JP2002225314A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cap constitution whereby a cap is prevented from being deformed by a negative pressure without complicating the constitution, and ink is made hard to remain in the cap. SOLUTION: The suction cap 41 is constituted of a cap member 42 having a recess 43 formed thereto, and a cap holder 50 for supporting the cap member 42. The rectangular recess 43, a suction hole 44, and a projecting rib 47 arranged to the side opposite to the side of the recess 43 at a central part in a longitudinal direction of a side wall 46 which forms a wall face in the longitudinal direction of the recess 43, are integrally formed in the cap member 42. Therefore, the cap member 42 is prevented from being deformed by the negative pressure of a suction pump 38. Moreover, since no step as in the prior art is formed to the vicinity of a butting part in the recess 43, the ink in the recess 43 can be discharged to the outside of the suction cap 41 from suction holes 44 and 52 without being left in the recess.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus such as a printer that performs recording on a recording medium such as paper or an OHP sheet is provided with a recording head for performing a recording operation on the recording medium. As such a recording head, for example, an ink jet head, a dot impact type head, a thermal transfer type head, and the like can be mentioned. Among them, the ink jet head has a relatively simple structure, high-speed printing, and easy high-quality printing. Also known as a recording head.

[0003] Since a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed in an ink-jet head, the nozzles may be mixed when bubbles or dust enter the nozzles or when the ink solvent thickens due to evaporation. In a case where the ink is not ejected from the nozzle or the ink ejection becomes unsuitable for printing, etc., an ink ejection recovery process for removing the cause of the ink ejection failure is performed.

As means for performing such an ink jet recovery process, there is a means provided with a cap capable of covering a nozzle opening surface of an ink jet head, and a suction pump communicating with the cap to apply a suction force. Then, with the cap covering the nozzle opening surface, the suction pump is driven to forcibly discharge the ink from the nozzle, thereby removing the cause of the ink ejection failure together with the ink.

[0005] The ink received by the cap during the ink ejection recovery process is guided to the waste ink tank via the suction pump by the action of the suction force.

When the cap is elongated and a negative pressure is applied to the concave portion of the cap by the suction pump in the ink ejection recovery process, the longitudinal side wall of the concave portion of the cap falls down inward and covers the nozzle opening surface in close contact. The cap has a problem that a gap is formed between the cap and the nozzle opening surface, and the negative pressure from the suction pump does not act in the nozzle, so that the cause of the ink ejection failure cannot be eliminated.

To solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
In 7432, a reinforcing member is installed in the cap,
Reinforcing portions for increasing the thickness of the entire side wall of the cap inside the concave portion are formed in the cap concave portion so that the side wall of the cap concave portion is not deformed inward. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-238276, a part of the cap holder is inserted into the cap so that the side wall of the cap recess is not deformed inward.

[0008]

However, when a reinforcing member is mounted in the cap, a step is formed between the cap and the reinforcing member, and ink remains on the step, and for some reason, the ink remains. Leakage into the device,
Alternatively, if the cap is solidified in the cap and significantly deteriorates the cap performance, or if the cap is used as a storage cap by covering the nozzle opening surface when recording is not being performed, the nozzle may be covered when covered. There has been a problem in that the residual ink adheres to the opening surface, causing an ink ejection failure such as changing the direction of ink ejection from the nozzle from a predetermined direction. In particular, when the step is formed in the vicinity of the contact portion that comes into contact with the nozzle opening surface of the cap, the negative pressure from the suction pump hardly acts on the step, and the ink easily remains on the step. Furthermore,
Since a reinforcing member other than the cap is separately required, the cost is increased, and the reinforcing member may fall off at the time of movement or the like.

In the case where a reinforcing portion for increasing the thickness of the entire side wall inside the concave portion of the cap is formed in the concave portion of the cap in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 5-77432, an abutment which comes into contact with the nozzle opening of the cap is provided. Since the step portion is formed between the portion and the reinforcing portion, the above-described problem occurs.

