JP2003103789A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ink from scattering in any directions other than a predetermined direction at a blade cleaning time in an ink jet printer in which a blade is cleaned by a blade cleaner after the blade wipes a head. SOLUTION: When the elastically deformable blade 1 is cleaned by the blade cleaner 3, the blade 1 moves back and forth. A projecting part 32 of the blade cleaner 3 is disposed on a reciprocation path of the blade 1. The blade 1 is cleaned through contact with the projecting part 32 when the blade 1 is at the forward path. The blade 1 is supported to a supporting means 2 in a manner not to rotate when the blade 1 moves forward and to be rotatable when the blade moves backward. When the blade 1 contacts the projecting part 32 at the backward path, the blade 1 rotates and escapes from the projecting part 32. In consequence, the blade 1 is elastically deformed slightly even when contacting the projecting part 32, and the ink can be prevented from scattering when the blade 1 returns from the elastic deformation state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printer which performs maintenance for removing ink by rubbing an ink ejection port of a head for ejecting ink with a blade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an inkjet printer, ink nozzles for ejecting ink onto a recording sheet are provided on one surface (nozzle surface) of a recording head. In order to recover the increase in the viscosity of the ink, the clogging of the ink nozzle due to the sticking of the ink, or the clogging due to the bubbles or dust generated in the liquid passage leading to the ink nozzle, the recording head nozzle The surface is covered with a cap member so as to be hermetically sealed, and a suction pump is used to suck through the cap member to remove air bubbles remaining in the ink nozzle together with the ink, and to remove dust and the like adhering to the nozzle surface. Maintenance such as removal is performed.

Usually, when the cap member is removed from the recording head, many ink droplets remain on the nozzle surface. If these ink droplets remain on the nozzle surface, clear printing cannot be performed. Therefore, after the cap member is removed, the nozzle surface is wiped and cleaned by bringing the elastic blade into contact with the nozzle surface and rubbing (rubbing or wiping) the nozzle surface. Further, since the ink adheres to the blade that rubs against the nozzle surface, the blade cleaner removes the ink. In this case, for example, while moving the blade so as to press the surface of the tip of the blade on the side where the nozzle surface is rubbed against the protrusion provided on the blade cleaner, the blade is moved as it is, and the tip of the blade is moved. The blade is passed so that the part moves away from the protrusion. By doing so, the ink attached to the blade tip is scraped off by the blade cleaner, and after the blade in contact with the blade is elastically deformed and bent, when the blade passes through the protruding portion of the blade cleaner and leaves. The blade suddenly returned to its original state, and the ink attached to the blade was repelled. At this time, the ink is ejected toward the side opposite to the head, and on the side where the ink is ejected,
An absorber that absorbs the ink is arranged, or an ink discharge mechanism that receives the ejected ink and discharges the ink is provided.

[0004]

By the way, the blade from which the ink has been removed by the blade cleaner moves so as to return to return to the initial position. At this time, if the blade is returned as it is, the blade cleaner is returned again. Will come into contact with. Then, when the blade returns, when it comes in contact with the blade cleaner and moves away, if there is even a small amount of ink remaining on the blade, the ink is blown away in the opposite direction to the case of cleaning the blade. Will be scattered. In this case, ink may fly to the recording head side and stain the recording head to adversely affect the recording head, or stain other portions with ink.

Therefore, when the blade returns, for example, when the blade is moved such that the blade is tilted or retracted before the blade is moved to a position where it comes into contact with the blade cleaner, or when the moving path of the blade is cleaned. The blade was not in contact with the blade cleaner at the time of returning the blade by changing the setting when returning and when returning. Further, when the blade returns, the blade cleaner is moved so as to retreat from the moving path of the blade so that the blade does not contact the blade cleaner.

