JP2000233517A - Maintenance device for ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To integrally form a lever and a movable frame from a synthetic resin and to allow them to execute wiping as a conventional wiping device in terms of a maintenance device for executing the wiping in an ink jet printer. SOLUTION: This maintenance device comprises a movable frame 40 holding a wiper blade, a lever 30, a support frame, an interlocking mechanism for moving the movable frame 40 to the reciprocal position synchronously with a carriage that enters a maintenance region and a disengagement mechanism that releases a hook section of the lever 30 acting on the lever 30 when the carriage returns from the maintenance region. The lever 30, movable frame 40 and a coupling member for coupling the lever 30 with the movable frame 40 are integrally formed from a synthetic resin. The coupling member is formed from a resin piece 70 which can be bendably deformed in forward and reverse directions of the lever 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a maintenance device for an ink jet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-96740 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
JP-A-8-194567 describes a mechanism for performing maintenance such as wiping on a print head of a printer.

On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of an ink jet printer equipped with a conventional maintenance device U. In this ink jet printer, the paper P stocked in the sheet feeder 1 is carried out one by one at a predetermined timing by a paper feed roller not shown in the figure. The skew is corrected by being conveyed to the vicinity of the opposing location. After that, the rotation direction of the feed roller 2 switches to the normal rotation,
The paper P sandwiched between the feed roller 2 and the pinch roller 3 is sent out to a print area below the movement area of the print head 5 mounted on the carriage 4. When the paper P is sent out to the print area P in this manner, the carriage 4 reciprocates in the paper width direction as shown by an arrow W, and the paper P
Is printed. The printed paper P is discharged by the cooperation of the discharge roller 6 and the star wheel 7.

In this ink jet printer, a maintenance area is defined on one side of a printing area, and the maintenance device U is provided in the maintenance area. The maintenance device U includes maintenance tools such as a wiper blade 11 and a rubber cap 12. When the carriage 4 is guided by the horizontal guide shaft 8 by the driving of the motor 8 and enters the maintenance area, the rubber cap 12 caps the print head 5 to prevent the ink from drying out, and to prevent the ink from being dried. When the print head 5 is retracted from the maintenance area by being guided by the horizontal guide shaft 8 by the drive of the motor 8, the wiper blade 11 wipes the print head 5. The number of wiper blades 11 and rubber caps 12 provided in the maintenance device U is as follows.
The number of print heads 5 is equivalent to the number of print heads 5 mounted on the carriage 1. In the ink jet printer of FIG. 9, the carriage 1 is provided with two print heads for performing different color printing. Two caps 12 are also provided.

A conventional maintenance device U shown in FIG.
Schematically shows the frame F of the inkjet printer.
, A wiping movable frame 40 accommodated in the support frame 20, and a movable frame 4
0, a capping movable frame 60 (see FIG. 15: described later) housed in the support frame 20, and the like.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a movable frame 40 for wiping and a lever 30 connected to the movable frame 40.
Are shown. The movable frame 40 has two projections 4 on the left and right.
1 and 42, and a support shaft 4
The shaft hole 31 at the center in the longitudinal direction of the lever 30 is fitted into the support shaft 43. Therefore, the lever 30 separate from the movable frame body 40 is connected to the movable frame body 40 by the support shaft 43 as a connecting member so as to be rotatable forward and backward. Also, a hook 3 is attached to one end of the lever 30.
4 is provided, a spring hook 32 is provided near the hook portion 34, and the action portion 3 is provided at the other end.
3 is projected upward.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show the maintenance device U.
15 is shown, and FIG. 15 shows the internal structure of the maintenance device U.

As can be seen in these figures, the support frame 2
The movable frame 40 for wiping housed in the support frame 20 has its left and right projections 41 and 42 slidably engaged with cam grooves 21 and 22 provided at two right and left portions of the support frame 20. Thus, the cam groove 21 and 22 can reciprocate on a right-upward path that matches the shape of the cam groove. Also,
A spring body 24 made of a tension coil spring is stretched between a spring hook piece 32 of the lever 30 and a spring hook piece 23 provided on the support frame body 20 side. Numeral 40 is always elastically urged in the backward movement direction (to the left in FIGS. 12 to 14). Also, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14, two other cam grooves 25 and 26 are provided at two positions on the left and right of the support frame 20, and the cam grooves 25 and 26 are accommodated in the support frame 20. Left and right projections 61 and 62 provided on a capping movable frame 60 (see FIG. 15) are slidably engaged. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, the protruding portion 63 protrudes upward from the movable capping frame 60.

