JP2008168525A - Liquid jetting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jetting apparatus capable of decreasing a liquid leaking outward when flushing of the liquid is performed in a liquid receiving body from a nozzle of a liquid jetting head. <P>SOLUTION: A printer comprises a recording head capable of jetting ink charged from the nozzle formed on a nozzle forming face, a flushing box 46 for receiving the ink jetted from the nozzle, an ink absorbing material 47 arranged in the flushing box 46 and absorbing the ink, and a net material 48 arranged on the upper face 47a of the ink absorbing material 47 and suppressing floating-up of the ink absorbing material 47. A fixing member 75 having first to fourth hooking parts 77a, 78a, 79a and 80a for hooking the net material 48 is provided in the flushing box 46, and the thicknesses of the first to fourth hooking parts 77a, 78a, 79a and 80a are set to be the thickness of the net material 48 or thinner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

  An ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”), which is a type of liquid ejecting apparatus, includes a recording head (liquid ejecting head) that ejects ink (liquid) supplied from an ink cartridge. Printing is performed by ejecting ink from a nozzle formed on the nozzle forming surface onto a recording medium.

  In such a printer, the ink thickens due to the volatilization of the ink solvent in the ink existing in the nozzles during a printing pause or the like, and the nozzles may be clogged, resulting in printing defects such as missing dots. In order to solve such a problem, the printer normally performs so-called flushing in which ink is ejected from the nozzles into the flushing box (liquid receiver) or the cap (liquid receiver) regardless of printing. Yes.

In such a flushing box or cap, an ink absorbing material (liquid absorbing material) for absorbing ink ejected from the recording head is usually arranged. As a printer in which the ink absorbing material is arranged in the cap as described above, a printer described in Patent Document 1 is conventionally known.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-62202

  By the way, in the printer of Patent Document 1, a pin portion is erected so as to penetrate the ink absorbing material in the cap member (liquid receptor), and on the upper surface (the surface facing the recording head) of the ink absorbing material. A pressing plate (suppressing member) for suppressing the lifting of the ink absorbing material is fixed to the tip of the pin portion by heat caulking.

  For this reason, the thermal caulking portion at the tip of the pin portion protrudes above the pressing plate (on the recording head side), and this protruding thermal caulking portion becomes an obstacle during flushing, and the ink absorbing material is brought sufficiently close to the recording head. It becomes impossible. As a result, the flushed ink in the cap member becomes a mist and leaks to the outside from between the cap member and the recording head, and the leaked ink contaminates the periphery of the cap member. It was.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of reducing the amount of liquid leaking to the outside when flushing the liquid from the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head into the liquid receiving body.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle formed on a nozzle forming surface, and a bottomed surface that receives the liquid ejected from the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head. A box-shaped liquid receptor; a liquid absorbent material disposed in the liquid receptor for absorbing the liquid; and disposed on a surface facing the nozzle forming surface of the liquid absorbent material in the liquid receiver. A restraining member made of a wire or a net that restrains the liquid absorbent from rising, and a locking portion for locking the restraining member is provided in the liquid receiving body, and the thickness of the locking portion is It was made to become below the thickness of the suppression member.

  Since the suppressing member is made of a wire material or a net material, the thickness is usually thinner than that of the conventional heat caulking portion of the pin portion. In this regard, according to the present invention, since the thickness of the locking portion for locking the suppression member is set to be equal to or less than the thickness of the suppression member, the liquid flushing is performed from the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head into the liquid receiving body. When performing, the liquid absorbing material can be brought closer to the liquid ejecting head than before, and the liquid leaking out of the liquid receiver can be reduced.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the locking portion is provided in the liquid receiving body in a state of being parallel to the suppressing member.
According to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the height of the locking portion in the thickness direction of the suppressing member.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the suppressing member is disposed in the liquid receiving body in a state where the facing surface of the liquid absorbent material is pressed.
According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the undulation and unevenness of the facing surface facing the nozzle forming surface in the liquid absorbent material and make it flat.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, a fixing member separate from the suppressing member is provided in the liquid receiving body so as to be able to lock and hold the liquid absorbing material in the liquid receiving body. The locking portion is provided.

According to this invention, the fixing member can be locked while the liquid absorbing material is locked and held in the liquid receiving body.
In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the suppressing member may pass the liquid absorbent material from one edge of the opposed surface of the liquid absorbent material to the opposite surface of the opposed surface when the liquid absorbing material is disposed in the liquid receiving body. Corresponding to one edge of the facing surface of the liquid absorbent material in the fixing portion, which is a portion facing the nozzle forming surface in a form of wrapping up to the other edge and fixed to the liquid receptor A locking portion is provided at a portion corresponding to the other edge of the facing surface of the liquid absorbent material in the fixed portion. ing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to lock the opposing portion of the suppressing member while fixing the liquid absorbent material in the liquid receiving body by the fixing portion of the suppressing member without increasing the number of parts.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention is embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 10 as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a main body case 11 having a substantially box shape. A platen 12 is installed along the longitudinal direction (the main scanning direction which is the left-right direction in FIG. 1) in the lower part of the main body case 11, and a waste ink tank (not shown) is provided below the platen 12. It has been. The platen 12 is a support for supporting the paper P as a target, and based on the driving force of the paper feed motor 14 of the paper feed mechanism 13, the platen 12 is moved in the sub-scanning direction (front and rear in FIG. 1). Direction).

  A guide shaft 15 is installed above the platen 12 in the main body case 11, and a carriage 16 is supported on the guide shaft 15 so as to be movable. A driving pulley 17 and a driven pulley 18 are rotatably supported at positions corresponding to both ends of the guide shaft 15 on the inner surface of the main body case 11. A carriage motor 19 serving as a drive source for reciprocating the carriage 16 is coupled to the drive pulley 17, and a timing belt 20 that fixes and supports the carriage 16 is hung between the pair of pulleys 17 and 18. . Accordingly, the carriage 16 is movable in the main scanning direction via the timing belt 20 by driving the carriage motor 19 while being guided by the guide shaft 15.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a recording head 21 as a liquid ejecting head is provided on the lower surface side of the carriage 16. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzles 22 are arranged in a plurality of rows (five rows in FIG. 2) along the front-rear direction on the nozzle forming surface 21 a formed on the lower surface of the recording head 21. It is formed at regular intervals in the left-right direction. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the nozzle row located at the rightmost end in FIG. 2 is formed by the nozzles 22 that eject black ink for black and white printing, and each of the other nozzle rows ejects color ink for color printing. It is formed by the nozzle 22.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of ink cartridges 23 (five in the present embodiment) for supplying ink to the recording head 21 are detachably mounted on the carriage 16. Each of these ink cartridges 23 individually corresponds to each nozzle row formed on the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21, and each corresponding ink cartridge is formed via an ink flow path (not shown) formed in the recording head 21. Ink is individually supplied to each nozzle 22 in the nozzle row. Incidentally, in this embodiment, black ink for black and white printing is stored in the ink cartridge 23 located at the rightmost end in FIG. 1, and each color ink for color printing is stored in each of the other ink cartridges 23. ing.

