EP4205984A1 - Wartungsvorrichtung, flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung und flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung - Google Patents

Wartungsvorrichtung, flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung und flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4205984A1
EP4205984A1 EP22210738.5A EP22210738A EP4205984A1 EP 4205984 A1 EP4205984 A1 EP 4205984A1 EP 22210738 A EP22210738 A EP 22210738A EP 4205984 A1 EP4205984 A1 EP 4205984A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
liquid
discharge
moisturizing
suction
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22210738.5A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Takayuki HASE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Publication of EP4205984A1 publication Critical patent/EP4205984A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
    • B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
    • B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame
    • B41J2/16511—Constructions for cap positioning
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16523—Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16532—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head by applying vacuum only
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16526—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head by applying pressure only

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a maintenance device, a liquid discharge device, and a liquid discharge apparatus.
  • a maintenance device includes a moisturizing cap and a suction cap.
  • the moisturizing cap contacts a discharge face in which a discharge port is disposed to retain moisture of a liquid in the discharge port.
  • the liquid is discharged from the discharge port.
  • the suction cap is disposed in the moisturizing cap and contacts the discharge face to suck the liquid from the discharge port.
  • the moisturizing cap retains the moisture of the liquid in the discharge port
  • the suction cap is moved to a separated position away from the discharge face to be on standby.
  • the suction cap sucks the liquid from the discharge port, the suction cap is moved relative to the moisturizing cap so that the suction cap is in contact with the discharge face.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-058268 discloses a maintenance device including the moisturizing cap that contacts the discharge face facing downward to retain moisture of a liquid in the discharge port, and the suction cap disposed in the moisturizing cap.
  • a suction cam as a mover for suction that raises and lowers the suction cap relative to the moisturizing cap is disposed in the moisturizing cap.
  • a moisture-retention cam as a mover for moisture-retention raises the moisturizing cap to cap the discharge face with the moisturizing cap and retain the moisture of the liquid in the discharge port.
  • the suction cam raises the suction cap relative to the moisturizing cap to cap the discharge face with the suction cap and suck the liquid from the discharge port.
  • the maintenance device described above may increase the number of components and the mechanical complexity, causing the device cost to increase.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an improved maintenance device that includes a moisturizing cap and a suction cap.
  • the moisturizing cap contacts a discharge face of a liquid discharge head with a first capping end.
  • the suction cap is disposed inside the moisturizing cap.
  • the suction cap contacts the discharge face with a second capping end to suck a liquid from a discharge port in the discharge face.
  • the number of components of the maintenance device can be reduced, and the configuration of the maintenance device can be simplified, thereby reducing the device cost.
  • an inkjet recording apparatus serves as a liquid discharge apparatus including a maintenance device.
  • the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a part of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 as viewed in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 1 .
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 100 is a serial type apparatus, and includes a sheet feeding device 7 that feeds a rolled sheet 6, which is a recording medium, and a liquid discharge device 8 that discharges a liquid onto the rolled sheet 6.
  • a cut sheet may be used as the recording medium.
  • heaters 30A and 30B are disposed upstream and downstream from the liquid discharge device 8 in a conveyance direction of the rolled sheet 6 indicated by arrow CD in FIG. 1 to heat the rolled sheet 6, respectively.
  • a drying fan heater 31 faces the heater 30B disposed downstream from the liquid discharge device 8 in the conveyance direction to blow hot air onto the rolled sheet 6 so as to quickly dry ink as a liquid on the rolled sheet 6.
  • the liquid discharge device 8 includes a carriage 3 and a plurality of liquid discharge heads 4 mounted on the carriage 3.
  • the liquid discharge head 4 discharges ink as a liquid.
  • the carriage 3 is reciprocally movable in a main scanning direction (i.e., the width direction of the rolled sheet 6).
  • the liquid discharge head 4 discharges liquid droplets toward the rolled sheet 6 in the direction indicated by dotted arrows 55 in FIG. 1 .
  • a platen 32 as a guide faces the carriage 3.
