JP2008254188A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To close the ejection surface of a printer surely. <P>SOLUTION: The printer comprises a liquid ejection head 3, a head cap 10 having a cap seal portion 21 and guide pins 26 and 27 and closing the ejection surface 6, a head case 11 having guide holes 33 and 34 for guiding the head cap 10 over the opposing position Y and the open position X, and a drive mechanism 12 having cam portions 69 and 70 for pushing up the guide pins 26 and 27. Vertical guide portions 37 and 40 for making the head cap 10 movable in the direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6 are formed in the guide holes 33 and 34 at the end of the reverse position Y side. When the ejection surface 6 is closed, the cam portions 69 and 70 push up the guide pins 26 and 27 along the vertical guide portions 37 and 40 so that the head cap 10 is pushed up to close the ejection surface 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus including a head cap that closes a discharge surface provided with a discharge port for discharging a liquid of a liquid discharge head and protects the discharge surface.

  2. Description of the Related Art A printer device using an ink jet method (hereinafter referred to as a printer device) prints images and characters by ejecting ink from recording heads onto recording paper. This ink jet printer apparatus has the advantages of low running cost, apparatus miniaturization, and easy colorization of printed images.

  The printer device supplies ink from an ink tank to an ink liquid chamber provided with a pressure generating element such as a heating resistor or a piezoelectric element of an ink discharge head, and presses the ink in the ink liquid chamber with the pressure generating element to make a minute amount. Ink is ejected in the form of droplets from an ejection port, a so-called nozzle. The printer device prints images and characters by landing ejected ink droplets on recording paper or the like.

  In such a printer apparatus, an ink ejection head that ejects ink is elaborately manufactured, and thus needs to be protected. In particular, the vicinity of the nozzle from which ink is ejected is protected by an openable and closable head cap. In a printer device, a head cap is arranged at a position opposite to the ejection surface where nozzles are formed, and the ejection surface is sealed during standby when printing is not performed. When printing is performed, the head cap is separated from the ejection surface. Then, the ejection surface is opened so that the ink can be ejected. As a result, in the printer device, it is possible to prevent ink from drying and adhesion of dust and paper powder during standby when printing is not being performed, and it is possible to prevent problems such as clogging. Further, in recent years, in a printer apparatus, a wiping blade, a roller, and a bubble suction function for wiping off excess ink adhering to the ejection surface are added to the head cap so that the ink ejection head can be used during standby or before and after a printing operation. The mainstream has been able to perform maintenance.

  The opening / closing operation of the head cap can be performed by moving one of the ink ejection head and the head cap. In the case of a serial head type printer device, printing is performed for one row by ejecting ink while the ink ejection head moves in the width direction of the recording paper. After printing, the ink ejection head is moved from the printing area. The ejection surface is closed by the head cap by moving to the retreat area and moving to a position opposite to the head cap provided in the retreat area.

  On the other hand, in a line head type printer device in which the length of the ink discharge head corresponds to the width of the recording paper, the head cap that closes the ink discharge head increases as the discharge surface of the ink discharge head increases. There is a problem that the mechanism for moving the ink discharge head or the head cap and the scale of the occupied space become large. For this reason, in the line head type printer device, it is difficult not only to increase the size but also to maintain desired accuracy, performance, and cost by the same method as the serial head type.

  Therefore, in such a line head type printer device, the amount of movement for fixing or moving the ink discharge head is reduced, and instead the head cap can be moved, and the opening / closing operation of the discharge surface is performed by a method of interlocking them in combination. There is something to do. As such a printer device, for example, there is a printer device described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 below.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a recording head that moves in a vertical direction between a capping position, a printing position, and a retracting position, and when the recording head is in the printing position, the recording head is positioned at a retracting position on the side of the recording head. A printer apparatus including a capping member that moves to a capping position when capping the head is described.

  In the printer device of Patent Document 1, the time required for capping can be shortened while suppressing the impact at the time of capping, and the positioning accuracy is high. Further, in this printer apparatus, since the capping operation is performed above the transport path of the recording medium, the capping operation can be performed even when there is a recording medium in the transport path without crossing the transport path. The recording head of this printer apparatus is driven by a rack gear, and the capping member is driven by a drive wire pulley.

  In Patent Document 2, a recording medium support member that supports a recording medium is moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, retracted from a position facing the ejection surface of the ink ejection head, and opposed to the ejection surface. It is described that the cap member is moved up and down in an open area to open and close the discharge surface. When the ejection surface is covered with a cap member, the recording head does not move, so the mechanism for moisturizing or protecting the ejection surface is not complicated, and the relative positional deviation between the recording head and the recording medium is not increased. Can be suppressed.

  In Patent Document 3, printing is performed by supporting and rotating the platen and the maintenance member so as to be integrally rotated about the rotation axis on the back side of the conveyed recording medium facing the discharge surface. In this case, the platen is disposed at a position facing the line head, and when maintenance is performed on the discharge surface, the platen is rotated and the maintenance member is disposed at a position facing the line head. And in this patent document 3, after making a maintenance member oppose a line head, it is moved up and down with the rotating shaft, and a maintenance member is moved up and down with respect to a line head, and a capping is performed.

  However, in the printer apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the line head or the head cap is configured to move up and down to the capping position from the retracted position, and the amount of movement of the line head and the head cap Becomes larger. For this reason, in such a printer apparatus, the overall height of the drive mechanism unit that drives the line head or the head cap increases, and the apparatus becomes large.

  In view of this, some printer apparatuses are capable of smoothly opening and closing a head cap in a small space while a printer head such as a line head is fixed at a fixed position. There is such a printer device.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that a head cap that opens and closes a discharge surface of a printer head fixed at a fixed position is guided to move by an independent head cap guide mechanism to drive the head cap to open and close. In this printer apparatus, a head cap is connected to a rack driven linearly by a motor, and the head cap is smoothly opened and closed along a complicated movement path by moving the rack.

  In this printer apparatus, when the ejection surface is closed with a head cap, as shown in FIG. 13A, the guide pin 204 of the head cap 203 having the head cap seal 202 in contact with the ejection surface 201 of the printer head 200 is disposed on the ejection surface. The head cap 200 is moved to a position facing the ejection surface 201 of the printer head 200 along the guide hole 205 formed substantially parallel to the 201. In this printer apparatus, as shown in FIG. 13B, the end portion of the guide hole 205 is formed obliquely upward, for example, by raising the angle by 30 ° to 45 °, and the guide hole 205 is guided along the guide hole 205. The ejection surface 201 of the printer head 200 is closed by guiding the pin 204 upward and moving the head cap 203 upward toward the ejection surface 201. Thereby, in this printer apparatus, the raising / lowering amount of the head cap is suppressed, and the line head type printer apparatus can be reduced in size (in particular, reduced in thickness).

