JP2011161868A - Maintenance apparatus, liquid ejector, and maintenance method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance apparatus which can suppress a maintenance liquid from flowing out from a liquid receiving member when the maintenance liquid is supplied to the liquid receiving member, a liquid ejector and a maintenance method. <P>SOLUTION: The maintenance apparatus 2 maintains a cap 3 (liquid receiving member) which is arranged as to receive an ink (liquid) discharged as a waste liquid from a recording head 12 where the apparatus has a blocking member 7 which can move forward and backward with respect to the cap 3 and abuts on the cap 3 to cover the cap 3, and a maintenance-liquid supplying part 6 which supplies the maintenance liquid for a sealed space (closed space) formed by covering the cap 3 by the blocking member 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a maintenance device that supplies maintenance liquid to a liquid receiving member, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a maintenance method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet printer that prints an image by ejecting liquid onto a recording medium from a recording head (liquid ejecting head) is known. In such a printer, in order to suppress drying of ink (liquid) in the nozzles formed in the recording head, a cap is disposed so as to be able to contact and separate from the recording head. Such a cap is supplied with maintenance liquid for use in moisturizing the cap. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

  In addition, it is known to perform so-called cleaning in which ink in a nozzle is sucked through a closed space formed by contacting a cap with the recording head so as to cover the nozzle formed on the recording head (for example, patents). Reference 2). In addition to the cleaning described above, a so-called flushing process may be performed in which ink is discharged from the nozzle as waste liquid into a cap facing the recording head based on a control signal unrelated to printing. The ink received in the cap at the time of such cleaning or flushing is then discharged from the cap into the waste ink tank, but a part of the ink remains in the cap. For this reason, the maintenance liquid for supplying the cap to the cap is supplied to the cap.

  Therefore, in general, the liquid ejecting apparatus including the cap as described above includes a maintenance device that supplies maintenance liquid to the cap as a liquid receiving member that receives liquid, and the maintenance liquid is supplied to the cap. The cap is kept moisturized and cleaned, and the cap is maintained.

JP 2009-101634 A JP 2006-192679 A

  By the way, it is preferable to supply a large amount of maintenance liquid to the cap in order to sufficiently perform moisture retention and cleaning in the cap. However, when an excessive amount of maintenance liquid is supplied to the cap, the cap (liquid receiving There is a risk that maintenance fluid will overflow from the member. In particular, when the cap is provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the maintenance liquid tends to overflow from the cap.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a maintenance device capable of suppressing the maintenance liquid from flowing out from the liquid receiving member when the maintenance liquid is supplied to the liquid receiving member. And a liquid ejecting apparatus and a maintenance method.

  In order to achieve the above object, a maintenance device according to the present invention is a maintenance device for maintaining a liquid receiving member disposed so as to be able to receive a liquid discharged from a liquid ejecting head as a waste liquid. A closing member that can contact and separate from the liquid receiving member and covers the liquid receiving member by contacting the liquid receiving member; and a closed space formed by the closing member covering the liquid receiving member. A maintenance liquid supply unit for supplying the maintenance liquid.

  According to this invention, the maintenance liquid is supplied to the closed space formed by covering the liquid receiving member with the closing member. Therefore, when the maintenance liquid is supplied to the liquid receiving member, the blocking member covers the liquid receiving member by abutting the liquid receiving member, so that the maintenance liquid can be prevented from flowing out from the liquid receiving member.

In the maintenance device of the present invention, the maintenance liquid supply unit supplies the maintenance liquid to the closed space as the closed space becomes negative pressure by suction driving of a suction mechanism.
According to the present invention, when the closed space becomes negative with the suction drive of the suction mechanism in a state where the closing member covers the liquid receiving member, the maintenance liquid is sucked into the closed space from the maintenance liquid supply unit, and the liquid receiving unit Thus, the maintenance liquid can be smoothly supplied.