However, in order to move the blade, it is necessary to newly provide a driving means or a transmission means such as a link mechanism for taking a driving force from the movement of the blade, which complicates the construction. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost becomes high. Further, in order to change the moving path of the blade between cleaning and returning, there is a problem that the moving mechanism of the blade becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost becomes high. Further, when moving the blade cleaner, it is necessary to newly provide a driving unit and a moving mechanism, which complicates the configuration and raises the manufacturing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer which has a simple structure and prevents ink from scattering when the blade returns.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head having a nozzle plate having an ink ejection port, and the nozzle plate is brought into contact with the nozzle plate to rub the nozzle plate for cleaning. An elastically deformable blade, a moving means for reciprocating the blade,
The blade cleaner is disposed on the reciprocating movement path of the blade, and comprises a blade cleaner for cleaning the blade by contacting the blade, and the blade is in contact with the blade cleaner and is elastically deformed in the forward path and the return path by the moving means. In the ink jet printer, the contact force of the blade with respect to the blade cleaner in the case of the above is smaller in the return path than in the forward path.

According to the above structure, in order to clean the elastically deformable blade, when the blade cleaner comes in contact with and leaves (the forward path), the ink attached to the blade is wiped by the blade cleaner and the blade is elastically deformed. After that, by rapidly returning to the original state,
The ink on the blade is blown off and removed.
On the other hand, if the blade comes into contact with the blade cleaner when the blade returns (return), cleaning (forward)
Compared with the time, since the contact force with which the blade contacts the blade cleaner is weakened, the elastic deformation that occurs in the blade is small, and it is possible to prevent ink from scattering when the blade returns to its original state. it can. In addition, it is preferable that the contact force when the blade contacts the blade cleaner on the return path is as small as possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head having a nozzle plate having an ink ejection port, and an elastically deformable blade for contacting the nozzle plate and rubbing the nozzle plate for cleaning. A supporting means for rotatably supporting the blade, a rotation restricting means for restricting the rotation of the blade, a moving means for reciprocating the blade, and a reciprocating path of the blade, and contacting the blade. A blade cleaner for cleaning the blade by doing, the blade, in the forward path by the moving means, the rotation of the blade is regulated by the rotation regulating means to contact the blade cleaner, and by the moving means. On the return path, rotation of the blade is allowed and contact with the blade cleaner An ink jet printer, characterized in that it is rotated by.

According to the above construction, the blade is rotatably supported, and the rotation of the blade is restricted during cleaning (forward path), so that a large contact force is generated when the blade contacts the blade cleaner. On the other hand, when the blade returns to the return position (return path), rotation of the blade is allowed, so that when the blade contacts the blade cleaner, the blade rotates and when the blade contacts the blade cleaner. The contact force becomes smaller. That is, when the blade comes into contact with the blade cleaner in the return path, the blade escapes from the blade cleaner, and the elastic deformation amount of the blade becomes smaller than in the outward path. That is, the abutting force becomes weak, and it is possible to prevent the ink from scattering when the blade returns from the elastically deformed state.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the second aspect, a spring that acts in a direction for returning the rotation of the blade rotated by coming into contact with the blade cleaner on the return path by the moving means is provided. An inkjet printer characterized in that it is provided.

According to the above construction, as described above, in the return path, the blade comes into contact with the blade cleaner to rotate so that the blade escapes from the blade cleaner. It can be returned to its original position.

The present invention according to claim 4 is based on claims 1 to 3.
In the inkjet printer according to any one of the items, the blade cleaner includes a protruding portion that protrudes toward the blade, and the protruding portion has an edge formed at a portion where the blade contacts in a forward path by the moving unit. The ink jet printer is characterized in that a chamfered R cross-sectional shape is formed in a portion where the blade comes into contact with the return path by the moving means.