  In this printer apparatus, the head cap 203 is formed of an elastic body such as rubber so as to improve the sealing performance of the head cap 203 with respect to the ejection surface 201 and prevent the nozzle from drying and the entry of dust and dirt. A seal 202 is provided.

  However, in this printer apparatus, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the discharge surface 201 is closed by the head cap 203, the discharge surface 201 is closed while rising obliquely upward from a position facing the discharge surface 201. Therefore, when the head cap seal 202 comes into contact with the ejection surface 201, a force is applied obliquely to the tip of the head cap seal 202, and the tip of the head cap seal 202 is bent or kinked. For this reason, in this printer device, when the head cap seal 202 is closed, the discharge surface 201 is closed with the tip of the head cap seal 202 being twisted or kinked, and the sealing accuracy at the time of closing is lowered. As a result, in this printer device, there is a possibility that problems such as nozzle clogging may occur due to accelerated drying of the nozzles and an increase in the chance of dust and dirt entering, which adversely affects ink ejection. Become.

  Further, in this printer apparatus, the head cap 203 closes the discharge surface 201 while moving obliquely upward from the position facing the discharge surface 201, so the head cap seal 202 rubs the discharge surface 201, and the sliding is large. Since resistance is involved, there is a possibility that wear of the head cap seal 202 and durability of the discharge surface 201 may be reduced due to repeated capping.

Japanese Patent No. 2817984 JP 2005-28707 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-9513 JP 2003-94676 A

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such conventional circumstances, and the cap seal portion provided on the head cap that protects the ejection surface of the liquid ejection head is substantially vertical without being twisted or twisted. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer apparatus that is in contact with the discharge surface and has improved sealing performance against the discharge surface when closed, and prevents wear of the cap seal portion and deterioration of the durability of the discharge surface.

  A printer apparatus according to the present invention is provided on a discharge surface side where a discharge port for discharging a liquid is formed and recording is performed by landing the liquid on an object, and on the discharge surface side where the discharge port of the liquid discharge head is formed. A cap seal portion in contact with the discharge surface and a guide pin for guiding the movement, and a head cap that closes the discharge surface; and the head cap is moved substantially parallel to the discharge surface from a position facing the discharge surface. A guide hole that guides the movement to the open position that opens the discharge surface is formed, the guide pin of the head cap is inserted into the guide hole, the head case that supports the head cap, and the head cap moves along the guide hole And a drive mechanism to be provided. A vertical guide portion that guides the movement of the head cap in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the ejection surface is formed in the guide hole of the head case at the end on the opposite position side. The drive mechanism includes a guide pin inserted through the guide hole, and a lift guide hole that is supported so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction on the discharge surface, and a guide pin inserted through the lift guide hole is pushed up along the vertical guide portion. A rack member having a push-up cam portion; In the printer device according to the present invention, when the ejection surface is closed by the head cap, the head cap is moved from the open position to the facing position substantially parallel to the ejection surface, and the head cap at the facing position is further moved to the cap seal portion. When the guide pin at the end where the vertical guide portion of the guide hole is formed is pushed up by the push-up cam portion along the vertical guide portion when moving to the closing position for closing the discharge surface by contacting the discharge surface, The head cap is pushed up from the opposed position to the closed position.

  In the present invention, when the discharge surface is closed by moving the head cap provided with the cap seal portion in contact with the discharge surface of the liquid discharge head in a direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface by the drive mechanism, It is possible to prevent the tip of the tip from coming into contact with the ejection surface substantially perpendicularly and to bend or twist. As a result, in the present invention, the cap seal portion does not squeeze or sway, and is in contact with the discharge surface substantially perpendicularly, so that the sealing performance is improved and the discharge port is prevented from drying and entering of dust, dust, etc. be able to.

  In the present invention, the cap seal portion moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface, so that the sliding resistance between the discharge surface and the cap seal portion can be reduced, and the head cap can be repeatedly opened and closed. Further, it is possible to prevent the cap seal part from being worn and the durability of the discharge surface from being lowered.

  Hereinafter, an ink jet printer apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printer apparatus) 1 to which the present invention is applied will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer apparatus 1 includes ink discharge ports (nozzles) 7 arranged in parallel in a substantially line shape for each color in the width direction of the roll-shaped recording paper 5, that is, the arrow W direction in FIG. This is a so-called line type printer apparatus. The printer apparatus 1 includes a head cartridge 3 that is mounted with an ink cartridge 2 in which ink tanks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are incorporated, and ejects ink. An apparatus main body 4 to which the head cartridge 3 is mounted is provided, and the head cartridge 3 is detachable from the apparatus main body 4.

  First, the head cartridge 3 constituting the printer apparatus 1 heats the ink supplied from the mounted ink tanks of the respective colors by the heating resistors to generate bubbles and ejects the ink with the pressure. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom surface of the head cartridge 3 is an ejection surface 6 for ejecting ink, and nozzle rows 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K (hereinafter also referred to as nozzle rows 7) for each color are recording paper. 5 in the width direction, that is, in the direction of the arrow W in FIG. Specifically, on the ejection surface 6 of the head cartridge 3, a yellow nozzle row 7Y, a magenta nozzle row 7M, and a cyan nozzle from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 5, that is, the arrow A direction in FIG. A row 7C and a black nozzle row 7K are formed in this order. The head cartridge 3 moves in the width direction of the recording paper 5 to discharge ink i for each of the nozzle rows 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K without moving in the width direction of the recording paper 5 when ejecting ink. Thus, there is no need to move the printer head as in the case of a serial type printer that prints, and the recording paper 5 can be continuously run, thereby significantly reducing the printing time. . The head cartridge 3 is provided with a plurality of attachments 8 for attachment to the apparatus main body 4.

  Further, a platen (not shown) is disposed through a space at a position facing the ejection surface 6 of the head cartridge 3 in order to cause the recording paper 5 to run parallel to the ejection surface 6 during printing. . The platen is disposed at a position facing the ejection surface 6 of the head cartridge 3 and supports the traveling recording paper 5 from below. Further, the platen supports the recording paper 5 with a plurality of support pieces, and in a region where the support pieces are not formed, porous ink absorption that absorbs ink when preliminary ink ejection or idle ejection is performed. The body is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 4 to which the head cartridge 3 is attached includes a head cap 10 that protects the ejection surface 6 of the head cartridge 3, a head case 11 that guides the opening and closing of the head cap 10, A drive mechanism 12 that drives the head cap 10 and a paper transport mechanism 13 that transports the recording paper 5 as shown in FIG.

