JP2005040975A - Liquid jet head wiping device and liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a wiping device and a liquid ejecting apparatus for a liquid ejecting head that can perform a wiping operation with a simple structure but following a change in the position of the liquid ejecting head while reliably pressing.
In a wiping device for wiping a liquid ejecting head when moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, a wiping end portion for contacting and wiping the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head is provided. A wiping member 90, a guide portion 93 for guiding the wiping member 90 so as to be linearly movable along the guide direction Z, and a wiping end portion by applying a biasing force to the wiping member 90 and linearly moving along the guide direction Z And an urging unit 100 for bringing 95 into pressure contact with the liquid ejecting head 51.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head wiping apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus for wiping the liquid ejecting head when moving relative to the liquid ejecting head.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head onto a recording medium has been known. Such an ink jet recording apparatus records desired images such as characters and figures by ejecting minute ink droplets from the nozzles of the recording head onto the recording medium.
In this ink jet recording apparatus, since the recording head comes close to the recording medium during the recording operation, ink splashes generated when ink droplets collide with the recording medium bounce off the nozzle surface of the recording head and contaminate the nozzle surface. There are things to do.
[0003]
In particular, in the recording head of an on-demand type ink jet recording apparatus, since the ejection of nozzle droplets is due to weak pressure applied to the ink in the vicinity of the nozzles, the ejection energy of the ink droplets is small, and the interval between the recording medium and several mm In other words, the splash of ink splashes easily adhere to the nozzle surface. However, since the pressure is small, once clogging occurs in the nozzle, the clogging cannot be easily restored.
[0004]
For this reason, in order to prevent or recover from clogging of the nozzles of the recording head, a suction operation is performed to suck the ink from the nozzle openings and discharge the clogged ink during the non-printing operation.
After this suction is performed, ink may remain on the nozzle surface, which may contaminate the nozzle surface. Such contamination of the nozzle surface of the recording head leads to the adhesion of fibers and dust on the recording medium, which may cause clogging of the nozzle during long-term use of the recording head, the ink being unable to be ejected or the ink being ejected. There was an adverse effect such as flying bend of drops.
In order to solve such problems, wiping blades have been proposed to remove all ink on the nozzle surface, foreign matter, ink dyes and dry deposits of fibers, etc., and prevent ink ejection failure. (For example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-103070 (pages 5 to 6, FIG. 7)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this type of blade needs to raise and lower the blade in order to come into pressure contact with the nozzle surface. This raising and lowering mechanism is a device having a very complicated structure such as a cam or a rotary push-up arm. Must be adopted.
For this reason, the raising / lowering device of a braid | blade becomes large and there exists a problem that an occupation space will become large.
Also, the so-called platen gap (PG) between the nozzle surface of the recording head and the platen may change depending on the thickness of the recording medium used for printing. Even when the platen gap becomes large, that is, when the nozzle surface of the recording head moves away from the blade, the blade follows the movement of the nozzle surface to ensure that the nozzle surface is in contact with the blade. It is desired to wipe it off.
Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-described problems, and has a simple structure, but can perform a wiping operation while reliably pressing and following a change in the position of the liquid ejecting head, and a liquid ejecting apparatus for a liquid ejecting head The purpose is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the wiping device for wiping the liquid ejecting head when moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, the wiping device has a wiping end for contacting and wiping the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head. A wiping member; a guide portion that guides the wiping member so as to be linearly movable along a guide direction; and applying a biasing force to the wiping member to linearly move the wiping member along the guide direction to thereby move the wiping end portion to the liquid. And an urging portion for press-contacting the ejecting head.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, the wiping member has the wiping end for contacting and wiping the liquid ejecting head. The guide unit guides the wiping member so as to be linearly movable along the guide direction.
The urging unit applies an urging force to the wiping member and linearly moves the wiping member along the guide direction to press the wiping end against the liquid ejecting head.
Accordingly, the wiping member can be reliably brought into contact with the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head and wiped off the nozzle surface only by linearly moving along the guide portion using the urging force of the urging unit. . The pressure when the wiping end of the wiping member is pressed against the nozzle surface can be managed by the biasing force generated by the biasing portion.
[0009]
Even if the position of the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head changes depending on the thickness of the liquid ejecting medium, for example, the wiping member simply moves linearly along the guide portion by the urging force of the urging portion, and the position of the nozzle surface changes. The wiping end can be reliably brought into contact with the nozzle surface and wiped without being influenced by the nozzle surface.
Since the wiping member is guided so as to be linearly movable along the guide portion, the angle at which the wiping end portion of the wiping member comes into contact with the nozzle surface and is pressed can always be constant.
Since the guide portion is structured by applying the urging force of the urging portion when the wiping member is linearly moved, the structure is simple and the area occupied by the wiping device can be reduced.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the guide portion includes a second guide member that is disposed apart from the first guide member and the first guide member, and the wiping member is A first protrusion provided at one end of the wiping member and guided in the guide direction by the first guide member; and the second guide member provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second projecting portion guided along a guide direction, and the biasing portion is a spring disposed between the wiping member and the guide portion.
