Recording apparatus

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided with an upper unit (1a) having recording head (101) for discharging ink for effecting recording on a recording medium (S) in response to information, and at least a portion of the electric circuit (103) of the apparatus, a lower unit (1b) having a platen (203) for maintaining the recording medium (S) in the recording station by the recording head (101), the lower unit (1b) being capable of being spaced apart relative to the upper unit (1a), and conveying member (113,115) for conveying the recording medium to the recording station. The upper unit and the lower unit are capable of being spaced apart and opened in the recording station by the recording head.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a recording apparatus and more particularly to a recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head using ink to effect recording (an ink jet recording apparatus). Related Background Art As recording means used in a recording apparatus, the ink jet recording system has numerous advantages such as very small noise during recording and capability of effecting recording on plain paper, and has been attracting more and more attention in recent years. Also, a recording apparatus which reads image information from a medium (an original) bearing information and effects a series of image processing operations in which the image information is recorded on a recording medium such as paper is now an apparatus indispensable in the information processing system. Such a recording apparatus also has numerous advantages such as very small noise during recording and capability of effecting recording on plain paper and therefore, the ink jet recording systems have been attracting more and more attention. Above all, the ink jet recording system called the on-demand type which effects ink discharge during recording by the utilization of either a piezoelectric element or a magnetostrictive element which is an electro-mechanical converting element or an electro-thermal converting element has a great advantage that it does not require means for collecting unnecessary ink and a high voltage source for deflection, because it consumes ink only when necessary for recording. Now, with the recent spread of so-called OA instruments, the requirement for the compactness and higher recording speed of recording apparatuses as image forming apparatuses has been rising and therefore, also in recording apparatuses using the on-demand type ink jet recording system having various advantages, it has been strongly desired to introduce improvements to meet such a requirement. On the other hand, the ink jet recording apparatus, which generally uses liquid as a recording agent, may experience the clogging or the like of ink in recording means such as a head and thus, improved operability of maintenance of the recording means is desired. Also, recording mediums such as paper may jam in the conveyance path and thus, improved operability of so-called jam treatment is desired. Although the ink jet recording apparatus thus has various advantages, dust or paper powder of recording paper has adhered to the discharge ports of the recording head to cause clogging of such ports or cause mixing of bubbles with the interior of the discharge ports, or in the on-demand type ink jet recording apparatus, the frequency of use of a number of nozzles arranged in the recording head is not uniform and therefore, irregularity of discharge conditions has sometimes been caused by an increase in the viscosity of ink. Also, ink has sometimes adhered to a recording medium when it has remained on the end surface of the recording head in which discharge ports open. Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus, it is requisite to effect a suitable operation for eliminating these various factors which degrade the quality of recording (hereinafter referred to as the discharge restoring operation). However, in an ink jet recording apparatus, particularly an ink jet recording apparatus having a so-called full multi-type recording head in which discharge ports are arranged in a range corresponding to the width of the recording medium, a platen for controlling the recording surface is provided in proximately opposed relationship with the discharge ports over the full range in which the discharge ports are arranged and therefore, it has been difficult to secure a large work space when effecting said discharge restoring operation, without making the apparatus bulky. That is, in the discharge restoring operation as described above, it is generally practised as an example to effect discharge with a restoring member joined or proximately opposed to the discharge ports. However, as mentioned above, in the ink jet recording apparatus having a full multi-type recording head, the platen for controlling the recording surface is provided in proximately opposed relationship with the discharge ports over the full range in which the discharge ports are arranged, and this gives rise to the necessity of replacing the platen with the restoring member when effecting said discharge restoring operation. So, an apparatus in which when effecting the discharge restoring operation, the platen is greatly spaced apart from the recording head and in this state, the restoring member can be opposed to the recording head (for example, an apparatus disclosed in JP-A-61 222 774 (Published 03.10.86) or US-A-4 692 778 (Published 08.09.87)), has been proposed, but to contribute to further compactness of the recording apparatus, it is desirable to make the range of movement of the platen or the restoring member small. Now, the restoring member receives ink during the discharge restoring operation, etc. and therefore, it is desirable to provide it with an ink absorbing member formed of a water-absorbent porous material. However, such an ink absorbing member is limited in its ink absorbing capacity (the amount of ink absorbed) and therefore, it is preferable to interchange it at suitable chances. On the other hand, another member required to be interchanged in the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink tank for ink supply if the ink tank is of the interchangeable type. In the ink jet recording apparatus, when the interchange of both of the restoring member and the ink tank becomes necessary, two stages of discrete operations must be performed during the use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-noted problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which is compact and moreover improved in the operability of maintenance of recording means and the operability of jam treatment. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which is compact and moreover appropriately designed such that various parts including an electric circuit are reliably protected from ink mist, etc. These objects are achieved by the features indicated in the independent claim 1. According to claim 1, the recording apparatus comprises an upper unit, a lower unit having a platen for maintaining a recording medium at a recording station where recording is effected by a recording means which discharges ink for effecting the recording on the recording medium in response to information, and a conveying means for conveying the recording medium to the recording means, wherein the upper unit and the lower unit are capable of being spaced apart and opened at the recording station, thus improving the operability as regards maintenance and jam treatment since the space available to effect the maintenance of the recording means can be made large and the conveyance path can be opened. Further, according to the invention, a main electric circuit portion is provided in the upper unit in common with the recording means so that, although the ink discharge during recording or an unexpected leakage of ink may have occured, the ink has not exerted any influence on the electric circuit portion. As a result, the recording apparatus has not only a compact design but also its main electric circuit is reliably protected from ink mist, etc. Advantageously developed embodiments of the invention are subject matter of the dependent claims 2 to 11. According to claim 6, since the ink supply connecting member is displaceable, the spacing apart of the lower and upper units is permitted, for example, without involving the separation of the ink supplying system. Also, according to claim 8, when ink mist or the like is caused during ink discharge, it is quickly carried out of the apparatus through an opening and thus, the ink mist or the like does not adversely affect various parts of the apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment (Embodiment 1) of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applicable. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention with the cover portion thereof removed. Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the apparatus according to Embodiment 1. Figure 4 is a side sectional view showing the apparatus according to Embodiment 1 with the body unit portion and the paper supply portion thereof separated from each other. Figure 5A and 5B, respectively, is an illustration showing an example of the construction of the connecting portion between a recording head and a supply tube in Embodiment 1 and between an ink tank and the supply tube, and a perspective view showing the essential portions thereof. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the apparatus according to said another embodiment of the present invention with the cover portion thereof removed. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment (Embodiment 2) of a recording apparatus provided with image reading means to which the present invention is applicable. Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the apparatus according to Embodiment 2 with the cover portion thereof removed. Figure 10 is a side sectional view of the apparatus according to Embodiment 2. Figure 11 is a side sectional view showing the apparatus according to Embodiment 2 with the body unit portion and the paper supply portion thereof separated from each other. Figures 12A and 12B, respectively, is an illustration showing an example of the construction of the connecting portion between a recording head and a supply tube in Embodiment 2 and between an ink tank and the supply tube, and a perspective view showing the essential portions thereof. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1> Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the outer construction of an ink jet recording apparatus which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the ink jet recording apparatus with its outer cover removed for convenience. In Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 designates a body unit portion having an upper unit 1a as a first unit and a lower unit 1b as a second unit. The upper unit 1a is pivotable up and down relative to the lower unit 1b about a hinge 11, as shown, for example, in Figure 4. Of course, the upper unit 1a needs not always be made pivotable about the hinge 11. The upper unit 1a is provided with a recording head 101, an electric circuit portion 103, a fan 150, an upper discharge roller 115, an upper conveyor roller 113, a paper guide 201 and a paper supply roller 111 which will be described in detail. On the other hand, the lower unit 1b is provided with a platen 203, an ink absorbing member 235, an ink tank 231, a paper cassette 221, a paper discharge tray 9A and idlers 213, 215. The reference numeral 5 denotes a cover disposed over the upper side of the body unit portion 1. The cover 5 is provided with an operating portion 7 in which there are disposed various command switches 7a and 7b such as on-line switches with a host apparatus H and a display device 7c for effecting the mode display. The reference numeral 9 designates a discharge port formed in one side of the apparatus. Recording mediums S on which recording has been effected are piled on the discharge tray 9A through the discharge port 9. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus of Figure 1 with the cover 5 removed to illustrate the interior construction of the apparatus of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1. In these figures, the reference numeral 101 designates an ink jet recording head disposed near the discharge port 9. The ink jet recording head 101 is in the form of the so-called full multi-type wherein nozzles 101a are arranged, for example, at a density of 16 nozzles per 1 mm, over a range corresponding to the full recording width (e.g., recording paper of format A4) of the present apparatus. Also, use may be made of any of methods in which electro-mechanical converting elements (not shown) or electro-thermal converting elements (not shown) are disposed at appropriate locations in the ink flow paths such as the nozzles and discharge energy is caused to act on ink in response to the supply of a driving signal from the host apparatus H corresponding to an image to be recorded, whereby ink is discharged from the discharge ports 101b, but the latter type which uses heat energy is excellent in that it is the high-accuracy full multi-type. In the present embodiment, the recording head 101 is provided in such a manner that the discharge port 101b of each nozzle 101a opens vertically downwardly. The reference numeral 103 denotes the main electric circuit portion of the present apparatus in which a driver circuit for driving the recording head 101 through a flexible cable 102, a power source circuit, a control circuit, various internal circuits of the apparatus and an interface circuit with the host apparatus H outside the apparatus are provided on a base plate 103A. According to the invention, the main electric circuit portion 103 is provided in the upper unit 1a in common with the recording head 101 and therefore, even if the ink discharge during recording or unexpected leakage of ink has occurred, the ink has not exerted any influence on the electric circuit portion 103. That is, even if the ink leaks out of the discharge ports 101b, the flow path thereof is formed on the lower unit 1b side and thus, in the present embodiment, the electric circuit portion 103 is disposed above the flow path, and the ink has exerted no influence on the main electric circuit portion 103 of the present apparatus. Further, in the present embodiment, the electric circuit portion 103 is disposed at a level higher than the positions at which the discharge ports 101b of the recording head 101 are disposed. Thus, the ink has exerted no further influence on the electric circuit portion 103. The above-described arrangement of the electric circuit portion 103 and the discharge ports 101b has been effective, but has not always been necessary. The reference numeral 111 designates a paper supply roller formed by cutting away a part of an arc. The paper supply roller 111 is a roller for supplying recording mediums S such as paper, films or cloths from a cassette 221 containing the recording mediums S therein to the recording station in which recording is effected by the recording head 101. The reference numerals 113 and 115, respectively, denote a conveyor roller disposed at the upstream side on a recording medium conveyance path P with respect to the recording station and a discharge roller disposed near the discharge port 9 at the downstream side. These rollers 113 and 115 are rotatively driven by a motor 117 through a timing belt 119. Thus, in response to this rotative drive, the conveyor roller 113 and the discharge roller 115 have cooperated with idlers 213 and 215 disposed in opposed relationship therewith