WO1999062718A1

WO1999062718A1 - Shell structure for ink jet printer

Info

Publication number: WO1999062718A1
Application number: PCT/JP1998/002385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wataru Ito; Tetsuya Yamamoto
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-05-29
Filing date: 1998-05-29
Publication date: 1999-12-09
Also published as: AU7455198A

Abstract

An ink jet printer (10) comprises a body frame (16), a plurality of nozzles (30) for jetting ink droplets, a printing head (18) mounted to be capable of reciprocating in predetermined directions in the body frame, an ink reservoir (42) disposed away from the printing head in the body frame, and a duct unit (95) which connects the printing head to the ink reservoir to allow fluid communication therebetween. The duct unit (95) comprises an ink supply passage (44) and a pair of connection members (92, 94) respectively provided on both ends of the ink supply passage, and is connected to the printing head and the ink reservoir through the connection members. Further, the ink jet printer comprises shell structures (66, 70) for positioning in place and detachably holding the duct unit within the body frame so that the duct unit can move while interlocking with a reciprocating action of the printing head.

Description

"Seal structure of the statement ink jet printer

Technical field

The present invention relates to a non-impact printer and, more particularly, to a shell structure of an ink jet printer.

Background art

Non-printing type printers are used in various fields because they generate less noise when printing characters and images and can perform color printing. Above all, an ink jet printer that prints by ejecting ink droplets from a large number of fine nozzles provided on the print head onto the material to be printed, and in particular, a piezoelectric element was used for the print head The on-demand type ink-jet printer can print on plain paper, and it is easy to reduce the size of the printer itself. Therefore, the output of a personal computer processor or the like can be obtained. It is becoming popular as a device. On the other hand, impact-type printers are relatively simple in structure and are easy to maintain, and they also have advantages in running costs such as inexpensive ink ribbons. It is widely used as an industrial printer, such as a passbook and a slip printing printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a passbook printer). However, in recent years, for example, in the field of passbook printers, noise has been reduced, the size of the machine has been reduced, and the execution speed has been reduced (that is, the time required from when the user puts the passbook into the printer and when it is collected through printing) There is a growing demand for improvements, and it is becoming difficult to satisfy them at impact.

One of the common issues to be solved in an ink jet printer First, there is the problem of measures to be taken when various functional parts cannot perform their normal functions due to drying of the ink or adhesion of dust.

In general, ink jet printers dry ink in the nozzles of the print head, disturb the meniscus, and extra ink attached around the nozzle opening on the nozzle surface of the print head. These factors make ink droplet ejection control unstable and are a major factor in deteriorating print quality. Therefore, many conventional ink jet printers are equipped with a maintenance device to eliminate such print quality deterioration factors that may occur during non-use of the printer, for example, and start the next printing operation. A configuration that restores print quality before use is adopted.

As this type of maintenance device, a number of nozzle openings on the nozzle surface of the print head are air-tightly closed when the printer is not in use, and the ink near the nozzle opening is closed. A sealing device to prevent drying, a cleaning device to clean the nozzle surface after printing and before starting the next printing job, as well as a wiping device to wipe the nozzle surface, and an increase in the nozzle when the printer is not in use Suction devices and the like are known that suck and remove viscous (or partially dried) ink before starting the next printing operation.

In these maintenance devices, the area of the device that approaches the nozzle area of the printhead during maintenance (for example, the wiping material of the wiping device) may be exposed during printing, that is, during maintenance. Are generally exposed to the open air. In such exposed device areas, unwanted ink removed from the nozzles may easily dry out, resulting in a loss of normal maintenance function during the next maintenance operation. Also, if dust enters and accumulates on the exposed device area from the outside, the dust will adhere to the nozzle area of the print head during the next maintenance operation, resulting in poor print quality. In some cases In order to prevent such problems, it is necessary to replace the maintenance equipment regularly or at any time. However, in a conventional ink jet printer, the maintenance device is generally installed at a position where it is difficult to access from outside the printer body, and replacing the device requires a great deal of labor and time.

