JP2001088313A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder wherein a recording paper or the like is not contaminated by ink. SOLUTION: A capping means 6 used for a cleaning operation of a recording head is constituted such that a cap holder 9 by a hard material and a cap member 7 by a soft material are formed by, for example, a two color forming method. The cap member 7 is projected from an opening end face of the cap holder 9 and is so constituted that the height of the projected portion is greater than a width of a cap holder 9 in a portion from a standing portion of the cap member 7 contacting the opening end face to an opening edge section of the cap holder positioning on the outer circumference face in the horizontal direction. As a result, it is possible to allow the ink that tends to stay on the outer circumference face of the cap member to escape therefrom to the gravity direction so that it is possible to suppress in a minimum level a problem that ink staying on the outer circumference face of the cap member is stuck to the recording head and a recording paper is contaminated thereby.

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 having a recording head for discharging ink droplets corresponding to print data, and more particularly to a method of sealing a nozzle forming surface of a recording head and a suction pump. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a capping means for sucking and discharging ink from the recording head by receiving a negative pressure from the recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have been used in many printings including color printing in recent years, since noise during printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such an ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge, and a paper feeding unit that moves recording paper relative to the recording head,
Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets on recording paper based on print data while moving the recording head.

A recording head capable of discharging, for example, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks is mounted on a carriage, and not only text printing using black ink but also full-color printing is performed by changing the discharge ratio of each color ink. Is possible.

The above-mentioned ink jet recording head is
Due to the fact that the ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber is ejected from the nozzles as ink droplets onto the recording paper to perform printing, the ink viscosity increases due to evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle openings, the ink solidifies, dust adheres, Further, there is a problem that clogging of the nozzle opening occurs due to the incorporation of bubbles and the like, resulting in poor printing.

For this purpose, this type of ink jet recording apparatus is provided with capping means for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head during non-printing. The capping means not only functions as a lid for preventing ink from being dried at the nozzle openings in the recording head, but also seals the nozzle forming surface by the capping means when the nozzle openings are clogged when the nozzle openings are clogged. It also has a function of recovering the ink discharge capability that sucks ink from the nozzle openings by negative pressure from the pump and eliminates clogging of the nozzle openings.

[0006] Forcible suction and discharge processing of ink for eliminating clogging of the recording head is called a cleaning operation, and is performed when printing is resumed after a long pause of the apparatus.
This operation is performed when the user recognizes a printing failure and operates, for example, a cleaning switch. After a negative pressure is applied by a suction pump and ink is sucked and discharged from the recording head into the capping unit, the ink is formed from, for example, a rubber material. The wiping member is configured to perform a wiping operation on the nozzle forming surface.

The capping means is arranged, for example, at the end (home position) of the recording apparatus outside the printing area, and the driving force of the carriage accompanying the movement of the carriage toward the home position causes the recording head to move. It is mounted on an elevating mechanism configured to be able to rise to the nozzle forming surface side.

[0008]

By the way, in the capping means mounted on a conventional recording apparatus, a discharge port for sucking and discharging ink is provided at the lower bottom of the capping means, and the capping state of the capping means is also provided at the lower bottom. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-168, there is provided an apparatus having an air inlet for introducing air into an internal space. In the conventional recording apparatus, in the cleaning operation, the negative pressure of the suction pump is applied through the discharge port to suction and discharge the ink from the recording head into the capping means, and then the air is released to the atmosphere introduction port. A control sequence is employed in which the operation of opening the valve is performed, and the suction pump is driven again in the open state of the atmosphere release valve to discharge the ink in the capping means from the discharge port.

However, when such a control sequence is adopted, when ink in the capping means is discharged from the discharge port, air is introduced into the capping means from the air introduction port. There is a problem that a large amount of air bubbles are generated, and the air bubbles enter the nozzle openings of the recording head, destroying the meniscus formed at the nozzle openings, resulting in poor printing.

