JP2002307700A - Device for maintaining head discharge characteristic and ink-jet printer therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for maintaining head discharge characteristics which can cap and wipe by a simple constitution and by a stable operation at all times, and an ink-jet printer therewith. SOLUTION: A driving means 170 rotates a wiping means 130 upwards when the wiping means wipes a printing head, and at the same time lowers and positions a capping means 110 to stop driving a suction means. When the capping means seals the printing head, the driving means 170 rotates the wiping means downward, and moves up and positions the capping means to drive the suction means. The driving means is provided with a friction clutch mechanism 174 for transmitting a driving force when the wiping means starts rotating and releasing the driving force when the wiping means ends rotating. The wiping means and the capping means can be thus held to constant positions and positioned highly accurately at all times.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head discharge characteristic maintaining device for maintaining a constant ink discharge characteristic of a print head that discharges ink droplets onto a recording medium, and an ink jet type having the head discharge characteristic maintaining device. Regarding printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an ink jet printer is
A print head mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction; and a recording medium feeding unit that intermittently feeds a recording medium such as printing paper by a set amount in the sub scanning direction. The print head is moved in the main scanning direction while being fed, and ink droplets are ejected from a print head to a recording medium.

Normally, a mono-color ink jet printer is equipped with one print head. Further, a full-color ink jet printer is equipped with a print head for black ink that discharges black ink and a plurality of print heads for color ink that discharge inks of each color such as yellow, cyan, and magenta.

A print head of an ink jet printer having such a structure is provided with a pressure generating chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generating chamber. The ink is stored in the pressure generating chamber and pressurized at a predetermined pressure, whereby the nozzle opening is opened. To eject ink droplets of a controlled size toward the recording medium. Therefore, fluctuations in the ink ejection characteristics at the nozzle openings of the print head greatly affect the quality of the recorded image, and thus the ink ejection characteristics must be constantly maintained.

[0005] The ink discharge characteristics fluctuate due to an increase in viscosity and solidification due to evaporation and drying of the ink at the nozzle openings, clogging with solids, adhesion of dust, air bubbles, and the like. Therefore, the ink jet printer is provided with a head discharge characteristic maintaining device for maintaining the ink discharge characteristics in a constant state by eliminating the above-mentioned causes of the fluctuations.

This head discharge characteristic maintaining device includes a capping device, a suction pump, and a wiping device.
The capping device is configured to seal the nozzle forming surface of the print head and isolate the nozzle opening from the outside during non-recording, and has the function of suppressing the evaporation and drying of the ink to suppress the viscosity increase and solidification. ing. In addition, even if the nozzle forming surface is sealed with a capping device, it is not possible to completely prevent clogging of the nozzle opening with solid matter and mixing of air bubbles into the ink flow path, so that they are completely prevented. A suction pump is provided for the purpose.

[0007] The suction pump is configured to apply a negative pressure to the nozzle opening while the capping device seals the nozzle forming surface. It has the function of removing air bubbles. Forcible suction and discharge of ink by the suction pump can be performed when the printing operation is restarted after a long pause of the ink jet printer, or when the user recognizes that the quality of the printed image has deteriorated, and It is usually executed when a switch is operated.

Further, when the ink is forcibly suctioned and discharged by the suction pump, the ink may scatter and adhere to the nozzle forming surface of the printer head, and the meniscus of the ink at each nozzle opening is disturbed. Further, since foreign matter easily adheres to the nozzle forming surface of the print head over time, a wiping device for wiping the nozzle forming surface as necessary is provided.

The wiping device has a wiping member made of an elastic plate made of rubber or the like sandwiched by a holder at a base end thereof. The nozzle forming surface is configured to be moved forward and backward to clean the nozzle forming surface, and in addition to wiping ink and foreign matters attached to the nozzle forming surface, the ink meniscus at each nozzle opening is uniformly arranged, that is, stable. It has a function to make it work.

FIG. 33 is a side view showing an example of a conventional head discharge characteristic maintaining device. As shown in FIG.
The head discharge characteristic maintaining device has a configuration in which a capping device 1 and a wiping device 2 are arranged on a rotatable and vertically movable support portion 3 with a shift of 90 degrees. A toothless gear 4 is fixed to the support part 3, and the support part 3 is arranged such that the toothless gear 4 comes into contact with a cam 5 with toothlessness. The head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus includes a suction pump, but is not shown.

In such a configuration, when the nozzle forming surface of the print head is sealed at the time of non-recording to isolate the nozzle opening from the outside, as shown in FIG. Is set so that the support portion 3 is located at the uppermost position by the cam 5 with the tooth missing with the capping device 1 facing upward.