to effect the conveyance of the recording medium S to the recording station with the recording medium S held therebetween and the discharge of the recording medium S from the recording station to the discharge tray 9A. The reference numeral 201 designates a paper guide provided on the conveyance path P of the recording mediums S to restrict the conveyance path P, and the reference numeral 203 denotes a platen provided on the lower unit 1b side in opposed relationship with the discharge ports 101b of the recording head 101 to maintain the recording medium S in the recording station, that is, control the recording surface, when recording is effected on the recording medium S by the recording head 101. The recording mediums S piled in the aforementioned paper cassette 221 have been separated one by one by the paper supply roller 111 through the cooperation thereof with separating means (not shown) and conveyed toward the recording station. The reference numeral 225 designates the bottom plate of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, this bottom plate 225 has served also as a partition wall for blocking the outflow of leaking ink to the outside of the apparatus when unexpected leakage of ink from the recording head 101, etc. has occurred. The reference numeral 231 designates an ink tank as an ink supply source to the recording head 101. The ink tank 231 is disposed below the platen 203 and designed to supply ink to the recording head 101 through a flexible supply tube 233. The reference numeral 235 denotes an ink absorbing member formed of a water-absorbent porous material. In the present embodiment, the ink absorbing member 235 is disposed on top of the ink tank 231 below the platen 203. This ink absorbing member 235 might appropriately replace the platen 203 in position and be constructed so as to be capable of opposing or bearing against the discharge ports 101b of the recording head 101 and to be used for the discharge restoring operation or the capping operation of the recording head 101. Thereby, the ink dripping from the recording head 101 has been appropriately collected. The reference numeral 150 designates a fan for introducing the air from the outside of the apparatus to thereby cool the various portions of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, this fan 150 has been disposed on that side of the apparatus which is opposite to the discharge port 9, whereby the air stream (indicated by arrows a in Figure 3) from an air intake port 5a in said side to the discharge port 9 has been produced. As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording head 101 has been provided near the discharge port 9 and therefore, the satellite which may secondarily occur during the discharge of ink droplets from the recording head 101, the ink mist which may be caused on the surface of the recording medium S by the scattering of ink, dust, the paper powder of the recording medium, etc. have been immediately carried out of the apparatus through the discharge port 9 by riding on the air stream or by adhering to the recording medium S or by both, whereby they could be prevented from adhering to various parts in the apparatus to contaminate them or break down the electric circuit portion 103. That is, in the present embodiment, the cooling fan 150 for cooling the electric circuit has been shown with respect to a case where it is used also as blower means in the apparatus which eliminates the ink mist. When the ink mist has been caused to adhere to the recording medium S, it has exerted very little influence upon the quality of printing, etc., because in general, ink mist is very fine. Also, when the ink mist is to be carried by the air stream, a filter or the like might be provided near the discharge port 9 so that the ink mist might be collected by it. If the ink mist has been thus collected by the recording medium S or the filter, the exterior walls or the like of the apparatus have not been contaminated. In addition to the above-described construction, in the present embodiment, the body unit portion 1 has been made separable into the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b in the manner described below so as to facilitate the repairs of various parts, the jam treatment, etc. In Figure 4, there is shown an example of the construction of a mechanism for separating the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b from each other and opening the interior of the apparatus to thereby secure the space available for the above-mentioned repairs and treatment. In Figure 4, the reference numeral 11 designates a hinge disposed on the side opposite to the discharge port 9 to permit pivotal movement of the upper unit 1a relative to the lower unit 1b, and the reference numeral 13 denotes a spring for holding the upper unit 1a in its opened position. In the present embodiment, as described above, the recording head 101, the rollers 113 and 115, etc. are disposed near the discharge port 9 in the upper unit 1a, and the platen 203, the idlers 213, 215, the paper cassette 221, the ink tank 231 and the ink absorbing member 235 are disposed near the discharge port 9 in the lower unit 1b and therefore, in the opened position of the body unit portion 1 as shown in Figure 4, the ink system including the recording head 101, the ink tank 231 and the ink absorbing member 235 and the paper supplying or conveying system including the paper cassette 221 and the roller members have been widely opened. That is, in the present embodiment, the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b become spaced apart from each other along the path along which the recording medium S is fed out from the cassette 221 to the discharge port 9 and thus, design has been made such that the conveyance path is opened if the upper unit 1a is pivoted upwardly relative to the lower unit 1b. Accordingly, in this state, the work space necessary for the repairs of various parts, the replacement of the ink absorbing member and the elimination of jam has been secured and thus, those works have become easy. Also, in this state, the replenishment of recording mediums S and the supply of ink might be done. The present embodiment has been shown with respect to an example in which the upper and lower units are spaced apart from each other and opened along the entire conveyance path of the recording medium S, whereas this is not restrictive, but the above-described effect could be attained if at least the portion of the recording station by the recording head is opened. The construction for thus securing the work space is not limited to that shown in Figure 4, but could be various. For example, a good result has been obtained in any of a construction in which suitable struts for supporting the upper unit 1a are provided at four corners of the lower unit 1b and the upper unit 1a is made vertically movable along the struts, a construction in which the upper unit 1a is obliquely upwardly slidable in its horizontal state by the use of a parallel link mechanism, and a construction in which the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b are not opened in the vertical direction but are opened in the horizontal direction. Above all, the hinge type of the present embodiment is simple in construction and reliable in operation and has been very preferable. Now, in the present embodiment, in the ink system, the recording head 101 has been disposed on the upper unit 1a side and the ink tank 231 has been disposed on the lower unit 1b side. Also, they have been designed to communicate with each other through a supply tube 233. Figure 5A is a schematic side sectional view showing the connecting state of the supply tube, and Figure 5B is a perspective view thereof. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 5A, pivotable ink joint members 101A and 231A are provided at the connecting portion between the recording head 101 and the ink supply tube 233 and the connecting portion between the ink tank 231 and the ink supply tube 233, respectively, so that the displacement of the body unit portion 1 resulting from the opening or closing thereof may be absorbed by the rotation of the pivotable ink joint members 101A and 231A. In Figure 5A, the reference characters 101B and 231B designate O-rings for shutting off the ink. Figure 5B shows the details of the connected portion of the supply tube, and particularly shows the construction thereof on the ink tank 231 side. In Figure 5B, the reference character 231D designates an elbow provided integrally with the supply tube 233 at one end thereof, the reference character 231C denotes a keep ring for the O-ring 231B, and the reference character 231E designates a keep plate for controlling the elbow 231D vertically relative to the ink tank 231 and holding the elbow 231D so as not to slip off from the ink tank 231. The elbow 213D has been made rotatively slidable relative to the ink tank 231, the O-ring 231B, the keep ring 231C and the keep plate 231E. Also, in the present embodiment, such a construction has likewise been adopted on the recording head 101 side. With such a construction, the supply tube 233 has been made into a flexible tubular member formed of a material such as polyethylene, whereby the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b could be smoothly opened without a great influence being exercised upon the ink flow path. Further, in the present embodiment, the elbow 231D is pivotable relative to the ink tank 231 and the recording head 101 and therefore, when the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b have been opened, the angle of mounting of the supply tube 233 has been naturally displaced by the resiliency of the supply tube itself. By this, the slack of the supply tube 233 when the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b remain closed could be reduced and the amount of deformation of the supply tube could be reduced. Also, by this, the supply tube 233 could be made to have a length sufficient to connect the ink tank 231 and the recording head 101 substantially linearly when the units 1a and 1b were opened at a maximum angle of opening (see Figure 4) and therefore, the flexibility required of the supply tube 233 could be designed to a small value. These facts have made it realizable to make the supply tube thick and short. This has also greatly contributed to the reduction in the flow path resistance of the ink supply path from the ink tank to the recording head, the prevention of the entry of air into the line, and the compactness of the apparatus resulting from the possibility of reducing the flexure space for the supply tube 233. The effect resulting from rotatably mounting the supply tube as described above can be sufficiently expected and therefore, a benefit could be obtained even if the connecting portion shown in Figures 5A and 5B was provided on only one of the ink tank 231 side and the recording head 101 side. The construction permitting the opening of the units 1a and 1b is not limited to the above-described construction comprising a combination of the flexible supply tube and the pivotable joints, but use could be made, for example, of a construction in which a relatively rigid supply tube was connected through bellows or the like. Now, in the ink jet recording, the distance of blight of an ink droplet, i.e., the distance between the opening portion of the nozzle of the recording head 101 and the paper, is one of factors which greatly influence the quality of recording. Particularly, in the case of a structure in which as in the present embodiment, the upper unit 1a having the recording head 101 and the lower head 1b having the platen 203 which controls the paper can be spaced apart from each other, it is desirable to give consideration so that in the joined state of the units, the recording head and the platen are accurately opposed to each other in parallel relationship with each other. To realize this, it has been conceived, for example, to hold the recording head 101 so as to be vertically movable relative to the frame of the upper unit 1a, and cause a dashing member fixed to the platen 203 of the lower unit 1b to strike against a portion of the recording head in the joined state of the upper and lower units. So, in the present embodiment, to realize this compactly and simply, design has been made such that the recording head 101 is fixed to the upper unit 1a and the platen 203 is fixed to the lower unit 1b and in the joined state of the upper and lower units 1a and 1b, dashing members (not shown) provided in the upper and lower units are caused to strike against two points near the opposite ends of the recording head 101. It has also been preferable to provide suitable lock means to secure said joined state. According to this, it has become possible to simply keep a highly accurate and well-reproducible distance between the recording head and the paper during the opening-closing of the upper and lower units 1a and 1b by accurately controlling the mounting dimensions of the recording head 101 or the platen 203 relative to the dashing members of the upper and lower units 1a and 1b. In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment as described above, the on-demand type recording head 101 has been disposed near the discharge port 9 of the apparatus with the discharge ports thereof facing vertically downwardly and the paper cassette 221 has been disposed below the electric circuit portion 103 so that a recording medium conveyance path including the platen 203 is formed below the discharge ports of the recording head and therefore, the conveyance distance of the recording medium has been shortened and the conveying system has been simplified and accordingly, the construction of the apparatus could be made very compact. Also, the main electric circuit portion 103 has been provided on the upper unit 1a side in common with the recording head 101 and therefore, even when the ink has been discharged or when leakage of the ink has occurred, the ink has not adversely affected the electric circuit portion 103. In addition, the internal pressure of the apparatus has been made higher than the atmospheric pressure so that there is formed an air stream flowing out through the discharge port 9, whereby the ink mist produced during the discharge of ink droplets by the head 101 provided near the discharge port 9 and the paper powder or the like produced by the conveyance of the recording medium have been quickly carried out of the apparatus and thus, the contamination or accident which would otherwise result from the adherence of the ink to the various interior parts in the apparatus has been reliably prevented. Furthermore, the upper unit 1a has been made pivotable relative to the lower unit 1b by the hinge 11 disposed on the side opposite to the discharge port 9, whereby during the pivotal movement thereof, the ink system and the conveying system have been widely opened and accordingly, the work required for the repairs of various parts and the jam treatment has become easy. Also, the compactness of various parts including the conveying system has been achieved by providing the recording head near the discharge port, but the location at which the recording head is disposed is not always limited to the neighborhood of the discharge port. In such case, an outflow port for air has been provided separately near the recording head so that the ink mist, etc. may be rapidly discharged, whereby the problems of the ink mist, etc. could be solved. Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, each base plate 103A is horizontally disposed and therefore, the air stream from the fan 150 suffers very little from the loss by resistance and is effectively directed to the vicinity of the recording head 101 and the ink mist, paper powder, etc. are rapidly discharged from the discharge port 9, but the effect of the air stream could be made more reliable by adopting a suitable arrangement. For example, it has also been effective to incline each base plate 103A so as to become lower toward the left as viewed in Figures 2 and 3 so that the air stream from the fan 150 directly impinges on the discharge ports of the recording head 101. Also, it has been possible to provide a duct 180 having an opening 180A opposed to the fan 150 and an opening 180B opposed to the recording head 101, as shown in Figure 6, so that the air stream is directed to the recording head 101 through the duct 180. Further, instead of the cooling fan 150 being used also as a blower as described above, blower means forming a flow of air might be disposed separately at a suitable location. Also, an effect has been found in driving this blower means only during printing, and by doing so, it has been possible to minimize the desiccation of the nozzles 101a, etc. of the recording head 101. In any case, the blower means used to eliminate the ink mist could be any one which would increase the internal pressure of the apparatus slightly above the atmospheric pressure, and has been sufficiently effective even if the air stream formed thereby is minute. Also, the present embodiment has been described with respect to a case where the host apparatus H is employed as the recording data supply source, but of course, such a data supply source may be any one. For example, instead of or in addition to the host apparatus H, reading means for reading the image of an original may be provided on top of the upper unit 1a and the read image information may be converted into an electrical signal which in turn may be supplied to the recording head 101. A preferred embodiment provided with such image reading means will be described later as a second embodiment. The construction around the platen of the recording apparatus of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 7. The reference numeral 203 designates the platen provided on the lower unit 1b side in opposed relationship with the recording head 101 to control the recording surface. The platen 203 has been made movable from its position opposed to the recording head 101, by a driving portion which is not shown in Figure 7. The recording mediums piled on the aforementioned paper cassette 221 are separated one by one by the paper supply roller 111 through the cooperation thereof with separating means (not shown) and are conveyed toward the recording station. Designated by 225 is the bottom plate of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, the bottom plate 225 has been used also as a partition wall for blocking the outflow of leaking ink to the outside of the apparatus when unexpected leakage of ink from the recording head 101, etc. has occurred. The reference numeral 233 designates a flexible supply tube for communicating the recording head with an ink tank, not shown, as an ink supply source. The reference numeral 235 denotes an ink absorbing member formed of a water-absorbent porous material. In the present embodiment, the ink absorbing member 235 has been disposed below the platen 203. The ink absorbing member 235 could be designed so as to be capable of appropriately replacing the platen 203 in position and being opposed or joined to the discharge ports of the recording head 101 so that the ink absorbing member could be used for the restoration of the discharge of the recording head 101 and for the capping of the recording head. Thereby the ink has been appropriately collected from the recording head 101 side. The reference numeral 150 designates a fan for introducing the air from the outside of the apparatus and thereby cooling various parts of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, this fan 150 has been disposed on that side of the apparatus which is opposite to the discharge port 9 far the recording medium, whereby the air stream from an air intake port 5a in said side to the discharge port 9 has been produced. As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording head 101 has been provided near the discharge port 9 and therefore, the satellite which may secondarily occur during the discharge of ink droplets from the recording head 101, the ink mist which may be caused on the surface of the recording medium by the scattering of ink, dust, the paper powder of the recording medium, etc. have been immediately carried out of the apparatus through the discharge port 9 by riding on the air stream, whereby they could be prevented from adhering to various parts in the apparatus to contaminate them or break down the electric circuit portion 103. In the present embodiment, the cooling fan 150 for cooling the electric circuit portion 103, etc. has been used also as blower means in the apparatus which eliminates the ink mist. While Embodiment 1 has been described with respect to a case where the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus having an on-demand type recording head using a discharge energy generating member represented by an electro-thermal converting element and having discharge ports disposed downwardly, the present invention is of course effectively and readily applicable also to recording apparatuses adopting various drive systems and arrangements. Description will now be made of a case where image reading means is provided in the recording apparatus of the present invention. <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 2 will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the outer construction of a recording apparatus provided with image reading means, and Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the recording apparatus with its outer cover removed for convenience. In Figures 8 and 9, the reference numeral 1 designates a body unit portion having an upper unit 1a as a first unit and a lower unit 1b as a second unit. The upper unit 1a has been made pivotable up and down about a hinge 11 relative to the lower unit 1b. The upper unit 1a is provided with a recording head 101, an electric circuit portion 103, a fan 150, an upper discharge roller 115, an upper conveyor roller 113, a paper guide 201 and a paper supply roller 111 which will be described later. On the other hand, the lower unit 1b is provided with a platen 203, an ink absorbing member 235, an ink tank 231, a paper cassette 221, a paper discharge tray 9A and idlers 213, 215. The reference numeral 5 denotes a cover disposed over the body unit portion 1. The cover 5 has an operating portion 7 in which are disposed various command switches 7a and 7b such as on-line switches and a display device 7c for effecting the mode display, and in addition, an insertion port 8A for a medium (an original) bearing image information to be read, and a discharge port 8B for the read original, and is provided with an original reading apparatus containing portion 8 which covers a reading apparatus to be described with reference to Figure 9. The reference numeral 9 designates a discharge port provided in one side of the apparatus. Recording mediums S on which recording has been effected may be piled on the discharge tray 9A through the discharge port 9. Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover 5 of the apparatus shown in Figure 8 has been removed to illustrate the interior construction of the Figure 8 apparatus, and Figure 10 shows a side cross-section of the apparatus shown in Figure 8. In these figures, the reference numeral 101 designates an image processing head disposed near the discharge port 9. The image processing head 101 is in the form of the so-called full multi-type wherein nozzles 101a are arranged, for example, at a density of 16 nozzles per 1 mm, over a range corresponding to the full recording width (e.g. recording paper of format A4) of the present apparatus. Also, discharge energy generating members represented by electro-mechanical converting elements (not shown) or electro-thermal converting elements (not shown) are disposed at appropriate locations in the ink flow paths such as the nozzles and discharge energy has been caused to act on ink in response to the supply of a driving signal corresponding to an image to be recorded (i.e., a driving signal corresponding to the reading signal of an original reading apparatus 800), whereby ink has been discharged from the discharge ports 101b. In the present embodiment, the recording head 101 is provided in such a manner that the discharge port 101b of each nozzle 101a opens vertically downwardly. The reference numeral 103 denotes the main electric circuit portion of the present apparatus in which a driver circuit for driving the recording head 101 through a flexible cable 102, a driver circuit for the original reading apparatus 800, a signal processing circuit, a power source circuit, a control circuit, an interface circuit with the various circuits in the apparatus, etc. are provided on a base plate 103A. In the present embodiment, the main electric circuit portion 103 is provided in the upper unit 1a in common with the recording head 101 and therefore, even if the ink discharge during recording or unexpected leakage of ink has occurred, the ink has not exerted any influence upon the electric circuit portion 103. That is, even if the ink leaks out of the discharge ports 101b, the flow path thereof is formed on the lower unit 1b side and thus, in the present embodiment, by the electric circuit portion 103 being disposed above the flow path, the ink has exerted no influence upon the main electric circuit portion 103. Further, in the present embodiment, the electric circuit portion 103 is disposed at a level higher than the positions at which the discharge ports 101b of the recording head 101 are disposed. Thus, it has become more difficult for the ink to exert an influence upon the electric circuit portion 103. The above-described arrangement of the electric circuit portion 103 and the discharge ports 101b has been a preferable arrangement, but has not always been necessary. The reference numeral 111 designates a paper supply roller formed by cutting away a part of an arc. The paper supply roller 111 is a roller for supplying recording mediums S such as paper, films or cloths from a cassette 221 containing the recording mediums S therein toward the recording station in which recording is effected by the recording head 101. The reference numerals 113 and 115 respectively denote a conveyor roller disposed at the upstream side on a recording medium conveyance path P with respect to the recording station and a discharge roller disposed near the discharge port 9 at the downstream side. These rollers 113 and 115 are adapted to be rotatively driven by a motor 117 through a timing belt 119. Thus, in response to this rotative drive, the conveyor roller 113 and the discharge roller 115 have cooperated with idlers 213 and 215 disposed in opposed relationship therewith to effect the conveyance of the recording medium S to the recording station with the recording medium S held therebetween or the discharge of the recording medium S from the recording station to the discharge tray 9A. The reference numeral 201 designates a paper guide provided on the conveyance path P of the recording mediums S to restrict the conveyance path P, and the reference numeral 203 denotes a platen provided on the lower unit 1b side in opposed relationship with the discharge ports 101b of the recording head 101 to maintain the recording medium S in the recording station, that is, control the recording surface, when recording is effected on the recording medium S by the recording head 101. The recording mediums S piled in the aforementioned paper cassette 221 are separated one by one by the paper supply roller 111 through the cooperation thereof with separating means (not shown) and conveyed toward the recording station. The reference numeral 225 designates the bottom plate of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, this bottom plate 225 has served also as a partition wall for blocking the outflow of leaking ink to the outside of the apparatus when unexpected leakage of ink from the recording head 101, etc. has occurred. The reference numeral 231 denotes an ink tank as an ink supply source to the recording head 101. The ink tank 231 is disposed below the platen 203 and designed to supply ink to the recording head 101 through a flexible supply tube 233. The reference numeral 235 designates an ink absorbing member formed of a water-absorbent porous material. In the present embodiment, the ink absorbing member 235 is disposed on top of the ink tank 231 below the platen 203. As in Embodiment 1, this ink absorbing member 235 might appropriately replace the platen 203 in position and be constructed so as to be capable of opposing or bearing against the discharge ports 101b of the recording head 101 and to be used for the discharge restoring operation or the capping operation of the recording head 101. Thereby, the ink dripping from the recording head 101 could be appropriately collected. The reference numeral 150 designates a fan for introducing the air from the outside of the apparatus to thereby cool the various portions of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, this fan 150 has been disposed on that side of the apparatus which is opposite to the discharge port 9, whereby the air stream (indicated by arrows a in Figure 10) from an air intake port 5a in said side to the discharge port 9 has been produced. As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording head 101 has been provided near the discharge port 9 and therefore, the satellite which may secondarily occur during the discharge of ink droplets from the recording head 101, the ink mist which may be caused on the surface of the recording medium S by the scattering of ink, dust, the paper powder of the recording medium, etc. have been immediately carried out of the apparatus through the discharge port 9 by riding on the air stream, whereby they could be prevented from adhering to various parts in the apparatus including the original reading apparatus 800 to contaminate them or break down the electric circuit portion 103. In the present embodiment, the cooling fan 150 for cooling the electric circuit has been used also as blower means in the apparatus which eliminates the ink mist. The reference numeral 800 denotes an original reading apparatus disposed above the electric circuit portion 103. The original reading apparatus 800 has a sensor unit 801 for reading image information (for example, a contact sensor unit as shown), an original feeding roller 813 for feeding an original M inserted into the insertion port 8A toward the sensor unit 801, and an original discharging roller 815 for discharging the read original M from the discharge port 8B. The sensor unit 801 is provided with an illuminating device 803 for illuminating the position at which the original conveyed between the rollers 813 and 815 is read, and a line sensor 805 in which light-receiving elements are arranged so that one-line reading can be accomplished over the full width of the original. The image information read thereby has been directed to a suitable processing circuit provided in the electric circuit portion 103, and the recording head 101 has been driven for the thus processed image information, whereby image formation could be accomplished. The rollers 813 and 815 in the original reading apparatus are coupled to and driven by the motor 117 through a transmission mechanism including a timing belt 819 and