JP2008307708A - Fluid jetting apparatus and method for maintaining fluid jetting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid jetting apparatus capable of preventing fluid from drying without a cap member. <P>SOLUTION: In the fluid jetting apparatus jetting the fluid toward a material to be jetted with the fluid from a fluid jetting head with a nozzle hole 75, the fluid jetting apparatus is equipped with an energy irradiating part (a permanent magnet 45 and an electromagnet 46) which irradiates an energy (magnetic forces F1 and F2) toward a nozzle face formed with the nozzle hole 75 to form a drying preventing layer 76A on the surface layer of the fluid exposed from the nozzle hole 75. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid ejecting apparatus and a maintenance method for the fluid ejecting apparatus.

  The fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head capable of ejecting a fluid, and ejects various fluids from the fluid ejecting head toward a recording material or the like. As a typical fluid ejecting apparatus, for example, an ink jet recording head (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording head) is provided, and liquid ink is dropped from a nozzle hole of the recording head onto a recording material such as recording paper. 2. Description of the Related Art There are image recording apparatuses such as ink jet printers that perform recording by forming dots by being ejected and landed. In recent years, the fluid ejecting apparatus is applied not only to the image recording apparatus but also to various manufacturing apparatuses such as a manufacturing apparatus for a color filter such as a liquid crystal display.

  In the fluid ejecting apparatus, the fluid stored in the fluid reservoir is introduced into the pressure chamber of the fluid ejecting head, and a drive signal is applied to a pressure generating source such as a piezoelectric vibrator to drive it, thereby driving the fluid ejecting head. Pressure fluctuation is generated in the fluid, and fluid (droplet) is ejected (discharged) from the nozzle hole by controlling the pressure fluctuation.

In the fluid ejecting apparatus, a cleaning process is performed so that a desired amount of fluid is always ejected and dot missing does not occur. Examples of the cleaning process include flushing that continuously ejects fluid from each nozzle periodically, capping that forcibly sucks fluid from each nozzle, and wiping that wipes off the fluid adhering to the nozzle opening surface of the fluid ejecting head. Further, prior to the cleaning process, during the non-ink ejection process, the nozzle forming surface is covered with a capping member to prevent drying. This is because the solvent evaporates from the nozzle opening surface when the power is turned off or the non-ejection time elapses, and the viscosity of the fluid may increase (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-7-96604

  By the way, a serial method and a line method are known as an injection method of the fluid injection device. The serial method performs printing by combining the reciprocating movement of the fluid ejecting head that scans in the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction and the paper feed, and the line method is the maximum paper width that can be printed. In this method, printing is performed while using a fluid ejecting head provided in a long shape so as to correspond to the above and feeding paper to the fluid ejecting head in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the fluid ejecting head.

  The line-type fluid ejecting apparatus has a higher printing speed than the serial-type fluid ejecting apparatus because the reciprocating movement of the fluid ejecting head can be omitted. However, in the line-type fluid ejecting apparatus, both the fluid ejecting head and the capping member are enlarged and thinned, so that the capping member is particularly easily warped or deformed. For this reason, it becomes difficult to closely contact the capping member to the fluid ejecting head, and there is a problem that fluid cannot be sucked from each nozzle and evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle opening surface cannot be prevented.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a fluid ejecting apparatus and a fluid ejecting apparatus maintenance method capable of preventing the drying of fluid without a cap member.

  In order to solve the above problems, a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention is a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid from a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of nozzle holes toward a fluid ejecting material, wherein the plurality of nozzle holes are formed. And an energy irradiating section for irradiating energy toward the nozzle surface to form a dry prevention layer on a surface layer of the fluid exposed from the plurality of nozzle holes. According to this configuration, since the drying of the fluid is prevented by the anti-drying layer when the fluid ejecting apparatus is not used, the viscosity of the fluid does not increase carelessly even when the fluid ejecting apparatus is not used for a long period of time. Therefore, it is possible to provide a fluid ejecting apparatus that prevents the occurrence of ejection failure due to the thickened fluid and is excellent in print quality.

  In the present invention, the energy irradiation unit is preferably a heating unit that irradiates thermal energy. According to this configuration, the solvent on the surface layer of the fluid is removed by the heating unit to increase the concentration of the solute, whereby a solute film (anti-drying layer) can be easily formed.

