1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus which performs recording on a recording medium.
2. Related Art
In an ink jet printer, which is an example of a recording apparatus, there is a case in which the control section and the recording head of the printer are connected to each other through a flexible flat cable as disclosed in JP-A-2008-80614.
In addition, the ink jet printer includes a serial type and a line head type. In a line head type printer, the recording head is configured such that ink discharge nozzles are arranged to cover the whole area of a paper width, an ink accommodation section is connected to the recording head through an ink tube, and thus ink is supplied from the ink accommodation section to the recording head. That is, a state in which a plurality of flexible flat cables and a plurality of ink tubes extend from the recording head.
There are cases in which the line head type ink jet printer is easily increased in size and the maintenance, exchange or the like is performed on a recording head by a serviceman for a printer installation spot. At this time, there is a problem in that the removal of the flexible flat cables is complicated, it requires extra effort to perform the work, and thus long time work is forced.
More specifically, for example, all of the flexible flat cables which extend from the recording head are connected to a control substrate. However, the control substrate is generally provided in the secluded location of the device, and thus accessibility is not good. Accordingly, when it is necessary to exchange the flexible flat cables for some reasons, for example, when a contact part, which is connected to the recording head, is deteriorated or damaged, it is necessary for the serviceman to access the control substrate and to exchange the flexible flat cables, with the result that it requires extra effort to perform the work, and thus long time work is forced. In addition, as disclosed in JP-A-2009-132036, all of the ink tubes are connected to a cartridge holder which is separated from the recording head, and thus there is the same problem as in the work which is performed on the flexible flat cable when the ink tubes are exchanged.
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to improve the workability of the maintenance and exchange of a recording head, thereby reducing work time.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording apparatus including: a recording section that performs recording on a recording medium; a cable relay section that is provided between a first area, in which the recording section is arranged, and a second area in which a control section for control is arranged, and that relays cables; a first cable that is configured to extend from the recording section and is connected to the cable relay section on a side of the first area; and a second cable that is configured to extend from the control section and is connected to the cable relay section on a side of the second area.
According to the aspect, the cable relay section that relays cables is provided between the first area, in which the recording section that performs recording on the recording medium is arranged, and the second area in which the control section for control is arranged. Further, the first cable that extends from the recording section and the second cable that extends from the control section are connected to the cable relay section. Therefore, when a work of maintaining or exchanging the recording section is performed, it is not necessary to access the control section and access to the cable relay section is sufficient. Therefore, workability is excellent when the work of maintaining or exchanging the recording section is performed, and it is possible to reduce work time.
In the recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention, the cable relay section may be provided in a frame which performs division into the first area and the second area.
According to the aspect, it is possible to acquire the same advantage as in the first aspect according to the invention.
In the recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention, an end of the cable relay section on the side of the first area may be located on the side of the second area rather than an end of the frame on the side of the first area.
According to the aspect, the end of the cable relay section on the side of the first area is located on the side of the second area rather than the end of the frame on the side of the first area. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of protrusion of the cable relay section on the side of the first area or it is possible to prevent protrusion. Accordingly, when the recording section is attached or detached, it is possible to suppress the recording section from being caught by the cable relay section, and thus a work of attaching or detaching the recording section becomes easier.
In the recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention, the frame may be provided with a cable passing section that causes the first area and the second area to communicate with other and passes the cable. A third cable, which has a signal standard different from those of the first cable and the second cable, may directly connect the recording section to the control section through the cable passing section, and the third cable may be configured to be detachable from the recording section.
According to the aspect, the third cable, which has the signal standard different from those of the first cable and the second cable, directly connects the recording section to the control section through the cable passing section, and thus it is possible to perform excellent information transmission, in which signal deterioration is suppressed, by using the third cable. In addition, the third cable is configured to be capable of being detached from the recording section, and thus it is easy to reuse the third cable even when the recording section is exchanged.
In the recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention, the first cable and the third cable may be arranged along an upper surface of the recording section and are configured to extend on an outside of the recording section, and the first cable on the upper surface of the recording section may be arranged on the upper side of the third cable.
According to the aspect, on the upper surface of the recording section, the first cable is wired on the upper side of the third cable, and thus the third cable does not disturb a work performed when the first cable is retracted into the cable relay section, thereby increasing workability.