Conventionally, as an ink storage unit of an ink jet printer, an independent ink storage unit that is installed separately from a print head is known. The capacity of the stand-alone ink storage unit is easier than that of a head-mounted ink storage unit, and the ink refilling operation can be simplified by using a cartridge. Therefore, they tend to be used effectively in industrial ink jet printers. However, in this case, the ink supply path between the ink reservoir and the printhead is made of a flexible tubing of sufficient length so as not to affect the reciprocation of the printhead. Therefore, there is a problem that the ink in the ink supply path is easily affected by inertia at the time of moving the print head, and is liable to dry.

When the ink in the ink supply channel dries, it is difficult to recover by suction or washing from the outside, so the ink supply channel must be replaced with a new one. In this case, in order to prevent dust from entering the ink supply path at the time of replacement, an ink supply path consisting of a long flexible tube is integrally formed with the connecting members provided at both ends thereof. It is desirable to replace it. However, such an exchange work of the ink supply path as a long integrated body is not only complicated in handling, but also has a problem that the bent length of the ink supply path after the ink supply path is attached to the printer body. It is necessary to work to properly install the ink supply path so as not to interfere with the printing mechanism and the like, and not to cause useless operation of the ink supply path during printing work. In addition, when replacing the ink supply path, it is necessary to reliably prevent ink from leaking and dust from entering the print head. Therefore, conventionally, Replacing the ink supply path composed of the flexible tube described above also required a great deal of labor and time. Disclosure of the invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a seal structure of an ink jet printer that can simplify replacement work of a flow path maintenance device such as an ink supply path in the ink jet printer. And there.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer which has such a shell structure and can be used, for example, as an industrial printer such as a passbook printer.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a printing frame which is provided with a body frame and a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and which is installed so as to be reciprocally movable in a predetermined direction within the body frame. A head unit, an ink storage unit disposed in the body frame at a distance from the print head, and a pipe unit for connecting the print head and the ink storage unit so that fluid can flow therethrough. An ink supply path and a pair of connecting members provided at both ends of the ink supply path, and a pipeline unit connected to the printing head and the ink storage section via the connecting members; A shell structure for positioning the pipeline unit in a predetermined position and detachably holding the pipeline unit so as to be able to move in conjunction with the reciprocating operation of the print head in the frame. To provide

In the above configuration, the pipeline unit includes a plurality of ink supply paths, a pair of connecting members connected to each of the ink supply paths, and a sheath that integrally houses the ink supply paths. It is preferable that one end of the sheath is fixedly held by the seal structure, and the other end of the sheath is fixedly held by the printing head.

In this case, it is advantageous for the sheath to consist of a heat-shrinkable tube. In addition, the shell structure includes a first shell fixedly installed in the body frame, a second shell swingably connected to the first seal, and the pipeline unit has a second shell. It is preferred that it be held in a file.

In this case, the second seal can carry the print head in a reciprocating manner.

In addition, at least one maintenance device is further provided in the body frame in proximity to the reciprocating range of the print head, and the second shell swings with respect to the first seal. It is advantageous to adopt a configuration that enables external access to the maintenance device by moving.

Further, the present invention provides a print head capable of reciprocating movement provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and at least one head installed near a reciprocating movement range of the print head. A seal structure of an ink jet printer including two maintenance devices, a first shell adjacent to the maintenance device, and a first shell supporting the print head in a reciprocating manner. And a second shell that is swingably connected to the first shell and that allows the maintenance device to be externally accessible by swinging with respect to the first shell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the attached drawing,

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing main components of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention in a partially perspective view,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a shell structure according to one embodiment of the present invention used in the ink jet printer of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the print head in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1, The figure is a schematic perspective view showing the seal structure of FIG. 2 in an open state, FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a pipe unit used in the ink jet printer of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a partially cutaway print head of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the print head of the ink jet printer of FIG. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view partially showing a perspective view of main components of an ink jet printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a seal structure 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention used in the top printer 10.

The ink jet printer 10 includes an airframe 16 composed of a seal structure 12 and an openable / closable housing 14 surrounding the seal structure 12, and a predetermined direction in the airframe 16. Usually, the print head 18 is installed so as to be able to reciprocate in the horizontal direction with respect to the printer installation reference plane, ink supply means 20 for supplying ink to the print head 18, and an airframe. Material feeding means 22 for feeding a material to be printed (not shown) to the printing area P facing the print head 18 in 16 and the print head 18 in the body frame 16 And maintenance means 24 having a plurality of functional stations distributed in both end regions of the reciprocating movement range.