[0011]
According to the above configuration, the guide portion has the first guide member and the second guide member.
The wiping member has a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion is provided at one end of the wiping member, and the first protrusion is guided along the guide direction by the first guide member. Similarly, the second protrusion is provided at the other end of the wiping member, and the second protrusion is guided along the guide direction by the second guide member. The urging portion is a spring disposed between the wiping member and the guide member.
As a result, the wiping member moves linearly along the guide direction of the guide portion while having a simple structure, and the wiping end portion reliably contacts the nozzle surface corresponding to the position of the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head. Can be wiped off.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a holder member that holds the wiping member, and the guide portion is disposed apart from the first holder guide member and the first holder guide member. A second holder guide member is provided, the holder member being guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member, and along the guide direction by the second holder guide member. And the urging portion is a spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, the holder member holds the wiping member. The guide portion has a first holder guide member and a second holder guide member.
The first end portion of the holder member is guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member. The second end portion of the holder member is guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member. The urging portion is a spring disposed between the holder member and the guide member.
As a result, the wiping member moves linearly along the guide direction of the guide portion while having a simple structure, and the wiping end portion reliably contacts the nozzle surface corresponding to the position of the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head. Can be wiped off.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, a holder member that holds the wiping member is provided, and the guide portion is provided on the first guide member provided on the holder member and the holder member. A second guide member disposed away from the first guide member; a second holder guide member disposed away from the first holder guide member and the first holder guide member; The wiping member is provided at one end of the wiping member and guided along the guide direction by the first guide member, and is provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second projecting portion guided along the guide direction by the guide member, and the holder member is guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member. A first end portion and a second end portion guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member, and the biasing portion is disposed between the wiping member and the holder member. And a second spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion.
[0015]
According to the above configuration, the holder member holds the wiping member.
The guide portion includes a first guide member, a second guide member, a first holder guide member, and a second holder guide member.
The first protrusion of the wiping member is provided at one end of the wiping member, and the first protrusion is guided along the guide direction by the first guide member. The second protrusion of the wiping member is provided at the other end of the wiping member, and the second protrusion is guided along the guide direction by the second guide member.
[0016]
The first end portion of the holder member is guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member. The second end portion of the holder member is guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member.
The urging portion has a first spring and a second spring. The first spring is disposed between the wiping member and the holder member. The second spring is disposed between the holder member and the guide member.
As a result, the amount of linear movement of the wiping member can be increased, and even if the position of the liquid ejecting head changes greatly, the wiping member can follow and reliably wipe the nozzle surface.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the introduction member that guides the wiping end portion of the wiping member to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head, and the wiping after wiping. It has a lead-out member for guiding the end to the outside of the nozzle surface.
According to the above configuration, the introduction member guides the wiping end portion of the wiping member to the nozzle surface of the liquid jet head. The lead-out member guides the wiping end to the outside of the nozzle surface.
Accordingly, the wiping end portion of the wiping member can be smoothly guided to the nozzle surface of the liquid jet head using the introduction member. And the wiping edge part of a wiping member is smoothly guide | induced to the exterior of a nozzle surface using a derivation | leading-out member after wiping a nozzle surface.
In this case, since the lead-out member is provided, the phenomenon that the wiping member scatters the liquid at the end of the wiping of the nozzle surface can be prevented.
[0018]
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the liquid ejecting apparatus having a wiping device for wiping the liquid ejecting head when moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, the wiping device is in contact with a nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head. A wiping member having a wiping end portion for wiping, a guide portion for guiding the wiping member to be linearly movable along a guide direction, and a linear movement along the guide direction by applying a biasing force to the wiping member And an urging portion that presses the wiping end against the liquid ejecting head.
[0019]
According to the above configuration, the wiping member has the wiping end for contacting and wiping the liquid ejecting head. The guide unit guides the wiping member so as to be linearly movable along the guide direction.
The urging unit applies an urging force to the wiping member and linearly moves the wiping member along the guide direction to press the wiping end against the liquid ejecting head.
Accordingly, the wiping member can be reliably brought into contact with the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head and wiped off the nozzle surface only by linearly moving along the guide portion using the urging force of the urging unit. . The pressure when the wiping end of the wiping member is pressed against the nozzle surface can be managed by the biasing force generated by the biasing portion.
[0020]
Even if the position of the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head changes depending on the thickness of the liquid ejecting medium, for example, the wiping member simply moves linearly along the guide portion by the urging force of the urging portion, and the position of the nozzle surface changes. The wiping end can be reliably brought into contact with the nozzle surface and wiped without being influenced by the nozzle surface.
Since the wiping member is guided so as to be linearly movable along the guide portion, the angle at which the wiping end portion of the wiping member comes into contact with the nozzle surface and is pressed can always be constant.