In the recording apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the invention, a recording apparatus may further include a tube that supplies liquid from a liquid accommodation section, which accommodates the liquid, to the recording section, and the tube may be arranged on an upper side of the first cable and is configured to extend to the outside of the recording section.
According to the aspect, the tube that supplies liquid from the liquid accommodation section, which accommodates the liquid, to the recording section, is included. The tube is arranged on the upper side of the first cable and is configured to extend to the outside of the recording section, and thus the recording section-side cable does not disturb a work of removing the tube, thereby increasing workability.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording apparatus including: a detachable recording section that performs recording on a recording medium; a tube relay section that is provided between a first area, in which the recording section is arranged, and a second area in which a control section for control is arranged, and that is configured to relay a tube; a first tube that is provided on a side of the first area and is connected to the tube relay section on the side of the first area; and a second tube that is provided on a side of the second area and is connected to the tube relay section on the side of the second area.
According to the aspect, the tube relay section that relays the tube between the first area, in which the recording section for performing recording on the recording medium is arranged, and the second area, in which the control section for control is arranged, is provided. Further, the first tube, which is provided on the side of the first area, and the second tube, which is provided on the side of the second area, are connected to the tube relay section. Therefore, when the work of maintaining or exchanging the recording section is performed, it is not necessary to access the liquid accommodation section which is provided in the device, and access to the tube relay section is sufficient. Therefore, workability, which is acquired when the work of maintaining or exchanging the recording section is performed, is excellent, and thus it is possible to reduce work time.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the seventh aspect, wherein the tube relay section may be provided in a frame which performs division into the first area and the second area.
According to the aspect, it is possible to acquire the same advantage as in the seventh aspect according to the invention.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, the same reference symbols are attached to the same components in the respective embodiments, the description thereof is performed in an initial embodiment, and the description of the components will not be repeated in the subsequent embodiments.
In addition, in an X-Y-Z coordinate system, which is shown in each drawing, an X direction (device width direction) indicates the entire width direction of paper, a Y direction indicates a paper transport direction, and a Z direction indicates a direction in which the distance (gap) between the recording head and the paper changes, that is, a device height direction. Also, in each drawing, the −X direction is a device front side, and +X direction side is a device back side.
An ink jet printer 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a printer 10) will be described as an example of a liquid discharge device with reference to
In addition, in the device height direction (Z axis direction) of the device main body 12, a paper receiving tray 20, which receives the paper P on which recording is performed by a line head 18 that will be described later, is provided between the scanner unit 14 and the paper accommodation cassette 16.
Subsequently, a transport path of the paper P in the printer 10 will be described with reference to
The printer 10 in the embodiment includes a paper transport path 22. The paper transport path 22 includes a straight path 24, a switchback path 26, a reverse path 28, a facedown ejection path 30, and a feed path 32 which is connected to the straight path 24 from the paper accommodation cassette 16.
In the feed path 32, a feeding roller 34, a pair of separating rollers 36, and a pair of transport rollers 38 are sequentially provided along the transport direction of the paper P. The feeding roller 34 is rotationally driven by a driving motor which is not shown in the drawing. The pair of separating rollers 36 separates the paper P by nipping the paper P. The pair of transport rollers 38 includes one roller as a driving roller which is rotationally driven by a driving motor which is not shown in the drawing, and the other roller as a follower roller.
Also, in the description below, description will be performed while it is assumed that each of the pairs of transport rollers in the specification includes one roller which is rotationally driven by a driving motor which is not shown in the drawing, and the other roller as a follower roller.
The paper P, which is accommodated in the paper accommodation cassette 16, is fed to the downstream side of the feed path 32 by the feeding roller 34. The paper P which is fed by the feeding roller 34 is sequentially nipped by the pair of separating rollers 36 and the pair of transport rollers 38, and is fed toward the downstream side of the feed path 32. In addition, a pair of transport rollers 40 is provided on the downstream side of the transport direction of the pair of transport rollers 38.
In the embodiment, the feed path 32 and the straight path 24 are connected to each other in the location of the pair of transport rollers 40. That is, the feed path 32 is set as a path from the paper accommodation cassette 16 to the pair of transport rollers 40.
