JP2020059253A - Inkjet printer, and printing method of inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an inkjet printer and an inkjet printing method, in which contamination of a printed medium caused by dripping of residual ink remaining in an engaging part formed between an inkjet head and a head support part, hardly occurs.SOLUTION: An inkjet printer includes: a wiper 13 which is relatively moved in an abutted state with respect to a nozzle surface on a head 5 and an opposite surface consisting of an opposing portion, so that its tip side slides on the opposite surface and wipes it; and a control part 29 which controls changes in a relative positional relationship between the opposite surface and the wiper. The control part controls the wiper so as to stand by in a wiper standby area that is an area between an engaging part formed between a head support part and an inkjet head 15, and a nozzle area where plural nozzle holes are formed in the nozzle surface, after the wiper has wiped the nozzle surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printer having a plurality of nozzles and an inkjet printer printing method, and more particularly to cleaning a head portion of the inkjet printer.

  In an inkjet printer, when printing is continued, the nozzle surface in which nozzle holes for ejecting ink are formed becomes soiled with the remaining ink or the like. If you continue printing with this stain left, the remaining ink will collect and the ink droplets will drip to contaminate the print medium or cause nozzle clogging, resulting in poor print quality. I will let you. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly clean the nozzle surface. Specifically, a technique is known in which a wiper made of a flexible material such as rubber is brought into direct contact with the nozzle surface and moved to wipe off dirt (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2014-117945, A

  However, although the nozzle surface itself is kept clean by the wiper, there are cases where the print medium is contaminated, and the cause was unknown. As a result of years of intensive research by the inventor of the present application, it has been found that the cause thereof is a contaminant mainly composed of residual ink accumulated in an engaging portion formed at a boundary between the inkjet head and the head supporting portion.

  FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of the inkjet head 15 and the facing portion 10 that is a portion of the head supporting portion 3 that faces the printing material mounting table 17 as viewed from the facing printing material mounting table 17 direction. Nozzle holes 20 are formed in the inkjet head 15, and ink is ejected from the nozzle holes 20. A plurality of nozzle holes 20 for ejecting ink are formed in the nozzle surface 27 of the inkjet head 15 in the X direction in FIG. 7A. The wiper blade portion 30 of the wiper for wiping the nozzle surface 27 is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 27 as described later. The inkjet head 15 is supported vertically upward by the head supporting portion 3, and an engaging portion 25 is formed between the inkjet head portion 15 and the head supporting portion 3. The wiper blade portion 30 wipes off the dirt adhering to the nozzle surface 27 and is moved to the position of the wiper blade portion 35 after the movement on the facing portion 10.

  7B is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet head 15, the head support portion 3, and the wiper blade portion 30 taken along the line AA before cleaning the nozzle surface (see FIG. 7A). The residual ink 40 adhering to the nozzle surface 27 is wiped off while the wiper blade portion 30 in contact with the nozzle surface 27 moves in the arrow direction.

  FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in the case where the wiper blade portion 30 continuously moves to the engagement portion 25 after wiping the nozzle surface 27 (see FIG. 7A). When the wiper blade portion 30 moves while the residual ink 40 is placed on the engaging portion 25, the residual ink 40 accumulates on the engaging portion 25.

  FIG. 7D is an explanatory diagram for explaining how dirt such as the residual ink 40 accumulated in the engaging portion 25 drops and contaminates the print medium 45. Even if the nozzle surface 27 is clean, it is revealed by the inventor's research that the reason why the print medium 45 is contaminated with the residual ink is that the residual ink 40 accumulated in the engagement portion 25 drops. It was

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention is an inkjet printer and an inkjet printing method in which it is difficult to contaminate a print medium due to a drop of residual ink left in an engaging portion formed between an inkjet head and a head supporting portion. Is to provide.