In order to clean the nozzle forming surface by moving the wiping member forward and backward while elastically pressing the edge portion of the wiping member against the nozzle forming surface after recording,
First, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cam 5 with the missing tooth is rotated to mesh the teeth 5a of the cam 5 with the missing tooth with the teeth 4a of the missing gear 4, and the support portion 3 is rotated together with the missing gear 4. Let it. Finally, as shown in FIG. 4C, the head discharge characteristic maintaining device is configured such that the support portion 3 is located at the lowermost position by the cam 5 with the tooth missing with the wiping device 2 facing upward. It is set.

[0013]

The above-described conventional head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus is effective because it can be constituted by a simple mechanism. However, since the entire head ejection characteristics maintaining device must be rotated, a large space is required around the device, and the size of the ink jet printer to be incorporated increases. Further, the positional accuracy between the capping device 1 and the print head is likely to deteriorate, and the capping may be incomplete.

When the capping device 1 or the wiping device 2 is set, that is, when the support portion 3 is located at the uppermost or lowermost position, the teeth 5a of the cam 5 with missing teeth and the teeth 4a of the missing gear 4 are provided. Are not meshed with each other, so that the support portion 3 is in a free state.

For this reason, the user may touch the support portion 3 to rotate the support portion 3, and it may be difficult to return the capping device 1 or the wiping device 2 to a predetermined position. In addition, when assembling the head discharge characteristic maintaining device, it is necessary to accurately align the phase of the cam 5 with missing teeth and the gear 4 with missing teeth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned various problems, and has as its object to provide a head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus capable of always performing wiping and capping with a simple configuration and a stable operation, and an apparatus therefor. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer provided with the above.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for maintaining ink ejection characteristics of a print head which ejects ink droplets onto a recording medium. Wiping means for wiping the print head, capping means for sealing the print head, and when the wiping means wipes the print head, rotate the wiping means upward and lower the capping means. When positioning, and when the capping means seals the print head and sucks ink, a drive means for rotating the wiping means downward and raising the capping means for positioning is provided,
The driving means includes a friction clutch mechanism that transmits a driving force when the wiping means starts rotating and releases the driving force when the rotation ends.

Accordingly, since the capping means does not need to be rotated, it is not necessary to provide a space for rotation around the capping means. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the ink-jet printer to be incorporated, and to maintain high positional accuracy between the capping unit and the print head. Further, since the friction clutch can be made to idle after rotating the wiping means upward or downward, the wiping means can be always positioned at a fixed position. Therefore, it is easy to initialize and assemble the wiping means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to the first aspect, a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap of the capping means sealing the print head is provided. And Accordingly, ink droplets adhering to the nozzles of the print head can be sucked, so that the printing accuracy can always be maintained at a high accuracy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the friction clutch mechanism is driven by a gear using a toothless gear for intermediate movement. And Thus, the friction clutch mechanism can be realized with a simple structure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The wiping unit and the capping unit can return to an initial position from any position without using a detection device. As a result, during operation of the ink jet printer, for example, if the power outlet is accidentally unplugged or an unexpected power failure occurs, the head ejection characteristic maintaining device is reset from the state even if the device is stopped halfway. Will be able to do it.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The friction clutch mechanism has two driving force transmitting units and a pressing unit that presses the driving force transmitting units together, and one of the driving force transmitting units is integrated with the wiping unit. It is characterized by. Thereby, a friction clutch can be formed by generating a frictional force between the two driving force transmitting means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the pressing means comprises:
It is a compression spring that presses the normal gear and the toothless gear together in the axial direction. As a result, the friction clutch mechanism can be constituted by a simple mechanism, and the manufacturing cost of the head discharge characteristic maintaining device can be reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects,
The wiping means is rotatably attached to the capping means. This makes it easy to configure the means for vertically moving the capping means and the means for rotating the wiping means by the same mechanism. Therefore, the head ejection characteristic maintaining device can be made compact.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects,
The driving means transmits a driving force during rotation of the wiping means through the two driving force transmission means, and has a toothless gear for transmitting a driving force when the capping means moves up and down. It is characterized by having.
As a result, the wiping means can be smoothly rotated even when a large load which cannot be handled by the friction clutch is applied. Further, since the means for moving the capping means up and down and the means for rotating the wiping means can be constituted by simple mechanical parts, the positioning accuracy of each means can be improved, and the maintenance cost and manufacturing cost can be reduced. be able to.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet printer having a print head for discharging ink droplets onto a recording medium, wherein the head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects is provided. It is characterized by. This makes it possible to provide an ink jet printer having the above-described functions.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a unitized head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head discharge characteristic maintaining device as viewed from the opposite side, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the head discharge characteristic maintaining device. The ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1 has a sheet width of, for example, 594 mm (JIS standard A1 size).
It is a large-sized printer that can print on a relatively large-sized printing paper such as, for example, 728 mm (JIS standard B1 size).

