JP2000071466A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent adhesion of ink to the inside of a recorder or a recording material at the time of cleaning off the ejection opening face of a recording head with a wiping member and to enhance recording quality by sustaining the wiping member in clean state constantly. SOLUTION: The ink jet recorder comprises a wiping member 405 for cleaning off the ejection opening face 303 of a recording head 302 by sliding on the ejection opening face while being pressed with a resilient force, ink absorbers 304, 305 disposed, respectively, on the upstream side and the downstream side in the wiping direction of the ejection opening face to touch the wiping member, and a substantially rigid bone member 306 disposed in the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device such as a composite electronic device including a computer or a word processor, or a workstation, is based on paper based on the recording information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as a cloth, a plastic sheet, and an OHP sheet. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like according to a recording method.

In a serial type recording apparatus which performs recording while performing main scanning in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (paper feeding direction, sub-scanning direction) of the recording material, the serial type recording device is mounted on a carriage which moves along the recording material. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit (recording head), a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance as sub-scanning) after one line of recording is completed, and then the recording material is stopped again. On the other hand, by repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next row, the recording of the entire recording material is performed. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that performs recording only in the sub-scanning direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and recording is performed for one line at a time. Is repeated, and the recording of the next line is collectively performed, thereby recording the entire recording material.

Among them, an ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means (recording head) to a recording material, so that the recording means can be easily made compact. High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, and can be recorded on plain paper without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise,
In addition, there is an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using various types of inks (for example, color inks). Above all, a line-type printing apparatus using a line-type printing means in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up printing.

As an energy generating element for generating energy used for discharging ink from a discharge port of an ink jet recording head, an element using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, or heating by irradiating an electromagnetic wave such as a laser. Then, an ink droplet is ejected by the heat generation function, or a liquid is heated by an electrothermal converter having a heat generating resistor. Among them, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) that discharges ink as droplets using thermal energy can perform high-resolution recording because discharge ports can be arranged at high density.

[0006] In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for discharging ink by using thermal energy,
Through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, sputtering, etc., an electrothermal converter, an electrode,
By forming the liquid path wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high-density liquid path arrangement (discharge port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Also, by utilizing the advantages of the IC technology and the micro-machining technology, it is easy to make the recording means longer and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easier to make the recording means full multi-layer and high-density mounting. is there.

Also, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material, and in recent years, developments in response to these requirements have progressed, and paper (including thin paper and processed paper) which is a general recording material has been developed.
In addition to paper and resin thin plates (OHP, etc.), recording devices using cloth, leather, nonwoven fabric, metal, or the like as a recording material have come to be used.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
When ink is ejected in a recording operation, ink mist composed of fine floating ink particles generated along with the main flying ink droplet adheres to the ejection port surface of the recording head, causing ink wetting or recording. Dust such as paper dust generated from the material may adhere to the ejection port surface of the recording head. In addition, the ink may adhere to the surface of the discharge port to cause ink wetting even by the suction recovery operation of suctioning the ink from the discharge port. These deposits on the ejection port surface hinder normal ink ejection, cause ink to be displaced in the ejection direction, and cause ejection failure (including non-ejection) at the ejection port. It will cause a decline.

As a method of removing foreign matter such as ink adhered to the discharge port surface of the recording head, a wiping member (usually formed by a rubber elastic blade) provided in a recovery mechanism is used. Wiping and cleaning (cleaning) is performed. Foreign matter such as ink adhered to the wiping member as a result of the wiping cleaning is naturally evaporated or absorbed by the ink absorbing member by bringing the wiping member into contact with an ink absorbing member provided in another portion. It is processed in such a way.

[0010]

