JP2009056653A - Head cap holder for fluid jetting apparatus, head cap, and fluid jetting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head cap holder for an ink-jet recording device excelling in water vapor barrier property, rigidity at an ordinary temperature, rigidity when heated, dimensional accuracy and surface smoothness. <P>SOLUTION: The head cap holder is formed of a resin composition (II) containing: a resin composition (I) comprising (a) 40-60 pts.mass of polypropylene resin, (b) 30-50 pts.mass of polyphenylene ether resin and (c) 1-10 pts.mass of admixture; and (d) 15-35 pts.mass of talc based on 100 pts.mass of the resin composition (I). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a head cap for capping a fluid ejecting head of a fluid ejecting apparatus, and more specifically to a head cap holder and a head cap that are excellent in moisture retention performance of a fluid ejecting head.

  In recent years, fluid ejecting apparatuses that can control and eject a small amount of fluid have been used for various purposes. For example, an ink jet recording apparatus is used for many printing including color printing because it generates a small amount of dots with a high density and generates small dots at the time of printing. As a printing means, it is spreading to the home.

  An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) as an ejection head that receives ink supplied from an ink storage unit, and a paper feeding unit that moves the recording paper relative to the recording head. Printing is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle openings of the recording head onto the recording paper to form dots while moving the recording head in accordance with the print signal.

  Such a recording head performs printing by ejecting ink pressurized in a pressure chamber as ink droplets from a nozzle onto a recording sheet. Therefore, the ink is increased in viscosity and solidified by volatilization of the solvent from the nozzle opening. It may cause clogging and printing failure. For this purpose, the ink jet recording apparatus usually includes a head cap for preventing ink drying of the nozzle openings of the recording head during non-printing, and a wiping device for cleaning the nozzle plate.

  This head cap not only functions as a lid to prevent ink drying of the nozzle opening by capping the recording head, but also generates a negative pressure inside the head cap by a suction pump while the recording head is capped. Ink can also be used to eliminate clogging of the nozzle openings by sucking ink from the nozzles. At this time, the capping device needs to be in close contact with the recording head so that no gap is generated between the head cap and the recording head due to the negative pressure from the suction pump.

  Forcible ejection of ink to eliminate clogging of the recording head is usually called a cleaning operation. After ejecting ink droplets by negative pressure, the ink is adhered to the nozzle plate by a wiping device made of rubber or other elastic material. This is a process involving a wiping operation for wiping off the ink and foreign matter. The cleaning operation includes user cleaning performed by the user operating the cleaning switch on the operation panel, and timer cleaning performed before starting printing. In the timer cleaning, the ink suction amount is set according to the elapsed time from the previous cleaning and the accumulated time of the printing time after the previous cleaning. The longer the elapsed time from the previous cleaning, and the longer the accumulated printing time, the higher the possibility that the ink in the nozzle opening is dried, so a larger amount of ink suction is required. When the time from the previous cleaning or the accumulated printing time is short, the timer cleaning may only eject ink droplets without sucking ink.

  The head cap is generally disposed on the cap holder (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “cap holder”) that forms the exterior of the head cap, and by an elastic member so as to be in close contact with the nozzle plate of the recording head. It is comprised by the formed cap part.

  In recent years, along with the miniaturization of ink dots, there has been an increasing demand for prevention of clogging of nozzle openings in the recording head, shortening the timer cleaning time before printing, and extending the head cleaning interval, further improving the water vapor barrier property of the head cap. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the moisture retention of the fluid ejecting head and prevent the ink from increasing in viscosity and solidifying.

In order to improve the water vapor barrier property of the head cap, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-341318 (Patent Document 1) discloses a two-color molding method for a cap holder and a cap portion with a resin containing polypropylene. . Since polypropylene is a crystalline polymer and has low water vapor permeability, evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle opening can be suppressed.
JP 2001-341318 A

  However, the ink sucked by the timer cleaning is wasteful to the user, and it is preferable that the timer cleaning interval is as long as possible because the consumed ink amount can be reduced. In order to extend the timer cleaning interval, it is necessary to further improve the water vapor barrier property.