  Furthermore, in one end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) of the main body case 11, that is, in a non-printing area where the paper P does not reach, the carriage is used when the printer 10 is powered off or when the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 is maintained. A home position HP for positioning 16 is provided. At a position below the home position HP, a maintenance unit 24 that performs various maintenance operations is provided so that ink ejection from the recording head 21 to the paper P is well maintained.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the maintenance unit 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4 show a state in which the maintenance unit 24 is viewed from the left side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the maintenance unit 24 has a unit body 25 having a substantially rectangular frame shape. The unit main body 25 connects the left and right ends of the substantially box-shaped rear casing 25a, the front casing 25b having a substantially box shape larger than the rear casing 25a in the front-rear direction, and both casings 25a and 25b. It has a frame (not shown).

  Between the rear casing 25a and the front casing 25b in the unit main body 25, a pair of left and right lead screws 26 are rotatably installed in a horizontal state along the front-rear direction. A plurality of moving members 27, 28, and 29 (a total of six left and right pairs in the present embodiment) are screwed to both the lead screws 26 along the axial direction (front-rear direction). That is, all the moving members 27, 28, and 29 are respectively attached to both common lead screws 26. Then, by rotating both the lead screws 26, each of the moving members 27 to 29 is made into a pair of left and right, and moves forward and backward sequentially along the axial direction of the same lead screw 26.

  Incidentally, in this embodiment, when both the lead screws 26 rotate in the forward rotation direction, the respective moving members 27 to 29 are moved forward from the rear casing 25a side to the front casing 25b side. On the other hand, when both the lead screws 26 rotate in the reverse direction, the moving members 27 to 29 move backward from the front casing 25b side to the rear casing 25a side.

  Here, of the moving members 27 to 29, the moving member 27 located on the foremost side in the axial direction of the lead screw 26 is for a cap unit that transmits a driving force based on the rotation of the lead screw 26 to a cap unit to be described later. The moving member 27 is configured. The moving member 28 located second from the front side in the axial direction of the lead screw 26 is configured as a wiping means moving member 28 that transmits a driving force based on the rotation of the lead screw 26 to the wiping means described later. . Further, the moving member 29 located on the rearmost side in the axial direction of the lead screw 26 is used for wiping means and liquid receiving means for transmitting a driving force based on the rotation of the lead screw 26 to wiping means and liquid receiving means described later, respectively. The moving member 29 is configured.

First, the moving member 27 for the cap means will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the moving member 27 for the cap means is integrally formed with a substantially rectangular plate portion 30 that is long in the front-rear direction so as to be suspended from the left and right of the unit body 25. Yes. The plate portion 30 is formed with a guide long hole 31 that functions as a link portion for the cap means in the moving member 27. The guide long hole 31 extends horizontally from the lower part on the rear end side of the plate part 30 to a substantially intermediate position in the front-rear direction, and toward the vicinity of the upper part on the front end side of the plate part 30 from the front end of the rear horizontal part 31a. And a front horizontal part 31c extending horizontally from the front end of the oblique part 31b to the upper part on the front end side of the plate part 30.

  In addition, a rectangular frame-shaped holder member 32 that is open upward is disposed inside the plate portion 30. And the cap member 33 which comprises a cap means in this holder member 32 is accommodated so that it can move to the up-down direction with the cap holder 33a in the state accommodated in the cap holder 33a which makes bottomed box shape. A coil spring (not shown) is interposed between the lower surface of the cap member 33 and the inner bottom surface of the cap holder 33a so as to urge the cap member 33 upward.

Here, the cap member 33 constituting the cap means will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cap member 33 has a substantially rectangular box shape, and on the upper surface side thereof, a seal that forms a rectangular ring corresponding to each nozzle row formed on the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21. A portion 34 is formed. An ink absorbing material (not shown) is accommodated in a cap chamber (not shown) recessed inside the seal portion 34 so as to absorb and hold ink ejected from each nozzle 22 of each nozzle row. It has become.

  From the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls of the cap holder 33a, convex portions 35 are formed to protrude in the horizontal direction, and each convex portion 35 is engaged in the guide slot 31 of the plate portion 30 integrally formed with the moving member 27. . Therefore, when the moving member 27 (and the plate portion 30) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction along with the rotation of the lead screw 26, the convex portion 35 of the cap holder 33a slides in the guide long hole 31 of the plate portion 30, When sliding along the slanted portion 31b of the guide long hole 31, it moves in the vertical direction.

  That is, when the convex portion 35 of the cap holder 33a is engaged in the front horizontal portion 31c of the guide long hole 31 of the plate portion 30, the cap member 33 is in a position state in which the cap member 33 moves to the uppermost position. The seal portion 34 is in close contact with the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21. On the other hand, the cap member 33 is separated from the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21 when the convex portion 35 of the cap holder 33 a is engaged with the rear horizontal portion 31 a of the guide slot 31 of the plate portion 30. The position is moved to the lowest position among the positions.

  An ink discharge tube (not shown) is drawn from the cap member 33, and the ink discharge tube is drawn into a suction pump (not shown) supported below the unit body 25. When the cap member 33 is moved to the uppermost position and the seal portion 34 is in close contact with the nozzle forming surface 21a and the suction pump (not shown) is driven, the ink discharge tube (not shown) is connected. Through the cap chamber (not shown), the waste ink is sucked and discharged into a waste ink tank (not shown) provided at the lower part of the main body case 11.

Next, the moving member 28 for wiping means will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wiping means moving member 28 is provided with a wiper holder 36 that functions as a linking part for the wiping means in the moving member 28 so as to connect the pair of left and right moving members 28. ing. A wiper member 37 constituting wiping means is mounted on the upper surface side of the wiper holder 36 so as to extend slightly obliquely over the entire longitudinal direction of the wiper holder 36. When the moving member 28 (and the wiper holder 36) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction as the lead screw 26 rotates, the wiper member 37 moves back and forth in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 28 (and wiper holder 36). It is designed to move forward and backward in the direction.

  Here, the wiper member 37 moves in the front-rear direction while sliding the tip (upper end) of the wiper member 37 on the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21, thereby covering all the nozzle rows formed on the nozzle forming surface 21a. Thus, the wiper member 37 for all rows for wiping the entire nozzle forming surface 21a is configured. Accordingly, when the moving member 28 moves with the rotation of the lead screw 26 in a state where the carriage 16 (and the recording head 21) is located at the home position HP, the wiper member 37 forms the nozzles of the recording head 21. The entire surface 21a is wiped off.

Next, the moving member 29 for the wiping means and the liquid receiving means will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wiping means and liquid receiving means moving member 29 includes a wiper holder 38 that functions as a linking portion for the wiping means and the liquid receiving means in the moving member 29. 29 are connected to each other. A wiper member 39 constituting wiping means is mounted on the upper surface side of the wiper holder 38 in the vicinity of the left end in the longitudinal direction of the wiper holder 38. When the moving member 29 (and the wiper holder 38) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction as the lead screw 26 rotates, the wiper member 39 moves back and forth in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 29 (and the wiper holder 38). It is designed to move forward and backward in the direction.