  The head cap 10 closes the ejection surface 6 of the head cartridge 3 to prevent the nozzle 7 from drying and dust and dirt from adhering to the ejection surface 6. The head cap 10 is retracted to an open position X above the front side of the apparatus main body 4 so as to open the discharge surface 6 as shown in FIG. ing. Then, when printing is completed, as shown in FIG. 3B, the printing is finished so as to face the discharge surface 6, move substantially parallel to the discharge surface 6, and face the discharge surface 6. Move to the facing position Y. Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, the head cap 10 rises in a direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface 6 and moves to a closing position Z that closes the discharge surface 6 to close the discharge surface 6. Protect. When printing is performed again, contrary to the case of closing with the head cap 10, the print head moves downward from the closing position Z in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6, moves to the facing position Y, and is substantially the same as the ejection surface 6. It moves toward the front side of the apparatus body 4 in parallel, moves to the open position X, retreats from the discharge surface 6 and opens the discharge surface 6. Therefore, the head cap 10 is movable in the arrow B direction and the arrow C direction in FIG. 3, which are substantially perpendicular to the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper 5.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the head cap 10 is formed with a length approximately the same as the length in the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper 5 of the head cartridge 3, and a frame 20 formed in a substantially box shape. A cap seal portion 21 that is housed in the frame 20 and contacts the ejection surface 6, a cleaning roller 22 that wipes ink adhering to the ejection surface 6, and a cap holder 23 that supports the frame 20.

  The cap seal portion 21 is formed of an elastic body such as rubber, and is formed on the plate 24 by bonding or baking on the plate-like plate 24. As shown in FIG. 3C, the cap seal portion 21 is in close contact with the discharge surface 6 when the discharge surface 6 is closed by the head cap 10, and prevents the nozzle 7 from drying, and the discharge surface 6 is free of dust. Prevent dust and dirt. The cap seal portion 21 is provided for each nozzle row 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K so that the discharge surface 6 side is open and can be sealed for each nozzle row 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K. Thereby, the head cap 10 can prevent the nozzle 7 from drying and entry of dust and the like for each of the nozzle rows 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K. In the head cap 10, an elastic body such as a spring (not shown) is interposed between the frame 20 and the plate 24 on which the cap seal portion 21 is provided, and the cap seal portion is formed on the discharge surface 6 by the action of the elastic body. 21 is pressed to improve the sealing performance of the discharge surface 6. In the head cap 10, the cap seal portion 21 is not limited to being provided for each nozzle row 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K, but one nozzle so as to surround all the nozzle rows 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K together. The cap seal portion 21 may be provided, and the shape and arrangement are not limited to this as long as the discharge surface 6 can be sealed and the nozzle rows 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K can be protected.

  The cleaning roller 22 is attached to the roller attachment portion 25 of the frame 20 so that when the head cap 10 is opened and closed, the cleaning roller 22 can slide on the ejection surface 6 while rotating. The cleaning roller 22 is formed of a porous material such as a sponge, and sucks ink, dust, and the like attached to the ejection surface 6 to clean the ejection surface 6. In the head cap 10, in addition to the cleaning roller 22, a blade formed of an elastic body such as rubber may be provided in addition to the cleaning roller 22. May be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cap holder 23 holds the head cap 10 and makes the head cap 10 movable between the open position X and the closed position Z by the drive mechanism 12. The cap holder 23 is formed of a substantially rectangular frame corresponding to the frame 20 so as to hold the outer peripheral portion of the frame 20. The frame 20 can be easily attached to and detached from the cap holder 23 by a spring, a hook, or the like. Further, the cap holder 23 has a pair of front and rear in the moving direction (arrow B, C direction in FIG. 2) in which the head cap 10 opens and closes on both sides of the width direction (W direction) of the recording paper 5 of the head cap 10. Guide pins 26 and 27 protrude from the side surface of the cap holder 23. Of these guide pins 26 and 27, the guide pin 26 on the open position X side of the head cap 10 is inserted into an elevating guide hole 80 of an adjuster member 61 to be described later. It is longer than the length. In the following, the longer guide pin 26 is referred to as the main guide pin 26, and the other shorter guide pin 27 is referred to as the sub guide pin 27.

  A head case 11 for guiding the movement of the head cap 10 between the open position X and the closed position Z is provided in the apparatus main body 4 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and the head cartridge 3 is mounted on the head case 11. The head mounting portion 28 includes a mounting portion 28 and a cap mounting portion 29 to which the head cap 10 is movably mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the head mounting portion 28 is formed in a frame shape so that the head cartridge 3 can be mounted, and is engaged with a fixture 8 provided on the head cartridge 3 on the upper surface. A hole 30 is formed.

  The cap attachment portion 29 is formed in a frame shape so that the head cap 10 can be attached. A first guide hole 33 through which the main guide pin 26 of the head cap 10 is inserted into the side wall 31 and 32 facing the main guide pin 26 and the sub guide pin 27 of the head cap 10 attached to the cap attachment portion 29. And a second guide hole 34 through which the sub guide pin 27 is inserted, and supports the head cap 10 so as to be movable in the directions of arrows B and C in FIG. Since the first guide hole 33 and the second guide hole 34 formed in each of the side walls 31 and 32 are the same, the first guide hole 33 and the second guide hole 33 formed in the side wall 31 are the same. The guide hole 34 will be described, and description of the first guide hole 33 and the second guide hole 34 formed in the side wall 32 will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first guide hole 33 has a parallel guide portion 35 that guides the main guide pin 26 in parallel with the discharge surface 6, and the main guide pin 26 on the opening position X side of the parallel guide portion 35. The elevation guide portion 36 for guiding between the end portion 35a and the open position X on the front side of the apparatus main body 4 and the main guide pin 26 from the end portion 35b on the closing position Z side of the parallel guide portion 35 to the discharge surface 6. On the other hand, a vertical guide portion 37 that is moved in a substantially vertical direction and guides between the end portion 35b of the parallel guide portion 35 and the closing position Z is continuously formed.

  The parallel guide part 35 moves the main cap pin 26 of the head case 11 substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6 in order to move the head cap 10 substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6 when the ejection surface 6 is opened and closed. To guide.