Therefore, in order to avoid such adverse effects due to the generation of bubbles, a control sequence is employed in which the air inlet is eliminated and the ink in the capping unit is discharged while the capping unit is slightly separated from the nozzle forming surface. An ink-jet recording apparatus has been proposed by the present applicant.

By executing such control, the above-mentioned adverse effects due to the generation of bubbles can be avoided. However, when the capping device is slightly separated from the nozzle forming surface, the capping device is affected by vibrations and the like. The ink leaks to the outside, and the ink adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the cap member that forms the seal portion of the capping means, and the ink stays there. Then, the retained ink adheres to the recording head and sometimes develops a problem that the recording paper is contaminated by dripping onto the recording paper loaded in the printing area during printing.

On the other hand, when the nozzle forming surface is wiped by the wiping member after the ink is sucked and discharged from the recording head, the ink scraped from the nozzle forming surface is removed.
There is also a problem that the wiping member is scattered toward the capping means due to a reaction of mechanical return of the wiping member, and similarly, there is a problem that ink adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the cap member and stays there.

Particularly, in a conventional capping device in which a cap member constituting a sealing portion of the capping device and a cap holder for holding the cap member are separately constructed and assembled, the cap member and the cap holder are combined. Ink penetrates into the gap formed between them,
The effect of discharging ink to the gravitational direction is obtained to some extent. As a result, the problem that the ink drops from the recording head onto the recording paper during printing or the like and contaminates the recording paper as described above has hardly occurred.

However, in an integrally molded product in which no gap is generated between the cap member and the cap holder,
The ink is prevented from escaping in the direction of gravity, thereby causing a problem that the ink stays on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member, and the problem of contaminating the recording paper due to the above-described operation occurs remarkably. It has been confirmed experimentally.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-described viewpoint, and is configured so that ink that is to stay on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member is positively released in the direction of gravity, so that the recording head can be used. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which reduces the amount of ink adhering and does not contaminate recording paper as described above.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an ink jet recording head for discharging ink droplets corresponding to print data; A capping unit that seals a nozzle forming surface of the head and sucks and discharges ink from the recording head by receiving a negative pressure from a suction pump. A cap member formed of a soft material that contacts the nozzle forming surface of the head and seals the nozzle forming surface, and a cap holder formed of a hard material holding the cap member, wherein the cap member is , Formed on the inner surface of the cap holder so as to protrude from the opening end face of the cap holder. The projecting height Y of the cap member from the opening end surface of the cap holder, and the horizontal width X from the rising portion of the cap member in contact with the opening end surface of the cap holder to the opening edge of the cap holder located on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Are configured such that X <Y.

In this case, preferably, the cap member formed so as to protrude from the opening end face of the cap holder has a substantially triangular cross section. In a preferred embodiment, the side wall of the cap holder receives one end of a spring member for urging the cap member toward the nozzle forming surface when the cap member is in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the recording head. A spring receiving portion is formed, and an opening is formed in the spring receiving portion to release ink retained on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member in the direction of gravity.

In this case, a plurality of openings formed in the spring receiving portion may be arranged adjacent to each other along the side wall portion of the cap holder. The opening has a polygonal shape with a corner formed on the inner surface of the opening. And, the configuration described above is
In a configuration in which the upper surface of the spring receiving portion is formed substantially flush with the opening end surface of the cap holder, a preferable effect can be exhibited.

Further, the cap member can obtain a favorable effect in a structure formed integrally with the cap holder by insert molding or two-color molding. In this case, an elastomer is used as a soft material constituting the cap member. Alternatively, a rubber material is used.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus having the above structure, the cap member formed on the inner surface of the cap holder is formed so as to protrude with respect to the opening end face of the cap holder, and the protruding height is set at the outer peripheral surface of the cap member. Is larger than the width of the opening end face of the cap holder located at the position (1), and thus acts to positively release the ink that tends to stay on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member in the direction of gravity.

