JP2009012364A - Fluid ejection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make small a fluid ejection apparatus having a platen surface and prevent the nozzle opening more surely from becoming dry. <P>SOLUTION: The fluid ejection apparatus includes a platen unit 40 having a porous body which holds a platen surface 60 capable of supporting at least a part of ejection targets and humectant 71, and a moving part capable of moving the platen unit 40 by means of the porous body 42 between an ejection posture for the platen surface 60 to support the region in which an ejection fluid target is ejected and a moisture holding posture capable of holding the moisture of the nozzle opening forming region of the ejection head. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid ejecting apparatus.

As a fluid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink onto a recording medium from a nozzle opening formed in an ejecting head is known. In such a fluid ejecting apparatus, a so-called capping process has been conventionally performed in order to maintain or recover the ejection characteristics of the nozzle openings.
This capping process is a process of sealing the space where the nozzle opening is exposed by surrounding the nozzle opening forming region with the cap member, and suppressing drying of the nozzle opening.
JP 2002-234195 A

  However, in recent years, the head has become more complex, and the shape of the nozzle opening forming surface may be uneven, not flat. In such a case, a gap is easily formed between the cap member and the head forming surface, so that it is difficult to seal the space to which the nozzle opening is exposed, and the capping process becomes difficult.

  On the other hand, in the fluid ejecting apparatus, in order to improve the fluid ejection state with respect to the ejection target object, the fluid ejection area of the ejection target object may be supported by the platen surface. In such a case, the conventional fluid ejecting apparatus has a problem that the platen having the platen surface and the apparatus for performing the capping process are separately provided, resulting in an increase in the size of the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the device and more reliably suppress drying of the nozzle opening in a fluid ejection device having a platen surface.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an ejection head capable of ejecting a fluid to an ejection object through a nozzle opening, a platen surface capable of supporting at least a part of the ejection object, and a humectant. A platen unit having a porous body to be held, a spraying posture in which the platen surface supports a region where the fluid of the spray target is sprayed, and a moisture retention capable of moisturizing the nozzle opening formation region of the spray head by the porous body It has a moving part which can move the platen unit between postures.

According to the present invention having such a feature, the platen unit has a platen surface capable of supporting at least a part of the injection target and a porous body holding a moisturizing agent. The platen surface is moved between an ejection posture that supports a region where the fluid of the ejection target is ejected and a moisturizing posture that can moisturize the nozzle opening formation region of the ejection head by the porous body.
According to the present invention, the nozzle opening can be moisturized by the porous body containing the moisturizing agent. Accordingly, the nozzle opening can be moisturized and the ejection characteristics of the nozzle opening can be maintained without the cap member of the conventional fluid ejecting apparatus. According to the porous body, since a large amount of the moisturizing agent is included, the nozzle opening can be moisturized without bringing the entire porous body into close contact with the nozzle opening forming region. Therefore, drying of the nozzle opening can be suppressed more reliably.
Furthermore, according to this invention, the said porous body is provided in the platen unit with the platen surface. That is, the platen surface and the porous body are both installed on a single member.
For this reason, compared with the fluid ejection apparatus provided with both the conventional platen surface and the apparatus which performs a capping process, an apparatus can be reduced in size.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to downsize the apparatus and more reliably suppress drying of the nozzle opening.

Moreover, in this invention, the structure provided with the supply part which can supply the said moisturizer to the said porous body is employ | adopted.
By adopting such a configuration, the moisturizing agent is supplied to the porous body by the supply unit. For this reason, even when the humectant retained in the porous body is reduced by evaporation or the like, a new humectant can be supplied to the porous body.

Moreover, in this invention, the said supply part employ | adopts the structure of supplying the said moisturizer to the said porous body when the said platen unit is the said injection attitude | position.
By adopting such a configuration, the moisturizing agent is supplied to the porous body when the platen unit is in the injection posture. When the platen unit is in the ejection posture, the ejection object is supported by the platen surface, and fluid is ejected onto the ejection object.
That is, the humectant is supplied to the porous body while the fluid is being jetted onto the jetting object. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a moisturizing agent supply time.