  The lifting guide 36 moves the head cap 10 between the open position X above the front side of the apparatus main body 4 and the facing position Y facing the discharge surface 6 when the discharge surface 6 is opened and closed. The main guide pin 26 is guided between the open position X and the facing position Y. An end portion 36a on the open position X side of the elevating guide portion 36 is formed below an end portion 39a of the elevating guide portion 39 of the second guide hole 34 described later. As shown in FIG. 3 (A), when the head cap 10 is retracted to the open position X, as shown in FIG. This is because the main guide pin 26 side of the head cap 10 is lowered from the side of the sub guide pin 27 and inclined to be retracted.

  The vertical guide portion 37 is a main guide pin guided by the end portion 35 b of the parallel guide portion 35 so that the cap seal portion 21 provided on the head cap 10 contacts the discharge surface 6 when closing the discharge surface 6. 26 is guided so as to rise from the facing position Y to the closing position Z in a substantially vertical direction toward the ejection surface 6. The vertical guide portion 37 is substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6 so that the cap seal portion 21 is separated from the ejection surface 6 and the head cap 10 is separated from the ejection surface 6 when the ejection surface 6 is opened. In the direction, it is guided so as to descend from the closing position Z to the facing position Y.

  Therefore, when the first guide hole 33 closes the discharge surface 6, the main guide pin 26 is moved from the open position X along the lift guide portion 36 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The parallel guide part 35 is lowered to the end part 35a and moved along the parallel guide part 35 toward the opposite position Y side of the end part 35b substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6 to the end part 35b of the parallel guide part 35. Next, as shown in FIG. 3 (C), it is raised along the vertical guide portion 37 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6 and moved to the closing position Z. On the other hand, when opening the discharge surface 6, the first guide hole 33 moves the main guide pin 26 from the closed position Z along the vertical guide portion 37 to the discharge surface 6 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3 (B), it is moved to the facing position Y of the end portion 35b of the parallel guide portion 35, and the open position X along the parallel guide portion 35 from the facing position Y is lowered. 3, moved substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6, moved upward from the end portion 35 a of the parallel guide portion 35 along the lift guide portion 39, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the end portion of the lift guide portion 39 It moves to the open position X of 39a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second guide hole 34 includes a parallel guide portion 38 that guides the sub guide pin 27 substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6, and the sub guide pin 27 on the opening position X side of the parallel guide portion 38. The lift guide 39 that guides between the end 38 a and the open position X on the front side of the apparatus main body 4 and the sub guide pin 27 from the end 38 b on the closing position Z side of the parallel guide 38 to the discharge surface 6. On the other hand, a vertical guide portion 40 that is moved in a substantially vertical direction and guides between the end portion 38b of the parallel guide portion 38 and the closing position Z is continuously formed.

  The parallel guide portion 38 is formed such that an end portion 38a on the open position X side is inclined downward toward the open position X side. In the parallel guide portion 38, the end portion 38 a is formed so as to be inclined downward, so that the head cap 10 is moved toward the open position X or when the head cap 10 is lowered from the open position X to the facing position Y. It is made not to contact the discharge surface 6. Except for this, since it is the same as the parallel guide portion 35 of the first guide hole 33, a detailed description is omitted.

  The elevating guide unit 39 moves the head cap 10 between an open position X above the front side of the apparatus body 4 and a facing position Y facing the discharge surface 6 when the discharge surface 6 is opened and closed. The auxiliary guide pin 27 is guided between the open position X and the facing position Y. Unlike the elevating guide part 36 of the first guide hole 33, the elevating guide part 39 is such that the end 39 a on the open position X side faces upward on the front side of the apparatus main body 4. Thereby, when the head cap 10 is retracted to the open position X on the front side of the apparatus main body 4, the elevating guide unit 39 positions the sub guide pin 27 side of the head cap 10 at a position higher than the main guide pin 26 side. The head cap 10 can be retracted so as not to hinder the conveyance of the recording paper 5. Except this, it is the same as the raising / lowering guide part 36 of the 1st guide hole 33, Therefore Detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Similarly to the vertical guide portion 37 of the first guide hole 33, the vertical guide portion 40 is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface 6 from the end portion 38 b on the closing position Z side of the parallel guide portion 38. When opening and closing 6, the auxiliary guide pin 27 is guided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6.

  When the discharge surface 6 is closed, the second guide hole 34 moves the auxiliary guide pin 27 from the end 39a at the open position X to the lifting guide portion 39 as shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). Along the parallel guide portion 38 and moved toward the opposing position Y side in parallel with the ejection surface 6, and the end portion 38 b of the parallel guide portion 38. As shown in FIG. 3 (C), it is lifted from the facing position Y along the vertical guide portion 40 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6 and moved to the closing position Z. On the other hand, when the second guide hole 34 opens the discharge surface 6, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the secondary guide pin 27 extends from the closed position Z along the vertical guide portion 40. It is lowered in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the discharge surface 6 and moved to the facing position Y of the end portion 38b of the parallel guide portion 38, and the discharge surface from the facing position Y along the parallel guide portion 38 toward the open position X side. 6, moved from the end portion 38 a of the parallel guide portion 38 along the lift guide portion 39, and moved to the open position X of the end portion 39 a of the lift guide portion 39 as shown in FIG. Move.

  As described above, the main guide pin 26 moves along the first guide hole 33 and the sub guide pin 27 moves along the second guide hole 34 between the open position X and the closed position Y. Accordingly, the head cap 10 moves between the open position X and the closing position Y, and the position and posture of the head cap 10 are changed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the drive mechanism 12 that drives the head cap 10 is provided on both side walls 31 and 32 of the head case 11, respectively. Hereinafter, the drive mechanism 12 provided on the one side wall 31 of the head case 11 will be described, and the drive mechanism 12 provided on the other side wall 32 is the same, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

  The drive mechanism 12 includes a rack member 50, a rack frame 51 that supports the rack member 50, and a drive unit 52 that drives the rack member 50.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rack member 50 is movable in the same direction as the rack plate 60, which is movable in the moving direction of the head cap 10 (the directions of arrows B and C in FIG. 5). An adjuster member 61 attached to the rack plate 60 and an elastic spring 62 connecting the rack plate 60 and the adjuster member 61 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rack plate 60 is a substantially long flat plate member that is disposed on the outside of the head case 11 so as to be movable along the side wall 31 of the head case 11. The rack plate 60 is formed with an attachment groove portion 63 to which the adjuster member 61 is attached so as to be movable in the same direction as the movement direction of the rack plate 60 at the end portion 60a on the open position X side of the surface on the head case 11 side. Yes. The attachment groove 63 has an opening 63a so that the end 60a on the open position X side can be attached to the adjuster member 61, and the end 63b on the opposite position Y side has the adjuster member 61 at a predetermined position. It supports so that it may not move to the opposing position Y side. Accordingly, the rack plate 60 allows the adjuster member 61 to slide in the mounting groove 63.