[0010] Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-238276 has a problem that the configuration of the cap and the cap holder is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can prevent deformation due to negative pressure without complicating the structure, and can prevent ink from remaining in the cap. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus having a configuration.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head for ejecting ink from a nozzle to perform recording on a recording medium, and a recording head having a nozzle opening surface. Cap means having a recess which is capable of contacting and separating with respect to the nozzle opening surface and which forms a space with the nozzle opening surface when in contact with the nozzle opening surface, and a suction hole formed in the recess of the cap means. In an ink jet recording apparatus having communication and a suction unit for sucking ink from the nozzle, the cap unit includes a rectangular recess, the suction hole, and a side wall forming a longitudinal wall surface of the recess. And a protruding rib disposed on the opposite side to the concave side at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of (1).

According to this structure, when the suction means sucks the ink from the nozzle in a state where the cap means is in contact with the nozzle opening surface of the recording head, the concave portion of the cap means receives the ink. I do. Since the protruding rib is integrally formed on the side wall forming the wall surface in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion, deformation of the cap due to the negative pressure of the suction pump is prevented. Since the protruding rib is arranged on the opposite side, the ink in the concave portion is discharged from the suction hole to the outside of the cap means without remaining.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head for ejecting ink from a nozzle to perform recording on a recording medium, and a recording head capable of coming into contact with and separating from a nozzle opening surface of the recording head. A cap means for forming a recess forming a space with the nozzle opening surface in a state in which the nozzle means is in contact with a surface thereof, and a suction hole formed in the recess of the cap means for sucking ink from the nozzle. In the ink jet recording apparatus having a suction unit, the cap unit is smooth on a side surface of the concave portion at a central portion in a longitudinal direction of a rectangular concave portion, the suction hole, and a side wall forming a longitudinal wall surface of the concave portion. And a protruding rib connected to the main body is integrally formed.

According to this structure, when the suction means sucks the ink from the nozzle in a state where the cap means is in contact with the nozzle opening surface of the recording head, the recess of the cap means receives the ink. I do. Since the protruding rib is integrally formed on the side wall forming the longitudinal wall surface of the concave portion, the deformation of the cap due to the negative pressure of the suction pump is prevented, and the concave side surface is formed at the longitudinal central portion of the side wall. Since the protruding ribs are smoothly connected, the ink in the concave portion is discharged from the suction hole to the outside of the cap means without remaining between the side wall surface of the concave portion and the protruding rib.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the cap means has an abutting portion that abuts on the nozzle opening surface over the entire circumference of the opening of the recess. The protruding rib is formed at a position separated by a predetermined distance from a tip of the contact portion with respect to a depth direction of the concave portion, and the predetermined distance is such that the contact portion contacts the nozzle opening surface. The depth is not less than the amount by which the tip of the contact portion is crushed and not more than の of the depth of the concave portion.

According to such a configuration, when the contact portion of the cap is in contact with the nozzle opening surface,
Since the projecting rib does not come into contact with the nozzle opening surface, the contact between the cap and the nozzle opening surface is favorably performed, and the deformation of the cap due to the negative pressure of the suction pump is prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first to third aspects are provided.
In the invention described in any one of (1) to (4), the protruding rib extends substantially to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the recess, and the thickness of the protruding rib gradually decreases from the center to both ends. It is characterized by having.

According to this structure, the thickness of the protruding rib is gradually reduced toward both ends in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion, so that the reinforcing rib near the central portion in the longitudinal direction which is easily deformed is provided. The deformation of the cap can be prevented without unnecessarily reinforcing the strength of the both ends of the recess that is difficult to deform.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the cap means has an abutting portion which abuts on the nozzle opening surface over the entire circumference of the opening of the recess, and Is characterized in that the thickness of the bottom surface side of the concave portion is greater than the contact portion side in the depth direction of the concave portion.

According to this structure, the thickness of the protruding rib is greater on the bottom surface side of the concave portion than on the contact portion side in the depth direction of the concave portion. Without forming a step, the strength of the side wall is reinforced,
The deformation of the cap is prevented.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a color inkjet printer as an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the color inkjet printer 21 is used to print on an ink cartridge 22 as an ink supply member filled with four color inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively, and a sheet 23 as a recording medium. A head unit 25 having an inkjet head 24 as a recording head, a carriage 26 as a support member on which the ink cartridge 22 and the head unit 25 are mounted, and a drive unit 27 for reciprocating the carriage 26 in a linear direction. Carriage 2
A platen roller 28 extending in the reciprocating direction of the ink jet head 6 and facing the inkjet head 24;
And

The drive unit 27 includes a carriage shaft 30 disposed at the lower end of the carriage 26 and extending parallel to the platen roller 28, a guide plate 31 disposed at the upper end of the carriage 26 and extending parallel to the carriage shaft 30, Two pulleys 32 and 33 are provided between the shaft 30 and the guide plate 31 and at both ends of the carriage shaft 30, and an endless belt 34 is stretched between the pulleys 32 and 33. .