  In this invention, the said energy irradiation part shall be a magnet unit which irradiates magnetic energy. According to this configuration, a solute film (drying prevention layer) can be formed on the surface layer of the fluid by drawing the solute in the fluid to the surface layer of the fluid by the magnet unit.

  In the present invention, the magnet unit is preferably composed of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet that generates a magnetic force opposite to the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. According to this configuration, when the fluid ejecting head is not used for a long period of time, the solute film (drying prevention layer) can be formed on the surface of the fluid by attracting the solute of the fluid by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, while the fluid ejecting head is used. In this case, it is possible to prevent the drying prevention layer from being formed on the surface layer of the fluid by canceling the magnetic force of the permanent magnet with the magnetic force of the electromagnet. Further, when the anti-drying layer is formed on the surface layer of the fluid, the flow of the fluid can be promoted and the anti-drying layer can be destroyed by changing the magnetic force of the electromagnet in a pulsed manner.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the energy irradiation unit is disposed in a fluid ejecting region for the fluid ejecting material. For example, it is desirable that the energy irradiation unit is disposed so as to face the fluid ejecting head across a platen. According to this configuration, an area for installing the energy irradiation unit is not necessary, and thus the fluid ejecting apparatus can be reduced in size.

  A maintenance method for a fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is a maintenance method for a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid from a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of nozzle holes toward a fluid ejecting material. And a first step of irradiating a first energy toward the nozzle surface on which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed to form a drying prevention layer on a surface layer of the fluid exposed from the plurality of nozzle holes. To do. According to this method, when the fluid ejecting apparatus is not used, the drying of the fluid is prevented by the anti-drying layer. Therefore, even when the fluid ejecting apparatus is not used for a long period of time, the viscosity of the fluid does not increase carelessly. Therefore, it is possible to provide a fluid ejecting apparatus that prevents the occurrence of ejection failure due to the thickened fluid and is excellent in print quality.

  In the present invention, it is desirable to have a second step of eliminating the drying prevention layer formed in the fluid exposed from the plurality of nozzle holes prior to restarting the fluid ejection process for the fluid ejection material. According to this method, it is possible to prevent injection failure from occurring due to the drying prevention layer itself.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the second step includes a step of continuously injecting a fluid including the anti-drying layer from the plurality of nozzle holes. According to this method, the anti-drying layer can be removed quickly and reliably by continuous injection of fluid.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the second step includes a step of irradiating the anti-drying layer with a second energy opposite to the first energy. According to this method, when the fluid ejecting head is not used for a long period of time, the anti-drying layer can be formed on the surface of the fluid by attracting the solute of the fluid to the nozzle surface side with the first energy, while when using the fluid ejecting head. By preventing the first energy from being canceled by the second energy, it is possible to prevent the anti-drying layer from being formed on the surface layer of the fluid.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Such an embodiment shows one aspect of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. In the following embodiments, various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Moreover, in the following drawings, in order to make each structure easy to understand, an actual structure and a scale, a number, and the like in each structure are different.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer 1 which is a first embodiment of a fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention. The ink jet printer 1 includes a head unit 2 having a plurality of fluid ejecting heads, a first paper feeding roller 5a and a second paper feeding roller 5b that supply recording paper P, which is a fluid ejecting material, to the head unit 2, and recording. The platen 3 that supports the lower surface of the paper P, the magnet unit 4 provided at a position facing the head unit 2 and the platen 3, the head unit 2, the magnet unit 4, the first paper supply roller 5 a, and the second paper supply And a control device 6 that controls the operation of the paper roller 5b and the like.

  The head unit 2 includes a plurality of fluid ejecting heads 21, 22, 23, and 24 that eject a plurality of types of fluid. The fluid ejecting heads 21, 22, 23, and 24 are linear fluid ejecting heads in which a large number of nozzle holes that eject fluid are arranged in a direction (paper width direction) orthogonal to the paper feeding direction of the recording paper P. In this embodiment, the head unit 2 includes a first fluid ejecting head 21 that ejects magenta ink (first fluid), a second fluid ejecting head 22 that ejects yellow ink (second fluid), and cyan. A third fluid ejecting head 23 that ejects a second ink (third fluid), and a fourth fluid ejecting head 24 that ejects a black ink (fourth fluid). In the head unit 2, four fluid ejecting heads 21, 22, 23, and 24 are fixed in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the recording paper P, and the fluid ejecting heads 21, 22, 23, and 24 respectively Thus, magenta, yellow, cyan, and black inks are respectively ejected.