Further, in addition to the cam grooves 21, 22, 25 and 26, the support frame 20 is provided with an engagement portion 27 to which the hook portion 34 of the lever 30 is disengaged.
The carriage 4 is provided with a protrusion 4 a corresponding to the action portion 33 of the lever 30.

In the above-described conventional inkjet printer equipped with the maintenance device U, when the carriage 4 entering the maintenance area moves backward from the maintenance area, wiping by the wiper blade 11 is performed. That is, when the carriage 4 enters the maintenance area, as shown in FIG. 12, the movable frame 40 has moved to its forward position against the bias of the spring 24, and The hook portion 34 of the lever 30 that has been urged is engaged with the engaging portion 27 on the support frame 20 side. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, the wiper blade 11 attached to the movable frame body 40 is held at the operating position where it comes into contact with the print head 5.

When the carriage 4 retreats from the maintenance area from this state as indicated by an arrow X1 in FIG. 13, the wiper blade 11 is moved until the protrusion 4a on the carriage 4 hits the operating portion 33 of the lever 30. Wiping is performed by sliding with the print head 5. Then, as shown in the figure, when the protruding portion 4a hits the action portion 33 and pushes the action portion 33 slightly leftward in the figure, the lever 30 moves around the support shaft 43 on the movable frame 40 side as shown in FIG. The hook portion 34 is moved in the direction in which the hook portion 34 is disengaged from the engagement portion 27 by the reverse rotation.

When the carriage 4 further retreats from the maintenance area as indicated by an arrow X2 in FIG. 14, the lever 30 is further rotated in the reverse direction about the support shaft 43, and the hook portion 34 gets over the engagement portion 27. The movable frame 40 is moved back within the range regulated by the cam grooves 21 and 22 and the projections 41 and 42 by the urging of the spring body 24, and Hook part 34
Is supported on the engaging portion 27.

On the other hand, when the carriage 4 enters the maintenance area, the carriage 4 pushes the projecting portion 63 of the capping movable frame 60 so that the movable frame 60 moves along the cam grooves 25 and 26. The rubber cap 12 caps the print head 5 at the forward movement position. In addition, the movable frame 60
Is moved to the forward movement position, the contact piece 64 provided on the movable frame 60 shown in FIG. 15 pushes the receiving portion 45 of the movable frame 40 for wiping, and the movable frame 40
To the forward position. As a result, the state described with reference to FIG. 12, that is, the hook part 34 of the lever 30 gets over the engaging part 27 on the support frame 20 side and engages with the engaging part 27, and the wiper blade 11 It is held in a contacting operating position.

As can be seen from the above description, in the conventional maintenance device, the lever 30 having the function of locking the movable frame 40 for wiping at its forward position and the movable frame 40 are provided. The lever 30, which is formed as a separate body and attached to the movable frame 40 via a support shaft 43 as a connecting member, locks the movable frame 40 to its forward movement position through its forward / reverse rotation operation. , To unlock it.

[0015]

However, like the conventional maintenance device, the lever 30 and the lever 30 are not provided.
If the movable frame 40 that needs to be provided is separate from the movable frame 40, it is necessary to separately mold the lever 30 and the movable frame 40 with synthetic resin, which not only increases the manufacturing cost but also increases the number of parts. Therefore, it becomes an obstacle in reducing costs as a whole.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to integrally mold a lever and a movable frame that needs to be provided with the lever with a synthetic resin. It is an object of the present invention to be able to perform such maintenance as in the past.

[0017]

A maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to the present invention is based on the premise that:
A movable frame body that is reciprocally movable and constantly urged in the backward movement direction and holds a maintenance tool, a lever connected to the movable frame body, and a projection provided on the movable frame body, It has a cam groove for guiding reciprocal movement of the movable frame, and engages with a hook provided on the lever when the movable frame moves to the forward movement position to operate the maintenance tool. A supporting frame having an engaging portion for holding the movable frame at a position, and moving the movable frame to its forward movement position in synchronization with the carriage when the carriage on which the print head is mounted enters the maintenance area. A mechanism for disengaging a hook portion of the lever from the engagement portion by acting on the lever when the carriage retreats from the maintenance area, and a longitudinal direction of the lever. The intervening portion is connected to the movable frame so as to be able to rotate forward and reverse in the engaging and disengaging direction with respect to the engaging portion, and the lever is constantly urged in the forward rotating direction to engage with the engaging portion. Is provided.