The straight path 24 is configured as a path which linearly extends. The pair of transport rollers 40, a belt transport part 42, the line head 18 as a “recording section”, and a first flap 44 are sequentially provided in the straight path 24 along the transport direction. Also, in the embodiment, the straight path 24 is set as a path from the pair of transport rollers 40 to the first flap 44. That is, the straight path 24 is set as a path which passes through the line head 18 and extends to the upstream side and the downstream side of the line head 18.
In the embodiment, the line head 18 includes a plurality of nozzle heads 19. In the embodiment, the line head 18 is configured to perform recording by discharging ink from a plurality of nozzles, which are provided in the nozzle heads 19, to the recording surface of the paper P when the paper P is transported in an area which faces the nozzle heads 19. The line head 18 according to the embodiment is, for example, a recording head which is provided such that nozzles for discharging ink are arranged to cover the whole area in a paper width direction, and is configured as the recording head which is capable of performing recording in the whole area of the paper width without moving in the paper width direction.
In addition, the belt transport part 42 is arranged in an area which faces the nozzle heads 19 of the line head 18. The belt transport part 42 transports the paper P on the downstream side of the transport direction by driving a belt. At this time, the belt transport part 42 supports a side opposite to the recording surface of the paper P. Further, the recording surface of the paper P, which is supported by the belt transport part 42, faces the nozzle heads 19, and recording is performed on the recording surface of the paper P in such a way that ink is discharged from the nozzles of the nozzle heads 19 of the line head 18. In addition, the belt transport part 42 defines the distance (gap) between the recording surface of the paper P and the head surfaces of the nozzle heads 19 by supporting the paper P from below.
Subsequently, the first flap 44 is located on the downstream side of the transport direction of the line head 18. The first flap 44 is configured to be capable of oscillating through a driving mechanism in which a control section 90 (refer to
When the first flap 44 has the posture (not shown in the drawing) which connects the straight path 24 to the facedown ejection path 30, the paper P is sent to the facedown ejection path 30 from the straight path 24 by the belt transport part 42.
The facedown ejection path 30 is curved and reversed while extending from the straight path 24 to the upper side in the device height direction. Further, in the facedown ejection path 30, a plurality of pairs of transport rollers 46 is provided in the transport direction at appropriate intervals.
The facedown ejection path 30 includes a path up to an outlet 48 which is located in the downstream side of the transport direction of the pairs of transport rollers 46 which are located on the most downstream side of the transport direction from the first flap 44. That is, the facedown ejection path 30 is a transport path which is connected to the straight path 24, and is a path which causes the paper P that is passed through the line head 18 to be curved, reversed, and ejected.
The paper P, in which recording is performed on the recording surface by the line head 18, is sequentially nipped by the pairs of transport rollers 46 which are sequentially provided from the first flap 44 along the transport direction in the facedown ejection path 30. Further, the paper P is ejected toward the paper receiving tray 20 from the outlet 48.
Here, when the paper P is transported through the facedown ejection path 30, the paper P is transported while a recording surface which is recorded last by the line head 18 to face upward is subsequently transported while the recording surface is caused to be curved toward the inside of the curved part of the facedown ejection path 30, and then is ejected toward the paper receiving tray 20 from the outlet 48 while the recording surface is caused to face downward.
When the first flap 44 has a posture (refer to
The switchback path 26 and the reverse path 28 are paths through which the paper P passes when recording is performed on a second surface after recording is performed on the first surface of the paper P, that is, when double-sided recording is performed. Also, when recording is not performed on the first surface and recording is performed on the second surface, the paper P passes through the switchback path 26 and the reverse path 28 in the same manner. That is, in the specification, the double-sided recording means recording performed on the second surface by reversing the paper P regardless of whether or not recording is performed on the first surface.
The switchback path 26 is located inside the facedown ejection path 30 which is curved and reversed while facing upward in the device height direction, and extends along the facedown ejection path 30. Further, the switchback path 26 includes a pair of transport rollers 50.
In addition, in the embodiment, the switchback path 26 is set as a path from a second flap 52, which is provided on upper side of the first flap 44, to an opening 54 which is provided at the tip of the switchback path 26. When the switchback path 26 is connected to the straight path 24 by the first flap 44 (refer to
Also, here, the second flap 52 will be described. The second flap 52 is provided on the upper side of the first flap 44 in the device height direction (Z axis direction). Further, the second flap 52 is interlocked with the operation of the first flap 44 and is oscillated by an interlocking mechanism which is not shown in the drawing. That is, the second flap 52 is controlled by the control section 90 through the first flap 44 and the interlocking mechanism.
