JP2005212351A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet printer which can enhance usability by enabling an ink absorber to be simply disposed of, without making a user touch the ink absorber after use, in the replacement of the ink absorber, and by enabling simple ink absorber loading. <P>SOLUTION: This inkjet printer is equipped with a recording head 5 wherein a plurality of nozzles 8 for ejecting ink are formed, and an ink wiping device 12 for removing the ink adhering to a nozzle surface of the nozzle 8; and the device 12 is equipped with an ink wiping device body 26 and a cassette 27 which is detachably attached inside the device body 26 and inside which the ink absorber 25 is housed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly to an ink jet printer in which ink that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays is used.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many image printers using an ink jet method have been used as image recording means capable of recording an image simply and inexpensively. An image printer using an ink jet method (hereinafter referred to as “inkjet printer”) uses, for example, a piezoelectric element such as a piezo element, a heater, or the like to record paper or the like as fine droplets from a nozzle of a recording head. An image is recorded on the recording medium by ejecting it toward the medium and moving the recording head on the recording medium while allowing the recording medium to penetrate or fix the ink.

  Further, in recent years, an ultraviolet curable ink jet printer has been known as a means for forming an image even on a recording medium such as a resin film having poor ink absorbability (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This is because ultraviolet curable ink containing a photoinitiator having a predetermined sensitivity to ultraviolet rays is used, and the ink that has landed on the recording medium is irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that the ink is cured and fixed on the recording medium. It is possible to print easily even on transparent or opaque packaging materials.

  However, in such an ink jet printer, when the recording operation is continuously performed, the ink which is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head and becomes atomized may adhere to and accumulate in the vicinity of the nozzles to cause clogging. . In particular, in an ultraviolet curable ink jet printer, the ink adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle may be cured by reflected light from an ultraviolet light source or the like. Even if the nozzles perform the ejection operation, ejection defects such as so-called nozzle shortage where ink droplets are not ejected or so-called ejection bending where ink droplets are not ejected in the correct direction may occur, which may cause problems in image recording.

Therefore, in order to perform normal image recording, it is necessary to appropriately perform the cleaning operation of the recording head. As a cleaning device for performing the cleaning operation of the recording head, there is a cleaning device for wiping ink using a blade made of silicon rubber or the like. However, the ultraviolet curable ink described above has high viscosity and poor wettability. Therefore, it is difficult to wipe off with a blade. In particular, in the case of a cationic ink, a blade made of silicon rubber, sponge, or the like has a property of dissolving the blade, so that application of a cleaning device using the blade is not appropriate. For this reason, as a cleaning device in such an ink jet printer, conventionally, a device that absorbs and removes ink adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle of the recording head by bringing a sheet-like ink absorber such as paper into contact with the recording head is known. For example, in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, the ink absorber is used, or the ink absorber is used to contact the nozzle portion so as to press the ink absorber and adhere to the nozzle surface. A device for wiping off the ink that is present is presented.
JP 2001-310454 A Japanese Patent No. 2705756 JP 2001-260368 A