However, in a conventional recovery mechanism including a wiping member, the recovery mechanism is disposed at a position separated from the recording material, or the recovery mechanism is surrounded by a box-like member. This necessitates the ink to be scattered on the recording material, causing ink contamination, and the recovery mechanism including the wiping member to be large, so that the recording apparatus becomes large, the installation area becomes large, and the cost increases. There were technical issues such as bulkiness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent ink from being scattered when wiping and cleaning an ejection port surface of a recording means with a wiping member. In addition, it is possible to prevent the ink from adhering to the inside of the apparatus and the recording material, and to always keep the portion in contact with the ejection port surface of the wiping member in a clean (cleaned) state. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of improving the recording quality.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the present application (the invention of claim 1) provides an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means to a recording material. A wiping member for wiping and cleaning the discharge port surface by making contact with the discharge port surface with elastic force and moving relative to the discharge port surface, and providing an upstream side and a wiping direction of the recording means in the wiping direction of the discharge port surface. An ink absorber that comes into contact with the wiping member is attached to the downstream side in the direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a substantially rigid bone member is provided inside the ink absorber downstream of the wiping direction, and the wiping direction is provided. The position of the ink absorber on the upstream side with respect to the wiping member is substantially the same as the surface of the ejection port, and the position of the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the wiping member protrudes from the surface of the ejection port. The above-described configuration is more efficient by adopting a configuration in which the ink absorber on the upstream side in the wiping direction and the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction are fixed to the recording unit with an adhesive such as a double-sided adhesive tape. The purpose is achieved.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 shows a case where the present invention is applied to a label printer. However, the present invention is applicable to all types of ink jet recording apparatuses regardless of the type of recording material used, such as plain paper or a card. . The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows a case of an ink-jet full-color line printer, in which a plurality of line heads (recording means) provided in the head unit 301 are arranged in black and cyan from the upstream side in the paper passing (recording material conveyance) direction. , Magenta, and yellow ink colors are arranged in this order.

The recording head (recording means) 302 is, for example, a line type multi-head having a density of 16 pieces / mm and about 4800 ejection ports over a short width of A3 size. The outlet diameter is within 30 microns. The recording head 302 is an ink jet head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. In addition, the head 302 discharges ink from the discharge port using a pressure change generated by growth and shrinkage of bubbles caused by film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection section of the recording head 302. In FIG. 7, a plurality of electrothermal converters 82 and corresponding wirings are formed on a substrate 81 of a recording head 302 with a thin film 83 interposed therebetween by the same manufacturing process as a semiconductor (thin film forming method or the like). Are formed. Each electrothermal converter 82
As shown, each of the discharge ports 89 and the liquid paths 8
6 are arranged. On the substrate 81 (on the thin film 83 on the substrate 81), a liquid path forming member 84 having a plurality of liquid path walls 84A formed in parallel on a lower surface at predetermined intervals is joined. Further, a top plate 85 is joined to the upper surface of the liquid path forming member 84. A liquid path 86 is formed between the liquid path walls 84A. The liquid path forming member 84 is located at a position such that the electrothermal transducers 82 are arranged at predetermined positions inside the liquid paths 86. Positioned and joined in relation.

Each of the liquid passage walls 84A has a predetermined length,
The rear end of each liquid path 86 is provided with a common liquid chamber 8 formed between the liquid path forming member 84 and the substrate 81 (or the thin film 83).
It communicates with 7. On the other hand, the other end (front end) of each liquid path 86 is opened at the discharge port surface (face surface) 303 of the print head 302, and a discharge port 89 is formed by each opening. In this way, by energizing (applying a pulse voltage) the electrothermal converter 82 such as a heating resistor to generate heat, the ink in the liquid path 86 is film-boiling, and the pressure change at that time causes the ink from the discharge port 89 to be discharged from the discharge port 89. An inkjet head 302 for discharging droplets is configured. The recording head 302 is mounted in such a manner that the arrangement direction of the plurality of discharge ports 89 intersects the conveying direction of the recording material (recording paper or the like), and the distance between the discharge port surface 303 and the recording material (paper distance). Is set, for example, to about 0.3 to 2.0 mm.

In FIG. 1, a roll unit 102, which is a recording material used in the present recording apparatus, is provided in a roll unit 101.
Is set, and it is detected by a sensor (not shown) that the roll paper 102 as the recording material is set at a predetermined position,
The leading end 102a of the roll paper 102 is held in the nip 202a of the pinch roller 202 of the apparatus main body.
When the roll paper 102 is set at a predetermined position, the roll paper 102 is pressed by its own weight onto a pair of roll paper drive rollers 103 and 104 disposed below the roll paper 102. Hereinafter, the roll 103 is referred to as a left roll paper drive roller, and the roll 104 is referred to as a right roll paper drive roller.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the roll unit 101 in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back. 1 and 2, when the roll paper 102 is fed, the timing belt 111 is driven by reducing the driving force of the roll paper drive motor 105 by the reduction unit 106.
The roll paper 102 is driven by driving the right roll paper driving roller 104 by 11. in this case,
The one-way clutch provided between the roller shaft 107 of the left roll paper drive roller 103 and the roller drive pulley 108 mounted on the roller shaft causes the left roll paper drive roller 103 to have a driving force in the direction of arrow 103a. Only be communicated.