Since the guide portion is structured by applying the urging force of the urging portion when the wiping member is linearly moved, the structure is simple and the area occupied by the wiping device can be reduced.
[0021]
In a seventh aspect based on the sixth aspect, the guide portion has a second guide member disposed apart from the first guide member and the first guide member, and the wiping member is A first protrusion provided at one end of the wiping member and guided in the guide direction by the first guide member; and the second guide member provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second projecting portion guided along a guide direction, and the biasing portion is a spring disposed between the wiping member and the guide portion.
As a result, the wiping member moves linearly along the guide direction of the guide portion while having a simple structure, and the wiping end portion reliably contacts the nozzle surface corresponding to the position of the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head. Can be wiped off.
[0022]
An eighth invention has a holder member for holding the wiping member in the structure of the sixth invention, and the guide portion is disposed apart from the first holder guide member and the first holder guide member. A second holder guide member is provided, the holder member being guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member, and along the guide direction by the second holder guide member. And the urging portion is a spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion.
As a result, the wiping member moves linearly along the guide direction of the guide portion while having a simple structure, and the wiping end portion reliably contacts the nozzle surface corresponding to the position of the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head. Can be wiped off.
[0023]
According to a ninth invention, in the configuration of the sixth invention, there is provided a holder member for holding the wiping member, and the guide portion is provided on the first guide member provided on the holder member and the holder member. A second guide member disposed away from the first guide member; a second holder guide member disposed away from the first holder guide member and the first holder guide member; The wiping member is provided at one end of the wiping member and guided along the guide direction by the first guide member, and is provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second projecting portion guided along the guide direction by the guide member, and the holder member is guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member. A first end portion and a second end portion guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member, and the biasing portion is disposed between the wiping member and the holder member. And a second spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion.
As a result, the amount of linear movement of the wiping member can be increased, and even if the position of the liquid ejecting head changes greatly, the wiping member can follow and reliably wipe the nozzle surface.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus which is a preferred embodiment of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention.
The carriage 53 ejects ink from the recording head 51 onto a recording medium P such as paper while recording back and forth in the main scanning direction T along the guide rail 55 by a timing belt 57 connected to a drive motor 56. I do. A plurality of different color ink cartridges 54A, 54B, 54C and 54D such as black, cyan, magenta and yellow can be mounted on the carriage 53. The recording head 51 is an example of a liquid ejecting head.
[0025]
At a position corresponding to the home position HP of the carriage 53, an ejection characteristic maintaining device 40 for maintaining the ejection characteristics of the recording head 51 is disposed. The discharge characteristic maintaining device 40 includes a wiping device 10, a capping device 20, and a suction device 30.
When the carriage 53 is in the home position HP, the discharge characteristic maintaining device 40 performs a capping operation, a suction operation, and a wiping operation for cleaning the recording head 51 and maintaining the discharge characteristics. ing.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the discharge characteristic maintaining device 40 unitized as an example, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same. In the discharge characteristic maintaining device 40, a wiping device 10, a capping device 20, and a tube pump 31 as a suction device 30 are unitized. The tube pump 31 is a mechanism that generates a negative pressure by sequentially crushing flexible tubes arranged in an arc shape with a roller, and uses a driving force such as a paper feed motor (not shown).
[0027]
The capping device 20 includes a holder 22 and a cap member 21 formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer around the periphery of the opening of the holder 22. An ink discharge hole 23 is formed at the bottom of the holder 22, and a tube (not shown) on the suction side of the tube pump 31 is connected to the ink discharge hole 23.
The holder 22 is mounted on a slider 24, and the slider 24 has four guide members 25. The unit frame 41 that holds the slider 24 is provided with four inclined guide holes 42, and each guide member 25 described above is engaged with each guide hole 42.
[0028]
The slider 24 has a protrusion 26 that is integrally formed. The protruding portion 26 has stood up on the moving path of the carriage 53 in FIG. 1 and comes into contact with the end of the carriage 53 when the carriage 53 moves to the home position HP. Therefore, when the carriage 53 moves to the home position side, the projection 26 comes into contact with the end of the carriage 53 and is further pushed in the moving direction of the carriage 53.
[0029]
Due to the pressing force by the carriage 53, each guide member 25 of the slider 24 slides in the inclined guide hole 42 of the unit frame 41 and rises in inclination. With this operation, the cap member 21 formed integrally with the holder 22 approaches the nozzle plate surface, which is the nozzle surface of the recording head 51 mounted on the carriage 53, and seals the nozzle plate surface.
When the carriage 53 moves to the printing area side, the slider 24 moves to the printing area side by an urging force such as a spring (not shown), and the sealing of the nozzle plate surface of the recording head 51 by the cap member 21 is released accordingly. Is done.
[0030]
In the cleaning operation using the capping device 20, the tube member 31 is driven in a state where the cap member 21 seals the nozzle plate surface of the recording head 51, thereby applying a negative pressure to the nozzle plate surface of the recording head 51 and recording. This is done by sucking the ink in the head 51 and forcibly discharging it. After the suction, the nozzle 53 is unsealed by the cap member 21 by moving the carriage 53 to the print region side. When the tube pump 31 is driven in this state, the waste ink in the cap member 21 is discharged from the ink discharge hole 23 and sent to the waste liquid tank via the tube pump 31.