  • the platen 32 may also include a heater to heat the rolled sheet 6.
  • the carriage 3 is held movably in the main scanning direction by a guide rod 5 which laterally bridges between side plates of the inkjet recording apparatus 100.
  • the carriage 3 reciprocates in the main scanning direction when a main scanning motor as a driving source is driven.
  • the plurality of liquid discharge heads 4 mounted on the carriage 3 includes a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction (i.e., the conveyance direction of the rolled sheet 6) perpendicular to the main scanning direction.
  • the liquid discharge head 4 discharges a liquid downward from the nozzles as a plurality of discharge ports.
  • Ink is supplied to a head tank of the liquid discharge head 4 via a supply tube from ink cartridges 20 which are replaceably installed on one side (left side in FIG. 2 ) of an apparatus body of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 in the main scanning direction.
  • a maintenance device 10 is disposed on the other side (right side in FIG. 2 ) of the apparatus body in the main scanning direction. The maintenance device 10 maintains and recovers the state of the nozzles of the liquid discharge head 4.
  • the maintenance device 10 is provided corresponding to each liquid discharge head 4, and includes a moisturizing cap 11 that caps a nozzle face 4a (see FIG. 3 ) serving as a discharge face of the liquid discharge head 4 to prevent moisture evaporation of ink in the liquid discharge head 4.
  • the maintenance device 10 further includes, e.g., a dummy discharge receptacle 15 to receive ink discharged in dummy discharge in which ink not contributing to image formation is discharged to discharge thickened ink.
  • a suction cap 12 is disposed in each moisturizing cap 11.
  • a suction pump 13 as a suction device is connected to each suction cap 12.
  • the nozzle face 4a of the liquid discharge head 4 is capped by the suction cap 12
  • the nozzle face 4a is sucked by the suction pump 13 to remove the thickened ink adhering to a wall surface of the nozzle and adhering around a discharge opening of the nozzle.
  • the ink sucked by the suction pump 13 is stored in a waste liquid tank 14.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 100 drives the liquid discharge head 4 in response to an image signal while moving the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction to discharge ink droplets onto the rolled sheet 6 fed from the sheet feeding device 7, thus forming an image.
  • the heaters 30A and 30B heat the rolled sheet 6 to quickly dry the ink adhering to the rolled sheet 6, thereby preventing the image from deteriorating.
  • the drying fan heater 31 blows hot air to the ink on the rolled sheet 6, thereby quickly drying the ink on the rolled sheet 6 and sufficiently preventing the image from deteriorating.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the suction cap 12 and the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 has a frame shape in which the entire bottom and top are open, and a holder 21 that holds the suction cap 12 is disposed so as to pass through a bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the holder 21 has a shape slightly narrower than the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap 11, and substantially closes the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the holder 21 includes a first holding portion 21a that faces the moisturizing cap 11 from below and holds the moisturizing cap 11 via a spring 22 as an elastic member so as to raise and lower the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the suction cap 12 is held so as to be placed on an upper face of the holder 21 (i.e., a second holding portion 21b).
  • a cam 42 as a mover is in contact with a bottom surface of the holder 21.
  • a worm 41a of a worm gear is formed on a motor shaft of a cam motor 41 that rotates the cam 42.
  • a worm wheel 42a formed on a cam shaft of the cam 42 meshes with the worm 41a.
  • the cam 42 and the cam motor 41 construct an elevator 40 to raise and lower the moisturizing cap 11 and the suction cap 12.
  • the maintenance device 10 can be downsized as compared with a case in which a suction cap is disposed outside the moisturizing cap 11, thereby downsizing the entire inkjet recording apparatus 100.
  • FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic views of the moisturizing cap 11 and the suction cap 12 that move up and down.
  • FIG. 4A illustrates a decapping state in which neither the moisturizing cap 11 nor the suction cap 12 caps the nozzle face 4a.
  • FIG. 4B illustrate a moisture-retentive capping state in which the moisturizing cap 11 caps the nozzle face 4a
  • FIG. 4C illustrates a suction capping state in which the suction cap 12 caps the nozzle face 4a.