  (1) The present invention is an inkjet printer including an inkjet head that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes, wherein the plurality of nozzles are provided on a side of the inkjet head that faces a print medium. A nozzle surface having holes formed therein and a head supporting portion for supporting the inkjet head, the head supporting portion having an opening for exposing the nozzle surface so as to face the printing medium. A wiper that has a portion and is moved relative to the facing surface composed of the nozzle surface and the facing portion in a state in which the tip surface slides on the facing surface and wipes the wiper; A controller that controls a change in the relative positional relationship between the facing surface and the wiper, the controller controlling the head after the wiper wipes the nozzle surface. In the wiper standby area, which is an area between the engaging portion formed between the holding portion and the inkjet head, and the nozzle area in which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed in the nozzle surface, the wiper is (EN) Provided is an inkjet printer characterized by performing control so as to stand by for a predetermined waiting time.

  According to the invention described in (1) above, the control unit controls the wiper to wait in a wiper standby region, which is a region between the nozzle region and the engaging unit, for a predetermined standby time. In the meantime, the ink that has accumulated on the wiper naturally flows and is removed. Therefore, since the residual ink is less likely to collect in the wiper, even if the wiper moves to the facing portion side after the waiting time, it is possible to obtain the excellent effect that the residual ink is less likely to be sucked and accumulated in the engaging portion from the wiper.

  (2) In the present invention, the tip side of the wiper is contacted with the facing surface in a state of being in contact with the facing surface from below in the vertical direction, and during the waiting time, the ink attached to the tip side of the wiper is vertically The controller waits until the wiper passes through the engaging portion and wipes the facing portion after the waiting time. An inkjet printer according to the above (1) is provided, which controls various positional relationships.

  According to the invention described in (2) above, the wiper is brought into contact with the facing surface in a state of being in contact with the facing surface from below in the vertical direction, and during the waiting time, the ink attached to the tip side of the wiper is in the vertical direction. Since it is time to wait for the wiper to move downward, the residual ink adhering to the tip of the wiper flows down according to gravity and is removed. Therefore, even if the wiper passes through the engaging portion after the waiting time, the residual ink is less likely to remain at the tip portion of the wiper, so that the residual ink is less likely to accumulate in the engaging portion, and as a result, the residual ink may cause the print medium It has an excellent effect that contamination is unlikely to occur.

  (3) The present invention provides the inkjet printer as described in (1) or (2) above, wherein the standby time is 1 second or more.

  According to the invention described in (3) above, since the waiting time for the wiper to wait in the wiper waiting area is 1 second or more, the residual ink is easily removed from at least the tip portion of the wiper by gravity or the like. Therefore, after the waiting time, when the wiper passes through the engaging portion and moves to the facing portion, the residual ink is less likely to collect in the engaging portion, and as a result, the residual ink is less likely to contaminate the print medium. It has an excellent effect.

  (4) The inkjet printer according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the wiper has a tongue-shaped wiper blade portion that is in contact with the nozzle surface. I will provide a.

  According to the invention described in (4) above, since the wiper has the tongue-shaped wiper blade portion that comes into contact with the nozzle surface, the nozzle surface can be appropriately and reliably wiped, and the residual ink can be removed from the nozzle region. Therefore, an ink drop formed by the residual ink remaining in the nozzle region drops on the print medium and is contaminated, or the nozzle is clogged, so that an accident that the print quality is deteriorated hardly occurs. It has an excellent effect.

  (5) The present invention further comprises a wiper mechanism for moving the wiper, and by moving the wiper in a direction in which nozzle holes for ejecting ink of the same type are arranged in a state of being in contact with the nozzle surface, The inkjet printer according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the wiper wipes the nozzle surface.

  According to the invention described in (5) above, since the wiper has the wiper mechanism for moving the nozzle surface with respect to the nozzle surface, the head needs to be moved in only one direction, and the drive mechanism for the head can be simplified to reduce the cost. It has an excellent effect of improving maintainability, and since the wiper wipes in the direction in which the nozzle holes that eject the same type of ink are aligned, the possibility of unexpected color mixing due to residual ink also decreases. It has an excellent effect that

  (6) The present invention includes an inkjet head that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes, and a head support portion that supports the inkjet head, and the head support portion includes the plurality of nozzle holes. In an inkjet printer having a facing portion in which an opening is formed to expose a formed nozzle surface so as to face the printing medium, the nozzle surface is wiped by a wiper on a side of the inkjet head facing the printing medium. An area between a nozzle surface wiping step of wiping, a nozzle area in which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed in the nozzle surface, and an engaging portion formed between the facing portion and the inkjet head. And a standby step in which the wiper waits for a predetermined standby time in the wiper standby area. To provide a method.