The second flap 52 has a posture which connects the switchback path 26 to the reverse path 28 in a state (refer to
When the second flap 52 has a posture which connects the switchback path 26 to the reverse path 28, the control section 90 rotates the pair of transport rollers 50 in a direction inverse to the direction in which the paper P is sent to the switchback path 26, and sends the paper P to the reverse path 28 while causing the rear end side of the paper P to be the tip end side. That is, the paper P is switched back.
The reverse path 28 is set as a path which passes through the upper side of the line head 18 from the second flap 52 and reaches the pair of transport rollers 40 of the straight path 24. The plurality of pairs of transport rollers 56 is provided in the transport direction at appropriate intervals in the reverse path 28.
The outlet side of the reverse path 28 is configured to join to the straight path 24 in the upstream location of the pair of transport rollers 40 in the straight path 24. Further, the paper P is sent to the straight path 24 again. That is, the reverse path 28 is a transport path which is connected to the switchback path 26, and is set as a path that reverses the paper P, which is transported in the inverse direction, that is, which is switched back, by causing the upper side of the line head 18 to make a detour, and that causes the paper P to join to the pair of transport rollers 40 which is located in the upper stream-side locations of the line head 18 in the straight path 24.
Further, when the paper P is transported in the reverse path 28, the first surface and the second surface are reversed and transported to an area which faces the line head 18 in the straight path 24, and then recording is performed on the second surface. Thereafter, the paper P is ejected to the paper receiving tray 20 through the facedown ejection path 30.
The handling of the line head 18, which is arranged in the device main body 12, and flat cables from the control section 90, which will be described later, will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
The line head 18 forms an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape on the whole, and the plurality of nozzle heads 19 is arranged on the lower surface of the line head 18 (refer to
The line head 18 is attached to the device main body 12 in a state in which the guide pins 23 are inserted into the through holes 21. That is, the guide pins 23 function as guide members when the line head 18 is attached to the device main body 12, and also function as the positioning members of the line head 18 for the device main body 12.
In a state in which the line head 18 is attached to the device main body 12, guide pin stabilizing members 25 are arranged in the device main body 12 so as to face an upper surface 18a of the line head 18. In the guide pin stabilizing members 25, the through holes 21, which receive the guide pins 23, are provided. When the guide pin stabilizing members 25 cause fastening members 27 to close the device main body 12 in a state in which the guide pins 23 are received, it is possible to stabilize the horizontal locations of the guide pins 23. Also, in the embodiment, the fastening members 27 are configured as screws.
In addition, as illustrated in
In addition, at least one ink supply section 62 is provided in the ink supply path 60. As illustrated in
In addition, in the embodiment, five flat cables are attached to the upper surface 18a of the line head 18. In the embodiment, the five flat cables include a first recording section-side cable 68, a second recording section-side cable 70, a third recording section-side cable 72, a fourth recording section-side cable 74, and a different-type cable 76. In the embodiment, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, the fourth recording section-side cable 74 and the different-type cable 76 are configured as flexible flat cables (FFCs).
In addition, in the embodiment, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, and the fourth recording section-side cable 74 are configured as flexible flat cables (FFCs) according to the same signal standard, and the different-type cable 76 is configured as a high-speed data transmission cable in which the data transmission speed is higher than the other cables. In addition, in the embodiment, a ready-made adapter (not shown in the drawing) is attached to one end side of the different-type cable 76, that is, the upper surface 18a of the line head 18. Also, in the embodiment, a ready-made adapter is also attached to the other end side of the different-type cable 76.
Specifically, as illustrated in
In addition, the attachment section 78d and the attachment section 80 are arranged side by side in the paper width direction at the end on the upstream side of the paper transport direction in the line head 18. One end of the fourth recording section-side cable 74 is retractably attached to the attachment section 78d. In addition, the attachment section 80 corresponds to an adapter which is provided on one end side of the different-type cable 76, and an adapter which is provided on one end side of the different-type cable 76 is detachable therefrom. Accordingly, as will be described later, it is easy to reuse the different-type cable 76 when the line head 18 is temporarily exchanged.
Subsequently, as illustrated in
In the embodiment, on the device back side of the line head 18 of the device main body 12, a frame 82, which divides an area in which the paper transport path 22 and the line head 18 are arranged and an area in which the control section 90 which will be described later is arranged, is provided.