The print head 18 is fixed to the carriage 26, and the carriage 26 slides axially on the guide bar 28 extending horizontally in the body frame 16. Carried as possible. During the printing operation, the print head 18 is moved horizontally along the guide bar 28 by a drive mechanism (not shown). Go to Go to.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, the print head 18 has a plurality of nozzles 30 for ejecting ink droplets, a nozzle surface 32 on which the nozzles 30 are opened, and a nozzle surface 32. And an actuator 34 composed of a piezoelectric element for ejecting ink droplets from 30. Further, the printing head 18 is connected to an internal pressure adjusting device or a damper 36 for stabilizing the meniscus of the ink that has entered the nozzle 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the printhead 18 comprises three independent subheads 38, each of which has a plurality of nozzles 30, nozzle surfaces 32 and actuators. Evening 34 will be set up. FIG. 2 shows a flexible circuit board 40 for applying a drive voltage to the actuator 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply means 20 includes an ink storage section 42 installed at a position away from the print head 18 in the body frame 16 and a print head 18. Supply line connecting the ink storage unit 42

The printing head 18 is supplied with ink (for example, pigment ink) during the printing operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the ink supply means 2

0 means three independent ink bins 42 and three independent ink bins connecting each ink bin 42 and each subhead 38 of the printhead 18 A pipeline 44 is provided (Fig. 3). Therefore, the ink jet printer 10 can be used as a color printer. In the illustrated embodiment, the three ink storage sections 42 are formed in a cartridge type ink tank 46 which is detachably mounted at a predetermined position of the body frame 16. You. The number of the sub heads 38, the ink storage sections 42, and the ink supply pipes 44 is not limited to three, and can be variously selected.

Material feed means installed below the reciprocating range of print head 18

22 has an upper fixed plate 48 and a lower movable plate 50. A material holding section 52 for holding a printing material such as printing paper or a passbook inserted between the plates 48 and 50 and a fixed plate 48 provided above the material holding section. A correction mechanism 54 that corrects the feed direction of the printing material held by the section 52, and a fixing mechanism 48 that is installed behind the correction mechanism 54 in the material feed direction and above the fixed plate 48, and A feed mechanism 56 is provided for feeding the sandwiched print material into the print area P and discharging the print material from the print area P.

The print area P is formed between two pairs of feed rollers 58 constituting the feed mechanism 56. The print head 18 reciprocates along the guide bar 28 above the print area P, and scans the print material fed into the print area P from the plurality of nozzles 30 while scanning. By ejecting ink droplets, characters and images are formed on the printing material.

The plurality of functional stations constituting the maintenance means 24 are provided with a plurality of nozzles 30 opening to the nozzle surface 32 of the print head 18 when the printer is not in use. A sealing station 60 that seals and prevents ink in nozzle 30 from drying out, and a thicker ink in nozzle 30 of print head 18 when printer is not in use. Discharge station 62 that discharges from nozzle 30 and ink that has increased in viscosity in nozzle 30 of print head 18 while the printer is not in use are suctioned off and nozzle surface 32 is removed. A cleaning station 64 for cleaning and wiping the nozzle surface 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the closing station 60 and the discharge station 60

6 and 2 are set at one end (right end in the figure) of the reciprocating range of the print head 18, and the cleaning station 64 is set at the other end of the reciprocating range of the print head 18 (see FIG. At the left end).

Such a decentralized arrangement of various functional stations makes effective use of the idle space in the aircraft frame 16 of the ink jet printer 10. That is, in general, the print head is used for an ink jet printer. Since the printing is performed on the printing material during the reciprocating movement in the predetermined direction, the reciprocating movement range of the printing head is set to be wider than the dimension of the material feeding means facing the printing head. As a result, an idle space is inevitably formed around the material feeding means. In the ink jet printer 10, the various functional stages described above, which realize a multi-functional maintenance system, are distributed in such an idle space to reduce the size of the machine. It is effectively preventing expansion. In addition, the ink jet printer 10 having a multifunctional maintenance system can use pigment ink safely, and is therefore used as an industrial printer such as a passbook printer. It can be suitably used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the seal structure 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention provided in the ink jet printer 10 includes a lower seal 6 fixedly installed in an airframe 16. 6 and an upper shell 70 that is swingably connected to the lower shell 66 via a fulcrum 68. The fulcrum 68 is disposed on the rear end side of the side surfaces 66a, 70a (only one side is shown) of each of the seals 66, 70 with respect to the above-described material feeding direction. As a result, the upper seal 70 can swing relative to the lower seal 66 around an axis extending in the horizontal direction with respect to the printer installation reference plane, and can open and close the front end side in the material feeding direction (see FIG. 4).