This configuration is also provided in the conventional maintenance device U described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, according to the maintenance device having this configuration, FIG.
The maintenance operation described in FIGS. 2 to 15, that is, the wiping can be performed. Here, the interlocking mechanism exerts an effect of moving the movable frame to the forward movement position in synchronization with the carriage when the carriage on which the print head is mounted has entered the maintenance area. For example, the hitting piece 64 provided on the capping movable frame body 60 pushed by the carriage 4 as described with reference to FIGS.
The receiving portion 45 of the movable frame body 40 for wiping with respect to the contact piece 64 is constituted. Further, since the engagement release mechanism acts on the lever to release the hook portion of the lever from the engagement portion when the carriage retreats from the maintenance area, for example,
The projection 4a provided on the carriage 4 described with reference to FIGS.

A feature of the maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to the present invention is that a connecting member connecting the lever and the movable frame is formed of synthetic resin integrally with the lever and the movable frame. The lever is formed of a resin piece that can be bent and deformed in the forward and reverse rotation directions of the lever.

In this case, the lever, the movable frame, and the resin piece as the connecting member become one part, so that the number of parts is reduced as compared with the related art, and at the same time, the manufacturing cost ( Molding cost) is cheap. In addition, the resin piece connecting the lever and the movable frame body can be bent and deformed in the forward and reverse rotation directions of the lever. The same action as the one rotatably mounted can be exhibited. Therefore, the maintenance operation described with reference to FIGS.

The resin piece can be formed in a curved shape. In this case, one end in the width direction at one end in the longitudinal direction of the resin piece is connected to the movable frame, and the resin piece is provided. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the other end in the width direction at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the portion is connected to the lever. With this configuration, the lever is rotated forward and reverse with respect to the movable frame by the bending deformation of the curved resin piece.

A maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to another aspect of the present invention includes a movable frame body which is reciprocally movable, is always resiliently urged in a reversing direction, and holds a maintenance tool, and a movable frame body. With a connected lever,
A cam groove for engaging a projection provided on the movable frame body to guide reciprocal movement of the movable frame body, and provided on the lever when the movable frame body has moved to a forward movement position; A support frame having an engagement portion for engaging the hook portion provided to hold the maintenance tool in the operating position, and a carriage mounted with the print head is synchronized with the carriage when the carriage enters the maintenance area. An interlocking mechanism that moves the movable frame to its forward position, and an engagement release mechanism that acts on the lever to release the hook portion of the lever from the engagement portion when the carriage retreats from the maintenance area. , Is provided.

The characteristic part is that the lever is formed integrally with the movable frame by a synthetic resin, and the engaging and disengaging operation of the hook portion and the engaging portion reciprocates. Sometimes, the hook portion is adapted to be performed through an operation of climbing over the engaging portion, and the cam groove is engaged with the hook portion when the hook portion gets over the engaging portion and disengages from the engaging portion. There is provided a configuration in which a specific region is provided which allows the movement of the projection accompanying the tilting of the movable frame.

According to the maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to this invention, the lever performs forward / reverse rotation with the tilting of the movable frame, and through such forward / reverse rotation of the lever, FIGS. It is possible to perform the same maintenance operation as described in the above. In this another invention, the interlocking mechanism is
For example, the hitting piece 64 described with reference to FIGS.
And the receiving portion 45, and the engagement release mechanism is configured by the protruding portion 4a.

Also, since the lever and the movable frame are one part, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the prior art, and at the same time,
The production cost (molding cost) is low.

It is preferable that the specific area of the cam groove is formed in a curved shape along the movement path of the hook portion in the specific area. With this configuration, the operation of the movable frame that tilts with the forward / reverse rotation of the lever is stabilized.

Further, the lever and the movable frame may be connected together via a boss integrally formed of synthetic resin.

[0028] In the maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to the two inventions described above, the maintenance tool may be a wiper blade for wiping the print head.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a movable frame 40 for wiping and a lever 30 connected to the movable frame 40 used in a maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the lever 30 and the movable frame 40 are connected at their longitudinal center portions by a resin piece 70 as a connecting member. Specifically, the resin piece portion 70 is formed in an inverted U-shaped curved shape, and one end 71 in the width direction at one end in the longitudinal direction of the resin piece portion 70 is provided continuously with the movable frame body 40. Resin piece 70
The other end 72 in the width direction at the other end in the longitudinal direction is connected to the lever 30. This includes a lever 30 and a movable frame 40
It is possible to manufacture it at low cost by integrally molding the resin piece 70 with the synthetic resin. The resin piece 70 is
It is necessary for the lever 30 to have such a thickness that it can be flexed and deformed in the forward and reverse rotation directions. If the thickness of the resin piece 70 is too thin, the lever 30 is supported by the resin piece 70. Disappears. Therefore, the resin piece portion 70 needs to have a thickness enough to exert the supporting action of the lever 30 and be able to bend and deform in the forward and reverse rotation directions of the lever 30. In addition, when the shape of the resin piece 70 is the inverted U-shape as described above, even if the thickness of the resin piece 70 is reduced, the support function of the lever 30 by the resin piece 70 is easily exerted. There are advantages.

