JP2005313541A - Print head cleaning device. - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a print head cleaning device having a structure in which a cleaning blade that cleans a wiping member when the wiping member is moved up and down every time the print head is cleaned does not generate an excessive rubbing load with the wiping member. It is to be.
A wiping member that is at least partially elastic for cleaning ink discharge holes of a print head, elevating mechanisms 60 and 61 that move the wiping member forward and backward relative to the print head, and a cleaning blade that cleans the wiping member. 62, and a displacement mechanism is provided for allowing the cleaning blade to enter the up-and-down movement path of the wiping member during the up-and-down movement of the wiping member.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention provides a wiping member that is at least partially elastic to contact an ink jet type print head to clean an ink discharge hole, an elevating mechanism that moves the wiping member forward and backward relative to the print head, and the wiping member The present invention relates to a print head cleaning device provided with a cleaning blade for cleaning.

  A conventional inkjet print head cleaning device includes a head cap for covering a nozzle surface of an inkjet head that has been moved to a cleaning position by a carriage, and an ink suction pump that forcibly sucks ink from each ink nozzle while the head cap is covered And a wiping member made of a rubber plate or the like for wiping the nozzle surface. The wiping member is moved up to a position where it can come into contact with the nozzle surface only when wiping the nozzle surface. This prevents unnecessary wear due to contact with the nozzle surface.

  The nozzle surface of the inkjet head is regularly cleaned by such a function of the wiping member to prevent ink clogging. However, when the wiping member that scrapes ink from the nozzle surface becomes extremely dirty, the nozzle by the wiping member A cleaning blade that removes dirt adhering to the wiping member has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1) because the effect of surface cleaning may be reduced or the nozzle surface may be deteriorated. This cleaning blade according to Patent Document 1 is called a sub-elastic blade, and is provided so as to protrude into the up-and-down movement path of a wiping member (called an elastic blade in Patent Document 1). The tip of the wiping member hits the cleaning blade when it rises, and further rises while rubbing the curved cleaning blade by pushing up the cleaning blade to reach the nozzle surface, and at the raised position, the wiping member and nozzle surface The nozzle surface can be cleaned by creating a horizontal relative movement between the nozzle surface and the nozzle surface. Cleaning of the wiping member is realized by rubbing with the cleaning blade described above.

JP 2002-1976 (paragraph number 0109-0117, FIG. 6)

In the above-described conventional print head cleaning device, the cleaning blade is fixed so as to protrude into the up-and-down movement path of the wiping member, and strong frictional interference occurs between the wiping member and the cleaning blade when the wiping member is raised and lowered. Further, since the cleaning blade is designed to function as a cover for preventing the foreign matter from falling onto the wiping member when the wiping member is lowered, the cleaning blade protrudes to completely cover the upper portion of the wiping member. For this reason, the wiping member that rises is greatly curved. As a result, each time the head surface is cleaned, a large load is applied to both the wiping member and the cleaning blade, and there is a problem that deterioration with time is accelerated.
In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is a structure in which a cleaning blade that cleans a wiping member when the wiping member is moved up and down every time the print head is cleaned does not generate an unnecessary rubbing load with the wiping member. A print head cleaning device having

  At least a part of the wiping member that cleans the ink discharge hole by contacting an ink jet print head, an elevating mechanism that moves the wiping member back and forth with respect to the print head, and a cleaning that cleans the wiping member In order to solve the above-described problem, in the print head cleaning apparatus including the blade, in the present invention, the displacement that causes the cleaning blade to enter the up-and-down movement path of the wiping member during the up-and-down movement of the wiping member by the up-and-down mechanism. A mechanism is provided.

  In this configuration, the displacement of the cleaning blade from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position (entering into the lifting / lowering movement path of the wiping member) and the displacement mechanism for displacing the cleaning blade are adopted, so that the wiping member that is being lifted / lowered optimally Since the cleaning blade can enter the up-and-down movement path of the wiping member at the position, the rubbing load between the cleaning blade and the wiping member can be minimized to the cleaning.

  Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the displacement mechanism is configured to use the lifting displacement by the lifting mechanism for the displacement of the cleaning blade, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated drive source for moving the cleaning blade. This is advantageous in terms of cost.

  As one specific example of such a displacement mechanism, in the present invention, the displacement mechanism includes a contact body that moves up and down together with the wiping member, the cleaning blade on one free end side, and the other free end side. The swing arm is provided with a contact portion that can be contacted with the contact body, and a spring that biases the swing arm to one side, and the contact body with respect to the contact portion It is proposed that the swinging arm swings against the spring through contact and the cleaning blade squeezes the tip of the wiping member from the side. In this configuration, the cleaning blade is spring-biased at a position away from the up-and-down movement path of the wiping member, and is oscillated by exchanging the displacement between the contact body and the contacted portion based on the downward displacement accompanying the downward movement of the wiping member. A wiping member that is generated when the moving arm is moved into the up-and-down movement path of the wiping member and the cleaning blade is rubbed against the tip side surface of the wiping member, and when the wiping member is further separated from the cleaning blade. The foreign matter adhering to the wiping member is removed by the instantaneous restoring displacement of the tip. When the wiping member for cleaning the print head surface is lifted from the lowered position, the swing arm is swung by the return force of the spring due to the displacement of the contact body based on the lift displacement accompanying the lift of the wiping member, and as a result Is disengaged from the upward / downward movement path of the wiping member, and swings and displaces to a position where it does not interfere with the cleaning operation of the print head surface by the wiping member.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the contact body is formed as a cam body and a cam surface on which the cam body moves following the contact portion is formed, the vertical displacement of the wiping member and the wiping member It is possible to optimally set the relationship of the forward / backward swing displacement of the cleaning blade with respect to the upward / downward movement path and the forward / backward swing displacement speed. Thereby, effective cleaning of the wiping member is realized in spite of a small rubbing load between the cleaning blade and the wiping member.

In the print head cleaning device according to the present invention, the cleaning blade is swung away from the wiping member when the wiping member is raised to clean the print head, and when the wiping member is lowered, the cleaning blade is swung away from the wiping member. Since it is swung to a position that covers the upper part, the cleaning operation by the wiping member is not disturbed when the print head is cleaned (during non-printing), and there is a low possibility that dirt that falls during cleaning will adhere. . Furthermore, since the cover covers the top of the wiping member when the print head is not cleaned (during printing), paper scraps that may fall during printing can be prevented from being entangled with the wiping member.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments using the drawings.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two magazine accommodating portions A and A are formed in the lower portion of the housing 10, and a printing portion B that prints an image on the print paper P is formed in the upper portion of the housing 10. An ink storage portion R is formed on the side portion of 10, and a sorting portion 12 to which a relatively small size print paper P is fed out via the lateral feed belt 11 on the upper surface portion of the housing 10, and a large size print paper P An ink-jet photographic printing apparatus is configured to include a rack plate 13 for receiving it.

  The two magazine accommodating portions A and A are provided with a drawer 16 that can be opened and closed by a sliding operation integral with the front wall body 15, and a roll-shaped print paper P held by the paper magazine M is loaded on the drawer 16. It is configured to accommodate. The print unit B includes a wall 17 that can be opened and closed, and has a window 17A made of a transparent resin plate. The print head prints an image by spraying ink on the print paper P inside the wall 17. H is provided. The ink storage portion R is configured to be exchangeable in a form in which a plurality of ink cartridges 19 having different hues are inserted into and removed from the inside of a wall body 18 that can swing and open around a longitudinally oriented axis. The plurality of ink cartridges 19 enclose black (K), light black (LK), cyan (C), magenta (M), light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), and yellow (Y) ink. Yes.