A carriage shaft supporting portion 35 through which the carriage shaft 30 can be inserted is provided at the lower end of the carriage 26, and the guide plate 3 is provided at the upper end of the carriage 26.
1 is provided with a guide plate contact portion 36 that can contact with the guide plate 1.
An endless belt 34 is joined to the rear side surface of the carriage 26.

When one of the pulleys 32 is rotated forward and backward by the drive of the carriage motor 32A, the carriage 26 joined to the endless belt 34 is moved in accordance with the forward and reverse rotation of the pulley 32. The paper 23 is reciprocated linearly along the guide plate 31 along the width direction of the paper 23.

The paper 23 is fed from a paper feed cassette (not shown) provided on the side of the ink jet printer 21, and has a nozzle opening surface 24a of the ink jet head 24 facing downward in the vertical direction, and a platen roller. 28, the ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles of the ink jet head 24 to perform predetermined recording, and thereafter, the sheet is discharged. In FIG. 1,
The illustration of the paper feed mechanism and the paper discharge mechanism for these sheets 23 is omitted.

The purge device 29 is provided on the side of the platen roller 28, and is disposed so as to face the nozzle opening surface 24a of the ink jet head 24 when the head unit 25 is at the reset position. The purge device 29 is used to remove factors of ink ejection failure due to bubbles or dust entering the inside of the nozzle, or thickening due to evaporation of the ink solvent. That is, the purging device 29 includes a suction cap 41 as cap means capable of covering the nozzles of the inkjet head 24, a suction pump 38 and a cam 39 as suction means, and a waste ink storage section 40. When the position 25 is at the reset position, the cam 39 is driven by a suction motor (not shown) to bring the suction cap 41 into contact with the nozzle opening surface 24 a of the inkjet head 24 to cover the nozzle with the suction cap 41, and accumulate inside the inkjet head 24. The ink jet head 24 is recovered by sucking defective ink including air bubbles and dust, which is a factor of ink ejection failure, by driving the cam 39 by the pump 38. Accordingly, it is possible to perform an ink ejection recovery process for preventing a discharge failure or the like due to ink stagnation or bubble growth during initial ink introduction. The sucked defective ink is stored in the waste ink storage unit 40.

In the purging device 29, a protective cap 37 is provided for each color on the side of the suction cap 41 so as to cover the nozzle for each color, and when the head unit 25 is at the stop position, the inkjet head 24 is stopped. , And is configured to cover the nozzles of all the colors.

Next, the structure of the suction cap 41 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, when the suction cap 41 is in contact with the nozzle opening surface 24a,
A cap member 42 having a recessed part 43 forming a space by means of a cap member 42, and a cap that supports the cap member 42 by mounting the cap member 42 on the mounting part along the outer peripheral shape of the cap member 42. And a holder 50. The cap member 42 is made of a rubber material,
For example, the cap member 42 is formed by molding using butyl rubber. The cap member 42 has a contact portion 45 that contacts the nozzle opening surface 24 a over the entire periphery of the concave portion 43. The opening of the concave portion 43 of the cap member 42 has a rectangular shape, and a suction hole 44 is formed near the longitudinal end of the bottom wall surface 49 of the concave portion 43.

In the cap member 42, a protruding rib 47 having a thickness is formed integrally on the outside (opposite side of the concave portion 43 side) in the longitudinal center portion of the side wall 46 forming the longitudinal wall surface of the concave portion 43. I have. Cap member 42
The length of the protruding rib 47 in the longitudinal direction is about 20% of the length of the cap member 42 in the longitudinal direction, and the thickest part of the protruding rib 47 is larger than the thickness of the side wall 46. thick. Further, the thickness of the protruding rib 47 is
In the longitudinal direction, the central portion is thicker and gradually thinner toward both ends, and has a trapezoidal shape in the plan view of FIG. The protruding rib 47 is formed from a position away from the distal end of the contact portion 45 by a distance h to the lower surface 48 of the cap member 42. The distance h is equal to or greater than the amount by which the abutting portion 45 abuts on the nozzle opening surface 24a and the tip of the abutting portion 45 is crushed, and is equal to or less than の of the depth of the concave portion 43.