  The magnet unit 4 includes a plurality of magnetic field generators 41, 42, 43, 44 that generate a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the head unit 2. The magnetic field generators 41, 42, 43, and 44 are long magnetic field generators in which the magnetic field generation region extends along the long axis direction of the head unit 2. In the case of the present embodiment, the magnet unit 4 includes a first magnetic field generating device 41 facing the first fluid ejecting head 21, a second magnetic field generating device 42 facing the second fluid ejecting head 22, and a third fluid ejecting head. 23, a third magnetic field generation device 43 that faces 23, and a fourth magnetic field generation device 44 that faces the fourth fluid ejection head 24. The magnet unit 4 has four magnetic field generators 41, 42, 43, 44 fixed in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the recording paper P, and the magnetic field generators 41, 42, 43, 44 are connected to the fluid ejecting device 21, A magnetic field is applied to the ink in the vicinity of the nozzle holes 22, 23, and 24.

  A platen 3 is provided between the head unit 2 and the magnet unit 4. The platen 3 is a support member that supports the lower surface of the recording paper P supplied from the paper supply mechanism including the first paper supply roller 5a and the second paper supply roller 5b. The first paper feed roller 5a and the second paper feed roller 5b convey the recording paper P in the paper feeding direction in conjunction with the ejection operation of the head unit 2, and the recording paper P ejected with ink by the head unit 2 is not shown. It is discharged from the fluid ejecting apparatus 1 by a discharging mechanism including a discharging roller.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the first fluid ejecting head 21 as viewed from the platen 3 side. Since the first fluid ejecting head 21, the second fluid ejecting head 22, the third fluid ejecting head 23, and the fourth fluid ejecting head 24 have a common configuration, the first fluid ejecting head 21 of FIG. Only the configuration is shown.

  The first fluid ejecting head 21 includes a flow path substrate 26 in which an ink flow path is formed, and a plurality of ejecting units 25 provided on the flow path substrate 26. The injection unit 25 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view. A large number of nozzle holes 75 connected to the ink flow path of the flow path forming substrate 26 are provided on the surface of the ejection unit 25. The plurality of ejection units 25 are arranged such that the upper side and the bottom side of the trapezoid are alternately arranged in the major axis direction of the first fluid ejection head 21. Adjacent injection units 25 are arranged close to each other, and the adjacent oblique sides partially overlap in the arrangement direction of the injection units 25. The plurality of injection units 25 are arranged in a staggered manner in the arrangement direction of the injection units while slightly shifting their positions in the hypotenuse direction of the trapezoid.

  FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first fluid ejection device 21. The ejection unit 25 includes a nozzle plate 71 in which a nozzle hole 75 is formed, and a vibration plate 72 in which a piezoelectric element 76 is formed. The nozzle plate 71 and the vibration plate 72 are joined via a partition member 73, and a space 74 defined by the nozzle plate 71, the vibration plate 72, and the partition member 73 is an ink chamber. Ink is supplied to the ink chamber 74 through an ink flow path formed on the flow path forming substrate 26 in FIG. 2. The ink supplied to the ink chamber 74 is a piezoelectric element 76 and a vibration plate 72. It is pressurized by elastically deforming and is ejected from the nozzle hole 75 of the nozzle plate 71.

  The piezoelectric element 76 includes a pair of electrodes 77 and 79 and a piezoelectric material 78 sandwiched between the pair of electrodes 77 and 79. The piezoelectric material 78 contracts when the electrodes 77 and 79 are energized, and the diaphragm 72 is bent by the contraction force. When the vibration plate 72 is curved, the volume of the ink chamber 74 is increased, and ink corresponding to the increased volume flows into the ink chamber 74 from the ink flow path. Further, when the energization to the piezoelectric element 76 is released, the shape of the vibration plate 72 is restored and the volume of the ink chamber 74 is also restored. As a result, the pressure of the ink inside the ink chamber 74 rises, and the nozzle hole 75 Ink droplets L are ejected outward.