  When image data is printed on the print paper P by this photographic printing apparatus, the roll-shaped print paper P stored in one of the two magazine storage sections A and A is supplied to the print section B, and printed. In part B, the print head H is operated in the main scanning direction to perform line-shaped printing, and the print paper P is moved in the sub-scanning direction by a set pitch every time the print head H completes one operation in the main scanning direction. The image data is printed by repeatedly performing the conveying operation, and the printed paper P that has been printed is cut into a print size by a cutter (not shown), and then the transverse feed belt 11 or the rack plate 13 on the upper surface of the housing. It is configured to send out.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printing unit B includes a pressure-type conveyance roller 21 disposed on an upstream side and a downstream type in the conveyance direction so as to convey the print paper P obliquely upward, and a lower surface of the print paper P. And a guide rail 22 arranged in a posture along the main scanning direction, a carriage 25 supported by the guide rail 23 via a slider 24, and the carriage 25 as a main guide. And an endless belt 27 driven by a scanning motor 26 so as to reciprocate in the scanning direction. The print head H is attached to the lower surface of the carriage 25.

  Further, the home position HP of the carriage 25 is set outside the area where printing is performed on the print paper P, and a home position sensor HS for detecting that the carriage 25 has reached the home position HP is provided. Incidentally, in this printing section B, a stepping motor is assumed as the scanning motor 26 so that the position of the print head H can be grasped based on the home position based on the number of pulse signals that drive the scanning motor 26. A sensor such as a rotary encoder that can accurately feed back the position of the carriage 25 may be provided, and control may be performed by feeding back a signal from the sensor.

  The guide plate 22 is formed with a plurality of holes, and a suction mechanism (not shown) such as a fan that applies a negative pressure to the print paper P through the holes is disposed below the guide plate 22. . The slider 24 is provided with a plurality of circulation type balls (not shown). By engaging these balls with grooves 23A formed on the side surfaces of the guide rail 23, the carriage 24 can move with respect to the guide rail 23. 25 is supported so as to move smoothly.

  Such a structure of the printing unit B is not fundamentally different from the structure of the conventional printing apparatus, and the present invention provides a print head management apparatus for preventing the cleaning of the print head H and the drying of the print head H. It is characterized by the points provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the print head management device is disposed on the home position HP side of the carriage 25. The print head management apparatus includes a main frame 31, a plate-like shift member 32 that is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the main frame 31, a lifting mechanism D that operates the shift member 32 in the vertical direction, and a shift member. A wiping mechanism W and a capping mechanism C supported on the upper surface side of 32 are provided.

  The guide plate 22 is set in an oblique posture, and the print paper P guided by the guide plate 22 is also in an oblique posture. Therefore, the ink ejection surface HA of the print head H is in a posture parallel to the print paper P. Since the print head management device is also set in a slant posture corresponding to the inclination of the print head H, strictly speaking, the print head management device is The direction in which the print head H is located with respect to the reference is obliquely upward. However, in order to simplify the description, the direction in which the print head H is present will be described as the upper side (upper) and the opposite direction as the lower side (lower) with reference to the print head management unit.

  Three print heads H are provided on the lower surface of the carriage 25 so as to be separated in the sub-scanning direction, and a flat ink discharge surface HA is formed on each print head H. Although not shown in the drawing, the ink discharge holes corresponding to the seven colors of ink are formed in two groups on the ink discharge surface HA. Thus, since the carriage 25 includes the three print heads H, the shift member 32 is provided with three sets of the wiping mechanism W and the capping mechanism C.

  The print head management device shifts the shift member 32 in the vertical direction in such a manner that the shift member 32 is guided along the inner surface of the side wall 33 by arranging the shift member 32 inside the side wall 33 attached to the main frame 31. The lifting mechanism D includes a stepping motor type shift motor 35 supported by the main frame 31, a wheel gear 36 supported on the side wall 33, and the wheel gear 36. A pinion gear 37 that rotates integrally with the rack member 38, a rack gear 38 that is attached to the shift member 32 in a state where the pinion gear 37 is engaged, and a worm gear 39 that is rotated by a driving force from the shift motor 35 while engaged with the wheel gear 36. And.