According to the above construction, the edge is formed at the portion of the protruding portion of the blade cleaner that comes into contact with the blade on the outward path, so that when the elastically deformed blade leaves the blade cleaner, The blade is separated from the blade cleaner in an instant, the elastically deformed state of the blade rapidly returns to the original state, and a large amount of ink can be ejected. On the other hand, in the return path, since the portion of the protrusion of the blade cleaner that comes into contact with the blade is provided with R, when the elastically deformed blade leaves the blade cleaner, the blade moves along the R of the protrusion of the blade cleaner. Since the original state is gradually returned, it is possible to prevent the ink slightly remaining on the blade from scattering. Therefore, the amount of elastic deformation is reduced and the original state is slowly returned from the elastically deformed state by the above-described configuration, so that ink scattering can be more reliably prevented.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first example of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the inkjet printer of the first example includes a recording head 100 that ejects ink to perform printing, as in a known inkjet printer, and the recording head 100 has a plurality of ink nozzles. A nozzle plate 102 having an ink ejection port 101 (shown in FIG. 4) is provided. The recording head 100 includes, for example, the nozzle plate 102 and the like, a head main body 103 for ejecting ink, and a printed circuit board including a circuit for driving the head main body 103 to eject ink. 10
4 and. Further, in the inkjet printer of the first example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the blade 1 that wipes the front surface of the nozzle plate 102 of the recording head 100 to remove the ink attached to the nozzle plate 102, and the blade 1 are used. The supporting means 2 for rotatably supporting, the blade cleaner 3 for removing ink of the blade 1 with ink by wiping the nozzle plate 102, and the blade 1 supported by the supporting means 2 will be described later. And a moving means (not shown) for reciprocating.

The blade 1 is made of, for example, a rubber-like elastic body and is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and is supported by the supporting means 2 so as to rotate integrally with a rotating member 22 described later. ing. The support means 2 includes a moving body 21 that is reciprocally moved by the moving means, and a rotating member 22 that is rotatably supported by the moving body 21 and to which the blade 1 is attached.

The moving body 21 has a rotating shaft 21a for rotatably supporting the rotating member 22 and a bottom portion 22a of the rotating member 22 when the rotating member 22 rotates clockwise in FIGS. There is provided a stopper 21b (rotation restricting member) that abuts against the rotation member 22 to stop the rotation of the rotation member 22. The rotating member 22 has a blade fixing portion 22b on which the blade 1 is fixed and a rotating member body 22c having a bottom portion 22a that abuts against the stopper 21b, and a rotating member body 22c in a direction away from the stopper 21b. The rotary shaft 21 extends from the bottom 22a.
It includes a shaft support portion 22d rotatably mounted on a and a spring mounting portion 22e extending from the shaft support portion 22d to a position facing the stopper 21b.

The rotary shaft 21a is arranged so that its axial direction is orthogonal to the moving direction of the blade 1 by the moving means, and the blade 32 at the time when the protrusion 32, which will be described later, of the blade cleaner 3 contacts the blade 1. The moving direction of the blade 1 and the rotating direction of the blade 1 are substantially the same. Further, the blade 1 is arranged along the direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the blade 1 with the rotating member 22 in contact with the stopper 21b.

A coil spring 23 is arranged in a stretched state between the stopper 21b of the movable body 21 and the spring mounting portion 22e of the rotating member 22, and one end of the coil spring 23 is fixed to the stopper 21b. And the other end is fixed to the spring mounting portion 22e. The coil spring 23, when the rotating member 22 rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 3 from the state where the bottom portion 22a of the rotating member 22 contacts the stopper 21b as shown in FIGS. It elastically deforms so as to be compressed, and rotates the rotating member 22 clockwise to urge it so as to contact the stopper 21b. That is, when the rotating member 22 rotates counterclockwise from the state where the rotating member 22 is in contact with the stopper 21b, the coil spring 23 rotates the rotating member 22 clockwise and returns it to the position where it is in contact with the stopper 21b. In addition, the coil spring 23 is in a range in which the rotating member 22 rotated counterclockwise can be returned so as to come into contact with the stopper 21b.
It is preferable to use the one having the weakest urging force.
The position of the rotating shaft 21a and the shape of the rotating member 22 are determined so that the weight of the rotating member 22 acts in the direction of returning the rotating member 22 to the state in which the rotating member 22 is in contact with the stopper 21b.

