The present teaching relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus which carries out an image recording on a sheet by jetting ink droplets from a recording head.
An ink-jet recording apparatus which carries out image recording by jetting an ink toward a sheet conveyed at a position inside a casing has heretofore been know. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to jet ink droplets, and a carriage which is movable and on which the recording head is mounted. When a sheet that is intermittently conveyed in a sub-scanning direction is at halt, the recording head jets ink droplets toward the sheet while the carriage positioned above the sheet moves in a main scanning direction. Accordingly, an image is recorded on the sheet.
In a case in which, an ink-jet recording apparatus is installed in a dusty environment, there is a possibility that the dust etc. enters into a casing through an opening or a gap formed in the casing of the ink-jet recording apparatus. For instance, a case of an outdoor in which dust is roiling, or a location facing such outdoor, or an outdoor stall without any or almost without any partition such as a window and a door, can be cited as an example. Particularly, in a case of an ink-jet recording apparatus having a movable carriage, an entry of dust etc. into the casing is remarkable due a process described below.
As the carriage moves from a first position to a second position in the main-scanning direction, a pressure directed from the first position to the second position is generated. Moreover, due to the pressure generated, dust etc. is sucked from outside the casing to inside the casing through the opening and the gap. Next, as the carriage moves in the main scanning direction, from the second position to the first position, a pressure directed from the second position to the first position is generated. Due to the pressure generated, the dust that was sucked into the casing is agitated in the casing, and is dispersed over a wide range in the casing. Due to the process described above, a large amount of dust etc. is accumulated inside the casing.
The present teaching has been made in view of the abovementioned problem, and an object of the present teaching is to provide an ink-jet recording apparatus which is capable of suppressing the entry of the dust etc. into the apparatus.
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to the present teaching includes a casing which is box-shaped, and which has an internal space, a recording head which is arranged in the internal space, and which jets ink droplets, a carriage which is movable, and is arranged in the internal space, and on which the recording head is mounted, and a dust-proof portion (dust preventing portion) which is arranged between a movable space which is a space in the internal space, in which the carriage can be positioned, and an exterior of the casing.
A pressure directed from the exterior of the casing toward the internal space is generated by a movement of the carriage. Due to the pressure generated, dust etc. tends to enter into the internal space from the exterior of the casing, through a gap and an opening formed in the casing. However, most of the dust is prevented from entering into the internal space by the dust-proof portion arranged between the movable space and the exterior of the casing. As a result, it is possible to suppress the entry of dust into the internal space of the casing.
The dust-proof portion may be a porous material.
The dust that has entered into the dust-proof portion is required to pass through a plurality of fine pores formed in the dust-proof portion, for entering from the exterior of the casing into the internal space. However, a large amount of dust, without passing through the plurality of fine pores, is prevented from entering by a wall of a porous material between the plurality of fine pores. As a result, it is possible to suppress the entry of dust etc. into the internal space of the casing.
Moreover, the dust-proof portion being a porous material, a movement of air between the exterior of the casing and the internal space is possible. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a heat released from the motor etc. arranged in the internal space, from being accumulated in the internal space, and a rise in the temperature of the internal space.
The dust-proof portion may include a channel having a labyrinth shape, which makes the movable space and the exterior of the casing communicate.
The dust etc. that has entered into the dust-proof portion is required to pass through a channel having a labyrinth shape formed in the dust-proof portion, for entering into the internal space from the outside of the casing. However, as the pressure generated due to the movement of the carriage weakens, a large amount of dust etc. stops at some midpoint in the channel. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the entry of the dust etc. into the internal space of the casing.
Moreover, a movement of air between the exterior of the casing and the internal space is possible via the channel in the dust-proof portion. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the heat released from the motor etc. arranged in the internal space from being accumulated in the internal space, and to suppress the temperature of the internal space from rising.
The carriage may be movable in a first direction, and a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. The dust-proof portion may be arranged at, at least one of a position which is in the first direction of an end portion of the movable space in the first direction, and is a position between the end portion in the first direction and the exterior of the casing, and a position which is in the second direction of an end portion of the movable space in the second direction, and is a position between the end portion in the second direction and the exterior of the casing.
As the carriage moves in the first direction, a pressure directed in the first direction is generated. Due to the pressure directed in the first direction, dust etc. tends to enter from an external space positioned in the second direction of the casing toward the internal space through a gap or an opening formed in the casing. However, the dust etc. is suppressed from entering into the internal space by the dust-proof portion arranged between the exterior of the casing and an end portion in the second direction which is at a position in the second direction of the end portion in the second direction of the movable space.