  The side wall 33 is provided with a photo-interrupt type upper position sensor S1 and lower position sensor S2 composed of a light source and a light receiving element in an up-and-down position relationship. When the shift member 32 moves upward, the light beam of the upper position sensor S1 is shielded before the shift member 32 reaches the moving end, and when the shift member 32 moves downward, the shift member 32 becomes the moving end. A light shielding piece 40 is provided to shield the light beam from the lower position sensor S2 before reaching.

  By rotating the shift motor 35 in one direction from the configuration of the lifting mechanism D and the configuration of the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2, the shift member 32 is moved upward, and the shift motor 35 is rotated in the reverse direction. Thus, the shift member can be moved downward. When the shift member 32 is moved upward, the shift motor 35 is moved by the set pulse signal with reference to the timing at which the first position sensor S1 outputs the detection signal. By driving, the position of the shift member 32 is set at a position corresponding to this pulse signal. Conversely, when the shift member 32 moves downward, the timing at which the second position sensor S2 outputs a detection signal is set. By driving the shift motor 35 by the set pulse signal as a reference, the position corresponding to this pulse signal is shifted. It has become what can set the position of the member 32.

  A resin holder 45 is fixed on the upper surface of the shift frame 32, and a wiping member made of a flexible material such as soft resin or rubber is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the first storage portion 45A of the holder 45. The wiping mechanism W is configured by housing a spring 47 as a biasing mechanism for storing 46 and projecting and biasing the wiping member 46 upward. The wiping member 46 is formed in a plate shape having a width that is sufficiently wider than the width in the sub-scanning direction in which the ink ejection holes are formed in the print head H, and the wiping member 46 is integrally formed with a contact portion 46A. Is formed.

  The cap member 50 is housed so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the second housing part 45B of the holder 45, and a spring 51 is provided as a biasing mechanism for biasing the cap member 50 upward. C is configured. The cap member 50 is formed with two openings corresponding to the ink discharge holes separately arranged in the two groups as described above, and the flexible resin, rubber, or the like is allowed in the two openings. A lip 50A made of a flexible material is formed, and a porous absorbent body 52 made of a resin is provided in two spaces of the cap member 50 so as to absorb ink. In addition, the cap member 50 is supported with respect to the holder 45 so that the posture of the cap member 50 can be freely changed. Even when the relative posture between the ink discharge surface HA of the print head H and the cap member 50 is slightly inclined, the ink of the print head H is used. It is comprised so that the cap member 50 can be closely_contact | adhered with the attitude | position in alignment with the discharge surface HA.

  As shown in FIG. 5, from the bottom surface side of the cap member 50, a decompression tube 53 that communicates with the internal space of the cap member 50, and an air supply tube 54 that permits the introduction of air to the bottom surface side of the cap member 50; A tube pump 55 for discharging air and ink inside the cap through the decompression tube 52, and a pump motor 56 for driving the tube pump 55 on the bottom side of the main frame 31, and an air supply tube 54 In addition, an electromagnetic valve 57 that allows air to be sucked into the cap member 50 is provided on the bottom surface side of the main frame 31, and a collection unit 58 that collects ink sent from the decompression tube 53 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a pair of swing arms 61 is supported to be swingable around the support shaft 60 with respect to the side wall 33, and one swing end of the pair of swing arms 61 is supported between the swing ends. A cleaning blade 62 is provided, a contact portion 61A is formed at the other end of the pair of swing arms 61, and the swing arm 61 is swung in a direction to stand by contacting the contact portion 61A. A contact pin 63 as a contact body is supported by the shift member 32, and a spring 64 that biases the swing arm 61 in the tilting direction is provided. When the shift member 32 is moved to the lower end, the cleaning blade 62 contacts the contact portion 61A of the swing arm 61 when the contact pin 63 contacts the wiping portion as shown in FIG. When the shift member 32 is lifted by slidingly contacting the tip of the member 46 to remove the adhered matter, as shown in FIG. 8A, the pressing of the contact pin 63 against the contacted portion 61A The attachment is released, and the spring 64 is configured to be retracted to the side region which is the swing limit position defined by the biasing force of the spring 64 and the stopper. That is, in this embodiment, the displacement mechanism for displacing the cleaning blade 62 as the wiping member 46 is moved up and down includes the support shaft 60, the swing arm 61, the contacted portion 61A, and the contact pin 63. Yes.