Similarly, the one-way clutch provided between the roller shaft 107 and the roller drive pulley 108 mounted on the roller shaft drives the right roll paper drive roller 104 with respect to the right roll paper drive roller 104. In the direction of arrow 104a (the left roll paper driving roller 10).
3 (in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow 103a). Therefore, the roller paper 10
2, the roller paper 102 is driven only by the right roll paper drive roller 104, and the left roll paper drive roller 103 is rotated (followed) while supporting the weight of the roll paper 102. become.

The roll paper driving roller 104 on the right side of the roll unit 101 and the pinch roller 2 of the transport unit 201
A loop sensor 109 is disposed between the loop sensor 109 and the loop sensor 02.
Roll paper (recording material) 10 by a pinch roller 202
2 is conveyed, the right roll paper drive roller 1
When the number of loop portions 102b of the roll paper 102 between the paper sheet 04 and the pinch roller 202 decreases, the loop sensor arm 1
10 is pushed by the loop portion 102b of the roll paper 102, and the flag portion 110a of the loop sensor arm 110 is displaced from the detection position of the loop sensor 109. Flag part 1
When 10a deviates from the detection position of the loop sensor 109, it is determined that the loop portion 102b of the roll paper 102 has become smaller, and the roll paper drive motor 105 is driven.

When the roll paper driving motor 105 is driven, the speed thereof is reduced by the speed reduction unit 106, and the driving force drives the right roll paper driving roller 104 in the direction of arrow 104a. The roll paper (recording material) 1 is driven by driving the roll paper driving roller 104 on the right side.
02 is sent out, and the loop portion 102b of the roll paper becomes large. When the loop portion 102b becomes large, the loop sensor arm 110 is returned to the original position (the detection position of the loop sensor 109) by an elastic member (not shown), and it is detected that the loop portion 102b of the roll paper 102 has become large. The driving of the paper driving motor 105 is stopped. A speed difference is provided between the rotation of the pinch roller 202 and the rotation of the right roll paper driving roller 104,
As described above, the left and right roll paper driving rollers 103 and 104 are normally stopped, but when the right roll paper driving roller 104 is driven, the roll paper driving roller 104 is It is driven with a speed difference so that the feed speed is higher than that of the roller 202.

FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an operation state of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 immediately before the start of recording, and FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an operation state of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 during recording. FIG. 3 and 4,
After performing the above-described operation in the roll unit 101, in the recording apparatus main body, as shown in FIG. Gear 403a
Are engaged with the rack gear portion 404a. The pinion gear 403a is supported by a recovery tub support shaft 402 and a roller (not shown), and is driven by a recovery tub drive motor 403. The rack gear unit 404a is connected to the recovery unit 4
01 is provided in the recovery tub 404. When the pinion gear 403a is rotationally driven in a state where the pinion gear 403a and the rack gear portion 404a are engaged with each other, the recovery tub 404 is driven leftward in FIG.
To the evacuation position. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, by driving a motor (not shown), the head unit 301 at the raised position is lowered to the lower recording position through the gap of the recovery unit 401.

Thereafter, the roll paper (recording material) 102 sent from the roll unit 101 is
02 is transferred to the transport unit 201, and transported (paper feed) by the transport unit 201 through the vicinity of the ejection port surface 303 of each recording head 302 in the head unit 301. When the roll paper 102 passes near the ejection port surface 303 of each recording head 302, the ejection port surface 303
The ink is discharged from the discharge port 89 formed on the roll paper 102 to form an image on the roll paper 102. After that, the roll paper 102 on which the image is formed is discharged out of the apparatus main body by the transport unit 201 and the discharge roller 203.

When the recording of a predetermined number of sheets is completed,
By driving a motor (not shown), the head unit 301 is raised to a predetermined position,
Is engaged with the rack gear portion 404a of the recovery tub 404 in the recovery unit 401, and the recovery tub 404 is driven rightward in the drawing to move to a predetermined position below the head unit 301. Therefore, by lowering the head unit 301 by driving a motor (not shown), the ejection port surface 303 of each recording head 302 is pressed against the cap (usually a rubber elastic cap) 406 of the recovery tub 404, and each ejection port surface 303 is pressed. (Discharge port 89) is sealed. The sealing of the discharge port surface 303 is performed in order to prevent ink drying and dust adhesion near the discharge port 89. Thus, the state is returned to the state shown in FIG.

In the ink jet recording apparatus described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a wiping member 405 corresponding to each recording head (recording means, line head) 302 is provided in the recovery unit 401. The wiping member 405 wipes and cleans the discharge port surface by elastically contacting the discharge port surface 303 of the recording head 302 and moving relative to the discharge port surface,
This is for removing (cleaning) deposits on the discharge port surface 303.

