JP2007136785A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably support an ink feeding tube which scans together with a head carriage. <P>SOLUTION: The bundles of ink tubes which are connected with the head carriage are clamped while being arranged on a belt-like thin plate made of a metal having magnetism. Then, the bundles of ink tubes are attracted in order by the magnets which are arranged on the rear surface of the top board of a printer main body conforming to the scanning of the head carriage, and the ink tubes are stably supported. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly to a method of supporting an ink tube in a printer that supplies ink through an ink tube from an ink tank fixed to a main body to a recording head for main scanning.

  Conventionally, an ink tube that supplies ink to a recording head mounted on a carriage is drawn in a bundled state, and is bound to a belt-like metal plate or the like in order to stabilize the drawing position.

For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be cited as conventional examples.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-047692 JP 2001-232806 A

  In particular, in an A2 size or larger ink jet printer, ink is supplied from an ink tank fixed to the main body to a recording head for main scanning via an ink tube. In addition to avoiding a drop in print quality due to vibration of the ink tube due to the main scanning, it is possible to reduce the main scanning load with a lightweight support structure and to provide a low-cost structure.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a head carriage that holds a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink and scans in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet conveyed on the platen; A plurality of ink tubes connected to the head carriage for supplying ink to the recording head, and a flexible material formed of a magnetic material that holds the ink tubes in a bundled state and regulates the position of the bundle of ink tubes. And a magnet that attracts the plate-like member approaching when the carriage moves in a predetermined direction.

  According to the present invention, the bundle of ink tubes can be supported more stably.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a printer having this configuration. A recording head 100 is mounted on a head carriage 102 supported by a main scanning guide 103 so as to be capable of main scanning.

  The head carriage 102 reciprocates in the direction of arrow A in the figure by a main scanning motor (not shown), and forms an image on the recording paper P conveyed on a platen (not shown).

  The ink in the ink tank 11 is supplied to the recording head 100 via the ink supply tube 13.

  The ink supply tube 13 is fixed to the back surface of the printer ceiling plate 70 by the tube support plate 50 and the clamp 20 so that the main body end 50a side of the tube support plate 50 is fixed. Similarly, the head carriage end 50b is fixed horizontally to the head carriage 102. The tube support plate 50 is made of a steel strip that is a magnetic material with a thickness of about 0.1 mm, and supports the ink tube 13 with appropriate rigidity and elastic force.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a magnet 60 is fixed on the back surface of the printer ceiling board 70 with an appropriate gap so as not to be rubbed between the claw portions 21 of the clamp 20.

  In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, when the head carriage 102 is scanned to the left end by the image recording operation, the tube support plate 50 is sequentially attracted to the magnet 60 and is stable on the back surface of the printer ceiling plate 70. Supported.

  When the head carriage 102 is scanned again toward the position of FIG. 1, the tube support plate 50 is sequentially moved while being peeled off from the magnet 60.

  The ink tube is always supported in a stable manner by repeating the main scanning reciprocating motion while repeating the suction and peeling in sequence, so that printing without any disturbance in image quality becomes possible.

  As described above, since the ink tube is stably supported by magnetic force, it is not necessary to support the ink tube with a relatively heavy flexible protective tube (so-called caterpillar), and the weight is reduced and main scanning is not possible. It is also possible to reduce the cost of the main scanning driving means by reducing the above.

(Example 2)
3 and 4 show a second embodiment, in which a portion of the tube support plate 50 protruding from the carriage end 50b is supported by a roller 80 provided in the printer body. Needless to say, the width of the roller 80 is about the same as that of the magnet 60 so as not to collide with the clamp 20.

  Thus, by supporting the lower surface of the tube support plate 50, the stability of the tube when the carriage moves from the right end to the left end in the figure can be further improved.

(Example 3)
By using the magnet 60 arranged in the first and second embodiments as a rubber magnet, it is possible to reduce the contact sound generated when the tube support plate 50 is attracted to the magnet.

Example 4
The same effect can be obtained by processing the clamp used in the first and second embodiments with a magnet and using the printer ceiling plate as a steel plate.

The perspective view which showed the principal part of the printer of this structure. Detailed view of tube support plate. The figure which shows 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

11 Ink tank
13 Ink supply tube
20 Clamp
50 Tube support plate
60 magnets
100 recording head
102 Head carriage

Claims (1)

A head carriage that holds a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink and scans in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet conveyed on the platen;
A plurality of ink tubes connected to the head carriage for supplying ink to the recording head;
A flexible plate-like member formed of a magnetic material that holds the ink tubes in a bundled state and regulates the position of the bundle of ink tubes;
A recording apparatus comprising: a magnet that attracts the plate-like member approaching when the carriage moves in a predetermined direction.

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