  Furthermore, in order to cope with a recording head that increases in size in order to shorten the printing time and to improve the adhesion between the recording head and the cap portion, it is necessary to improve the rigidity at room temperature and the rigidity at heat.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a head cap holder and a head cap for an ink jet recording apparatus that are excellent in water vapor barrier properties, room temperature rigidity, thermal rigidity, dimensional accuracy, and surface condition (surface smoothness). To do.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors formed a cap part holder with a resin composition in which polypropylene resin, polyphenylene ether resin, admixture, and talc were mixed at a specific ratio. The present invention has found that a head cap holder excellent in water vapor barrier properties, room temperature rigidity, heat rigidity, dimensional accuracy, and surface condition (surface smoothness) can be obtained, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention
[1] A head cap holder that holds a cap portion that can be brought into contact with a fluid ejecting head included in a fluid ejecting apparatus so as to surround a nozzle opening that ejects the fluid. 60 parts by mass, (b) 30 to 50 parts by mass of polyphenylene ether resin, and (c) 15 to 100 parts by mass of resin composition (I) composed of 1 to 10 parts by mass of admixture and resin composition (I). A head cap holder molded from a resin composition (II) comprising -35 parts by mass of (d) talc;
[2] The head cap holder according to [1], wherein the admixture (c) is a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymer;
[3] A head cap of a fluid ejecting apparatus in which a cap portion is formed by two-color molding of a thermoplastic elastomer in the head cap holder described in [1] or [2];
[4] A fluid ejecting apparatus including the head cap holder according to [1] or [2]; and [5] a fluid ejecting apparatus including the head cap according to [3].

  The head cap holder and the head cap of the fluid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention are excellent in water vapor barrier property, rigidity at normal temperature, rigidity at heat, and dimensional accuracy. Printing defects due to clogging of the nozzle openings of the recording head can be prevented. Moreover, since the head cap holder of the present invention is excellent in surface smoothness, the appearance is also good.

  In addition, since it becomes difficult for the ink to thicken, the timer cleaning interval automatically performed to discharge the thickened ink after a certain period of time without being used can be extended. It is possible to reduce consumption of ink to be used. Furthermore, since the moisture retention of the fluid ejecting head is enhanced, the success rate of clogging elimination is increased even in manual cleaning performed to eliminate clogging of the nozzle openings, and the consumption of ink used other than printing is further reduced. It becomes possible.

  The present invention will be specifically described below.

  The head cap of the present invention is for capping the fluid ejecting head of the fluid ejecting apparatus, and includes a cap holder and a cap portion.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus 10 which is an embodiment of a fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 10 has a frame 11, and a platen 12 is arranged by the frame 11. On the platen 12, the recording paper P is fed by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown). Further, the recording apparatus 10 includes a carriage 13, and the carriage 13 is supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the platen 12 via a guide member 14, and is reciprocated by a carriage motor 15 via a timing belt 16. It has become.

  The carriage 13 has an ink jet recording head 20, which is an example of a fluid ejecting head, at a lower portion thereof. The recording head 20 is configured to eject ink onto the recording paper P.

  Specifically, the recording head 20 has a nozzle (nozzle opening) for ejecting ink, and the nozzle is formed on a nozzle plate 21 (nozzle opening forming surface).

  An ink cartridge 17 that contains ink is detachably mounted on the carriage 13, and ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 17 to the recording head 20.

  That is, while the carriage 13 moves along the platen 12, ink is ejected from the recording head 20 onto the recording paper P based on the print data, and printing or the like is performed.

  Further, in the frame 11 of FIG. 1, the recording paper P is disposed, and a printing area T in which printing or the like is performed on the recording paper P is formed. A home position H, which is a non-printing area, is also formed on the right side of the printing area T in the drawing. The carriage 13 is configured to move between the printing region T and the home position H by moving along the platen 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a head cleaning mechanism 30 is disposed at the home position H. The head cleaning mechanism 30 includes a head cap 40 and a tube pump 33 (an example of a pump unit). The head cap 40 is configured to be movable up and down by known lifting means (not shown).

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the head cleaning mechanism 30 and the like of FIG. The head cap 40 is configured to abut against or separate from the nozzle plate 21 by moving up and down along the arrow Y direction in FIG.

  Specifically, when the head cap 40 abuts against the nozzle plate 21 so as to cover the nozzles of the recording head 20, the inside of the head cap 40 becomes a substantially closed space in relation to the nozzle plate 21. This state is a state where the head cap 40 is capping the recording head 20. The head cap 40 includes a substantially box-shaped cap holder 42 whose upper surface is open and a cap portion 41 made of an elastic member. Here, when the head cap 40 comes into contact with the nozzle plate 21, the cap portion 41 comes into close contact with the nozzle plate 21. In this state, evaporation of ink in the nozzle is suppressed. The cap portion 41 is formed by two-color molding on the upper portion of the cap holder 42. On the other hand, when the head cap 40 is separated from the nozzle plate 21, the inside of the head cap 40 is in an open state.