The blade cleaner 3 has an arrow A (B).
The main body portion 31 extending along the moving direction of the blade 1 (supporting means 2) indicated by and the tip of the main body portion 31 (the end on the upstream side in the moving direction (arrow A) when the blade 1 moves on the outward path). Part 32) protruding toward the blade 1 side
And an absorber 33 arranged on the back surface of the main body 31 on the opposite side of the blade 1 to absorb ink. The protruding portion 32 has the rotating member 22 in a state of being in contact with the stopper 21b.
When the blade 1 fixed to the blade 1 moves in the direction shown by the arrow A (B), the blade 1 is arranged at a position where the tip of the blade 1 passes. That is, the protrusion 32 is arranged on the moving path of the blade 1 moved by the moving means. Further, an angular edge 32a is formed at a portion of the tip end portion of the protrusion 32 that comes into contact with the blade 1 during cleaning (forward path) described later. Further, a portion of the tip end portion of the projecting portion 32, which comes into contact with the blade 1 when returning (returning path) described later, is chamfered and provided with R32b.

The absorber 33 is provided so as to project more upstream than the protruding portion 32 in the moving direction (arrow A) when the blade 1 moves on the outward path, and when the blade 1 comes into contact with the protruding portion 32, When the ink is scattered on the upstream side of the protrusion 32, the scattered ink is absorbed.
The protrusion 32 of the blade cleaner 3 and the blade 1
Is, for example, almost the same horizontal width (depth direction in the drawing)
When the blade 1 and the protruding portion 32 come into contact with each other, the protruding portion 32 comes into contact with the blade 1 over substantially the entire width thereof. The moving means supports the blade 1 at the time of cleaning the blade 1 which will be described later.
Along with this, it is linearly reciprocally moved, and a well-known moving mechanism can be used. It should be noted that the blade 1 may move other than the above-described reciprocating movement except when cleaning and returning.

Next, the blade 1 is replaced by the blade cleaner 3
The operation and action at the time of cleaning will be described. In this ink jet printer, during the maintenance operation, as shown in the conventional example, the recording head 1
The process of sucking ink from the No. 00 ink nozzle is performed. At this time, the nozzle plate 1 of the recording head 100
Since the ink adheres to the nozzle 02, next, as shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle plate 102 is rubbed with the blade 1 to remove the ink from the nozzle plate 102. At this time, the blade 1 moves in one direction substantially parallel to the nozzle plate 102, and
By arranging the end portion of the recording head 100 on the nozzle plate 102 side on the movement path of the tip end portion of the blade 1, the blade 1 is elastically bent so that the tip end portion faces the rear side in the movement direction. The recording head 100 is rubbed while deforming.

Next, the blade cleaner 3 is used to clean the blade 1 to which the ink is attached by rubbing the nozzle plate 102. At this time, the blade 1 slidingly moved so as to rub the nozzle plate 102 moves as it is so as to extend the movement direction. The movement at this time becomes the forward path of the reciprocating movement path of the blade 1 by the moving means, and is cleaned by the blade cleaner 3 when the blade 1 moves in the forward path as described later. Further, in the forward path, the rotating member 22 of the supporting means 2 that supports the blade 1 is in contact with the stopper 21b by the urging force of the coil spring 23, and also when the nozzle plate 102 is rubbed. It is in the state of.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the tip portion of the blade 1 comes into contact with the protruding portion 32 of the blade cleaner 3 disposed on the movement path of the tip portion of the blade 1, and the blade 1 moves as it is. By that, blade 1
The blade 1 is elastically deformed in a bent state such that the tip of the blade warps rearward in the moving direction of the blade 1. At this time, the rotating member 22 of the supporting means 2 for rotatably supporting the blade 1 is in contact with the stopper 21b, and
Since the reaction force from the protrusion 32 applied to the blade 1 that has moved so as to contact the protrusion 32 of the blade cleaner 3 acts to rotate the rotating member 22 to which the blade 1 is fixed to the stopper 21b side, 1 is in a state of not rotating. Therefore, the blade 1 comes into contact with the protrusion 32 by the contact force based on the elastic deformation of the blade 1. The protrusion 32 has the blade 1 as the recording head 1.
The surface of the No. 00 nozzle plate 102 on the side rubbed is rubbed to remove the ink from the blade 1.

