JP2010247360A - Head cleaning device, fluid injection device, and head cleaning method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head cleaning device capable of removing surely a liquid and a solidified matter deposited in the vicinity of an opening end of an injection nozzle, when cleaning a fluid injection head, and capable of injecting accurately a fluid from the fluid injection head, and to provide a fluid injection device equipped therewith. <P>SOLUTION: This head cleaning device 16 includes a recessed storage chamber 41 with one face forming an opening 41a, a cleaning liquid supply mechanism 42 for supplying a cleaning liquid Q containing a surfactant, to an inside of the storage chamber 41, and a suction mechanism 43 for sucking a liquid and gas from the inside of the storage chamber 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

   The present invention relates to a head cleaning device, a fluid ejecting apparatus, and a head cleaning method, and more particularly to maintenance of a fluid ejecting head.

   As a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid, for example, ink, for example, an ink jet printer is known. An ink jet printer is a device that ejects (discharges) a fluid toward a target, records characters, images, and the like, and forms a thin film layer. Such an ink jet printer is configured to eject a fluid from a jet nozzle provided in a fluid jet head (recording head) toward a target.

   A fluid ejecting head of an ink jet printer has a plurality of extremely fine ejecting nozzles arranged in order to eject a fluid with high density. When the fluid adhering to such fine jet nozzles dries, problems such as clogging and bending in the jet direction are likely to occur. For this reason, the ink jet printer is provided with a head cleaning device that covers the ejection surface of the fluid ejection head and sucks the fluid remaining in the nozzle when not in use.

   Conventionally, the head cleaning device suctions and removes the fluid (ink) remaining inside the ejection nozzle by making the ejection surface side exposed by the opening end of the ejection nozzle a negative pressure, thereby drying the fluid. It solidifies and prevents sticking near the opening end of the injection nozzle.

   However, the fluid adhering to the vicinity of the opening end of the injection nozzle cannot be completely removed only by sucking and removing the fluid remaining inside the injection nozzle. For this reason, the deposits dried and solidified in the vicinity of the opening end of the ejection nozzle may cause the fluid to bend from a predetermined ejection (discharge) direction or cause clogging during ejection. In order to cope with such a problem, for example, a method of removing the fluid adhering to the vicinity of the opening end of the ejection nozzle by applying ultrasonic vibration to the fluid ejection head when cleaning the fluid ejection head is also known (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-361908 A

   However, simply applying ultrasonic vibration to the fluid ejecting head as described above may not completely remove the fluid remaining in the vicinity of the opening end of the ejecting nozzle or the adhered solid matter of the fluid. There was concern about the failure.

Some aspects of the present invention have been made in view of the above circumstances, and when cleaning a fluid ejecting head, fluid and solidified substances adhering to the vicinity of the opening end of the ejecting nozzle are surely removed, and the fluid ejecting head is provided. Provided are a head cleaning device that makes it possible to accurately eject fluid from the fluid, and a fluid ejection device including the head cleaning device.
Also provided is a head cleaning method capable of reliably removing the fluid and solidified material adhering to the vicinity of the opening end of the ejection nozzle when cleaning the fluid ejection head.

In order to solve the above problems, some aspects of the present invention provide the following head cleaning device, fluid ejecting device, and head cleaning method.
That is, the head cleaning device of the present invention is a head cleaning device that cleans a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of ejecting nozzles that eject fluid.
A storage chamber for storing a region including the injection surface exposed from the opening end of the injection nozzle in an airtight state, a cleaning liquid supply mechanism for filling the inside of the storage chamber with a cleaning liquid containing a surfactant, and a liquid inside the storage chamber And a suction mechanism for sucking gas.

   It is preferable that the surfactant has the same composition as the surfactant contained in the fluid.

   The fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes at least the head cleaning device, a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of ejecting nozzles, and a control device that controls the fluid ejecting head to generate minute vibrations. To do.

The head cleaning method of the present invention is a head cleaning method for cleaning a fluid jet head having a jet nozzle,
A cleaning liquid injection process for filling the interior of the storage chamber with a cleaning liquid containing a surfactant, a storage process for storing an area including the ejection surface exposed from the opening end of the ejection nozzle in an airtight state in the accommodation chamber, and the fluid ejection head A cleaning process for causing the ink to adhere to the vicinity of the opening end of the ejection nozzle with the cleaning liquid, and discharging the surfactant in the storage chamber after the cleaning process is completed. It comprises at least a cleaning liquid discharging step and a suction step for sucking the fluid remaining in the jet nozzle.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of the fluid injection apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the injection mechanism of a fluid. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the head cleaning apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the head cleaning apparatus of this invention in steps. 3 is a flowchart showing a head cleaning method of the present invention.