Hereinafter, the relationship between the vertical displacement of the wiping member 46 through the shift member 32 and the swing displacement of the cleaning blade 62 through the swing arm 61 will be described with reference to FIG.
A state where the wiping member 46 is located at the lowest lowered home position and the cleaning blade 62 is located at the cover position across the up-and-down movement path of the wiping member 46 is set as a start state (# 01). The swing arm 61 is biased counterclockwise in the drawing by a spring 64, but the contact portion 63A of the swing arm 61 is pressed by the contact pin 63 to swing by the spring restoring force. It is impossible. Subsequently, when the wiping member 46 starts to rise as a result of the shift member 32, the swinging arm 61 is also swung counterclockwise by the spring 64 due to the upward displacement of the contact pin 53, resulting in the cleaning blade. 62 also begins to leave the lifting / lowering path of the wiping member 46 (# 02). Before the cleaning blade 62 begins to completely separate from the upward / downward movement path of the wiping member 46, the tip of the wiping member 46 contacts the lower surface of the cleaning blade 62, and rises from the lower surface of the cleaning blade 62 that is detaching. A rubbing and squeezing action is generated between the leading ends of the wiping members 46 (# 03). Further, the tip of the wiping member 46 is repelled by the edge of the cleaning blade 62 due to the displacement of the cleaning blade 62 from the up-and-down movement path and the elasticity of the wiping member 46. This repelling is used to remove the deposits from the wiping member 46. It is effective (# 04). As the wiping member 46 rises toward the print head surface, the swing arm 61 returns to the swing limit position limited by the stopper 65, and the contact of the contact pin 63 with the contacted portion 61A of the swing arm 61 is also released. (# 05). Thereafter, when the tip of the wiping member 46 reaches the print head surface, the upward movement is stopped, and then the print head cleaning by the wiping member 46 is started. When the print head cleaning is completed, the wiping member 46 is lowered to the home position again through the above-described steps # 05 to # 01. At this time, the cleaning blade 62 also covers the lifting / lowering movement path of the wiping member 46. , The cover covers the upper portion of the wiping member 46 and prevents paper scraps that may fall during printing from being entangled with the wiping member.

  In this embodiment, the contact portion 61A of the swing arm 61 is formed as a cam surface, and the contact pin 63 functions as a cam that moves along the cam surface. Accordingly, the relationship between the vertical displacement of the shift member 32, that is, the vertical displacement of the wiping member 46, and the swing displacement of the swing arm 61, that is, the advance / retreat displacement of the cleaning blade 62 with respect to the upward / downward movement path is not a linear relationship, Relationship. The up / down displacement of the wiping member 46 and the forward / backward displacement of the cleaning blade 62 are particularly important for effectively performing the action of the tip of the wiping member 46 being repelled by the edge of the cleaning blade 62. For example, step # described above When shifting from 04 to # 03, the cam surface is formed so that the edge of the cleaning blade 62 presses the tip of the wiping member 46 quickly and then the wiping member 46 is quickly lowered.

  FIG. 8A shows a state in which the cap member 50 is in close contact with the print head H (specifically, the head surface). When the cap portion 50 is in close contact with the print head H in this way, the print head The print head is moved by operating the shift motor 35 and moving the cap member 50 to the contact position in a state where H is set at the standby position (an example of the cleaning start position: the same as the home position HP in the figure). The cap member 50 is brought into close contact with the H ink discharge surface HA, and the lip 50A of the cap member 50 is elastically deformed to seal the ink discharge hole with the cap member 50. Further, when the cap member 50 is set at the close contact position, the shift member 32 is raised. At this time, the upper position sensor S1 is set as the second target data from the timing at which the light shielding piece 40 is detected. The cap member 50 can be set at the contact position by operating the shift motor 35 by the number of pulses of the numerical value.