  However, when the ultraviolet curable ink is removed by the cleaning device used in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, it cannot be cured unless it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays due to the characteristics of the ultraviolet curable ink. There is a problem that the user's hand is soiled by touching the ink absorber after use. In Patent Document 3, a sheet-shaped ink absorber is wound into a roll shape and used. However, when replacing the ink absorber, the roll-shaped ink absorber is placed in a narrow conveyance path of the inkjet printer. In this case, there is a problem in that it requires a work to be loaded in the cleaning device, which takes time, and inconvenience occurs in the method of handling the ink absorber itself.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when replacing the ink absorber, the user can easily discard the used ink absorber without touching it, and easily load the ink absorber. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer that can be made to improve the usability.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an ink jet printer according to claim 1 is provided.
In an inkjet printer comprising a recording head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, and an ink wiping device for removing the ink adhering to the nozzle surface of the nozzle,
The ink wiping device includes an ink wiping device main body and a cassette that is detachably mounted in the ink wiping device main body and contains an ink absorber.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ink wiping device includes an ink wiping device main body, and a cassette that is detachably mounted inside the ink wiping device main body and that houses an ink absorber. Therefore, when replacing the ink absorber, the user can dispose of the ink absorber without touching the ink absorber directly by removing the cassette from the ink wiping device and discarding the cassette. The ink absorber can be loaded easily in a state where the ink absorber is loaded and the cassette is accommodated in the ink wiping device main body.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 2
In claim 1,
The cassette includes a lid that can be opened and closed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the cassette has a lid that can be opened and closed, when replacing the ink absorber, the user removes the cassette from the ink wiping device and opens the lid of the cassette. By discarding the used ink absorber while holding the cassette, the ink absorber can be discarded without directly touching the ink absorber.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 3 is provided.
In claim 1 or 2,
The ink wiping device includes a pressing member for pressing the surface of the ink absorber against the nozzle surface.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the ink wiping device includes a pressing member for pressing the surface of the ink absorber against the nozzle surface, the ink wiping device has an ink absorber on the nozzle surface. By pressing the surface, the ink absorber can reliably absorb the ink, and the ink adhering to the nozzle surface can be reliably removed.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 4
In any one of Claim 1 to 3,
The cassette includes a feeding shaft and a winding shaft, and the ink absorber has a sheet shape wound around the feeding shaft and the winding shaft.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cassette includes a feed shaft and a take-up shaft, and the ink absorber has a sheet shape wound around the feed shaft and the take-up shaft. Is wound around the feed shaft and the take-up shaft to form a roll shape, and the ink adhering to the nozzle surface a plurality of times can be removed with one ink absorber, and the frequency of replacing the ink absorber is reduced. be able to.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 5 is provided.
In claim 4,
The ink absorber contacts the nozzle surface, and is then fed out from the feed shaft by a predetermined amount and wound around the take-up shaft.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the ink absorber is brought into contact with the nozzle surface and then is fed out from the feed shaft by a certain amount and wound around the take-up shaft, the ink absorber is used as the nozzle. The ink absorber, which is an ink non-absorbing part, can always be brought into contact with the nozzle surface every time it is brought into contact with the surface.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 6
6. The ink absorber according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorber is a high-density fiber woven with a fineness of 0.1 denier or less, and the high-density fiber is any one of polyester, acrylic, and nylon. It is characterized by being formed from one or a combination of these materials.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the ink absorber is a high density fiber woven with a fineness of 0.1 denier or less, and the high density fiber is any one of polyester, acrylic, and nylon. Since it is formed from one or a combination of these materials, it is possible to efficiently absorb ink even in ink having high viscosity and poor wettability.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 7 is provided.
7. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink has a viscosity at 25 ° C. of 10 to 50 [mPa · s] and a surface tension of 20 to 40 [mN / m].

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the ink has a viscosity at 25 ° C. of 10 to 50 [mPa · s] and a surface tension of 20 to 40 [mN / m]. Even with ink that is high and has poor wettability, the ink can be absorbed by reliably adhering the absorber to the nozzle.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 8 is provided.
8. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink contains an activation energy ray-curable compound, and the activation energy is ultraviolet light.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, since the ink contains an activation energy ray-curable compound and the activation energy is ultraviolet light, the ink can be cured efficiently by irradiation with ultraviolet light. Can do.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, when replacing the ink absorber, the user removes the cassette from the ink wiping device and discards it, so that the ink absorber is discarded without directly touching the ink absorber. In addition, the ink absorber can be loaded with the cassette removed, and the cassette can be stored in the ink wiping device main body so that the ink absorber can be easily loaded. It is possible to easily discard and load the ink absorber without taking the trouble of replacement work, and it is possible to achieve convenience when using the ink jet printer.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, when replacing the ink absorber, the user removes the cassette from the ink wiping device, opens the lid of the cassette, and discards the used ink absorber while holding the cassette. By doing so, the ink absorber can be discarded without directly touching the ink absorber, so that the user can easily discard the ink absorber without getting his hands dirty. Can be planned.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the ink wiping device presses the surface of the ink absorber against the nozzle surface so that the ink absorber can absorb the ink reliably, and the ink adhering to the nozzle surface can be reliably removed. Since the ink can be removed, the ink is not fixed on the nozzle surface and clogging does not occur, the cleaning operation can be sufficiently performed, and a high-definition image can be obtained.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the ink absorber is wound around the feed shaft and the take-up shaft to form a roll shape, and the ink adhering to the nozzle surface a plurality of times is removed by one ink absorber. In addition, since the frequency of replacing the ink absorber can be reduced, it is possible to save the user from having to perform the replacement work, and it is possible to achieve convenience when using the ink jet printer.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink absorber that is an unabsorbed portion of the ink can always be brought into contact with the nozzle surface every time the ink absorber is brought into contact with the nozzle surface. The ink absorber that is the non-ink-absorbing part will contact and absorb the nozzle surface, the ink will not remain on the nozzle surface, the cleaning operation can be performed sufficiently, and a high-definition image can be obtained. .