  • a capping end 11d i.e., a first capping end
  • a capping end 12d i.e., a second capping end
  • the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 that contacts the nozzle face 4a is positioned higher (closer to the nozzle face 4a) than the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 4B , the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 comes into contact with the nozzle face 4a before the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12.
  • the cam motor 41 is stopped in the state illustrated in FIG. 4B , the moisturizing cap 11 retains moisture of ink in the nozzles with the suction cap 12 separated from the nozzle face 4a. Since the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap 11 is closed by the holder 21 with almost no clearance, ink in the nozzles can be prevented from drying.
  • a slider such as a rubber material that slides on the inner wall surface of the moisturizing cap 11 may be disposed at the rim of the second holding portion 21b of the holder 21 to seal the clearance of the bottom opening 11c between the moisturizing cap 11 and the holder 21.
  • ink discharged from the nozzles during the ink suction may adhere to the inside or the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12. If the suction cap 12 is in contact with the nozzle face 4a in the moisture-retentive capping state, the ink adhering to the capping end 12d may be transferred to the nozzle face 4a to stain the nozzle face 4a. In particular, if the suction cap 12 keeps contact with the nozzle face 4a for a long time, the ink adhering to the capping end 12d evaporates on the nozzle face 4a. As a result, a mark of the suction cap 12 so-called cap mark may be formed on the nozzle face 4a.
  • the single elevator 40 raises and lowers the moisturizing cap 11, and raises and lowers the suction cap 12 relative to the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the maintenance device 10 has fewer components than a maintenance device including an elevator that raises and lowers the moisturizing cap 11 and another elevator that raises and lowers the suction cap 12 relative to the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the maintenance device 10 has a simpler configuration than a maintenance device including an elevator that raises and lowers the moisturizing cap 11 and another elevator that raises and lowers the suction cap 12 relative to the moisturizing cap 11. As a result, the cost of the maintenance device 10 can be reduced.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views of the suction cap 12 and the moisturizing cap 11, illustrating a dimensional relation between the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 and the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12.
  • FIG. 5A the liquid discharge head 4 is viewed in the sub-scanning direction
  • FIG. 5B the liquid discharge head 4 is viewed in the main scanning direction.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 is in contact with the vicinity of the edge of the nozzle face 4a.
  • the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 and the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 is separated from each other by a gap D2 in the transverse direction of the liquid discharge head 4.
  • the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 and the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 is separated from each other by a gap d2 in the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 4.
  • the gaps are disposed between the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 and the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 in both the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 4.
  • the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 is in contact with the nozzle face 4a.
  • the suction cap 12 is separated from the nozzle face 4a, and then the moisturizing cap 11 is separated from the nozzle face 4a.
  • ink adhering to the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 may be transferred to the nozzle face 4a.
  • the ink transferred to the nozzle face 4a may adhere to the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the gaps i.e., the gaps D2 and d2
  • the gaps D2 and d2 there are the gaps between the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 and the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12. Accordingly, the ink transferred from the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 to the nozzle face 4a is prevented from adhering to the moisturizing cap 11, thereby preventing the moisturizing cap 11 from being stained with the ink.
  • the gaps D2 and d2 between the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 and the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 are shorter than distances D1 and d1 from the nozzle 4c to the edge of the nozzle face 4a, respectively.
  • the suction cap 12 can cap all the nozzles 4c.
  • the entire bottom portion of the moisturizing cap 11 is open.
  • a part of the bottom portion of the moisturizing cap 11 may be open, and the holder 21 may pass through the bottom opening 11c as illustrated in FIG. 6 .
  • the moisturizing cap 11 and the suction cap 12 can be raised and lowered by the same operation as the operation described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C .
  • a slider that slides on the outer wall surface of the holder 21 is disposed at the rim of the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap 11 to seal the clearance of the bottom opening 11c between the moisturizing cap 11 and the holder 21.