  In the state where the cap member 50 is in close contact with the print head H as shown in the figure, the pressing portion 25A formed on the carriage 25 presses the contact portion 46A of the wiping member 46, and the wiping member 46 The protrusion amount is reduced so that the parts provided in the carriage 25 are not in contact with each other.

  FIG. 8B shows a state in which the wiping member 46 and the cap member 50 are set in the retracted position. In this state, the shift member 32 moves to the position closest to the main frame 31. When the shift member 32 is operated to this storage position, the number of pulses set in advance from the timing at which the lower position sensor S2 detects the light shielding piece 40 by operating the shift motor 35 and lowering the shift member 32. Only the shift motor 35 is operated. As described above, when the shift member 32 is moved to the position closest to the main frame 31 as described above (when set to the retracted position), the arm 61 is in an upright posture as described above. The cleaning blade 62 provided in the cover covers the upper portion of the wiping member 46.

  An outline of the control system of this print head management apparatus can be shown as shown in FIG. That is, an input signal system for inputting a detection signal from the home position sensor HS and detection signals from the upper position sensor S1 and the lower position sensor S2 to the control device 66 having a microprocessor is formed and controlled. An output signal system for outputting a control signal from the device 66 to each of the ejection driving unit 67, the scanning motor 26, the shift motor 35, the pump motor 56, and the electromagnetic valve 57 is formed. The ejection driving unit 67 is configured by a piezo element or the like that controls ejection of ink in the print head H.

  The control device 66 includes a wiping control means 66W for moving the print head H relative to the wiping member 46 in a state where the wiping member 46 is moved to the wiping position WP that can contact the print head H, and the cap member 50 for the print head H. The capping control means 66C is moved to the contact position CP to be closely contacted to maintain the contact state, the update means E is updated for first target data and second target data described later, and the update value by the update means E is stored. Table data T. The wiping control means 66W, the capping control means 66C, and the updating means E are assumed to be programs, but some or all of them can be configured by hardware such as logic gates.

  In this photographic printing apparatus, when the printing process is not performed, the cap member 50 is kept in close contact with the print head H as shown in FIG. The control device 66 executes the cleaning routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 immediately after the photographic printing apparatus is turned on or when the interrupted printing operation is started. That is, the control for discharging the ink of all seven colors by driving the discharge driving unit 67 while driving the tube pump 55 with the electromagnetic valve 57 closed first to reduce the pressure inside the cap member 50 is performed for a set time. (Step # 101).

  By performing this control, it becomes possible to forcibly discharge all the ink whose viscosity is increased in the vicinity of the ejection holes inside the print head H, and the ink thus ejected is sucked through the decompression tube 53. Then, it is collected by the collecting unit 58 (see FIG. 5).

  Next, while the decompression of the cap member 50 by driving the tube pump 55 is continued, the drive of the discharge drive unit 67 is stopped (ink discharge is stopped), and the electromagnetic valve 57 is opened to open the air supply tube. By supplying air to the inside of the cap member 50 via 54, discharge of ink in the internal space of the cap member 50 is promoted, and this control is performed for a set time (step # 102).

  Next, control for separating the cap member 50 from the print head H is started by operating the shift motor 35 while continuing the decompression of the cap member 50 by driving the tube pump 55, and the cap member 50 is started from the print head H. After the separation, the tube pump 55 is stopped (Steps # 103 and # 104).