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation view showing the recording head 302 in the head unit 301 and the corresponding wiping member 405 in the recovery unit 401. FIG.
The recovery tub 404 is provided with a plate-shaped wiping member 405 made of a material having elasticity (rubber elastic body). The wiping member 405 is for wiping and cleaning the ejection port surface 303 before recording or in another predetermined sequence to maintain recording quality. In this embodiment, the movement path of the tip of the wiping member 405 is determined by the ejection port surface 303 of the print head 302.
And the recovery tub drive motor 4
03 is driven by the elastic force of the wiping member 405 itself by driving the recovery tub 404 by meshing the pinion gear 403a driven by the wiping member 03 with the rack gear portion 404a of the recovery tub 404 in the recovery unit 401. A rubbing head recovery sequence is employed. That is,
By rubbing the discharge port surface 303 with the wiping 405, a cleaning process for wiping and cleaning foreign matters such as the ink 302a and dust attached to the discharge port surface 303 is performed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, both sides of the discharge port surface 303 of the recording head (recording means) 302, that is, both on the upstream side in the wiping direction and on the downstream side in the wiping direction,
Ink absorber 30 in contact with wiping member 405
4, 305 are attached. These ink absorbers 304 and 305 are for removing foreign substances such as ink attached to the wiping member 405. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the ink absorber 304 on the upstream side in the wiping direction is
The print head 302 is attached in the direction of entry of the wiping member 405 so as not to protrude from the ejection port surface 303 (in the illustrated example, the end surface thereof is substantially flush with the ejection port surface 303). The ink absorber 305 on the downstream side in the direction does not protrude from the ejection port surface 303 of the recording head 302 (in the illustrated example, the end face is the ejection port surface 3).
03) so that they are almost flush with each other.

The ink absorbers 304 and 305 on the upstream and downstream sides are also fixed to the recording head 302 by double-sided adhesive tapes 307 and 308. In this case, these double-sided adhesive tapes 307 and 308 are made slightly smaller than the ink absorbers 304 and 305 so as not to protrude from the end members of the ink absorbers 304 and 305 and come into contact with the wiping member 404. , Are bonded up to a position retracted a predetermined distance from the end. Thus, the ink and the like attached to the wiping member 405 can be reliably removed by the ink absorbers 304 and 305.

Further, a substantially rigid bone member 306 is provided inside the ink absorber 305 on the downstream side in the wiping direction. This bone member 306 is used for the wiping member 4.
This is to prevent the ink soaked into the ink absorber 305 from being repelled when the ink 05 comes into contact with the ink absorber 305. Normally, the ink absorber 305 on the downstream side in the wiping direction has a structure in which an ink absorber is attached around the bone member 306. By providing such an ink absorber 305 on the downstream side in the wiping direction, the tip of the wiping member 405 onto which the ink is transferred by wiping the ejection opening surface 303 is brought into contact with the ink absorber 305 to perform the wiping. Ink attached to the tip of the member 405 can be reliably removed.

According to the embodiment described above, the wiping member is cleaned (cleaned) by the ink absorbers 304 and 305 immediately before and immediately after the wiping member wipes the discharge port surface 33 of the recording head 302 (wiping). The discharge port surface 303 of the wiping member 405
Can always be kept in a clean (cleaned) state, and the recording quality can always be maintained at the best. In addition, the wiping member 405 is used to
Immediately after wiping 3, ink scattered by the restoring force of the wiping member 405 can be eliminated, and the ink can be prevented from adhering to the inside of the apparatus or the recording material. Further, since the ink absorbers 304 and 305 for cleaning the wiping member 405 are disposed on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the wiping direction of the discharge port surface 33, a plurality of recording heads using inks of different colors are provided. Even when wiping is sequentially performed by the wiping members, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevational view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a recording head and a wiping member of another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the position of the ink absorber 304 on the upstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the wiping member 405 is determined by the ejection port surface 3.
03 and the wiping member 4 of the ink absorber 305 on the downstream side in the wiping direction.
The position corresponding to 05 is a position protruding from the discharge port surface 303. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIG. 5 in that the ink absorber 305 on the downstream side protrudes from the ejection port surface 303, but has substantially the same configuration in other respects, and accordingly, the corresponding structure is adopted. Portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 5, before and after the wiping member 405 removes ink and the like attached to the ejection port surface 303 of the recording head 302 by a predetermined sequence. , Wiping member 4
05 attached to the front and rear surfaces of the wiping member 405 in the moving direction of the wiping member 405.
5 to remove. According to the embodiment of FIG. 6, the mounting position (posture) of the ink absorber 305 disposed on the downstream side in the wiping direction protrudes from the discharge port surface 303, and thus rubs against the discharge port surface 303 of the wiping member 405. It is possible to more positively remove (clean) ink and the like adhering to the surface to be cleaned, and to keep the wiping member 405 in a clean state at all times.