A part of the frame 82 is cut and a cable passing section 84 is provided at the cut part. The different-type cable 76 extends toward the control section 90 which is provided on the device back side through the cable passing section 84 and which will be described later.
In addition, a recess section 86 is provided on the upper side of the cable passing section 84 of the frame 82. The recess section 86 is formed in a concave state on an area side of the frame 82 in which the line head 18 is arranged, and is formed in a convex state on an area side in which the control section 90 is arranged (refer to
Attachment sections 88a, 88b, 88c, and 88d, which retractably attach the flexible flat cables (FFCs), are provided on one side of the cable relay section 88, that is, on the area side in which the line head 18 is arranged. In addition, attachment sections 88e, 88f, 88g, and 88h, which retractably attach the flexible flat cables (FFCs), are provided on the other side, that is, on the area side in which the control section 90 is arranged.
Here, in the embodiment, the attachment section 88a and the attachment section 88e are electrically connected to each other, the attachment section 88b and the attachment section 88f are electrically connected to each other, the attachment section 88c and the attachment section 88g are electrically connected to each other, an attachment section 88d and an attachment section 88h are electrically connected to each other.
In addition, as illustrated in
In the embodiment, the fourth recording section-side cable 74, which extends from the attachment section 78d of the line head 18, is located on the upper side of the different-type cable 76 which extends in the device rear direction, extends to the device back side, and is retractably attached to the other end of the attachment section 88d in the recess section 86 of the frame 82.
In addition, the third recording section-side cable 72, which extends from the attachment section 78c of the line head 18, laterally cuts the upper surface 18a of the line head 18 from the downstream side of the paper transport direction toward the upstream side, changes direction to the device back side, and extends to the device back side. At this time, the third recording section-side cable 72 is located on the upper side of the fourth recording section-side cable 74. Further, the other end of the third recording section-side cable 72, which extends to the device back side, is retractably attached to the attachment section 88c in the recess section 86 of the frame 82.
In addition, the second recording section-side cable 70, which extends from the attachment section 78b of the line head 18, laterally cuts the upper surface 18a of the line head 18 from the downstream side of the paper transport direction toward the upstream side, changes direction to the device back side, and extends to the device back side. At this time, the second recording section-side cable 70 is located on the upper side of the third recording section-side cable 72. Further, the other end of the second recording section-side cable 70, which extends to the device back side, is retractably attached to the attachment section 88b in the recess section 86 of the frame 82.
In addition, the first recording section-side cable 68, which extends from the attachment section 78a of the line head 18, laterally cuts the upper surface 18a of the line head 18 from the downstream side of the paper transport direction toward the upstream side, changes direction to the device back side, and extends to the device back side. At this time, the first recording section-side cable 68 is located on the upper side of the second recording section-side cable 70. Further, the other end of the first recording section-side cable 68, which extends to the device back side, is retractably attached to the attachment section 88a in the recess section 86 of the frame 82.
Also, in the embodiment, as illustrated in
The control section 90 will be described with reference to
The control section 90 includes a main control substrate 96 (refer to
The control section 90 controls operations, which are necessary to execute the recording and image reading of the printer 10, such as operations of feeding, transporting, ejecting, and recording the paper P, a manuscript reading operation, and a maintenance operation, in the scanner unit 14, the line head 18, the belt transport part 42, the first flap 44, and the second flap 52. In addition, in the embodiment, the control section 90 controls the driving of the feeding roller 34, the pair of separating rollers 36, and the respective pairs of transport rollers 38, 40, 46, 50, and 56 through a plurality of driving motors (not shown in the drawing) provided in the device main body 12.
In addition, the control section 90 may control the operations, which are necessary to execute the recording and image reading of the printer 10, such as the manuscript reading operation based on an instruction from the outside (PC or the like). In addition, the control section 90 controls the discharge of ink performed by the line head 18.
In addition, in the embodiment, the control section 90 is configured to be capable of rotating the device main body 12 while using the rotary axis 100 (refer to
As illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
Gas, which is blown from the cooling duct connection section 103 line head driving substrate, flows into the accommodation section 97 through the duct inlet port 99, cools the line head driving substrate 98, passes through the ejection port 95 which is provided in the exterior cover 94 through the duct ejection port 101, and is discharged to the outside of the device main body 12.