  According to the invention described in (6) above, after the wiping step of wiping the nozzle surface, the wiper waits for a predetermined waiting time in a wiper waiting area which is an area between the nozzle area and the engaging portion. Since there are steps, the ink accumulated on the wiper easily flows and is easily removed during the waiting time. Therefore, since the residual ink is less likely to collect in the wiper, even if the wiper moves to the facing portion side after the waiting time, it is possible to obtain the excellent effect that the residual ink is less likely to be sucked and accumulated in the engaging portion from the wiper.

  According to the ink jet printer and the ink jet printer printing method according to claims 1 to 6 of the present invention, since residual ink is less likely to accumulate in the wiper, even if the wiper moves to the facing portion side after the waiting time, the wiper moves from the wiper to the engaging portion. The residual ink is less likely to collect, and as a result, the printing medium can be prevented from being contaminated with the residual ink.

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram of the entire inkjet printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an internal mechanism of the inkjet printer. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an inkjet head built in the head and a head support portion that supports the inkjet head. FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the inkjet head and the head support portion that supports the inkjet head are looked up from the direction of the print medium facing the inkjet head. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet head and the head supporting portion as viewed from the Y direction. (A) It is explanatory drawing of the wiper which wipes a nozzle surface, and the wiper mechanism which moves a wiper. FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the wiper mechanism, the inkjet head, and the head support portion. It is explanatory drawing which shows the wiper waiting area | region where a wiper waits on a facing surface, a nozzle area | region, and the positional relationship of an engaging part. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet head, the head support portion, and the wiper blade portion taken along the line BB before wiping the nozzle surface (see FIG. 4). FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6B, showing a state in which the wiper blade portion is waiting in the wiper waiting area during the waiting time after the nozzle surface is wiped. (C) It is an explanatory view for explaining how dirt such as residual ink moves from the tip of the wiper blade along the wiper blade during the waiting time. (D) It is an explanatory view explaining that dirt is not accumulated in the engaging portion even when the wiper blade portion moves beyond the engaging portion. 6 is a flowchart of an inkjet printer printing method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) It is explanatory drawing which looked at the inkjet head and the head support part from the opposing printing material mounting base direction. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the inkjet head, the head support portion, and the wiper before wiping the nozzle surface. (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA when the wiper continuously moves to the engaging portion after the nozzle surface is wiped. FIG. 6D is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which dirt such as residual ink accumulated in the engagement portion drops on the print medium and contaminates it.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 6 show an example of an embodiment for carrying out the invention, and in the drawings, parts denoted by the same reference numerals represent the same things. In addition, in each drawing, a part of the configuration is appropriately omitted to simplify the drawings. Then, the size, shape, thickness, etc. of the member are exaggerated as appropriate.

  FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram of the entire inkjet printer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet printer 1 guides the head 5 having an inkjet head 15 (see FIG. 1B described later) for performing printing by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes 120 (see FIG. 4 described below). A main scanning direction drive device (not shown) that drives in the main scanning direction (Y direction in the drawing) along the rail 7, and a wiper mechanism 50 having a wiper 13 that wipes off the residual ink adhering to the nozzle surface of the inkjet head 15. A maintenance station 21 (see FIG. 1B described later) having (see FIG. 3A described later) is provided. The printing medium 9 is placed so as to face the head 5, and is appropriately printed by the ink ejected from the head 5 and sent out.

  FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an internal mechanism of the inkjet printer 1. The head 5 has at least one inkjet head 15 that prints by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes 120 (see FIG. 4 described later), and along the guide rail 7 in the main scanning direction (Y direction in the drawing). ) Is moved to. The print medium 9 is placed on the print object mount 17 at a position facing the head 5, and the control unit 29 controls the feeding of the print medium 9 and the ejection of ink from the inkjet head 15. The maintenance station 21 is preferably provided outside the area where printing is performed on the print medium 9.

