JP6579090B2 - Recording head and ink jet recording apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording head having an ink discharge nozzle for discharging ink onto a recording medium such as paper, and an ink jet recording apparatus including the recording head.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a recording apparatus such as a facsimile, a copying machine, and a printer, an ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image by ejecting ink is widely used because it can form a high-definition image.

  In such an ink jet recording apparatus, a micro ink droplet (hereinafter referred to as a mist) ejected together with an ink droplet for image recording, or a bounce mist generated when the ink droplet adheres to a recording medium, The ink adheres to the ink ejection surface and solidifies. When the mist on the ink ejection surface gradually increases and overlaps the ink ejection nozzle, the straightness of the ink (flying curve), non-ejection, etc. occur and the printing performance of the recording head decreases.

  Therefore, in order to clean the ink discharge surface of the recording head, a cleaning liquid supply port is provided outside the nozzle region (upstream in the wiping direction of the wiper) of the ink discharge surface where a plurality of ink discharge nozzles are open. A plurality of ink jet recording apparatuses are known. In this ink jet recording apparatus, after supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply port, the wiper is moved along the ink discharge surface from the outside of the cleaning liquid supply port, so that the ink discharge surface is held while the wiper holds the cleaning liquid. Can be wiped. In this way, the recording head recovery process can be performed.

  An ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports are provided on the ink discharge surface of the recording head is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867.

JP 2007-83396 A

  However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, when a necessary amount of cleaning liquid is supplied from a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports, the cleaning liquids come into contact with each other and become one large droplet. Then, there is a problem that a part of the cleaning liquid falls from the ink ejection surface and a loss occurs in the cleaning liquid.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording head capable of cleaning the ink ejection surface while reducing the loss of the cleaning liquid, and the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording head according to a first aspect of the present invention is a recording head having an ink ejection surface including an ink ejection area in which a plurality of ink ejection nozzles that eject ink onto a recording medium are opened. A cleaning liquid supply area in which a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports for supplying a cleaning liquid are opened is provided upstream of the ink discharge area in the wiping direction, in which the wiper wipes the ink discharge surface. In the cleaning liquid supply region, one or more ribs that divide the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports into a width direction orthogonal to the wiping direction are formed to extend in the wiping direction.

  According to the recording head of the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports for supplying the cleaning liquid are opened upstream in the wiping direction with respect to the ink discharge region where the plurality of ink discharge nozzles are opened. A cleaning liquid supply region is provided. Thus, after supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply port, the ink discharge surface is held while the cleaning liquid is held by the wiper by moving the wiper along the ink discharge surface from the upstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the cleaning liquid supply port. Can be wiped. For this reason, the ink discharge surface can be cleaned.

  Further, in the cleaning liquid supply region where the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports are opened, one or more ribs that divide the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports in the width direction orthogonal to the wiping direction are formed to extend in the wiping direction. Yes. Thereby, since the cleaning liquid supplied from the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports can be divided into a plurality of parts, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquids from being united to form large droplets. For this reason, since the cleaning liquid can be prevented from falling, the loss of the cleaning liquid can be reduced.

The figure which shows the structure of the inkjet recording device provided with the recording head of one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which looked at the 1st conveyance unit and recording part of the ink-jet recording device shown in Drawing 1 from the upper part Diagram of the recording head that constitutes the line head of the recording unit View of the recording head viewed from the ink ejection surface View of the recording head and its surroundings seen from diagonally below View of the cleaning liquid supply member of the recording head as seen from diagonally below View of the recording head and its surroundings viewed from diagonally above The figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the maintenance unit under the recording part The figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the wiper under the recording head A view of the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply port as seen obliquely from below The figure which shows the state which lifted the wiper from the state of FIG. 9, and was press-contacted to the cleaning liquid supply member The figure which shows the state which moved to the arrow A direction in the state which pressed the wiper to the cleaning liquid supply member from the state of FIG. The figure which shows the state which moved the wiper further to the arrow A direction from the state of FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state where the wiper is further moved in the direction of arrow A from the state of FIG. 13 and then the wiper is lowered and separated from the ink ejection surface. The figure which showed the cleaning liquid supply member of the 1st modification of this invention The figure which showed the cleaning liquid supply member of the 2nd modification of this invention The figure which showed the cleaning liquid supply member of the 3rd modification of this invention

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed tray 2 for storing paper S (recording medium) is provided on the left side of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the accommodated sheets S are conveyed one by one from the uppermost sheet S one by one to a first conveying unit 5 to be described later, and the sheet feeding roller 3 is in pressure contact with the sheet feeding roller 3 and is driven to rotate. A driven roller 4 is provided.