  A pair of engaging pieces 64 for movably engaging the attached adjuster member 61 are provided in the mounting groove 63 at both ends in the short side direction. Further, in the mounting groove 63, a receiving portion 65 is formed in the vicinity of the opening 63a so as to protrude in a substantially horizontal direction from the bottom surface and receive a spring 62 described later.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the rack plate 60 has a main guide of the cap holder 23 that protrudes toward the open position X and is formed in a substantially L shape at the end 60 a and is inserted through the first guide hole 33. A guide portion 66 that guides the pin 26, and a first guide member 26 that pushes the main guide pin 26 from the facing position Y to the closing position Z along the vertical guide portion 37 of the first guide hole 33 toward the open position X of the guide portion 66. And a push-up cam portion 69 are provided. When the main guide pin 26 is moved from the facing position Y to the open position X, the guide portion 66 discharges to the contact portion 67 where the main guide pin 26 contacts in the moving direction and to the lower end of the contact portion 67. And a support portion 68 that is formed substantially parallel to the surface 6 and supports the main guide pin 26 moved to the facing position Y.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first push-up cam portion 69 is inclined upward from the opening 63a side toward the open position X side in order to gradually push up the main guide pin 26 along the vertical guide portion 37. An inclined portion 69a is formed. The inclined portion 69a has an inclination of 30 to 40 degrees, for example.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the rack plate 60 is provided with a secondary guide pin 27 inserted through the second guide hole 34 at the lower end of the substantially central portion of the surface facing the head case 11. A second push-up cam portion 70 that pushes up from the facing position Y to the closing position Z along the vertical guide portion 40 is provided. The second push-up cam portion 70 is formed with an inclined portion 70a inclined upward from the facing position Y side toward the open position X side in order to gradually push up the sub guide pin 27 along the vertical guide portion 40. ing. The inclined portion 70a has an inclination of 30 to 40 degrees, for example.

  Further, the rack plate 60 has a long side of a rack gear 71 to which a driving force of a driving unit 52 described later is transmitted to an end surface at a lower end where the first lifting cam portion 69 and the second lifting cam portion 70 are provided. It is formed along. Thereby, the rack plate 60 can be moved in the moving direction of the head cap 10 (directions of arrows B and C in FIG. 6) by the driving force transmitted from the driving unit 52.

  In addition, a guide piece 72 that is movably engaged with the horizontal guide hole 82 of the rack frame 51 and a horizontal guide hole 82 are inserted into the rack plate 60 on the surface opposite to the surface facing the head case 11. The guide protrusion 73 is provided so as to protrude in a substantially horizontal direction. As a result, the rack plate 60 engages with the guide piece 72 in the horizontal guide hole 82 of the rack frame 51 and is guided by the horizontal guide hole 82 of the rack frame 51 by inserting the guide protrusion 73 so that the head cap It is possible to move in 10 moving directions.

  The adjuster member 61 attached to the attachment groove 63 of the rack plate 60 is a flat plate member formed in a substantially long shape, like the rack plate 60. In the adjuster member 61, the main guide pin 26 inserted through the first guide hole 33 is inserted into the end portion on the open position X side, and the main guide pin 26 can be moved in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the discharge surface 6. A lift guide hole 80 is formed in a substantially straight line in the upper and lower phrases.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the adjuster member 61 is provided with an elastic spring 62 and a rack plate 60 at the end opposite to the side where the lifting guide hole 80 is formed. A mounting opening 81 into which the receiving portion 65 is movably inserted is formed in a substantially straight shape along the short side of the rack plate 60.

  The spring 62 attached to the attachment opening 81 is disposed between the end face of the attachment opening 81 and the receiving portion 65 of the rack plate 60 and urges the head cap 10 in the moving direction (arrow C direction). . 6A, the adjuster member 61 enters the mounting groove 63 and is supported by the end 63b of the mounting groove 63, as shown in FIG. 6A. When the member 61 slides with respect to the rack plate 60, a force larger than the urging force is applied, so that the member 61 contracts. When the force is released, the member 61 returns to the original state as shown in FIG. The plate 60 is returned to a predetermined position. That is, the rack plate 60 and the adjuster member 61 normally move together, and when the rack plate 60 slides in the direction of arrow C and a force greater than the urging force is applied to the spring 62 from the receiving portion 65, the adjuster. Only the rack plate 60 moves in the arrow C direction while the member 61 is fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rack frame 51 that supports the movement of the rack member 50 having the above configuration is a flat plate member that is provided on the outermost side and is formed in a substantially long shape along the side wall 31 of the head case 11. It is. A guide piece 72 of the rack plate 60 is movably engaged with the rack frame 51, a guide projection 73 is inserted, and a horizontal guide hole 82 for guiding the movement of the rack member 50 is formed in a substantially straight line along the long side. Is formed. Further, the rack frame 51 has an opening for exposing the rack gear 71 formed at the lower end of the rack plate 60 to the outside at approximately the center of the lower end so that the rack gear 71 can mesh with the second gear 95 of the drive unit 52. 83 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 52 that moves the rack member 50 in the moving direction of the head cap 10 is provided at the lower end of the rack member 50, and is attached to the drive motor 91 and the rotation shaft of the drive motor 91. A worm 92, a wheel gear 93 meshed with the worm 92, a first gear 94 meshed with a gear provided on the wheel gear 93, and meshed with the first gear 94, And a second gear 95 that transmits a driving force to the rack gear 71.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the drive mechanism 12 configured as described above includes a rack member 50 in which an adjuster member 61 is attached to a rack plate 60 along the side wall 31 of the head case 11. The rack frame 51 is disposed by inserting a guide piece 72 and a guide projection 73 formed on the rack plate 60 outside the outer side of the rack plate 60 through the horizontal guide hole 82, and the main guide pin 26 of the head cap 10 is the first guide of the head case 11. The hole 33 and the lifting guide hole 80 of the rack member 50 are inserted, supported by the guide portion 66 of the rack plate 60, and the sub guide pin 27 is inserted through the second guide hole 34.

