JP2005169956A - Liquid discharger - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To replace a head cap member by a simple operation without requiring the removal operation of a head unit. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid discharger is equipped with a head cap member 36 which is movably combined with the head unit 3, so as to perform the protection of a nozzle seat 26 and the like, and to clean a head surface 26a by using a cleaning member 41; and the member 36 is moved to a position to face a head-cap attaching/detaching opening 10, by means of a head-cap-member driving mechanism 38, in accordance with instructions on replacement, so as to be replaced under a state wherein the head unit 3 is mounted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from each nozzle to an object supplied to face a nozzle sheet on which a large number of nozzles that are open on a head surface are formed.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus is generally configured to apply pressure to an appropriate liquid stored in a liquid chamber by pressure generating means and eject the liquid from a nozzle to an object, and is used in various fields. For example, an ink jet printer apparatus includes a pressure generating element such as a heat generating element or a piezoelectric element in an ink chamber that stores ink liquid, and ink liquid pressurized by the pressure generating element is discharged from a nozzle formed on a nozzle sheet. The desired printing of images, characters, and the like is performed by landing at a predetermined position on the recording paper ejected in a state and supplied to the printing unit. The ink jet printer apparatus has various features such as low running cost, miniaturization, and easy color printing, and high-resolution printing is performed.

  Specifically, the ink jet printer device heats the ink liquid in the ink chamber by a heating resistor provided in the ink liquid chamber to generate bubbles, and discharges the ink liquid from the nozzles by energy when the bubbles break and disappear. Let The ink jet printer device supplies, for example, yellow (yellow), magenta (red), cyan (blue), and black (black) ink liquids from the respective ink cartridges to the ink liquid chambers, and discharges the ink liquids of the respective colors. Is controlled to perform desired color printing.

  By the way, in the ink jet type printer apparatus, the ejected ink liquid may scatter and adhere to the periphery of the nozzle, and the head surface may be soiled by dust or dust adhering to the ink liquid. Also, in an ink jet printer, an ink lump is often generated on the head surface due to agglomeration due to drying or thickening of the adhering ink liquid. In an ink jet printer device, foreign matter such as dust, lump of dust, or lump of ink covers each nozzle, causing non-ejection phenomenon of ink liquid or ejection bending phenomenon, etc., and highly accurate and stable printing. There may be situations where this is not done. For this purpose, an ink jet printer apparatus is provided with a cleaning mechanism for removing foreign substances adhering to the head surface (for example, Patent Document 1).

  The cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning roller and a cleaning blade that rub against the head surface. The cleaning roller is formed by inserting a roller body made of a porous elastic material into an outer peripheral portion of a core material made of metal or hard resin, and has an axial length substantially equal to the width of the head surface. . The cleaning roller is cleaned by wiping off dirt adhering to the head surface while rotating by moving the roller body in parallel with the outer peripheral portion of the roller surface against the head surface by an appropriate driving mechanism. The cleaning roller is effective when removing relatively small foreign matters.

  The cleaning blade is formed in a rectangular plate shape having a length substantially equal to the width of the head surface by an elastic material such as a hard rubber material, and is attached to the mounting member so that the tip portion thereof is pressed against the head surface. The cleaning blade is moved in parallel with the head surface by an appropriate drive mechanism, whereby the tip portion scrapes off the dirt adhering to the head surface and cleans it. The cleaning blade is effective when removing relatively large foreign matters.

  Further, in the ink jet printer apparatus, for example, a head cap, a waste ink receiver, and the like are provided together with the above-described cleaning mechanism so as to face the nozzle sheet. The head cap covers the nozzle sheet to protect the head surface and prevent the ink liquid from drying. The head cap is also provided with a function of sucking, for example, ink liquid to prevent nozzle clogging. Further, the waste ink receiver adsorbs the waste ink liquid ejected by idle driving performed during a non-printing operation in order to prevent nozzle clogging.

JP 2002-240309 A

  Incidentally, in an ink jet printer, a serial head method and a line head method are provided. In the serial head system, a head unit having a length shorter than the printing width is provided, and when the head unit moves to the left and right with respect to the paper to perform a predetermined printing operation and prints for one line, a paper feed mechanism Is configured to perform a sheet feeding operation. The serial head system has a small number of nozzles, easy head structure and ink liquid discharge control, and since the amount of waste ink is small even when the above-mentioned idling is performed, it is naturally dried, so there is no need to replace the waste ink receiver. It has the characteristic that there is. Further, in the serial head system, it is not necessary to replace the head cap, the cleaning roller, or the cleaning blade.

  On the other hand, the line head system includes a head unit that is longer than the print width, and after performing printing for one line with the paper fixed at the printing position, the paper feed mechanism performs the paper feed operation. It has a feature that high-speed printing is possible. In the line head system, the amount of waste ink increases as the head structure increases in size, and the waste ink receiver needs to be replaced at an appropriate timing. In the line head system, a cleaning mechanism having a large cleaning roller and a cleaning blade is provided for cleaning a large head surface, and the cleaning roller, the cleaning blade, and the head cap are also replaced at an appropriate timing. There is a need.

  By the way, in the ink jet printer apparatus, the above-described cleaning mechanism, head cap, or waste ink receiver is generally disposed at a lower portion of the printing unit so as to face the head unit. In the ink jet printer apparatus, the head unit includes a head unit that ejects ink liquid and a loading unit in which a printing liquid cartridge is loaded, and is attached to and detached from the printing unit.

  Therefore, in the ink jet printer apparatus, when the cleaning roller, the cleaning blade, the head cap, or the waste ink receiver described above is replaced, it is troublesome that each detaching operation must be performed after the head unit is taken out. was there. In addition, in the ink jet printer apparatus, since these replacement parts are considerably dirty, there is a problem that the user's hand and surroundings are soiled during the replacement operation, and handling is necessary. Further, in the ink jet printer apparatus, there is a problem that the nozzle formed on the head surface is accidentally damaged when the head unit is taken out during the attaching / detaching operation or temporary storage.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that enables replacement parts such as a head cap to be replaced by a simple operation without requiring an operation of removing the head unit.

  The liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object includes a head unit, a head cap member, and a head cap member driving mechanism. The head unit is detachably disposed in a liquid discharge unit to which an object is supplied, and is supplied from the liquid cartridge by forming a number of nozzles in a loading unit in which the liquid cartridge is loaded and a nozzle sheet facing the object. And a head part for discharging the liquid. The head cap member is movably combined with the head surface of the head unit, and a cleaning member is provided for cleaning the head surface during the movement operation. The head cap member drive mechanism moves the head cap member from the first position where the nozzle sheet is closed to the second position where the nozzle sheet is opened along the head unit based on the liquid discharge instruction. The apparatus is put on standby and returned from the second position to the first position at the end of the liquid discharge. The head cap member is moved from the first position to the third position facing the attachment / detachment opening provided in the housing by the head cap member driving mechanism based on the replacement instruction, and is held at the third position.