An opening 52 formed at a position communicating with the suction hole 44 is formed in the bottom wall 51 of the cap holder 50.
Are formed. The suction pump 38 is provided in the opening 52.
(FIG. 1) is in communication, and the suction pump 38 is in communication with the waste ink reservoir 40 (FIG. 1).

A CPU (not shown) controls the entire color ink jet printer 21 based on a program stored in a ROM (not shown), and controls, for example, the carriage motor 32A and the suction motor. This ROM
The program and the CPU in the above correspond to the control means of the present invention.

The ink jet recovery process using the suction cap 41 configured as described above will be described. This ink ejection recovery processing is performed by a program in the ROM and the CPU.
However, the control is performed by controlling the carriage motor 32A and the suction motor.

When the head unit 25 is at the reset position, the cam 39 is driven by a suction motor (not shown) to bring the contact portion 45 of the suction cap 41 into contact with the nozzle opening surface 24a of the ink jet head 24 so that the suction cap 41
To form a closed space by the nozzle opening surface 24a and the concave portion 43. Next, a negative pressure is generated in the closed space by the suction pump 38 by driving the cam 39,
The ink is sucked from the inside of the inkjet head 24 via the nozzle, and the sucked ink is discharged to the waste ink storage unit 40. At this time, the protruding rib 42 is provided on the cap member 42.
Are integrally formed, so that the side wall 4 of the cap member 42 is formed.
The contact between the contact portion 45 and the nozzle opening 24a is maintained without deforming the nozzle 6 due to the negative pressure, and ink containing bubbles and dust in the nozzle can be satisfactorily sucked.

Then, the cam 39 is driven to separate the contact portion 45 of the suction cap 41 from the nozzle opening surface 24a of the ink jet head 24. In this separated state, the suction pump 38 is driven to operate the concave portion of the suction cap 41. The ink in the suction cap 41 is sucked through the suction holes 44 and 52.
To the outside of the At this time, since the stepped portion is not formed near the contact portion 45 on the inner surface of the concave portion 43 as in the related art, the ink in the concave portion 43 is supplied to the outside of the suction cap 41 by the suction force from the suction holes 44 and 52. Is discharged.

As described above, the cap member 42 of the suction cap 41 has the rectangular recess 43 and the suction hole 4.
4 and the projecting rib 47 disposed on the side opposite to the recess 43 at the center in the longitudinal direction of the side wall 46 that forms the wall surface of the recess 43 in the longitudinal direction. In addition, since the cap member 42 is prevented from being deformed, the stepped portion is not formed in the vicinity of the abutting portion in the concave portion 43 unlike the related art, so that the ink in the concave portion 43 does not remain and the suction hole 44, The liquid can be discharged from the suction cap 41 to the outside of the suction cap 41.

Further, since the projecting ribs 47 are integrally formed when the cap member 42 is formed, and the cap member 42 is simply mounted on the cap holder 50, the structure and the manufacturing process of the suction cap 41 are not complicated.

The projecting rib 47 has a distance h from the tip of the contact portion 45 (the amount is greater than the amount by which the contact portion 45 comes into contact with the nozzle opening surface 24a and the tip of the contact portion 45 is crushed, and
(Less than 1/2 of the depth of the recess 43)
Since the projection rib 47 is formed in the direction on the lower surface 48 of the cap member 42 and the contact portion 45 and the nozzle opening surface 24a are in contact with each other, the projecting rib 47 does not contact the nozzle opening surface 24a. 42 and nozzle opening surface 24a
, And deformation of the cap member 42 due to the negative pressure of the suction pump 38 is prevented. Further, the projecting rib 47 is provided on the lower surface 4 of the cap member 42.
8, the thickness of the protruding rib 47 can be reduced as much as possible to increase the strength of the side wall 46 so that the side wall 46 is not deformed by the negative pressure of the suction pump 38.