Referring to
In addition, one end of a second control section-side cable 104 is retractably attached to the attachment section 88f of the cable relay section 88. The second control section-side cable 104 is electrically connected to the second recording section-side cable 70 through the attachment section 88f and the attachment section 88b. One end of a third control section-side cable 106 is retractably attached to the attachment section 88g of the cable relay section 88. The third control section-side cable 106 is electrically connected to the third recording section-side cable 72 through the attachment section 88g and the attachment section 88c.
In addition, one end of a fourth control section-side cable 108 is retractably attached to the attachment section 88h of the cable relay section 88. The fourth control section-side cable 108 is electrically connected to the fourth recording section-side cable 74 through the attachment section 88h and the attachment section 88d.
As illustrated in
In addition, the fourth control section-side cable 108, which extends toward the downward side of the device height direction from the attachment section 88e of the cable relay section 88, changes the extending direction into the upstream side of the paper transport direction, and extends to the upstream side of the paper transport direction. Further, the other end of the fourth control section-side cable 108 moves around the rotary axis 100 of the control section 90, extends along the rear surface 90a of the control section 90, and is retractably connected to the main control substrate 96 through the opening 110 which is provided on the rear surface 90a of the control section 90.
In addition, the different-type cable 76, which has one end that is connected to the line head 18, passes through the cable passing section 84, extends into an area in which the control section 90 is arranged, changes the extending direction into the upstream side of the paper transport direction, and extends to the upstream side of the paper transport direction. Further, the other end of the different-type cable 76 moves around the rotary axis 100 of the control section 90, extends along the rear surface 90a of the control section 90, and is retractably connected to the main control substrate 96 through the opening 110 which is provided on the rear surface 90a of the control section 90.
Subsequently, a procedure of exchanging the line head 18 will be described with reference to
Subsequently, in step S4, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, and the fourth recording section-side cable 74 are removed from the cable relay section 88 which is provided in the frame 82 (refer to
Subsequently, in step S6, the fastening members 27 are loosened from the device main body 12, and thus the guide pin stabilizing members 25 is removed from the device main body. Further, in step S7, the line head 18 is raised to the device main body 12 to the upper side of the device height direction, and thus the line head 18 is removed from the device main body 12 (refer to
Subsequently, in step S8, a new line head 18 is attached to the device main body 12 while causing the guide pins 23 to pass through the through holes 21 (refer to
Subsequently, in step S10, the different-type cable 76, which extends from the control section 90, is attached to the exchanged line head 18 (refer to
Further, in step S12, liquid, which is charged in the ink supply path 60 and the nozzle heads 19 of the exchanged line head 18, is discharged from the nozzles of the nozzle heads 19, and liquid is ejected from the insides of the ink supply path 60 and the nozzle heads 19. Also, liquid, which is charged in the ink supply path 60 and the nozzle heads 19, is liquid which is charged in the ink supply path 60 and the nozzle heads 19 for the purpose of protecting the line head 18 when the line head 18 is transported.
Subsequently, in step S13, the ink tubes 66, which are sealed by the hook (not shown in the drawing) of the frame 82, are removed from the hook, and the ink supply connectors 64 are attached to the ink supply section 62 of the ink supply path 60 of the line head 18. The flow of the work for exchanging the line head 18 has been described above.
When the above description is summarized, in the embodiment, the arrangement area of the detachable line head 18 which performs recording on the paper P and the arrangement area of the control section 90 which performs various types of control are divided by the frame 82. Further, the cable relay section 88 is provided in the frame 82, the recording section-side cables 68, 72, 74, and 76, which extend from the line head 18, and the control section-side cables 102, 104, 106, and 108, which extend from the control section 90, are connected to the cable relay section 88. Therefore, when a work of maintaining or exchanging the line head 18 is performed, it is not necessary to access to the control section 90, access to the cable relay section 88 is sufficient. Therefore, workability acquired when the work of maintaining or exchanging the line head 18 is performed is excellent, and thus it is possible to shorten work time.
In the embodiment, the recess section 86, which becomes concave on the arrangement area side of the line head 18 and becomes convex on the arrangement area side of the control section 90, is formed in the frame 82. Further, the cable relay section 88 is provided in the recess section 86. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of projection of the cable relay section 88 toward the arrangement area side of the line head 18 or it is possible to prevent protrusion. Accordingly, when the line head 18 is attached or detached, it is possible to suppress the line head 18 from being caught by the cable relay section 88, and thus a work of attaching or detaching the line head 18 becomes easier.