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since ink can be efficiently absorbed even in ink having high viscosity and poor wettability, for example, the viscosity is high and wettability such as ultraviolet curable ink. Even when bad ink is used, a high-definition image can be obtained.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, even with ink having high viscosity and poor wettability, the ink can be absorbed by securely adhering the absorber to the nozzle. Even when ink with high viscosity and poor wettability is used, a high-definition image can be obtained.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, since the ink can be efficiently cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays, the present invention is also applicable to a recording medium having poor ink absorption such as a resin film regardless of the recording medium. By combining with the means described in 1 to 8, a high-definition image can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. The ink jet printer according to this embodiment is a serial head type ink jet printer, and includes a printer main body 1 and a support base for supporting the printer main body 1. 2 are provided.

  A bar-shaped guide rail 3 is provided inside the printer main body 1, and a carriage 4 is supported on the guide rail 3. The carriage 4 reciprocates along the guide rail 3 in the main scanning direction A, which is the width direction of the recording medium P, by a carriage driving device (not shown).

  The carriage 4 is mounted with a recording head 5 that ejects ink of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) on the recording medium P. The head 5 is composed of four recording heads 5 of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. The head units 6 and 7 are arranged with their positions shifted in the sub-scanning direction B.

  The recording head 5 has a plurality of nozzles 8 for ejecting ink arranged in the sub-scanning direction B. The surface of the recording head 5 facing the recording medium P on which the nozzles 8 are formed is the nozzle surface. Has been.

  Here, the ink used in this embodiment will be described. When the ink is cured, the polymerizable compound contained in the ink undergoes a polymerization reaction. In this embodiment, the ink contains an activation energy ray-curable compound as the polymerizable compound, and the activation energy that initiates the polymerization reaction. As an ultraviolet curable ink using ultraviolet rays.

  The ultraviolet curable ink is roughly classified into a radical curable ink containing a radical polymerizable compound and a cation curable ink containing a cationic polymerizable compound as a polymerizable compound. It can be applied as an ink to be used, and a hybrid ink in which a radical curable ink and a cationic curable ink are combined may be applied as an ink used in this embodiment.

  However, a cationic curable ink that uses less or no inhibition of the polymerization reaction due to oxygen is superior in functionality and versatility. Therefore, in this embodiment, a cationic curable ink is used. The cation curable ink used in the present embodiment is specifically a mixture containing at least a cation polymerizable compound such as an oxetane compound, an epoxy compound, and a vinyl ether compound, a photo cation initiator, and a coloring material. It has the property of being cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

  The ink in this embodiment is a liquid having a viscosity at 25 ° C. of 10 to 50 [mPa · s] and a surface tension of 20 to 40 [mN / m], so-called high viscosity and poor wettability. It is said that.

  Further, on both sides of the recording head 5 of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction A, there are provided ultraviolet irradiation devices 10 for irradiating the ink discharged from the nozzles 8 to the recording medium P and curing the ink. Yes.

  The central area of the movable range of the carriage 4 is a recording area X for recording on the recording medium P. Below the carriage 4 in the recording area X, a plate-like member is used to cover the recording medium P. A platen 11 that is supported from the recording surface is disposed.