This ink jet printer is provided with a paper feed unit 11, a recording unit 12, and a paper discharge unit 13 from the top toward the front diagonally below. The printing paper is subjected to predetermined printing in the process of being sent from the paper feeding unit 11 to the recording unit 12 and then to the paper discharging unit 13 and is discharged to the outside. The paper transport path 14 at the time of printing is formed with an inclination of 65 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The nozzle forming surface of the print head 18 mounted on the carriage 17 reciprocating in the main scanning direction along the guide shaft 16 by the drive belt 15 also
It is arranged at an angle of 65 degrees so as to be parallel to 4.

A head discharge characteristic maintaining device 100 for maintaining a constant ink discharge characteristic of the print head 18 is provided at a portion of the carriage 17 at the home position.
Are arranged. When the carriage 17 is at the home position, the head ejection characteristic maintaining device 100 performs a process of maintaining the ink ejection characteristics of the print head 18.

The head discharge characteristic maintaining device 100 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a wiping unit 110, a capping unit 130, a suction unit 150 and a driving unit 170 for driving them are provided. 2 omits the description of one side frame 101 shown in FIG. 4 to show the internal structure, and FIG. 3 omits the description of the other side frame 102 shown in FIG. 4 to show the internal structure. In FIG. 4, the suction means 15 is used to simplify the drawing.
0 is omitted.

The head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus 100 includes a wiping means 110 for wiping the nozzle forming surface in the main scanning direction of the print head 18 indicated by an arrow a in FIGS. Capping means 130 pressed against the nozzle forming surface of the print head 18 to seal the nozzle opening during non-recording, and suction means for forcibly sucking and discharging ink to remove clogging of the nozzle opening and mixed air bubbles. A driving means 170 for driving the wiping means 110 and the capping means 130 to a predetermined position and for driving the suction means 150
Are disposed between the two side frames 101 and 102, and are unitized substantially in a box shape.

The wiping means 110 and the capping means 130 are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction of the print head 18, and the suction means 150 is provided with respect to the wiping means 110 and the capping means 130 by arrows b in FIGS. 2 and 3. They are arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction shown. A driving unit 170 is provided so that the wiping unit 110, the capping unit 130, and the suction unit 150 can be linked. That is, the driving unit 170 rotates the wiping unit 110 in the sub-scanning direction, moves the capping unit 130 together with the wiping unit 110 in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow c in FIGS. 2 and 3, and operates the suction unit 150. It is configured.

The wiping means 110 includes a wiper 111, a wiper holder 112, and a wiper cleaner 113, as shown in FIGS. The wiper 111 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat shape by rubber. The leading end portion is rubbed against the nozzle forming surface of the print head 18. Thereby, the wiper 111 can wipe off the ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface. The wiper 111 may be formed of felt, plastic, or the like depending on the type of ink.

The wiper holder 112 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat shape from plastic. Then, the wiper 1 is formed such that the tip of the wiper 111 protrudes from the upper end.
While holding 11, it rotates in the sub-scanning direction about a shaft support portion 112 a provided at the lower end portion and supported by a second cap holder 133 of the capping means 130 described later. Thus, the wiper holder 112 can be disposed above when the wiper 111 is used, and can be disposed below when not in use.

The wiper cleaner 113 is formed in a blade shape from plastic. Then, while the guide pin 113a provided at one end is guided by the guide groove 112b provided at the wiper holder 112, the guide pin 113a rotates about the other end axially supported by the side frame 101, and moves at one end. Is provided so that the ink scraper 113b having a U-shaped cross section rubs across the wiper 111. Thereby, the wiper cleaner 113 can scrape ink adhering to the wiper 111.

The capping means 130 includes a cap 131, a first cap holder 132, and a second cap holder 133, as shown in FIGS. The cap 131 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by rubber. Then, the depression 131 provided in the upper part
a is pressed against the nozzle forming surface of the print head 18. Thereby, the capping means 1
30 can seal the nozzle opening.

The first cap holder 132 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape from plastic. Then, the cap 1 is formed such that the upper edge of the cap 131 protrudes from the upper surface.
A spring (not shown) is interposed between the second cap holder 133 and the projection 132a provided on the side surface while the claw 133a of the second cap holder 133 is held.
And can be finely moved in all directions. Thereby, the first cap holder 132 holds the cap 13
The upper edge of the print head 18 can be pressed against the nozzle forming surface of the print head 18, and both can be securely brought into close contact with each other.