  Here, the wiper member 39 moves in the front-rear direction while sliding the tip (upper end) of the wiper member 39 on the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21, so that any one of all the nozzle rows formed on the nozzle forming surface 21a. It is configured as a single row wiper member 39 that wipes only the formation region of one nozzle row (a part of the nozzle formation surface 21a). That is, when this single-row wiper member 39 is used, one nozzle row whose wiping target is the left-right position of the carriage 16 (and the recording head 21) in the home position HP is placed in the front-rear direction of the wiper member 39. The movement is adjusted so as to correspond to the movement path along the position. Thereafter, when the moving member 29 moves as the lead screw 26 rotates, a part of the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 (formation of one nozzle row to be wiped at that time) is performed by the wiper member 39. Area only) will be wiped out.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of left and right support pieces 40 project forward from the front wall surface of the rear casing 25 a in the unit main body 25, and from the upper edge of the front end portion of each support piece 40. The notch groove 41 is notched so that it has a bowl shape toward the rear side. Between the left and right support pieces 40, a rectangular plate-like seal plate 42 having a front surface as a seal surface is disposed. The seal plate 42 supports a shaft portion 43 projecting horizontally from both left and right end surfaces. By engaging in the notch groove 41 of the piece 40, the shaft portion 43 is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation center.

  A coil spring 44 is interposed between the front wall surface of the rear casing 25 a and the rear surface of the seal plate 42 at a position slightly above the support piece 40, and the sealing plate is energized by the biasing force of the coil spring 44. 42 is always urged to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the shaft portion 43 as the center of rotation. Further, a projection 45 that functions as a stopper is projected forward from the front wall surface of the rear casing 25 a at a position below the support piece 40, and the coil spring 44 urges the projection 45 to rotate. When the lower part of the rear surface of the seal plate 42 comes into contact, the further rotation of the seal plate 42 is restricted.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a flushing box 46 as a liquid receiver constituting a liquid receiving means is disposed between the seal plate 42 and the wiper holder 38. As shown in FIG. 5, the flushing box 46 has a bottomed box shape having a rectangular opening 46 a corresponding to the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21, and has a porous structure as a liquid absorbent inside. An ink absorbing material 47 made of a material is stored in a state in which the ink absorbing material 47 is prevented from coming off by a metal net 48 as an electrode member and a suppressing member.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one end of the waste liquid tube 49 is connected to one end of the bottom surface of the flushing box 46 so as to communicate with the inside of the flushing box 46. The other end of the waste liquid tube 49 is drawn into a suction pump (not shown) and then drawn into a waste ink tank (not shown) provided at the lower part of the main body case 11. A pair of clamping pieces 56 for clamping the waste liquid tube 49 are provided on the bottom surface of the flushing box 46.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a pair of left and right pin portions 50 are provided in the horizontal direction from the left and right ends of one end side (the upper end side in FIG. 3A) of the flushing box 46. The portion 50 is pivotally supported with respect to a pair of left and right support pieces (not shown) protruding rearward from the left and right rear ends of the wiper holder 38 described above. Therefore, the flushing box 46 is supported with respect to the wiper holder 38 by pivotally supporting the pair of left and right pin portions 50 by a pair of left and right support pieces (not shown) protruding from the rear surface side of the wiper holder 38. The pin portion 50 on one end side can be rotated as a rotation fulcrum.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 5, the flushing box 46 is in a vertical state in which the opening 46 a is laterally directed to the rear side when not in use so as not to receive ink ejected from the recording head 21. Thus, the opening 46a is closed by the front surface of the sealing plate 42 which is the sealing surface. That is, the opening 46 a is closed by the seal plate 42, so that drying and solidification of the ink absorbed and held by the ink absorbing material 47 accommodated in the flushing box 46 is suppressed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of left and right leg portions 51 are formed from the left and right ends of the other end side (the lower end side in FIG. 3A) of the flushing box 46. Are integrally formed so as to extend diagonally outward (downwardly obliquely downward in FIG. 3 (a)), and pin portions 52 project from the inner sides of the respective leg portions 51 in the horizontal direction. Each of these leg portions 51 corresponds to the base portion 32b of a pair of left and right support columns 32a erected from the left and right ends of the rear end portion of the holder member 32 described above, and the left and right positions correspond to each other. As shown in (a), when the flushing box 46 is in a substantially vertical state when not in use, it is configured to come into contact with the base portion 32b of the corresponding column portion 32a from the rear side.

  From the inside of the substantially intermediate position in the height direction of the left and right support columns 32a in the holder member 32, a pair of left and right pin portions 53 are respectively horizontally aligned so as to correspond to the pin portions 52 of the leg portions 51 in the flushing box 46 described above. Projected. A coil spring 54 is mounted between the pin portion 52 and the pin portion 53 that correspond to each other. The urging force of the coil spring 54 causes the flushing box 46 to have one end side (the upper end in FIG. 3A). The pin portion 50 on the side) is always pivoted in the direction in which the leg portion 51 is pressed against the base portion 32b of the support column portion 32a of the holder member 32 (the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 4). It is energized.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left and right struts 32 a of the holder member 32 are positioned on the inner surfaces of the left and right struts 32 a below the upper end from the upper end by a distance corresponding to the depth of the flushing box 46. The widening step portion 55 is formed so that the distance between the opposing surfaces is slightly larger than the width in the left-right direction of the flushing box 46. That is, the flushing box 46 can be moved in the front-rear direction by passing between the left and right support columns 32 a of the holder member 32 above the widened stepped portion 55.

  Therefore, when the moving member 29 (and the wiper holder 38) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction as the lead screw 26 rotates, the flushing box 46 moves back and forth in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 29 (and the wiper holder 38). It is designed to move forward and backward in the direction. That is, the flushing box 46 includes a pair of pin portions 50 supported by the moving member 29 via a support piece (not shown) of the wiper holder 38 when the moving member 29 moves as the lead screw 26 rotates. It is designed to move in conjunction. As the pin portion 50 moves, the flushing box 46 has a receiving position (see FIG. 4B) in a horizontal posture in which the opening 46a faces the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 in close proximity. Further, it moves forward and backward between a non-reception position (see FIG. 3A) in a vertical posture state that is separated from the reception position.

  Specifically, when the moving member 29 moves forward, the flushing box 46 first receives a biasing force from the coil spring 54 in the direction of the vertical posture with the pin portion 50 as a rotation fulcrum. As shown to 4 (a), it will be in the inclination posture state in which the bottom face contacted the widening level | step-difference part 55. FIG. And it moves forward with the moving member 29, changing the inclination posture state to the direction which becomes a horizontal posture state gradually. When the moving member 29 moves further forward, the flushing box 46 comes in contact with the wide stepped portion 55 of the flushing box 46, and finally, as shown in FIG. The front end of the leg portion 51 is in a horizontal posture state in which it is supported in contact with the widened step portion 55.