Moreover, in this invention, the structure that the said supply part is a storage part which stores the moisturizer which at least one part of the said porous body can immerse is employ | adopted.
By employ | adopting such a structure, at least one part of a porous body is immersed in the moisturizing agent stored by the storage part. For this reason, a new washing | cleaning liquid can be easily supplied to a porous body.

Further, in the present invention, when at least a part of the porous body is immersed in the humectant stored in the storage section, a configuration is provided that includes a seal mechanism that isolates at least the porous body from the outside. To do.
By adopting such a configuration, by adopting such a configuration, when the porous body is immersed in a moisturizing agent stored in the storage portion, the porous body is isolated from the outside. For this reason, evaporation of the moisturizing agent while the porous body is immersed in the moisturizing agent can be prevented, and the moisturizing agent can be reliably held in the porous body.

In the present invention, a configuration is adopted in which the porous body is brought into contact with the nozzle opening formation region of the ejection head in the moisturizing posture.
By adopting such a configuration, the porous body is brought into contact with the nozzle opening formation region. For this reason, it becomes possible to make a moisturizing agent and a nozzle opening contact directly, and it becomes possible to suppress drying of a nozzle opening more.

Moreover, in this invention, the said moisturizer employ | adopts the structure that glycerin is included.
By adopting such a configuration, evaporation of the humectant can be suppressed, so that the retention time of the humectant in the porous body can be extended.

Moreover, in this invention, the said moisturizer employ | adopts the structure that surfactant is included.
By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to moisturize the nozzle openings with the moisturizing agent and to clean the nozzle opening forming surface.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fluid ejection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size. In this embodiment, an ink jet printer is exemplified as the fluid ejecting apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as an ink jet printer 100) according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part around a line head, and FIG. It is a top view.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inkjet printer 100 includes a recording unit 10 that performs recording on the recording paper 12, a platen unit 40, a motor 50 (moving unit), and a storage tank 70 (supplying unit). ).

  The recording unit 10 ejects ink droplets to form a line head 13 (ejection head) that forms an image on a recording paper 12 that is a fluid ejection target, a recording paper conveyance mechanism 14 that conveys the recording paper 12, and a line head 13. And an ink reservoir 15 that stores ink (fluid) to be supplied.

  The recording paper transport mechanism 14 includes a paper feed motor (not shown) and a paper feed roller rotated by the paper feed motor. The recording paper transport mechanism 14 moves the recording paper 12 to the line head in conjunction with a recording (printing / printing) operation. 13 are sequentially sent out so as to face 13.

  The ink storage unit 15 is disposed on one side of the printer main body 16 and supplies ink to the line head 13 described later by an ink supply unit (not shown). The ink storage unit 15 is an ink of a color corresponding to each color (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K1: dye system), black (K2: pigment system)) of the inkjet printer 100. Ink tanks 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K1, and 15K2 are stored and communicated with the line head 13 through ink supply means.

  The line head 13 is a line type recording head in which a large number of nozzle openings are arranged over a length (maximum recording paper width W) exceeding at least one side of the maximum size recording paper 12 targeted by the inkjet printer 100. In the present embodiment, at least five printing sections 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K1, and 5K2 corresponding to each color (Y, M, C, K1, and K2) are provided. Each of the printing units 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K1, and 5K2 has a nozzle opening row L (see FIG. 3) in which a large number of nozzle openings 17 for ejecting ink droplets are arranged and arranged. Are arranged in order along the transport direction. The nozzle opening row L is a line of the nozzle openings 17 or a plurality of lines of the nozzle openings 17, and the number of nozzle openings 17 and the number of lines are appropriately set. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the nozzle opening row L, and shows a plurality of lines by the nozzle openings 17. By increasing the number of lines, a wide range of recording can be performed at once, and the resolution of the image is also increased.

  The line head 13 is arranged such that the length direction corresponding to the maximum recording paper width W is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle openings 17 of each nozzle opening row L onto the recording paper 12. As a result, an image is recorded on the recording paper 12.