  Further, the operation of the shift motor 35 is continued and the shift member 32 is greatly lowered, and then the shift motor 35 is reversed to raise the shift member 32, thereby setting the wiping member 46 at the wiping position WP (#). 105 steps). When the wiping position WP is set in this way, by operating the shift motor 35 by the number of pulses set as the first target data from the timing when the upper position sensor S1 detects the light shielding piece 40, The wiping member 46 can be set at the wiping position WP. The wiping position WP can be regarded as the position of the shift member 32 that is set at a position where the tip of the wiping member 46 can come into contact with the ink discharge surface HA of the print head H, as shown in FIG. is there.

  After the wiping member 46 is set to the wiping position WP in this way, the print head H is operated by driving the scanning motor 26, and the tip of the wiping member 46 is brought into sliding contact with the ink ejection surface HA of the print head H. Start cleaning. Further, in this cleaning operation, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the front end of the wiping member 46 passes through the ink discharge hole formation region F, the cleaning operation is stopped (after operation for a set amount), and thereafter, 11, the wiping member 46 is moved away from the print head H by the operation of the shift motor 35, and then the control to operate the print head H to the standby position is performed (step # 106), and the cleaning is performed a set number of times. In addition, a processing sequence is set so that steps # 105 and # 106 are performed a set number of times.

  The wiping by the cleaning blade 62 described above is performed between the ascending movement process of the wiping member 46 for setting the wiping member 46 at the wiping position WP and the descending movement process for returning the wiping member 46 set at the wiping position WP again. The member 46 is cleaned.

  As described above, when the printing is performed, the cleaning routine is executed, so that the ink clogging in the print head H is avoided and the printing with a good image quality is realized. Further, the control of sliding the tip of the wiping member 46 to the ink ejection surface HA of the print head H is performed by the wiping control means 66W. In this control, the print head H is moved in a predetermined direction. The adhering matter on the ink discharge surface HA is sent to one side, and the wiping member 46 is stopped in a state where the wiping member 46 is in contact with the ink discharge surface HA at a position passing through the ink discharge hole formation region F. Therefore, for example, the phenomenon that the wiping member 46 is actuated so as to pass through the print head H is prevented from bouncing off due to its elastic restoring force at the timing when the wiping member 46 passes through the end of the print head. The ink can be prevented from scattering.

  The standby position is set at a position where the home position sensor HS detects the carriage 25, but is not limited to this, and the position in the main scanning direction is based on the position where the home position sensor HS detects the carriage 25. It may be set on either side.

  Further, when the cap member 50 is brought into close contact with the print head H, the cap member 50 is moved toward the print head H at the standby position as shown in the flowchart of FIG. By operating the shift motor 35 by the number of pulses set as the second target data from the timing at which the piece 40 is detected, the cap member 50 is moved to the contact position CP and brought into close contact with the print head H. Capping is possible (steps # 201 and # 202).

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the contact position CP indicates that the cap member 50 is in a position in close contact with the ink discharge surface HA of the print head H, and at the same time, a shift member that sets the cap member 50 in this position. 32 positions can be taken.

  Particularly in the present invention, the processing of the updating means E is automatically executed. That is, the update means E is set in the control device 66 as a program for updating the first target data and the second target data based on the passage of time, and an outline of the control mode is shown in the flowchart of FIG. It can be shown as an update routine as follows.

  That is, data at the time when the wiping member 46 is set up at the proper wiping position WP and at the time when the cap member 50 is set up at the contact position CP are stored as initial values of the first target data and the second target data. The control device 66 stores table data for realizing the update of the first target data and the second target data. For this reason, when the update routine is executed, the elapsed time from the setup is acquired, the operation time (integrated value) of the wiping member 46 is acquired, the contact time (integrated value) of the cap member is acquired, Based on these time data, the table data T is referred to and whether or not updating is possible is determined (steps # 301 to # 304).