  As the moving member 29 moves forward, the flushing box 46 stabilizes its posture from the vertical posture state to the horizontal posture state by contacting the bottom surface and the leg portion 51 with the widened step portion 55. It is supposed to change. In the horizontal posture state at the receiving position, the tip end of the leg portion 51 is maintained in a stable support state in which the tip of the leg portion 51 is in contact with the widened step portion 55 by the urging force of the coil spring 54.

  On the other hand, when the moving member 29 moves backward, the flushing box 46 moves from the receiving position to the non-receiving position. In this case as well, as in the case where the moving member 29 moves forward, the flushing box 46 receives the urging force from the coil spring 54, and the inclined posture state in which the bottom surface and the leg portion 51 are in contact with the widened step portion 55. After that, the posture is stably changed from the horizontal posture state to the vertical posture state. As shown in FIG. 3A, in the vertical posture state in the non-receiving position, in addition to the biasing force of the coil spring 54, the biasing force from the coil spring 44 via the seal plate 42 is applied from the coil spring 54. By applying from the opposite direction to the force, the vertical posture state is stably maintained.

Next, the configuration of the above-described flushing box 46 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the flushing box 46 is made of a non-conductive synthetic resin, and a right recess 60 and a left recess at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction at the center in the front-rear direction on the inner bottom surface thereof. 61 is formed. The right recess 60 and the left recess 61 have a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction in plan view, and the portions corresponding to the right recess 60 and the left recess 61 on the bottom surface (lower surface) of the flushing box 46 are raised.

  In addition, a circular concave portion 62 having a circular shape in a plan view is formed in the center portion in the front-rear direction of the left concave portion 61 on the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 46, and the circular concave portion 62 on the bottom surface (lower surface) of the flushing box 46. And the part corresponding to bulge larger than the part corresponding to the left recess 61. A through hole 62 a that penetrates the bottom wall of the flushing box 46 is formed at the center of the circular recess 62.

  An annular seal member 63 having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the circular recess 62 is disposed in the circular recess 62, and the inner diameter of the seal member 63 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the through hole 62a. Is set. A box-side terminal 64 serving as a first terminal having a shaft shape is inserted into the sealing member 63 and the through hole 62a downward from the flushing box 46.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the box-side terminal 64 includes a disc-shaped contact portion 65, a columnar insertion portion 66 positioned below the contact portion 65, and a lower side of the insertion portion 66. A columnar fitting part 67 is provided, and a columnar retaining part 68 located below the fitting part 67 is provided. The outer diameter of the close contact portion 65 is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 62a, and the outer diameter of the insertion portion 66 is set to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 62a. The outer diameter of 67 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 66, and the outer diameter of the retaining portion 68 is set to be the same as the outer diameter of the insertion portion 66.

  In this case, a support groove 67 a is configured by the lower surface of the insertion portion 66, the peripheral surface of the fitting portion 67, and the upper surface of the retaining portion 68. The support groove 67 a extends in an annular shape around the axis L of the box-side terminal 64. That is, the support groove 67 a extends along a plane orthogonal to the axis L, and the depth direction thereof is orthogonal to the axis L.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, in the state where the box side terminal 64 is inserted into the seal member 63 and the through hole 62a, the lower surface of the contact portion 65 is in close contact with the upper surface of the seal member 63, and the lower surface of the seal member 63 is Since it is in close contact with the inner bottom surface of the circular recess 62, the ink in the flushing box 46 is prevented from leaking outside through the through hole 62a. In this case, the box-side terminal 64 has the lower half of the support groove 67 a (the fitting portion 67) and the retaining portion 68 exposed to the outside of the flushing box 46. Further, in this case, the upper surface of the contact portion 65 is flush with the portions other than the right recess 60 and the left recess 61 on the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 46.

  Further, a crimp terminal 69 as a second terminal having a C-shaped retaining ring shape is attached to the fitting portion 67 of the box side terminal 64 exposed from the flushing box 46 (in FIG. 7, in the depth direction of the support groove 67a). It is fitted from the rear side. As shown in FIG. 8B, the crimp terminal 69 is crimped to one end portion of a lead wire 70 extending from a voltage application circuit 101 to be described later, and the front side thereof has an annular shape having an open portion 69a. It is set as the fitting part 69b. The inner diameter of the fitting portion 69b is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the fitted portion 67 of the box side terminal 64.

  A pair of flat projections 71 are formed on both sides of the open end 69a at the front end of the crimp terminal 69, and through holes 71a are formed in the projections 71, respectively. When the fitting portion 69b of the crimp terminal 69 is fitted into the support groove 67a (the fitted portion 67) of the box side terminal 64, a jig (not shown) is inserted into the through hole 71a of the crimp terminal 69. Thus, the width of the ring opening 69a can be easily elastically deformed and widened. As shown in FIG. 7, when the fitting portion 69 b of the crimp terminal 69 is fitted in the support groove 67 a (fitted portion 67) of the box side terminal 64, the retaining portion 68 of the box side terminal 64 is used. The fitting portion 69 b is locked so that the crimp terminal 69 cannot be removed from the lower side of the box side terminal 64.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a conductive fixing member 75 having a rectangular plate shape in plan view is disposed on the front side and the rear side in the flushing box 46. As shown in FIG. 10, the sheet metal fixing member 75 includes a rectangular plate-like base portion 76 that is long in the left-right direction. A plurality (four in this embodiment) of flat plate-like first to fourth arm portions 77, 78, 79, and 80 stand on the front end edge of the base portion 76 so as to be aligned with each other at an appropriate interval in the left-right direction. It is installed.

  The first to fourth locking portions 77a, 78a, 79a, and 80a are provided at the tips of the first to fourth arm portions 77, 78, 79, and 80 so as to protrude rearward. Yes. In this case, the length in the left-right direction of the first locking portion 77a and the fourth locking portion 80a is about half of the length in the left-right direction of the first arm portion 77 and the fourth arm portion 80. That is, the first locking portion 77a and the fourth locking portion 80a do not reach the right half at the tips of the first arm portion 77 and the fourth arm portion 80, respectively. In the fixing member 75, the first to fourth locking portions 77 a, 78 a, 79 a, and 80 a have the standing height of the first to fourth arm portions 77, 78, 79, and 80 of the ink absorbing material 47. Since it is substantially the same as the thickness, the ink absorbing material 47 can be locked to the edge of the upper surface 47a which is a surface (opposing surface) facing the nozzle forming surface 21a. Therefore, the ink absorbing material 47 is locked and held in the flushing box 46 by the edges of the upper surface 47a being locked to the first to fourth locking portions 77a, 78a, 79a, and 80a of the fixing member 75. It will be.

