therefore, by any chance, the ink tube 3
Even if ink leaks from the print head, it is unlikely that ink will flow to the opposite side of the carriage 4, so that the ink comes into contact with an electrical component such as an electrical contact located on the side to which the recording head flexible cable 21 is connected. The possibility of doing so can be kept low.

Further, with the movement path of the carriage 4 interposed therebetween,
The ink tube 3 extends to the front side, and the recording head flexible cable 21 can easily be configured to extend rearward. The ink supply path formed by the ink tube 3 and the electrical connection path formed by the recording head flexible cable 21 Can be sorted back and forth. For this reason, even if ink leaks in the middle of the ink supply path, the possibility that the ink contacts the electrical connection path side is low.

Further, the ink tank section 2 for holding the ink to be supplied can also be arranged without difficulty on the front side of the moving path of the carriage 4, while the control board 18 provided with the main electric components is located on the rear side. Can be arranged without difficulty. That is, in the entire apparatus, the ink supply system is arranged on the front side of the movement path of the carriage 4 and the main electric components are arranged on the rear side. The components are configured so that the ink does not easily come into contact with the components.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment, the main components such as the conveying roller 8 constituting the conveying means and its driving mechanism are arranged without difficulty on the paper feed side, that is, on the rear side of the apparatus. And the ink tube 3
The recording medium on which the recording has been performed is connected to the recording head 1 from the front side where the recording medium is discharged by the conveying means. In other words, the ink supply system and the main drive mechanism of the transporting means can be arranged before and after, and therefore apart from, the movement path of the carriage 4, and even if ink leakage occurs in the ink supply system, It is possible to prevent the occurrence of electrical failure due to the contact of the ink with the drive mechanism of (1).

The ink tube 3 and the recording head flexible cable 21 are connected to the moving carriage 4 or the recording head 1 mounted on the moving carriage 4. The length up to the fixed part on the other end side has room,
At least in the course of movement of the carriage 4, bending occurs.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, one curved portion is always formed in each of the ink tube 3 and the recording head flexible cable 21. In this curved portion, the shape of one curved portion, which is symmetrical with respect to the line in the direction of the movement path of the carriage 4, is substantially similar to the shape of the other curved portion.

Therefore, the force from the recording head flexible cable 21 and the force from the ink tube 3 applied to the carriage 4 by the restoring force generated in the curved portion are substantially line-symmetric with respect to a line along the moving path direction of the carriage 4. In different directions. Therefore, the components of the two forces applied in the direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the carriage 4 are opposite to each other and weaken each other. Therefore, the force for shifting the carriage 4 in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction can be suppressed small. The components of the two forces in the direction parallel to the moving direction of the carriage 4 are in the same direction, and therefore, no force for rotating the carriage 4 is generated. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the position accuracy and the movement accuracy of the carriage 4 from being impaired by the force applied from the recording head flexible cable 21 and the ink tube 3, and to perform a stable recording operation. it can.

In order to reduce the force applied to the carriage 4 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of its movement, the force applied from the recording head flexible cable 21 and the force applied from the ink tube 3 should be substantially the same. Is desirable. To achieve this, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the recording head flexible cable 2
The radius of curvature of the first curved portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the curved portion of the ink tube 3. That is, in the present embodiment, the rigidity of the ink tube 3 is relatively higher than the rigidity of the recording head flexible cable 21. Therefore, when the ink tube 3 is similarly curved, the restoration that occurs in the curved portion of the ink tube 3 is performed. The power is stronger. Therefore, the radius of curvature of the curved portion of the ink tube 3 is made relatively large to reduce the restoring force generated in the curved portion, and is balanced with the restoring force of the recording head flexible cable 21.

At this time, a reinforcing member may be joined to either the recording head flexible cable 21 or the ink tube 3 so as to increase the rigidity, and the strength of the restoring force may be balanced. When the recording head flexible cable 21 is composed of a plurality of cables, the total force applied to the carriage 4 by each cable needs to be substantially equal to the force applied by the ink tube 3. Similarly, when the ink tube 3 is composed of a plurality of tubes, the total force applied to the carriage 4 by each tube needs to be equal to the force applied by the recording head flexible cable 21.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, when the carriage 4 is at the standby position at the right end, the recording head flexible cable 21 extends along the wall of the chassis 17. There is a portion, and the ink tube 3 has a portion extending along the wall of the ink tube support, and each curved portion is generated in the remaining portion except for the portion extending along this wall. . Then, as the carriage 4 moves to the left, the portion extending along the wall becomes shorter, and the length of the curved portion becomes longer, so that the radius of curvature of the curved portion becomes larger. That is, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, the radius of curvature of the curved portion formed in the recording head flexible cable 21 and the ink tube 3 when the carriage 4 is at the standby position at the right end, as shown in FIG. It is the smallest.