  A first transport unit 5 and a recording unit 9 are disposed on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 1) of the paper feed roller 3 and the driven roller 4 with respect to the paper transport direction (arrow X direction). The first transport unit 5 includes a first drive roller 6, a first driven roller 7, and a first transport belt 6 that is stretched over the first drive roller 6 and the first driven roller 7. When the first drive roller 6 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction by a control signal from the control unit 110 of the recording apparatus 100, the paper S held on the first transport belt 8 is transported in the arrow X direction.

  The recording unit 9 includes a head housing 10 and line heads 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K held by the head housing 10. These line heads 11C to 11K are supported at such a height that a predetermined interval (for example, 1 mm) is formed with respect to the conveying surface of the first conveying belt 8, and as shown in FIG. A plurality (three in this case) of recording heads 17a to 17c are arranged in a zigzag pattern along the orthogonal paper width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an ink discharge region R <b> 1 in which a large number of ink discharge nozzles 18 a (see FIG. 2) are arranged is provided on the ink discharge surface F <b> 1 of the head portion 18 of the recording heads 17 a to 17 c. . Since the recording heads 17a to 17c have the same shape and configuration, the recording heads 17a to 17c are shown in one drawing in FIGS.

  In the recording heads 17a to 17c constituting the line heads 11C to 11K, inks of four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) stored in ink tanks (not shown) are respectively stored in the line heads 11C to 11K. Supplied for each color.

  Each of the recording heads 17a to 17c is transported while being sucked and held on the transport surface of the first transport belt 8 in accordance with image data received from an external computer by a control signal from the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1). Ink is ejected from the ink ejection nozzle 18a. As a result, a color image in which four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are superimposed is formed on the sheet S on the first conveying belt 8.

  The recording heads 17a to 17c are provided with a cleaning liquid supply member 60 for supplying a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid supply member 60 is disposed adjacent to the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) of the wiper 35, which will be described later, with respect to the head unit 18. The cleaning liquid supply member 60 has a cleaning liquid supply surface F2 including a cleaning liquid supply region R2 in which a large number of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a (see FIG. 6) for supplying a cleaning liquid are arranged. Note that at least the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 is formed of resin, and at least the ink discharge surface F1 of the head portion 18 is formed of, for example, SUS (stainless steel).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, an inclined surface 62 is formed on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 in the wiping direction with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2. A portion of the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 on the downstream side in the wiping direction (left side in FIG. 3) is formed in a thin plate shape, and is disposed so as to overlap the end portion of the ink discharge surface F1 of the head portion 18. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 described later, only a part of the recording heads 17a to 17c is shown for easy understanding.

  Here, in the cleaning liquid supply region R2, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of (here, three) ribs 64 (see also FIG. 6) projecting downward are formed integrally with the cleaning liquid supply surface F2. . The ribs 64 are formed to extend in the wiping direction (arrow A direction), and divide the cleaning liquid supply region R2 in the head width direction (arrow BB ′ direction, the direction perpendicular to the wiping direction). Thereby, the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a are divided into a plurality of each in the head width direction. In FIG. 6, the cleaning liquid supply ports 60a are depicted as being divided into two parts by the ribs 64, but the cleaning liquid supply ports 60a are divided into several to several tens (or several tens). May be.

  The rib 64 has a curved contact surface with the wiper 35 as viewed from the wiping direction and the head width direction. For this reason, the ribs 64 are not formed with corner portions (pointed portions).

  Further, the contact surface of the rib 64 with the wiper 35 is formed in a substantially arc shape when viewed from the head width direction. For this reason, the end of the rib 64 on the upstream side in the wiping direction (hereinafter referred to as the upstream end 64a in the wiping direction) is such that the protruding amount with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 gradually increases toward the downstream side in the wiping direction. Is formed. Further, the end of the rib 64 on the downstream side in the wiping direction (hereinafter referred to as the downstream end 64b in the wiping direction) is formed so that the protruding amount with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the wiping direction. Has been. The maximum protrusion amount H of the rib 64 with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 is about 0.3 to 0.4 mm. In the present embodiment, the central portion of the rib 64 in the longitudinal direction (arrow AA ′ direction) protrudes the most. The liquid height of the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply port 60a (the protruding amount with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2) is about 0.3 to 0.4 mm.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the cleaning liquid supply member 60 is connected to a downstream end of a supply path 70 made of a tube through which the cleaning liquid passes. The upstream end of the supply path 70 is connected to a cleaning liquid supply mechanism (not shown). The cleaning liquid supply mechanism includes a tank (not shown) that stores the cleaning liquid, and a pump (not shown) that pumps the cleaning liquid from the tank to the supply path 70.