Similarly, as the carriage moves in the second direction, a pressure directed in the second direction is generated. Due to the pressure directed in the second direction, dust etc. tends to enter into an internal space from the external space positioned in the first direction of the casing through a gap and an opening formed in the casing. However, the entry of the dust etc. into the internal space is suppressed by the dust-proof portion arranged between the exterior of the casing the end portion in the first direction, which is at a position in the first direction of an end portion in the first direction of the movable space.
The casing may include a lower casing which has the internal space, and an upper casing which is arranged above the lower casing. The upper casing may be movable to a first position at which, the upper casing covers the lower casing from above and closes the internal space, and a second position at which the upper casing exposes the internal space.
In a case in which a sheet has jammed in the internal space, by moving the upper casing to the first position, it is possible to take out the sheet easily.
The lower casing may include a top plate which demarcates an upper end of the internal space. An opening may have been formed in the top plate, at an upper side of the carriage. The dust-proof portion may have been arranged to close a gap between the top plate and the upper casing at least at a peripheral edge portion of the opening, in a state of the upper casing positioned at the first position.
Due to a pressure being generated by the movement of the carriage, dust etc. tends to enter into the internal space from an exterior of the lower casing and the upper casing, through the opening and a gap between the upper casing and the top plate. However, due to the dust-proof portion, a large amount of dust cannot reach the opening. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an entry of the dust etc. into the internal space of the lower casing.
The dust-proof portion may have been installed in the upper casing.
Since the dust-proof portion is installed in the upper casing, it is possible to expose the internal space through the opening when the casing is moved from the first position to the second position. Accordingly, when a sheet etc. has jammed in the internal space, it is possible to take out the sheet through the opening. Whereas, when the upper casing is positioned at the first position, it is possible to suppress an entry of the dust etc. into the internal space.
The carriage may be movable in a first direction, and a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and the opening may have been formed at an end portion in the first direction, of the internal space.
As the carriage moves in the second direction, a pressure directed in the second direction is generated. Due to the pressure directed in the second direction, dust etc. tends to enter into an internal space of the lower casing from the external space positioned in the first direction of the casing, through the opening or a gap between the upper casing and the top plate. However, the entry of the dust etc. into the internal space through the opening is suppressed by the dust-proof portion closing at least the peripheral edge portion of the opening.
According to the present teaching, it is possible to suppress an entry of dust etc. into the internal space of the casing of the ink-jet recording apparatus.
An embodiment of the present teaching will be described below. The embodiment described below is only an example of the present teaching, and it is needless to mention that appropriate changed can be made in the present teaching without departing from the scope of the present teaching. Moreover, in the following description, a vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to a state in which a multifunction device 10 is usably installed, a frontward-rearward direction 8 is defined letting a surface provided with an opening 13 to be a front surface 22, and a leftward-rightward direction 9 is defined upon viewing the multifunction device 10 from a front side. The vertical direction 7, the frontward-rearward direction 8, and the leftward-rightward direction 9 are mutually orthogonal.
<Overall Structure of Multifunction Device 10>
As depicted in
The multifunction device 10 includes a scanner section 12 at an upper side. The scanner section 12 reads by an image sensor, an image recorded on a document such as a paper and image data acquired. The scanner section 12 is a so-called flat-bed scanner. The flat-bed scanner being known heretofore, a description in detail of the scanner section 12 will be omitted here.
The multifunction device 10 includes a printer section 11 at a lower side. The printer section 11 records an image on a paper 15 (refer to
The printer section 11 includes a printer casing 14 (an example of the lower-portion casing). The scanner section 12 includes a scanner casing 51 (an example of the upper-portion casing). A casing of the printer section 11 is formed by the printer casing 14 and the scanner casing 51.
The printer casing 14 has a box shape formed to be substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The printer casing 14 includes an internal space 30 (refer to
As depicted in
As depicted in
The top plate 27 includes a rear plate 27A, a front plate 27B, and a bridge plate 27C. The rear plate 27A is positioned at a rear side of the opening 28. The front plate 27B is positioned at a front side of the opening 28. The front plate 27 supports a printed circuit board (not depicted in the diagram). Electronic components such as a CPU (central processing unit) and a memory are mounted on the printed circuit board. An operation of the multifunction device 10 is controlled by a computer program stored in the memory, being executed by the CPU.