  • the first holding portion 21a that holds the moisturizing cap 11 is disposed outside the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the first holding portion 21a may be disposed inside the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 has a held portion projecting from the inner wall surface of the moisturizing cap 11, and the spring 22 is disposed between the held portion of the moisturizing cap 11 and the first holding portion 21a of the holder 21 disposed inside the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the cam 42 is disposed outside the moisturizing cap 11, and the holder 21 penetrates the moisturizing cap 11 and contacts the cam 42 disposed outside the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 having such a configuration can be prevented from being upsized, and the maintenance device 10 including the moisturizing cap 11 can be prevented from being complicated as compared with a case in which a cam is disposed inside the moisturizing cap 11.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a capping operation.
  • a controller of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 determines whether to perform the suction operation (step S2).
  • the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to raise the holder 21 so that the moisturizing cap 11 contacts the nozzle face 4a, and to stop raising the holder 21 in the moisture-retentive capping state illustrated in FIG. 4B (step S7).
  • the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to raise the holder 21 from the decapping state illustrated in FIG. 4A until the suction cap 12 comes into contact with the nozzle face 4a (step S3) to transition to the suction capping state illustrated in FIG. 4C .
  • the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to drive the suction pump 13 to perform the suction operation (step S4).
  • the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to perform a predetermined maintenance operation (step S5).
  • the maintenance operation include a cleaning operation in which ink adhering to the nozzle face 4a is removed with a cleaning blade and a recovery operation in which ink meniscus is recovered.
  • the maintenance device 10 performs the cleaning operation while the carriage 3 moves from a capping position (home position) to a position where the liquid discharge head 4 faces the dummy discharge receptacle 15. That is, the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to lower the holder 21 to transition from the suction capping state illustrated in FIG.
  • the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to raise a cleaning blade disposed between the dummy discharge receptacle 15 and the moisturizing cap 11 and bring the cleaning blade into contact with the nozzle face 4a of the liquid discharge head 4 moving toward the dummy discharge receptacle 15 to remove ink adhering to the nozzle face 4a, thus performing the cleaning operation.
  • the controller After the predetermined maintenance operation such as the cleaning operation is performed, the controller causes the liquid discharge head 4 to perform dummy discharge in which ink is discharged to the dummy discharge receptacle 15 (step S6).
  • the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to raise the holder 21.
  • the controller causes the maintenance device 10 to stop raising the holder 21 (step S7).
  • the maintenance device 10 completes the capping operation (step S8).
  • the "liquid discharge apparatus” includes the liquid discharge head or the liquid discharge device and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge liquid.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to a material onto which liquid can adhere or an apparatus to discharge liquid toward gas or into liquid.
  • the "liquid discharge apparatus” may further include devices relating to feeding, conveying, and ejecting of the material onto which liquid can adhere and also include a pretreatment device and an aftertreatment device.
  • the "liquid discharge apparatus” may be, for example, an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet by discharging ink, or a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus to discharge fabrication liquid to a powder layer in which powder material is formed in layers so as to form a three-dimensional object.
  • the “liquid discharge apparatus” is not limited to an apparatus that discharges liquid to visualize meaningful images such as letters or figures.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus that forms meaningless images such as meaningless patterns or an apparatus that fabricates three-dimensional images.
  • the above-described term "material onto which liquid can adhere” represents a material on which liquid is at least temporarily adhered, a material on which liquid is adhered and fixed, or a material into which liquid is adhered to permeate.
  • Specific examples of the "material onto which liquid can adhere” include, but are not limited to, a recording medium such as a paper sheet, recording paper, a recording sheet of paper, a film, or cloth, an electronic component such as an electronic substrate or a piezoelectric element, and a medium such as layered powder, an organ model, or a testing cell.
  • the "material onto which liquid can adhere” includes any material to which liquid adheres, unless particularly limited.
  • Examples of the "material onto which liquid can adhere” include any materials onto which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, construction materials (e.g., wall paper or floor material), and cloth textile.