   Hereinafter, the best mode of the head cleaning device of the present invention and the fluid ejecting apparatus including the head cleaning device will be described. The present embodiment is specifically described for better understanding of the gist of the invention, and does not limit the invention unless otherwise specified. In addition, in the drawings used in the following description, in order to make the features of the present invention easier to understand, there is a case where a main part is shown in an enlarged manner for convenience, and the dimensional ratio of each component is the same as the actual one. Not necessarily.

   FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fluid ejecting apparatus including a head cleaning device of the present invention. The fluid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a fluid ejecting head 11, an X-axis direction drive shaft 12, a Y-axis direction guide shaft 13, a control device 14, and a stage 15. Further, a head cleaning device 16, a base 18, and a heater 19 are formed adjacent to the stage 15.

   The stage 15 supports the target P that ejects fluid, for example, ink, by the fluid ejecting apparatus 10. The fluid ejecting head 11 is, for example, a multi-nozzle type fluid ejecting head including a plurality of ejecting nozzles, and is arranged such that the longitudinal direction is along the X-axis direction.

   The plurality of ejection nozzles are provided at regular intervals on the lower surface (ejection surface) of the fluid ejection head 11 so that the opening ends are exposed. From the ejection nozzle of the fluid ejection head 11, fluid (droplet, ink) is ejected toward the target P supported by the stage 15. The target P that is the target for ejecting fluid (droplet) may be, for example, a substrate for forming a color filter or a substrate for forming a touch panel. Further, it may be a recording medium such as paper. Depending on the type of target P, the ejected fluid (droplet, ink) is resin ink for forming a color filter, wiring pattern forming ink for forming a wiring pattern, insulating film forming ink for forming an insulating film, recording Any dye or pigment ink may be used as long as it prints on the medium, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

   An X-axis direction drive motor 21 is connected to the X-axis direction drive shaft 12. The X-axis direction drive motor 21 is composed of a stepping motor or the like, and rotates the X-axis direction drive shaft 12 when an X-axis direction drive signal is supplied from the control device 14. When the X-axis direction drive shaft 12 rotates, the fluid ejecting head 11 moves along the X-axis direction.

   The Y-axis direction guide shaft 13 is fixed to the base 18. The stage 15 includes a Y-axis direction drive motor 22. The Y-axis direction drive motor 22 may be composed of, for example, a stepping motor or the like. When a drive signal in the Y-axis direction is supplied from the control device 14, the stage 15 is moved in the Y-axis direction.

   The control device 14 inputs a control voltage for performing droplet discharge control to the fluid ejecting head 11. Further, an X-axis drive pulse signal for controlling the movement of the fluid ejecting head 11 in the X-axis direction is input to the X-axis direction drive motor 21. Further, a Y-axis drive pulse signal for controlling the movement of the stage 15 in the Y-axis direction is input to the Y-axis direction drive motor 22.

   The heater 19 evaporates and dries the solvent contained in the droplets (ink) ejected onto the target P by lamp annealing, for example. The operation of the heater 19 is also controlled by the control device 14.

   The fluid ejecting apparatus 10 scans liquid droplets from a plurality of ejecting nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the fluid ejecting head 11 with respect to the target P while relatively scanning the fluid ejecting head 11 and the stage 15 that supports the target P. (Ink) is ejected.

   The head cleaning device 16 is for cleaning the fluid ejecting head 11. The head cleaning device 16 is provided with a drive motor (not shown) in the Y-axis direction. The head cleaning device 16 moves along the Y-axis direction guide shaft 13 by driving the Y-axis direction drive motor. The movement of the head cleaning device 16 is also controlled by the control device 14. Details of the head cleaning device 16 and a head cleaning method using the same will be described in detail later.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram briefly explaining the principle of fluid (ink) ejection by the piezo method.
The fluid ejecting head 11 is provided with a piezo element 32 adjacent to a liquid chamber 31 that contains fluid (droplet, ink). The fluid is supplied to the liquid chamber 31 via a liquid material supply system 33 including a material tank that stores the fluid. The piezo element 32 is connected to a drive circuit 34, and a voltage is applied to the piezo element 32 via the drive circuit 34 to deform the piezo element 32.