Thus, the amount of ink staying on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member can always be reduced, and the problem that the ink staying on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member adheres to the recording head and contaminates the recording paper is minimized. It becomes possible to stay.

Further, since an opening is disposed in the spring receiving portion formed on the side wall of the cap holder in the vicinity of the cap member, ink can escape in the direction of gravity through this opening. Thus, the amount of ink that tends to stay on the upper surface of the spring receiving portion can be effectively reduced.

In this case, by arranging a plurality of the openings adjacent to each other along the outer peripheral surface of the cap member, the ink which tends to stay on the upper surface of the flat plate-shaped spring receiving portion can be removed.
The ink can be discharged in the direction of gravity through any of the openings, and can contribute to the effect of reducing the amount of ink on the upper surface of the spring receiving portion that easily stays.

Further, the opening is formed in a polygonal shape such as a quadrangle which forms a corner on the inner surface of the opening, so that the ink is guided and eliminated by the capillary action at the corner on the inner surface of the opening. Can be promoted.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 mainly show the configuration of capping means in an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 shows a state viewed from the top of the apparatus, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show states viewed from the side, showing a non-capping state and a capping state, respectively.

Reference numeral 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 denotes a carriage. The carriage 1 is configured to be guided by a guide rod 2 and move in parallel with the paper guide plate 3. The carriage 1 is connected to a part of a timing belt reciprocated by a carriage motor (not shown), and is configured to reciprocate along the guide rod 2.

A recording head 5 is mounted on the carriage 1 so as to face the recording paper 4 disposed on the upper surface of the paper guide plate 3. The recording paper 4 on the paper guide plate 3 can be printed by ejecting ink droplets corresponding to the data.

The capping means 6 for sealing the recording head 5 is arranged in a non-printing area (home position) at the end of the recording apparatus, and has a size capable of sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 with a sealed space. A function of sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 during non-printing to prevent drying of the ink at the nozzle openings, and recording by receiving a negative pressure from a suction pump (not shown) during the cleaning operation. A function of forcibly discharging ink from the head 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ink discharge port 7a is formed at the inner bottom of the cap member 7 arranged in the capping means 6, and the ink discharge port 7a has a tube (not shown). One end is connected and the other end of the tube is connected to a suction pump. Thereby, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 is sealed by the cap member 7 during non-printing, and when a cleaning command is received, a negative pressure by the suction pump is applied to the internal space of the capping means, and recording is performed. Ink can be forcibly discharged from the head 5. An ink absorbing sheet 8 is accommodated in the cap member 7 so as to hold the sucked ink.

The cap member 7 is formed integrally with a rectangular cap holder 9 as will be described in detail later.
The flat plate-shaped spring receiving portions 9a are respectively formed in the horizontal direction. The cap holder 9 is mounted on a slider 10 constituting a lifting mechanism, and a pair of compression springs 11 interposed between the slider 10 and a spring receiving portion 9a.
And is attached in a state of being biased toward the recording head 5 side.

An engagement portion 9b is formed at the center of one end of the cap holder 9 and at both sides of the other end, and these three engagement portions 9b are formed on the slider 10 respectively. When the cap holder 9 is locked at three points by the locking member 10a, the movement of the cap holder 9 in the upward direction, that is, toward the recording head 5, is restricted.
Mounted on top.

A pair of elongated holes 12 are formed in the lower bottom portion of the slider 10 in a substantially horizontal direction, and each of the elongated holes 12 is rotatably attached to the frame 13. A pair of horizontal shafts 15 arranged on the free end side of the arm 14 are housed so as to be movable. As a result, the slider 10 can rise with an arc-shaped locus with respect to the frame 13 via the arm 14.