Next, when the blade 1 moves as it is, the blade 1 separates from the protruding portion 32 and returns from the elastically deformed state to the original state, and the momentum at this time repels the ink remaining on the blade 1. Remove.
In addition, since the portion of the protrusion 32 in contact with the blade 1 moving on the outward path is the angular edge 32a, the blade 1 remains at the edge 32a of the protrusion 32 while the blade 1 is largely elastically deformed. Since they are separated in an instant, ink can be ejected vigorously.

Then, as the blade 1 stops,
The blade 1 moves along the return path of the reciprocating movement path of the blade 1 so as to return to the return position. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the blade 1 moving so as to return to the return path comes into contact with the protruding portion 32 of the blade cleaner 3 again. At this time, the blade 1 is pushed by the protruding portion 32 so that the rotating member 22 fixing the blade 1 rotates in the direction opposite to the stopper 21b, and the blade 1 rotates the rotating member 2
Rotate counterclockwise with 2. As a result, the blade 1 moves so as to escape from the protruding portion 32 of the blade cleaner 3, the blade 1 does not largely elastically deform as in the outward path, and the blade 1 does not contact the protruding portion 32 when it comes into contact with the protruding portion 32. The contact force is much smaller than in the outward path.

Meanwhile, the blade 1 is separated from the protrusion 32 while being rotated by the protrusion 32. At this time, since the blade 1 is not elastically deformed as described above, the ink remaining on the blade 1 is not splashed and scattered, and the influence of the ink scattering on the recording head 100 and the ink It is possible to prevent dirt from being scattered. Further, since R32b is attached to the portion where the blade 1 moving on the return path of the protrusion 32 comes into contact, when the blade 1 leaves the protrusion 32 in the state of being slightly elastically deformed as described above, along the R32b. Since the blade 1 separates from the protruding portion 32 while returning from the elastically deformed state to the original state, the elastic deformation amount of the blade 1 at the moment when the blade 1 separates from the protruding portion 32 becomes even smaller, and the ink is scattered. It can be prevented more reliably. The recording head 100 is composed of the blade 1
The blade cleaner 3 is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream side of the moving direction of the blade 1 in the forward path, but when the blade 1 moves in the backward path, it moves in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the blade 1. Even if the ink should be scattered from the blade 1 on the return path, the ink is not scattered directly to the recording head 100.

Next, the second example of the ink jet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The inkjet printer of the second example has basically the same basic configuration as the inkjet printer of the first example, and the description of the configuration described in the first example will be omitted or simplified. Further, in FIG. 5, constituent elements having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. The inkjet printer includes the recording head 100 shown in FIG. 4 as in the first example, and
Blade 1 for rubbing the nozzle plate 102 of the recording head 100 to remove ink attached to the nozzle plate 102
A support means 2 for rotatably supporting the blade 1, a blade cleaner 3 for removing ink on the blade 1 with ink by rubbing the nozzle surface, and the support means 2
And a moving means (not shown) for reciprocating the blade 1 supported by the.

The blade 1 is almost the same as in the first example. Similar to the first example, the supporting means 2 is a moving body 21 (only the main part is shown), and a rotating member 22 rotatably supported by the moving body 21 via a rotating shaft 21a and having the blade 1 fixed thereto. And with. And the moving body 2
1, the rotary shaft 21a is provided, and the stopper 21
b. The stopper 21b is fastened and fixed to the frame 21f of the moving body 21 by a screw 21c and a nut 21d. Further, unlike the first example, the moving body 21 is formed with a spring locking portion 21e to which one end of the coil spring 24 is attached separately from the stopper 21b. In addition, the rotating member 22 has the rotating shaft 21 at the upper portion on the downstream side when the blade 1 of the rotating member main body 22c moves on the outward path.
It is pivotally supported by a, and its own weight causes the rotating member 22 to
It is designed to act in the direction of abutting against 1b.