  The ink supply means that communicates the ink storage unit 15 and the line head 13 has a plurality of ink supply channels, and the respective ink tanks 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K1, and 15K2 to the respective printing units 5Y, 5M, and 5C. , 5K1 and 5K2 are supplied with ink.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the line head will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the line head.
The line head 13 includes a head main body 18 and a flow path forming unit 22 including a vibration plate 19, a flow path substrate 20, and a nozzle substrate 21. The nozzle openings 17 for ejecting ink are formed in the nozzle substrate 21, and the lower surface of the nozzle substrate 21 is a nozzle opening forming surface 21A. The flow path forming unit 22 is a unit in which the diaphragm 19, the flow path substrate 20, and the nozzle substrate 21 are laminated and joined together with an adhesive or the like.

  The line head 13 includes an accommodation space 23 formed inside the head body 18 and a drive unit 24 disposed in the accommodation space 23. The drive unit 24 includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements 25, a fixing member 26 that supports the upper end of the piezoelectric elements 25, and a flexible cable 27 that supplies a drive signal to the piezoelectric elements 25. The piezoelectric element 25 is provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of nozzle openings 17.

  In addition, an internal flow path 28 that is formed inside the head body 18 and flows ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink supply flow path, and a flow path that includes the vibration plate 19, the flow path substrate 20, and the nozzle substrate 21. A common ink chamber 29 formed by the forming unit 22 and connected to the internal flow path 28, an ink supply port 30 formed by the flow path forming unit 22 and connected to the common ink chamber 29, and the flow path forming unit 22. A pressure chamber 31 formed and connected to the ink supply port 30 is provided. A plurality of pressure chambers 31 are provided so as to correspond to the plurality of nozzle openings 17. Each of the plurality of nozzle openings 17 is connected to each of the plurality of pressure chambers 31.

  The head body 18 is made of synthetic resin. The diaphragm 19 is obtained by laminating an elastic film on a metal support plate such as stainless steel. An island portion 32 joined to the lower end of the piezoelectric element 25 is formed at a portion corresponding to the pressure chamber of the diaphragm 19. At least a part of the diaphragm 19 is elastically deformed according to the driving of the piezoelectric element 25. A compliance portion 33 is formed between the diaphragm 19 and the vicinity of the lower end of the internal flow path 28.

  In the flow path substrate 20, the common ink chamber 29, the ink supply port 30, and the pressure chamber 31 that connect the lower end of the internal flow path 28 and the nozzle opening 17 have recesses for forming respective spaces. In the present embodiment, the flow path substrate 20 is formed by anisotropic etching of silicon.

The nozzle substrate 21 has a plurality of nozzle openings 17 formed at predetermined intervals (pitch) in a predetermined direction. The nozzle substrate 21 of the present embodiment is a plate-like member formed of a metal such as stainless steel.
Further, projecting portions 21 a are formed on the surface of the nozzle substrate 21 (nozzle opening forming surface 21 </ b> A) in a downward direction corresponding to the nozzle openings 17. And the nozzle opening 17 is formed in the front-end | tip part of each protrusion part 21a. That is, in the inkjet printer 100 of the present embodiment, the nozzle opening forming surface 21A has a complicated shape having irregularities (see FIG. 3).

  The ink supplied from each ink tank through each ink supply channel flows into the upper end of the internal channel 28. The lower end of the internal flow path 28 is connected to the common ink chamber 29, and the ink that has flowed from the ink tank to the upper end of the internal flow path 28 via the ink supply flow path flows through the internal flow path 28 and is then shared. The ink is supplied to the ink chamber 29. The ink supplied to the common ink chamber 29 is supplied through the ink supply port 30 so as to be distributed to each of the plurality of pressure chambers 31.

  When a drive signal is input to the piezoelectric element 25 via the cable 27, the piezoelectric element 25 expands and contracts. As a result, the diaphragm 19 is deformed (moved) in a direction toward and away from the pressure chamber. As a result, the volume of the pressure chamber 31 changes, and the pressure of the pressure chamber 31 containing ink fluctuates. Ink is ejected from the nozzle openings 17 due to this pressure fluctuation.

  As described above, the piezoelectric element 25 of the present embodiment varies the pressure of the pressure chamber 31 connected to the nozzle opening 17 based on the input drive signal in order to eject ink from the nozzle opening 17. Then, a desired image is formed on the recording paper 12 by the ink ejected from the nozzle opening 17.