With the above configuration, the lever 30 can be rotated forward and backward with respect to the movable frame 40, similarly to the lever 30 described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, FIG.
By replacing the movable frame 40 and the lever 30 shown in FIG. 15 with the movable frame 40 and the lever 30 integrated with the movable frame 40 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the same maintenance as that described with reference to FIGS. The action is exerted. Further, since the lever 30, the movable frame body 40, and the resin piece 70 as the connecting member are one component, the number of components is reduced as compared with the related art, and at the same time, the manufacturing cost (molding cost) is reduced. .

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the same parts as those in FIGS. 10 and 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals for simplification of description, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a movable frame 40 for wiping and a lever 30 connected to the movable frame 40 used in the maintenance device of the ink jet printer according to another invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 and FIG.
It is sectional drawing which follows the I-VI line.

In FIGS. 4 to 6, the lever 30, the movable frame 40, and the boss 80 connecting the central portions thereof in the longitudinal direction are integrally formed of synthetic resin.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the operation of the maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to another invention.
As shown in these figures, the movable frame 40 connected via the boss 80 to the lever 30 configured as described above.
Are accommodated in the support frame 20, and the left and right 2
The projections 41 and 42 provided at the locations are
Are slidably engaged with the cam grooves 21 and 22 provided at two places on the left and right sides. The configuration of the support frame 20 is as follows:
Except for the shape of the right cam groove 22, the configuration is the same as that described with reference to FIGS. In the support frame 20, a capping movable frame 60 having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 15 and the like is accommodated in a state similar to that described with reference to FIG. Therefore, in order to simplify the description, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the right cam groove 22 provided in the support frame 20 has a specific area 22a formed in a mountain-like curved shape. When the movable frame 40 is reciprocated with respect to the support frame 20, the specific region 22a is configured such that the hook portion 34 of the lever 30
This is an area in which the movement of the protrusion 42 accompanying the tilting of the movable frame body 40 when the movable frame body 40 is disengaged from the engaging portion 27 after getting over the engaging portion 27 is allowed.

Next, the operation of the maintenance device U shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the carriage 4 entering the maintenance area moves backward from the maintenance area, wiping is performed by the wiper blade 11 (see FIG. 15). That is, when the carriage 4 enters the maintenance area, the movable frame 40 moves to the forward movement position against the bias of the spring body 24, and
Hook part 3 of lever 30 urged by 4
4 is engaged with the engaging portion 27 on the support frame 20 side. In addition, the wiper blade 11 attached to the movable frame 40 is held at an operating position where it comes into contact with the print head 5. Although not shown, this state conforms to the state described with reference to FIGS.

When the carriage 4 retreats from the maintenance area from this state as indicated by an arrow Y1 in FIG. 7, the wiper blade performs printing until the protrusion 4a on the carriage 4 hits the operating portion 33 of the lever 30. Wiping is performed by sliding with the head 5. Then, as shown in the figure, when the projecting portion 4a hits the action portion 33 and pushes the action portion 33 slightly leftward in the figure, the movable frame 40 tilts, and the lever 30 moves around the left protrusion 41 center. The hook portion 34 is moved in the direction in which the hook portion 34 is disengaged from the engagement portion 27 by the reverse rotation.

Thereafter, when the carriage 4 retreats from the maintenance area as shown by an arrow Y2 in FIG. 8, the lever 30 is further rotated in the reverse direction so that the hook portion 34 gets over the engaging portion 27 and the engaging portion 27 I'm leaving from 7,
The movable frame 40 is moved by the urging of the spring
The hook 34 is moved back within the range regulated by the projections 41 and 42 and the hook portion 34 is supported on the engagement portion 27 as shown in FIG. The movable frame 4 at this time
The movement of the right protrusion 42 due to the 0 tilt is permitted by the specific area 22 a of the right cam groove 22.

On the other hand, when the carriage 4 enters the maintenance area, the carriage 4 pushes the projecting portion 63 of the capping movable frame to move the movable frame along the cam grooves 25 and 26. The rubber cap 1 shown in FIG.
2 caps printhead 5. When the movable frame moves to the forward movement position, the hitting piece 64 provided on the movable frame 60 pushes the receiving portion 45 of the movable frame 40 for wiping as shown in FIG. The frame 40 is moved to the forward movement position. As a result, the hook portion 34 of the lever 30 gets over the engaging portion 27 on the support frame 20 side and engages with the engaging portion 27, and the wiper blade 11 is held at the operating position where it comes into contact with the print head 5.
The movement of the right protrusion 42 due to the tilting of the movable frame 40 at this time is also permitted by the specific area 22 a of the right cam groove 22.