  In the maintenance device of the present invention, the maintenance liquid supply section includes a maintenance liquid storage section that stores maintenance liquid, a flow path that connects the closed space and the maintenance liquid storage section, and a flow path that opens and closes the flow path. And an on-off valve.

  According to the present invention, the maintenance fluid is supplied from the maintenance fluid reservoir, in which the maintenance fluid is stored, to the closed space in which the liquid receiving member is covered by the closing member, by the channel opening / closing valve that opens and closes the channel. Can be controlled. Specifically, when the flow path is opened by the flow path opening / closing valve, maintenance liquid can be supplied to the closed space formed by covering the liquid receiving member with the closing member. When the flow path is closed by this, the supply of maintenance liquid to the closed space can be stopped.

  In the maintenance device of the present invention, the flow path opening / closing valve opens the flow path when the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member, and the closing member is separated from the liquid receiving member. The flow path is closed.

  According to this invention, the flow path is opened and closed in conjunction with the contact and separation of the closing member with respect to the liquid receiving member. For this reason, when the closing member is separated from the liquid receiving member, that is, when the liquid receiving member is not covered by the closing member and maintenance liquid is supplied to the liquid receiving member, the liquid receiving member In a state where maintenance liquid may flow out from the member, the flow path is closed. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately suppress the maintenance liquid from flowing out from the liquid receiving member.

In the maintenance apparatus according to the present invention, the maintenance liquid supply unit further includes a gas flow path that allows gas to flow into the flow path, and an open valve that opens and closes the gas flow path.
According to the present invention, when the open valve opens the gas flow path, the gas can flow into the flow path that connects the space and the maintenance liquid reservoir through the gas flow path. For this reason, gas can be supplied to the closed space formed by covering the liquid receiving member with the closing member via the flow path.

  In the maintenance device according to the present invention, in the state where the blocking member is in contact with the liquid receiving member and the flow channel is opened, the gas flow channel is opened and the suction mechanism is sucked. To drive.

  According to the present invention, the gas-liquid two-phase maintenance liquid in a gas mixture state is sucked into the closed space formed by covering the liquid receiving member with the closing member, and bubbles are generated in the liquid receiving member. The maintenance liquid can be supplied. Since the foam-like maintenance liquid has a larger cleaning effect than the maintenance liquid not containing bubbles, the liquid receiving member can be effectively cleaned.

The maintenance device of the present invention includes a control unit that switches the following operations (a) to (c) by controlling the suction mechanism and the opening valve.
(A) In the state in which the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member and the flow path is opened, the gas flow path is closed and the suction mechanism is driven to perform suction ( b) In the state where the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member and the flow path is opened, the gas flow path is closed and the suction mechanism is driven to suck, An operation in which the gas flow channel is opened and the suction mechanism performs suction driving in a state in which the flow channel is closed; and (c) the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member; and Operation in which the suction mechanism is driven to suck by opening the gas flow path in a state where the flow path is opened

  According to this invention, since the suction mechanism and the release valve are controlled so as to switch and execute the operations described in the above (a) to (c), the liquid receiving member can be appropriately and flexibly maintained. Specifically, when the operation described in the above (a) is executed, maintenance liquid is supplied to the closed space where the liquid receiving member is covered by the closing member, and the maintenance liquid is filled in the closed space. Can continue to maintain state. For this reason, for example, when the maintenance device stops operating, the maintenance liquid filling state can be maintained and the liquid receiving member can be sufficiently maintained. When the operation described in (b) above is executed, maintenance liquid is supplied to the closed space where the liquid receiving member is covered by the closing member, and then gas is supplied to the closed space. For this reason, after the liquid receiving member is maintained using the maintenance liquid, the maintenance liquid is discharged from the space and the closing member is separated from the liquid receiving member, and the liquid receiving member is disposed facing the liquid ejecting head. Can be made. Further, when the operation described in (c) above is performed, the liquid receiving member can be effectively cleaned.