The bridge plate 27C connects the rear plate 27A and the front plate 27B. The bridge plate 27C supports electric wires (not depicted in the diagram) which connect electronic components arranged in the scanner section 12 and electronic components arranged on the front plate 27B. The bridge plate 27C divides the opening 28 into an opening 28A on a right side and an opening 28B on a left side. The bridge plate 27C is formed at a right portion of the printer casing 14. Accordingly, a length in the leftward-rightward direction 9 of the opening 28A is shorter than a length in the leftward-rightward direction 9 of the opening 28B.
As depicted in
The scanner casing 51 is formed to be substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The scanner casing 51 is arranged above the printer casing 14.
A rear-end portion of the scanner casing 51 is connected to a rear-end portion of the printer casing 14 by a hinge. Accordingly, the scanner casing 51 is pivotable to a first position (a position depicted in
<Conveyance Path 23>
As depicted in
<Pair of Conveyance Rollers 63 and Pair of Discharge Rollers 66>
As depicted in
The pair of discharge rollers 66 is arranged at a downstream side in the conveyance direction, of the pair of conveyance rollers 63 in the conveyance path 23. The pair of discharge rollers 66 includes a discharge roller 64 and a spur 65. The spur 65 is in a pressed contact with the discharge roller 64 by a resilient member such as a spring. Accordingly, the pair of discharge rollers 66 is capable of pinching the paper 15.
The conveyance roller 61 and the discharge roller 64 are driven by a driving force of a conveyance motor (not depicted in the diagram) being transmitted. The conveyance roller 61 to which, the driving force has been transmitted, transports the paper 15 in the conveyance direction while pinching between the pinch roller 62 and the conveyance roller 61. The discharge roller 64 to which, the driving force has been transmitted, transports the paper 15 in the conveyance direction while pinching between the spur 65 and the discharge roller 64.
<Recording Section 24>
As depicted in
The recording head 37 is arranged at a lower portion of the carriage 38. A plurality of nozzles (not depicted in the diagram) is formed in a lower surface of the recording head 37. The nozzles are exposed to a lower surface of the carriage 38. Ink droplets are jetted toward the platen 67 which is at a lower side. The platen 67 is arranged below the recording head 37, to be facing the recording head 37. The platen 67 is in the form of a flat plate by and large, and the paper 15 can be supported on an upper surface thereof.
As depicted in
In the present embodiment, as depicted in
The carriage 38 is movable from a right side of the conveyance path 23, all along the left side of the conveyance path. As depicted by an alternate long and short dashed line in
<Dust-Proof Portion 70>
The dust-proof portion 70 is a portion for preventing an entry of dust etc. into the internal space 30 from an exterior of the casing (printer casing 14 and the scanner casing 51). The dust-proof portion 70 is a porous material such as foamed polyurethane. The dust-proof portion 70 is arranged between the exterior of the casing of the multifunction device 10 and the internal space 30.
In the present embodiment, as depicted in
A projecting portion (projection) 53 is formed on a lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51. The projecting portion 53 is formed at a position facing the opening 28A formed in the top plate 27 of the printer casing 14. When the scanner casing 51 is at the first position, the projecting portion 53 is set in down below the opening 28A through the opening 28A. The dust-proof portion 70A is arranged at a peripheral edge of the projecting portion 53, to enclose or surround the projecting portion 53 on the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51. In a state in which the scanner casing 51 is positioned at the first position, the dust-proof portion 70a fills in a gap formed between the opening 28A and the projecting portion 53, at the peripheral edge portion of the opening 28A. In other words, in the state in which the scanner casing 51 is positioned at the first position, the dust-proof portion 70A, at the peripheral edge portion of the opening 28A, is arranged to close a gap between the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51 and the top plate 27 of the printer casing 14.
Accordingly, dust entered from an exterior of the multifunction device 10 into a space between the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51 and the top plate 27 of the printer casing 14 through a gap 33 (refer to
The dust-proof portion 70B is arranged on the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51. The dust-proof portion 70B is arranged on a left side of the dust-proof portion 70A. The dust-proof portion 70B is extended in the leftward-rightward direction 9. When the scanner casing 51 is at the first position, the dust-proof portion 70B is positioned near a front end of the opening 28B. Moreover, in a state of the scanner casing 51 positioned at the first position, a right end of the dust-proof portion 70B is positioned near a right end of the opening 28B, and a left end of the dust-proof portion 70B is positioned near a left end of the opening 28B.