  A maintenance area Y for cleaning the nozzles 8 of the recording head 5 is provided at one end outside the recording area X, which is the movable range of the carriage 4, and a maintenance unit (not shown) is provided. Here, in the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment, after a predetermined number of times of image recording, the carriage 4 is moved to a predetermined position of the maintenance unit for cleaning.

  Normally, the maintenance unit includes an ink suction device (not shown) that sucks ink from the nozzles 8 of the recording head 5 at a position facing the recording head 5 when the carriage 4 moves to the maintenance unit, and sucks ink. An ink wiping device 12 for wiping off ink remaining on the nozzle surface later is provided. In this embodiment, the ink wiping device 12 emptily discharges ink after wiping off ink remaining on the nozzle surface. When the meniscus is formed, it also serves as an empty discharge tray that receives the discharged ink.

  The ink wiping device 12 has a polygonal box-shaped member 13 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an opening 14 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the box-shaped member 13, and the box-shaped member An opening 15 is formed on one side surface of 13. In the central portion of the opening 15 of the box-shaped member 13, a substantially fan-shaped flat plate 16 whose upper end is formed in an arc shape has a predetermined interval with respect to the other side of the box-shaped member 13 by a plurality of fixed shafts 17. Is attached. A drive gear 18 is rotatably arranged by a driving device (not shown) on the other side of the box-shaped member 13, and a hole 19 is formed adjacent to the drive gear 18. Yes.

  A support shaft 20 is attached between the lower end of the flat plate 16 and the other side surface of the box-shaped member 13. Above the flat plate 16, a guide hole 21 having a shape in which the central portion extends in the horizontal direction so as to be substantially parallel to the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 and both ends are bent downward. A guide hole 21 is formed at a corresponding position on the other side surface of the box-shaped member 28 so as to correspond to the guide hole 21. Both end portions of the guide hole 21 are set as standby areas, and a pressing member 22 described later when the ink wiping device 12 is not operated or when the carriage 4 is moved when the ink wiping device 12 is operated. The tip of the recording head 5 does not directly contact the pressing member 22 when the carriage 4 is moved.

  A support base 23 is swingably mounted about the support shaft 20 between the flat plate 16 and the other side surface of the box-shaped member 13, and a pressing member 22 is attached to the upper end portion of the support base 23. Is attached to move up and down. A guide shaft 24 engaged with the guide hole 21 is connected to the pressing member 22, and the guide shaft 24 is moved by the guide hole 21 by swinging the support base 23 by a support base driving device (not shown). The pressing member 22 is swung together with the support base 23 while being guided.

  In this embodiment, the pressing member 22 is formed in a cross-sectional arc shape by curving a thin plate member, and the pressing member 22 has a plurality of slits formed at predetermined intervals in the width direction. The width dimension of the pressing member 22 is at least equal to or greater than the width dimension of the ink absorber 25 described later. Ink wiping device main body by the aforementioned box-shaped member 13, flat plate 16, fixed shaft 17, drive gear 18, hole 19, support shaft 20, guide hole 21, pressing member 22, support base 23, guide shaft 24 and support base drive device. 26 is configured.

  A box-shaped member 28 constituting the cassette 27 is detachably accommodated inside the box-shaped member 13, and a notch 29 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the box-shaped member 28 so as to correspond to the opening 14. Is formed. An opening 30 is formed on one side of the box-shaped member 28, and a notch 31 for inserting the flat plate 16 is formed on the other side.

  A feed shaft 32 and a take-up shaft 33 are rotatably arranged on both sides of the notch 31 inside the other side surface of the box-shaped member 28, and on the outer portion of the take-up shaft 33, A gear 34 that is inserted into a hole 19 provided in the ink wiping device main body 26 and meshed with the adjacent drive gear 18 to transmit the rotational force of the drive gear 18 to the take-up shaft 33 is attached. Guide rollers 35 are disposed above the feed shaft 32 and the take-up shaft 33, and the sheet-like ink absorber 25 is wound around the feed shaft 32 in a roll shape. The ink absorber 25 is guided by each guide roller 35 such that a part thereof is exposed from the notch 29 and wound around the take-up shaft 33, and is exposed from the notch 29. The ink absorber 25 is positioned above the pressing member 22 and faces the nozzle surface of the recording head 5. A cassette 27 is constituted by the aforementioned delivery shaft 32, take-up shaft 33, gear 34 and guide roller 35.