  In the present embodiment, a piezo method using the piezoelectric element 76 is used as the ejection method of the fluid ejecting head 21. However, the ejection method is not limited to the piezo method, and the charging control method, the pressure vibration method, and the electrothermal conversion. Various methods such as a method and an electrostatic suction method can be applied.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the first magnetic field generator 41. Since the first magnetic field generator 41, the second magnetic field generator 42, the third magnetic field generator 43, and the fourth magnetic field generator 44 have a common configuration, the first magnetic field generator 41 of FIG. Only the configuration is shown.

  The first magnetic field generator 41 includes a permanent magnet 45 and an electromagnet 46 provided around the permanent magnet 45. The permanent magnet 45 is a long-axis magnet having substantially the same size as the first fluid ejecting head 21 shown in FIG. The permanent magnet 45 generates a magnetic force F1 perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the corresponding first fluid ejecting head. The nozzle hole 75 of the first fluid ejecting head 21 shown in FIG. 2 is opposed to the upper surface of the permanent magnet 45, and the solute of the ink exposed to the nozzle hole 75 is generated by the first magnetic field generator by the magnetic force F 1 of the permanent magnet 45. It is designed to be drawn to the 41 side.

  A coil 47 constituting an electromagnet 46 is wound around the permanent magnet 45. A control device 6 is connected to the coil 47, and the energization amount to the coil 4 is controlled by the control device 6. A magnetic force F2 parallel to the central axis of the coil 47 is generated in the electromagnet 46, and the magnitude of the magnetic force F2 is controlled by the magnitude of the current flowing through the coil 47. The magnetic field generation direction of the permanent magnet 45 and the magnetic field generation direction of the electromagnet 46 are parallel to each other, and the directions are opposite. Therefore, by controlling the magnetic force F2 of the electromagnet 46, the magnitude and direction of the magnetic force (the magnetic force synthesized by the magnetic force F1 and the magnetic force F2) acting in the vicinity of the nozzle hole of the first fluid ejecting head can be controlled.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a driving waveform supplied to the electromagnet. This drive waveform is used in an ink stirring process (step S2 in FIG. 6) described later. In FIG. 5, symbol V1 is a drive voltage necessary for generating a magnetic force having the same magnitude as the magnetic force F1 of the permanent magnet. The electromagnet is supplied with a pulsed drive voltage V2 larger than V1. In the present embodiment, the pulse period is 1 Hz to 100 Hz, the pulse voltage application time is 1 second to 100 seconds, and the magnitude of V2 is about twice the magnitude of V1, but it is not limited to this. Absent.

When the drive voltage V2 is supplied to the electromagnet (time t _{1 to} t ₂ ), the magnetic force F1 of the permanent magnet is canceled by the magnetic force F2 of the electromagnet, and the solute of ink located in the vicinity of the nozzle hole of the first fluid ejecting head becomes the first. 1 Move to the opposite side of the magnetic field generator. On the other hand, when the drive voltage is not supplied to the electromagnet (time t _{3 to} t ₄ ), the solute of the ink near the nozzle hole of the first fluid ejecting head is attracted to the first magnetic field generator side by the magnetic force F1 of the permanent magnet. . As a result, the ink in the vicinity of the nozzle hole is agitated by the vibration of the solute, and the solute staying in the surface layer portion of the ink is diffused into the ink.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the fluid ejecting apparatus when the power is turned on. FIG. 6 includes a maintenance operation performed before and after ink is ejected in addition to the ejection operation of the fluid ejecting apparatus.

  When the power is turned on in step S1, whether or not the fluid ejecting head is used is detected by the control device in step S2. In the case of the present embodiment, as the fluid ejecting head, a first fluid ejecting head that ejects magenta ink, a second fluid ejecting head that ejects yellow ink, a third fluid ejecting head that ejects cyan ink, Since the fourth fluid ejecting head that ejects black ink is provided, it is determined which of the four fluid ejecting heads is used depending on the type of ink used. For example, when printing a monochrome image, only the use of the fourth fluid ejecting head is detected, and the other uses of the first fluid ejecting head to the third fluid ejecting head are not detected.