  The supply path 70 is configured by one path at the upstream end, but repeats branching toward the downstream side and branches into 12 paths. The twelve paths are respectively connected to the cleaning liquid supply members 60 of the recording heads 17a to 17c.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 100, in order to clean the ink ejection surfaces F1 of the recording heads 17a to 17c, the cleaning liquid for all the recording heads 17a to 17c is used at the start of printing after a long-term stop and between printing operations. Cleaning liquid is supplied from the supply port 60a (see FIG. 6), and the ink discharge surface F1 is wiped off by a wiper 35 described later to prepare for the next printing operation.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the second transport unit 12 is arranged on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 1) of the first transport unit 5 with respect to the paper transport direction. The second transport unit 12 includes a second drive roller 13, a second driven roller 14, and a second transport belt 15 stretched over the second drive roller 13 and the second driven roller 14. When the two drive rollers 13 are rotationally driven in the clockwise direction, the paper S held on the second transport belt 15 is transported in the arrow X direction.

  The paper S on which the ink image is recorded by the recording unit 9 is sent to the second transport unit 12, and the ink ejected on the surface of the paper S while passing through the second transport unit 12 is dried. A maintenance unit 19 and a cap unit 90 are disposed below the second transport unit 12. The maintenance unit 19 moved below the recording unit 9 when performing the wiping operation by the wiper 35 described above, and wiped off the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply port 60a of the recording heads 17a to 17c. Collect the cleaning solution. The cap unit 90 horizontally moves below the recording unit 9 when capping the ink ejection surfaces F1 (see FIG. 3) of the recording heads 17a to 17c, and further moves upward to be attached to the lower surfaces of the recording heads 17a to 17c. Is done.

  Further, on the downstream side of the second transport unit 12 with respect to the paper transport direction, a discharge roller pair 16 that discharges the paper S on which an image is recorded to the outside of the apparatus main body is provided. Is provided with a discharge tray (not shown) on which the sheets S discharged outside the apparatus main body are stacked.

  The maintenance unit 19 supports a plurality of wipers 35 (see FIG. 9) movable along the ink ejection surface F1, a substantially rectangular carriage (not shown) to which the plurality of wipers 35 are fixed, and the carriage. And a support frame (not shown). A carriage (not shown) is supported so as to be slidable in the direction of arrow AA ′ with respect to a support frame (not shown).

  The wiper 35 is an elastic member (for example, a rubber member made of EPDM) for wiping off the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply ports 60a (see FIG. 6) of the recording heads 17a to 17c. The wiper 35 is brought into pressure contact with a cleaning liquid supply region R2 (see FIG. 4) of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 on a portion (here, the inclined surface 62) on the upstream side in the wiping direction. The cleaning liquid supply surface F2 and the ink discharge surface F1 are wiped in a predetermined direction (arrow A direction).

  Next, the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c using the maintenance unit 19 in the inkjet recording apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described. The recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c described below is executed by controlling the operations of the recording heads 17a to 17c, the maintenance unit 19 and the like based on a control signal from the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1). The

  When performing the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c, first, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1) lowers the first transport unit 5 positioned below the recording unit 9. Then, the control unit 110 horizontally moves the maintenance unit 19 disposed below the second transport unit 12 so as to be disposed between the recording unit 9 and the first transport unit 5. In this state, the wiper 35 (see FIG. 9) of the maintenance unit 19 is disposed below the ink discharge surface F1 and the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 (see FIG. 9) of the recording heads 17a to 17c.

(Cleaning liquid supply operation)
Prior to the wiping operation (wiping operation described later), as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1) supplies the cleaning liquid 23 to the recording heads 17a to 17c. The supplied cleaning liquid 23 is supplied by a predetermined amount from the cleaning liquid supply port 60a (see FIG. 6). At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the cleaning liquid 23 is supplied from the adjacent cleaning liquid supply port 60a (see FIG. 6) in a state where the cleaning liquid 23 is divided in the head width direction (arrow BB ′ direction) by the ribs 64. The liquids 23 come into contact with each other and are united. That is, in the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid 23 is held between the ribs 64 in a state of being divided into four. 9 to 13, the cleaning liquid 23 and ink 22 described later are hatched.

(Ink extrusion operation)
Prior to the wiping operation (wiping operation described later), as shown in FIG. 9, the ink is supplied to the recording heads 17a to 17c by the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1). The supplied ink 22 is forcibly extruded (purged) from the ink discharge nozzle 18a. By this purging operation, thickened ink, foreign matter and bubbles in the ink discharge nozzle 18a are discharged from the ink discharge nozzle 18a. At this time, the purge ink 22 is pushed out to the ink discharge surface F1 along the shape of the ink discharge region R1 where the ink discharge nozzle 18a exists.