a gear 821 and are designed to cooperate with idlers 823 and 825 disposed in opposed relationship with the respective rollers to convey the original. In addition to the above-described construction, in the present embodiment, the body unit portion 1 is made separable into the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b as will be described below to facilitate repairs of various parts and jam treatment. Figure 11 shows an example of the construction of a mechanism for separating the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b from each other and opening the interior of the apparatus to thereby secure a space available for said works. In Figure 11, the reference numeral 11 designates a hinge disposed on the side opposite to the discharge port 9 to permit pivotal movement of the upper unit 1a relative to the lower unit 1b, and the reference numeral 13 denotes a spring for holding the upper unit 1a in its opened position. In the present embodiment, as described above, the recording head 101, the rollers 113 and 115, etc. are disposed near the discharge port 9 in the upper unit 1a, and the platen 203, the idlers 213, 215, the paper cassette 221, the ink tank 231 and the ink absorbing member 235 are disposed near the discharge port 9 in the lower unit 1b and thus, design is made such that in the opened state of the body unit portion 1 as shown in Figure 11, the ink system including the recording head 101, the ink tank 231 and the ink absorbing member 235 and the paper supplying or conveying system including the paper cassette 221 and the various roller members are widely opened. That is, in the present embodiment, the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b become spaced apart from each other along a path along which the recording medium S is fed out from the cassette 221 to the discharge port 9 and therefore, when the upper unit 1a has been pivoted upwardly relative to the lower unit 1b, the conveyance path has been opened. Accordingly, the work space required for repairs of various parts, interchange of the ink absorbing member and jam eliminating process has been secured in this state and thus, those works have become easy. Also, replenishment of recording mediums S and supply of ink might be effected in this state. The present embodiment has been shown with respect to an example in which the upper and lower units are spaced apart and opened along the entire conveyance path of the recording medium S, whereas this is not restrictive, but the above-described effect could be attained by making design such that at least the portion of the recording station by the recording head is spaced apart and opened. The construction for thus securing the work space is not limited to that shown in Figure 11, but could be various. For example, suitable struts for supporting the upper unit 1a might be provided at four corners of the lower unit 1b and the upper unit 1a might be made vertically movable along those struts, or the upper unit 1a might be slidden obliquely upwardly in its horizontal state by the use of a parallel link mechanism, or the direction in which the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b are opened is not limited to the vertical direction, but for example, the upper unit and the lower unit might be opened in the horizontal direction. Now, in the present embodiment, in the ink system, the recording head 101 has been disposed on the upper unit 1a side and the ink tank 231 has been disposed on the lower unit 1b side, and they have been designed to communicate with each other through a supply tube 233. Again in the present embodiment, the supply tube 233 could be connected by the use of the connecting method as described in Embodiment 1 with reference to Figures 5A and 5B. This portion is shown in Figures 12A and 12B, but the construction, etc. thereof has been described in detail in Embodiment 1 with reference to Figures 5A and 5B and therefore, the details thereof including the effect thereof need not be described. Now, in ink jet recording, the distance of flight of ink droplet, i.e., the distance between the nozzle opening portion of the recording head 101 and the paper, is one of factors which greatly influence the quality of recording, as proviously described. Again in the present embodiment, as in Embodiment 1, the upper unit 1a having the recording head 101 and the lower unit 1b having the platen 203 for controlling the paper can be spaced apart from each other and therefore, it is desirable to give consideration so that in the joined state of the units, the recording head and the platen are accurately opposed to each other in parallel relationship with each other. To realize this, it has been conceived, for example, to hold the recording head 101 so as to be vertically movable relative to the frame of the upper unit 1a, and cause a dashing member fixed to the platen 203 of the lower unit 1b to strike against a portion of the recording head in the joined state of the upper and lower units. In the present embodiment, to realize this compactly and simply, design has been made such that the recording head 101 is fixed to the upper unit 1a and the platen 203 is fixed to the lower unit 1b and in the joined state of the upper and lower units 1a and 1b, dashing members (not shown) provided in the upper and lower units are caused to strike against two points near the opposite ends of the recording head 101. Also, it has been more preferable to provide suitable lock means to secure said joined state. According to this, it has become possible to simply keep a highly accurate and well-reproducible distance between the recording head and the paper during the opening-closing of the upper and lower units 1a and 1b by accurately controlling the mounting dimensions of the recording head 101 or the platen 203 relative to the dashing members of the upper and lower units 1a and 1b. In the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment as described above, the original reading means has been disposed integrally with the recording means at an appropriate location, i.e., above the electric circuit portion, whereby a system construction of compact size and high operability has become possible. Also, the on-demand type recording head 101 has been disposed near the discharge port 9 of the apparatus with the discharge ports thereof facing vertically downwardly and the paper cassette 221 has been disposed below the electric circuit portion 103 so that a recording medium conveyance path including the platen 203 is formed below the discharge ports of the recording head and therefore, the conveyance distance of the recording medium has been shortened and the conveying system has been simplified and accordingly, the construction of the apparatus could be made very compact. Also, the original reading apparatus and the main electric circuit portion 103 have been provided on the upper unit 1a side in common with the recording head 101 and therefore, even when the ink has been discharged or when leakage of the ink has occurred, the ink has not adversely affected the original reading apparatus 800 and the electric circuit portion 103. In addition, the internal pressure of the apparatus has been made higher than the atmospheric pressure so that there is formed an air stream flowing out through the discharge port 9, whereby the ink mist produced during the discharge of ink droplets by the head 101 provided near the discharge port 9 and the paper powder or the like produced by the conveyance of the recording medium have been quickly carried out of the apparatus and thus, the contamination or accident which would otherwise result from the adherence of the ink to the various parts in the apparatus including the original reading apparatus 800 has been reliably prevented. Furthermore, the upper unit 1a has been made pivotable relative