  On the rear end side of the base portion 76, at the positions on both sides of the center in the left-right direction of the base portion 76, a cutout portion 81 is formed by cutting out a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction from the rear end edge toward the front side. Are formed respectively. A conductive tongue piece 82 that is narrower than the notch 81 extends rearward at the center in the left-right direction at the front edge of the notch 81. In the conductive tongue piece 82, the base end portion 82a is flush with the base portion 76, and the intermediate portion 82b is inclined obliquely downward and rearward. Further, the leading end portion 82 c of the conduction tongue piece 82 is positioned below the base portion 76 and extends in parallel with the base portion 76. In this case, the front end of the front end portion 82 c of the conductive tongue piece 82 is located slightly rearward of the rear end edge of the base portion 76.

  In addition, a rectangular through hole 83 that is long in the front-rear direction is provided at a position on the front side of the base portion 76 and on both the left and right sides of the base portion 76 with both notches 81 interposed therebetween. A locking tongue 84 that is narrower than the through-hole 83 extends rearward at the center in the left-right direction at the front end edge in the through-hole 83. The front half of the locking tongue 84 is flush with the base portion 76, and the rear half is inclined rearward and obliquely upward. Therefore, the front end (rear end) of the locking tongue piece 84 is located above the base portion 76. In this case, a gap is formed between the front end (rear end) of the locking tongue piece 84 and the rear end edge in the through hole 83 in plan view.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the fixing members 75 are arranged on the front side and the rear side in the flushing box 46 so that the left and right directions are opposite to each other. That is, both the fixing members 75 are arranged in a state of being separated from each other on both the front and rear sides across the box-side terminal 64. On the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 46, columnar locking projections 85 are erected at positions corresponding to the through holes 83 of the fixing members 75, and the locking projections are provided in the through holes 83, respectively. 85 are individually inserted. Then, the locking tongues 84 of the fixing members 75 are locked to the locking protrusions 85, so that the fixing members 75 are fixed in the flushing box 46.

  Further, the notches 81 of the fixing members 75 correspond to the right recess 60 and the left recess 61 of the flushing box 46, respectively. And the contact | adherence part 65 of the box side terminal 64 is clamped by the conduction | electrical_connection tongue pieces 82 located in the left side in FIG. Therefore, both the fixing members 75 are electrically connected to the lead wire 70 via the box side terminal 64 and the crimp terminal 69. As shown in FIG. 7, the ink absorbing material 47 is accommodated in the flushing box 46 so as to be wrapped by both fixing members 75 from the edge of the upper surface 47 a to the lower surface of the ink absorbing material 47. Is done.

Next, the net member 48 arranged in the flushing box 46 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the mesh material 48 has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction so as to cover the entire upper surface 47 a of the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21 in the ink absorbing material 47. A positioning concave portion 91 corresponding to the positioning convex portion 90 provided at the left end portion of the front side surface in the flushing box 46 is formed at the left end portion of the front end edge of the net member 48.

  On the rear end edge of the net member 48, first to third locking metal fittings 92, 93, 94 are respectively provided at appropriate intervals. The first to third locking fittings 92, 93, 94 are substantially square plate-shaped first to third connecting portions 92 a, 93 a, 94 a formed integrally with the net member 48, and the respective connecting portions 92 a, 93 a. , 94a are provided with first to third locking pieces 92b, 93b, 94b integrally formed so as to extend along the rear end edge of the net member 48, respectively.

  The first to third locking pieces 92 b, 93 b, 94 b have a V-shaped plate shape whose upper side is open when viewed from the rear side, and their tips are substantially flush with the net member 48. Further, the first connecting portion 92a is formed with a positioning insertion hole 92c through which a positioning pin 95 erected on the rear left end portion on the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 46 is inserted.

Here, a method of attaching the mesh material 48 in the flushing box 46 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11 to 13, first, in the flushing box 46, the front edge of the mesh material 48 is connected to the upper surface 47 a of the ink absorbing material 47 and the first to fourth locking members of the front fixing member 75. While press-fitting between the portions 77 a, 78 a, 79 a, and 80 a, the positioning concave portion 91 of the mesh material 48 is engaged with the positioning convex portion 90 in the flushing box 46. Then, the front end edge portion of the net member 48 is locked by the first to fourth locking portions 77a, 78a, 79a, and 80a of the fixing member 75 on the front side.

  Subsequently, the first to third locking fittings 92, 93, 94 of the mesh member 48 are applied to the first, third, and fourth locking portions 77a, 79a, 80a of the rear fixing member 75. That is, in this case, the tip end portion of the third locking piece 94b of the third locking bracket 94 abuts on the left end portion of the fourth locking portion 80a, and the second locking bracket is positioned on the left end portion of the third locking portion 79a. 93, the front end of the second locking piece 93b contacts, and the left end of the first locking portion 77a contacts the front end of the first locking piece 92b of the first locking bracket 92.

  Subsequently, when the first to third locking fittings 92, 93, 94 of the mesh material 48 are pressed downward, the first, third, and third locking pieces 92b, 93b, 94b become the first, third, and fourth locking portions. 77a, 79a, and 80a are recessed into the upper surface 47a of the ink absorbing material 47 while being elastically deformed so as to contract in the left-right direction. Then, when the first to third locking pieces 92b, 93b, and 94b move below the first, third, and fourth locking portions 77a, 79a, and 80a, respectively, the original elastic restoring force causes the original Return to shape.

  As a result, the first to third locking pieces 92b, 93b, and 94b are locked by the first, third, and fourth locking portions 77a, 79a, and 80a, respectively. At this time, the positioning pin 95 erected on the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 46 is inserted into the positioning insertion hole 92 c of the first locking fitting 92. In this manner, the mesh material 48 is attached in the flushing box 46 in a positioned state. However, when the mesh material 48 is attached in the flushing box 46, the mesh material 48 causes the mesh material 48 to lower the upper surface 47 a of the ink absorbing material 47. A pressing force is always applied.

  In this state, the mesh member 48 is electrically connected to both the fixing members 75 and is parallel to the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21. Further, in this state, the vertical thicknesses of the first to fourth locking portions 77a, 78a, 79a, and 80a of both the fixing members 75 are set to be equal to or less than the vertical thickness of the mesh material 48. ing. Further, in this state, the first to fourth locking portions 77 a, 78 a, 79 a, and 80 a of both the fixing members 75 are parallel to the net member 48.

Next, the nozzle inspection apparatus 100 (see FIG. 14) provided in the maintenance unit 24 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the maintenance unit 24 is provided with a nozzle inspection device 100 for detecting a nozzle (defective nozzle) that cannot eject an appropriate amount of ink. The nozzle inspection apparatus 100 includes a voltage application circuit 101 as a voltage application unit for applying a voltage between a mesh member 48 disposed in the flushing box 46 and the nozzle formation surface 21 a of the recording head 21. ing.

