JPH06270409A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recording apparatus capable of directly supplying ink from one ink tank so far as inks have the same color with respect to recording heads as a plurality of ink emitting systems having ink emitting orifices different in caliber. CONSTITUTION:A recording head part 101 consisting of a plurality of recording heads having ink emitting orifice rows 101A, 101B different in caliber and one ink tank unit 102 directly supplying ink to the recording head part 101 are integrally formed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a recording apparatus of a form in which ink dots of different diameters can be recorded on a recording material by a recording head capable of ejecting ink droplets of different diameters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus is known in which the diameter of ink droplets ejected from a recording head is selectively changed according to the density or type of recording on a recording material. In such a recording apparatus, an ink ejection port array having a different diameter is arranged in parallel to one recording head until now, or an ink ejection port array having a different diameter is disposed for each recording head to meet the user's request. Thus, the ejection port array for ejecting ink is selected.

[0003]

However, an ink supply section (hereinafter referred to as an ink tank) is directly provided to the recording head.
In the recording apparatus to which is connected, either one recording head having a plurality of ink ejection port arrays having different diameters arranged in parallel or a recording head having individual ink ejection port arrays having different diameters has been used. However, even if the ink colors are the same, 1 is set for each ink ejection system.
One ink tank has been installed.

This tendency is particularly large in the case where the recording head and / or the ink tank is a single-use cartridge type which is disposable, and the ink tank is classified according to the type of the ink ejection system regardless of the same type of ink. The provision of not only increases the cost but also increases the size of the entire apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to pay attention to such a conventional problem, and to solve the problem, for each recording head as a plurality of ink ejection systems having different ink ejection port diameters,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus in which ink can be directly supplied from one ink tank as long as the ink has the same color.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has individual ink ejection port arrays having different diameters and ejects ink for each of the ink ejection port arrays according to a recording signal. It is characterized in that a recording head portion composed of a plurality of recording heads for recording and one ink tank unit for directly supplying the ink to the recording head portion are integrally configured.

[0007]

According to the present invention, as long as the same color ink is used, it is integrated with one ink tank unit for a plurality of recording heads that perform recording by ejecting ink for each row of ink ejection ports. Since the ink is supplied from one ink tank unit to the recording head portion composed of a plurality of recording heads, it is possible to combine the plurality of recording heads and one ink tank unit into a compact shape, and it takes more time. By selectively using the ink ejection port arrays having different diameters by the recording head unit including a plurality of recording heads, it is possible to greatly contribute to the achievement of high density character recording and high quality image recording.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 shows a structural example of a cartridge type recording head according to the present invention. The recording head cartridge 100 shown in the first embodiment is integrated with an ink tank,
A recording head unit 101 and a recording head unit 10 each including a plurality of recording heads having an ink ejection function for each ink ejection port array.
The ink tank 102 for supplying the ink to the first unit is configured to be incorporated in the recording head cartridge 100. That is, the portion surrounded by the broken line is the ink tank 102, and 101A and 101B are the ink ejection port array for ejecting small ink droplets and the ink ejection port for ejecting large ink droplets formed on the ink ejection surface 103 of the recording head unit 101. It is a column.

The cartridge type recording head cartridge 100 of this type is generally a disposable type, but in this embodiment, the ink ejection surface 10 of the recording head portion 101 is used.
Row 101A of ink ejection openings having different diameters arranged in
By supplying ink to 101B freely from one ink tank 102, it is possible to use up ink without waste.

FIG. 2 shows the construction of a recording head portion and an ink tank according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Where 200
And 201 are cartridge type recording heads configured individually, and 202 is the recording heads 200 and 2.
The cartridge type ink tank unit is replaceable with 01. Reference numerals 200A and 201B denote a small diameter ink ejection port array and a large diameter ink ejection port array disposed on the ink ejection surface 203 of the recording heads 200 and 201. In this example, the connection surface 204 of the ink tank unit 202 is provided. It is possible to keep the recording head 200 detachable via the ink supply pipe 205A provided at the same side, while keeping the recording head 201 detachable via the other ink supply pipe 205B. Then, the recording heads 200 and 201 and the ink tank unit 202 are integrally mounted on a carriage as described later, and the same color ink is applied to both recording heads 200 and 201 from one ink tank. Can be supplied.

FIG. 3 shows the construction of a recording head and an ink tank according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a replaceable cartridge type recording head unit (recording head portion) 301 and an ink tank unit 302 are combined, and the recording head unit 301 has an ink ejection surface 303 on which a small diameter ink ejection port array 301A is provided. The large-diameter ink ejection port array 301B is arranged in parallel. Three
05A and 305B are provided on the connection surface 304 of the ink tank unit 302, and ink is supplied to the ink ejection system having the small diameter ink ejection port array 301A and the ink ejection system having the large diameter ink ejection port array 301B of the recording head unit 301, respectively. It is a possible ink supply pipe. It should be noted that such ink supply tubes 305A and 305B may be common to the recording head unit 301, and may be configured to be separately supplied to the above two ink ejection systems in the recording head unit 301.