[0031]
FIG. 4 shows a structural example of the recording head 51 and the wiping device 10.
The recording head 51 has a nozzle plate 70. The lower surface side of the nozzle plate 70 is a nozzle plate surface 71.
FIG. 5 shows the nozzle plate surface 71. A plurality of nozzle opening rows 81, 82, 83, 84 are formed on the nozzle plate surface 71. The nozzle opening row 81 has a plurality of nozzle openings 81A. Similarly, the nozzle opening row 82 has a plurality of nozzle openings 82A. The nozzle opening row 83 has a plurality of nozzle openings 83A. The nozzle opening row 84 has a plurality of nozzle openings 84A.
The nozzle openings of each nozzle opening row are arranged in a straight line. The nozzle opening rows 81 to 84 are parallel to each other and are formed in a direction perpendicular to the head moving direction T1 of the recording head 51.
[0032]
Each nozzle opening row 81 to 84 in FIG. 4 is connected to the ink path 86.
Each ink path 86 is connected to the ink cartridges 54A to 54D. Therefore, different types of ink in the ink cartridges 54A to 54D can be ejected from the nozzle openings 81A to 84A of the corresponding nozzle opening rows 81 to 84, respectively.
[0033]
Next, the structure of the wiping device 10 shown in FIG. 4 will be described in more detail.
The structure of the wiping device 10 is shown in FIGS.
The wiping device 10 shown in FIG. 6 schematically includes a wiping member 90, a guide portion 93, an urging portion 100, and a housing portion 101.
In the wiping device 10, the wiping member 90 moves the nozzle plate surface 71 of the recording head 51 by the relative movement of the recording head 51 and the wiping device 10 when the recording head 51 moves in the head movement direction T <b> 1 in FIG. 4. The ink on the nozzle plate surface 71 is wiped off while being pressed. In addition, the wiping device 10 has an introduction member 110 and a lead-out member 113 shown in FIG. 4 in the vicinity of the nozzle plate surface 71.
[0034]
First, the wiping member 90 will be described.
The wiping member 90 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a plate-like member. As the material of the wiping member 90, it is necessary to use an ink-resistant material that does not deteriorate or deteriorate due to ink. As a material of the wiping member 90, for example, a rubber material such as silicon rubber or butyl rubber or a plastic material can be employed.
The wiping member 90 has a wiping end portion 95, a first projecting portion 97, and a second projecting portion 98.
[0035]
The wiping end portion 95 is also called a wiping side portion, and the wiping end portion 95 is formed over the entire width W of the wiping member 90 with respect to the upper end portion side of the wiping member 90. The cross-sectional shape of the wiping end portion 95 is formed in a mountain shape as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and has slope portions 95A and 95B. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the wiping end portion 95 has a knife edge shape.
The wiping member 90 is formed so that the overall thickness d is preferably constant.
[0036]
6 and 8 is provided at one end of the wiping member 90, and the second protrusion 98 in FIGS. 6 and 8 is provided at the other end of the wiping member 90. . One end and the other end of the wiping member 90 are formed to protrude in opposite directions on the side surfaces 99A and 99B of the wiping member 90.
The inner end 115 of the wiping member 90 is a part opposite to the wiping end 95. Two protrusions 115A and 115B are formed on the inner end 115 downward.
[0037]
Next, the guide part 93 of FIG. 6 is demonstrated.
The guide portion 93 is a member for guiding the wiping member 90 so as to be linearly movable along the guide direction Z.
The guide portion 93 includes a first guide member 121 and a second guide member 122. The first guide member 121 and the second guide member 122 shown in FIG. 6 are arranged apart from each other. The first guide member 121 and the second guide member 122 are integrally connected by a base portion 123.
The first guide member 121 and the second guide member 122 are bilaterally symmetric and have the same shape. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first guide member 121 has a guide groove 124 in the center. Similarly, the second guide member 122 has a guide groove 125 shown in FIG. The guide grooves 124 and 125 are formed at facing positions.
[0038]
The first protrusion 97 of the wiping member 90 is fitted in the guide groove 124 of the first guide member 121. The second protrusion 98 of the wiping member 90 is fitted in the guide groove 125 of the second guide member 122.
Accordingly, the wiping member 90 uses the first projecting portion 97 and the second projecting portion 98 to guide in the guide direction Z (vertical direction) along the first guide member 121 and the second guide member 122 of the guide portion 93. It is guided along a straight line.
[0039]
Next, the biasing portion 100 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has two springs 131 and 132 in the illustrated example. One end of the spring 131 is fixed to the protrusion 115 </ b> A of the wiping member 90, and the other end of the spring 131 is fixed to the inner surface of the base portion 123.