A pair of sliding arms 72 that are bent downward and extend rearward are fixed to both side surfaces 70a of the upper shell 70 at the front end position in the material feeding direction. Each sliding arm 72 has a long hole 72a formed along a curved path of a predetermined length, and the long hole 72a is used to feed the material of both sides 66a of the lower shell 66. The pin 74 projecting at the front end position in the direction engages. When the upper shell 70 swings with respect to the lower shell 66, the pin 74 engages with the elongated hole 72a, thereby defining the swing angle of the upper shell 70. And the swing operation is guided in an auxiliary manner. Upper shell 7 0 is a spring disposed between the upper seal 70 and both sliding arms 72.

7 6 urges in a direction approaching the lower shell 6 6.

The upper seal 70 is composed of a print head 18, a fixed plate 48, a correction mechanism 54, and an upper structure of a material feeding means 22 including an upper-side door assembly 58 (FIG. 1). And support directly or indirectly. This allows the upper structure to swing together with the upper seal 70 with respect to the lower seal 66. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower shell 66 includes a lower structure of the material feeding means 22 including the movable plate 50, a closing station 60 of the maintenance means 24, and a discharge station. Enclose section 62 and purification step 64. Therefore, when the upper shell 70 is swung with respect to the lower shell 66, the upper structure of the material feeding means 22 swings with respect to the lower structure, and accordingly, the fixed plate is fixed. The material passage defined between 48 and movable plate 50 opens and closes. Therefore, such a seal structure 12 works effectively to remove the printing material when the printing material is clogged in the material passage of the material feeding means 22.

The shell structure 12 is further provided by swinging the upper shell 70 upward with respect to the lower shell 66 so that the closing station 60, the discharge station 62 and the cleaning station 62 are formed. It is configured to allow outside access to Yon 64. Here, the closing station 60 includes a closing device 76 installed inside the lower shell 66 so as to be movable in a direction approaching and moving away from the printing head 18. The closure device 76 includes three caps 78 that individually cover the nozzle surfaces 32 of each sub-head 38 when approaching the print head 18. Each cap 78 acts to maintain a saturated vapor pressure in the space defined between the nozzle face 32 of each subhead 38 and the bottom surface of each cap 78. This prevents the ink in the plurality of nozzles 30 of each subhead 38 from drying out. The discharge station 62 is a sealing device for the sealing station 60.

An ink receiving container 80 is fixedly arranged adjacent to 64. The discharge station 62 positively discharges the ink thickened in the plurality of nozzles 30 of each sub-head 38 from the nozzles 30 to the ink receiving container 80. Restores print quality.

Further, the cleaning station 64 is provided with a suction device (capping device) for actively sucking and removing viscous ink from a plurality of nozzles 30 of each sub-head 38 from the outside. 8 2 only), a cleaning device (not shown) for cleaning the nozzle surface 32 in which ink leaked around the opening of each nozzle 30, and an ink attached to the nozzle surface 32. A wiping device 84 for wiping the cleaning liquid. In the illustrated embodiment, the suction device and the cleaning device are functionally and structurally related to each other, and can be regarded as an integral body.

The wiping device 84 of the cleaning station 64 is installed inside the lower shell 66 so as to be movable toward and away from the print head 18. The wiping device 84 includes an endless tape-shaped wiping member 86 that can contact the nozzle surface 32 of each sub-head 38 when approaching the printing head 18. The wiping material 86 acts to wipe off the ink and the cleaning liquid remaining on the nozzle surface 32, for example, after cleaning the nozzle surface 32 of each sub-head 38 with a cleaning device.