In the unit of the recording head and the ink tank configured as in this embodiment, either the ink in the ink tank unit 302 is used up, or the function of the recording head unit 301 deteriorates, either one of them, or Both can be exchanged.

FIG. 4 shows a recording head 200, 201 and an ink tank unit 202 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
In addition to enabling recording by ejection of black ink, a recording head 2 that ejects cyan ink
A configuration of a recording apparatus that performs recording by mounting a recording head 3 that ejects magenta ink and a recording head 4 that ejects yellow ink on a carriage 5 together with respective ink tanks (not shown) is shown. Here, the carriage 5 moves along the recording material 6 in the directions of arrows A and B by a drive system (not shown) such as an endless belt connected to the carriage 5 or a combination of a lead screw and a stepping motor. Reference numeral 7 is a guide rail for movably holding the carriage 5.

The general recording operation of the recording apparatus as described above and other structures, control circuits and the like are the same as those known in the art, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.
For example, when performing color recording, a black ink recording head 200 having a small diameter ink ejection port array 200A.
Then, an image recording signal can be sent to the recording heads 2, 3 and 4 for ejecting inks of other colors at a predetermined timing while moving in the direction of arrow A to perform recording for one scanning.

Further, in the case of character recording or other recording in which higher image quality can be obtained by using large droplets of black ink, a black recording head 201 having a large diameter ink ejection port array 201B is driven. You can do it like this. Furthermore, in the case of monochrome recording such as character recording, either the arrow A or B is moving, and in the case of color recording, the recording head is properly used while moving in both directions A and B. You may make it drive.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a color recording apparatus in which a carriage 5 is equipped with a recording head unit 301 in combination with a recording head cartridge 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention or an ink tank unit 302 according to the third embodiment. The other components and recording operation of the recording apparatus itself according to this example are the same as those in the example shown in FIG.

6A and 6B show examples of image formation in the case where, for example, black ink is ejected by the recording head as described in the above embodiment to perform character recording. As described above, in the dot recording using the large-diameter ink ejection port array, the high-density image H is obtained by the large overlap of the ink dots 10B as shown in (A), while the small-diameter ink ejection is performed. In the dot recording using the exit row, the ink dots 10A are small as shown in (B), and by forming the ink dots 10A for several minutes, an image H having a delicate or light density can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink is supplied from the one ink tank to the two ink ejection port arrays having different diameters for the black ink. However, in the color recording, Also for the recording heads ejecting inks of other colors, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
It goes without saying that the ink tanks may be connected to each other. Further, the types of caliber are not limited to two types, and may be three or more types. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied not only to color recording but also to a recording device that records with one color.

(Others) In particular, the present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, especially in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any of the continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, further excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angle liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, 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 which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add an ejection recovery means of the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet method, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change from the solid state of the ink to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying heat energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, other than the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function It may be a form or the like.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, an ink ejection port array having different diameters is individually provided, and ink is ejected for each ink ejection port array according to a recording signal to perform recording. Since the recording head unit including a plurality of recording heads and one ink tank unit that directly supplies the ink to the recording head unit are integrally configured, the same color can be applied to a plurality of ink ejection port arrays having different diameters. As long as it is possible to supply the ink from one ink tank, the cartridge type recording head / ink tank can be made compact and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the ink tank and the recording head unit can be easily replaced. Especially, when the ink tank and the recording head unit are applied to the black ink supply system of the color recording apparatus, both high quality character recording and high quality color image recording can be performed with one command, for example. Even if one of the plurality of ink ejection port arrays having different diameters is defectively ejected, it is possible to freely switch to another ink ejection port array for recording if desired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a cartridge type recording head according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configurations of a recording head and an ink tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing configurations of a recording head and an ink tank according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a recording operation to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the recording operation to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing two examples of print recording according to the present invention as (A) and (B).

[Explanation of symbols]

2, 3, 4 recording head 5 carriage 6 recording material 7 guide rail 100 recording head cartridge 101 recording head section 101A, 200A, 301A small diameter ink ejection port array 101B, 201B, 301B large diameter ink ejection port array 103, 203, 303 Ink ejection surface 200, 201 Recording head 204, 304 Connection surface 205A, 205B, 305A, 305B Ink supply pipe

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location 9012-2C B41J 3/04 103 X

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording head section comprising a plurality of recording heads each having an ink ejection port array having a different diameter and ejecting ink for each ink ejection port array in accordance with a recording signal to perform recording, and the recording. A recording apparatus, wherein one ink tank unit for directly supplying the ink to the head portion is integrally configured. 2. The recording head portion integrally formed with the one ink tank unit cooperates with a recording head that ejects an ink of a color different from the ink contained in the ink tank unit to perform color recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is capable. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head unit is a serial type mounted on a carriage and recording at a predetermined timing while the carriage reciprocates. 4. The plurality of recording heads have an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy for causing film boiling in the ink, as an element for generating discharge energy for discharging ink. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.