  In the liquid ejection device, an object is supplied to the liquid ejection section based on a liquid ejection instruction, and the head cap member is opposed to the nozzle sheet from a first position where the head cap member is opposed to the nozzle sheet by a head cap member driving mechanism. It is moved from the position to move to the second position where the nozzle sheet faces the object to be supplied and waits at this second position. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, after the head cap member is moved, the head unit operates to eject the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge to the object from the nozzle, thereby performing a predetermined liquid ejecting operation. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, cleaning is performed by removing a foreign substance attached to the head surface by a cleaning member provided on a head cap member that is moved when the liquid is ejected, by rubbing the head surface of the nozzle sheet. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, foreign matter or the like removed from the head surface is stored in the head cap member.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, notification of the replacement timing of the head cap member is performed at a predetermined timing, and the head cap member driving mechanism is driven based on the replacement instruction. In the liquid ejection device, the head cap member moved from the first position to the third position by the head cap member driving mechanism is removed from the attachment / detachment opening and discarded. In the liquid ejection apparatus, the head cap member for replacement is loaded from the attachment / detachment opening, and the head cap member driving mechanism is driven based on the return instruction to return from the third position to the first position. The head cap member is exchanged with the unit mounted.

  According to the liquid ejection device according to the present invention configured as described above, a head cap member that moves from the position facing the nozzle sheet and faces the object by moving from the facing position and the head cap member is provided. By providing the cleaning member, the head surface of the nozzle sheet is protected and kept in a good state. According to the liquid ejection apparatus of the present invention, the head cap member is moved to the third position facing the detachable opening by the head cap member driving mechanism while the head unit is mounted on the printing unit based on the replacement instruction. Since the exchange operation is performed, the exchange operation can be greatly simplified. In a liquid ejection device, a head cap member that is heavily soiled can be replaced without the user's hands getting dirty and without contaminating each part of the device or the surroundings without taking care to prevent the soiling. Further, in the liquid ejecting apparatus, since the head cap member replacement operation is performed without requiring the head unit attaching / detaching operation, the occurrence of an accident such as accidental damage to the head surface is prevented.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet printer apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as a printer apparatus) 1 shown in the drawings as an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printer device 1 includes a printer main body 2, a head unit 3 and a paper cassette 4 that are respectively attached to and detached from the printer main body 2, and is connected to, for example, a personal computer or the like. Peripheral devices such as digital cameras are connected and used. As will be described in detail later, the printer apparatus 1 prints a document or image whose output has been instructed from a personal computer, peripheral device, or the like onto a predetermined size of paper 6 fed from the paper cassette 4 to the printing unit 5 of the printer body 2. Print. As will be described in detail later, the printer apparatus 1 ejects ink liquid in the form of droplets to land on the paper 6 based on a print instruction, and performs high-speed printing in line units. The printer device 1 performs color printing of documents and images by using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink liquids.

  The printer main body 2 includes a casing 7 including an upper casing 7a and a lower casing 7b, and the upper casing 7a rotates with respect to the lower casing 7b at one end in the depth direction by a pivot mechanism that omits details. It is supported freely. The printer main body 2 opens the inside by rotating the upper casing 7a with respect to the lower casing 7b so that maintenance such as paper jam processing, parts replacement or cleaning is performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer main body 2 is provided with a paper cassette loading port 8 that is positioned on the front surface of the housing 7 and into which the paper cassette 4 is inserted and removed. The paper cassette 4 is mounted on the printer main body 2 with the front surface portion protruding from the paper cassette loading port 8. In the printer main body 2, as will be described later, the paper cassette loading port 8 also serves as a discharge port for the paper 6 on which predetermined printing has been performed, and the printed paper 6 is fed from the printing unit 5 to the cassette lid of the paper cassette 4. 9 so that the paper is discharged onto the top. The paper cassette 4 stores a large number of sheets 6 in a stacked state. Further, the paper cassette 4 is appropriately replaced according to the size of the paper 6 to be used.

  The printer main body 2 has a paper cassette loading port 8 having an opening having an opening shape larger than the outer shape of the paper cassette 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a head which will be described later is located above the paper cassette loading port 8. The head cap member attaching / detaching opening 10 is configured so that the cap member 36 is attached / detached.

  The printer main body 2 includes a paper transport mechanism 11 that takes out the paper 6 from the paper cassette 4 and transports the paper 6 to the paper cassette loading port 8 via the printing unit 5. Specifically, the paper transport mechanism 11 includes a paper feed roller mechanism 12 provided inside the paper cassette loading slot 8 for picking up one sheet at a time from the uppermost paper 6a in the paper cassette 4, and a printing unit for taking out the paper 6a taken out. 5 and a paper discharge mechanism 14 that discharges the paper 6 a on which predetermined printing has been performed in the printing unit 5 to the paper cassette loading port 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed roller mechanism 12 is arranged at the upper end of the paper cassette 4 and omits details, but the uppermost paper from the multiple papers 6 stacked and stored in the paper cassette 4. A paper feed roller that feeds out 6a and a pair of separation rollers that are arranged subsequent to the paper feed roller to prevent delivery of a plurality of sheets 6 are provided. The printer main body 2 has a push-up that opposes the bottom surface of the paper cassette 4 loaded in the paper cassette loading slot 8 and pushes up the paper 6 and presses the uppermost paper 6a against the paper feed roller during printing. A mechanism is provided.

  The paper feed mechanism 13 conveys the paper 6 fed from the paper cassette 4 by the paper feed roller mechanism 12 to the printing unit 5 through a substantially horizontal U-shaped route. As shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed mechanism 13 includes a large-diameter reversing roller, a plurality of conveying path plates disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the reversing roller, or a plurality of conveying rollers sandwiching the paper 6 between the outer peripheral portions of the reversing roller It has a conveyance roller. The paper feed mechanism 13 feeds the paper 6 to the printing unit 5 in a forward-downward posture.

  The paper discharge mechanism 14 is disposed to face the head unit 3, and forms a printing unit 5 in cooperation with the head unit 3. Although not described in detail, the sheet discharge mechanism 14 is configured so that one end side in the depth direction is supported by a support mechanism so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and the outer peripheral portion of the plate circulates in the front-rear direction in a parallel state. And a plurality of endless conveying belts assembled together, and a feed roller or a spur arranged opposite to the plate. The paper discharge mechanism 14 has a platen 15 mounted on the plate so as to face the head unit 3.