As described above, the ink tube 3 and the recording head flexible cable 21 are pressed against the chassis 17 and the wall of the ink tube support table 57 by the restoring force at the curved portion, respectively, and a frictional force is generated there, thereby firmly. Is held. Further, the restoring force of the curved portion also acts in a direction in which the ink tube 3 and the recording head flexible cable 21 are pulled from the fixed point on each wall, whereby the portion from the fixed point to the curved portion is straightened. It is kept stable in the state. This restoring force increases as the radius of curvature of the curved portion decreases. Therefore, by adopting a configuration in which the radius of curvature of the curved portion is minimized when the carriage 4 is at the standby position, the holding force is most effectively generated when the carriage 4 is at the standby position, and the ink tube 3 and the recording head flexible cable 21 have their own weight. Can be prevented from sagging. In addition, the smaller the radius of curvature of the curved portion is, the smaller the plate-like ink tube 3 and the flexible cable 2 become.
1 can effectively prevent the width direction from being inclined from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, that is, the occurrence of twisting can be suppressed.

As described above, when the recording operation is not performed, the carriage 4 is held in a state where it has been moved to the standby position, and may be held in this state for a long time. In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, when the carriage 4 is at the standby position, the recording head flexible cable 21 and the ink tube 3 can be most effectively prevented from sagging under their own weight. , It is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of steady deformation caused by being left for a long time.

The radius of curvature of the curved portion increases when the carriage 4 moves to the left as described above. At this time, the recording head flexible cable 21 and the ink tube 3 are connected to the carriage 4 or the recording head 1. From the connecting part of the carriage 4 toward the center of the movement path of the carriage 4. In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment,
Even in this case, the recording head flexible cable 21 and the ink tube 3 are configured so as not to contact with each other. That is, the distance between the surface on which the connecting portion on the carriage 4 side is located and the wall of the chassis 17 or the wall of the ink tube support 57 facing the recording head flexible cable 21 or the ink tube 3 fixed positions are set.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By connecting a cable and an ink tube connected to the recording head held by the moved carriage to the carriage or the recording head on opposite sides of the moving path of the carriage, an ink supply system and a main electric power supply are connected. The components can be arranged on the opposite sides with respect to the movement path of the carriage, so that even if ink leakage occurs, it is possible to prevent the ink from contacting the electrical components and adversely affecting the electrical components.

Further, the shape of the curved portion formed on one side of the cable and the ink tube, which is symmetrical with respect to the line in the moving direction of the carriage, becomes substantially similar to the shape of the curved portion formed on the other side. With such an arrangement, the force applied to the carriage is canceled by the cable and the ink tube, and the load applied to the carriage can be reduced. Thus, the carriage can be operated stably, and high-quality image formation can be performed.

Further, by appropriately defining the shape of the curved portion formed in the cable and the ink tube, it is possible to prevent the cable and the ink tube from sagging due to their own weight, particularly when the carriage is at the standby position. Can be stably held.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus capable of performing a high-quality recording operation with high reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a mechanism section of a tube supply type ink jet recording apparatus as an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration near a carriage in a mechanism section of the inkjet recording apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a configuration near a carriage of a mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state where a paper ejection cover is opened.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an ink jet recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the inkjet recording apparatus in FIG. 8 in a state in which a paper ejection cover is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording head 2 Ink tank part 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Ink tank 3 Ink tube 4 Carriage 5 Guide shaft 6 Recording medium 7 Platen 8 Conveying roller 9 Cassette 10 Paper feed roller 11 U-turn conveying path 12 Carriage motor 13a, 13b Carriage Pulley 14 Recovery device 15 Cap 16 Wiper 17 Chassis 18 Control board 19 Power supply 20 Power supply cable 21 Recording head flexible cable 22 Recovery device drive cable 23 Discharge roller 24 Panel operation unit 25 Timing belt 26 Upper case 27 Lower case 28 Ink cover 29 Paper ejection cover 30 Manual feed lever 31 Rotating fulcrum 32 Cassette cover 33 Recording head electrical contact part 34 Recording head ink joint part 35 Tube joint 36 Carriage box Card 37 head connector 38 flexible connector 39 manual feed lever action section 40 paper feed arm 41 rotation fulcrum 42 paper feed arm release projection 43 paper feed drive shaft 44 first transmission gear 45 second transmission gear 46 U-turn roller 47 U-turn guide 48 Pinch roller 49 Discharge spur 50 Discharge stack lever 51 Rotating fulcrum 52 Stack lever spring 53 Feed arm spring 54 Flat ceiling 55 Stack wall 56 Jam processing opening 57 Ink tube support