The spring 132 is fixed to the protrusion 115 </ b> B of the wiping member 90, and the other end of the spring 132 is fixed to the inner surface of the base portion 123. That is, the springs 131 and 132 of the urging portion 100 are disposed between the wiping member 90 and the guide portion 93.
[0040]
The springs 131 and 132 of the urging unit 100 exert an urging force on the wiping member 90, so that the wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 is pressed against the nozzle plate surface 71 shown in FIG. It has the function of being able to be wiped by pressure contact with the pressure of time. By setting the spring load of the springs 131 and 132, the surface pressure load applied to the nozzle plate surface 71 by the wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 can be managed.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the wiping member 90 is not managed by the elastic deformation force of the wiping member 90, but by appropriately setting the spring load of the biasing portion 100, the wiping end portion 95 is The surface pressure load applied to the nozzle plate surface 71 can be managed.
[0041]
FIG. 8 shows a structural example of the guide portion 93 and the wiping member 90.
As shown in FIG. 8, the guide portion 93 includes a first guide member 121 and a second guide member 122.
When the wiping member 90 is pressed against the nozzle plate surface, the wiping member 90 is lowered in the Z1 direction against the urging force of the springs 131 and 132. The linear movement stroke of the wiping member 90 generated at this time is indicated by SL.
[0042]
FIG. 9 shows the wiping member 90, the guide portion 93, and the accommodating portion 101.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the storage portion 101 has a tank function for storing ink, which is a kind of liquid, when the wiping member 90 wipes the nozzle plate surface 71 by pressing. is doing. As shown in FIG. 9, the accommodating portion 101 accommodates a part of the guide portion 93 and the wiping member 90.
[0043]
Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and the wiping operation of the wiping apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
In a normal printing operation step ST1 shown in FIG. 11, the recording head 51 is operated along the main scanning direction X within the printing area in the same manner as a general serial color ink jet recording apparatus. As a result, the recording head 51 performs color printing on the recording medium P.
[0044]
Next, in the ink suction step ST2 in FIG. 11, for example, when the power is turned off or when a suction command or a cleaning command is received, the capping is performed at the home position HP in FIG. 1, which is a non-printing region outside the printing region. The cap of device 20 is advanced. The recording head 51 has already faced the capping device 20, and the cap covers the nozzle plate surface 71 of the recording head 51 and sucks ink. When the ink suction is finished, the cap returns to the retracted position.
[0045]
Next, the process proceeds to the wiping operation step ST3 shown in FIG.
In the wiping operation step ST3, the recording head 51 moves in the head movement direction T1 along with the carriage 53 shown in FIG.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, as the recording head 51 moves in the head movement direction T1, the wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 of the wiping device 10 relatively moves.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 4, an introduction member 110 is provided on one side of the recording head 51 and the nozzle plate surface 71. A lead-out member 113 is provided on the other side of the nozzle plate surface 71. The introduction member 110 is an inclined member for introducing and guiding the wiping end portion 95 into the nozzle plate surface 71.
The lead-out member 113 is an inclined member for guiding the wiping end portion 95 to the outside of the nozzle plate surface 71 after the wiping end portion 95 wipes the nozzle plate surface 71. The introduction member 110 and the lead-out member 113 are formed to be inclined with respect to the nozzle plate surface 71 by an angle θ.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the recording head 51 moves in the head moving direction T1, the wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 is guided along the introduction member 110, and thus the springs 131 and 132 along the Z1 direction. It is pushed down against the urging force of. The wiping end portion 95 reaches the first wiping portion of the nozzle plate surface 71 after being guided along the introduction member 110.
[0048]
Thereafter, the wiping end portion 95 wipes ink while being pressed against the nozzle plate surface 71 and reaches the end of wiping of the nozzle plate surface 71. After the wiping end portion 95 wipes the ink on the nozzle plate surface 71, the lead-out member 113 guides the wiping end portion 95 obliquely upward. As a result, the wiping member 90 moves up and moves linearly along the Z2 direction by the biasing force of the springs 131 and 132.
At this time, when the wiping end portion 95 finishes wiping the nozzle plate surface 71, if the lead-out member 113 is not present, the wiping end portion 95 may cause a phenomenon of ink scattering and ink may adhere to other elements. is there.
[0049]
However, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the derivation member 113 is provided, the wiping end portion 95 is smoothly guided by the urging force of the springs 131 and 132 along the derivation member 113 even after wiping is completed. It will be done.
For this reason, the wiping member 90 does not generate the ink scattering phenomenon, and can prevent the ink scattering phenomenon.
By providing the introduction member 110 and the lead-out member 113, the wiping member 90 can introduce the nozzle plate surface 71 into the wiping start position and lead out from the wiping end position to the outside very smoothly. it can.
[0050]
The wiping member 90 is linearly movable along the guide direction Z. This guide direction Z is preferably a plane perpendicular to the nozzle plate surface 71. In this way, the pressure contact angle at which the wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 is pressed against the nozzle plate surface 71 can be maintained at a constant angle from the start of wiping to the end of wiping.