The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid and the maintenance device having the above-described configuration.
According to this invention, the same effect as the invention of the maintenance device can be obtained.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the liquid ejecting head is provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.
In general, when the liquid ejecting head is provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the liquid receiving member disposed to face the liquid ejecting head is also provided in an inclined state. Becomes easier to overflow. In this regard, the present invention can suppress the maintenance liquid from flowing out of the liquid receiving member by providing the maintenance device having the above configuration.

  Further, the maintenance method of the present invention is a maintenance method for maintaining a liquid receiving member disposed so as to be able to receive liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, and covering the liquid receiving member with a closing member. Forming a closed space; and supplying a maintenance liquid to the closed space.

  According to this invention, the maintenance liquid is supplied to the closed space formed by covering the liquid receiving member with the closing member. Therefore, when the maintenance liquid is supplied to the liquid receiving member, the blocking member covers the liquid receiving member by abutting the liquid receiving member, so that the maintenance liquid can be prevented from flowing out from the liquid receiving member.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the embodiment. The schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the maintenance apparatus with which the same liquid injection apparatus is provided. (A) (b) The cross-sectional schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the maintenance apparatus. (A)-(d) The cross-sectional schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the maintenance apparatus. (A)-(d) The cross-sectional schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the maintenance apparatus. The schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the maintenance apparatus which concerns on the example of a change.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, “vertical direction V” refers to the vertical direction indicated by arrow V in the figure, and “horizontal direction H” refers to the horizontal direction indicated by arrow H in the figure. To do.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment is an inkjet printer 1 and is a large-format printer (LFP) that prints an image on a large sheet.

  The printer 1 moves a paper feed roller 11 that transports a recording paper P that is a recording medium, a recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 that ejects ink (liquid) to the transported recording paper P, and a recording head 12. A carriage 13 and a platen 14 as a support for the recording paper P are provided.

  On the upper part of the printer 1, a roll body P1 around which the recording paper P is wound is provided. The recording paper P is conveyed obliquely downward with respect to the horizontal direction H from the upper part of the printer 1 by a paper feed roller 11 driven with the electric motor 11a as a power source.

  Below the roll body P1 and the paper feed roller 11, a platen 14 is extended in the width direction of the recording paper P (specifically, the direction perpendicular to the drawing of FIG. 1). The recording paper P conveyed obliquely by the paper feed roller 11 is fed onto the platen 14.

  In the recording paper P conveyed obliquely, the normal direction perpendicular to the paper surface Pa on which the image is printed (the direction indicated by the arrow N in the figure) is a tolerance at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction V and the horizontal direction H. To do. Corresponding to the recording paper P conveyed obliquely in this way, the surface of the platen 14 is provided in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction H on the opposite side of the paper surface Pa on which the image is printed on the recording paper P. Yes.

  A through hole 14 a is formed in the platen 14 to attract the recording paper P conveyed obliquely to the surface of the platen 14. The through-hole 14a opens toward the normal direction N side, which is the recording head 12 side, and opens in the negative pressure generation space S1. A negative pressure is generated in the negative pressure generating space S1 by the fan 15 driven by using the electric motor 15a as a power source. Therefore, when the fan 15 is driven, the recording paper P on the platen 14 is sucked to the negative pressure generation space S1 side through the through hole 14a and is attracted to the surface of the platen 14.

  A guide shaft 16 extending in the width direction of the recording paper P and a carriage 13 supported by the guide shaft 16 are provided obliquely above the platen 14. The carriage 13 is provided so as to be movable along the guide shaft 16. That is, the carriage 13 is configured to be movable in the width direction of the recording paper P.

  The carriage 13 is provided with a recording head 12 that moves in the width direction of the recording paper P together with the carriage 13. In this way, the recording head 12 is disposed at a predetermined interval with respect to the platen 14 on the side N in the normal direction to the paper surface Pa of the recording paper P on which an image is printed.