Further, since the protruding rib 47 is formed only at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 43, the strength is reinforced only at the central portion which is easily deformed, and unnecessary reinforcement is provided at the end portion which is not easily deformed. Thus, the deformation of the cap member 42 due to the negative pressure of the suction pump 38 can be prevented.

Next, another embodiment will be described. still,
The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the suction cap 41 is
A cap member 62 having a recess 43 formed therein, and a mounting portion substantially conforming to the outer peripheral shape of the cap member 62, and the cap member 62
And a cap holder 55 for supporting the same.
The cap member 62 is formed by molding using a rubber material, for example, butyl rubber.

The cap member 62 is formed integrally with a protruding rib 67 having a thickness on the outside (the side opposite to the side of the concave portion 43) at the center in the longitudinal direction of the side wall 46 forming the wall surface in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 43. I have. The projecting rib 67
In the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 43, it extends to both ends, and the thickness of the protruding rib 67 is thicker at the center and gradually thinner toward both ends, and as shown in the plan view of FIG. 67 has an arc shape. Projecting rib 6
7 is formed from a position away from the tip of the contact portion 45 by a distance h to the lower surface 48 of the cap member 62.
The distance h is equal to or greater than the amount by which the abutting portion 45 abuts on the nozzle opening surface 24a and the tip of the abutting portion 45 is crushed, and is equal to or less than 1/2 of the depth of the concave portion 43.

In the cap member 62 of the suction cap 41 configured as shown in FIG.
It has the same effect as 2.

Further, since the projecting ribs 67 gradually become thinner toward both ends in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 43, the strength is reinforced only at the easily deformable central portion, and unnecessary portions at the hardly deformable end portions are unnecessary. Deformation of the cap member 42 can be prevented without any additional reinforcement.

Next, another embodiment will be described.
Note that the same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the suction cap 41 is
A cap member 72 having a recess 43 formed therein, and a mounting portion substantially conforming to the outer peripheral shape of the cap member 72.
And a cap holder 57 that supports.
The cap member 72 is formed by molding using a rubber material, for example, butyl rubber.

The cap member 72 is integrally formed with a protruding rib 77 which is smoothly connected to a side surface 79 of the concave portion 43 at a longitudinally central portion of both side walls 46 forming the longitudinal wall surface of the concave portion 43. That is, the recess 43
There is no step formed between the side surface 79 and the protruding rib 77 where the ink remains as in the related art. The length of the projecting rib 77 in the longitudinal direction of the cap member 72 is about 20% of the length in the longitudinal direction of the cap member 72, and the thickest part of the projecting rib 77 is Thicker than thickness. Further, the thickness of the projecting rib 77 is
In the longitudinal direction of No. 3, the central portion is thick and gradually becomes thinner toward both ends, and has an arc shape in the plan view of FIG. The protruding rib 77 is formed from a position away from the distal end of the contact portion 45 by a distance h to the bottom surface 49 of the concave portion 43. The distance h is equal to or greater than the amount by which the abutting portion 45 abuts on the nozzle opening surface 24a and the tip of the abutting portion 45 is crushed, and is equal to or less than 1/2 of the depth of the concave portion 43. The height of the protruding rib 77 is higher at the center and gradually lower toward the ends, and the outer shape of the protruding rib 77 has an arc shape in the plan view of FIG. 4B.

The cap member 72 of the suction cap 41 configured as shown in FIG.
It has the same effect as 2.

That is, the cap member 72 of the suction cap 41 has the rectangular recess 43, the suction hole 44, and the recess 4.
3 is formed integrally with the protruding rib 77 smoothly connected to the side surface 79 of the concave portion 43 at the longitudinal center portion of the side wall 46 forming the longitudinal wall surface of the cap member 72 due to the negative pressure of the suction pump 38. And the stepped portion is not formed in the vicinity of the contact portion 45 in the concave portion 43 unlike the conventional case, so that the ink in the concave portion 43 is sucked from the suction holes 44 and 52 without remaining. It can be discharged outside the cap 41.

Further, since the projecting ribs 77 are integrally formed when the cap member 72 is formed, and the cap member 72 is simply attached to the cap holder 55, the structure and the manufacturing process of the suction cap 41 do not become complicated.