By setting the spring load of the springs 131 and 132, even if there is a change in the platen gap PG between the platen 150 and the nozzle plate surface 71 as shown in FIG. 10, it is not affected by the change in the platen gap PG. The wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 can reliably press against the nozzle plate surface 71 and wipe the ink on the nozzle plate surface 71.
[0051]
A platen gap PG shown in FIG. 10 is an interval between the nozzle plate surface 71 of the recording head 51 and the platen 150. Depending on the recording medium P, the position of the nozzle plate surface 71 may be raised in the Z2 direction.
Even in such a case, the wiping member 90 can be linearly moved by the urging force of the springs 131 and 132 along the guide direction Z shown in FIG. Following the position of the plate surface 71, the wiping end portion 95 can be surely pressed against the nozzle plate surface 71.
In the embodiment of the present invention, instead of generating pressure on the nozzle plate surface 71 using, for example, rubber elastic force of the wiping member 90, the urging force of the springs 131 and 132 causes the wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 to nozzle It is characteristic that it is brought into pressure contact with the plate surface 71.
[0052]
By wiping the surface of the nozzle plate 71 by the wiping device 10 of FIG. 6, color mixing in a plurality of nozzle opening rows on the nozzle plate surface 71 can be prevented as shown in FIGS. The wiping member 90 can reliably wipe the nozzle plate surface 71 and prevent ink from remaining on the nozzle plate surface 71.
By preventing contamination of the nozzle surface in this way, it is possible to prevent adhesion of fibers, dust and dust on the recording medium, and nozzle clogging is less likely to occur during long-term use of the recording head, and ink ejection is ensured. It can be carried out.
When the wiping operation is completed as described above, the routine proceeds to a normal printing operation preparation step ST4 shown in FIG.
[0053]
Next, another embodiment of the wiping device for a liquid jet head according to the present invention will be described.
12 to 14 show another embodiment of the wiping device for a liquid jet head according to the present invention.
The wiping device 10 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 is different from the wiping device 10 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 in that a holder member 300 is provided.
[0054]
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the wiping device 10 includes a wiping member 90, a guide portion 293, a biasing portion 100, and a storage portion 101.
The wiping member 90 has a wiping end 95 at its end. The wiping member 90 is made of the same material as that of the wiping member 90 shown in FIG. 6 and has the same thickness d throughout. The wiping end portion 95 is formed in a knife edge shape having surfaces 95A and 95B.
[0055]
The holder member 300 is characteristically used, and the holder member 300 can fix the wiping member 90 so as to be detachable by, for example, a screw 301.
The holder member 300 is a plate-like member, for example, and has a first end 311 and a second end 312. The wiping member 90 is fixed to the center of the one surface of the holder member 300 by the above-described screw 301, for example.
[0056]
The guide part 293 includes a first holder guide member 321 and a second holder guide member 322. The first holder guide member 321 and the second holder guide member 322 are integrally connected by a base portion 323.
The first holder guide member 321 has a guide groove 331 along the guide direction Z. Similarly, the second holder guide member 322 has a guide groove 332 along the guide direction Z.
[0057]
The first end 311 of the holder member 300 is fitted in the guide groove 331.
The second end 312 of the holder member 300 is fitted in the guide groove 332.
Thus, the holder member 300 can be guided along the guide by linear movement along the guide direction Z by the first holder guide member 321 and the second holder guide member 322 together with the wiping member 90.
[0058]
The urging unit 100 has two springs 351 and 352. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the spring 351 is disposed between the lower end portion 357 of the holder member 300 and the inner surface of the base portion 323. Similarly, the spring 352 is disposed between the lower end portion 357 of the holder member 300 and the inner surface of the base portion 323.
The guide portion 293, the holder member 300, and a part of the wiping member 90 are accommodated in the accommodating portion 101. The storage unit 101 is a tank for storing ink generated during the wiping operation.
[0059]
By adopting such a structure, for example, when replacing the wiping member 90, the holder member 300 can be easily replaced by removing the screw 301.
Moreover, the wiping device 10 of FIGS. 12 to 14 has a structure in which the wiping member 90 is linearly moved in the guide direction Z in the same manner as the wiping device 10 of FIGS. 4 to 7. Can be miniaturized.
The other advantages of the wiping device 10 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 are the same as the advantages of the wiping device 10 of FIGS.
[0060]
Next, FIGS. 15 to 17 show still another embodiment of the wiping apparatus of the present invention.
The wiping device 10 shown in FIG. 15 can further increase the linear movement amount of the wiping member 90 in the guide direction Z as compared with the wiping device described above.
The wiping device 10 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 includes a wiping member 90, a guide part 493, a holder member 400, and a storage part 101.
The structure of the wiping member 90 is substantially the same as that of the wiping member 90 of FIG.
[0061]
The holder member 400 can be detachably fixed by turning the wiping member 90, for example, by inserting a screw 301 into a long guide groove 601.