In these various maintenance devices, the device area approaching the nozzle 30 area of the print head 18 during the maintenance operation (for example, the cap 78, the wiping material 86, etc.) is used during the printing operation. In other words, during maintenance non-operation, it is generally exposed to the outside air. In such exposed equipment areas, as described above, unnecessary ink removed from the nozzle 30 is dried and dust is deposited, and as a result, a normal maintenance operation is performed during the next maintenance operation. May not be able to perform . Therefore, it is necessary to replace various maintenance equipment periodically or at any time. According to the seal structure 12 of the present invention, the upper seal 70 is swung upward with respect to the lower seal 66, whereby the closing station 60, the discharge station 62 and The space above the purification stations 64 is wide open, and the stations 60, 62, and 64 can be easily accessed from outside. Therefore, the work of replacing the cap 78 of the closing device 76, the ink receiving container 80, and the wiping material 86 of the wiping device 84 can be simplified, and the burden on the operator can be reduced. Can be. In addition, since the cap 82 of the suction device has a self-cleaning action by the cleaning liquid of the cleaning device, it is often unnecessary to replace the cap.

As described above, the ink jet printer 10 has an ink supply line 44 connecting the print head 18 and the ink storage unit 42, and has a print head. It is formed as a flexible tube having a sufficient length so as not to affect the reciprocating motion of 18. In addition, the adoption of the shell structure 12 that can be opened and closed up and down requires that the ink supply pipeline 44 be sufficiently long so as not to hinder the swinging motion of the upper seal 70. You. Therefore, the ink in the ink supply line 44 tends to dry, and it is necessary to replace the ink regularly or at an arbitrary time. In the ink jet printer 10, the replacement work can be simplified by forming the ink supply pipe 44 into a unit as described below.

As shown in FIG. 5, the three ink supply lines 44 are collectively inserted into a single sheath 88 made of a heat-shrinkable tube. At both ends of the sheath 88, flanged annular members 90a and 90b are attached in advance, and three ink supply lines 44 are passed through the annular members 90a and 90Ob. Sheath 8 8 is received. Moreover, each ink supply line 44 is fixedly connected at one end to a first coupler 92 connected to an ink reservoir 42 and at the other end to a print head 18. Linked to Damba 3 6 Then, it is fixedly connected to the second coupler 94. One end annular member 90 a of the sheath 88 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the first coupler 92, and the other annular member 90 b of the sheath 88 is connected to the second coupler 94. From a predetermined distance. In that state, each section 8 8a of the sheath 88 adjacent to each annular member 90 a, 90 b,

The sheath 88 is fixed to the three ink supply pipes 44 by heat-shrinking 88b.

In this way, the three ink supply pipes 44, the sheath 88, and the first and second couplers 92, 94 are integrated to form a pipe unit 95. . Then, the second coupler of the pipeline unit 95

With the damper 36 connected to the 94 and the print head 18 integrated, the ink supply line 44, the damper 36 and the print head 18 are replaced one after another. In addition, dust is prevented from entering the ink supply pipeline 44, the damper 36 and the print head 18 at the time of replacement.

When the three ink supply lines 44 are installed at the predetermined working position in the body frame 16, that is, the position where the ink is supplied to the print head 18, the ink supply is performed. Each component of the pipeline unit 95 attached to the pipeline 44 has the following arrangement. First, the first coupler 92 fixed to one end of each ink supply pipe 44 is mounted on a support base 96 installed at a predetermined position in the body frame 16. The annular member 90a at one end of the sheath 88 located at a predetermined distance from the first coupler 92 is a holding member fixedly provided on one side surface 70a of the upper shell 70 of the shell structure 12. 9 8 is held. At this time, the flange portion of the annular member 90 a is detachably fitted into the slot 98 a of the holder 98, whereby each of the ink supply pipes 44 is strong, and the annular member 90 a Is fixedly held on the upper seal 70 at the position.

On the other hand, a second coupler fixed to the other end of each ink supply line 4 4 9 4 (-As shown in Fig. 6, it is fixedly connected to the printhead 18's danno, 336. Also, as shown in Fig. 7, the printhead 18 carries the printhead 18 A cover 100 that covers the damper 36 and the like is pivotably connected to the carriage 26 so as to be openable and closable, and a sheath 88 at a predetermined distance from the second coupler 94. The annular member 90b at the end is received in a groove 102 formed on the inner surface of the cover 100. At this time, the flange portion of the annular member 9Ob is inserted into the groove of the cover 100. It is removably fitted into the annular recessed portion 102 of 102 and thereby fixedly held to the printing head 18 at the position of each ink supply line 44 4 annular member 9 Ob. You.