Accordingly, in the state of the scanner casing 51 positioned at the first position, the dust-proof portion 70B, near the front end of the opening 28B, closes a gap between the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51 and the top plate 27 of the printer casing 14. As a result, it is possible to reduce dust at front side of the opening 28B in a space between the lower surface and the top plate 27 entering into the internal space 30 through the opening 28B from the front side of the opening 28B.
A pressure directed from an outside of the casing toward the internal space 30 is generated by the movement of the carriage 38. Due to the pressure generated, dust tends to enter into the internal space through the opening 28 and the gap 33 formed in the casing. However, a large amount of dust is prevented from entering into the internal space 30 by the dust-proof portion 70 arranged between the movable space 40 and the exterior of the casing. As a result, it is possible to suppress the entry of dust into the internal space 30 of the casing.
Moreover, the dust that has entered into the dust-proof portion 70 is required to pass through a plurality of fine pores formed in the dust-proof portion 70 which is a porous material, for entering from the exterior of the casing into the internal space 30. A large amount of dust, without passing through the plurality of fine pores, is prevented from entering by a wall of a porous material between the plurality of fine pores. As a result, it is possible to suppress the entry of dust etc. into the internal space 30 of the casing.
Moreover, the dust-proof portion 70 being a porous material, a movement of air between the exterior of the casing and the internal space 30 is possible. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress heat released from a motor etc. arranged in the internal space 30 from being accumulated in the internal space 30, and a rise in the temperature of the internal space 30.
Moreover, when the paper 15 has jammed in the internal space 30, it is possible to take out the paper 15 easily by moving the scanner casing 51 toward the second position.
Furthermore, by the pressure being generated by the movement of the carriage 38, dust etc. tends to enter from the exterior of the printer casing 14 and the scanner casing 51 into the internal space 30 through the opening 28A and the gap between the lower surface of the scanner casing 51 and the top plate 27 of the printer casing 14 through the opening 28A. However, a large amount of dust cannot reach the opening 28A because of the dust-proof portion 70A. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the entry of dust etc. into the internal space 30 of the printer casing 14.
As the carriage 38 is moved to left, a pressure in the leftward direction is generated. Due to the pressure in the leftward direction, the dust etc. tends to enter toward the internal space 30 of the printer casing 14 through the opening 28A and the gap between the scanner casing 51 and the top plate 27, from an external space positioned on right side of the casing. However, the entry of the dust into the internal space 30 through the opening 28A is suppressed by the dust-proof portion 70A which closes at least the peripheral edge portion 28A.
In the embodiment described above, the dust-proof portion 70 was installed at two locations of the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51. More elaborately, the dust-proof portion 70A is installed at the position corresponding to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 28A, and the dust-proof portion 70B is installed at the position corresponding to the vicinity of the front end of the opening 28A. However, the number of dust-proof portions 70 to be installed is not restricted to two. The number of dust-proof portions 70 to be installed may be arbitrary. Moreover, positions for installing the dust-proof portion 70 are not restricted to the abovementioned positions.
For instance, as depicted in
Moreover, as depicted in
Moreover, the dust-proof portion 70 may have been installed at a left-end portion of the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51, instead of the dust-proof portion 70D, or, in addition to the dust-free portion 70D.
The dust-proof portion 70 may have been installed at, at least one of a position on a right side of the right-end portion 40A of the movable space 40, which is a position (where the dust-proof portion 70D has been installed) between the right-end portion 40A and the exterior of the casing (the printer casing 14 and the scanner casing 51), or a position on a left side of a left-end portion 40B of the movable space 40, which is a position between the left-end portion 40B and the exterior of the casing (position of the dust-proof portion 70 installed at a left-end portion of the lower surface 52 of the scanner casing 51).
As the carriage 38 moves toward the right side, a pressure directed rightward is generated. Due to the pressure directed rightward, dust etc. tends to enter from an external space positioned at a left side of the casing toward the internal space 30 of the casing through the gap or the opening 28 formed in the casing. However, the entry of the dust into the internal space 30 is suppressed by the dust-proof portion 70 arranged at the position on the left side of the left-end portion 40B of the movable space 40, which is a position between the left-end portion 40B and the exterior of the casing.