In the above embodiment, an ink jet recording apparatus of a line recording system in which recording is performed only by sub-scanning using a line type recording head having a length covering the entire width or a part of the recording material is described as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to various ink jet recording apparatuses regardless of the type of recording method, such as a serial recording method in which recording is performed while moving a recording head relative to a recording material. The effect can be achieved.

The present invention also provides a recording apparatus using one recording head, a color recording apparatus using a plurality of recording means for recording with inks of different colors, or a plurality of recording means for recording the same color at different densities. Gradation recording device to be used,
Furthermore, in the case of a recording device combining these,
It can be applied similarly and can achieve the same effect. Further, the present invention provides a configuration using a replaceable inkjet cartridge in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, the recording head and the ink tank are separated,
The same configuration can be applied to any arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank, such as a configuration in which the connection is established by an ink supply tube or the like, and the same effect can be obtained.

The present invention can be applied to a case where the ink jet recording apparatus uses a recording means using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element.
In particular, the present invention brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means of a method of discharging ink by using thermal energy. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means to a recording material, the ejection port surface of the recording means has elasticity. A wiping member is provided for wiping and cleaning the discharge port surface by contacting with the force and moving relative to the discharge port surface, and the wiping member is provided on the upstream side and the downstream side in the wiping direction of the discharge port surface of the recording means. The ink absorber that comes into contact with the wiping member is attached, preventing the ink from scattering when the wiping member wipes and cleans the ejection port surface of the recording means, and prevents the ink from adhering to the inside of the apparatus or the recording material. And the portion of the wiping member that is in contact with the discharge port surface can be always kept in a clean state, thereby improving the recording quality. DOO inkjet recording apparatus is provided that can be.

According to the second to fourth aspects of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a configuration in which a substantially rigid bone member is provided inside the ink absorber downstream of the wiping direction, the wiping direction is provided. The position of the ink absorber on the upstream side with respect to the wiping member is substantially the same as the surface of the ejection port, and the position of the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the wiping member protrudes from the surface of the ejection port. Position, or the ink absorber on the upstream side in the wiping direction and the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction are fixed to the recording means with an adhesive such as a double-sided adhesive tape. To prevent the ink from scattering or adhering to the inside of the apparatus or the recording material when wiping and cleaning the ejection port surface of the recording means with a wiping member. Can, it is possible to maintain the portion in contact with the discharge port surface of the wiping member always clean, ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can improve the resulting printing quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the roll unit in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back.

3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an operation state of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 immediately before the start of recording.

FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an operation state of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 during recording.

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation view showing a recording head and a wiping member of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation view showing a recording head and a wiping member of another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a structure of an ink discharge unit of the recording unit in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 82 Electrothermal converter 86 Liquid path 87 Common liquid chamber 89 Discharge port 101 Roll unit 102 Roll paper (recording material) 102b Loop 103 Roll paper drive roller 104 Roll paper drive roller 105 Roll paper drive motor 109 Loop sensor 110 Loop sensor Arm 201 transport unit 202 pinch roller 203 discharge roller 301 head unit 302 recording head (recording means) 302a adhered ink 303 discharge port surface 304 ink absorber 305 ink absorber 306 bone member 307 double-sided adhesive tape 308 double-sided adhesive tape 401 recovery unit 402 Recovery tub support shaft 403 Recovery tub drive motor 404 Recovery tub 405 Wiping member 406 Cap

Claims (6)

[Claims] In an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means to a recording material, the recording medium contacts an ejection port surface of the recording means with an elastic force and moves relative to the ejection port surface. Ink-jet recording, wherein a wiping member for wiping and cleaning the discharge port surface is provided, and an ink absorber that comes into contact with the wiping member is attached to an upstream side and a downstream side in the wiping direction of the discharge port surface of the recording unit. apparatus. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a substantially rigid bone member is provided inside the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction. 3. The position of the ink absorber on the upstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the wiping member is substantially the same as the ejection port surface, and the position of the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the wiping member. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position is set to a position protruding from the discharge port surface. 4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorber on the upstream side in the wiping direction and the ink absorber on the downstream side in the wiping direction are fixed to a recording unit with an adhesive such as a double-sided adhesive tape. The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 5. The ink jet recording means according to claim 1, wherein said recording means is an ink jet recording means having an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording means discharges the ink from a discharge port using film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. .