(Wiping operation)
As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 110 raises the wiper 35 to bring it into contact with the inclined surface 62 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 of the recording heads 17a to 17c with a predetermined pressure.

  From the state in which the tip of the wiper 35 is in pressure contact with the inclined surface 62 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60, the control unit 110 moves the wiper 35 in the direction of the ink discharge region R1 along the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 as shown in FIG. Direction). As a result, the wiper 35 moves in the direction of the ink discharge region R <b> 1 while holding the cleaning liquid 23 after wiping the cleaning liquid 23 in a state where the ribs 64 have bitten into the wiper 35.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the wiper 35 moves the ink ejection surface F <b> 1 leftward (arrow A direction) while maintaining the state where the cleaning liquid 23 is held. At this time, the cleaning liquid 23 and the ink (purge ink) 22 dissolve the ink droplets (waste ink) that adhere to the ink ejection surface F1 and solidify, and are wiped off by the wiper 35. The wiper 35 further moves in the left direction (arrow A direction), and stops moving in the left direction when reaching the position opposite to the cleaning liquid supply region R2 with respect to the ink discharge region R1. The cleaning liquid 23 and waste ink wiped off by the wiper 35 are collected in a cleaning liquid collection tray (not shown) provided in the maintenance unit 19.

(Separation operation)
After execution of the wiping operation, as shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 110 lowers the wiper 35 and separates it from the ink ejection surface F1.

  Finally, the control unit 110 horizontally moves the maintenance unit 19 arranged between the recording unit 9 and the first conveyance unit 5 and arranges the maintenance unit 19 below the second conveyance unit 12 to place the first conveyance unit 5 in a predetermined manner. Raise to the position. In this way, the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c is completed.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the cleaning liquid supply area in which the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a for supplying the cleaning liquid 23 are opened on the upstream side in the wiping direction (arrow A direction) with respect to the ink discharge area R1. R2 is provided. Thus, after supplying the cleaning liquid 23 from the cleaning liquid supply port 60a, the wiper 35 is moved along the ink discharge surface F1 from the upstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the cleaning liquid supply port 60a. The ink discharge surface F1 can be wiped while holding the ink. For this reason, the ink discharge surface F1 can be cleaned.

  In the cleaning liquid supply region R2, one or more (three in this case) ribs 64 that divide the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a in the head width direction (arrow BB ′ direction) are wiping directions (arrow A direction). It is formed to extend. As a result, the cleaning liquids 23 supplied from the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a can be divided into a plurality (four in this case), so that the cleaning liquids 23 are united to form large droplets. Can be suppressed. For this reason, since it can suppress that the cleaning liquid 23 falls from the cleaning liquid supply surface F2, the loss of the cleaning liquid 23 can be reduced.

  When the rib 64 is not provided, the cleaning liquids 23 are united to form one large droplet. At this time, the cleaning liquid 23 gathers at the center in the head width direction (arrow BB ′ direction). For this reason, it takes time for the cleaning liquid 23 to wet and spread throughout the width direction (arrow BB ′ direction) of the wiper 35 after the cleaning liquid 23 starts to be wiped by the wiper 35. Thereby, it is difficult to uniformly clean the ink discharge surface F1. However, in the present embodiment, by providing the ribs 64, the cleaning liquid 23 can be dispersed in the head width direction. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time from when the cleaning liquid 23 starts to be wiped off by the wiper 35 until the cleaning liquid 23 gets wet throughout the entire width direction of the wiper 35. For this reason, the ink discharge surface F1 can be easily and uniformly cleaned.

  Further, as described above, at the upstream end portion 64a of the rib 64 in the wiping direction, the protruding amount of the rib 64 with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 gradually increases toward the downstream side in the wiping direction. As a result, the wiper 35 can smoothly move from the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 to the upstream end 64a of the rib 64 in the wiping direction, so that damage to the wiper 35 by the rib 64 can be suppressed.

  In addition, as described above, at the downstream end 64b of the rib 64 in the wiping direction, the protruding amount of the rib 64 with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the wiping direction. Thereby, since the wiper 35 can move smoothly from the downstream end 64b of the rib 64 in the wiping direction to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2, it is possible to further suppress the wiper 35 from being damaged by the rib 64. Further, when the wiper 35 moves from the downstream end 64b of the rib 64 in the wiping direction to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2, the cleaning liquid 23 remains on the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 in the vicinity of the downstream end 64b of the rib 64 in the wiping direction. Can be suppressed.