Further, the spring mounting portion 22e of the rotating member 22
Is arranged on the upstream side when the blade 1 of the rotating member 22 moves on the outward path so as to substantially face the spring locking portion 21e of the moving body 21, and the spring mounting portion 22e and the spring locking portion 21e.
The coil spring 24 is disposed between the coil spring 24 and the coil spring 24, one end of the coil spring 24 is fixed to the spring mounting portion 22e, and the other end thereof is fixed to the spring locking portion 21e. Coil spring 2
4 is different from the coil spring 23 of the first example in that the rotating member 22
When the rotating member 22 is rotated so that the bottom portion 22a of the rotating member 22 is separated from the stopper 21b, the rotating member 22 is elastically deformed and the coil spring 24 returns so as to contract.
The rotating member 22 is urged in a rotating direction so that 2 contacts the stopper 21b.

The blade cleaner 3 includes a main body 31 extending along the moving direction of the blade 1, a protrusion 32 formed by bending the tip of the main body 31 toward the blade 1, and a main body. The absorber 3 arranged on the back side of the portion 31
3 and the guard members 34 that are attached to the left and right sides of the tip ends of the absorber 33 and the protrusion 32 while extending from the tip of the absorber 33 to the protrusion 32.

The absorber 33 is provided so as to project more upstream than the main body 31 in the moving direction (arrow A) when the blade 1 moves on the outward path, and the tip of the main body 31 is bent. The protrusion 32 is provided on the back side of the protrusion 32 formed on the
It extends away from. Thus, also in the second example, when the blade 1 comes into contact with the protrusion 32 during the forward movement, when the ink is scattered on the back side of the protrusion 32, the scattered ink can be absorbed by the absorber 33. Has become. Furthermore, the guard member 34 is
Since it is arranged so as to close the left and right between the tip end portion and the protruding portion 32, the ink is prevented from being scattered left and right when the blade 1 comes into contact with the protruding portion 32 as described above. .

In the ink jet printer of the second example as described above, the same operational effect as that of the first example can be obtained. In addition, the coil springs 23 and 24 are not always indispensable, but only by the weight of the rotating member 22,
The rotary member 22 may return to the position where it abuts on the stopper 21b. In addition, the rotating member 22 is the stopper 21b.
When the blade 1 is at a predetermined angle in a state of being separated from the above, another stopper for restricting the rotation of the rotating member 22 is provided and the blade 1 is kept in the predetermined state until the blade 1 next wipes the recording head. The blade 1 and the rotating member 22 are rotated by the blade 1 coming into contact with the recording head at the start of the wipe of the recording head, and the rotating member 22 contacts the stopper 21b.

Further, when the blade 1 comes into contact with the protrusion 32 on the return path, another member is attached to the side of the blade 1 contacting the protrusion 32, or a member extending from the rotary member 22 is arranged. By doing so, the protrusion 32 may indirectly contact the blade 1 via any of these members. Further, the blade 1 does not necessarily have to rotate in order to weaken the contact force with the blade cleaner 3, and when the blade 1 comes into contact with the blade cleaner 3 (protruding portion 32), it moves in a direction away from the blade cleaner 3. It should be. That is, when it is considered that the blade cleaner 3 is reciprocating relative to the blade 1 in the reciprocating movement of the blade 1, the portion of the blade cleaner 3 that contacts the blade 1 in the return path (the protrusion 32 It is sufficient that the blade 1 can be moved so that the tip portion of the blade 1 moves away from the movement route of (1). For example, when the blade 1 comes into contact with the blade cleaner 3 on the return path and is pushed,
Is guided by a guide member or the like so that it can be moved obliquely with respect to the above-described movement path of the protruding portion 32 and in a direction away from the protruding portion 32. The movement of the blade 1 at this time may be linear or curved, and may be accompanied by rotational movement. Even in the case of such a configuration, at the time of cleaning (outward path), a stopper for restricting the movement of the blade 1 in the opposite direction to the escape direction is provided, and a spring or the like for returning the blade 1 moved in the escape direction to the stopper side is provided. Preferably there is a biasing means.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the blade comes into contact with the blade cleaner when returning (returning), the blade comes into contact with the blade cleaner more than when cleaning (outgoing). Since the contact force is weakened, the elastic deformation of the blade is small, and it is possible to prevent the ink from scattering when the blade returns to its original state.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in the return path, the blade comes into contact with the blade cleaner so that the blade escapes from the blade cleaner, and the elastic deformation amount of the blade becomes smaller than that in the forward path. . As a result, the contact force is weakened, and it is possible to prevent the ink from scattering when the blade returns from the elastically deformed state.