  A lid 36 covering the opening 30 is attached to the lower edge of the opening 30 of the box-shaped member 28 so as to be opened and closed.

  The width of the ink absorber 25 is at least large enough to cover the entire nozzle surfaces of the plurality of recording heads 5 constituting each head unit 6, 7, that is, each head unit 6 in this embodiment. 7, the size is such that it covers all nozzle surfaces in the main scanning direction A.

  The ink absorber 25 is formed of high-density fibers that are ultrafine fibers having a fineness of 0.1 denier or less, and the high-density fibers are any one of polyester, acrylic, nylon, and the like. It is comprised with the material which combined. As described above, the ink absorber 25 is made of high-density fiber and easily adsorbs the material that comes into contact with the surface thereof, so that the ink adhering to the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 can be quickly absorbed regardless of the viscosity or wettability of the ink. It can be absorbed. That is, the ink absorber 25 in the present embodiment is, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink, a nozzle having a higher viscosity and poor wettability than a commonly used ink such as an oil-based or solvent-based ink. Ink adhering to the surface can be reliably absorbed.

  Then, by swinging the support base 23 by a support base drive device (not shown), the guide shaft 24 is guided by the guide hole 21 and the pressing member 22 moves up and down relative to the support base 23 while absorbing ink. The back surface of the body 25 is moved along the sub-scanning direction B, so that the ink absorber 25 can be brought into contact with the nozzle surface uniformly with an appropriate pressure.

  The pressing member 22 is swung by the support base 23 and reciprocated once in the sub-scanning direction B, so that the ink absorber 25 can be brought into contact with the entire area of the nozzle surface. The ink absorber 25 surely absorbs the ink on the nozzle surface.

  The ink wiping device 12 is configured by mounting the cassette 27 inside the ink wiping device main body 26 thus configured.

  Further, the ink wiping device 12 is provided with a terminal detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the terminal end of the ink absorber 25 wound around the feed shaft 32, and is disposed at a predetermined position at the terminal end of the ink absorber 25. In this case, a termination line (not shown) for detection by the termination detection sensor is formed in advance.

The end detection sensor detects the end line of the ink absorber 25 so that the end of the ink absorber 25 can be detected. For example, as shown in FIG. When the end of the absorber 25 approaches and the end of the ink absorber 25 is detected, the ink absorber 25 is wound around the take-up shaft 33 and provided in the printer main body 1 as shown in FIG. The user is notified that it is time to replace the ink absorber 25 by blinking a lamp on an ink absorber replacement display section (not shown) or issuing a buzzer.
In addition to the end detection sensor, for example, the end of the ink absorber 25 is detected by determining whether or not the roll diameter of the ink absorber 25 wound around the feed shaft 32 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined diameter. You may make it do.

  In addition, an ink tank 37 that supplies ink of each color to the carriage 4 via an ink supply path (not shown) is provided at the other outer end of the recording area X, which is a movable range of the carriage 4.

  As the recording medium P used in the present embodiment, various papers such as plain paper, recycled paper and glossy paper, various fabrics, various non-woven fabrics, resin, metal, glass, etc., which are applied to ordinary inkjet printers. Can be applied. Moreover, as a form of the recording medium P, a roll shape, a cut sheet shape, a plate shape, or the like is applicable.

  Furthermore, as the recording medium P used in the present embodiment, various known papers whose surfaces are coated with a resin, films containing pigments, foamed films, and other known opaque recording media can be applied.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  Before using the ink jet printer, the user rolls the feed shaft 32 of the cassette 27 in the state where the ink absorber 25 is not loaded as shown in FIG. 4C, as shown in FIG. The wound ink absorber 25 is loaded, the leading end of the ink absorber 25 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 4E, guided along the guide roller 35, and wound around the winding shaft 33. The ink absorber 25 is loaded, and the cassette 27 is mounted inside the ink wiping device main body 26.