The second cap holder 133 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape from plastic. Then, while holding the first cap holder 132 on the upper end surface, the guide pin 133b provided on the side surface is provided with the guide groove 101a provided on both side frames 101 and 102,
While being guided by 102a, it moves up and down together with wiper 111 and wiper holder 112. Thereby, the second cap holder 133 holds the cap 13
1 can be positioned and fixed upward when used, and can be positioned and fixed downward when not in use.

The suction means 150 is a general pulsation pump, and continuously presses a predetermined range of the tube T connected to the cap 131 by a plurality of rollers attached at a fixed interval in the rotation direction, thereby to set the inside of the tube. Of the print head 18 is forcibly sucked and discharged. Thereby, the suction means 150 can remove clogging of the nozzle opening and mixed air bubbles.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the driving means 170 includes a driving force transmitting means 171 and a forward / reverse switching means 1.
72, rotation / up / down movement means 173 and friction clutch mechanism 1
74 is provided. The driving force transmission means 171 is provided on the first gear 1 disposed so as to protrude outside the side frame 101.
71a and a second gear 171b disposed coaxially and integrally with the first gear 171a, and disposed between the side frames 101 and 102. First gear 17
1a is connected to a motor (not shown) provided outside the side frame 101. The second gear 171b is
It is engaged with the gear 151 of the suction means 150 shown in FIG.

The forward / reverse switching means 172 includes a switching arm 172a formed in a substantially L-shape, and a forward gear 172b and a reverse gear 17 rotatably attached to each end thereof.
2c. The switching arm 172a has a central portion fitted on the shaft of the second gear 171b, and is pressed against the second gear 171b via a spring (not shown). Either the forward rotation gear 172b or the reverse rotation gear 172c meshes with the second gear 171b depending on the rotation direction of the second gear 171b, and further with respect to the toothless gear portion 173aa of the geared cam 173a of the rotation / up / down movement means 173 described later. Are arranged so as to alternately engage with each other.

The rotation / up / down movement means 173 has two geared cams 173a and 173b disposed at both ends of the same shaft. Each of the cams 173a and 173b with gears has a toothless gear portion 173aa and 173ba and a cam portion 173ab,
173bb is integrated. The toothless gear portion 173aa is provided with the forward / reverse switching unit 172 as described above.
Are arranged so as to alternately mesh with the forward rotation gear 172b and the reverse rotation gear 172c.
Is a toothless gear 174 of a friction clutch mechanism 174 described later.
a. And the cam part 1
73ab and 173bb are the second cap holder 133
Are arranged so as to come into contact with the lower portions of two guide pins 133b arranged on both sides of the lower portion, respectively.

The friction clutch mechanism 174 includes a toothless gear 174a and a normal gear 174b disposed on one of the geared cams 173b, a toothless gear 174a and the normal gear 1
74b is provided with a compression spring 174c that presses each other. The toothless gear 174a is formed integrally with the shaft support 112a of the wiper holder 112. Normal gear 17
4b is coaxially contacted with the toothless gear 174a.
The missing gear 174a and the normal gear 174b are arranged so as to mesh with the missing gear 173ba of the geared cam 173b. The compression spring 174c is disposed so as to press the toothless gear 174a and the normal gear 174b mutually in the axial direction.

The friction clutch mechanism 174 includes a toothless gear 174a, a normal gear 174b, and a compression spring 17a.
Although the example provided with 4c is shown, the invention is not limited to this, and any friction clutch mechanism having two driving force transmitting means and a pressing means for pressing these driving force transmitting means against each other may be used. That is, any friction clutch mechanism that transmits the driving force when the wiping unit 110 starts rotating and releases the driving force when the rotation ends can be used.

In such a configuration, the driving force of the motor is transmitted from the forward gear 172b or the reverse gear 172c by the rotation of the switching arm 172a via the first gear 171a and the second gear 171b to the missing gear of the geared cam 173a. The power is transmitted to the wiping unit 110 via the gear 173aa, the missing gear 173ba of the geared cam 173b, the missing gear 174a, and the normal gear 174b.

Further, the cam portion 1 of the geared cam 173a
73ab and cam portion 173bb of geared cam 173b
Means 110 and capping means 1 via
30 and the suction means 15 through a gear 151.
0 is transmitted. Thereby, the wiping unit 110 is rotated, the capping unit 130 is moved up and down together with the wiping unit 110, and the suction unit 15 is moved.
0 can be activated.