  In the drive mechanism 12, when the drive motor 91 is driven forward or reversely, a drive force is transmitted to the wheel gear 93 via the worm 92 of the drive motor 91, and is transmitted from the wheel gear 93 to the first gear 94. The driving force is transmitted from the first gear 94 to the second gear 95, and the rack member 50 meshed with the second gear 95 is supported by the horizontal guide hole 82 of the rack frame 51, while the head case 11 is moved in the direction of movement of the head cap 10 (in the direction of arrows B and C in FIG. 7). The drive mechanism 12 moves the rack member 50 in the moving direction of the head cap 10, thereby moving the main guide pin 26 inserted through the lifting guide hole 80 of the rack member 50 between the open position X and the closed position Z. The head cap 10 can be moved between the open position X and the closed position Z by moving the main guide pin 26.

  Specifically, a case where the ejection surface 6 is closed with the head cap 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, in a state where the head cap 10 is located at the open position X and the discharge surface 6 is opened, the rack member 50 is located on the open position X side, and enters the lifting guide hole 80 of the adjuster member 61. The main guide pin 26 of the inserted head cap 10 is positioned at the end portion 36 a of the lifting guide portion 36 of the first guide hole 33, and the sub guide pin 27 is the end portion of the lifting guide portion 39 of the second guide hole 34. 39a.

  Then, when the drive motor 91 of the drive mechanism 12 is driven to rotate forward and the second gear 95 is rotated from the drive motor 91 via the wheel gear 93 and the first gear 94 in the direction of arrow D in FIG. The member 50 moves while being guided by the horizontal guide hole 82 of the rack frame 51 toward the discharge surface 6 side, that is, in the direction of the arrow C. At this time, the rack member 50 is moved integrally with the rack plate 60 and the adjuster member 61 to the discharge surface 6 side, so that the main guide pin 26 inserted through the elevating guide hole 80 of the adjuster member 61 is the first. The first guide hole 33 descends while moving in the arrow C direction along the elevation guide part 36 of the first guide hole 33 and the elevation guide hole 80 of the adjuster member 61. Further, the sub guide pin 27 also descends along the elevating guide portion 39 of the second guide hole 34 while facing the arrow C direction. Thereby, the head cap 10 attached to the cap holder 23 is transmitted to the head case 11 through the main guide pin 26 by the movement of the adjuster member 61, and descends from the open position X toward the ejection surface 6 side. .

  Further, when the main guide pin 26 descends the lifting guide portion 36 and is positioned at the end portion 35a of the parallel guide portion 35, the main guide pin 26 is positioned at the bottom of the lifting guide hole 80 of the adjuster member 61, and the rack It is supported by a support portion 68 of the plate 60.

  When the head cap 10 descends from the open position X toward the ejection surface 6, the end portion 38 a of the parallel guide portion 38 of the second guide hole 34 is inclined downward, so that the sub guide pin 27 Is lowered at the end 38 a of the parallel guide portion 38. As a result, the head cap 10 descends from above the front surface of the apparatus main body 4, and the main guide pin 26 is guided by the elevating guide hole 36, and even if the main guide pin 26 side is raised, the sub guide pin 27 side is lowered. Therefore, it is possible to move from the open position X toward the discharge surface 6 without contacting the corner of the discharge surface 6 on the front side of the apparatus main body 4.

  Further, the second gear 95 is further rotated in the direction of arrow D, and the rack member 50 is further moved in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIG. 9, and the main guide pin 26 is parallel to the first guide hole 33. When the sub guide pin 27 moves along the guide portion 35 to the end portion 35 b and also moves along the parallel guide portion 38 of the second guide hole 34 to the end portion 38 b, the head cap 10 is substantially disposed with respect to the ejection surface 6. It moves in parallel and moves to a facing position Y that faces the ejection surface 6 as shown in FIG. When the head cap 10 moves substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6, the ejection surface 6 and the head cap 10 are not in contact with each other and are separated and the head cap 10 moves.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the main guide pin 26 is located at the end 35 b of the parallel guide portion 35 and the sub guide pin 27 is located at the end 38 b of the parallel guide portion 38, The first push-up cam portion 69 is located in the vicinity, and the second push-up cam portion 70 is located in the vicinity of the sub guide pin 27.

  Further, when the second gear 95 is rotated in the direction of arrow D and the rack plate 60 is moved in the direction of arrow C, the main guide pin 26 is located at the end 35b of the parallel guide portion 35. Similarly, the secondary guide pin 27 cannot be moved in the direction of the arrow C because the secondary guide pin 27 is located at the end 38b of the parallel guide portion 38. 27 does not move but stops at the end portions 35b and 38b. In the adjuster member 61, the elevating guide hole 80 through which the main guide pin 26 is inserted is formed linearly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the head cap 10, so that the main guide pin 26 is parallel to the parallel guide portion. In the state stopped at the end portion 35b of 35, it cannot move in the direction of the arrow C and stops at the facing position Y. On the other hand, the rack plate 60 further moves in the arrow C direction while contracting the spring with respect to the adjuster member 61 stopped at the facing position Y.

  Further, when the second gear 95 is rotated in the direction of arrow D and the rack plate 60 is further moved in the direction of arrow C, the main guide pin 26 is moved to the first push-up cam portion 69 as shown in FIG. The sub guide pin 27 also contacts the second push-up cam portion 70.

  Further, when the second gear 95 is further rotated in the direction of arrow D and the rack plate 60 is further moved in the direction of arrow C, the main guide pin 26 tilts the first push-up cam portion 69 as shown in FIG. The first push-up cam portion 69 is pushed up so as to move up the portion 69a, moves along the vertical guide portion 37 of the adjuster member 61 and the vertical guide portion 37 of the first guide hole 33, and the first guide hole It moves from the end portion 35b of the 33 parallel guide portions 35 to the closing position Z. The sub guide pin 27 is also pushed up by the second push-up cam portion 70 so as to move up the inclined portion 70 a of the second push-up cam portion 70, and moves along the vertical guide portion 40 of the second guide hole 34. The second guide hole 34 moves from the end 38b of the parallel guide portion 38 to the closing position Z. As a result, the head cap 10 rises in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the ejection surface 6 from the facing position Y that is separated from the ejection surface 6, and the cap seal portion 21 is pressed substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6. Is sealed with a cap seal portion 21 and closed.

  Thereby, in the head cap 10, since the cap seal part 21 is pressed substantially perpendicularly to the discharge surface 6, it is possible to prevent the cap seal part 21 from being twisted or kinked. In addition, since the cap seal portion 21 is pressed against the discharge surface 6, the adhesion between the discharge surface 6 and the cap seal portion 21 is increased, and the sealing performance of the discharge surface 6 is improved.