to the lower unit 1b by the hinge 11 disposed on the side opposite to the discharge port 9, whereby during the pivotal movement thereof, the ink system and the conveying system have been widely opened and accordingly, the work required for the repairs of various parts and the jam treatment has become easy. While the present embodiment, like Embodiment 1, has been described with respect to a case where the present invention is applied to a recording apparatus having an on-demand type and full multi-type recording head using an electro-mechanical converting element or an electro-thermal converting element as a discharge energy generating member, the present invention is of course applicable also to recording apparatuses adopting various drive systems and scanning systems. Also, compactness of various parts including the conveying system has been contrived by providing the recording head near the discharge port, but the location at which the recording head is disposed has not been limited to the vicinity of the discharge port. In such case, an outflow port for air could be provided separately near the recording head so that ink mist, etc. might be rapidly discharged. The construction of the original reading apparatus 800 is neither restricted to the above-described example, but for example, even a construction using an optical system can be commonly used as viewed in terms of manufacturing cost or the like although it is partly contradictory in respect of further compactness. Further, in addition to the original reading apparatus 800, there may be separately provided a host apparatus as an image information supply source. As described above, a recording apparatus which is compact and improved in the operability of maintenance and jam treatment can be realized by the present invention. Also, since the ink supply tube is made displaceable, the opening of the first and second units can be allowed without involving the separation of the ink supplying system and for example, as in the above-described embodiment, an appropriate construction becomes possible in which the ink tank and the recording unit are disposed in the lower unit and the upper unit, respectively. Also, an ink jet recording apparatus in which various parts of the apparatus including an electric circuit can be reliably protected from ink mist or the like can be realized by the present invention. In addition, according to the present invention, a large work space can be secured for the recording head without involving great displacement of the platen and therefore, an ink jet recording apparatus which is compact and easy in the discharge restoring operation can be realized. Also, the present invention can provide an apparatus which is not only compact but also high in reliability because there is no movement or displacement of ink supply means and signal transmitting members associated with the recording head, as compared with an apparatus designed such that the recording head is moved relative to the platen to thereby secure the work space. According to the present invention, the reading means is made integral with the recording means and an ink jet recording apparatus is used as the recording means and therefore, it is possible to make the most of the advantage thereof, and an image processing apparatus which is compact and high in operability can be realized. Also, the separability and openability of the two units can improve the operability of maintenance and jam treatment. In addition, the ink supply tube is made displaceable and therefore, the separation and opening of the units can be allowed without involving the separation of the ink supplying system and for example, as in the above-described embodiment, it becomes possible to provide an appropriate construction in which the ink tank is disposed in the lower portion and the recording head and the reading apparatus are disposed in the upper portion.

Claims: A recording apparatus, comprising an upper unit (1a), a lower unit (1b) having a platen (203) for maintaining a recording medium (S) at a recording station where recording is effected by a recording means (101) which discharges ink for effecting recording on said recording medium (S) in response to information, and a conveying means (111, 113, 115, 213, 215) for conveying said recording medium (S) to said recording means (101), wherein said upper unit (1a) and said lower unit (1b) are capable of being spaced apart and opened at said recording station, characterized in that a main electric circuit portion (103) is provided in said upper unit (1a) in common with said recording means (101). A recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said recording means is in the form of a recording head (101) having vertically downwardly open ink discharge ports (101b) for discharging the ink, and that said main electric circuit portion (103) is disposed at a level higher than said discharge ports (101b) with respect to a vertical direction. A recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said recording means (101) is provided near a discharge port (9) for discharging said recording medium (S) on which recording has been effected, and has a form in which discharge ports (101b) are arranged over an area corresponding to the width of said recording medium (S). A recording apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a recording medium supplying system (221) for supplying said recording medium (S) to the conveyance path of said recording medium, which leads via the location at which said recording medium faces said discharge ports (101b), is disposed in said lower unit (1b). A recording apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper unit (1a) has reading means (800) for reading image information from a medium (M) bearing an image. A recording apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower unit (1b) comprises ink storing means (231) storing therein the ink to be supplied to said recording means (101), and an ink supply connecting member (101A, 101B, 231A, 231B, 233) which is displaceable in response to the spacing apart of said upper unit (1a) and said lower unit (1b) and which connects said recording means (101) and said ink storing means (231) so as to supply the ink from said ink storing means to said recording means. A recording apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said ink supply connecting member has a flexible ink supply tube (233), and that a pivotable joint member (101A, 231A) is provided in at least one of the connecting portions between said ink supply tube (233) and said ink storing means (231) and between said ink supply tube (233) and said recording means (101). A recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a blower means (5a, 103A, 150) for introducing air into the apparatus and an opening (9) for directing the introduced air to the outside of the apparatus, said opening being provided near said recording means (101). A recording apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said blower means has a fan (150) for introducing the air and a member (103A) for directing the introduced air to said recording means (101). A recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said recording means (101) has an electrothermal converting element for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink, and is adapted to discharge ink from a discharge port (101b) utilizing film boiling caused by said thermal energy. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said conveying means (111) is adapted to convey said recording medium (S) to said recording station.

Inventors: CHIBA YUJI, EBINUMA RYUICHI FUJI HAITSU, MIZUSAWA NOBUTOSHI, CHIBA, YUJI, EBINUMA, RYUICHI 102 FUJI HAITSU, MIZUSAWA,NOBUTOSHI
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B41J2
IPC codes: G03G21, B41J29, H04N1, B41J2