The line head 13 can be moved in the vertical direction by a line head moving mechanism 90 (see FIG. 8).
More specifically, the line head 13 is movable in the vertical direction between the printing position and the maintenance position by the line head moving mechanism 90.
The printing position is a position where recording is performed by ejecting ink from the nozzle openings 17 of the line head 13 to the recording paper 12, and is a position where the line head 13 is relatively moved upward. The maintenance position is a position where the nozzle opening 17 formed in the line head 13 is moisturized by the platen unit 40 described in detail below, and is a position where the line head 13 is relatively moved downward. .

Next, the configuration of the platen unit 40, the motor 50, and the storage tank 70 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of the platen unit 40 and the storage tank 70. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the platen unit 40 and the motor 50.

The platen unit 40 includes a housing part 41 and a porous body 42.
The casing 51 has a cylindrical shape having substantially the same length as the line head 13, and is disposed below the line head 13 in parallel with the line head 13. The housing 41 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 43 along the length direction of the line head 13 by a motor 50 (see FIG. 6).
In addition, an opening 41a formed over the length direction of the casing 41 is formed on a part of the peripheral surface of the casing 41, and a part of the porous body 42 is formed from the opening 41a. Is protruding.
Further, the casing 41 has a platen surface 60 on the peripheral surface opposite to the opening 41 a.

The porous body 42 is formed of a material capable of changing the volume, and for example, a sponge made of urethane or the like can be used.
The porous body 42 has a convex shape constituted by a lower portion 42 a stored in a storage space formed inside the housing portion 41 and an upper portion 42 b protruding from the opening 41 a of the housing portion 41. ing.

The storage tank 70 is a tank that stores the moisturizing liquid 71 (humectant), and the upper part is opened. The liquid level of the moisturizing liquid 71 in the storage tank 70 is such that the upper part 42b of the porous body 42 is directed downward when the platen unit 40 is rotated by the motor 50 and the upper part 42b of the porous body 42 is directed downward. It is set to be immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71.
Further, the storage tank 70 has a sealing mechanism 72 for isolating the porous body 42 from the outside by contacting the housing portion 41 when the upper portion 42 b of the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71. I have. The seal mechanism 72 includes a drive mechanism (not shown), and is movable so as to be separated from and separated from the housing unit 41 by the drive mechanism.
As the moisturizing liquid 71, for example, a surfactant containing glycerin can be used.

  In the platen unit 40 having such a configuration, when the motor 50 (see FIG. 6) is driven, the recording posture in which the platen surface 60 faces the line head 13 side, and the upper portion 42b of the porous body 42 faces the line head 13 side. The posture can be set to the moisturizing posture (injection posture).

The recording posture is a posture for supporting an area (an area immediately below the line head 13) where ink is ejected on the recording paper 12 by the platen surface 60 of the platen unit 40. In the recording posture, the upper part 42 b of the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71 stored in the storage tank 70.
The moisturizing posture is a posture for moisturizing the formation region of the nozzle opening 17 (that is, the nozzle opening 17) by the porous body 42 of the platen unit 40, and the upper portion 42 b of the porous body 42 is connected to the line head 13. The posture is to be in contact with the formation region of the nozzle opening 17.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the inkjet printer 100.
As shown in FIG. 7, the inkjet printer 100 according to the present embodiment includes a control device 80 that controls the operation of the entire inkjet printer 100. The control device 80 includes an input device 81 for inputting various information relating to the operation of the ink jet printer 100, a storage device 82 storing various information relating to the operation of the ink jet printer 100, and a measuring device 83 capable of measuring time. It is connected. Further, the control device 80 is connected to the recording paper transport mechanism 14, the motor 50, the line head moving mechanism 90, and the like described above. The ink jet printer 100 further includes a drive signal generator 84 that generates a drive signal to be input to the drive unit 24 including the piezoelectric element 25. The drive signal generator 84 is connected to the control device 80.

The drive signal generator 84 receives data indicating the amount of change in the voltage value of the drive pulse input to the piezoelectric element 25 of the line head 13 and a timing signal that defines the timing for changing the voltage of the drive pulse. The drive signal generator 84 generates a drive signal including a drive pulse based on the input data and timing signal.
When a driving pulse is input from the driving signal generator 84 to the piezoelectric element 25, an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle opening 17.