  When the inkjet printer is operated, predetermined image information is sent to the inkjet printer, and the recording medium P is conveyed to a predetermined position of the carriage 4 in the recording area X according to the image information, the carriage 4 is moved to the guide rail 3. Along the recording medium P, a reciprocating movement is made.

  During the movement of the carriage 4, the recording head 5 is operated based on the image information, ink is ejected from each nozzle 8 toward the recording medium P, and ultraviolet rays are emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 toward the recording medium P. Irradiate to cure the ink. At this time, each head unit 6, 7 is configured by ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 on the downstream side of the recording head 5 constituting each head unit 6, 7 in the moving direction of the carriage 4. The ink ejected from the recording head 5 is quickly cured and fixed on the recording medium P.

  Thereafter, an image is formed on the recording medium P by the ink jet printer repeating the above operations.

  When a predetermined number of image recordings are performed, the carriage 4 is moved to the maintenance area Y and cleaning is performed as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the carriage 4 is moved to the ink suction device in the maintenance area Y, the ink suction device is operated, and the ink remaining in the nozzle 8 is sucked. Thereafter, when the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 constituting the head unit 6 is moved to a position facing the ink absorber 25, the pressing member 22 is moved along the guide hole 21 from the standby position. At a position where the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 and the pressing member 22 face each other, the ink absorber 25 is in close contact with one end portion of the nozzle surface via the pressing member 22, and the pressing member 22 is reciprocated along the guide hole 21. By doing so, the ink adhering to the nozzle surface is absorbed by the ink absorber 25 at the position facing the nozzle surface of the recording head 5, and the ink adhering to the nozzle surface is removed.

  Thereafter, with the pressing member 22 positioned at the standby position, the ink absorber 25 and the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 are separated from each other, and the carriage 4 is moved so that the ink absorber 25 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 face each other. . Then, after the ink is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays toward the ink absorber 25 that has absorbed the ink, the drive gear 18 is operated, and the ink absorber 25 in the ink absorbing portion is wound around the take-up shaft 33. The unabsorbed portion of the ink absorber 25 is exposed from the notch 29.

  Subsequently, the carriage 4 is moved by the width of the head unit 6 according to the position of the ink absorber 25, and the cleaning operation by the ink wiping device 12 is performed on the head unit 7. In this way, a series of operations in the ink wiping device 12 is repeated by repeating the operation of sequentially moving the ink absorber 25 and the carriage 4 after moving the pressing member 22 and irradiating ultraviolet rays for each of the head units 6 and 7. The cleaning operation is completed, and the ink on the nozzle surface is surely removed.

  Then, ink is ejected to the ink absorber 25 to form a meniscus. Then, with the pressing member 22 positioned at the standby position, the ink absorber 25 and the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 are separated from each other, and the carriage 4 is again opposed to the ink absorber 25 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 10. After the ink is moved and irradiated with ultraviolet rays toward the ink absorber to cure the ink, the drive gear 18 is operated to cause the ink absorber 25 to be wound around the take-up shaft 33, and the ink absorber 25 does not absorb ink. The part is exposed from the notch 29.

  Thereafter, the end detection sensor is activated to detect the end line of the ink absorber 25. As a result, when the end detection sensor does not detect the end line, a series of cleaning in the maintenance unit is completed, and the carriage 4 returns to the recording area X again to continue image recording. On the other hand, when the termination detection sensor detects the termination line, as shown in FIG. 4B, the ink absorber 25 is wound around the winding shaft 33, and the lamp is blinked on the ink absorber replacement display section. Or informing the user that it is time to replace the ink absorber 25. As a result, the user recognizes that it is time to replace the ink absorber 25, removes the cassette 27 from the ink wiping device 12 of the printer body 1, opens the lid of the cassette 27, as shown in FIG. The ink absorber 25 wound around the winding shaft 33 is discarded.

  Thereafter, the user applies the roll-shaped new ink absorber 25 as shown in FIG. 4D to the feed shaft 32 of the cassette 27 in a state where the ink absorber 25 is not loaded as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4E, the tip of the ink absorber 25 is pulled out, guided along the guide roller 35, wound around the take-up shaft 33, and the ink absorber 25 is loaded. Thereafter, the cassette 27 is mounted on the ink wiping device main body 26.