  On the other hand, when the head cap 10 is moved to the open position X and the discharge surface 6 is opened, the drive motor 91 of the drive mechanism 12 is driven in the opposite direction to the case where the discharge surface 6 is closed, that is, reversely driven. The second gear 95 is rotated in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 12, and the rack member 50 moves in the direction of arrow B while sliding with respect to the adjuster member 61 stopped at the facing position Y. When the rack member 50 moves in the arrow B direction, the contracted spring returns to the original state, and as shown in FIG. 10, the original state in which the adjuster member 61 is attached to the attachment groove 63 of the rack plate 60 is restored. At this time, the main guide pin 26 pushed up by the first push-up cam portion 69 is lowered along the inclined portion 69a when the rack plate 60 returns to the facing position Y, and the support portion of the rack plate 60 is supported. 68 and the adjuster member 61 are supported by the lower end of the lifting guide hole 80 and moved to the facing position Y located at the end portion 35 a of the parallel guide portion 35 of the first guide hole 33. The sub guide pin 27 also descends along the inclined portion 70 a of the second push-up cam portion 70 and is supported by the end portion 38 b of the parallel guide portion 38 of the second guide hole 34. When the main guide pin 26 and the sub guide pin 27 are moved to the facing position Y, the head cap 10 is lowered in the substantially vertical direction from the ejection surface 6, separated from the ejection surface 6, and moved to the facing position Y.

  Further, by rotating the second gear in the arrow E direction and moving the rack plate 60 in the arrow B direction, the contact portion 67 of the rack plate 60 presses the main guide pin 26 in the arrow B direction. As shown in FIG. 9, the main guide pin 26 is guided by the parallel guide portion 35 of the first guide hole 33 and the sub guide pin 27 is guided by the parallel guide portion 38 of the second guide hole 34. In addition, the main guide pin 26 and the sub guide pin 27 move substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6. As a result, the head cap 10 moves substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6 from the facing position Y toward the open position X without contacting the ejection surface 6.

  Then, the main guide pin 26 moves to the end portion 35a of the parallel guide portion 35, the sub guide pin 27 moves to the end portion 38a of the parallel guide portion 38, and further rotates the second gear in the direction of arrow E. By moving the rack plate 60 in the direction of arrow B, the main guide pin 26 is pushed by the contact portion 67 of the rack plate 60 and is guided by the elevating guide portion 36 of the first guide hole 33, while the main body of the apparatus is 4 moves toward the upper side of the front surface side, and moves to the end 36 a of the lifting guide portion 36. Further, the sub guide pin 27 moves toward the upper front side of the apparatus body 4 while being guided by the elevating guide part 39 of the second guide hole 34, and moves to the end 39 a of the elevating guide part 39. At this time, since the end portion 38 a of the parallel guide portion 38 of the second guide hole 34 is inclined downward, the sub guide pin 27 is lowered at the end portion 38 a of the parallel guide portion 38. Become. As a result, the head cap 10 moves to the front side of the apparatus main body 4 substantially parallel to the ejection surface 6, and the main guide pin 26 is guided by the elevating guide portion 36 and the main guide pin 26 side becomes higher. Since the sub guide pin 27 side is lowered, the position of the discharge surface 6 facing the discharge surface 6 is not brought into contact with the corner of the front surface of the apparatus main body 4, as shown in FIG. And can move. When the main guide pin 26 moves to the end portion 36a of the elevating guide portion 36, the head cap 10 is placed on the front side of the apparatus main body 4 and on the main guide pin 26 side so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the recording paper 5. In this manner, the discharge surface 6 is opened.

  As described above, the drive mechanism 12 can move the head cap 10 between the open position X and the closed position Z. In the drive mechanism 12, as described above, the rack plate 60 can be moved horizontally within a predetermined range with respect to the adjuster member 61 by the spring 62, so the rack plate 60 is driven to discharge the head cap 10. After moving to the facing position Y facing the surface 6, the main guide pin 26 and the sub guide pin 27 are moved to the end portions 35 b of the parallel guide portions 35, 36 of the first guide hole 33 and the second guide hole 34, respectively. 36b, the rack plate 60 can be further driven in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 12 even if the adjuster member 61 cannot move. As a result, in the drive mechanism 12, the first push-up cam portion 69 provided on the moved rack plate 60 pushes up the main guide pin 26 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface 6, and the second push-up cam. The auxiliary guide pin 27 is pushed up in a direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface 6 by the portion 70. In the drive mechanism 12, when the rack plate 60 is driven in the B direction in FIG. 12 and returns to the facing position Y, the main guide pin 26 descends the first push-up cam portion 69 by its own weight, and the sub guide pin 27. Lowers the second push-up cam portion 70 by its own weight. Therefore, in the drive mechanism 12, the main guide pin 26 and the sub guide pin 27 are used by the first push-up cam portion 69 and the second push-up cam portion 70 by making the rack plate 60 slidable with respect to the adjuster member 61. It is possible to easily switch from movement in the parallel direction to the ejection surface 6 to movement in the substantially vertical direction.

In other words, in this drive mechanism 12, the overstroke of the rack plate 60 necessary for causing the first push-up cam portion 69 and the second push-up cam portion 70 to act on the first guide pin 26 and the second guide pin 27. The adjustment member 61 absorbs the minute amount, and the movement in the parallel direction and the movement in the substantially vertical direction of the head cap 10 with respect to the ejection surface 6 can be instantaneously switched by only a series of horizontal movements of the rack member 50. . Therefore, the drive mechanism 12 for driving the head cap 10 does not require a separate drive mechanism for moving the head cap 10 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6, and can be downsized and manufactured at low cost. Can do.
In addition to the head cap 10 and the drive mechanism 12 for the head cap 10 described above, the apparatus main body 4 is provided with a paper transport mechanism 13 including a plurality of drive rollers and a transport belt, as shown in FIG. The paper transport mechanism 13 transports the recording paper 5 between the head cartridge 3 and a platen (not shown) so that the ink ejected from the head cartridge 3 can adhere to the recording paper 5.

  In the printer apparatus 1 configured as described above, the head cap 10 is retracted to the open position X, the ejection surface 6 of the head cartridge 3 is opened, ink can be ejected, and the transport belt that transports the recording paper 5. Is moved to a position opposite to the ejection surface 6, the recording paper 5 is conveyed between the head cartridge 3 and the platen, and the yellow nozzle row 7 Y, the magenta nozzle row 7 M, and cyan are transferred onto the conveyed recording paper 5. Each color ink is ejected in the order of the nozzle row 7C and the black nozzle row 7K to print images and characters.

  In the printer apparatus 1, when printing is completed, the conveyance belt that conveys the recording paper 5 that has been disposed at a position facing the ejection surface 6 is lowered so that the head cap 10 can be conveyed below the ejection surface 6. To do.