  Further, the nozzle inspection apparatus 100 integrates a detection signal from the mesh material 48 and outputs it, an inverting amplification circuit 103 that inverts and amplifies the signal output from the integration circuit 102, and the inversion And an A / D conversion circuit 104 that performs A / D conversion on the signal output from the amplifier circuit 103 and outputs the signal to a control device 105 as detection means described later. In the present embodiment, voltage detection for detecting a change in voltage value between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle formation surface 21 a of the recording head 21 by the integration circuit 102, the inverting amplification circuit 103, and the A / D conversion circuit 104. A voltage detection device 106 as means is configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C, the voltage application circuit 101 has a direct current power source (for example, 400V) so that the mesh material 48 becomes a positive electrode and the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21 becomes a negative electrode. ) And a resistance element (for example, 1 MΩ). Therefore, a positive charge is charged on the upper surface of the mesh member 48, while a negative charge is charged on the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21.

Next, the operation when ink is ejected from one nozzle 22 into the flushing box 46 (on the mesh material 48) will be described below with reference to FIGS. 15 (a), 15 (b), and 15 (c).
Now, when ink is ejected from one nozzle 22, negative charge is applied to the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle 22 (hereinafter referred to as "ink droplet"), as shown in FIG. Charge. Then, as the ink droplet charged with a negative charge approaches the mesh material 48, the positive charge gradually increases on the mesh material 48 due to electrostatic induction. As a result, the potential difference between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21 becomes larger than when no ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle 22 due to an induced voltage based on electrostatic induction.

  When the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle 22 lands on the mesh material 48, a part of the positive charge on the mesh material 48 is neutralized by the negative charge charged on the ink droplet. As a result, the potential difference (voltage) between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle formation surface 21 a of the recording head 21 is smaller than when no ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle 22. Thereafter, the potential difference between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21 returns to the original size.

  When the nozzle inspection apparatus 100 inspects the nozzle 22, a plurality of shots (for example, three shots) of ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 22, and the detection signal of the ink droplets is input to the integration circuit 102. . The detection signal input to the integration circuit 102 is input to the control device 105 via the integration circuit 102, the inverting amplification circuit 103, and the A / D conversion circuit 104.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the control device 105 detects the amplitude Vd of the detection signal input from the voltage detection device 106 (the voltage value between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle formation surface 21 a of the recording head 21. Change amount) is detected by calculation, and it is determined whether or not the detected amplitude Vd is greater than or equal to an amplitude threshold value KVd that is preset and stored in the control device 105. The amplitude threshold value KVd is a value for estimating an ink ejection amount (discharge amount) based on a detection signal from the voltage detection device 106 and determining whether or not an appropriate amount of ink is ejected. It is obtained in advance by experiments or simulations.

  Then, the control device 105 detects that the nozzle 22 is not clogged when the amplitude Vd of the detection signal input from the voltage detection device 106 is equal to or larger than the amplitude threshold value KVd. On the other hand, when the amplitude Vd of the detection signal input from the voltage detection device 106 is smaller than the amplitude threshold KVd, the control device 105 detects that the nozzle 22 is clogged.

  As described above, the clogging of the nozzle 22 is detected by the control device 105 based on the amount of change in the voltage value between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21. Normally, this clogging is detected. The accuracy increases as the distance from the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 decreases. In this regard, in this embodiment, the mesh material 48 functioning as an electrode is disposed on the upper surface 47a of the ink absorbing material 47 in the flushing box 46, that is, the mesh material 48 is closer to the nozzle forming surface 21a than the ink absorbing material 47. Placed in position.

  Therefore, it is possible to bring the mesh material 48 closer to the nozzle formation surface 21a by the thickness of the ink absorption material 47 than when the ink absorption material 47 is disposed between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle formation surface 21a. It becomes. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the change in the voltage value between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle forming surface 21a by the voltage detection device 106 is improved, and the clogging of the nozzle 22 based on the change in the voltage value by the control device 105 is detected. Accuracy is improved.

  Further, in the flushing box 46, the mesh member 48 is surrounded by the first to fourth engaging portions 77a, 78a, 79a, and 80a of both fixing members 75 set to be equal to or less than the thickness of the mesh member 48. Since the portions are locked, it is possible to suppress the height of the protruding portion formed on the mesh material 48 as compared with the conventional case where the center portion of the mesh material 48 is fixed by heat caulking.

  Therefore, when ink is flushed from the nozzle 22 formed on the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 into the flushing box 46, the ink absorbing material 47 can be brought closer to the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 than before. It becomes. For this reason, it is difficult for the flushed ink to be misted (atomized), and the amount of ink leaking out of the flushing box 46 is reduced.

As described above, according to the embodiment described in detail, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When a voltage is applied between the nozzle formation surface 21 a of the recording head 21 and the mesh material 48, the mesh material 48 is disposed closer to the nozzle formation surface 21 a than the ink absorbing material 47. Compared to the case where the ink absorbing material 47 is disposed between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle forming surface 21 a, the mesh material 48 can be brought closer to the nozzle forming surface 21 a by the thickness of the ink absorbing material 47. For this reason, since the detection accuracy of the voltage value change between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle forming surface 21a by the voltage detection device 106 is improved, the clogging of the nozzle 22 based on the change of the voltage value by the control device 105 is improved. Detection accuracy can be improved.

  (2) Since the mesh material 48 is disposed in the flushing box 46 in a state where the upper surface 47a of the ink absorbing material 47 (the surface facing the nozzle forming surface 21a) is pressed, the undulations on the upper surface 47a of the ink absorbing material 47 Unevenness can be eliminated and flattened. Therefore, since the detection accuracy of the change in the voltage value between the mesh material 48 and the nozzle forming surface 21a by the voltage detection device 106 is further improved, the nozzle 22 is clogged based on the change in the voltage value by the control device 105. Detection accuracy can be further improved.

  (3) In the flushing box 46, both fixing members 75 having conductivity separate from the mesh material 48 are provided so as to wrap the ink absorbing material 47 from the upper surface 47a through the end surface to the lower surface, The net member 48 is locked in the flushing box 46 by the first to fourth locking portions 77a, 78a, 79a, 80a of the both fixing members 75. For this reason, the net member 48 can be locked in the positioning state while fixing the ink absorbing material 47 in the flushing box 46 by the fixing member 75. In this case, since both the fixing members 75 are electrically connected to the lead wire 70 extending from the voltage application circuit 101 via the box side terminal 64 and the crimp terminal 69, the first to fourth locking portions 77a and 78a are connected. , 79a and 80a, the mesh material 48 can be connected to the voltage application circuit 101.

  (4) When the mesh member 48 is locked in the flushing box 46 by the both fixing members 75, the positioning concave portion 91 of the mesh member 48 and the positioning convex portion 90 in the flushing box 46 are engaged, A positioning pin 95 erected on the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 46 is inserted into the positioning insertion hole 92 c of the first locking fitting 92 of the net member 48. For this reason, the net member 48 can be reliably locked at a predetermined position in the flushing box 46 by the both fixing members 75 in a positioned state.