  When the cassette 27 is mounted, a series of cleaning by the maintenance unit is completed, and the carriage 4 returns to the recording area X again to resume image recording.

  As described above, in the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment, when the ink absorber 25 is replaced in the cleaning device using the ink absorber 25, the user can easily discard the used ink absorber 25 without touching it. In addition, the ink absorber 25 can be easily loaded, and convenience can be achieved when using the ink jet printer.

  In the present embodiment, since the take-up shaft 33 is rotationally driven by meshing the drive gear 18 with the gear 34 formed in the cassette 27, it is not necessary to provide a drive device in the cassette 27, and the ink When the absorber 25 is discarded, the cassette 27 can be easily taken out, and the cost of the cassette 27 itself can be reduced as a disposable consumable member.

  In this embodiment, only the ink absorber 25 is discarded, but the entire cassette 27 may be discarded. In this case, even if the ink of the ink absorber 25 is not cured, the user can discard the ink absorber 25 without getting his hands dirty.

  In addition, the newly installed cassette 27 can be preloaded with the ink absorber 25 wound around the feed shaft in a roll shape.

  Further, a cassette in which the ink absorber 25 is previously loaded on the feeding shaft 32, the winding shaft 33, and the guide roller 35 may be mounted on the ink wiping device main body 26.

  In this embodiment, the ink absorbed by the ink absorber 25 is cured by moving the carriage 4 and operating the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 mounted on the carriage 4. The ink absorbed by the ink absorber 25 may be cured by providing an ultraviolet irradiation device and providing a window in the ink wiping device 12 so that ultraviolet rays are irradiated toward the ink absorber 25 through the window.

  In this embodiment, although the case where the cross-sectional arc-shaped pressing member 22 was used was demonstrated as the pressing member 22, the cylindrical pressing member provided with the slit may be used, and it formed in the spiral form. A pressing member, a brush-like pressing member, or the like may be used.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink wiping device in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink absorber is loaded in a cassette, and the cassette is mounted on an ink absorbing wiping body to constitute an ink wiping device. FIG. 4A is a front view of the state in which the end detection sensor senses the end of the ink absorber, and FIG. 4B shows that the end detection sensor senses the end of the ink absorber and remains on the delivery shaft. FIG. 4C is a front view showing a state in which the ink absorber is not set in the cassette, and FIG. 4D is an ink absorber. 4 (e) is a front view of a state where the tip of the ink absorber is pulled out and sandwiched between the winding shafts, and FIG. 4 (f) is a front view of the cassette. FIG. 4 (g) is a perspective view showing a state in which the ink absorber taken up by the take-up shaft is discarded.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Recording head 8 Nozzle 12 Ink wiping apparatus 22 Pressing member 25 Ink absorber 26 Ink wiping apparatus main body 27 Cassette 32 Delivery axis 33 Take-up axis 36 Lid

Claims (8)

In an inkjet printer comprising a recording head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, and an ink wiping device for removing the ink adhering to the nozzle surface of the nozzle,
The ink wiping device includes an ink wiping device main body, and a cassette that is detachably mounted inside the ink wiping device main body and that houses an ink absorber.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the cassette includes a lid that can be opened and closed.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink wiping device includes a pressing member for pressing the surface of the ink absorber against the nozzle surface.   4. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cassette includes a feed shaft and a take-up shaft, and the ink absorber has a sheet shape wound around the feed shaft and the take-up shaft. The inkjet printer as described.   5. The ink jet printer according to claim 4, wherein after the ink absorber contacts the nozzle surface, the ink absorber is fed a predetermined amount from the feed shaft and wound on the take-up shaft.   The ink absorber is a high-density fiber woven with a fineness of 0.1 denier or less, and the high-density fiber is formed of a material of any one of polyester, acrylic, nylon, or a combination thereof. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printer is provided.   7. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink has a viscosity at 25 ° C. of 10 to 50 [mPa · s] and a surface tension of 20 to 40 [mN / m]. Inkjet printer.   The ink-jet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ink contains an activation energy ray-curable compound, and the activation energy is ultraviolet light.

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