  The control unit 29 is composed of a CPU, a RAM, a ROM and the like, and executes various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and various programs are executed to realize various functions. The RAM is used as a work area and a storage area of the CPU, and the ROM stores an operating system and programs executed by the CPU.

  The inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment may have the same or similar characteristics as a known inkjet printer. For example, the inkjet printer 1 may further include various configurations that are the same as or similar to known inkjet printers, in addition to the configurations described above.

  Specifically, the inkjet printer 1 may include an ink supply unit (not shown), an ink supply path (not shown), a main scanning drive unit (not shown), and a piezo drive unit (not shown). The head 5 is a portion that ejects ink onto a printing medium (medium) 9 that is a printing target. By ejecting ink to a position that is set according to an image to be printed, the head 5 is printed on the printing medium 9. Draw an image on. Further, in this embodiment, the head 5 has a carriage and a plurality of inkjet heads 15. The carriage (not shown) is a holding member that holds the plurality of inkjet heads 15. In the present example, the carriage holds the plurality of inkjet heads 15 aligned in the sub-scanning direction and aligned in the main scanning direction shown as the Y-axis direction in the drawing. In this case, the sub-scanning direction is, for example, a direction (X-axis direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction). Further, the main scanning direction is the moving direction of the inkjet head 15 in the main scanning operation of ejecting ink (ink droplets) while moving in a predetermined direction.

  The plurality of inkjet heads 15 are print heads that eject ink by an inkjet method. In this case, the ink is a liquid ejected by the inkjet head method. Further, the ink can be considered as, for example, a functional liquid or the like ejected by the liquid ejection device. Further, in the present embodiment, each of the plurality of inkjet heads 15 may eject ink of different colors. More specifically, as each of the plurality of inkjet heads 15, for example, an inkjet head for each color of yellow (Y) color, magenta (M) color, cyan (C) color, and black (K) color is used. Can be considered. With this configuration, color printing (for example, full-color printing) can be appropriately performed.

  Further, more specifically, in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, each inkjet head 15 has a nozzle surface 27 (see FIG. 2B described later) that is a surface that faces the print target medium 9 during printing. , Having a plurality of nozzles. In this case, the nozzle surface 27 can be considered to be, for example, a surface on which nozzles are formed in the inkjet head 15. Further, in the present embodiment, the nozzle surface 27 is a substantially flat surface. In this case, the substantially flat surface is, for example, not necessarily a completely flat surface, but a surface that can be regarded as a flat surface with required accuracy. Further, on the nozzle surface 27, a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the predetermined nozzle row direction (nozzle arrangement direction) at regular intervals to form a nozzle row. Further, in the present embodiment, the nozzle row direction is a direction parallel to the sub-scanning direction (X direction in FIG. 1B). Further, the density of the nozzles in the nozzle row is preferably, for example, equal to or higher than the density corresponding to 150 dpi (for example, the density corresponding to 150 dpi to 1200 dpi). With this configuration, high-definition printing can be appropriately performed. Further, in this example, as each inkjet head 15, an inkjet head that ejects ink by a piezo method is used. In this case, each inkjet head 15 further has a plurality of piezo elements corresponding to a plurality of nozzles.

  Further, in the present embodiment, various known inks can be used as the ink ejected from the plurality of inkjet heads 15. In this case, it is preferable to further use a configuration suitable for the ink to be used as a fixing unit for fixing the ink on the printing medium 9 as necessary. More specifically, for example, when using an ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) that is an ink that is cured by irradiation of ultraviolet rays, a solvent UV ink, or the like, it is conceivable to use a head 5 that further has an ultraviolet light source. Further, in the case of using an evaporation-drying type ink that is fixed to the print medium 9 by evaporation of the solvent, it is conceivable to use a heating unit that heats the ink or the print medium 9 as the fixing unit. Further, in this case, for example, it is conceivable to install a known heater or the like in the printing material mounting table 17.

  FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the inkjet head 15 built in the head 5 and the head support portion 3 that supports the inkjet head 15. The inkjet head 15 is on the side facing the print medium 9, and has a nozzle surface 27 (see FIG. 2B described later) in which a plurality of nozzle holes 120 (see FIG. 4 described later) are formed, and an inkjet head. And a head support portion 3 that supports 15.

  The head support portion 3 has a facing portion 10 (see FIG. 2B described later) in which an opening is formed so as to expose the nozzle surface 27 so as to face the print medium 9 (see FIG. 1B). .

  FIG. 2B shows a case where the inkjet head 15 and the head support portion 3 that supports the inkjet head 15 are looked up from the direction of the print medium 9 (see FIG. 1B) facing the inkjet head 15. FIG. As shown in the drawing, the nozzle surface 27 and the facing portion 10 are arranged on substantially the same plane. Specifically, the nozzle surface 27 and the facing portion 10 form the facing surface 23 that is substantially the same plane.

  FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet head 15 and the head support portion 3 as viewed from the Y direction. An engagement portion 25 that engages the inkjet head 15 and the head support portion 3 is formed as a concave portion in the positive Z direction when viewed from the facing surface 23 formed by the nozzle surface 27 and the facing portion 10.

  FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of the wiper 13 that wipes the nozzle surface 27 and the wiper mechanism 50 that moves the wiper 13. Specifically, the wiper 13 has a tongue-like shape that comes into contact with the nozzle surface 27 and has a wiper blade portion 30 formed of a flexible material such as rubber. The wiper drive unit 55 moves the wiper 13 in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) in the drawing. Specifically, the wiper blade portion 30 is moved in the direction in which the nozzle holes 120 (see FIG. 4 described later) that eject the same type of ink are arranged (the X direction in FIG. 4) in contact with the nozzle surface 27. By doing so, the wiper blade portion 30 wipes the nozzle surface 27 and the like.

  At this time, the nozzle surface 27 and the facing portion 10 are substantially in the same plane, and the wiper 13 is moved in parallel along the facing surface 23 to wipe the nozzle surface 27.

  FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the wiper mechanism 50, the inkjet head 15, and the head support portion 3. The wiper 13 included in the wiper mechanism 50 is relatively moved by the control unit 29 (see FIG. 1B) in a state of being in contact with the facing surface 23 (see FIG. 2B), The front end side of the wiper blade portion 30 of the wiper is slid on the facing surface to wipe. Specifically, the control unit 29 (see FIG. 1B) controls the change of the relative positional relationship between the facing surface 23 and the wiper 13.

  FIG. 4 shows a nozzle region 150 in which a plurality of nozzle holes 120 are formed, a wiper standby region 160 in which the wiper blade unit 130 stands by, and a head support on the facing surface 123 formed by the facing portion 110 and the nozzle surface 127. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship of an engaging portion 125 formed between the portion 103 and the inkjet head 115. FIG. The wiper waiting area 160 is an area between the nozzle area 150 and the engaging portion 125.

  Specifically, it is preferable that the head supporting portion 103 is provided with an opening, and the inkjet head 115 is supported vertically upward by the head supporting portion 103 so that the nozzle holes 120 face the printing medium 9. The engaging portion 125 has a structure having a recess in the Z direction positive direction with respect to the facing surface 123.

  5A to 5D, the operation of the wiper blade unit 130 included in the wiper 13 in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment described above will be described.

  FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet head 115, the head support portion 103, and the wiper blade portion 130 taken along line BB before wiping the nozzle surface 127 (see FIG. 4).

  Here, the tip of the wiper blade portion 130 is preferably formed to have a thickness that falls within the range of the wiper standby region in consideration of the amount of ink wiped at the tip. With such a mode, it is possible to prevent the residual ink from being clogged in the nozzle hole 120 and from being accumulated in the engaging portion 25.

  FIG. 5B is a line BB showing a mode in which the wiper blade unit 130 stands by in the wiper waiting area 160 during the waiting time after wiping the nozzle area 150 in which the nozzle hole 120 is formed in the nozzle surface 127. It is a sectional view (refer to Drawing 4).