In the embodiment, the different-type cable 76, which is a flat cable based on different standard, passes through the cable passing section 84 and is directly connected to the line head 18 and the control section 90, and thus the recording section-side cables 68, 72, 74, and 76 and the control section-side cables 102, 104, 106, and 108 can perform excellent information transmission, in which signal deterioration is suppressed, by using the different-type cable 76. In addition, the different-type cable 76 is configured to be detachable from the line head 18, and thus it is easy to reuse the different-type cable 76 when the line head 18 is exchanged.
In the embodiment, on the upper surface 18a of the line head 18, the recording section-side cables 68, 72, 74, and 76 are wired on the upper side of the different-type cable 76, and thus the different-type cable 76 does not disturb a work performed when the recording section-side cables 68, 72, 74, and 76 are retracted into the cable relay section 88, thereby increasing workability.
According to the embodiment, the ink tubes 66, which supply ink from the ink tank that accommodates ink to the line head, are included. The ink tubes 66 are arranged on the upper sides of the recording section-side cables 68, 72, and 74 and extend to the outside of the line head 18, and thus the recording section-side cables 68, 72, 74, and 76 are not disturbed when the work of removing the ink tubes 66 is performed, thereby increasing workability.
(1) In the embodiment, the different-type cable 76 is configured to directly connect the line head 18 to the control section 90. However, instead of the configuration, the different-type cable 76 may be configured to connect the line head 18 to the control section 90 through the cable relay section 88.
(2) In the embodiment, a configuration is made such that the cable which controls the line head 18 is connected through the cable relay section 88. However, instead of the configuration, a configuration may be made such that sensors and motors in the control cable device main body 12 of the scanner unit 14, communication cables of a manipulation section which is manipulated by a user, electric power supply cables, and wirings of a power supply unit are connected to the control section 90 through the cable relay section 88.
(3) In the embodiment, a configuration is made such that, when the line head 18 is exchanged, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, and the fourth recording section-side cable 74 are exchanged together with a new line head 18. However, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, and the fourth recording section-side cable 74, which are attached to the used line head 18, may be removed from the used line head 18 and may be attached to a new line head 18.
(4) In the embodiment, a configuration is made such that the ink tank (not shown in the drawing), which is provided in the device main body 12, is connected to the ink supply section 62, which is provided in the upper surface 18a of the line head 18, using the plurality of ink tubes 66. However, instead of the configuration, as illustrated in
Also, in the modified example, the control side tube and the recording section side tube are configured as a plurality of ink tubes which supplies ink. In addition, in the tube relay section 112, the connectors corresponding to the number of ink tubes are provided. In addition, at the respective tips of the control section side tube and the recording section side tube, the adapters which are connected to the connectors are provided. In addition, adapters are provided on the side of the control section side tube which is connected to the ink supply section 62 of the line head 18. Configuration is made such that the adapters which are provided in the connectors and ink tubes which are provided in the tube relay section 112 permits ink supply when the connectors are connected to the adapters, and the leak of ink from the connectors and adapters is prevented when the connectors are not connected to the adapters. As an example of the configuration, a fluid coupling coupler is provided. In the modified example, the connectors and the adapters are configured as fluid coupling couplers. That is, when at least one of the control side tube and the recording section side tube is separated from the tube relay section 112 or when the control side tube is separated from the ink supply section 62, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the ink tube or the tube relay section 112.
With such a configuration, the arrangement area of the detachable line head 18 which performs recording on the paper P and the arrangement area of the control section 90 which performs various types of control are partitioned by the frame 82. Further, the tube relay section 112 is provided in the frame 82 and the recording section side tube, which is provided on the arrangement area side of the line head 18, and the control section side tube, which is provided on the side of the arrangement area of the control section 90, is connected to the tube relay section 112. Therefore, it is not necessary to access the ink tank which is provided inside of the device when the work of maintaining or exchanging the line head 18 is performed, and access to the tube relay section 112 is sufficient. Therefore, workability, acquired when the work of maintaining or exchanging the line head 18 is performed, is excellent, and thus it is possible to reduce work time.