  Next, an example of the operation of the ink jet printer having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when print data is transmitted from the outside, the control device 80 develops the ejection data corresponding to the dot pattern and transmits it to the line head 13. The line head 13 executes recording (printing / printing) processing, that is, ejection of ink droplets onto the recording paper, based on the received ejection data (step S1).
In such a recording process, the control device 80 adjusts the position of the line head 13 to the printing position by controlling the line head moving mechanism 90. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the control device 80 controls the motor 50 to adjust the posture of the platen unit 40 to the recording posture. As a result, the platen surface 60 of the platen unit 40 supports the recording paper 12 from below, and the upper part 42b of the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71 stored in the storage tank 70, and the porous body 42 is caused by capillary action. The moisturizing liquid 71 is infiltrated and supplied to the entire interior of the container.
When the platen unit 40 is aligned with the recording position, the control device 80 seals the space to which the porous body 42 is exposed by the seal mechanism 72 installed in the storage tank 70, and the porous body 42 is isolated from the outside. Thus, by isolating the porous body 42 from the outside by the sealing mechanism 72, it is possible to prevent the moisturizing liquid 71 supplied to the porous body 42 from evaporating.
And the control apparatus 80 will perform a moisturizing process, if the preset predetermined time passes (step S2) (step S3).

When performing the moisturizing process, the control device 80 adjusts the position of the line head 13 to the moisturizing position by controlling the line head moving mechanism 90. Moreover, the control apparatus 80 adjusts the attitude | position of the platen unit 40 to a moisturizing attitude | position by controlling the motor 50 (refer FIG. 5). As a result, the upper part 42b of the porous body 42 and the formation area of the nozzle openings 17 of the line head 13 are brought into contact with each other.
As a result, the nozzle opening 17 comes into contact with the moisturizing liquid 71 and the space near the nozzle opening 17 is also moisturized. For this reason, it becomes possible to achieve moisture retention of the nozzle opening 17.
Then, after the operation as described above, the control device 80 performs the recording process of step S1 again.

According to the ink jet printer 100 of this embodiment, the platen unit 40 has the platen surface 60 that can support a part of the recording paper 12 and the porous body 42 that holds the moisturizing liquid 71. The platen unit 40 is moved between a recording posture (jetting posture) in which the platen surface 60 supports the recording paper 12 and a moisturizing posture in which the formation area of the nozzle openings 17 of the line head 13 can be moisturized by the porous body 42. The
According to the ink jet printer 100 of this embodiment, the nozzle opening 17 can be moisturized by the porous body 42 containing the moisturizing liquid 71. Accordingly, the nozzle opening 17 can be moisturized and the ejection characteristics of the nozzle opening 17 can be maintained without the cap member of the conventional ink jet printer. In addition, according to the porous body 42, since the large amount of the moisturizing liquid 71 is included, the nozzle opening 17 can be moisturized without bringing the entire porous body 42 into close contact with the formation region of the nozzle opening 17. Therefore, drying of the nozzle opening 17 can be more reliably suppressed.
Furthermore, according to the inkjet printer 100 of the present embodiment, the porous body 42 is provided in the platen unit 40 together with the platen surface 60. That is, the platen surface 60 and the porous body 42 are both installed on a single member.
For this reason, compared with the inkjet printer provided with both the conventional platen surface and the apparatus which performs a capping process, an apparatus can be reduced in size.
Therefore, according to the inkjet printer 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus and more reliably suppress drying of the nozzle openings 17.

Further, the inkjet printer 100 of the present embodiment employs a configuration in which a storage tank 70 that can supply the moisturizing liquid 71 to the porous body 42 is provided.
By adopting such a configuration, the moisturizing liquid 71 is supplied to the porous body 42 by the storage tank 70. For this reason, even if the moisturizing liquid 71 held in the porous body 42 is reduced by evaporation or the like, the new moisturizing liquid 71 can be supplied to the porous body 42.