  Specifically, the control unit 29 (not shown) includes the engaging portion 125 formed between the head support portion 103 and the inkjet head 115 after the wiper blade portion 130 wipes the nozzle surface 127, and the nozzle surface. In the wiper standby region 160, which is a region between the nozzle region 150 in which a plurality of nozzle holes 120 are formed in 127, control is performed so that the wiper blade portion 130 of the wiper 13 waits for a predetermined standby time. .

  Here, the wiper 13 waits for a waiting time in a state where the wiper 13 maintains a position in which the wiper 13 is moved in parallel with the facing surface 23.

  By adopting such a mode, there is no need for a mechanism for lowering the wiper 13 in order to retract it from the facing surface, the cost of the device is low, and maintenance is easy.

  FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram for explaining how dirt such as residual ink moves from the tip of the wiper blade portion 130 along the wiper blade portion 130 during the standby time.

  Specifically, the tip end side of the wiper blade portion 130 of the wiper 13 is in contact with the facing surface 123 (nozzle surface 127) from below in the vertical direction, and the standby time is that of the wiper 13. It is the time to wait for the ink attached to the front end side of the wiper blade part 130 to move downward in the vertical direction. The controller 29 (not shown) controls the wiper 13 and the facing surface 123 relative to each other so that the wiper blade portion 130 of the wiper 13 passes through the engaging portion 125 and wipes the facing portion 110 of the head supporting portion 103 after the waiting time elapses. Control the physical positional relationship.

  Here, the waiting time is, for example, 1 second or more. The appropriate waiting time varies depending on the viscosity of the ink used and the like, but specifically, when the ink is UV ink, 3 seconds or more is desirable.

  In the present specification, the term "standby" includes a mode in which the wiper 13 is moved at a speed lower than the wiping speed of the wiper in normal cleaning.

  FIG. 5D is an explanatory diagram illustrating that dirt is not accumulated in the engagement portion even when the wiper blade portion 130 moves beyond the engagement portion 125. Since residual ink is less likely to exist on the tip side of the wiper blade portion 130, dirt such as residual ink is less likely to accumulate on the engaging portion 125. However, the wiper blade part 130 may be retracted in the negative Z direction after the lapse of the waiting time and separated from the nozzle surface 127, and the wiper blade part 130 may not wipe the facing part 110.

  According to the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 29 controls the wiper 13 to stand by in the wiper standby area 160, which is an area between the nozzle area 150 and the engaging portion 125, for a predetermined standby time. Therefore, the ink accumulated in the wiper blade portion 130 of the wiper 13 is removed from the tip portion during the waiting time. Therefore, since the residual ink is less likely to collect on the wiper 13, even if the wiper 13 moves to the facing portion 110 side after the waiting time, it is difficult for the residual ink to be sucked from the wiper 13 to the engaging portion 125 and collect. Play.

  According to the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the wiper blade portion 130 of the wiper 13 is brought into contact with the facing surface 123 from below in the vertical direction, and the wiper blade of the wiper 13 has a standby time. Since it is time to wait for the ink adhering to the tip end of the portion 130 to move downward in the vertical direction, the residual ink adhering to the tip of the wiper 13 flows down and is removed due to gravity. Therefore, even if the wiper 13 passes through the engaging portion 125 after the waiting time, it is difficult for the residual ink to remain at the tip portion of the wiper blade portion 130 of the wiper 13, so that the residual ink is less likely to accumulate in the engaging portion 125, resulting in As a result, there is an excellent effect that contamination of the printing medium 9 due to the residual ink hardly occurs.

  According to the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, since the wait time for the wiper 13 to wait in the wiper standby area 160 is 1 second or more, the residual ink easily flows down from at least the tip portion of the wiper 13 due to gravity. Therefore, after the waiting time, when the wiper 13 passes through the engaging portion 125 and moves to the facing portion 110, it is difficult for the residual ink to collect in the engaging portion 125, and as a result, the residual ink causes the printing target medium 9 to move. It has an excellent effect that contamination is unlikely to occur.