  • liquid examples include ink, treatment liquid, DNA sample, resist, pattern material, binder, fabrication liquid, and solution or liquid dispersion containing amino acid, protein, or calcium.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus to relatively move the liquid discharge head and the material onto which liquid can adhere.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to such an apparatus.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may be a serial head apparatus that moves the liquid discharge head or a line head apparatus that does not move the liquid discharge head.
  • Examples of the liquid discharge apparatus further include: a treatment liquid applying apparatus that discharges a treatment liquid onto a paper sheet to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper sheet, for reforming the surface of the paper sheet; and an injection granulation apparatus that injects a composition liquid, in which a raw material is dispersed in a solution, through a nozzle to granulate fine particle of the raw material.
  • a treatment liquid applying apparatus that discharges a treatment liquid onto a paper sheet to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper sheet, for reforming the surface of the paper sheet
  • an injection granulation apparatus that injects a composition liquid, in which a raw material is dispersed in a solution, through a nozzle to granulate fine particle of the raw material.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a bioprinter 200 as an example of the liquid discharge apparatus.
  • the bioprinter 200 includes a loading table 230 on which a culture vessel such as a glass substrate is placed.
  • the loading table 230 is supported by an elevator 231 so as to move in the vertical direction (i.e., the Z-axis direction).
  • a liquid discharge head 204 is disposed above the loading table 230 to discharge liquid containing living tissues and cells.
  • a carriage 203 holding the liquid discharge head 204 is held by a guide shaft 205 extending in the left-right direction of the bioprinter 200 in FIG. 8 (i.e., the X-axis direction) so as to be movable in the left-right direction.
  • Both ends of the guide shaft 205 are held by front-rear guides 221 extending in the front-rear direction of the bioprinter 200 in FIG. 8 (i.e., the Y-axis direction which is perpendicular to the surface of the paper on which FIG. 8 is drawn) so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.
  • the bioprinter 200 includes a Y-axis moving mechanism that moves the guide shaft 205 in the front-rear direction of the bioprinter 200 and an X-axis moving mechanism that moves the carriage 203 in the left-right direction of the bioprinter 200 in FIG. 8 . While controlling the elevator 231, the Y-axis moving mechanism, and the X-axis moving mechanism, the controller causes the liquid discharge head 204 to discharge liquid containing living tissues and cells from a nozzle 204c to fabricate a biological composition, an organ, or the like.
  • a maintenance device 210 is disposed at the home position where the carriage 203 stands by.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the maintenance device 210 of the bioprinter 200.
  • the liquid discharge head 204 used in the bioprinter 200 has a cylindrical shape, and a moisturizing cap 211 and a suction cap 212 also have a cylindrical shape. Since a discharge face 204a of the liquid discharge head 204 is a substantially conical inclined surface that tapers toward the nozzle 204c, a capping end 211d of the moisturizing cap 211 is a funnel-shaped inclined surface. As a result, the capping end 211d of the moisturizing cap 211 contacts the discharge face 204a of the liquid discharge head 204 without any clearance, thereby retaining moisture of the liquid in the nozzle 204c.
  • the “liquid discharge device” refers to a liquid discharge head integrated with functional components or mechanisms, i.e., an assembly of components related to liquid discharge.
  • the “liquid discharge device” includes a combination of the liquid discharge head with at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance device, and a main-scanning moving mechanism.
  • the integrated unit may be, for example, a combination in which the liquid discharge head and a functional part(s) are secured to each other through, e.g., fastening, bonding, or engaging, and a combination in which one of the liquid discharge head and a functional part(s) is movably held by another.
  • the liquid discharge head may be detachably attached to the functional part(s) or unit(s) each other.
  • the liquid discharge device examples include a liquid discharge device 440 in which a liquid discharge head 404 and a head tank 441 are integrated as a single unit, which is mounted on a carriage 403, as illustrated in FIG. 10 .
  • the liquid discharge head 404 and the head tank 441 coupled (connected) with a tube or the like may construct the liquid discharge device 440 as a single unit.