  Although not described in detail, the paper discharge mechanism 14 is held at a position lowered downward with respect to the head unit 3 as shown in FIG. When a later-described head cap member 36 is moved forward from the printing unit 5 based on a print instruction, the sheet discharge mechanism 14 is rotated to move the plate 15 to the head unit 3 at a predetermined interval. To face each other. Therefore, the paper discharge mechanism 14 forms the printing unit 5 in cooperation with the head unit 3 as described above, and supplies the paper 6 between the head unit 3 and the plate 15 so that predetermined printing is performed. To.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer main body 2 has a head unit attaching / detaching opening 16 that is positioned substantially at the center of the upper housing 7a. The head unit attaching / detaching opening 16 is opened and closed by a lid 17 supported by the upper housing 7a by a rotation support mechanism that omits details. In the printer main body 2, the lid 17 is opened to perform an exchange operation of an ink liquid cartridge 22 described later on the head unit 3. Further, in the printer main body 2, the head unit 3 is taken out from the inside, and the paper 6 jammed in the middle of the printing unit 5 and the conveyance path is taken out, and parts are exchanged and cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer main body 2 is provided with an operation unit 18 in a front region with respect to the head unit attaching / detaching opening 16 of the upper housing 7 a. The operation unit 18 is provided with an operation button or a liquid crystal display for performing various setting operations such as a power switch, setting of the number of prints, and a print start instruction. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer main body 2 is provided with a control space portion 19 at a portion in the depth direction of the lower housing 7 b, and outputs a control signal for controlling the operation of each component and each component of the head unit 3. A control unit having a control board on which a CPU, various memories, and the like are mounted, a power supply unit, and the like are housed, and an interface unit for connecting to a personal computer or the like is provided.

  The control unit is a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a control program for controlling the entire operation of the printer apparatus 1 is recorded, a RAM (Random Access) that temporarily stores the read control program and the like and is read out as necessary. Memory) and the like. A control part outputs the control signal which controls each operation | movement with respect to each part. The control unit outputs a warning display signal based on detection of the remaining amount of ink liquid, which will be described later, or a predetermined number of prints and outputs various signals such as a head cap replacement timing display signal to display a predetermined display on the display. To do. The control unit outputs a control signal for controlling the ejection of each ink liquid to the head unit 3 so that predetermined printing is performed. The control unit drives the paper transport mechanism 11 so that the paper 6 is transported.

  The head unit 3 includes a head frame 20 having an overall substantially rectangular cylindrical body having a length larger than the paper width of the maximum size paper 6 used in the printer apparatus 1. The head unit 3 is provided with a positioning structure and a lock structure that are not described in detail in the head frame 20 and the head unit attaching / detaching opening 16, and is positioned and combined with the printer main body 2. When the head unit 3 is attached to the head unit attaching / detaching opening 16, a connector (not shown) provided on the head frame 20 is coupled to a connector 21 (see FIG. 2) provided on the head unit attaching / detaching opening 16 side. The printer body 2 is electrically coupled. The head unit 3 is released from the head unit attaching / detaching opening 16 when the unlocking mechanism provided on the printer body 2 side is operated while the lid 17 is opened. It becomes possible.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the head unit 3 divides the inside of the head frame 20 into upper and lower portions, thereby forming an ink liquid cartridge mounting portion 22 in the upper space portion and discharging ink liquid to the paper 6 in the lower space portion. The head unit 23 is configured to perform predetermined printing. The ink cartridge mounting portion 22 has four color ink cartridges 24a to 24d filled with yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink, respectively (except for the case described individually below). Are collectively referred to as ink liquid cartridges 24). The ink liquid cartridges 24 are arranged and mounted in the ink cartridge mounting unit 22 in the order described above with respect to the paper feeding direction of the paper 6.

  Although not described in detail, each ink liquid cartridge 24 is filled with a predetermined ink liquid in a cartridge container provided with a supply port incorporating a check valve mechanism at the bottom, and is divided into the ink liquid cartridge mounting portion 22. The ink liquid is supplied to the head portion 23 by being mounted on the predetermined mounting portions. Each ink liquid cartridge 24 is formed with a positioning convex portion at a different position for each color on the bottom, and this positioning convex portion is relative to the positioning concave portion formed on each mounting portion side of the ink liquid cartridge mounting portion 22. By engaging, it is mounted without error on a predetermined mounting portion. In the printer device 1, since the amount of black ink liquid used is large, the ink liquid cartridge mounting portion 22 is also formed in a large size so that a large cartridge is used for the black ink liquid cartridge 24d.

  As described above, the ink cartridge mounting portion 22 is provided with a plurality of partition walls that divide the loading positions of the ink cartridges 24 and the elastic force in the take-out direction that is provided on the bottom surface and accumulated. An elastic material that acts on the cartridge 24 or a latch mechanism that holds each ink cartridge 24 in a loaded state against the elastic force and releases the held state so that the cartridge can be taken out is provided. . The ink cartridge mounting portion 22 is provided with a plurality of fitting portions into which the supply ports of the ink cartridges 24 are respectively fitted. The ink liquid cartridge mounting part 22 opens the check valve mechanism by fitting the supply port of each loaded ink liquid cartridge 24 and supplies the ink liquid from the ink liquid cartridge 24 to the head part 23. .

  The head unit 3 is provided with an ink liquid discharge section 25 that supplies ink liquid to the head section 23 in communication with the ink liquid cartridge mounting section 22 and discharges the ink liquid. The head portion 23 is provided with a large number of nozzles 27 having minute openings in a nozzle sheet 26 that constitutes the bottom surface portion of the head frame 20, and each nozzle 27 faces the head frame 20 by an ink liquid discharge portion 25. Then, the ink liquid is ejected in the form of droplets onto the fed paper 6 to perform predetermined printing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle sheet 26 includes a yellow print area 28a, a magenta print area 28b, a cyan print area 28c, and a black print area 28d on the head surface 26a facing the paper 6. Each of the printing areas 28a to 28d is configured by being divided from the upstream side in the arrangement order of the ink cartridges 24 described above with respect to the paper feeding direction of the paper 6 indicated by an arrow in FIG. Each of the printing areas 28a to 28d is an area having a length slightly larger than the width of the maximum size paper 6, and a plurality of nozzles 27 are provided in the length direction. The nozzles 27 are arranged in a staggered manner in which a plurality of pairs adjacent to each other in the printing regions 28 a to 28 d are alternately shifted in the paper feeding direction of the paper 6.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ink liquid discharge unit 25 divides the main surface of the control substrate 29 into a large number of areas corresponding to the nozzles 27 by the spacer film 30. A pair of heater chips 32a and 32b or a bonding block 33 is provided. The ink liquid discharge unit 25 is formed by laminating a nozzle sheet 26 provided with the above-described many nozzles 27 so as to cover these members on a control substrate 29. The ink discharge unit 25 is not described in detail on the control board 29, but an appropriate circuit pattern for supplying a drive signal to the heater chip 32 is formed, and head drive control including a logic IC (Integrated Circuit), a driver transistor, and the like. A circuit is formed.

  In the ink liquid ejecting section 25, a bush 34 having a through hole communicating with the ink liquid flow path 31 a formed in the ink liquid flow path member 31 is fitted in the control substrate 29, and the ink liquid is supplied from the ink liquid cartridge 24. The ink liquid channel member 31 is formed with an ink liquid reservoir 31b for storing the ink liquid supplied from the ink liquid cartridge 24 at the tip of the ink liquid channel 31a. A pair of heater chips 32a and 32b are attached to the surface of the ink liquid channel member 31 so as to face the ink liquid reservoir 31b. The ink liquid flow path member 31 is laminated on the nozzle sheet 26 with the ink liquid reservoir 31 b facing the nozzle 27.