  According to the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the wiper 13 has the tongue-shaped wiper blade portion 130 that comes into contact with the nozzle surface 127, so that the nozzle surface 127 can be wiped appropriately and reliably, and the residual ink can be removed from the nozzle area. Can be removed from 150. Therefore, an ink drop formed by the residual ink remaining in the nozzle region 150 drops on the print medium 9 to contaminate it or causes clogging of the nozzle, resulting in an accident that the print quality is deteriorated. It has the excellent effect of becoming difficult.

  The inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes the wiper mechanism 50 that moves the wiper 13 with respect to the nozzle surface 127, so that the head 3 can be moved only in one direction (main scanning direction). The drive mechanism can be simplified, the cost can be suppressed, and the maintainability can be improved. Further, the wiper 13 wipes in the direction in which the nozzle holes 120 for ejecting the same kind of ink are arranged, This has an excellent effect that it is possible to reduce the possibility that color mixture due to the residual ink may occur unexpectedly.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an inkjet printer printing method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  This inkjet printer printing method includes an inkjet head 115 (see FIG. 5A) that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes, and a head support portion 103 that supports the inkjet head 115. The portion 103 is an inkjet printer having an opposed portion 110 in which an opening for exposing the nozzle surface 127 in which a plurality of nozzle holes 120 are formed so as to face the print medium 9 is formed. Nozzle surface wiping step of wiping the nozzle surface 127 with the wiper 13 on the side opposite to 9, a nozzle region 150 in which a plurality of nozzle holes 120 are formed in the nozzle surface 127, the head support portion 103, and the inkjet head 115. In an area between the engaging portion 125 formed between In the wiper waiting area 160, and a waiting step of wiper 13 will wait for a predetermined waiting time.

  Specifically, it is as follows. First, the wiper blade portion 130 is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 127 (step S1). Then, the wiper blade portion 130 of the wiper 13 moves to wipe the nozzle area 150 of the nozzle surface 127 (step S2). Next, the wiper blade part 130 of the wiper 13 stands by in the wiper waiting area 160 for a predetermined time (step S3). Then, the wiper 13 passes through the engaging portion 125 and further moves (step S4).

  According to the inkjet printer printing method of the second embodiment of the present invention, after the wiping step of wiping the nozzle surface, the wiper waits for a predetermined waiting time, which is an area between the nozzle area and the engaging portion, that is, the wiper standby. Since there is a waiting step for waiting in the area, the ink accumulated on the wiper naturally flows and is easily removed during the waiting time. Therefore, since the residual ink is less likely to collect in the wiper, even if the wiper moves to the facing portion side after the waiting time, it is possible to obtain the excellent effect that the residual ink is less likely to be sucked and accumulated in the engaging portion from the wiper.

  The ink jet printer and the ink jet printer printing method of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, as a modified example, as a method of wiping the nozzle surface, a mode in which the head moves in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the fixed wiper at the maintenance station to wipe the residual ink on the nozzle surface of the inkjet head is also considered. To be

  For example, as another modified example, the wiper may be formed of a sponge-like material so as to absorb and remove the residual ink. As another modified example, a brush in which many thin members are bundled It may be in the form of a shape.

  Yet another modified embodiment is an inkjet printer including an inkjet head that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes, and the plurality of nozzles are provided on the side of the inkjet head facing the print medium. A nozzle surface having holes formed therein and a head supporting portion for supporting the inkjet head are provided. The head supporting portion has a facing portion having an opening for exposing the nozzle surface so as to face the print medium. , A wiper which is moved relative to the facing surface composed of the nozzle surface and the facing portion so that the tip side slides on the facing surface to wipe the wiper, and the relative surface between the facing surface and the wiper. A control unit for controlling a change in a positional relationship, the control unit controlling the head support unit and the ink jet unit when the wiper is wiped in the direction from the nozzle surface of the facing surface to the facing portion. In front of the engaging portion formed between the Ttoheddo it may reduce the wiping speed of the wiper.