Guide pieces 10b are formed on both sides of the end of the slider 10 on the non-printing area side, and the pair of guide pieces 10b are formed with a pair of guide grooves 16 formed in the frame 13. It is configured to be supported by. The guide groove 16 has a low portion 16a formed at one end, a horizontal high portion 16b formed at the other end,
Further, it is constituted by an inclined portion 16c connecting these, and these three regions are formed to communicate with each other.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, one end of a tension spring 17 having one end fixed to the frame 13 is fixed to one guide piece 10b.
By the action of 7, the slider 10 is urged so as to be positioned in the print area direction and in the direction away from the recording head 5, that is, in the downward direction in this embodiment.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the carriage 1 moves just above the capping means 6, the carriage 1
The engaging body 1a disposed on the slider 10 comes into contact with an engaging portion 10c formed to stand upright on the slider 10 so as to resist the tensile force of the spring 17 as shown in FIG.
Is raised via an arm 14 so that the cap member 7 formed integrally with the cap holder 9 can seal the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 arranged on the carriage 1. ing.

When the carriage 1 moves to the printing area, the engagement of the engaging body 1a on the carriage 1 with the engaging portion 10c arranged on the slider 10 is released, and the slider 10 pulls the spring 17. The state shown in FIG. 2 is established by the force, whereby the sealing of the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 by the cap member 7 is released.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sealing surface of the cap member 7, that is, the upper end surface in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5, is in a non-parallel state to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5. It is configured as follows. That is, the sealing surface of the cap member 7 is inclined so as to slightly descend toward the printing area with respect to the end of the home position (right side in FIG. 2).

This is because the long hole 1 formed in the slider 10
2 and the arrangement position of the guide piece 10b that slides in a series of guide grooves 16 formed in the frame 13.

The cap member 7 is connected to the recording head 5
In the state where the nozzle forming surface is sealed, first, the nozzle 10 comes into contact with the nozzle forming surface from the home position side, and the slider 10
As the compression spring 11 contracts as the pressure rises, it acts to seal the entire nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5. In the case where the cap member 7 is to unseal the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5, the cap member 7 is separated from the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 first from the end on the printing region side, and is separated from the nozzle forming surface. It acts to separate in a non-parallel state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
A cleaner holding member 20 having, for example, a rubber wiping member 21 for wiping the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 mounted on the carriage 1 with the movement of the carriage 1 is disposed. The cleaner holding member 20 is configured to be moved in the horizontal direction so that the wiping member 21 can enter or retract with respect to the wiping position on the moving path of the recording head 5.

Therefore, during the cleaning operation, the wiping member 21 removes dust and paper dust adhering to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 before sucking the ink, and also removes the dust and paper powder after sucking the ink. The ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface is wiped.

In this case, in the embodiment, the movement of the holding member 20 for holding the wiping member 21 and the pump for sucking the internal space of the capping means to a negative pressure are performed by the recording paper 4 on the paper guide plate 3. The driving force of a paper feed motor (not shown) for transporting the paper is used. Then, the wiping member 21 is configured to advance on the movement locus of the recording head with the driving of the suction pump.

In the above configuration, when the carriage 1 moves to the non-printing area side by driving the carriage motor,
As shown in FIG. 2, the engagement body 1 disposed on the carriage 1
a comes into contact with the engaging portion 10c formed on the slider 10. Then, as the carriage 1 still moves to the home position side, the slider 10 rises through the arm 14 while resisting the tensile force of the spring 17 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the guide piece 10 formed on the slider 10
b, the lower portion 16a of the guide groove 16
6c, the cap member 7 is further moved to the horizontal high portion 16b, whereby the cap member 7 integrally formed with the cap holder 9 seals the recording head 5 arranged on the carriage 1.

When the sealing of the nozzle forming surface by the cap member 7 is completed in this way, the cap member 7 is disconnected from the atmosphere and becomes airtight, thereby suppressing the evaporation of ink from the nozzle openings. Thus, the recording head acts to prevent clogging.