As described above, according to the maintenance device U, the lever 30 performs the forward / reverse rotation operation with the tilting of the movable frame 40, and the forward / reverse rotation operation of the lever 30 causes the lever 30 to rotate as shown in FIGS. It is possible to perform the same maintenance operation as described in FIG. Further, since the lever 30, the movable frame body 40, and the boss 80 are one component, the number of components is reduced, and the manufacturing cost (molding cost) is reduced.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention and another invention, the lever and the movable frame which needs to be provided with the lever can be integrally molded with synthetic resin while wiping. Such maintenance can be performed in the same manner as in the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a movable wiping frame, a lever, and the like used in a maintenance device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of that of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a wiping movable frame and levers used in a maintenance device according to another invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of that of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a predetermined state of a maintenance device according to another invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram in another predetermined state of the maintenance device according to another invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a print head type printer equipped with a conventional maintenance device.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a wiping movable frame and lever used in a conventional maintenance device.

FIG. 11 is a side view of that of FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a conventional maintenance device in a predetermined state.

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram in another predetermined state of the conventional maintenance device.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the conventional maintenance device in still another predetermined state.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a conventional maintenance device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 carriage 4a projecting portion (engagement release mechanism) 5 print head 11 wiping blade (maintenance tool) 20 support frame 21, 22 cam groove 22a specific region 27 engaging portion 30 lever 34 hook portion 40 movable frame 41, 42 projection 45 Receiving part (interlocking mechanism) 64 Contact piece (interlocking mechanism) 70 Resin piece 71 One end in the width direction at one longitudinal end of the resin piece 72 Other end in the width direction at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the resin piece 80 Boss Department

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A movable frame which is reciprocally movable, constantly urged in a reversing direction and holds a maintenance tool, a lever connected to the movable frame, and a projection provided on the movable frame. The movable frame has a cam groove for guiding the reciprocating movement of the movable frame, and engages with the hook provided on the lever when the movable frame has moved to the forward movement position. A support frame having an engagement portion for holding the maintenance tool in an operation position, and moving the movable frame in synchronization with the carriage when the carriage on which the print head is mounted enters the maintenance area. An interlocking mechanism for moving the lever to a position, and an engagement disengaging mechanism for acting on the lever when the carriage retreats from the maintenance area to disengage the hook portion of the lever from the engagement portion. An intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction is connected to the movable frame so as to be able to rotate forward and reverse in the engaging and disengaging direction with respect to the engaging portion, and the lever is always resilient in the forward rotating direction in which the lever engages with the engaging portion. In the urged member, a connecting member connecting the lever and the movable frame is formed integrally with the lever and the movable frame by a synthetic resin, and is bent and deformed in the forward and reverse rotation directions of the lever. A maintenance device for an ink jet printer, wherein the maintenance device is formed of a possible resin piece. 2. The resin piece is formed in a curved shape, and one end in the width direction at one longitudinal end of the resin piece is connected to the movable frame, and the resin piece is placed in the longitudinal direction. 2. The maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the other end in the width direction at the other end is connected to the lever. 3. A movable frame body which is reciprocally movable, constantly urged in the reversing direction and holds a maintenance tool, a lever connected to the movable frame body, and a projection provided on the movable frame body. The movable frame has a cam groove for guiding the reciprocating movement of the movable frame, and engages with the hook provided on the lever when the movable frame has moved to the forward movement position. A support frame having an engagement portion for holding the maintenance tool in an operation position, and moving the movable frame in synchronization with the carriage when the carriage on which the print head is mounted enters the maintenance area. An interlocking mechanism for moving the lever to a position and a disengagement mechanism for acting on the lever to disengage the hook portion of the lever from the engaging portion when the carriage retreats from the maintenance area. The movable frame is integrally formed of synthetic resin, and the engaging and disengaging operation of the hook and the engaging portion is such that the hook engages the engaging portion when the movable frame reciprocates. The protrusion is caused by the tilting of the movable frame when the hook portion gets over the engaging portion and is disengaged from the engaging portion. A maintenance device for an ink jet printer, comprising a specific area that allows movement. 4. The maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to claim 3, wherein the specific area of the cam groove is formed in a curved shape along a movement path of the hook portion in the specific area. 5. The maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to claim 3, wherein the lever and the movable frame are connected together via a boss unit integrally formed of synthetic resin. 6. The maintenance device for an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance tool is a wiper blade for wiping the print head.