The wiping means 110 having the above configuration
Main part, capping means 130 and geared cam 17
3b and the details of the arrangement relationship between the friction clutch mechanism 174 are shown in FIG.
Then, the operation of each means 110 and 130 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, a guide pin 133b provided in the second cap holder 133 of the capping means 130 is inserted into a shaft hole of a shaft support portion 112a provided in the wiper holder 112 of the wiping means 110. I have.

The cam with gear 173b meshes with the gear 174a of the friction clutch mechanism 174 in which the gear 173ba is provided on the shaft support 112a and the gear 174b which is in close contact with the gear 174a. ,
The cam portion 173bb is provided so as to contact the guide pin 133b provided on the second cap holder 133. Thereby, the wiping means 110 rotates in the direction of the arrow a shown in the figure, and the capping means 130 can move up and down together with the wiping means 110 in the direction of the arrow b shown.

Next, the operation of the wiping means 110 will be described with reference to FIG.
17 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, FIGS. 10 to 11, FIGS. 12 to 14, and FIGS.
Is a diagram showing the same operation state from a different viewpoint. 6 to 9 show a state in which wiping by the wiper 111 is possible, FIGS. 10 to 11 show a state in which the wiper 111 is being stored, and FIGS. 12 to 14 show a state in which the wiper 111 is completely stored. 15 to 17 are views showing a state in which the wiping unit 110 is raised together with the capping unit 130.

First, in a state where wiping by the wiper 111 is possible, the wiper 111 is positioned and fixed upward as shown in FIG.
13 is positioned and fixed to one end of the wiper holder 112. These positioning and fixing are performed by the following operations.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the toothless gear portion 173 provided on the geared cam 173b.
The ba is not engaged with the toothless gear 174a of the friction clutch mechanism 174, but is engaged with only the gear 174b. For this reason, the driving force from the missing gear 173ba is not transmitted to the missing gear 174a, and
Is transmitted only to the idle gear, and the idle gear 17
The wiper holder 112 integrated with 4a does not rotate, and the wiper 111 can be positioned and fixed upward.

As shown in FIG. 6, the guide pin 113a of the wiper cleaner 113 is provided in the guide groove 1 provided in the wiper holder 112 shown in FIGS.
12b. As a result, the wiper cleaner 113 is positioned with respect to the wiper holder 112, so that the wiper cleaner 113 can be positioned and fixed to the end of the wiper holder 112.

FIG. 9 shows a guide pin 112c provided on the wiper holder 112 for guiding when the wiper holder 112 rotates.
FIG. 4 is a view showing an arrangement relationship with a guide groove 102b provided in the wiper 11;
In a state where wiping by 1 is possible, both are separated and not functioning.

Next, when the wiper 111 is being stored, the wiper holder 112 is inclined and the wiper 111 is sandwiched between the ink scrapers 113b of the wiper cleaner 113, as shown in FIG. This is due to the following effects. That is, when the geared cam 173b starts rotating, the missing gear portion 173b of the geared cam 173b.
a rotates the gear 174b of the friction clutch mechanism 174, and at the same time, rotates the toothless gear 174a pressed by the compression spring 174c by the frictional force.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,
The missing gear 173ba is composed of a gear 174b and a missing gear 174.
meshes with a at the same time. Thus, even when a large load that cannot be handled by the friction clutch is applied, the wiper holder 112 itself can be smoothly rotated. Further, at the same time, the guide pin 113a of the wiper cleaner 113 is
2b. Thereby, the Wiper Cleaner 1
Since the thirteenth ink scraper 113b is rubbed across the wiper 111, the wiper 111 can be stored while scraping the ink attached to the wiper 111.

Next, when the storage of the wiper 111 is completed, as shown in FIG. 12, the wiper 111 is positioned and fixed obliquely downward, and the wiper cleaner 113 is positioned and fixed to the other end of the wiper holder 112. ing. These positioning and fixing are performed by the following operations.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the wiper 111 is to be moved in the setting direction, the tooth 112ae at the end of the toothless gear 112a is the other of the toothless gear portion 173ba of the geared cam 173b. The wiper 111 cannot be moved in the setting direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
1 is moved in the reset direction.
Since the second guide pin 112c hits the left wall of the guide groove 102a of the side frame 102, the wiper 111 cannot be moved in the reset direction. As a result, the wiper holder 112 is positioned with respect to the geared cam 173b and the side frame 102,
The wiper 111 can be positioned and fixed obliquely downward.

As shown in FIG. 12, the guide pin 113a of the wiper cleaner 113 moves relatively to the other end of the wiper holder 112 along the guide groove 112b of the wiper holder 112. This allows
Since the wiper cleaner 113 is positioned with respect to the wiper holder 112, the wiper cleaner 113 can be positioned and fixed at a position close to the other end of the wiper holder 112.