In the inkjet printer 100 of the present embodiment, the storage tank 70 employs a configuration in which the moisturizing liquid 71 is supplied to the porous body 42 when the platen unit 40 is in the recording posture.
By adopting such a configuration, the moisturizing liquid 71 is supplied to the porous body 42 when the platen unit 40 is in the recording posture. When the platen unit 40 is in the recording posture, the recording paper 12 is supported by the platen surface 60 and ink is ejected onto the recording paper 12.
That is, the moisturizing liquid 71 is supplied to the porous body 42 while the ink is ejected onto the recording paper 12. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate supply time for the moisturizing liquid 71.

Moreover, in the inkjet printer 100 of this embodiment, the structure that the storage tank 70 stores the moisturizing liquid 71 in which the upper part 42b of the porous body 42 can be immersed is employ | adopted.
By adopting such a configuration, a new moisturizing liquid 71 can be easily supplied to the porous body 42.

In addition, the inkjet printer 100 according to the present embodiment includes the sealing mechanism 72 that isolates the porous body 42 from the outside when the upper portion 42b of the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71 stored in the storage tank 70. The configuration is adopted.
By adopting such a configuration, by adopting such a configuration, when the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71 stored in the storage tank 70, the porous body 42 is isolated from the outside. Is done. For this reason, evaporation of the moisturizing liquid 71 while the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71 can be suppressed, and the moisturizing liquid 71 can be reliably held in the porous body 42.

In addition, the inkjet printer 100 according to the present embodiment employs a configuration in which the porous body 42 is brought into contact with the formation region of the nozzle openings 17 of the line head 13 in a moisturizing posture.
By adopting such a configuration, the porous body 42 is brought into contact with the formation region of the nozzle opening 17. For this reason, the moisturizing liquid 71 and the nozzle opening 17 can be brought into direct contact with each other, and drying of the nozzle opening 17 can be further suppressed.

Moreover, in the inkjet printer 100 of this embodiment, the structure that the moisturizing liquid 71 contains glycerin is employ | adopted.
By adopting such a configuration, evaporation of the moisturizing liquid 71 can be suppressed, so that the retention time of the moisturizing liquid 71 in the porous body 42 can be extended.

Moreover, in the inkjet printer 100 of this embodiment, the structure that the moisturizing liquid 71 contains a surfactant is employed.
By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to keep the nozzle opening moisturized by the moisturizing liquid 71 and to clean the forming surface 21A of the nozzle opening 17.

  The preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples, and the above embodiments may be combined. It is obvious for those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It is understood that it belongs to.

For example, in the above embodiment, the configuration in which the posture of the platen unit 40 is changed by the movement of the platen unit 40 by the motor 50 has been described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any driving means capable of changing the posture of the platen unit 40 can be used as the moving unit of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the platen unit 40 includes the platen surface 60 and the porous body 42 has been described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the platen unit 40 may further include a wiper that wipes off foreign matter or the like on the nozzle opening forming surface 21A, a suction device that forcibly discharges ink from the inside of the line head 13, and the like. good.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71 stored in the storage tank 70 by setting the posture of the platen unit 40 by driving the motor 50 has been described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured such that the porous body 42 is immersed in the moisturizing liquid 71 by moving the storage tank 70.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the seal mechanism 72 that separates the porous body 42 from the outside when the platen unit 40 is in the recording posture is installed in the storage tank 70 has been described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the seal mechanism 72 may be installed in the platen unit 40.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the platen unit 40 is set to the moisture retaining posture, the upper portion 42b of the porous body 42 is in contact with the formation region (nozzle opening formation surface 21A) of the nozzle opening 17. Explained.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is not always necessary for the porous body 42 and the formation region of the nozzle opening 17 to be in contact with each other during the moisture retention treatment, and the moisture retention that evaporates from the porous body 42. It is only necessary that the porous body 42 and the region where the nozzle opening 17 is formed be close to each other to such an extent that the space in which the nozzle opening 17 is exposed to the liquid 71 is moisturized.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, 21 A of nozzle opening formation surfaces of the line head demonstrated the case where it was a complicated shape which has an unevenness | corrugation.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to the case where the nozzle opening forming surface 21A is a flat surface.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure which aims at moisture retention of the nozzle opening 17 with the moisturizing liquid 71 was demonstrated.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as the humectant of the present invention, not a liquid but, for example, a gel-like fluid can be used.
Furthermore, for example, by using a material that allows ink to easily penetrate into the moisturizing agent, thickened ink or agglomerated ink that accumulates in the nozzle opening 17 actively permeates the moisturizing agent. It can also be recovered.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which a single line head is provided and all types of ink are ejected from the line head has been described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which a line head is installed for each type of ink may be used. In such a case, the platen unit 40 may be installed for each line head, or a configuration in which a platen unit having a wide platen surface compatible with all the line heads may be installed.
The present invention is not limited to a line head type ink jet printer, and can also be applied to a serial type ink jet printer.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the ink jet printer, and may be a recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile.