  (5) On the upper surface 47 a of the ink absorbing material 47 in the flushing box 46, the mesh material 48 has the first to fourth engagements of the two fixing members 75 set to be equal to or less than the thickness of the mesh material 48. The peripheral portion is locked by the portions 77a, 78a, 79a, and 80a. Therefore, unlike the conventional case where the center portion of the mesh material 48 is fixed by heat caulking, the height of the protruding portion formed on the mesh material 48 can be suppressed. Accordingly, when ink is flushed from the nozzle 22 formed on the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21 into the flushing box 46, the ink absorbing material 47 may be brought closer to the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21 than in the past. it can. As a result, it is possible to prevent the flushed ink from being misted (atomized) and leaking out of the flushing box 46.

  (6) In the flushing box 46, the first to fourth locking portions 77 a, 78 a, 79 a, and 80 a of both the fixing members 75 have the upper surface peripheral portion of the mesh material 48 parallel to the mesh material 48. It is locked in a state. For this reason, the height of the 1st-4th latching | locking part 77a, 78a, 79a, 80a in the thickness direction (up-down direction) of the net | network material 48 can be suppressed to the minimum.

  (7) The box side terminal 64 has a shaft shape, and the crimp terminal 69 has a C-shaped retaining ring shape having an open portion 69a that can be fitted to the fitted portion 67 of the box side terminal 64. Therefore, the connection work between the box-side terminal 64 and the crimp terminal 69 can be performed easily and quickly without increasing the number of parts, so that the assembly of the printer 10 can be improved.

(Example of change)
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
-As shown to Fig.16 (a), you may change the crimp terminal 69 into the crimp terminal 110 of E-shaped retaining ring shape.

  -As shown in FIG.16 (b), you may change the crimp terminal 69 into the retaining ring-shaped crimp terminal 111 which has the annular part 111a. On the inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 111a of the crimp terminal 111, a plurality of (here, five) plate-like claw portions 111b are annularly arranged so as to be equidistant from each other along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface. Each protrudes toward the center of the portion 111a. In this case, by inserting the box-side terminal 64 into the annular portion 111 a of the crimp terminal 111, the crimp terminal 111 is fitted to the fitting portion 67 of the box-side terminal 64 at the claw portion 111 b of the crimp terminal 111. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 17A, the crimp terminal 69 may be changed to an annular round crimp terminal 112. In this case, in a state in which the round crimp terminal 112 is inserted into the box-side terminal 64, the fitting portion 67 of the box-side terminal 64 is fitted to the fitting portion 67 in the direction orthogonal to the axis L of the box-side terminal 64 as shown in FIG. The ring-shaped opening 113a of the E-shaped retaining ring (E-ring) 113 as the illustrated regulating member is pushed in and the E-shaped retaining ring 113 is fitted. Then, the E-type retaining ring 113 restricts the relative movement of the box-side terminal 64 and the box-side terminal 64 in the direction of the axis L of the box-side terminal 64, and as shown in FIG. A round crimp terminal 112 is connected.

  In this way, the connection work between the box-side terminal 64 and the round crimp terminal 112 becomes easier as compared with the case of connecting using solder as in the prior art. Can be improved. In this case, since the E-shaped retaining ring 113 having the ring-opening portion 113a is adopted as the restricting member, the E-type retaining ring 113 can be quickly attached to the box side terminal 64 (fitting operation). .

  In the case of FIG. 17 described above, instead of the E-shaped retaining ring 113, a C-shaped retaining ring 114 having the ring-opening portion 114a shown in FIG. In this case, the C-shaped retaining ring 114 is fitted to the fitted portion 67 of the box-side terminal 64 in the same manner as the crimp terminal 69.

  As shown in FIG. 19 (a), the crimp terminal 69 is changed to an annular round crimp terminal 115, and at the retaining portion 68 of the box side terminal 64, as shown in FIGS. 19 (b) and 19 (c). Guide grooves 68a extending along the axis L may be provided on opposite sides of the box side terminal 64 across the axis L. In this case, the guide groove 68a communicates with a support groove 67a as a locking groove. Further, locking convex portions 115 a that protrude toward the center of the round crimp terminal 115 are provided on opposite sides of the center of the round crimp terminal 115 on the inner peripheral surface of the round crimp terminal 115. It has been. The locking projection 115a of the round crimp terminal 115 and the guide groove 68a of the retaining portion 68 correspond to each other, and the locking projection 115a can slide in the guide groove 68a and the support groove 67a. ing.

  When the round crimp terminal 115 is engaged (connected) to the box side terminal 64, first, as shown in FIG. 20A, the both locking projections 115a of the round crimp terminal 115 are placed on the box side. Inserted into the guide grooves 68a of the retaining portion 68 along the axis L of the terminal 64, respectively. Subsequently, both locking projections 115a are slid along the both guide grooves 68a. When the both locking projections 115a reach the support grooves 67a, as shown in FIG. 20B, the round crimp terminal 115 is swung around the axis L, and both locking projections 115a are supported in the support grooves 67a. The part 115a is moved to the locking position which is a position not corresponding to the both guide grooves 68a. Then, both locking projections 115a are locked by the support grooves 67a, and relative movement between the box-side terminal 64 and the round crimp terminal 115 in the axis L direction of the box-side terminal 64 is restricted. In this case, the side wall of the support groove 67a is tapered so as to become gradually narrower toward the lock position so that the lock protrusions 115a do not move at the lock position of the support groove 67a. A wedge-shaped protrusion may be provided on the stop protrusion 115a so that both the locking protrusions 115a are fitted in the locking positions of the support grooves 67a.

  In this way, by sequentially sliding the locking projection 115a into the guide groove 68a and the support groove 67a, the locking projection 115a is locked to the support groove 67a, and the round crimp terminal 115 becomes the box side terminal. 64. For this reason, the connection work between the box-side terminal 64 and the round crimp terminal 115 can be easily performed without increasing the number of parts, and the assemblability of the printer 10 can be improved.

  -As shown in FIG. 21, you may abbreviate | omit either one of the semicircular arc parts of the both sides which pinch | interpose both the latching convex parts 115a in the round crimp terminal 115 shown to Fig.19 (a). In this case, when the round crimp terminal 115 is engaged with the box-side terminal 64, both the locking projections 115a slide in the direction perpendicular to the axis L of the box-side terminal 64 and are detached from the support groove 67a. It is necessary to provide a stopper (for example, a protrusion or a partition wall) in the support groove 67a.

  As shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, instead of the net member 48 and the two fixing members 75, an electrode member formed by integrally forming the net member 48 and the two fixing members 75 and a case as a restraining member. The member 116 may be used. That is, the case member 116 includes a fixed portion 117 formed by connecting the base portions 76 of both the fixing members 75 so as to be integrated at both left and right end portions, and a front upper end edge (front-side fixing member) of the fixed portion 117. 75 first to fourth locking portions 77a, 78a, 79a, and 80a), the electrode portion formed by integrally connecting the front end edge of the mesh material 48, and the mesh portion 118 as a facing portion. Yes. A connecting portion between the fixed portion 117 and the mesh portion 118 is a hinge portion 119, and the mesh portion 118 can swing around the hinge portion 119.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 22C, the fixing portion 117 of the case member 116 is fixed in the flushing box 46, and the fixing portion 117 wraps from one edge of the upper surface 47a to the other edge through the lower surface. In a state where the ink absorbing material 47 is accommodated in the flushing box 46 so as to be fixed, the mesh portion 118 is swung downward. Then, the first to third locking pieces 92b, 93b, and 94b of the mesh portion 118 are locked by the first, third, and fourth locking portions 77a, 79a, and 80a of the fixing portion 117, respectively. Note that when ink is flushed into the flushing box 46, the mesh portion 118 faces the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21.