  Next, in step S3, the pulsed driving voltage shown in FIG. 5 is supplied to the magnetic field generator corresponding to the fluid ejecting head whose use is detected. As a result, the ink in the vicinity of the nozzle hole of the fluid ejecting head is agitated, and the solute staying in the ink surface layer is diffused into the ink. When the fluid ejecting head has not been used for a long period of time, the solute of the ink is deposited in the vicinity of the nozzle hole, and the ink ejecting state may be deteriorated, but by performing the ink diffusion treatment as described above, The ink solute can be uniformly dispersed, and the ink ejected state from the nozzle holes can be kept good. When the ink solute is uniformly dispersed as described above, the supply of the drive voltage to the magnetic field generator is stopped.

  In step S4, ink is ejected and characters and images are recorded on the recording paper. Here, precipitation of solute in the vicinity of the nozzle hole or formation of a film by the solute is eliminated, so that good print quality is realized.

  Next, when the end of ejection is detected in step S5, a drying prevention layer is formed on the surface layer of the ink in step S6. As a method for forming the anti-drying layer, for example, a method in which the fluid ejecting head is allowed to stand for a certain period of time without energizing the magnetic field generator is used. When the fluid ejecting head is left for a certain period of time, the solute of the ink exposed to the nozzle hole is attracted to the magnetic field generator side (ink surface layer) by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet of the magnetic field generator to form a film. This film functions as an anti-drying layer in order to prevent the ink solvent from evaporating.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the process of generating and extinguishing the drying prevention layer. As shown in FIG. 7A, when energization of the electromagnet 46 is stopped and only the magnetic force F1 of the permanent magnet 45 is applied to the ink, the ink solute 76a is attracted to the surface layer of the ink to form a film 76A. . Since the film 76A covers the entire nozzle hole 75 and prevents evaporation of the solvent, it functions as a dry prevention layer. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the pulsed driving voltage shown in FIG. 5 is applied to the electromagnet 46, the magnetic force 2 in the direction opposite to that of the permanent magnet 45 is generated in a pulsed manner. The solute vibrates and diffuses inside the ink. When this treatment is performed for a certain period of time, the drying prevention layer 76A disappears completely, and the concentration of the solute inside the ink surface layer and the ink becomes uniform. When the ink is ejected in such a state, a fluid ejection device excellent in printing quality can be provided without causing ejection failure due to precipitation of a solute in the vicinity of the nozzle hole.

  As described above, in the fluid ejecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the fluid ejecting apparatus 1 is not used, the anti-drying layer 76A is formed on the surface layer of the ink. Therefore, even when the fluid ejecting apparatus 1 is not used for a long period of time. The viscosity does not increase carelessly. Further, when the fluid ejecting apparatus 1 is used, since the drying prevention layer 76A formed on the surface layer of the ink is eliminated using the electromagnet 46, the drying prevention layer 76A itself does not cause ejection failure. . Accordingly, the viscosity of the ink can be maintained in a desired state for a long period of time, and a fluid ejecting apparatus having excellent print quality can be provided. Further, since the magnet unit 4 is disposed in the ink ejection area for the recording paper P (that is, the area facing the head unit 2 with the platen 3 interposed therebetween), a plane area for installing the magnet unit 4 is provided. The fluid ejection device 1 can be reduced in size.

  In the present embodiment, as a method of forming the drying prevention layer 76A, a method of leaving the fluid ejecting head for a predetermined time without energizing the magnetic field generator is adopted. However, as a method of forming the anti-drying layer 76A, a method in which the electromagnet 46 generates a magnetic force in the same direction as the magnetic force F1 of the permanent magnet 45 and the electromagnet 46 actively contributes to the formation of the anti-drying layer 76A is applied. You can also. In this case, since the time for forming the drying prevention layer 76A is shortened, the fluid ejecting head can be used efficiently.

  In this embodiment, the magnet unit 4 that irradiates the ink with magnetic energy is used as the means for forming the drying prevention layer 76A. However, as means for forming the drying prevention layer 76A, energy other than magnetic energy (for example, thermal energy) is used. ) Can be widely used for forming an anti-drying layer. In this case, the energy irradiation unit includes a first energy irradiation unit that irradiates the first energy for forming the anti-drying layer, and a second energy irradiation unit that irradiates the second energy opposite to the first energy. It is desirable. As a result, when the fluid ejecting head is not used for a long period of time, the solute of the fluid is attracted to the nozzle surface side by the first energy to form the anti-drying layer on the surface layer of the ink. On the other hand, when the fluid ejecting head is used, the second By offsetting the first energy with the energy, it is possible to prevent the anti-drying layer from being formed on the surface layer of the ink.