  The bonding block 33 is provided with a bonding terminal 33a penetrating therethrough. One end of the bonding terminal 33a is connected to the circuit pattern of the control board 29, and the other end is connected to each heater chip 32a via a gold wire 33b. , 32b. In the head portion 23, a large number of openings for connection are formed in the nozzle sheet 26 so as to face each connection portion in order to connect the bonding terminals 33 a and the heater chips 32 a and 32 b with the gold wires 33 b.

  In addition, after the bonding process of the gold wire 33b, the ink liquid discharge part 25 is sealed by a sealing sealing layer 35 made of a synthetic resin material having wear resistance and insulation. Further, although not described in detail, the ink discharge unit 25 has a mechanism for detecting a remaining amount of ink liquid in the ink reservoir 31b and a diaphragm mechanism or an ink liquid for applying a supply pressure for supplying the ink liquid into the ink reservoir 31b. A filter or the like for removing impurities from the substrate is provided.

  In the ink discharge unit 25, when a drive signal is supplied from the control unit to the control substrate 29 based on a print instruction, the head drive control circuit operates to supply a drive current to the predetermined heater chips 32a and 32b. Then, the heater chips 32a and 32b generate heat. In the ink liquid ejecting section 25, the heater chips 32a and 32b heat the ink liquid in the ink liquid pressurizing space portion, which omits the details in the ink liquid reservoir section 31b due to heat generation, and generate bubbles to generate the ink liquid. The inside of the pressurizing space is in a pressurized state. In the ink liquid ejecting section 25, the ink liquid is pushed out from the nozzle 27 as the bubbles grow in the ink liquid reservoir section 31b, and ink droplets are ejected by the repelling pressure of the bubbles repelled in the nozzle 27. Note that the ink liquid ejection unit 25 may eject ink droplets using, for example, a piezoelectric element instead of the heater chip.

  In the head portion 23 configured as described above, the head cap member 36 is slidably and detachably combined with the bottom surface portion of the head frame 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the head cap member 36 is formed of a synthetic resin material in a tray shape having a rectangular opening having a shape substantially equal to the bottom surface of the head frame 20. The head cap member 36 is provided with a head cleaning mechanism 37 which will be described in detail later.

  The head cap member 36 causes the nozzle sheet 26 to oppose the paper 6 from a first position p1 that is located between the head cap driving mechanism 38, which will be described in detail later on the basis of the print instruction, and the nozzle sheet 26 to face the paper 6. It is moved to the second position p2 and held at the second position p2 until the printing is finished. When the predetermined printing is finished, the head cap driving mechanism 38 returns the second position p2 to the first position p1. The head cap member 36 is moved from the first position p1 to the third position p3 facing the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 by the head cap driving mechanism 38 based on the replacement instruction, and is held at the third position p3 by waiting. . The head cap member 36 is removed by a removal jig member 62 inserted from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10.

  The head cap member 36 keeps the nozzle sheet 26 closed at the first position p1 during non-printing, thereby protecting the head surface 26a and the like on which a large number of precise and fine nozzles 27 are formed. There is a function of preventing drying of the ink liquid in the ink liquid discharge section 25 provided in the nozzle 27. The head cap member 36 is maintained in a combined state with the head frame 20 even when the head unit 3 is removed from the printer main body 2 during maintenance or the like.

  As described above, the head cap member 36 is reciprocated between the first position p1 and the second position p2 by the head cap driving mechanism 38 during printing. At this time, the head cleaning mechanism 37 cleans the head surface 26a. The foreign matter removed by this is dropped inside. The head cap member 36 is provided therein with an adsorption mat 39 made of a porous sheet such as a sponge sheet, and the adsorption mat 39 captures foreign matter and the like removed by the head cleaning mechanism 37. The head cap member 36 adsorbs the waste ink liquid ejected from each nozzle 27 by the adsorption mat 39 when the ink liquid is emptied. The head cap member 36 sucks the ink liquid dropped or dropped from each nozzle 27 by the suction mat 39. Therefore, the head cap member 36 is provided with the suction sheet 39 in the inside thereof, thereby ensuring a capacity for accumulating foreign matters and the like in the inside without increasing the entire depth and preventing the peripheral portion from being stained.

  The head cap member 36 is integrally formed with guide convex portions 36a and 36b formed of a pair of horizontal convex portions spaced apart in the width direction on both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction. The head cap member 36 is engaged with the guide grooves 36a and 36b in the front-rear direction (width direction) formed opposite to the side portions of the head frame 20, respectively. Thus, the movement to the first position p1 to the third position p3 described above is performed by being slidably combined in the front-rear direction.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the ink liquid ejected from the nozzles 27 scatters and adheres to the head surface 26 a of the nozzle sheet 26, and dirt or dust adheres to the ink liquid, so that the head surface 26 a is soiled. Further, in the printer apparatus 1, an ink lump is generated when the ink liquid adhering to the head surface 26 a dries or thickens and aggregates. In the printer 1, when the head cap member 36 described above is moved, the cleaning mechanism 37 removes foreign matters such as ink lumps from the head surface 26 a, and the occurrence of non-ejection phenomenon of ink liquid or ejection bending phenomenon due to these foreign substances. To prevent precise printing.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the head cap member 36 is integrally provided with bearing portions 40, 40 that are positioned on the depth side (rear side) of the inner surface and spaced apart in the length direction. The cleaning roller 41 constituting the head cleaning mechanism 37 is assembled by rotatably supporting the support shaft member between 40 and 40. The cleaning roller 41 is mounted with a roll body made of an appropriate synthetic resin elastic material such as ethylene propylene rubber, chloroprene rubber, or urethane rubber having elastic characteristics and chemical resistance to ink liquid, solvent, and the like on the support shaft member. It becomes. The cleaning roller 41 is formed to have a slightly longer axis than the length in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle sheet 26, and the outer diameter of the cleaning roller 41 that protrudes from the opening edge of the head cap member 36 when supported by the bearing portions 40, 40. It has. The cleaning roller 41 is positioned on the depth side with respect to the head surface 36a at the first position p1 where the head cap member 36 closes the nozzle sheet 26, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is pressed against the entire area in the longitudinal direction.

  The head cleaning mechanism 37 moves in the width direction while rotating while the cleaning roller 41 is held in a state where the outer peripheral surface thereof is in pressure contact with the head surface 36a as the head cap member 36 moves, and foreign matter adhered to the head surface 36a. Etc. are removed. The head cleaning mechanism 37 drops foreign matter or the like removed from the head surface 36a by the cleaning roller 41 into the head cap member 36 and captures it by the suction mat 39, so that the printing unit 5 or internal contamination due to scattering of foreign matter or the like is prevented. To prevent.