Similarly, as the carriage 38 moves toward the left side, a pressure directed leftward is generated. Due to the pressure directed leftward, dust etc. tends to enter from an external space positioned at a right side of the casing toward the internal space 30 of the casing through the gap 33 or the opening 28 formed in the casing. However, the entry of the dust into the internal space 30 is suppressed by the dust-proof portion 70D arranged at the position on the right side of the right-end portion 40A of the movable space 40, which is a position between the right-end portion 40A and the exterior of the casing.
Moreover, for instance, as depicted in
In the embodiment described above, the dust-proof portion 70 was installed in the scanner casing 51. However, the dust-proof portion 70 may have been installed in the printer casing 14 as depicted in
In the embodiment described above, the dust-proof portion 70A was arranged at the position corresponding to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 28A. Moreover, the dust-proof portion 70C was arranged at the position corresponding to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 28B. However, the dust-proof portion 70A may have been arranged throughout a range that can close the entire opening 28A, in the state of the scanner casing 51 positioned at the first position. Moreover, the dust-proof portion 70C may have been arranged throughout a range that can close the entire opening 28B, in the state of the scanner casing 51 positioned at the first position.
In this case, the opening 28 is closed by the dust-proof portions 70A and 70C, in the state of the scanner casing 51 positioned at the first position. However, by the dust-proof portion 70 being installed in the scanner casing 5, it is possible to expose the internal space 30 through the opening 28 when the scanner casing 51 is moved from the first position to the second position. Accordingly, when the paper 15 is jammed in the internal space 30, it is possible to take out the paper 15 through the opening 28. Whereas, when the scanner casing 51 is positioned at the first position, it is possible to suppress the entry of the dust etc. into the internal space 30.
The dust-proof portion 70 may have been installed at a location other than the top plate 27 of the printer casing 14. For instance, as depicted in
The dust-proof portion may have been arranged in plurality at an interval in a cross direction intersecting an air flow from the exterior of the printer casing 14 to the internal space. For instance, as depicted in
Moreover, in a case in which the dust-proof portion 80 has been arranged (refer to
As depicted in
For the dust to enter into the internal space 30 from the exterior of the casing, it is necessary to pass through the channel 71 having the labyrinth shape formed in the dust-proof portions 80 and 90. However, as the pressure generated due to the movement of the carriage 38 weakens, a large amount of dust etc. stops at some midpoint in the channel 71. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the entry of the dust etc. into the internal space 30 of the casing.
Moreover, a movement of air between the exterior of the casing and the internal space 30 is possible via the channel 71. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress heat released from a motor arranged in the internal space 30 from being accumulated in the internal space 30, and to suppress the temperature of the internal space 30 from rising.
In the embodiment described above, the dust-proof portion 70 was installed either in the scanner casing 51 or in the printer casing. However, the dust-proof portion 70 may have been installed in both the scanner casing 51 or the printer casing 14.
In the embodiment described above, although the dust-proof portion 70 was stuck to the lower surface of the scanner casing 51 or the top plate 27 of the printer casing 14, an arrangement is not restricted to sticking the dust-proof portion 70 to the scanner casing 51 or the printer casing 14. For instance, the dust-proof portion 70 may have been arranged pivotably similarly as the scanner casing 51. In an example depicted in
The abovementioned dust-proof portion 70 which is pivotable, may be pivoted independent of the scanner casing 51 or may be pivoted in conjunction with the scanner casing 51. In a case in which the dust-proof portion 70 is pivoted in conjunction with the scanner casing 51, the dust-proof portion 70 is pivoted from the inclined position to the standing position in conjunction with the pivoting of the scanner casing 51 from the first position to the second position.
In the embodiment described above, the multifunction device 10 includes two casings, which are, the printer casing 14 and the scanner casing 51. However, the multifunction device 10 may include only one casing. For instance, the multifunction device 10, without including the scanner casing 51, may include the printer casing 14. In this case, the dust-proof portion 70 is installed in the printer casing 14. More elaborately, the dust-proof portion 70 is installed to close a location where the internal space 30 of the printer casing 14 and the exterior of the printer casing 14 communicate.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2016-248331 | Dec 2016 | JP | national |
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/445,991 filed Jun. 19, 2019 which is a Continuation Application off of International Application No. PCT/JP2017/045925 filed on Dec. 21, 2017 which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-248331 filed on Dec. 21, 2016. The contents of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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Entry |
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Mar. 27, 2018—International Search Report—Intl App PCT/JP2017/045925. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210221154 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16445991 | Jun 2019 | US |
Child | 17136317 | US | |
Parent | PCT/JP2017/045925 | Dec 2017 | US |
Child | 16445991 | US |