The protruding rib 77 has a distance h from the tip of the contact portion 45 (the amount is greater than the amount by which the contact portion 45 comes into contact with the nozzle opening surface 24a and the tip of the contact portion 45 is crushed, and
(１ ／ or less of the depth of the concave portion 43)
3 is formed in the direction of the bottom surface 49, so that when the contact portion 45 and the nozzle opening surface 24a are in contact with each other, the projecting rib 7
7 does not come into contact with the nozzle opening surface 24a, so that the cap member 72 and the nozzle opening surface 24a can be brought into good contact with each other, and the cap member 72 is prevented from being deformed by the negative pressure of the suction pump 38. be able to. Furthermore, since the protruding rib 77 is formed up to the bottom surface 49 of the concave portion 43, the thickness of the protruding rib 77 can be reduced as much as possible to increase the strength of the side wall 46 so as not to be deformed by the negative pressure of the suction pump 38. .

Further, since the protruding rib 77 is formed only in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 43, the strength is reinforced only in the central portion which is easily deformed, and unnecessary reinforcement is provided in the end portion which is hardly deformed. Thus, the deformation of the cap member 72 due to the negative pressure of the suction pump 38 can be prevented.

Next, another embodiment will be described. still,
The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the suction cap 41 is
A cap member 82 having a concave portion 43 and a mounting portion substantially along the outer peripheral shape of the cap member 82 are provided, and the cap member 82 is mounted on the mounting portion.
And a cap holder 55 for supporting the same.
The cap member 82 is formed by molding using a rubber material, for example, butyl rubber.

The cap member 82 is integrally formed with protruding ribs 87 smoothly connected to the side surfaces 79 of the concave portion 43 on both side walls 46 in the longitudinal direction. Projecting rib 8
Numeral 7 extends to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 43, and the thickness of the protruding rib 87 gradually decreases toward the end where the central portion is large, and is a plan view of FIG. Thus, the outer shape of the protruding rib 87 has an arc shape. The protruding rib 87 is formed from a position away from the tip of the contact portion 45 by a distance h to the bottom surface 49 of the concave portion 43. The distance h is equal to or greater than the amount by which the contact portion 45 and the nozzle opening surface 24a come into contact with each other and the tip of the contact portion 45 is crushed, and
It is 以下 or less of the depth of the recess 43. The height of the protruding rib 87 is higher at the center and gradually lower toward the ends, and the outer shape of the protruding rib 87 in the plan view of FIG.

The cap member 82 of the suction cap 41 configured as shown in FIG.
It has the same effect as 2.

Further, since the projecting rib 87 gradually becomes thinner toward both ends in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 43, the strength is reinforced only at the central portion which is easily deformed, and unnecessary portions at the ends which are hardly deformed are unnecessary. The deformation of the cap member 82 can be prevented without any additional reinforcement.

In the present embodiment, the invention of the present application is used for the suction cap 41 dedicated to suction. However, the present invention can also be used for a cap that combines suction and protection.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cap corresponding to the ink jet head 24 ejecting a plurality of colors of ink is used. However, the cap may be used as a cap corresponding to an ink jet head ejecting a single color ink.

The nozzle opening surface 24a of the ink jet head 24 is directed downward, but may be directed obliquely downward, or may be directed horizontally (horizontally).