  • a unit including a filter may further be added to a portion between the head tank 441 and the liquid discharge head 404 of the liquid discharge device 440.
  • the liquid discharge device may be an integrated unit in which a liquid discharge head is integrated with a carriage.
  • the liquid discharge device is a unit in which the liquid discharge head and the main-scanning moving mechanism are combined into a single unit.
  • the liquid discharge head is movably held by a guide that is a part of the main-scanning moving mechanism.
  • the liquid discharge device may be an integrated unit in which the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main-scanning moving mechanism are integrated as a single unit.
  • the cap that forms a part of the maintenance device is secured to the carriage mounting the liquid discharge head so that the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance device are integrated as a single unit to form the liquid discharge device.
  • the liquid discharge head 404 is coupled to tubes 456 so that the liquid discharge head 404 and the supply mechanism are integrated as a single liquid discharge device, as illustrated in FIG. 11 .
  • the main-scanning moving mechanism may be a guide only.
  • the supply mechanism may be a tube(s) only or a loading device only.
  • the liquid discharge head is not limited in the type of pressure generator used.
  • the pressure generator is not limited to the piezoelectric actuator (or a laminated piezoelectric element) described in the above-described embodiments, and may be, for example, a thermal actuator that employs an electrothermal transducer element, such as a thermal resistor, or an electrostatic actuator including a diaphragm and opposed electrodes.
  • image formation In the present specification, the terms “image formation,” “recording,” “printing,” “image printing,” and “fabricating” used herein may be used synonymously with each other.
  • a maintenance device such as the maintenance device 10 includes a moisturizing cap such as the moisturizing cap 11 and a suction cap such as the suction cap 12.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 contacts a discharge face such as the nozzle face 4a with a first capping end such as the capping end 11d.
  • the suction cap 12 is disposed inside the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the suction cap 12 contacts the discharge face with a second capping end such as the capping end 12d to suck a liquid from a discharge port such as the nozzle 4c in the discharge face.
  • the maintenance device 10 further includes a holder such as the holder 21.
  • the holder 21 includes a first holding portion such as the first holding portion 21a connected to the moisturizing cap 11 with an elastic member such as the spring 22 and a second holding portion such as the second holding portion 21b contacting a base of the suction cap 12 to support the suction cap 12.
  • the maintenance device 10 further includes a holder such as the cam 42 that moves the holder 21 to move the moisturizing cap 11 and the suction cap 12 toward and away from the discharge face in a contact-separation direction.
  • the cam 42 moves the moisturizing cap 11 to a first contact position at which the capping end 11d is in contact with the discharge face while the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 is separated from the discharge face, and the cam 42 moves the suction cap 12 to a second contact position at which the capping end 12d is in contact with the discharge face while the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 is in contact with the discharge face.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 at the first contact position retains a moisture of the liquid in the discharge port, and the suction cap 12 at the second contact position sucks the liquid from the discharge port.
  • the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 separated from the discharge face is closer to the discharge face than the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 separated from the discharge face.
  • the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 to contact the discharge face is higher than the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 to contact the discharge face, the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 comes into contact with the discharge face first to retain moisture in the discharge port such as the nozzle 4c when the mover continues to raise the holder 21.
  • the mover stops raising the holder 21.
  • the suction cap 12 is on standby at the separated position away from the discharge face while the moisturizing cap 11 retains the moisture of the liquid in the discharge port.
  • the suction cap 12 stained with the liquid can be prevented from contacting the discharge face while the moisturizing cap 11 retains the moisture of the liquid in the discharge port, and the mark of the suction cap 12 can be prevented from being formed on the discharge face.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 is held via the elastic member by the holder 21 that holds the suction cap 12. Accordingly, when the mover further raises the holder 21 from the state in which only the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 is in contact with the discharge face, the elastic member is elastically deformed, the suction cap 12 is raised relative to the moisturizing cap 11, and the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 comes into contact with the discharge face. Thus, the suction cap 12 can suck the liquid from the discharge port.