  2 shows a configuration example in which the cap portion 41 of the head cap 40 abuts against the nozzle plate 21, but the head cap 40 is in close contact with the recording head 20 so as to surround the nozzle. As long as the nozzles are formed and the nozzles are arranged in the closed space, any configuration may be used. Accordingly, the head cap 21 may be configured to be in close contact with a portion other than the nozzle plate 21 in the recording head 20, for example, the side surface of the recording head 20.

  In the present embodiment, a tube pump 33 that sucks ink or the like in the head cap 40 is connected to the head cap 40, and the ink or the like in the head cap 40 is sucked by driving the tube pump 33. The At this time, in order to increase the negative pressure by the tube pump 33, the cap portion 41 needs to be in close contact with the nozzle plate 21 of the recording head.

  The tube pump 33 is connected to a waste ink tank 34 that stores ink adhering to the nozzle plate 21 sucked by the tube pump 33. Accordingly, the ink ejected by the recording head 20 is stored in the waste ink tank 34 via the tube pump 33.

  An ink absorbing material 43 that absorbs ink discharged from the nozzles of the recording head 20 is disposed in the head cap 40. The ink absorbing material is fixed by a holding spring 44 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the head cap 40 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the head cap 40 has a substantially square cap portion 41 formed on the top of the cap holder 42, and the cap portion 41 surrounds the nozzles of the recording head 20 when the recording head 20 is capped. In close contact with the nozzle plate 21. This prevents the nozzle from touching the outside air. However, since the discharge port of the tube pump 33 connected to the head cap 40 is actually opened, the head cap 40 does not completely seal the nozzle. This is because the ink meniscus of the nozzle is not broken when the pressure in the head cap fluctuates due to a temperature change or the like, thereby preventing ejection failure. In order to suppress evaporation from the discharge port, as shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion of the cap holder 42 and the tube of the tube pump 33 is sufficiently thin, and the connecting portion is covered with the ink absorbing material 43. ing. In such a state, the cap holder 42 has the most influence on the ink evaporation.

  Therefore, the cap holder 42 of the present invention comprises a resin composition (a) 40-60 parts by mass of polypropylene resin, (b) 30-50 parts by mass of polyphenylene ether resin, and (c) 1-10 parts by mass of an admixture. I) and 15 to 35 parts by mass of (d) talc with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin composition (I).

  The (a) polypropylene resin which is a component of the resin composition (I) constituting the cap holder 42 of the present invention may be a crystalline propylene homopolymer, or a crystalline propylene homopolymer obtained in the first step of polymerization. Propylene-ethylene random copolymer portion obtained by copolymerizing propylene, ethylene and / or at least one other α-olefin (for example, butene-1, hexene-1, etc.) after the second step of polymerization with the portion It may be a crystalline propylene-ethylene block copolymer having a phenotype, or a mixture of these crystalline propylene homopolymer and crystalline propylene-ethylene block copolymer. A crystalline propylene homopolymer is preferred.

  The (b) polyphenylene ether resin contained in the resin composition (I) has the following general formula [a] and / or [b] as a repeating unit.

(Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ are monovalent residues such as an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, halogen, and hydrogen, and R ₅ , R ₆ is not hydrogen at the same time)
(B) The polyphenylene ether resin may be a homopolymer whose structural unit is one kind of [a] or [b] in the general formula (1), or a copolymer having plural kinds of structural units. There may be.

  (B) Examples of polyphenylene ether resin homopolymers include poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, poly (2-methyl-6-ethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, (2,6-diethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, poly (2-ethyl-6-n-propyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, poly (2,6-di-n-propyl-1,4) -Phenylene) ether, poly (2-methyl-6-n-butyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, poly (2-ethyl-6-isopropyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, poly (2-methyl-6) -Chloroethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, poly (2-methyl-6-hydroxyethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether, poly (2-methyl-6-chloroethyl-1,4-phenyl) Ylene) homopolymer such as ether.

  (B) The copolymer of polyphenylene ether resin is a copolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol, a copolymer of o-cresol, or 2,3,6-trimethylphenol. And a polyphenylene ether copolymer mainly composed of a polyphenylene ether structure, such as a copolymer with o-cresol. Poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether is preferred.