When the carriage 1 is moved toward the printing area by driving the carriage motor, the engaging member 1a disposed on the carriage 1 is separated from the engaging portion 10c formed on the slider 10. Therefore, the slider 10 is moved through the arm 14 by the tensile force of the spring 17, and the guide piece 10b formed on the slider 10 is moved to the lower portion 16a.
Descend by moving to the side. Thereby, the sealing state of the recording head 5 by the cap member 7 is released.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the detailed structure of the cap holder and the cap member constituting the above-mentioned capping means. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the assembly of the cap holder and the cap member as viewed from above, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken along line AA in FIG. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As described above, the cap member 7 is integrally formed on the inner portion of the rectangular cap holder 9 by, for example, insert molding or two-color molding, and the cap holder 9 is made of, for example, hard synthetic resin. The cap member 7 is made of a soft material such as an elastomer or rubber.

In the case where both are integrally formed by insert molding, first, the cap holder 9 is formed in a predetermined mold, and the thus formed cap holder 9 is loaded in a second mold. The two are integrally formed by insert-molding the soft material constituting the cap member 7.

In the case where the two are integrally formed by two-color molding, first, the cap holder 9 is first molded in a predetermined mold, and the cap holder 9 is formed by the primary molded product, the cap holder 9 and the secondary molding cavity. By filling a soft material constituting the cap member 7 into the space to be formed, both are integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 5, on the inner side surface of the primary molded cap holder 9, the secondary molded cap member 7 is formed so as to protrude from the opening end surface 9 c of the cap holder 9. . Then, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG.
Has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape, and a top end surface thereof forms a seal portion that abuts the nozzle forming surface of the recording head. With this configuration, the degree of adhesion at the seal portion that comes into contact with the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is improved, so that the sealed state of the internal space of the capping means can be favorably maintained.

Further, the protruding height Y of the cap member 7 from the opening end surface 9c of the cap holder 9 and the rising portion 7c of the cap member 7 in contact with the opening end surface 9c of the cap holder, the cap holder located on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Is less than the width X in the horizontal direction reaching the opening edge 9d.
It is configured so that

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink IK which is to stay on the rising outer peripheral wall of the cap member 7 is moved by the gravity to the opening edge 9 of the cap holder.
It is possible to reduce the amount of the ink IK flowing over the side wall 9e of the cap holder 9 beyond d and falling on the rising outer peripheral wall of the cap member 7 as much as possible. Therefore, it is possible to effectively avoid the problem that the ink IK retained on the rising outer peripheral wall of the cap member 7 adheres to the recording head and drops on the recording paper, thereby contaminating the recording paper. .

As described above, the plate-shaped spring receiving portions 9a are formed in the horizontal direction on the side wall portions in the longitudinal direction of the cap holder. In the embodiment, the upper surface of the spring receiving portion 9a is formed substantially flush with the opening end surface 9c of the cap holder, and ink retained on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member is gravity-adhered to the spring receiving portion 9a. An opening 9f for releasing in the direction is formed.

7, two openings 9f are arranged adjacent to each other along the side wall 9e of the cap holder 9, as shown in an enlarged manner. According to such a configuration, the ink IK which intends to stay on the upper surface of the spring receiving portion 9a is, for example, as schematically shown in FIG. 7, between two adjacent openings 9f, two openings 9f. Formed between the opening 9f and the distance between each opening 9f and the rising portion 7c of the cap member 7.
Although the ink pool is generated at the position shown as, the area is small.

Similarly, IK is formed as a relationship between the distance between the end of the spring receiving portion 9a in the extending direction and the opening 9f and the distance between the opening 9f and the rising portion 7c of the cap member 7. Although ink accumulation occurs at the position, the area is small. As a result, the ink that is going to stay on the upper surface of the flat plate-shaped spring receiving portion 9a can be effectively discharged through the opening 9f, and the ink amount on the upper surface of the spring receiving portion that easily stays can be reduced. Can contribute.