The guide portion 493 includes a first guide member 521, a second guide member 522, a first holder guide member 501, and a second holder guide member 502.
The first holder guide member 501 and the second holder guide member 502 are provided at a distance from each other and are connected by the base portion 503.
[0062]
The first guide member 521 and the second guide member 522 are provided at an interval. The first guide member 521 and the second guide member 522 are fixed to the holder member 400.
The first holder guide member 501 and the second holder guide member 502 are arranged apart from each other. The first holder guide member 501 has a guide groove 441 along the guide direction Z. The second holder guide member 502 has a guide groove 442 along the Z direction. The first end 431 of the holder member 400 is fitted in the guide groove 441, and the second end 432 of the holder member 400 is fitted in the guide groove 442.
As a result, the holder member 400 can be moved linearly along the guide direction Z by the first holder guide member 501 and the second holder guide member 502.
[0063]
The first guide member 521 and the second guide member 522 are also arranged at an interval.
The first guide member 521 has a guide groove 571 in the Z direction. Similarly, the second guide member 522 also has a guide groove 572 along the Z direction. The first protrusion 591 of the wiping member 90 is fitted in the guide groove 571. The second protrusion 592 of the wiping member 90 is fitted in the guide groove 572.
[0064]
In addition, the wiping member 90 has a long guide groove 601. In the guide groove 601, a mounting screw 301 can move in the guide direction Z with respect to the holder member 400 together with the wiping member 90.
Accordingly, the wiping member 90 can move linearly along the first guide member 521 and the second guide member 522 along the guide direction Z.
[0065]
16 and 17 includes two first springs 701 and two second springs 702.
The first spring 701 is disposed between the wiping member 90 and the base portion 523 of the holder member 400. The second spring 702 is disposed between the base portion 523 and the base portion 503 of the holder member 400.
Therefore, the wiping member 90 can move in the guide direction Z by the biasing force of the first spring 701 with respect to the holder member 400. Similarly, the holder member 400 can move in the guide direction Z by the urging force of the second spring 702 with respect to the base portion 503.
[0066]
By adopting the structure of the wiping device 10 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the urging unit 700 includes a first spring 701 and a second spring 702, and the wiping member 90 moves in the guide direction Z with respect to the holder member 400. In addition, the holder member 400 can move in the guide direction Z with respect to the base portion 503.
From this, the stroke length of the linear movement with respect to the guide direction Z of the guide member 90 can be increased. For this reason, even if the platen gap PG shown in FIG. 10 changes significantly, the stroke length of the wiping member 90 in the guide direction Z can be increased, so that the wiping member 90 is sufficient for the change in the position of the nozzle plate surface. It can follow and press-contact.
Other advantages of the wiping device 10 of FIGS. 15 to 17 are similar to those of the wiping member shown in FIGS.
[0067]
The wiping device of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention does not manage the surface load with respect to the nozzle plate surface by giving, for example, rubber elastic force to the wiping member itself, but the urging force of the urging portion is the wiping end portion of the wiping member. Is pressed against the nozzle plate surface with a predetermined surface pressure load.
The pressure management during the pressure contact of the wiping member is constant between the start of wiping the nozzle plate surface and the end of wiping. The pressure contact angle of the wiping member is constant from the start of wiping to the end of wiping. This is because the wiping member can move linearly in the guide direction Z perpendicular to the nozzle plate surface. Since the wiping member does not use the elastic force of the wiping member itself, the pressure contact angle (also referred to as a contact angle) at which the wiping member presses against the nozzle plate surface can always be kept constant.
[0068]
Also, by arranging the introduction member and the lead-out member before and after the nozzle plate surface, the wiping member can be smoothly introduced and wiped to the nozzle plate surface, and after wiping, it can be smoothly taken out from the nozzle plate surface. it can. In particular, at the end of wiping the nozzle plate surface, since there is a lead-out member, the wiping end of the wiping member is not opened immediately, but the wiping end is guided along the lead-out member. The phenomenon of splashing does not occur.
[0069]
Since the wiping member can be linearly moved along the guide direction Z by the urging force of the urging portion and by the guide of the guide portion, even if the platen gap PG changes and the height of the nozzle plate surface changes, The nozzle plate surface can be reliably pressed to follow the height of the nozzle plate surface, and ink on the nozzle plate surface can be wiped off.
The wiping apparatus of the present invention employs a structure in which the wiping member is linearly moved with respect to the nozzle plate surface, and since the structure is simple, the occupation area occupied by the wiping apparatus in the ink jet recording apparatus can be reduced.
[0070]
By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
In the above-described embodiment, the urging unit uses a coil spring. However, the urging unit is not limited to this and may be a leaf spring or other types of springs.
Further, the number of springs of the urging portion is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.
The wiping end portion 95 of the wiping member 90 has a mountain shape in cross section, but may be of any other shape.
[0071]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as an ink jet recording apparatus, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.