Under the above-described fixed positional relationship, the length of the sheath 88 is preferably set to the shortest length as long as it does not affect the reciprocating operation of the print head 18. The length of each ink supply line 44 between the first coupler 92 and the annular member 90a is determined by the opening / closing operation of the lower shell 66 and the upper shell 70 of the seal structure 12. It is preferably set to the shortest length as long as it does not affect the distance. In addition, the top wall 70 b of the upper seal 70 has a plurality of holding portions 104 into which the sheath 88 can be removably inserted, and the movement of the sheath 88 during movement of the print head 18. Suppressing part

106 are formed.

With such a configuration, unnecessary lengths of the sheath 888 and the ink supply line 44 do not exist around the printing mechanism of the printer, thereby preventing interference with the printing mechanism. You. In addition, since the useless movement of the sheath 88 and the ink supply line 44 that moves in accordance with the reciprocating operation of the print head 18 during the printing operation is minimized, the ink supply line 44 The influence of inertia on ink can be reduced.

When exchanging the conduit unit 95 and the printing head 18 (including the damper 36) as a whole, the first coupler 92 is detached from the support base 96, and the annular member 9 is removed. 0 Remove the a from the holder 98, and press the print head 18 By opening the cover 100 and detaching the print head 18 from the carriage 26, the pipeline unit 95 can be easily removed from the seal structure 12. By performing the reverse operation, a new pipeline unit 95 and a new printing head 18 (including a damper 36) are connected to the seal structure 12 and the carriage 26. It can be easily attached to At this time, the ink supply pipe can be mounted at the optimum position only by fixing the pipe unit 95 at the above-mentioned plurality of fixing positions. As a result, the replacement work of the ink supply pipe 44 made of a long flexible tube becomes extremely simple. Industrial applicability

The present invention provides a seal structure of an ink jet printer that can simplify replacement work of a maintenance device of a flow path system such as an ink supply path in an ink jet printer. is there. An ink jet printer having such a seal structure can be used, for example, as an industrial printer such as a passbook printer.

Claims

' The scope of the claims

1. Airframe and

A printing head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, the printing head being installed to be reciprocally movable in a predetermined direction within the body frame;

An ink reservoir located in the body frame at a distance from the printing head;

A pipe unit that connects the printing head and the ink storage section so that fluid can flow therethrough, the ink supply path and a pair of connecting members respectively provided at both ends of the ink supply path. A pipeline unit connected to the printing head and the ink storage unit through the connecting members;

A shell structure for positioning the pipe unit in a predetermined position and detachably holding the pipe unit in such a manner that the pipe unit can be moved in conjunction with the reciprocating operation of the print head in the body frame;

An ink jet printer comprising:

2. The conduit unit includes a plurality of the ink supply paths, the pair of connection members connected to each of the ink supply paths, and a sheath that integrally stores the ink supply paths. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein one end of the sheath is fixedly held by the seal structure, and the other end of the sheath is fixedly held by the printing head. Print printer.

3. The ink jet printer according to claim 2, wherein the sheath comprises a heat-shrinkable tube.

4. The shell structure comprises: a first shell fixedly installed in the body frame; and a second shell swingably connected to the first shell. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the road unit is held by the second shell. The ink jet printer described in —

5. The ink jet printer according to claim 4, wherein the second shell carries the print head in a reciprocating manner.

6. The apparatus further comprises at least one maintenance device installed in the body frame in proximity to the reciprocating range of the printing head, wherein the second shell is attached to the first seal. The ink jet printer according to claim 4, wherein the maintenance device can be externally approached by swinging with respect to the maintenance device.

7. A reciprocating print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and at least one maintenance device installed close to a reciprocating range of the print head. A shell structure of an ink jet printer, comprising:

A first seal adjacent to the maintenance device,

The printing head is supported so as to be reciprocally movable and movably connected to the first shell. When the printing head is moved relative to the first shell, the printing head is externally connected to the maintenance device. And a second seal that allows access.