Finally, in a state where the wiping means 110 is moved up together with the capping means 130, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16, the wiper 111 is positioned and fixed away from the geared cam 173b while facing obliquely downward, and the wiper cleaner 113 is positioned and fixed to the other end of the wiper holder 112. These positioning and fixing are performed by the following operations.

That is, as shown in FIG. 17, when the geared cams 173a and 173b rotate, the cam portions 173ab and 173b of the geared cams 173a and 173b are rotated.
bb is the guide pin 13 of the second cap holder 133
3b is the guide groove 10 of both side frames 101 and 102.
Push up along 1a, 102a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the guide pin 112c of the wiper holder 112 is
02 enters the vertical portion of the guide groove 102a. As a result, the wiper holder 112 moves the cam 173a with gear,
Since the wiper 111 is positioned with respect to the side frame 102, the wiper 111 can be positioned and fixed away from the geared cams 173a and 173b while the wiper 111 is directed obliquely downward.

As shown in FIG. 15, the guide pin 113a of the wiper cleaner 113 relatively moves along the guide groove 112b of the wiper holder 112 to a position closer to the end on the other end side of the wiper holder 112. ing. As a result, the wiper cleaner 113 is positioned with respect to the wiper holder 112.
2 can be positioned and fixed at a position closer to the outermost end on the other end side.

Next, the operation of the capping means 130 will be described with reference to FIGS.
19 to 20 and FIG. 20 to FIG. 21 are views showing the same operation state from different viewpoints. That is, FIGS.
Indicates a state where the cap 131 is completely stored, and FIGS.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a state where capping by the cap 131 is possible.

First, when the cap 131 is completely stored, the capping means 130 is positioned and fixed at the lowermost end as shown in FIGS. This positioning and fixing is performed by the following operation. That is, as shown in FIG. 18, the toothless gear portion 173aa of the geared cam 173a.
Is rotated by the rotation of the switching arm 172a.
b and the reverse rotation gear 172c are arranged so as to alternately mesh with each other at positions shifted in the width direction in the toothless gear portion 173aa. And, in this missing tooth gear portion 173aa,
Two missing tooth portions 173ac and 173ad are formed at positions shifted in the circumferential direction and the width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the cam portions 173ab, 173ab, 1b of the cams 173a, 173b with gears.
73bb is formed in a substantially elliptical shape, and a stopper 173 that can contact the two guide pins 133b and 133b on both lower sides of the second cap holder 133 in the middle of the outer periphery.
ae, 173be are provided, and the guide groove 1 for guiding another two guide pins 133c, 133c provided on the second cap holder 133 along the outer periphery on the side surface portion.
73af and 173bf are provided.

When the capping means 130 has reached the lowermost position from the uppermost position, the cams 173a, 1
73b cam portion 173ab, guide groove 17 of 173bb
3af and 173bf move the two guide pins 133c and 133c of the second cap holder 133, and
The two guide pins 133b and 133b on both lower sides of the cap holder 133 are connected to both side frames 101 and 102.
Along the guide grooves 101a and 102a.

Further, the reversing gear 172c is formed by the toothless gear portion 173aa of the geared cam 173a.
Is spinning around. Accordingly, the second cap holder 133 is positioned with respect to the cams 173a and 173b with gears and both side frames 101 and 102, so that the capping means 130 can be positioned and fixed at the lowermost end.

Next, in a state where capping by the cap 131 is possible, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the capping means 130 is positioned and fixed at the uppermost end. This positioning and fixing is performed by the following operation. That is,
When the capping means 130 reaches the uppermost position from the lowermost position, the cam portions 173 of the cams 173a and 173b with gears are used.
ab and 173bb are the second cap holders 133-2.
The two guide pins 133d and 133e are moved, and the two guide pins 1 on both lower sides of the second cap holder 133 are moved.
33b and 133b are pushed up to the uppermost ends along the guide grooves 101a and 102b of both side frames 101 and 102, and are brought into contact with the stoppers 173ae and 173be.

Further, the forward rotation gear 172b is connected to the toothless gear portion 173aa of the geared cam 173a.
Is spinning around. As a result, the second cap holder 133 is positioned with respect to the cams 173a and 173b with gears and both side frames 101 and 102, so that the capping means 130 can be positioned and fixed to the uppermost end.

The wiping means 11 configured as described above
0, the overall operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining apparatus 100 including the capping unit 130, the suction unit 150, and the driving unit 170 will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 to 31. FIG. FIGS. 23 to 25 and FIGS. 26 to 2 show time charts showing an operation example of the apparatus 100.
8, FIGS. 29 to 31 are views showing the same operation state from different viewpoints. That is, FIGS. 23 to 25 show a state in which wiping by the wiper 111 is possible, and FIGS.
6 to 28 show a state in which the storage of the wiper 111 is completed,
29 to 31 are views showing a state where capping by the cap 131 is possible.