  As described above, the head cleaning mechanism 37 cleans the head surface 36a before and after the ink liquid ejection operation by the head cap member 36 reciprocating from the first position p1 to the second position p2 during printing. Therefore, the head cleaning mechanism 37 keeps the head surface 36a in a good state so that precise printing is performed. The head cleaning mechanism 37 is not limited to the cleaning roller 41 described above. For example, a blade member formed of an elastic material may be provided on the head cap member 36.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the head cap member 36 is provided with lock mechanisms 42, 42 that are positioned on the front side (front side) opposite to the bearing portions 40, 40 and spaced apart in the length direction. Each lock mechanism 42 includes a pair of support portions 43a and 43b that are vertically provided in a rectangular frame portion in the length direction that is integrally formed on the inner surface of the head cap member 36, and these support portions. A lock member 44 and a cam rod 45 which are coaxially connected to each other between 43a and 43b and are slidable in the longitudinal direction, and a coil spring 46 which is assembled to the cam rod 45.

  In the lock mechanism 42, the lock member 44 is biased in the lateral direction via the cam rod 45 by the elastic force of the coil spring 46. Therefore, in the lock mechanism 42, the lock member 44 projects the tip end portion 44a from the guide opening 47 formed on the both side walls of the head cap member 36 as shown in FIGS. In the lock mechanism 42, the tip end portion 44a of the lock member 44 is relatively engaged with each lock portion that is not described in detail in a guide mechanism 58 described later, whereby the head cap member 36 is moved to the first position p1 or the second position described above. It is held at the position p2 or the third position p3.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the head cap member 36 is formed with a first lock release port 48 on the bottom surface of the head cap member 36 so as to face the cam rod 45, and as shown in FIG. An unlock port 49 is formed. Although the details of the lock mechanism 42 are omitted, in a state where the head cap member 36 is held at the first position p1 or the second position p2, a lock release member (not shown) is released by the first lock release in response to a print instruction or a print end instruction. The lock state is released by entering from the port 48 and driving the cam rod 45 and moving the lock member 44 into the head cap member 36 against the elastic force of the coil spring 46.

  In addition, the lock mechanism 42 is configured to release the unlocking cam of the jig member 62 from the second unlocking port 49 in a state where the head cap member 36 is moved to the third position p3 based on an exchange instruction as will be described later. 67 enters, drives the cam rod 45, and moves the lock member 44 into the head cap member 36 against the elastic force of the coil spring 46, thereby releasing the lock state. Thus, the lock mechanism 42 enables the head cap member 36 to be removed from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10.

  As described above, the head cap member 36 is moved from the first position p1 to the second position p2 or the third position p3 by the head cap member driving mechanism 38, and the moved second position p2 or third position p3. To return to the first position p1. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the head cap member driving mechanism 38 includes a support frame member 51 assembled to the chassis side surface portion 50 and a head that is slidably combined in the front-rear direction with respect to the support frame member 51. A cap holder 52. The head cap member drive mechanism 38 includes a rack plate 53 that is moved in the front-rear direction between the chassis side surface 50 and the support frame member 51, a drive motor 54 attached to the chassis side surface 50, and an output shaft 54a thereof. And a worm gear 55 meshed with a rack 53a formed on the rack plate 53.

  The support frame member 51 is an overall substantially frame-shaped member integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and is fixed to a chassis (not shown) located at the lower portion of the head frame 20 described above. The support frame member 51 has a length in the depth direction located in the vicinity of the front portion of the housing 7 from the printing unit 5, and is a receiver for positioning and mounting the above-described head frame 20 with respect to the printing unit 5. Configure the member. Therefore, although not described in detail, the support frame member 51 is provided with a positioning fitting portion in which the positioning fitting portion formed in the head frame 20 is relatively fitted in the printing portion corresponding region 51a, and the connector 21 described above. Etc. are mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the support frame member 51 includes a first guide groove 56 and a second guide groove 57 that are formed in a pair of left and right side surface portions 51 b and 51 c facing each other and are symmetrically formed with horizontal through grooves. Are formed respectively. The first guide groove 56 is formed to face the printing portion corresponding region 51a of the support frame member 51, and extends horizontally toward the front side starting from the vicinity of the side surface portion 51d on the depth side. It consists of an inclined groove portion 56b that communicates with the horizontal groove portion 56a and is formed upward while being inclined from the vicinity of a substantially central portion of both side surface portions 51b and 51c. As for the 1st guide groove 56, the base end part 56c of the horizontal groove part 56a is flipped up a little upwards.

  The second guide groove 57 includes a horizontal groove portion 57a extending horizontally to the front side along the bottom surface, starting from a vicinity where the first guide groove 56 rises upward in the vicinity of a substantially central portion of both side surface portions 51b and 51c. An inclined groove portion 57b formed upward while being inclined in communication with the horizontal groove portion 57a, and a front descending groove portion 57c formed curved downward from the inclined groove portion 57b at a position near the front surface portion 51e. It consists of. The second guide groove 57 also has a shape in which the base end portion 57d of the horizontal groove portion 57a is slightly lifted upward.

  In the support frame member 51, the first guide groove 56 and the second guide groove 57 have substantially the same distance between the base end portions 56c and 57d of the horizontal groove portions 56a and 57a, and the depth of the head cap member 36 described above. It is formed with a length substantially equal to the length in the direction. Further, in the support frame member 51, the first guide groove 56 and the second guide groove 57 have a distance between the front end of the inclined groove portion 57b and the front end of the front descending groove portion 57c substantially equal to the length of the head cap member 36 in the depth direction. It is formed with a length. The first guide groove 56 and the second guide groove 57 together with a third guide groove 59 to be described later, a guide mechanism for moving the head cap member 36 from the first position p1 to the second position p2 or the third position p3. 58 is configured.

  The head cap holder 52 has an overall substantially frame shape formed by connecting opposing side surface portions 52a and 52b formed of a synthetic resin material with a plurality of metal beam members so as to be opposed to each other. The head cap holder 52 has an inner space substantially equal to the outer shape of the head cap member 36, and holds the head cap member 36 that performs the above-described moving operation in combination as shown in FIG. Although not shown, the head cap holder 52 is formed with horizontal guide grooves on the inner surfaces of the side surface portions 52a and 52b in which the guide convex portions 36a and 36b on the head cap member 36 side are relatively engaged. Each guide groove is opened in front of the side surface portions 52a and 52b, and the head cap member 36 is combined with the head cap holder 52 through the openings.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the head cap holder 52 is provided with first guide rollers 59 and second guide rollers 60 that protrude from the side surfaces 52 a and 52 b in the front-rear direction. The head cap holder 52 is configured such that the first guide roller 59 is fitted in the first guide groove 56 described above and the second guide roller 60 is fitted in the second guide groove 57 described above. The cap member drive mechanism 38 is slid within the support frame member 51.

  The head cap holder 52 is configured such that the first guide roller 59 is positioned at the proximal end portion 56 c of the first guide groove 56 and the second guide roller 60 is positioned at the proximal end portion 57 d of the second guide groove 57. The member 36 is held at the first position p1 where the nozzle sheet 26 is closed. In the head cap holder 52, the first guide roller 59 and the second guide roller 60 are moved to the front side in the first guide groove 56 and the second guide groove 57 and are positioned above the inclined groove portions 56b and 57b, respectively. Thus, the head cap member 36 is held at the second position p2 where the nozzle sheet 26 is opened.