  In addition, (b) polyphenylene ether resin can be used for α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, acrylic acid, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid, methacrylic acid ester or derivatives thereof. The modified polyphenylene ether resin may be modified.

  The admixture (c) contained in the resin composition (I) may be any admixture as long as it has the ability to disperse the (b) polyphenylene ether resin in the matrix of the (a) polypropylene resin. It is not limited to the structure. Specific examples of the admixture of component (c) include, for example, a block (graft) copolymer obtained by chemically bonding a polypropylene molecular chain to a polyphenylene ether molecular chain, and a polypropylene molecular chain chemically bonding to a polystyrene molecular chain. Block (graft) copolymer obtained, a block (graft) copolymer obtained by chemically bonding ethylene and α-olefin copolymer elastomer molecular chain to polyphenylene ether molecular chain, ethylene and α to polystyrene molecular chain -Olefin copolymer A block (graft) copolymer obtained by chemically bonding molecular chains of elastomer and a hydrogenated block copolymer thereof may be mentioned.

  Among these admixtures, a preferable admixture is a hydrogenated block copolymer obtained by hydrogenating a block copolymer obtained by chemically bonding an ethylene and α-olefin copolymer elastomer molecular chain to a polystyrene molecular chain. is there. The hydrogenated block copolymer acts as a dispersant for dispersing the polyphenylene ether resin in the above-described polypropylene resin matrix, and further imparts impact resistance to the resin composition. Styrene-butadiene block copolymers and hydrogenated styrene-isoprene block copolymers can be exemplified, and hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymers are particularly preferred. Two or more admixtures may be used in combination.

  The blending ratio of (a) polypropylene resin and (b) polyphenylene ether resin in the resin composition (I) is (a) 40 to 60 parts by mass of polypropylene resin and (b) 30 to 50 parts by mass of polyphenylene ether resin. The water vapor barrier property is improved by setting the polypropylene resin to 40 parts by mass or more and the polyphenylene ether resin to 50 parts by mass or less, the polypropylene resin to 60 parts by mass or less, and (b) the polyphenylene ether resin to 30 parts by mass or more. As a result, heat resistance, creep characteristics and dimensional accuracy are improved. Preferably, (a) 45 to 55 parts by mass of polypropylene resin and (b) 40 to 50 parts by mass of polyphenylene ether resin.

  (C) The compounding amount of the admixture is in the range of 1 to 10 parts by mass, preferably 5 to 9 parts by mass in consideration of water vapor barrier properties, heat resistance and creep characteristics.

  The resin composition (II) for molding the head cap holder of the present invention contains (d) talc in addition to the resin composition (I) described above.

  (D) As for talc, it is preferable to use a talc having an average particle diameter of 30 μm or less, particularly preferably an average particle diameter of 3 to 20 μm from the viewpoint of the surface state of the molded product. By molding the cap holder with the resin composition (II) in which talc is blended with the resin composition (I), a holder having water vapor barrier properties, rigidity, dimensional accuracy, and surface smoothness can be obtained. It is difficult to satisfy all of these performances by blending fillers other than talc.

  (D) As a compounding quantity of a talc, it is 15-35 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of resin composition (I). The blending amount of talc is 15 parts by mass or more from the viewpoint of the water vapor barrier property, rigidity and dimensional accuracy of the holder, and 35 masses from the viewpoint of the surface condition (surface smoothness), weld strength and molding fluidity of the molded product. Or less. The blending amount is preferably 20 to 25 parts by mass.

  In addition to the resin composition (I) and talc, the resin composition (II) constituting the head cap holder of the present invention includes polystyrene resins such as polystyrene and rubber-modified polystyrene (HIPS), polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and styrene- It is also possible to blend a thermoplastic elastomer such as a butadiene copolymer, a butadiene-isoprene copolymer, an ethylene-propylene copolymer.

  Furthermore, it is not particularly limited to add additives that are added to ordinary thermoplastic resins as necessary, for example, heat stabilizers, UV absorbers, flame retardants, mold release agents, lubricants, dyes, pigments and the like. Absent.

  The adjustment of the resin composition of the present invention is achieved by a conventionally known technique such as a Brabender, a kneader, a Banbury mixer, an extruder, etc., and an extruder is particularly suitable.

  The head cap of the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is obtained by forming a cap portion by two-color molding of a thermoplastic elastomer in the cap holder of the present invention.