According to the third aspect of the invention, as described above, in the return path, the blade that comes into contact with the blade cleaner rotates to cause the blade to escape from the blade cleaner. You can return to the original position from the rotated state.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the portion of the protruding portion of the blade cleaner that comes into contact with the blade is rounded, the blade cleaner protrudes when the elastically deformed blade leaves the blade cleaner. Since the blade gradually returns to the original state along the R of the portion, it is possible to more reliably prevent the ink slightly remaining on the blade from scattering.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a blade in a state in which a recording head of an inkjet printer according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention is rubbed.

FIG. 2 is a blade of the inkjet printer of the first example,
It is drawing which shows a support means and a blade cleaner.

FIG. 3 is a first example of an inkjet printer blade,
It is drawing which shows a support means and a blade cleaner.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a recording head of a first example.

FIG. 5 is a blade of an ink jet printer of a second example,
It is drawing which shows a support means and a blade cleaner.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 blade 2 Supporting means 21 moving body 22 Rotating member 23 Coil spring 24 coil spring 3 blade cleaner 31 Body 32 protrusion 32a edge 32b R 33 absorber

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Osamu Murata             Konica, the first place in Sakura-cho, Hino-shi, Tokyo             In the company (72) Inventor Kei Tsutsumi             2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica stock             Inside the company (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Kobayashi             2-538-3 Mayoruchi, Ome City, Tokyo F term (reference) 2C056 EA16 JB04 JB08 JB09 JB10

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording head having a nozzle plate having an ink ejection port, an elastically deformable blade for contacting the nozzle plate and rubbing the nozzle plate for cleaning, and reciprocating the blade. A moving means and a blade cleaner disposed on the reciprocating movement path of the blade and cleaning the blade by contacting the blade, the blade contacting the blade cleaner on the forward path and the return path by the moving means. The inkjet printer is characterized in that the contact force of the blade with respect to the blade cleaner when elastically deformed is smaller in the return path than in the forward path. 2. A recording head provided with a nozzle plate having an ink ejection port, an elastically deformable blade that contacts the nozzle plate and rubs the nozzle plate for cleaning, and the blade is rotatable. Supporting means for supporting, rotation restricting means for restricting rotation of the blade, moving means for reciprocating the blade, disposed on the reciprocating path of the blade, and cleaning the blade by contacting with the blade And a blade cleaner that, in the forward path by the moving means, the rotation of the blade is restricted by the rotation restricting means and comes into contact with the blade cleaner, and in the return path by the moving means, the blade rotates. Is allowed and rotates by contacting the blade cleaner Inkjet printer characterized in that it is. 3. The ink jet printer according to claim 2, further comprising a spring that acts in a direction to return the rotation of the blade rotated by coming into contact with the blade cleaner on the return path by the moving means. Inkjet printer to do. 4. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blade cleaner includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the blade, and the protrusion is provided on the forward path by the moving unit. The inkjet printer is characterized in that an edge is formed at a portion where the blade comes into contact, and a chamfered R cross-sectional shape is formed at a portion where the blade comes into contact with the return path by the moving means.