  Of course, the control unit may reduce the wiping speed to a low speed such that the wiper is substantially on standby, as described in the first embodiment of the present invention. That is, in this specification, the state in which the wiping speed is low includes that the movement of the wiper is stopped (standby).

  According to the inkjet printer of this modified example, since the ink wiped from the tip of the wiper easily flows down due to gravity, residual ink is less likely to collect in the engaging portion that engages the inkjet head and the head supporting portion, and as a result, It has an excellent effect that the print medium is less likely to be contaminated with the residual ink.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 3 Head support part 5 Head 7 Guide rail 9 Print medium 10 Opposite part 13 Wiper 15 Inkjet head 17 Print material placement table 20 Nozzle hole 21 Maintenance station 23 Opposing surface 25 Engaging part 27 Nozzle surface 29 Control part 30 Wiper Blade part 35 Wiper blade part after movement 40 Residual ink 45 Print medium 50 Wiper mechanism 55 Wiper drive part 103 Head support part 105 Head 110 Opposing part 115 Inkjet head 123 Opposing surface 120 Nozzle hole 125 Engaging part 127 Nozzle surface 130 Wiper Blade part 140 Residual ink 150 Nozzle area 160 Wiper standby area

Claims (10)

An inkjet printer including an inkjet head that ejects ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes to perform printing,
A nozzle surface on the side facing the print medium in the inkjet head, in which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed;
A head support portion that supports the inkjet head,
Equipped with
The head support portion has a facing portion in which an opening for exposing the nozzle surface so as to face the print medium is formed,
A wiper that is relatively moved in a state of being in contact with the facing surface composed of the nozzle surface and the facing portion, so that the tip side slides on the facing surface and wipes the wiper,
A control unit that controls a change in the relative positional relationship between the facing surface and the wiper;
Equipped with
When the controller wipes the wiper from the nozzle surface of the facing surface in the direction of the facing portion, the controller is located before the engaging portion formed between the head support portion and the inkjet head. An inkjet printer characterized by reducing the wiping speed of the.   The control unit is a wiper standby region that is a region between the engagement unit and a nozzle region in which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed in the nozzle surface after the wiper wipes the nozzle surface. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the wiper is controlled so as to wait for a predetermined waiting time.   The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the standby time is 1 second or more.   The tip side of the wiper is in contact with the facing surface from below in the vertical direction, and during the waiting time, the ink attached to the tip side of the wiper moves downward in the vertical direction. The control unit controls the relative positional relationship between the wiper and the facing surface so that the wiper passes through the engaging portion and wipes the facing portion after the waiting time. The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the inkjet printer is performed.   The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, in the wiper standby region, the wiper is made to stand by for the waiting time while maintaining a position of parallel movement. .   The nozzle surface and the facing portion are substantially on the same plane, and the wiper moves the nozzle surface in parallel along the facing surface to wipe the nozzle surface. The inkjet printer according to claim 1.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the wiper has a tongue-shaped wiper blade portion that is in contact with the nozzle surface.   The inkjet printer according to claim 7, wherein the tip of the wiper blade portion is formed to have a thickness within the range of the standby position of the wiper standby area in consideration of the amount of ink wiped by the tip. . Further comprising a wiper mechanism for moving the wiper,
2. The wiper wipes the nozzle surface by moving the wiper in a direction in which nozzle holes for ejecting the same kind of ink are arranged in a state of being in contact with the nozzle surface. The inkjet printer according to claim 8. An inkjet head that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzle holes, and a head support portion that supports the inkjet head are provided, and the head support portion includes a nozzle surface on which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed. In an inkjet printer having a facing portion in which an opening is formed so as to be exposed so as to face the print medium,
A nozzle surface wiping step of wiping the nozzle surface with a wiper that wipes the nozzle surface with a wiper on the side of the inkjet head that faces the printing medium,
In a wiper waiting area which is an area between a nozzle area in which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed in the nozzle surface and an engaging portion formed between the facing portion and the inkjet head, A waiting step in which the wiper waits for a predetermined waiting time,
An inkjet printing method comprising:

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