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA21 FA10 HA36 HA52 HA60 JA01 JA13 JB04 KB15 KC02 2C061 AQ05 BB17 CG03 CG05 CG08

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium, comprising: a moving recording body facing the recording medium, serially moving with respect to a recording apparatus main body, and performing recording on the recording medium; A moving mechanism for serially moving the body; and a plurality of flexible members connecting the moving recording body and the recording apparatus main body, wherein the flexible members mutually sandwich a moving path of the moving recording body. A recording device connected from the recording device main body to the mobile recording medium from the opposite side; 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible members is an electric cable. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible members is an ink tube. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable recording medium includes a carriage for serially moving a recording head. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving recording body includes a recording head mounted on a carriage. 6. The moving recording body according to claim 1, wherein the moving recording body includes an ink tank mounted on a carriage.
The recording device according to Item. 7. A carriage on which a recording head for performing recording by adhering a liquid to a recording medium is mounted, a moving mechanism for reciprocating the carriage, and connected to the recording head, and the liquid is supplied to the recording head. A supply tube, and a cable connected to the recording head and transmitting an electric signal exchanged with the recording head, wherein the tube and the cable are opposite to each other across a movement path of the carriage. A recording device connected to the recording means from the side. 8. A liquid tank for holding the liquid to be supplied to the recording head, and a control unit for processing and controlling an electric signal, wherein the liquid tank is provided with respect to a moving path of the carriage. A tube is disposed on a connected side, and the control unit is disposed on a side to which the cable is connected with respect to a movement path of the carriage,
The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tube is connected to the liquid tank, and the cable is connected to the control unit. 9. A transporting means for transporting the recording medium through a recording area on which recording is performed by the recording head, the transporting means being opposed to the moving path in a direction intersecting the moving path of the carriage. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording medium is connected to the recording head from a side where the recording medium on which recording has been performed is discharged. 10. A panel provided with an operation switch for inputting a manual command or a display unit for displaying a state, wherein the tube is located on a side of the movement path of the carriage on which the panel unit is provided. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording apparatus is connected to the recording head. 11. The tube and the cable are flexible, and at least in the course of movement of the carriage, a fixing point of the tube on the carriage side and a closest fixing point on the opposite side of the carriage. When the radius of curvature of the curved portion between the fixed portion of the cable and the curved portion between the fixed point on the carriage side and the closest fixed point on the opposite side is maximized, the tube and The recording device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the cable and the cable are located in regions separated from each other along a horizontal plane. 12. The tube and the cable are flexible, and at least in the course of movement of the carriage, a fixing point of the tube on the carriage side and a closest fixing point on the opposite side thereof. And a curved portion between the fixed point on the carriage side of the cable and the closest fixed point on the opposite side of the cable. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the line-symmetrical shape of is substantially similar to the other shape. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a restoring force generated at the bent portion of the tube and a restoring force generated at the bent portion of the cable have substantially the same strength. 14. The curvature radius of the curved portion having higher rigidity is larger than the radius of curvature of the curved portion having lower rigidity according to the rigidity of the tube and the cable. 14. The recording device according to claim 13. 15. The tube or the cable,
The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein a reinforcing member that strengthens a restoring force generated at the curved portion is joined. 16. A plurality of said cables are connected to said recording means, and a sum of restoring forces generated at said curved portions of said plurality of cables is substantially the same as a sum of restoring forces generated at said curved portions of said tube. The recording device according to claim 12, wherein: 17. The plurality of tubes are connected to the recording means, and the sum of the restoring forces generated at the bent portions of the plurality of tubes is substantially the same as the sum of the restoring forces generated at the bent portions of the cable. The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein 18. When the carriage is at a standby position to be moved when a printing operation is not performed,
The radius of curvature of the curved portion is minimized.
8. The recording device according to any one of items 7 to 7. 19. On both sides of the movement path of the carriage, walls are provided extending along the movement path and having walls facing the carriage, and a fixing point of the tube is provided on each side of the wall. 13. A fixing point of the cable is provided, and the curved portion is formed between a fixing point on the carriage side and a point on the side surface of the wall facing the carriage. From 18
The recording device according to claim 1. 20. The tube has a plate-like shape, and is held between a fixed point on the carriage side and a fixed point on a side opposite to the carriage so that a width direction thereof is substantially vertical. 20. Any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein
The recording device according to Item. 21. The cable has a plate-like shape, and the cable is held between a fixed point on the carriage side and a fixed point on the side opposite to the carriage so that the width direction is substantially vertical. 21. Any one of claims 12 to 20
The recording device according to Item. 22. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head that discharges the liquid and attaches the liquid to the recording medium.