  This table data is obtained from the elapsed time since setup and the operation time of the wiping member 46 in advance to determine the deterioration, deformation, wear, etc. of the material of the wiping member 46 in advance, and increase the level of the wiping position WP to compensate for this. In addition to storing the data to be set, the level of the capping position CP is determined in advance so as to compensate for the deterioration or deformation of the material of the lip 50A of the cap member 50 from the elapsed time from the setup and the contact time of the cap member 50. Has a data structure storing data for setting a high value. The table data T can determine whether or not the first target data can be updated based on the elapsed time from the setup and the operation time of the wiping member 46. The table data T is determined based on the elapsed time from the setup and the contact time of the cap member 50. (2) It functions to be able to determine whether or not the target data can be updated and to extract data to be updated.

  If it is necessary to update at least one of the first target data and the second target data based on this determination, the table data is read and the value is overwritten (# 305, #). 306 step).

  As described above, appropriate first target data corresponding to deterioration, deformation, wear, or the like of the material of the wiping member 46 can be set. Therefore, even when the wiping member 46 is used for a long period of time, the ink of the print head H can be used. Not only can cleaning be performed by properly contacting the discharge surface HA, but also appropriate second target data corresponding to deterioration and deformation of the material of the lip 50A of the cap member 50 can be set, so that it has been used for a long time. Even in this case, capping can be performed properly.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a unitized print head management device is provided, and this print head management device is controlled by the wiping control means 66W and the capping control means 66C, and is set as a target value at the time of this control. By automatically updating the first target data and the second target data, it is possible to appropriately perform wiping of the print head H and capping of the print head H in response to changes over time. In particular, when updating, the table data T is referred to, so that the processing is simple and accurate data can be acquired.

Perspective view showing the entire photo printing device A perspective view showing a state in which a part of the photographic printing apparatus is opened. The perspective view which shows the positional relationship of a print head and a print head management apparatus Front view showing positional relationship between print head and print head management device Longitudinal front view of print head management device Plan view of print head management device Perspective view of print head management device Sectional drawing which shows the state which closely attached the cap member to the print head, and the state which isolate | separated and moved the shift member to the lower end Explanatory drawing explaining the relationship between the up-and-down displacement of the wiping member and the swing displacement of the cleaning blade Sectional drawing which shows the state which set the wiping member to the wiping position, and the state which moved the print head and performed the cleaning operation Sectional drawing which shows the state which separated the wiping member from the print head Block diagram of control system Cleaning routine flowchart Capping routine flowchart Update routine flowchart

Explanation of symbols

32 Shift member 46 Wiping member 47 Energizing mechanism 50 Cap member 51 Energizing mechanism 60 Support shaft 61 Swing arm 61A Contacted part (cam surface)
62 Cleaning blade 63 Contact pin (contact body)
64 Spring 66W Wiping control means 66C Capping control means D Elevating mechanism E Update means F Ink ejection hole formation area H Print head HP Cleaning start position S1 Sensor WP Wiping position CP Capping position

Claims (5)

At least a part of the wiping member that cleans the ink discharge hole by contacting an ink jet print head, an elevating mechanism that moves the wiping member back and forth with respect to the print head, and a cleaning that cleans the wiping member In a print head cleaning device comprising a blade,
A print head cleaning device, wherein a displacement mechanism is provided for causing the cleaning blade to enter a lifting / lowering movement path of the wiping member during the lifting / lowering movement of the wiping member by the lifting / lowering mechanism.   The print head cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism uses a lifting displacement by the lifting mechanism for the displacement of the cleaning blade.   The displacement mechanism includes a contact body that moves up and down together with the wiping member, a cleaning blade that is provided on one free end side, and a contact portion that can contact the contact body on the other free end side. A swinging arm and a spring that biases the swinging arm to one side, and the swinging arm swings against the spring through contact of the contact body with the contacted portion. The print head cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade squeezes a tip portion of the wiping member from a side.   The print head cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the contact body is formed as a cam body, and a cam surface on which the cam body moves following the contact portion is formed.   The cleaning blade is swung to a position far away from the wiping member when the wiping member is raised to clean the print head, and covers the upper part of the wiping member when the wiping member is lowered. The print head cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the print head cleaning device is swung to a position.

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