  In this way, the number of parts of the printer 10 can be reduced by using the case member 116 formed by integrally forming the mesh material 48 and both fixing members 75 instead of the mesh material 48 and both fixing members 75. . In addition, the mesh portion 118 of the case member 116 can be locked while the ink absorbing material 47 is fixed in the flushing box 46 by the fixing portion 117 of the case member 116.

When the mesh material 48 is used only as an electrode member, the mesh material 48 may be disposed separately from the ink absorbing material 47.
The mesh material 48 is not necessarily disposed in a state where the upper surface 47a of the ink absorbing material 47 is pressed.

  -You may make it provide the latching part which has the electroconductivity for latching the net | network material 48 in the flushing box 46 directly. In this case, the locking portion needs to be electrically connected to the crimp terminal 69.

  The crimp terminal 69 may be directly connected to the mesh material 48. In this case, it is necessary to dispose the crimp terminal 69 below the net member 48. Further, in this case, both the fixing members 75 may be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the electrode member and the suppressing member are embodied as the mesh material 48, but the electrode member and the suppressing member are arranged in parallel with the nozzle forming surface 21a, or one or more wires having conductivity, etc. You may comprise by this wire. And when comprising an electrode member and a control member with a plurality of wires, each wire may be made to cross and may be arranged in parallel, without making it cross. Further, from the viewpoint of using the wire as an electrode member, it is desirable to arrange the wire along a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles 22 on the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21.

  The voltage application circuit 101 is configured to be directly electrically connected to the ink in the recording head 21 by a lead wire or the like, and a voltage is applied between the mesh material 48 and the ink in the recording head 21 by the voltage application circuit 101. May be applied.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid receiver is embodied in the flushing box 46, but the cap member 33 may be a liquid receiver. In this case, the cap member 33 is flushed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet printer (printing apparatus including a fax machine, a copier, etc.) 10 that ejects ink has been described as the liquid ejecting apparatus, but a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects another liquid may be used. For example, as a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting liquids such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL displays, and surface-emitting displays, as a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting bioorganic materials used in biochip manufacturing, and as precision pipettes The sample injection device may be used.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. The bottom view of the recording head of the printer. It is the schematic which shows the principal part of a maintenance unit, Comprising: (a) is the schematic when a flushing box is in a vertical attitude | position state, (b) is the schematic when the flushing box is in an inclination attitude | position state. It is the schematic which shows the principal part of a maintenance unit, Comprising: (a) is the schematic when a flushing box is in a tilting attitude state, (b) is the schematic when the flushing box is in a horizontal attitude state. The perspective view of a flushing box. The perspective view which shows the bottom face of a flushing box. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. (A) is the front enlarged view of a box side terminal, (b) is the plane enlarged view of a crimp terminal. The perspective view which shows the bottom face of a net | network material. The perspective view of a fixing member. The partially broken top view which shows the flushing box of the state which abbreviate | omitted the ink absorber. 12-12 sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. The cross-sectional simplified view of a maintenance unit. (A), (b), (c) is sectional drawing which shows a mode that an ink is discharged toward the inside of a flushing box from the nozzle of a recording head. (A), (b) is a top view which shows the crimp terminal of a modification. In the modified example, (a) is a plan view of a round crimp terminal, (b) is an enlarged plan view of an E-type retaining ring, and (c) is a state where a round crimp terminal and an E-shaped retaining ring are attached to a box side terminal. The principal part top view which shows. The plane enlarged view of the C-shaped retaining ring of the example of a change. In the modified example, (a) is an enlarged plan view of a round crimp terminal, (b) is an enlarged front view of the box side terminal, and (c) is an enlarged plan view of the box side terminal. In the modified example, (a) is a main part enlarged plan view showing a state in which the round crimp terminal is engaged with the box side terminal, and (b) is a state where the round crimp terminal is engaged with the box side terminal. The principal part enlarged plan view. The enlarged plan view of the round crimp terminal of the example of a change. In the modified example, (a) is a perspective view of the case member, (b) is a partially broken plan view of the case member, and (c) is a perspective view showing a state in which the ink absorbing material is accommodated in the flushing box together with the case member.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus, 21 ... Recording head as a liquid ejecting head, 21a ... Nozzle formation surface, 22 ... Nozzle, 46 ... Flushing box as a liquid receiver, 47 ... Ink absorption as a liquid absorbent Material 47a ... upper surface of the ink absorbing material 47 (opposite surface facing the recording head 21 in the liquid absorbing material), 48 ... net material as the electrode member and the suppressing member, 64 ... box side terminal as the first terminal, 67a ... Support groove as a locking groove, 68a ... Guide groove, 69 ... Crimp terminal as a second terminal, 69a, 113a, 114a ... Ring-opening portion, 75 ... Fixing member, 77a ... First locking portion as a locking portion 78a, second locking portion as a locking portion, 79a, third locking portion as a locking portion, 80a, fourth locking portion as a locking portion, 101, voltage applying means. Voltage application circuit, 105 ... control device as detection means, 106 ... voltage detection device as voltage detection means, 113 ... E-shaped retaining ring as a regulating member, 115a ... engagement projection, 116 ... electrode member and suppression member ,..., 117... Fixed portion in the case member 116, 118...

Claims (5)

A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from nozzles formed on the nozzle forming surface;
A bottomed box-shaped liquid receiver for receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head;
A liquid absorbent disposed within the liquid receiver for absorbing the liquid;
A restraining member made of a wire or a net that is disposed on the surface facing the nozzle forming surface of the liquid absorbent in the liquid receiver and restrains the liquid absorbent from being lifted;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a locking portion for locking the suppression member in the liquid receiving body; and a thickness of the locking portion being equal to or less than a thickness of the suppression member. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is provided in the liquid receiving body in a state of being parallel to the suppressing member. 3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suppressing member is disposed in the liquid receiving body in a state where the facing surface of the liquid absorbent material is pressed. A fixing member separate from the restraining member is provided in the liquid receiving body so as to be able to lock and hold the liquid absorbing material in the liquid receiving body, and the locking portion is provided in the fixing member. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is a liquid ejecting apparatus. The restraining member is configured to wrap the liquid absorbent material from one edge of the facing surface of the liquid absorbent material to the other edge through the surface opposite to the facing surface when placed in the liquid receiving body. A fixing portion fixed to the liquid receptor and a portion facing the nozzle forming surface and corresponding to one edge of the facing surface of the liquid absorbent material in the fixing portion via a hinge portion The locking portion is provided in a portion corresponding to the other edge of the facing surface of the liquid absorbent material in the fixed portion. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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