[0061]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the first aspect of the invention, since the projecting rib is integrally formed on the side wall forming the wall surface in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion, the negative pressure of the suction pump can be reduced without complicating the configuration of the cap means. Can prevent the deformation of the cap, and therefore, the cause of the ink ejection failure can be satisfactorily removed. Further, since the protruding rib is arranged on the side of the side wall opposite to the side of the concave portion in the longitudinal center portion, the ink in the concave portion is discharged from the suction hole to the outside of the cap means without remaining. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the projecting rib is integrally formed on the side wall forming the wall surface in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion, the structure of the cap means is not complicated, and the suction is performed without complicating the structure. The deformation of the cap due to the negative pressure of the pump can be prevented, and therefore, the cause of defective ink ejection can be satisfactorily removed. Further, since the protruding rib is smoothly connected to the side surface of the recess at the longitudinal center portion of the side wall, the ink in the recess remains between the side wall surface of the recess and the protruding rib. And can be discharged to the outside of the cap means from the suction hole.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the projecting rib is formed at a position away from a tip of the contact portion by a predetermined distance in a depth direction of the recess, and Is greater than or equal to the amount by which the abutting portion abuts on the nozzle opening surface and the tip of the abutting portion is crushed, and is less than or equal to half the depth of the concave portion. In a state where the contact portion and the nozzle opening surface are in contact, the protruding rib does not contact the nozzle opening surface,
The contact between the cap and the nozzle opening surface is favorably performed, and the deformation of the cap due to the negative pressure of the suction pump can be prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the projecting rib extends almost to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion, and the thickness of the projecting rib increases from the center to both ends. Since the thickness is gradually reduced, the strength reinforcement near the central portion in the longitudinal direction that is easily deformed is increased, and the strength reinforcement at the both ends of the concave portion that is not easily deformed is unnecessary, and the negative pressure of the suction pump is reduced. Can prevent the cap from being deformed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the projecting rib is greater on the bottom surface side of the recess than on the contact portion side in the depth direction of the recess. The strength of the side wall can be reinforced without forming a step inside the concave portion, and the deformation of the cap due to the negative pressure of the suction pump can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a color inkjet printer as an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view showing a suction cap of one embodiment. (B) is AA sectional drawing of (a).
(C) is a BB sectional view of (a).

FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a suction cap according to another embodiment. (B) is CC sectional drawing of (a). (C) is a DD sectional view of (a).

FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating a suction cap according to another embodiment. (B) is EE sectional drawing of (a). (C) is FF sectional drawing of (a).

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a suction cap according to another embodiment. (B) is GG sectional drawing of (a). (C) is an HH sectional view of (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 24 Inkjet head 24a Nozzle opening surface 41 Suction cap 42, 62, 72, 82 Cap member 43 Depression 44 Suction hole 45 Contact portion 46 Side wall 47, 67, 77, 87 Projecting rib 48 Lower surface 50, 55, 57 Cap holder 52 Opening Department

Claims (5)

[Claims] A recording head that ejects ink from a nozzle to perform recording on a recording medium; and a recording head that can contact and separate from a nozzle opening surface of the recording head and that is in contact with the nozzle opening surface. Ink jet recording comprising: a cap unit having a recess forming a space with the nozzle opening surface; and a suction unit communicating with a suction hole formed in the recess of the cap unit and sucking ink from the nozzle. In the apparatus, the cap means includes: a rectangular concave portion; the suction hole; and a protruding rib disposed on a side opposite to the concave portion at a longitudinal center portion of a side wall forming a longitudinal wall surface of the concave portion. And an ink-jet recording apparatus formed integrally. 2. A printing head for performing printing on a printing medium by ejecting ink from a nozzle, wherein the printing head is capable of coming into contact with and separating from a nozzle opening surface of the printing head and being in contact with the nozzle opening surface. Ink jet recording comprising: a cap unit having a recess forming a space with the nozzle opening surface; and a suction unit communicating with a suction hole formed in the recess of the cap unit and sucking ink from the nozzle. In the apparatus, the cap means includes: the rectangular concave portion; the suction hole; and a protruding rib smoothly connected to a side surface of the concave portion at a central portion in a longitudinal direction of a side wall forming a longitudinal wall surface of the concave portion. An ink jet recording apparatus, which is integrally formed. 3. The cap means has an abutting portion that abuts on the nozzle opening surface over the entire circumference of the opening of the recess, and the protruding rib has a contact portion with respect to a depth direction of the recess. The predetermined distance is equal to or greater than an amount by which the contact portion and the nozzle opening surface come into contact with each other and the tip of the contact portion is crushed, and the concave portion is formed. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the depth is not more than 1/2 of the depth of the ink jet recording head. 4. The projecting rib extends substantially to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the recess, and the thickness of the projecting rib gradually decreases from the center to both ends. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. The cap means has an abutting portion that abuts on the nozzle opening surface over the entire circumference of the opening of the recess, and the thickness of the protruding rib is in the depth direction of the recess.
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bottom surface side of the concave portion is thicker than the contact portion side.