  • the single mover can move the moisturizing cap 11 so that the moisturizing cap 11 contacts and separates from the discharge face, and can move the suction cap 12 relative to the moisturizing cap 11.
  • the maintenance device according to Aspects 1 to 5 has fewer components and a simpler configuration than a maintenance device including a mover for moisture retention that moves the moisturizing cap 11 and another mover for suction that moves the suction cap 12 relative to the moisturizing cap 11 as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-058268 .
  • the cam 42 moves the suction cap 12 and the moisturizing cap 11 toward or away from the discharge face such as the nozzle face 4a facing downward in a vertical direction as the contact-separation direction.
  • the moisturizing cap 11 has a bottom opening 11c through which the second holding portion 21b of the holder 21 passes.
  • the second holding portion 21b is disposed higher than the first holding portion 21a.
  • the suction cap 12 can be brought into contact with and separated from the discharge face such as the nozzle face 4a while the moisturizing cap 11 is in contact with the discharge face.
  • the first capping end such as the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11 and the second capping end such as the capping end 12d of the suction cap 12 are separated from each other by a gap in a lateral direction orthogonal to the vertical direction.
  • the suction cap 12 is raised and lowered while the moisturizing cap 11 is in contact with the discharge face such as the nozzle face 4a. That is, when the suction cap 12 is separated from the discharge face after the suction operation, the moisturizing cap 11 is in contact with the discharge face.
  • liquid e.g., ink
  • the suction cap 12 is separated from the discharge face after the suction operation, the liquid adhering to the capping end 12d may be transferred to the discharge face.
  • the liquid transferred to the discharge face can be prevented from being transferred and adhered to the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap 11. Accordingly, the moisturizing cap can be prevented from being stained with the liquid.
  • the gap is shorter than a distance from the discharge port such as the nozzle 4c to an edge of the discharge face such as the nozzle face 4a in the lateral direction.
  • the discharge port such as the nozzle 4c can be capped with the suction cap 12, and the moisturizing cap 11 can be brought into contact with the discharge face such as the nozzle face 4a.
  • the mover includes the cam 42 contacting with a bottom surface of the holder 21.
  • the cam 42 can move the holder 21 to moves the moisturizing cap 11 and the suction cap 12.
  • a liquid discharge device such as the liquid discharge device 8 includes the liquid discharge head such as the liquid discharge head 4 to discharge the liquid and the maintenance device such as the maintenance device 10 according to any one of Aspects 1 to 9.
  • a liquid discharge apparatus such as the inkjet recording apparatus 100 includes the liquid discharge device such as liquid discharge device 8 according to Aspect 10.
  • the liquid includes an ink.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus can form an image with the ink.
  • the liquid contains living tissues and living cells.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus can fabricate a biological composition, an organ, or the like.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP22210738.5A 2021-12-28 2022-12-01 Wartungsvorrichtung, flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung und flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung Pending EP4205984A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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JP2021214621A JP2023098095A (ja) 2021-12-28 2021-12-28 維持回復機構、液体吐出ユニットおよび液体を吐出する装置

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EP4205984A1 true EP4205984A1 (de) 2023-07-05

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2010058268A (ja) 2008-09-01 2010-03-18 Ricoh Co Ltd 画像形成装置
US20130106949A1 (en) * 2008-12-16 2013-05-02 Seiko Epson Corporation Fluid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method of fluid ejecting apparatus
US20170266974A1 (en) * 2016-03-16 2017-09-21 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Maintenance device used in liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus
US20210394516A1 (en) * 2020-06-17 2021-12-23 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Maintenance device and liquid discharge apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2010058268A (ja) 2008-09-01 2010-03-18 Ricoh Co Ltd 画像形成装置
US20130106949A1 (en) * 2008-12-16 2013-05-02 Seiko Epson Corporation Fluid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method of fluid ejecting apparatus
US20170266974A1 (en) * 2016-03-16 2017-09-21 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Maintenance device used in liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus
US20210394516A1 (en) * 2020-06-17 2021-12-23 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Maintenance device and liquid discharge apparatus

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