  When the head cap holder 52 is moved further forward from the second position p2 described above, the second guide roller 60 is in a state where the first guide roller 59 is positioned at the front end of the inclined groove portion 56b of the first guide groove 56. Moves in the front descending groove 57c of the second guide groove 57. Accordingly, the head cap holder 52 has a posture in which the front side is inclined downward with the first guide roller 59 as a fulcrum. Therefore, the head cap holder 52 causes the head cap member 36 combined therein to face the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 with the front cap lowered. The head cap holder 52 lowers the height of the front surface portion of the housing 7 by making the head cap member 36 in a forward-lowering state, so that the removal operation can be easily performed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a horizontal third guide groove 59 is formed in the chassis side surface portion 50 at an upper position facing the first guide groove 56 and the second guide groove 57 of the support frame member 51 described above. ing. A pair of cam pins 53 b and 53 c provided on the side surface of the rack plate 53 so as to be separated in the front-rear direction are relatively engaged with the third guide groove 59. The third guide groove 59 guides the moving operation in the front-rear direction along the chassis side surface portion 50 of the rack plate 53 driven by the drive motor 54 as the cam pins 53b and 53c move.

  A rack 53a is provided on the lower side of the rack plate 53 over almost the entire length, and the rack 53a meshes with a worm gear 55 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 54 attached to the chassis side face 50. The rack plate 53 moves along the chassis side surface portion 50 via the cam pins 53b and 53c engaged with the third guide groove 59 when the drive motor 54 is activated. The rack plate 53 is formed with a cam groove 61 in the height direction at a front portion, and the second guide roller 60 provided in the head cap holder 52 described above penetrates the second guide groove 57 in the cam groove 61. Are engaged.

  In the head cap member drive mechanism 38 configured as described above, the lock state of the head cap member 36 by the lock mechanism 42 described above at the first position p1 is based on the print instruction control signal output from the control unit. The drive motor 54 is started after being released. In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, the worm gear 55 rotates via the output shaft 54a and the foam 54b. In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, the rotation of the worm gear 55 is transmitted to the rack plate 53 via the rack 53a, and the chassis is provided with the third guide groove 59 for engaging the rack plate 53 with the cam pins 53b and 53c. It moves along the side part 50.

  In the head cap member drive mechanism 38, the rack plate 53 moves so as to pull the second guide roller 60 engaged with the cam groove 61, thereby moving the head cap holder 52 provided with the second guide roller 60. Let In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, the head cap holder 52 in which the first guide roller 59 is engaged with the first guide groove 56 and the second guide roller 60 is engaged with the second guide groove 57 is supported by the support frame member. 51 is moved inside.

  In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, the cam groove 61 is a long groove in the height direction as described above, so that the second guide roller 60 is inclined by the inclined groove portion of the second guide groove 57 as the head cap holder 52 moves. Movement within 57b is enabled. In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, the head cap member 36 combined with the head cap holder 52 is gradually moved forward from the first position p1. In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, when the head cap member 36 reaches the second position p2 where the nozzle sheet 26 is opened, the rotation of the drive motor 54 is stopped. Note that the head cap member 36 is kept locked by the lock mechanism 42 at the second position p2 until the end of printing.

  In the head cap member drive mechanism 38, the lock state of the head cap member 36 by the lock mechanism 42 is released and the drive motor 54 is activated based on a print end control signal output from the control unit when predetermined printing is completed. To do. In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, each component and each member perform a reverse operation to the movement operation from the first position p1 to the second position p2 described above, thereby returning the head cap member 36 to the first position p1. The nozzle sheet 26 is closed.

  In the head cap member drive mechanism 38, when the head cap member 36 is exchanged, each component and each member perform the same operation as the operation based on the print instruction described above based on the exchange instruction control signal output from the controller. Then, the head cap member 36 is moved. In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, the head cap member 36 is moved further forward beyond the second position p2 described above, and moved to the third position p3 facing the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10, and then locked. Locked by mechanism 42.

  In the head cap member drive mechanism 38, when the head cap member 36 is removed by the removal jig member 62 inserted from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 and the replacement operation is completed, the replacement end control signal output from the control unit is output. Based on this, the locked state of the head cap member 36 by the lock mechanism 42 is released, and the drive motor 54 is activated. In the head cap member driving mechanism 38, each component and each member perform a reverse operation to the moving operation from the first position p1 to the third position p3 described above, thereby returning the head cap member 36 to the first position p1. The nozzle sheet 26 is closed.

  The removal jig member 62 is provided by being enclosed in a replacement head cap member 36. The removal jig member 62 constitutes a lid body of the head cap member 36 removed together with a jig for performing the removal operation of the existing head cap member 36 combined with the head unit 3, and is discarded. The replacement head cap member 36 has a new cleaning roller 41 and suction mat 39 assembled therein.

  The removal jig member 62 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a lid portion 63 having a size substantially equal to the opening of the head cap member 36, and one of the lid portions 63. The front portion 64 is formed by bending along the side portion, the holding portion 65 is formed by bending the front portion 64 so as to face the lid portion 63, and the hand-held portion 66 protruding from the front portion 64. . The removal jig member 62 is formed such that the height of the front surface portion 64, that is, the facing distance between the lid portion 63 and the holding portion 65 is substantially equal to the thickness of the head cap member 36. The removal jig member 62 is formed integrally with the inner surface of the front surface portion 64 and the inner surface of the lid portion 63 to form a lock release cam portion 67 and a holding cam portion 68 in the front-rear direction. 69 is integrally formed. The unlocking cam portion 67 is formed of a rib-like convex portion that extends toward the rear side, and is formed on the inner surface of the front surface portion 64 so as to face the second unlocking port 49 on the head cap member 36 side and be separated in the length direction. The

  The holding cam portion 68 is formed inside the lock release cam portion 67 so as to face the side surface of the frame portion that constitutes the lock mechanism 42 on the head cap member 36 side described above. The lock piece 69 is a convex piece that is located on both sides of the holding portion 65 and integrally protrudes, and has an L-shape in which the tip is bent. Although not shown, the lock piece 69 is integrally formed with a convex portion that engages with a lock opening formed on the bottom surface on the head cap member 36 side.

  The removal jig member 62 is inserted into the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 from the lid 63 side as shown in FIG. 1 with the head cap member 36 moved to the third position p3. The removal jig member 62 is combined with the head cap member 36 with the lid portion 63 and the holding portion 65 sandwiching the thickness direction, and the lid portion 63 blocks the entire opening portion. While the removal jig member 62 is inserted into the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10, the unlocking cam part 67 enters the second unlocking port 49 from the opposite side, and the holding cam part 68 also has an opening not shown. To enter the interior.

  As described above, the removal jig member 62 releases the locked state with the printer main body 2 side by the lock release cam portion 67 moving the lock member 44 into the head cap member 36. The detaching jig member 62 has a pinching force between the lid portion 63 and the holding portion 65, a pinching force between the unlocking cam portion 67 and the holding cam portion 68, and engagement between the lock opening and the lock piece 69 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the head cap member 36 is mechanically integrated.