  Further, as described above, the rib 64 has a curved contact surface with the wiper 35 as viewed from the wiping direction and the head width direction. That is, the rib 64 is not formed with a corner (a pointed portion). Thereby, damage to the wiper 35 by the rib 64 can be further suppressed.

  In addition, as described above, the rib 64 divides the cleaning liquid supply port 60a into a plurality of portions in the head width direction. Thereby, since the space | interval of ribs 64 can be ensured, the wiping residue of the cleaning liquid 23 by the wiper 35 can be suppressed.

  Further, as described above, the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 is formed separately from the ink discharge surface F1, and the ribs 64 are formed integrally with the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 from resin. Thereby, unlike the case where the rib 64 is formed on the ink ejection surface F1 made of, for example, SUS, the rib 64 can be easily formed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning liquid supply member 60 including the cleaning liquid supply region R2 in which the cleaning liquid supply port 60a is opened is described as being provided separately from the head unit 18, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Absent. Instead of providing the cleaning liquid supply member 60, the head part 18 may be provided with a cleaning liquid supply region R2 in which the cleaning liquid supply port 60a is opened. At this time, the rib 64 may be formed integrally with the ink discharge surface F1 of the head portion 18, or may be attached to the ink discharge surface F1 using an adhesive or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the contact surface of the rib 64 with the wiper 35 is shown as an approximately arc shape when viewed from the head width direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, like the cleaning liquid supply member 60 of the first modification of the present invention shown in FIG. 15, the protrusion amount with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 gradually increases toward the downstream side in the wiping direction in the entire wiping direction. Ribs 64 may be formed. Further, for example, like the cleaning liquid supply member 60 of the second modified example of the present invention shown in FIG. 16, the protruding amount with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the wiping direction in the entire wiping direction. In addition, the rib 64 may be formed. Further, for example, like the cleaning liquid supply member 60 of the third modification of the present invention shown in FIG. 17, the rib 64 is formed so that the protruding amount with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface F2 is substantially constant in the entire wiping direction. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the cleaning liquid supply operation is executed before the wiping operation has been described. However, the wiper 35 may be executed simultaneously with the wiping operation before the wiper 35 enters the cleaning liquid supply region R2. Good. In addition, although an example in which the ink push-out operation is performed before the wiping operation has been shown, the wiper 35 may be performed simultaneously with the wiping operation as long as the wiper 35 enters the ink discharge region R1.

  In the above embodiment, the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c is performed using the cleaning liquid 23 and the ink (purge ink) 22. However, the recovery of the recording heads 17a to 17c is performed using only the cleaning liquid 23. An operation may be performed. That is, it is not necessary to perform the ink pushing operation.

  Further, a configuration obtained by appropriately combining the configurations of the above-described embodiment and modification examples is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

17a to 17c Recording head 18a Ink discharge nozzle 22 Ink 23 Cleaning liquid 35 Wiper 60a Cleaning liquid supply port 64 Rib 64a Upstream end (end) in wiping direction
64b End in the wiping direction downstream side (end)
100 Inkjet recording apparatus F1 Ink discharge surface F2 Cleaning liquid supply surface R1 Ink discharge region R2 Cleaning liquid supply region S Paper (recording medium)

Claims (7)

A recording head having an ink ejection surface including an ink ejection area in which a plurality of ink ejection nozzles that eject ink onto a recording medium are opened,
A cleaning liquid supply area in which a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports for supplying a cleaning liquid are provided is provided upstream of the ink discharge area in the wiping direction, which is a direction in which the wiper wipes the ink discharge surface. ,
In the cleaning liquid supply area, one or more ribs that divide the plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports into a width direction orthogonal to the wiping direction are formed to extend in the wiping direction. head.   The protruding amount of the rib with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface including the cleaning liquid supply region is gradually increased toward the downstream side in the wiping direction at the upstream end of the rib in the wiping direction. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein:   The protruding amount of the rib with respect to the cleaning liquid supply surface including the cleaning liquid supply region at the downstream end of the rib in the wiping direction is gradually reduced toward the downstream side in the wiping direction. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a recording head.   The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the rib has a curved contact surface with the wiper as viewed from the wiping direction and the width direction.   The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the rib divides the cleaning liquid supply port into a plurality of portions in the width direction. The cleaning liquid supply surface including the cleaning liquid supply region is formed separately from the ink discharge surface,
The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the rib is formed integrally with the cleaning liquid supply surface from a resin.   An ink jet recording apparatus comprising the recording head according to claim 1.