In the case of normal rotation shown in FIG. 22, as shown in FIGS. 23 to 25, the capping means 130 is located at the lowermost end, and the cap 131 is in the "open" state, that is, in the uncapped state. It is in. Further, the wiping unit 110 is located at an upper position, and the wiper 111 is in a “set” state, that is, a wiping-enabled state. Further, the roller of the pump, which is the suction means 150, is in a state of "release" with respect to the tube, that is, in a state of not sucking (starting time t1).

In this state, when the motor is driven in the normal rotation direction to rotate the second gear 171b together with the first gear 171a, the switching arm 172a rotates to rotate the forward gear 172.
b meshes with the missing gear 173aa of the geared cam 173a. Then, the rotational force of the second gear 171b is changed from the forward rotation gear 172b to the toothless gear portion 17 of the geared cam 173a.
3aa, the geared cams 173a, 173b rotate. Subsequently, the toothless gear portion 173ba of the geared cam 173b rotates the gear 174b of the friction clutch mechanism 174, and at the same time, rotates the toothless gear 174a pressed by the compression spring 174c by the frictional force. Starts rotating (time t
4).

The toothless gear 173b of the geared cam 173b and the toothless gear 174 of the friction clutch mechanism 174.
When the engagement with the gear a is released, the toothless gear 174a idles, and the rotation of the wiper holder 112 stops. At this time, as shown in FIGS.
0 is located below, and the wiper 111 is in a “reset down” state, that is, a state in which the wiper 111 is stored (time t5).

Further, geared cams 173a, 173b
Is rotated, the capping means 130 starts to move up together with the wiping means 110 by the action of the cam portions 173ab and 173bb of the geared cams 173a and 173b (time t6). The forward rotation gear 172b is connected to the toothless gear 173aa of the geared cam 173a.
When the rotation speed reaches c, the forward rotation gear 172b idles, so that the upward movement of the capping unit 130 and the wiping unit 110 is stopped.

In this state, as shown in FIGS. 29 to 31, the capping means 130 is located at the uppermost end.
The cap 131 is in a “closed” state, that is, in a capping state. Further, the wiping unit 110 is located above the previous position, and the wiper 111 is in the “reset up” state, that is, the wiper 111 is in a state of being raised while being stored (time t7).

In this state, when the motor is further driven in the normal rotation direction to rotate the first gear 171a and the second gear 171b, the suction means 150 is operated. At this time, the rollers of the pump are in a state of “biting” the tube, that is, in a state of sucking (time points t8 and t9). The wiping unit 110 and the capping unit 130
During operation, power is not transmitted to the pump.

On the other hand, in the case of the reverse rotation shown in FIG. 22, the capping means 130 and the wiping means 110 perform the reverse operation to the above operation by the reverse rotation gear 172c. When the gear 151 shown in FIG.
The disc 152 starts rotating by pushing the claw 52. Meanwhile, the operations of the wiping unit 110 and the capping unit 130 have been completed. However, the suction means 150 is at time t
3. At t4, the state returns to the "release" state.

As described above, according to the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, since the capping means 130 is not rotated, the space efficiency can be improved, and the ink jet printer incorporated can be downsized. Further, the positional accuracy between the capping means 130 and the print head 18 can be improved, and the capping can be performed reliably.

Further, the wiping means 110 and the capping means 130 are operated by the action of the friction clutch mechanism 174.
Can be held in a fixed position, so that the user can temporarily operate the wiping unit 110 or the capping unit 130.
Wiping means 110 or capping means 1
30 does not cause a position shift. Therefore, an operation of returning the wiping unit 110 or the capping unit 130 to a predetermined position becomes unnecessary, and further, the wiping unit 110 or the capping unit 130
The maintenance of the parts can be simplified since the parts constituting the parts and the like do not collide and are broken.

Further, since the wiping means 110 and the capping means 130 can always be positioned with high precision, when assembling the head ejection characteristic maintaining apparatus 100, the components constituting the wiping means 110, the capping means 130 and the like can be accurately determined. The work of adjusting the phase becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device 100 can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the head ejection characteristic maintaining apparatus 100 including one capping unit 130 and one suction unit 150 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The head ejection characteristic maintaining device 200 including the two capping units 130 and the suction unit 150 can be configured in the same manner, and the same effect can be obtained.