Further, when the above description is summarized, the printer 10 includes the detachable line head 18 which performs recording on the paper P, the frame 82 which performs division into the arrangement area of the line head 18 and the arrangement area of the control section 90 that performs various types of control, the cable relay section 88 which is provided in the frame 82, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, and the fourth recording section-side cable 74 which are flat cables that extend from the line head 18 and which are retractably connected to the cable relay section 88 on the arrangement area side of the line head 18, and the first control section-side cable 102, the second control section-side cable 104, the third control section-side cable 106 and the fourth control section-side cable 108 which are flat cables that extend from the control section 90 and which are connected to the cable relay section 88 on the arrangement area side of the control section 90.
In addition, in the frame 82 of the printer 10, the recess section 86, which becomes concave on the arrangement area side of the line head 18 and becomes convex on the arrangement area side of the control section 90, is formed. Further, the cable relay section 88 is provided in the recess section 86.
In addition, in the frame 82 of the printer 10, the cable passing section 84 is provided, and the different-type cable 76, which is the flat cable according to signal standard that is different from those of the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70 and the third recording section-side cable 72, the fourth recording section-side cable 74, the first control section-side cable 102, the second control section-side cable 104, the third control section-side cable 106, and the fourth control section-side cable 108, directly connects the line head 18 to the control section 90 through the cable passing section 84. The different-type cable 76 is configured to be detachable from the line head 18.
In addition, in the printer 10, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, the fourth recording section-side cable 74, and the different-type cable 76 are wired along the upper surface 18a of the line head 18 and extend to the outside of the outline head 18. On the upper surface 18a of the line head 18, the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, the third recording section-side cable 72, and the fourth recording section-side cable 74 are wired on the upper side of the different-type cable 76.
In addition, the ink tubes 66, which supply ink from the ink tank that accommodates ink to the line head 18, are included in the printer 10. The ink tubes 66 are arranged on the upper sides of the first recording section-side cable 68, the second recording section-side cable 70, and the third recording section-side cable 72, and extend to the outside of the line head 18.
In addition, the printer 10 includes the detachable line head 18 which performs recording on the paper P, the frame 82 which performs division into the arrangement area of the line head 18 and the arrangement area of the control section 90 that performs various types of control, the tube relay section 112 which is provided in the frame 82, the recording section side tube which is an ink supply tube that is provided on the arrangement area side of the line head 18 and is retractably connected to the tube relay section 112 on the arrangement area side of the line head 18, and the control section side tube which is the ink supply tube that is provided on the arrangement area side of the control section 90 and which is connected to the tube relay section 112 on the arrangement area side of the control section 90.
Also, in the embodiment, the line head 18 as a recording head is a type which discharges liquid in a fixed state without moving. However, the invention is not limited thereto. It is possible to apply the invention to a type in which liquid is discharged from the nozzles of the recording head while the recording head moves in a predetermined direction.
In addition, in the embodiment, the recording section-side cables 68, 70, 72, and 74, the control section-side cables 102, 104, 106, and 108, the different-type cable 76 and the cable relay section 88 according to the invention are applied to the ink jet printer as an example of the recording apparatus. However, it is possible to apply the recording section-side cables 68, 70, 72, and 74, the control section-side cables 102, 104, 106, and 108, the different-type cable 76 and the cable relay section 88 to another general liquid injection device.
Here, the liquid injection device is not limited to a recording apparatus, such as a printer, a multifunction printer and a facsimile, in which an ink jet type recording head is used, ink is discharged from the recording head, and recording is performed on the recording medium. The liquid injection device includes a device which injects liquid corresponding to the purpose of ink instead of ink, injects the liquid from a liquid injection head corresponding to the ink jet type recording head to an injected medium corresponding to the recording medium, and causes the liquid to adhere to the injected medium.
In addition to the recording head, a color material injection head, such as a liquid crystal display, which is used to manufacture a color filter, an electrode material (conductive pastes) injection head, such as an organic EL display or a Field Emission Display (FED), which is used to form electrodes, a bio organic matter injection head which is used to manufacture biochips, and a sample injection head as a precision pipette are provided as an example of the liquid injection head.
Also, the invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible in the scope of the invention disclosed in claims, and it is apparent that the modifications are included in the scope of the invention.
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-057202, filed Mar. 20, 2015 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-057202 | Mar 2015 | JP | national |