For example, the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects another liquid. The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is used, for example, in liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject liquids such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays, and in biochip manufacturing. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects biological organic matter, or a sample ejecting apparatus as a precision pipette.
Moreover, each structure of the said embodiment can abbreviate | omit a part, or can be arbitrarily combined so that it may differ from the above.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus that is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention.
2 is a perspective view showing a wiping device and the like of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a plan view of the wiping device and the like shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view showing the vicinity of a wiping apparatus and a recording head according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a shape example of a nozzle plate surface of a recording head.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structural example of a wiping device of the present invention.
7 is a side view of the wiping device of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a wiping member and a guide portion of the wiping device of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a wiping device, a wiping member, a guide portion, and a housing portion.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a platen gap.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the wiping apparatus of the present invention and a recording head.
13 is a perspective view showing the wiping device of FIG. 12. FIG.
14 is a side view showing the wiping device of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a view showing still another embodiment of the wiping apparatus of the present invention and a recording head.
16 is a perspective view showing the wiping device of FIG. 15. FIG.
17 is a side view of the wiping device of FIG. 16;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Wiping apparatus, 50 ... Inkjet recording apparatus (an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus), 51 ... Recording head (an example of a liquid ejecting head), 90 ... Wiping member, 93 ... Guide part 95 ... Wiping end portion, 97 ... First protrusion of the wiping member, 98 ... Second protrusion of the wiping member, 100 ... Biasing portion, 121 ... First guide member, 122 ··· Second guide member, 124, 125 ... guide groove, 131, 132 ... spring, Z ... guide direction

Claims (9)

In a wiping device for wiping the liquid jet head when moving relative to the liquid jet head,
A wiping member having a wiping end for wiping in contact with the nozzle surface of the liquid jet head;
A guide portion for guiding the wiping member so as to be linearly movable along a guide direction;
An urging portion for applying an urging force to the wiping member and linearly moving the wiping member along the guide direction to press the wiping end against the liquid ejecting head. Wiping device. The guide portion has a second guide member that is disposed apart from the first guide member and the first guide member,
The wiping member is provided at one end of the wiping member and guided along the guide direction by the first guide member, and is provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second protrusion guided along the guide direction by a guide member;
The liquid ejecting head wiping device according to claim 1, wherein the urging unit is a spring disposed between the wiping member and the guide unit. A holder member for holding the wiping member;
The guide portion includes a second holder guide member that is disposed apart from the first holder guide member and the first holder guide member,
The holder member has a first end that is guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member, and a second end that is guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member. And
The liquid ejecting head wiping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging portion is a spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion. A holder member for holding the wiping member;
The guide portion includes a first guide member provided on the holder member, a second guide member provided on the holder member and disposed away from the first guide member, a first holder guide member, and the first guide member. A second holder guide member disposed apart from the one holder guide member,
The wiping member is provided at one end of the wiping member and guided along the guide direction by the first guide member, and is provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second protrusion guided along the guide direction by a guide member;
The holder member has a first end guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member, and a second end guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member. ,
The urging portion includes a first spring disposed between the wiping member and the holder member, and a second spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion. The wiping device for a liquid jet head according to claim 1. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an introduction member that guides the wiping end portion of the wiping member to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head; and a lead-out member that guides the wiping end portion after wiping to the outside of the nozzle surface. The wiping device for a liquid jet head according to any one of the above. In a liquid ejecting apparatus having a wiping device for wiping the liquid ejecting head when moving relative to the liquid ejecting head,
The wiping device is
A wiping member having a wiping end for wiping in contact with the nozzle surface of the liquid jet head;
A guide portion for guiding the wiping member so as to be linearly movable along a guide direction;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: an urging portion that pressurizes the wiping end portion against the liquid ejecting head by applying an urging force to the wiping member and linearly moving the wiping member along the guide direction. The guide portion has a second guide member that is disposed apart from the first guide member and the first guide member,
The wiping member is provided at one end of the wiping member and guided along the guide direction by the first guide member, and is provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second protrusion guided along the guide direction by a guide member;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the urging unit is a spring disposed between the wiping member and the guide unit. A holder member for holding the wiping member;
The guide portion includes a second holder guide member that is disposed apart from the first holder guide member and the first holder guide member,
The holder member has a first end that is guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member, and a second end that is guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member. And
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the urging portion is a spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion. A holder member for holding the wiping member;
The guide portion includes a first guide member provided on the holder member, a second guide member provided on the holder member and disposed away from the first guide member, a first holder guide member, and the first guide member. A second holder guide member disposed apart from the one holder guide member,
The wiping member is provided at one end of the wiping member and guided along the guide direction by the first guide member, and is provided at the other end of the wiping member. A second protrusion guided along the guide direction by a guide member;
The holder member has a first end guided along the guide direction by the first holder guide member, and a second end guided along the guide direction by the second holder guide member. ,
The urging portion includes a first spring disposed between the wiping member and the holder member, and a second spring disposed between the holder member and the guide portion. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6.

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