[0084]

As described above, according to the head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus and the ink jet printer equipped with the same according to the present invention, the capping means does not need to be rotated. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the space, the size of the ink jet printer to be incorporated can be reduced, and the positional accuracy between the capping means and the print head can be maintained with high accuracy.

Further, since the friction clutch can be idled after the wiping means is rotated upward or downward, the wiping means can be always positioned at a fixed position, and the wiping means can be initialized or assembled. Becomes easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a unitized head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head discharge characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2 as viewed from the opposite side.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the head discharge characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the details of the arrangement of the main part of the wiping means, the capping means, and the geared cam of the head discharge characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a first diagram showing the operation of the wiping means of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a third diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fourth diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a fifth diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a sixth diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a seventh diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is an eighth diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a ninth diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 15 is a tenth diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 16 is an eleventh diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 17 is a twelfth diagram illustrating the operation of the wiping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 18 is a first diagram showing the operation of the capping means of FIG. 5;

FIG. 19 is a second diagram showing the operation of the capping means of FIG. 5;

FIG. 20 is a third diagram illustrating the operation of the capping unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 21 is a fourth diagram illustrating the operation of the capping unit in FIG. 5;

FIG. 22 is a time chart illustrating an operation example of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 23 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 24 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 25 is a third diagram showing the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 26 is a fourth diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 27 is a fifth diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 28 is a sixth diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 29 is a seventh diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 30 is an eighth diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 31 is a ninth diagram illustrating the operation of the head ejection characteristic maintaining device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the unitized head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing an operation example of a conventional head discharge characteristic maintaining device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Head discharge characteristic maintaining device 101 Side frame 101a Guide groove 102 Side frame 102a Guide groove 110 Wiping means 111 Wiper 112 Wiper holder 112a Shaft support portion 112aa Arc shape 112ab Arc shape 112b Guide groove 113 Wiper cleaner 113a Guide pin 113b Ink scraping 130 Capping means 131 Cap 131a Depression 132 First cap holder 132a Projection 133 Second cap holder 133a Claw 133b Guide pin 133c Guide pin 150 Suction means 170 Driving means 171 Driving force transmitting means 171a First gear 171b Second gear 172 Forward / reverse switching Means 172a Switching arm 172b Forward rotation gear 172c Reverse rotation gear 173 Rotation / up / down movement means 1 3a Gear with cam 173aa Missing tooth gear portion 173ab Cam portion 173ac Missing tooth portion 173ad Missing tooth portion 173ae Stopper 173af Guide groove 173b Cam with gear 173ba Missing tooth gear portion 173bb Cam portion 173bc Arc shape 173bd e-b friction groove 173b e-b groove f Clutch mechanism 174a Missing gear 174b Gear 174c Compression spring 200 Head discharge characteristic maintaining device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA16 EA17 EC22 EC23 FA10 JA04 JA08 JA13 JB04 JB08 JB09 JC08 3J062 AA35 AB04 AC06 BA01 BA11 BA14 CE02 CE05 CE12 CE25

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for maintaining ink ejection characteristics of a print head that ejects ink droplets onto a recording medium, wherein: a wiping unit for wiping the print head; a capping unit for sealing the print head; and the wiping unit. When wiping the print head, the wiping unit is rotated upward and the capping unit is moved down for positioning, and when the capping unit seals the print head and sucks ink, A driving means for rotating the wiping means downward and for raising and positioning the capping means, wherein the driving means transmits a driving force when the wiping means starts rotating and a driving force when the rotation ends. Characterized in that it has a friction clutch mechanism for releasing Characteristics maintainer. 2. The head discharge characteristic maintaining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suction unit that suctions the inside of the cap of the capping unit that seals the print head. 3. The head ejection characteristic maintaining device according to claim 1, wherein the friction clutch mechanism is driven by a gear using a toothless gear for an intermediate movement. 4. The wiping unit and the capping unit can return to an initial position from any position without using a detecting device. 3. The head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to claim 1. 5. The friction clutch mechanism has two driving force transmitting units and a pressing unit that presses the driving force transmitting units together, and one of the driving force transmitting units is connected to the wiping unit. The head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is integrated. 6. The head ejection characteristic maintaining device according to claim 5, wherein the pressing unit is a compression spring that presses the normal gear and the toothless gear mutually in the axial direction. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping unit is rotatably attached to the capping unit. 8. The driving means transmits a driving force during rotation of the wiping means via the two driving force transmitting means, and transmits a driving force when the capping means moves up and down. The head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a cam having a tooth gear. 9. An ink jet printer having a print head for discharging ink droplets onto a recording medium, comprising: the head discharge characteristic maintaining device according to claim 1. Description: Printer.