  In the present embodiment, the fluid ejecting apparatus using the line system as the ejecting system has been described. However, the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is not limited to such a fluid ejecting apparatus. The present invention can also be applied. Furthermore, the ink jet printer that performs recording by ejecting and landing ink containing a coloring material has been described as the fluid ejecting apparatus. However, the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this, and the color filter of the liquid crystal display The present invention can be widely applied to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a fluid containing a solute other than a coloring material, such as a manufacturing apparatus or a wiring layer forming apparatus of a flexible wiring board.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when the heating unit 8 that irradiates ink with thermal energy is used as means for forming the drying prevention layer 76A. As the heating unit 8, for example, a heater that generates heat by resistance heating of a coil is used. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 7 denotes a platen. The platen 7 is provided with an opening 7 </ b> A at a position facing the nozzle hole 75. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component as 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the heating section 8 is energized to heat the vicinity of the nozzle hole 75, the solvent of the ink evaporates and the concentration of the solute 76a increases, and as a result, the solute 76a appears on the surface layer of the ink. A film 76A is formed. Since the film 76A covers the entire nozzle hole 75 and prevents evaporation of the solvent, it functions as a dry prevention layer. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the fluid ejecting head is used, the ink including the anti-drying layer 76A is continuously ejected from the nozzle hole 75 to extinguish the anti-drying layer 76A. When the ink is ejected in such a state, a fluid ejection device excellent in printing quality can be provided without causing ejection failure due to precipitation of a solute in the vicinity of the nozzle hole.

It is a schematic block diagram of the fluid injection apparatus of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fluid ejecting head provided in the fluid ejecting apparatus. It is a fragmentary sectional view of a fluid jet head. It is a schematic block diagram of the magnet unit provided in the fluid ejecting apparatus. It is an example of the drive waveform supplied to a magnet unit. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement at the time of power activation of a fluid injection apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the process of production | generation and extinction of a dry prevention layer. It is explanatory drawing of the process of production | generation and extinction of the drying prevention layer in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fluid ejecting apparatus, 2 ... Head unit, 3 ... Platen, 4 ... Magnet unit (energy irradiation part) 21, 22, 23, 24 ... Fluid ejecting head, 41, 42, 43, 44 ... Magnetic field generator, 45 ... permanent magnet, 46 ... electromagnet, 75 ... nozzle hole, 76A ... anti-drying layer, L ... ink (fluid), F1 ... magnetic force (first energy), F2 ... magnetic force (second energy), P ... recording paper (covered) Fluid injection material)

Claims (10)

In a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid from a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of nozzle holes toward a fluid ejecting material,
A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising: an energy irradiating unit configured to irradiate energy toward a nozzle surface in which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed to form a dry prevention layer on a surface layer of the fluid exposed from the plurality of nozzle holes. .   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy irradiation unit is a heating unit that irradiates thermal energy.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy irradiation unit is a magnet unit that irradiates magnetic energy.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the magnet unit includes a permanent magnet and an electromagnet that generates a magnetic force opposite to the magnetic force of the permanent magnet.   5. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy irradiation unit is disposed in a fluid ejecting region with respect to the fluid ejecting material.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the energy irradiation unit is disposed so as to face the fluid ejecting head with a platen interposed therebetween. In a maintenance method of a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid from a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of nozzle holes toward a fluid ejecting material,
After the fluid ejection process on the fluid ejection material, the first energy is irradiated toward the nozzle surface on which the plurality of nozzle holes are formed to form a drying prevention layer on the surface layer of the fluid exposed from the plurality of nozzle holes. A maintenance method for a fluid ejecting apparatus, comprising: a first step.   8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: a second step of erasing the drying prevention layer formed on the fluid exposed from the plurality of nozzle holes prior to restarting the fluid ejection process for the fluid ejection material. A maintenance method of the fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim.   9. The maintenance method for a fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second step includes a step of continuously ejecting a fluid including the drying prevention layer from the plurality of nozzle holes.   The fluid ejection device maintenance method according to claim 8, wherein the second step includes a step of irradiating the anti-drying layer with a second energy opposite to the first energy.

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