  Therefore, the removal jig member 62 can take out the head cap member 36 from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 by a simple operation and without soiling the hand by grasping and pulling the hand holding portion 66. To do. The removal jig member 62 closes the opening portion with the lid portion 63, thereby preventing the foreign matter accumulated in the head cap member 36 from being scattered and the surroundings from being contaminated.

  The removal jig member 62 is provided by being enclosed with the replacement head cap member 36 as described above, and is used for the operation of removing the head cap member 36. However, the replacement head cap member 36 is half of interest for the user. May be combined. In the state in which the removal jig member 62 is integrated with the head cap member 36, as shown in FIG. 12, a bent piece integrally formed with the lock piece 69 projects to the bottom side. Therefore, the removal jig member 62 is configured such that the head cap member 36 can be removed by elastically deforming the lock piece 69 via the bent piece.

  Since the head cap member 36 is held in the front-down state at the third position p3 as described above, the removal jig member 62 can be smoothly inserted into the head cap attachment / detachment opening 10 with the front-down surface of the housing 7 as a guide. Plugged into. Further, the removal jig member 62 is combined with the head cap member 36 in a natural state.

  With respect to the printer device 1 configured as described above, the movement operation and the replacement operation of the head cap member 36 will be described with reference to FIG. In the printer apparatus 1, the head cap member 36 combined with the head unit 3 is located in the printing unit 5 in the standby state shown in FIG. In the printer device 1, the head cap member 36 covers the head surface 26 a of the nozzle sheet 26 in this state, and the suction mat 39 absorbs the waste ink liquid due to the ink ink being emptied and the ink liquid dripped or dropped from each nozzle 27. To do.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the head cap member 36 released from the locked state at the first position p 1 as shown in FIG. 11B based on the print instruction control signal output from the control unit is the head cap member. It is moved to the front side of the printing unit 5 by the drive mechanism 38. In the printer apparatus 1, as described above, when the head cap member 36 moves along the head frame 20, the cleaning roller 41 rubs against the head surface 26 a of the nozzle sheet 26 to remove foreign substances attached thereto. In the printer device 1, the removed foreign matter or the like is dropped into the head cap member 36 and sucked by the suction mat 39.

  In the printer apparatus 1, when the head cap member 36 is moved to the front position of the head unit 3, which is the second position p 2, by the head cap member driving mechanism 38 as shown in FIG. Held by. In the printer apparatus 1, when the head cap member 36 is detached from the head frame 20, the paper discharge mechanism 14 is rotated so that the platen 15 is spaced from the head surface 26 a of the nozzle sheet 26 with a predetermined interval. opposite. In the printer apparatus 1, the paper transport mechanism 11 is driven to supply the paper 6 from the paper cassette 4 to the printing unit 5, and the head unit 3 is driven to perform predetermined printing.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the head cap member 36 is returned and moved from the second position p 2 to the first position p 1 by the head cap member driving mechanism 38 with the end of printing. In the printer apparatus 1, the head surface 26 a of the nozzle sheet 26 is also cleaned by the cleaning roller 41 during the return path operation of the head cap member 36.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the number of prints is managed by the control unit, and when a predetermined number of prints are performed, it is determined that the inside of the head cap member 36 is full of foreign matter or the like and needs to be replaced. In the printer apparatus 1, based on the output signal from the control unit, for example, the display of the operation unit 18 is notified of the replacement time. In the printer apparatus 1, when the user operates, for example, the replacement button of the operation unit 18 based on this notification, a control signal for replacement instruction is output from the control unit. In the printer apparatus 1, the head cap member 36 is moved from the first position p1 to the third position p3 shown in FIG. 11D by the head cap member driving mechanism 38 via the second position p2.

  In the printer device 1, the head cap member 36 is removed from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 at the third position p <b> 3. In the printer apparatus 1, the removal jig member 62 enclosed with the replacement head cap member 36 is inserted from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10. In the printer apparatus 1, the head cap member 36 is unlocked by the removal jig member 62, and the head cap member 36 and the removal jig member 62 are integrated. In the printer 1, the used head cap member 36 is taken out by pulling out the removing jig member 62 from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 as shown in FIG.

  In the printer apparatus 1, since the head cap member 36 is exchanged by attaching / detaching the detaching jig member 62 with the head unit mounted, the operability is improved and the head unit is formed. Occurrence of damage due to nozzle breakage or ink liquid dropping from the nozzle is prevented. In the printer apparatus 1, since the user removes the printer main body 2 from the printer main body 2 through the removal jig member 62 without directly touching the head cap member 36, the user or the like is prevented from getting dirty. In the printer apparatus 1, since the removal jig member 62 constitutes the lid of the head cap member 36, foreign matter accumulated in the head cap member 36 is prevented from being scattered or dropped to the outside. .

  In the printer apparatus 1, the used head cap member 36 is discarded in a state of being integrated with the removal jig member 62. In the printer apparatus 1, the replacement head cap member 36 is inserted from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 to the third position p3, thereby being locked at the third position p3. In the printer apparatus 1, when the return operation is performed, the replaced head cap member 36 is returned and moved from the third position p 3 to the first position p 1 by the head cap member driving mechanism 38.

  In the printer device 1, the used head cap member 36 is moved to the third position p 3 facing the head cap attaching / detaching opening 10 and the removal operation is performed using the removal jig member 62. Of course, it is not limited to such a configuration. In the printer device 70 shown as the second embodiment in FIG. 16, a large opening 72 serving both as a head unit attaching / detaching opening 72a and a head cap attaching / detaching opening 72b is provided on the upper surface of the casing 71. A lid 73 that opens and closes the opening 72 is provided, and the head cap member 36 is attached to and detached from the upper surface portion together with the head unit 3. Since the printer device 70 has the same basic configuration as that of the printer device 1 described above, the same reference numerals are given to corresponding portions, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the printer device 70, a head cap attaching / detaching opening 72b is formed at a front portion of the head unit attaching / detaching opening 72a. In the printer device 70, the head cap member 36 is moved from the first position p2 to the second position p2 by the head cap member drive mechanism 38 during printing and is on standby. However, during replacement, the head cap member 36 is further moved upward from the second position p2. To be moved. In the printer device 70, the lid 73 is opened wide to allow the head cap member 36 to face outward from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 72b.

  In the printer device 70, the head cap member 36 is removed by the removal jig member 74 inserted from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 72b. The removal jig member 74 is formed by integrally forming a plurality of holding pieces for holding the outer peripheral portion of the head cap member 36 on the outer peripheral portion of the substrate portion having an outer shape larger than that of the head cap member 36 although the details are omitted. The removal jig member 74 is removed from the head cap member 36 by being lifted in combination with the head cap member 36 from the head cap attaching / detaching opening 72b.

