IP Library Granted Patent US 7,926,907
Granted Patent B2
US 7,926,907 · App. 11/888,085 · Granted Apr 19, 2011

Image recording apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,926,907
App. No.
11/888,085
Granted
Apr 19, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image recording apparatus includes a rotational drum for retaining a recording medium on an outer circumference of the drum; a head retention member placed opposite to the outer circumference of the drum, for retaining a print head printing on the recording medium by jetting ink from a plurality of nozzles; and a support member for supporting the head retention member at a prescribed position in relation to the drum, the support member being engaged with the rotation shaft of the drum.

Claims (42)

1. An image recording apparatus, comprising:

a rotational drum for retaining a recording medium on an outer circumference of the drum;

a head retention member provided opposite to the outer circumference of the drum, the head retention member retaining a print head which prints on the recording medium by jetting ink from a plurality of nozzles;

a support member which supports the head retention member at a prescribed position in relation to the drum;

a head movement mechanism which makes the head retention member movable in relation to the drum; and

a guide unit which regulates a movement direction of the head retention member, the guide unit comprising (i) a guide member provided in the support member, and (ii) a fit unit provided in the head retention member which slidablv fits the guide member;

wherein the support member is engaged with a rotation shaft of the drum; and

wherein the guide unit regulates so as to make the movement direction of the head retention member parallel with a radial direction of the drum.

2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is supported rotationally in relation to the rotation shaft of the drum.

3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the material of at least one of the support member and the head retention member comprises a same material as that of the drum.

4. An image recording apparatus comprising:

a rotational drum for retaining a recording medium on an outer circumference of the drum;

a head retention member provided opposite to the outer circumference of the drum, the head retention member retaining a print head which prints on the recording medium by jetting ink from a plurality of nozzles;

a support member which supports the head retention member at a prescribed position in relation to the drum;

a head movement mechanism which makes the head retention member movable in relation to the drum; and

a guide unit which regulates a movement direction of the head retention member, the guide unit comprising (i) a guide member provided in the head retention member, and (ii) a fit unit provided in the support member which slidablv fits the guide member;

wherein the support member is engaged with a rotation shaft of the drum; and

wherein the guide unit regulates so as to make the movement direction of the head retention member parallel with a radial direction of the drum.

5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a maintenance unit which carries out maintenance of a nozzle face comprising the plurality of nozzles of the print head,

a maintenance unit retention member which retains the maintenance unit,

a maintenance unit movement mechanism which moves the maintenance unit retention member to a retraction position, which is retracted from the print head, and to a maintenance position for carrying out the maintenance of the nozzle face, and

a head movement mechanism which moves the head retention member to an image recording position for recording an image on the recording medium and to the maintenance position for carrying out the maintenance of the nozzle face,

wherein a common drive source drives the head movement mechanism and the maintenance unit movement mechanism.

6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a maintenance unit which carries out maintenance of a nozzle face comprising the plurality of nozzles of the print head, and

a maintenance unit retention member which retains the maintenance unit,

wherein the maintenance unit retention member is engaged with the rotation shaft of the drum.

7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the maintenance unit retention member is supported rotationally in relation to the rotation shaft of the drum and rotates around the rotation shaft of the drum.

8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the support member is supported rotationally in relation to the rotation shaft of the drum.

9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the material of at least one of the support member and the head retention member comprises a same material as that of the drum.

10. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a maintenance unit which carries out maintenance of a nozzle face comprising the plurality of nozzles of the print head,

a maintenance unit retention member which retains the maintenance unit,

a maintenance unit movement mechanism which moves the maintenance unit retention member to a retraction position, which is retracted from the print head, and to a maintenance position for carrying out the maintenance of the nozzle face, and

a head movement mechanism which moves the head retention member to an image recording position for recording an image on the recording medium and to the maintenance position for carrying out the maintenance of the nozzle face,

wherein a common drive source drives the head movement mechanism and the maintenance unit movement mechanism.

11. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a maintenance unit which carries out maintenance of a nozzle face comprising the plurality of nozzles of the print head, and

a maintenance unit retention member which retains the maintenance unit,

wherein the maintenance unit retention member is engaged with the rotation shaft of the drum.

12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the maintenance unit retention member is supported rotationally in relation to the rotation shaft of the drum and rotates around the rotation shaft of the drum.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 7, 2011
From: ORTEK CORPORATION
To: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027343/0269 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2011
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026512/0638 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2011
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: ORTEK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026110/0639 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2007
From: KONDO, ETSUYASU
To: OLYMPUS CORPORTION
Reel/Frame 019702/0173 →