  Further, in the above embodiment, a multilayer element is used as the piezoelectric element, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other types (for example, a monomorph, a unimorph, a bimorph, a Mooney type, a multi-moony type, A cymbal type or the like may be used. Furthermore, the drive unit 24 is not limited to the piezo jet type using the above-described piezoelectric element, and for example, a thermal method can be adopted.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the fluid ejecting apparatus is a fluid ejecting apparatus (fluid ejecting apparatus) that ejects a fluid such as ink has been described as an example. The present invention can be applied to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges fluid other than the above. Fluids that can be ejected by the fluid ejecting apparatus include liquids, liquids in which particles of functional material are dispersed or dissolved, gel-like fluids, solids that can be ejected as fluids, and powders (such as toner). .

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, as the fluid ejected from the fluid ejecting apparatus, not only ink but also fluid corresponding to a specific application can be applied. By providing the fluid ejecting apparatus with an ejecting head capable of ejecting a fluid corresponding to the specific application, ejecting the fluid corresponding to the specific application from the ejecting head, and attaching the fluid to a predetermined object, A given device can be manufactured. For example, the fluid ejecting apparatus (fluid ejecting apparatus) of the present invention disperses a predetermined material such as an electrode material and a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, and a surface emitting display (FED). The present invention can be applied to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid dispersed (dissolved) in a medium (solvent).

  Further, the fluid ejecting apparatus may be a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, or a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a fluid that is used as a precision pipette and serves as a sample.

  In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resins to form fluid injection devices that inject lubricating oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements, etc. For example, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto a substrate, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects gel, and a powder such as toner. It may be a toner jet recording apparatus that ejects a solid. The present invention can be applied to any one of these fluid ejecting apparatuses.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part around a line head included in the ink jet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the nozzle opening formation surface of the line head with which the inkjet printer which is one Embodiment of this invention is provided. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of line head with which the inkjet printer which is one Embodiment of this invention is provided. It is sectional drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the platen unit with which the inkjet printer which is one Embodiment of this invention is provided. It is a perspective view of the platen unit with which the ink jet printer which is one embodiment of the present invention is provided. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an ink jet printer that is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the inkjet printer which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the inkjet printer which is one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Inkjet printer (fluid ejecting apparatus), 12 ... Recording paper (jetting object), 13 ... Line head, 17 ... Nozzle opening, 21A ... Nozzle opening formation surface, 40 ... Platen unit, 42 ... ... porous body, 50 ... motor (moving part), 60 ... platen surface, 70 ... storage tank (reserving part, supply part), 71 ... moisturizing liquid (humectant), 80 ... control device

Claims (8)

An ejection head capable of ejecting a fluid to an ejection object through a nozzle opening;
A platen unit having a platen surface capable of supporting at least a part of the injection target and a porous body holding a moisturizing agent;
The platen unit can be moved between an ejection posture in which the platen surface supports a region where the fluid of the ejection target is ejected and a moisture retaining posture in which the nozzle opening formation region of the ejection head can be moisturized by the porous body. A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising: a movable unit.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supply unit capable of supplying the moisturizing agent to the porous body.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the supply unit supplies the moisturizing agent to the porous body when the platen unit is in the ejection posture.   4. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the supply unit is a storage unit that stores a humectant in which at least a part of the porous body can be immersed. 5.   5. The fluid according to claim 4, further comprising a seal mechanism that isolates at least the porous body from the outside when at least a part of the porous body is immersed in the humectant stored in the storage section. Injection device.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the porous body is in contact with a nozzle opening forming region of the ejecting head in the moisturizing posture.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humectant includes glycerin. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humectant includes a surfactant.

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