  In the printer device 70, the head cap member 36 faces the large opening 72, so that the user can remove the head cap member 36 without using the above-described removal jig member 74. In the printer device 70, the opening 72 is used not only for performing the attaching / detaching operation of the head unit 3 and the head cap member 36, but also as an inspection unit for performing an appropriate maintenance operation.

  The present invention is not limited to the printer apparatus 1 described above, and can be widely applied to other liquid ejection apparatuses that eject liquid. The present invention, for example, discharges a liquid containing conductive particles for forming a wiring pattern of a printer wiring board, for example, a facsimile or a copying machine, a discharge device for a DNA chip in liquid (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-34560). The present invention can also be applied to a liquid discharge device or the like. Further, the printer device is applicable not only to a line type printer device but also to a serial type ink jet printer device in which, for example, an ink head moves in a direction substantially orthogonal to the running direction of the recording paper.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an inkjet printer apparatus shown as an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the state which opened the head unit attachment / detachment opening part. FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a paper transport mechanism. It is a top view of a nozzle sheet. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the structure of an ink liquid discharge part. It is a principal part top view explaining a head cap member and its holding structure. It is a principal part perspective view explaining the outline | summary of a head cap drive mechanism. It is a principal part side view explaining the outline | summary of a head cap drive mechanism. It is a principal part bottom view explaining a head cap member and its holding structure. It is a side view of a holding frame member. It is a perspective view of an integrated head cap member and a removal jig member. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a head cap member and a removal jig member. It is a bottom view of a removal jig member. It is a front view of a removal jig | tool member. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of the movement operation of the head cap member in the ink jet printer apparatus, and FIG. 5A shows a state in which the head cap member is in the first position p1 where the nozzle sheet is closed during non-printing, and FIG. Shows a state in which the head cap member starts moving based on the print instruction, and FIG. 6C shows a state in which the head cap member is on standby at the second position p2 where the nozzle sheet is released. FIG. 4D is an explanatory diagram of the movement operation of the head cap member in the ink jet printer apparatus, and FIG. 4D shows a state where the head cap member is moved to the third position p3 facing the head cap attaching / detaching opening based on the replacement instruction; FIG. 5E shows a state where the head cap member is removed. In the printer apparatus shown as 2nd Embodiment, it is explanatory drawing of the removal operation of a head cap member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus, 2 Printer main body, 3 Head unit, 4 Paper cassette, 5 Printing part, 6 Paper, 7 Case, 8 Paper cassette loading port, 10 Head cap attachment / detachment opening, 11 Paper conveyance mechanism, 12 Paper feed roller mechanism , 13 Paper feed mechanism, 14 Paper discharge mechanism, 15 Platen, 16 Head unit attachment / detachment opening, 17 Lid, 18 Operation part, 20 Head frame, 22 Ink liquid cartridge loading part, 23 Head part, 24 Ink liquid cartridge, 25 Ink liquid discharge unit, 26 nozzle sheet, 26a head surface, 27 nozzle, 29 control board, 32 heater chip, 36 head cap member, 37 cleaning mechanism, 38 head cap drive mechanism, 39 suction mat, 41 cleaning roller, 42 lock mechanism 44 Lock member 51 Support frame member 52 Head carrier Holder, 53 rack plate, 54 drive motor, 56 first guide groove, 57 second guide groove, 58 third guide groove, 62 removal jig member, 63 lid part, 65 holding part, 67 unlocking cam part, 70 printer apparatus

Claims (11)

A liquid discharge unit that discharges liquid with respect to an object to be supplied is detachably disposed, and discharge is performed by forming a plurality of nozzles in a loading unit in which a liquid cartridge is loaded and a nozzle sheet facing the object. A head unit having a head unit that discharges the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge to the object based on the instruction of
A head cap member that is movably combined with the head surface of the head unit and has a cleaning member that cleans the head surface during a movement operation;
When the liquid is ejected, the head cap member is moved along the head unit from the first position where the nozzle sheet is closed to the second position where the nozzle sheet is opened, and is kept waiting at the second position. A head cap member drive mechanism for returning and moving from the second position to the first position;
The head cap member is moved from the first position to the third position facing the detachable opening provided in the housing by the head cap member driving mechanism based on the replacement instruction, and is taken out from the detachable opening. Thus, the replacement operation is performed while the head unit is mounted on the liquid discharge unit.   The head unit is formed by arranging a large number of the nozzles on the nozzle sheet in an area having substantially the same width or a large length in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the object. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid discharge apparatus discharges line by line.   The head cap member is reciprocated in the same direction as the feed direction of the object with respect to the head unit by the head cap member driving mechanism, and the cleaning member moves the head surface of the nozzle sheet along with the moving operation. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning is performed by rubbing over the entire area.   The liquid ejection according to claim 1, wherein the head cap member is provided with a sheet-like adsorbing member that adsorbs the liquid dripped from the nozzles and a foreign matter removed from the head surface by the cleaning member. apparatus.   The attachment / detachment opening of the head cap member is any one of a dedicated opening, a discharge part for the object, an attachment / detachment opening for the liquid cartridge, or a maintenance opening for an internal mechanism. Item 2. The liquid ejection device according to Item 1.   When the head cap member is moved to the third position facing the attachment / detachment opening, the engagement state with the head cap member driving mechanism is released by the removal member inserted from the attachment / detachment opening. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detaching operation is performed. A head cap member guide mechanism is provided for guiding the head cap member which is separated from the head unit by the head cap member driving mechanism and moved to the second position or the third position;
The head cap member guide mechanism holds the head cap member and is moved by the head cap member driving mechanism, and a guide portion provided on the holder member is relatively engaged to cause the head cap member to move. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a support member having a guide groove that is moved to the second position or the third position.   The head cap member guide mechanism moves the head cap member through the holder member to a third position where the head cap member faces the detachable opening that is opened in the front surface of the housing. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the head cap member is held in a forwardly lowered posture with respect to the detachable opening. A guide for holding the head cap member and moving the head cap member to the detachable opening by relatively engaging a holder member moved by the head cap member driving mechanism and a guide portion provided on the holder member. A head cap member guide mechanism comprising a frame member formed with grooves,
The head cap formed in a tray shape having a lock member provided with a protrusion habit and being held by the holder member when the lock member is relatively engaged with a lock portion provided in the holder member. The member is configured to be able to be removed from the holder member using a removal jig member inserted from the attachment / detachment opening in a state where the member is moved to the third position facing the attachment / detachment opening. And
The removal jig member is disengaged between the lock member of the head cap member and the lock portion of the holder member by the lock release portion, and the opening of the head cap member is covered by the lid portion The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head cap member is removed from the attachment / detachment opening while holding the head.   An elastic holding claw portion that holds the state in which the lid portion covers the opening by being relatively engaged with an engagement portion provided on the head cap member side on the removal jig member, and the elastic holding claw portion The liquid ejection device according to claim 9, wherein a release portion that elastically displaces the engagement portion and releases the engagement state with the engagement portion is integrally formed. The removal jig member is provided together with a replacement head cap member, and performs a removal operation of the head cap member already combined with the head unit, constitutes a lid, and is discarded. 9. The liquid ejection device according to 9.

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