  In the two-color molding, a cap holder is first injection-molded by a rotary or slide-type two-color molding machine, and then a thermoplastic elastomer is filled on the holder. Since the cap holder of the present invention is excellent in heat resistance, it is possible to suppress deformation due to heat during filling of the thermoplastic elastomer in two-color molding.

  The thermoplastic elastomer used to form the cap portion of the head cap of the present invention includes a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a butadiene-isoprene copolymer, an ethylene-propylene copolymer, and a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymer. , Hydrogenated styrene-isoprene block copolymer, styrene-ethylenepropylene copolymer, isobutylene-aromatic vinyl copolymer, and polypropylene elastomer (TPO, TPV). A polymer, an isobutylene-aromatic vinyl copolymer, and a polypropylene elastomer (TPO, TPV) are preferable. The thermoplastic elastomer may contain an oil component such as paraffin oil or silicone oil, or a thermoplastic resin component such as polypropylene.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated in detail based on an Example, this invention is not limited by these examples. The components used in Examples and Comparative Examples are as follows.
(A) polypropylene resin homo-polypropylene melting point = 168 ° C.
Melt flow rate (MFR) = 0.5 g / 10 min (MFR was measured at 230 ° C. and a load of 2.16 kg according to ASTM D1238)
(B) Polyphenylene ether resin Poly 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether (c) admixture having intrinsic viscosity [η] of 0.52 (30 ° C. in chloroform) Polystyrene-hydrogenated polybutadiene It has a polystyrene structure, the amount of bonded styrene is 50%, the number average molecular weight is 108,000, the molecular weight distribution is 1.08, the 1,2-vinyl bond amount of polybutadiene before hydrogenation is 78%, and the hydrogenation rate of the polybutadiene part is 99.9% hydrogenated block copolymer (d) Talc Hytron A (manufactured by Takeuchi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
Average particle size 4μm
(E) Glass fiber RES03-TPO15 (manufactured by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.)
Fiber diameter 13μm
(F) Thermoplastic elastomer for forming cap part of head cap 44.4 parts by mass of styrene-ethylenepropylene copolymer (manufactured by Shell Japan), 44.4 parts by mass of paraffin oil (molecular weight 500 to 800), polypropylene (Sumitomo Noblen) AZ564 (manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) A thermoplastic elastomer consisting of 11.2 parts by mass [Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-6]
Each component of the composition shown in Table 1 is melt kneaded in a twin screw extruder (ZSK-40: WERNER & PFLEIDE) with a temperature of 250 to 310 ° C. and a screw rotation speed of 500 rpm, and a resin composition for a head cap holder Pellets were obtained.

  Using these pellets, a test piece for evaluating material properties was prepared by injection molding at a cylinder temperature of 250 to 290 ° C and a mold temperature of 70 ° C.

  Further, by using this pellet, the cap holder of the head cap part was molded at a cylinder temperature of 250 to 290 ° C. and a mold temperature of 60 ° C. (42 in FIG. 3). Subsequently, the cylinder temperature of 200 to 210 ° C. and the mold temperature of 60 A cap part (41 in FIG. 3) was formed by filling a cap holder with a thermoplastic elastomer for forming a cap part onto the cap holder by two-color molding at a temperature of C to form a head cap molded product (FIG. 3).

The test piece for evaluating the physical properties of the material and the head cap molded product were subjected to various tests by the following methods. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
(1) Physical properties of resin composition (1-1) Water vapor permeability Measured according to JIS K7129 B method. (Measurement atmosphere: temperature = 40 ° C., humidity = 90% RH, test piece: 100 × 100 × 1 mm flat plate)
(1-2) Flexural modulus Measured according to ASTM D-790. (23 ° C, 60 ° C)
(1-3) Deflection temperature under load Measured according to ASTM D-648. (Load: 1.82 MPa)
(2) Evaluation with head cap molded product The following characteristics were evaluated for the head cap molded product.
(2-1) Ink Drying Test The head cap molded product was filled with ink-jet ink and left in a sealed state at 40 ° C. for 14 days. The change in weight before and after standing was measured, and the amount of drying per day from inside the head cap was calculated.
(2-2) Warpage When the molded product is warped, the head cap cannot be brought into close contact with the recording head, so that a predetermined negative pressure cannot be obtained and the ink suction amount is reduced. Therefore, the ink suction amount was measured using the same recording head and the same suction pump, and the warpage was evaluated based on whether or not a predetermined suction amount was obtained.