  Then, in the printer apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the drive motor 91 of the drive mechanism 12 that drives the head cap 10 is driven to lower the head cap 10 toward the ejection surface 6, and further, the ejection surface 6. And move substantially parallel to the opposite position Y as shown in FIG.

  Then, in the printer apparatus, as shown in FIG. 12, the head cap 10 is raised in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the ejection surface 6, and the cap seal portion 21 is brought into contact with the ejection surface 6 in a substantially vertical direction. 6 is closed with a cap seal portion 21 to protect the discharge surface 6.

  When printing again, the printer apparatus 1 lowers the head cap 10 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6, moves the head cap 10 away from the ejection surface 6, moves to the facing position Y, It moves substantially parallel to the discharge surface 6 toward the front surface side of the apparatus main body 4 and moves to an open position X above the front surface of the apparatus main body 4 to open the discharge surface 6 as shown in FIG. The ink can be ejected.

  As described above, in the printer device 1, the head cap 10 is lifted and lowered in the direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6, and the cap seal portion 21 is in contact with the ejection surface 6 substantially perpendicularly. The discharge surface 6 can be reliably closed, the nozzle 7 can be dried, dust can be prevented from adhering to the discharge surface 6, and the nozzle 7 and the discharge surface 6 can be protected.

  In the printer apparatus 1, while the head cap 10 is moving, the head cap 10 is not in contact with the ejection surface 6 and does not rub, so that the ejection surface 6 and the head cap 10 are not burdened. Even if the opening and closing of the head cap 10 is repeated, it is possible to prevent the wear of the cap seal portion 21 and the deterioration of the durability of the discharge surface 6 from occurring for many years.

  In addition, even if the printer apparatus 1 has an ink circulation function, the printer apparatus 1 can perform a reliable operation without ink leakage by a stable high sealing performance.

  Further, in this printer apparatus 1, the distance that the head cap 10 is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection surface 6 is until the cap seal portion 21 comes into contact with the ejection surface 6 and closes. Yes. Therefore, in the printer apparatus 1, the head cap 10 is moved with a minimum amount of elevation in a substantially vertical direction of the ejection surface 6 in a region below the spatially restricted ejection surface 6 to open and close the ejection surface 6. In addition, it is possible to efficiently occupy the limited area by moving in parallel while maintaining the distance from the discharge surface 6 to a minimum. Thereby, in this printer apparatus, the overall height of the drive mechanism 12 required to open and close the head cap 10 can be kept low, and it is easy to reduce the size.

1 is a perspective view of the inside of a liquid ejection apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a head cartridge and a head case. It is the schematic which shows a mode that it moves to the obstruction | occlusion position through the opposing position from the open position of a head cap. It is a disassembled perspective view of a head cap. It is a disassembled perspective view of the drive mechanism of a head cap. It is a perspective view of a rack member, and Drawing (A) is a perspective view showing the state where an adjuster member is attached to an attachment slot, and Drawing (B) is a rack board sliding with respect to an adjuster member. It is a perspective view which shows a state. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the drive mechanism is attached to the rack case. It is the schematic which shows the state which has a head cap in an open position. It is the schematic which shows the state which the head cap is moving toward the discharge surface side from an open position. It is the schematic which shows the state which has a head cap in an opposing position. It is the schematic which shows the state which has pushed up the main guide pin and sub guide pin of a head cap with the 1st, 2nd push-up cam part. It is the schematic which shows the state which has a head cap in a closed position. It is the schematic which shows the obstruction | occlusion state of the conventional head cap, (A) is the schematic which shows the state which moved the head cap to the position facing a discharge surface, (B) is a cap part on a discharge surface. It is the schematic which shows the state which made it contact and obstruct | occluded the discharge surface.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus, 2 Ink cartridge, 3 Head cartridge, 4 Apparatus main body, 5 Recording paper, 6 Ejection surface, 7 Nozzle, 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K Nozzle row, 10 Head cap. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Head case, 12 Drive mechanism, 13 Paper conveyance mechanism, 20 Frame, 21 Cap seal part, 22 Cleaning roller, 23 Cap holder, 26 Main guide pin, 27 Sub guide pin, 28 Head mounting part, 29 Cap mounting part, 31 , 32 Side wall, 33 First guide hole, 34 Second guide hole, 35 Parallel guide part, 36 Lifting guide part, 37 Vertical guide part, 38 Parallel guide part, 39 Lifting guide part, 40 Vertical guide part, 50 rack Member, 51 rack frame, 52 drive source, 60 rack plate, 61 adjuster member, 62 spring, 63 mounting groove portion, 66 support portion, 67 pressing portion, 68 flat portion, 69 first push-up cam portion, 70 second push-up Cam part

Claims (2)

A liquid discharge head for forming a discharge port for discharging the liquid and performing recording by landing the liquid on an object;
A head cap that is provided on the discharge surface side where the discharge port of the liquid discharge head is formed, has a cap seal portion that contacts the discharge surface, and a guide pin that guides movement, and closes the discharge surface;
A guide hole is formed to guide the movement of the head cap from an opposing position facing the discharge surface to an open position where the discharge surface is opened by moving substantially parallel to the discharge surface, and the head is formed in the guide hole. A head case through which a guide pin of the cap is inserted and supporting the head cap;
A drive mechanism for moving the head cap along the guide hole,
In the guide hole, a vertical guide portion that guides the movement of the head cap in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the ejection surface is formed at an end on the opposite position side,
The drive mechanism has a guide pin inserted through the guide hole, and an elevating guide hole supported so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction on the discharge surface, and a guide pin inserted through the elevating guide hole. A rack member having a push-up cam portion pushed up along the portion,
When the discharge surface is closed by the head cap, the head cap is moved from the open position to the facing position substantially parallel to the discharge surface, and the head cap at the facing position is further moved to the cap seal portion. When the guide pin at the end of the guide hole where the vertical guide portion is formed is moved along the vertical guide portion, the push-up cam is moved. A printer apparatus, wherein the head cap is pushed up from the facing position to the closed position by being pushed up by a portion. The rack member can be moved in the moving direction of the head cap by a drive source, the rack plate on which the push-up cam portion is formed, the lift guide hole is formed, and the same direction as the moving direction of the rack plate An adjuster member movably attached to the rack plate, and an elastic body connecting the rack plate and the adjuster member,
When the rack plate moves to the closing position where the head cap closes the discharge surface, the rack plate further closes the discharge surface against the adjuster member while contracting the elastic body. 2. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide pin is pushed up along the vertical guide hole by the push-up cam portion when moving to the position.

Images