   The liquid chamber 31 is deformed by the deformation of the piezo element 32, and the fluid (droplet) S is discharged from the opening end of the ejection nozzle 35. In this case, the amount of distortion of the piezo element 32 is controlled by changing the value of the applied voltage. Further, the strain rate of the piezo element 32 is controlled by changing the frequency of the applied voltage. Piezoelectric fluid ejection has the advantage that it does not affect the composition of the fluid to be ejected because it does not apply heat to the material.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the head cleaning device.
The head cleaning device 16 includes a concave storage chamber 41 whose one surface forms an opening 41 a, a cleaning liquid supply mechanism 42 that supplies a cleaning liquid Q to the inside of the storage chamber 41, and a suction that sucks liquid and gas inside the storage chamber 41. And a mechanism 43. Further, a vertical movement device 44 that moves the storage chamber 41 toward the fluid ejecting head 11 is provided.

   The storage chamber 41 is made of, for example, resin or the like, and when it is raised by the vertical movement device 44, the edge portion 41b that defines the opening 41a contacts the ejection surface 11a of the fluid ejection head 11. As a result, a region including the ejection surface 11 a where the opening end 35 a of the ejection nozzle 35 is exposed is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 41. Moreover, it is preferable that the fluid ejecting head 11 is controlled by the control device 14 (see FIG. 1) so that minute vibrations are generated at a position where the region including the ejecting surface 11a is accommodated in the accommodating chamber 41.

   The cleaning liquid supply mechanism 42 supplies the cleaning liquid Q from the cleaning liquid tank 45 that stores the cleaning liquid Q to the inside of the storage chamber 41 through the supply nozzle 46. The cleaning liquid Q may be a solution containing a surfactant. Preferably, it may be a solution containing a surfactant having the same composition as the surfactant contained in the fluid (ink) ejected from the ejection nozzle 35 of the fluid ejecting head 11. Specific examples of preferable surfactants contained in the cleaning liquid Q are listed below.

Specific examples of preferred surfactants (anionic surfactants):
Higher fatty acid salts, higher alkyl dicarboxylates, higher alcohol sulfates, higher alkyl sulfonates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonate salts (Na, K, Li, Ca) formalin polycondensation Products, condensates of higher fatty acids and amino acids, dialkylsulfosuccinic acid ester salts, alkylsulfosuccinates, naphthenates, etc., alkyl ether carboxylates, acylated peptides, α-olefin sulfonates, N-acylmethyl taurines, alkyls Ether sulfate, secondary higher alcohol ethoxy sulfate, monoglyculate, alkyl ether phosphate ester salt, alkyl phosphate ester salt, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether ammonium sulfate salt, polyoxyethylene alkyl acetate Sodium sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether ammonium sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sodium sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate monoethanolamine, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether ammonium phosphate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether potassium potassium salt , Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether diethanolamine phosphate, sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate, sodium lauryl sulfate.

Specific examples of preferred surfactant (nonionic surfactant):
Fluorosurfactant, silicone surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, sorbitan monostearate, acetylene glycol, ethylene oxide adduct of acetylene glycol (Acetylene glycol alcohol ethylene oxide), propylethanolamide, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether

   Such a surfactant may be contained in the cleaning liquid Q in a concentration range of, for example, 0.1% to 1.0% by weight.

   The suction mechanism 43 only needs to be configured by, for example, a suction pump 48 and a suction nozzle 49. The suction mechanism 43 sucks the cleaning liquid Q filling the interior of the storage chamber 41 and the gas (air) inside the storage chamber 41.

The operation and effect of the fluid ejecting apparatus 10 including the head cleaning apparatus 16 having the above-described configuration will be described as a head cleaning method of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the head cleaning method of the present invention step by step. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the head cleaning method of the present invention step by step.
The head cleaning method of the present invention may be performed, for example, as a maintenance process of the fluid ejecting head when printing by the fluid ejecting apparatus is completed and the fluid ejecting apparatus is temporarily stopped or paused.

   First, the head cleaning device 16 moves along the Y-axis direction guide shaft 13 toward the fluid ejecting head 11 for which printing has been completed. 4A, after the fluid ejecting head 11 reaches the upper portion of the storage chamber 41, the cleaning liquid supply mechanism 42 is moved from the cleaning liquid tank 45 to the inside of the storage chamber 41 via the supply nozzle 46. The cleaning liquid Q containing the surfactant is filled (cleaning liquid injection step: S1).

   Next, the accommodating chamber 41 is moved toward the fluid ejecting head 11 by the vertical movement device 44, and the ejecting surface 11a exposed by the opening end 35a of the ejecting nozzle 35 is accommodated in the accommodating chamber 41 (raised to a contact position). Thereby, the ejection surface 11a of the ejection nozzle 35 is immersed in the cleaning liquid Q containing the surfactant filling the accommodation chamber 41 (accommodating step: S2).

   Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, a head operation signal that causes a slight vibration is sent from the control device 14 to the fluid ejecting head 11 in a state where the ejecting surface 11 a is immersed in the cleaning liquid Q. The fluid ejecting head 11 performs an operation that causes a slight vibration (cleaning step: S3). As a result, fine vibration occurs in the state where the ejection surface 11a is in contact (soaked) with the cleaning liquid Q, so that the residual ink C adhering to the vicinity of the opening end 35a of the ejection nozzle 35 is removed (washed off) by the cleaning liquid Q. ). Moreover, since the cleaning liquid Q contains a surfactant at a predetermined concentration, the residual ink C can be easily dissolved.

   The fluid ejecting head 11 is slightly vibrated for a predetermined time, and the residual ink C adhering to the vicinity of the opening end 35a of the ejecting nozzle 35 is removed by the cleaning liquid Q. Then, the suction pump 48 constituting the suction mechanism 43 is operated, and the storage chamber 41 is sucked through the suction nozzle 49 (cleaning liquid discharging step: S4). Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), after the cleaning liquid Q has been sucked in in its entirety, the air remaining in the storage chamber 41 is further sucked into a negative pressure, thereby remaining in the injection nozzle 35. Ink C is also sucked out (suction process: S5).

   As described above, according to the head cleaning method using the head cleaning device 16 of the present invention, the ejection surface 11a of the fluid ejection head 11 is immersed in the cleaning liquid Q containing the surfactant, and the fluid ejection head 11 is further subjected to slight vibration. By controlling so as to occur, residual ink (fluid) C adhering to the vicinity of the opening end 35a of the ejection nozzle 35 can be reliably removed. This prevents the fluid (ink) ejected from the fluid ejecting head 11 from being bent and ejected when the next printing is performed, and the fine ejecting nozzles 35 are not clogged.

   In addition, in order to prevent clogging of fluid (ink), the amount of fluid (ink) discarded in the flushing operation in which the fluid is discharged little by little during standby can be reduced. For example, when this fluid ejecting apparatus 16 is operated for 2 weeks (14 days), it was confirmed that approximately 500 ml of fluid (ink) can be saved per day and 7056 ml of fluid (ink) per day.

   In the above-described embodiment, the region including the ejection surface is accommodated in the accommodation chamber in an airtight state by bringing the ejection surface of the fluid ejection head into contact with the edge of the opening surface of the accommodation chamber. The structure which accommodates the area | region containing an injection surface in an accommodation chamber in the form that an injection surface penetrates to the middle may be sufficient.

   In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning liquid that fills the storage chamber and the gas (air) in the storage chamber are sucked by the same suction mechanism, but the suction mechanism that sucks the cleaning liquid and the negative pressure in the storage chamber. A suction mechanism for extracting the fluid remaining inside the spray nozzle may be provided individually.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fluid ejecting apparatus, 11 ... Fluid ejecting head, 11a ... Ejecting surface, 16 ... Head cleaning apparatus, 41 ... Storage chamber, 41a ... Opening, 41b ... Edge part, 42 ... Cleaning liquid supply mechanism, 43 ... Suction mechanism.

Claims (4)

A head cleaning device for cleaning a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of ejecting nozzles for ejecting fluid,
A storage chamber for storing a region including the injection surface exposed from the opening end of the injection nozzle in an airtight state, a cleaning liquid supply mechanism for filling the inside of the storage chamber with a cleaning liquid containing a surfactant, and a liquid inside the storage chamber And a suction mechanism for sucking gas.    The head cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant has the same composition as the surfactant contained in the fluid.    A fluid comprising at least the head cleaning device according to claim 1, a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of ejecting nozzles, and a control device that controls the fluid ejecting head to generate minute vibrations. Injection device. A head cleaning method for cleaning a fluid jet head having a jet nozzle,
A cleaning liquid injection process for filling the interior of the storage chamber with a cleaning liquid containing a surfactant;
An accommodating step of accommodating an area including the ejection surface exposed from the opening end of the ejection nozzle in an airtight state in the accommodation chamber;
A cleaning step of causing fine vibrations in the fluid ejecting head and peeling off ink adhering to the vicinity of an opening end of the ejecting nozzle by the cleaning liquid;
A cleaning liquid discharging step of discharging the surfactant in the storage chamber after completion of the cleaning step;
A suction step of sucking the fluid remaining in the jet nozzle;
A head cleaning method comprising:

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