○: A predetermined suction amount was obtained (no warpage)
Δ: There is a slight decrease in the amount of suction (there is a slight warpage)
X: There is a clear decrease in the amount of suction (a warp can be clearly confirmed visually)
(2-3) Surface state (surface smoothness)
The surface condition of the molded product was visually evaluated and evaluated according to the following criteria. If the surface is rough, the cap part cannot be completely adhered to the cap holder when the cap part is molded in two colors, which causes the cap part and the holder part to peel off during the use of the printer.

◯: Surface roughness such as floating of the filler can hardly be confirmed, and the surface condition is good. Δ: Slight surface roughness can be confirmed. X: Surface roughness due to floating of the filler can be clearly confirmed, and the surface condition is poor (2-4) Inkjet recording apparatus. Evaluation of Timer Cleaning Interval Characteristics with (Printer) The recording head is cleaned with an ink jet recording apparatus and left in an environment of 40 ° C. in a capped state. The discharge condition of all the nozzles is checked every day, and the number of days until the occurrence of even one nozzle that causes defective discharge is measured. If the recording apparatus does not perform cleaning (timer cleaning) of the recording head before the number of days is reached, ejection failure occurs, and the result printed by the user becomes defective. The larger the number of days, the less frequently the timer cleaning is performed, so the ink consumption is reduced.

  As shown in Table 1, the molded article of the present invention has a low water vapor permeability (excellent in moisture retention), so that the amount of ink dried during capping is small, and it is difficult for ink viscosity to increase and ink solidification. Is possible. Further, it can be seen that the warpage and surface smoothness of the molded product are also good, and it has dimensional accuracy, heat resistance, and excellent appearance. It can also be seen that the timer cleaning interval becomes longer.

  On the other hand, in the molded products of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 using a resin composition not containing talc, and the molded product of Comparative Example 3 using a resin composition with a small amount of talc, the water vapor transmission rate is an example. The amount of ink dried is high. Also, the rigidity is low. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 4 in which the amount of talc is large, the surface smoothness of the molded product is somewhat deteriorated.

  In Comparative Example 5 using the resin composition reinforced with glass fiber, the water vapor permeability is high and the amount of ink dried is large. Further, warpage of the molded product and surface roughness of the molded product were also observed.

  If the polyphenylene ether resin is not blended as in Comparative Example 6, the water vapor permeability is excellent, but the heat resistance and heat rigidity are low, so the heat at the time of molding the thermoplastic elastomer when molding the head cap in two colors, The holder has been deformed.

  The cap holder and head cap of the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention have both moisture retention (water vapor barrier properties), room temperature rigidity, heat rigidity, dimensional accuracy, and surface smoothness, and increase in ink viscosity and ink solidification. This makes it possible to provide a head cap having an excellent appearance.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fluid ejecting apparatus is embodied as an ink jet recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid other than ink (a liquid material in which particles of a functional material are dispersed, a fluid such as a gel) And the like can be embodied in a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects the liquid. For example, a liquid material injection device for injecting a liquid material in the form of dispersed or dissolved materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays, and biochip manufacturing It may be a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic substance used in the above, or a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid as a sample that is used as a precision pipette. 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. May be a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate, or a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects gel. The present invention can be applied to any one of these injection devices.

1 is a diagram showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus to which a head cap of the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows one example of a head cap of this invention. It is a figure which shows the head cap molded product used for the molded product performance evaluation in the Example and the comparative example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet recording device, 20 ... Recording head, 21 ... Nozzle plate, 30 ... Head cleaning mechanism, 40 ... Head cap, 41 ... Cap part, 42 ... Cap holder

Claims (5)

A head cap holder that holds a cap portion that can be brought into contact with a fluid ejecting head included in the fluid ejecting apparatus so as to surround a nozzle opening that ejects the fluid,
(A) 40-60 parts by mass of polypropylene resin, (b) 30-50 parts by mass of polyphenylene ether resin, and (c) 1-10 parts by mass of admixture, and resin composition (I) A head cap holder molded from a resin composition (II) containing 15 to 35 parts by mass of (d) talc with respect to 100 parts by mass.   The head cap holder according to claim 1, wherein the admixture (c) is a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymer.   A head cap of a fluid ejecting apparatus, wherein a cap portion is formed by molding the thermoplastic elastomer in two colors on the head cap holder according to claim 1.   A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising the head cap holder according to claim 1.   A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising the head cap according to claim 3.

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