In this case, the opening 9f is preferably formed in a polygonal shape forming a corner on the inner surface of the opening, and in the example shown in the figure, it is formed in a square shape.
In other words, at the corners of the quadrangular opening which are perpendicular to each other, the ink acts to gather the ink into the corners by capillary action when the ink arrives at the corners, and the collected ink springs according to gravity. It is guided to the back side of the receiving portion 9a.

Therefore, even if the flat plate-shaped spring receiving portion 9a is formed, the amount of ink that tends to stay on the upper surface of the spring receiving portion 9a can be greatly reduced, and the staying ink can be recorded. It is possible to avoid the problem that the recording paper is contaminated by adhering to the head.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Two openings 9f are formed in the spring receiving portion 9a, and the number is appropriately selected according to the width of the spring receiving portion 9a formed in the longitudinal direction. Also, the shape of the opening 9f is not limited to a square shape, and other polygonal shapes can be selected.

[0059]

As apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the cap member is formed so as to protrude from the opening end face of the cap holder, and the protruding height is determined by the opening height of the cap holder. Since the width in the horizontal direction from the rising portion of the cap member in contact with the end surface to the opening edge of the cap holder located on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member is configured to be larger, the ink that is to stay on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member is reduced. It can escape effectively in the direction of gravity. Therefore, the amount of ink staying on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member can always be reduced, and the problem that the staying ink adheres to the recording head and contaminates the recording paper can be minimized.

In addition, in the configuration in which the spring receiving portion is formed on the side wall portion of the cap holder, an opening is arranged in the spring receiving portion in the vicinity of the cap member, so that the ink is passed through the opening. Can escape in the direction of gravity. Thus, the amount of ink that tends to stay on the upper surface of the spring receiving portion can be effectively reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view mainly showing the configuration of capping means in an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the capping means shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the recording head is capped by the capping unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration of a cap holder and a cap member that constitute capping means.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the capping unit shown in FIG. 4 when viewed from the line AA in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of the capping means shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the capping means shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 2 Guide rod 3 Paper guide plate 4 Recording paper 5 Recording head 6 Capping means 7 Cap member 7a Ink discharge port 7b Projection part 7c Rising part 9 Cap holder 9a Spring receiving part 9c Open end face 9d Opening edge 9e Side wall part 9f Opening Part 10 Slider (elevating mechanism) 11 Compression spring 13 Frame 21 Wiping member

Claims (8)

[Claims] An ink jet recording head for ejecting ink droplets corresponding to print data; a nozzle forming surface of the recording head being sealed; An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a capping means for sucking and discharging ink; wherein the capping means includes a cap member formed of a soft material that abuts a nozzle forming surface of a recording head and seals the nozzle forming surface. And a cap holder formed of a hard material that holds the cap member, wherein the cap member is formed on an inner surface of the cap holder so as to protrude from an opening end surface of the cap holder, The height Y of the cap member protruding from the opening end face of the cap holder is in contact with the opening end face of the cap holder. From the rising portion of the cap member that, the horizontal width X leading to the opening edge portion of the cap holder located on the outer peripheral surface
Wherein the dimensional relationship is such that X <Y. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap member formed to project from the opening end surface of the cap holder has a substantially triangular cross section. 3. A spring receiving portion for receiving one end of a spring member for urging the cap member toward the nozzle forming surface when the cap member is in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the recording head, on a side wall portion of the cap holder. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening is formed in the spring receiving portion to allow ink retained on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member to escape in the direction of gravity. 4. 4. An opening formed in the spring receiving portion,
4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the recording apparatuses are arranged adjacent to each other along the side wall of the cap holder. 5. An opening formed in the spring receiving portion,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus has a polygonal shape forming a corner on the inner surface of the opening. 6. An upper surface of the spring receiving portion is formed substantially flush with the opening end surface of the cap holder.
An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The cap member is formed integrally with the cap holder by insert molding or two-color molding.
An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the above. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the soft material constituting the cap member is an elastomer or a rubber.