  The recording head 12 is a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink onto the recording paper P, and the recording head 12 includes a nozzle 12b that ejects ink. In the present embodiment, the recording head 12 is provided in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction H corresponding to the recording paper P conveyed obliquely. More specifically, the recording head 12 has a nozzle forming surface 12a in which a plurality of nozzles 12b are opened. The nozzle forming surface 12 a faces the recording paper P in the normal direction N. In this manner, the recording head 12 is provided so that ink is ejected obliquely downward, so that the recording head 12 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H.

  The ink stored in the ink cartridge (not shown) is supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head 12 by driving the piezoelectric element 12c of the recording head 12, and the platen is supplied from each nozzle 12b of the recording head 12. 14 is ejected onto the recording paper P fed onto the paper 14. In this way, the recording head 12 ejects ink onto the recording paper P to record an image on the recording paper P on the platen 14.

  A winding device 17 is provided obliquely below the platen 14. The recording paper P on which the image is recorded is wound up by a winding device 17 that drives using the electric motor 17a as a power source. Instead of the winding device 17, a cutting device (not shown) for cutting the recording paper P may be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when an image is not printed on the recording paper P by the printer 1, the carriage 13 including the recording head 12 is moved in the width direction of the recording paper P so as to be disposed at a position not facing the platen 14. Established. At this time, cleaning or the like in the nozzle 12b of the recording head 12 is performed using the maintenance device 2.

Next, the configuration of the maintenance device 2 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the maintenance device 2 provided in the printer 1 includes a cap 3 movably provided by a moving mechanism (not shown), a suction pump 4 as a suction mechanism, and a liquid fed from the suction pump 4. And a tank 5 for storing (ink and maintenance liquid).

  The cap 3 having a bottomed square box shape includes a bottom portion 31 that forms a bottom surface 31a in the cap 3 and a peripheral wall 32 that protrudes so that the bottom portion 31 serves as a recess. The bottom surface 31a is surrounded by the peripheral wall 32 in the plan view.

  The cap 3 is provided in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction H in correspondence with the inclined recording head 12. More specifically, the cap 3 is provided in an inclined state so that the bottom surface 31a in the cap 3 is parallel to the nozzle forming surface 12a, and the cap 3 moves while maintaining the inclined state. It is configured. Accordingly, the bottom surface 31 a in the cap 3 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H.

  An upstream end 41a of the discharge tube 41A is connected to the bottom 31 of the cap 3. Liquid such as ink and maintenance liquid in the cap 3 is discharged out of the cap 3 through the discharge passage 41 provided in the discharge tube 41A.

  A downstream end 41b of the discharge tube 41A made of a flexible material is disposed in the tank 5 having a bottomed square box shape, and fluid (ink, maintenance liquid, etc.) in the cap 3 is placed in the discharge passage 41. The suction pump 4 is provided for sucking the liquid and gas) from the upstream end 41a of the discharge tube 41A to the downstream end 41b.

  When cleaning the nozzle 12b that sucks the thickened ink in the nozzle 12b, the peripheral wall 32 of the cap 3 is brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface 12a of the recording head 12 so as to cover each nozzle 12b. Is provided with a cap 3. In this way, the cap 3 is disposed so as to be able to receive ink discharged from the recording head 12 as waste liquid. Then, by driving the suction pump 4 which is an electric pump in a state where the nozzle 12b is covered with the cap 3, the viscosity in the nozzle 12b is increased through the sealed space formed by the recording head 12 and the cap 3. Ink is sucked into the suction pump 4 as waste ink. The ink sucked by the suction pump 4 is discharged into the tank 5 which is a waste ink tank through the discharge passage 41 of the discharge tube 41A. The tank 5 accommodates an absorbent material 5a that absorbs and holds the ink discharged into the tank 5.

  In addition, the peripheral wall 32 of the cap 3 is brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface 12a of the recording head 12, and the cap 3 is provided so as to cover each nozzle 12b, thereby suppressing drying of the ink in the nozzle 12b. . In order to make it easy to keep the inside of the cap 3 moisturized, it is preferable that an absorbing member (not shown) for absorbing and maintaining the maintenance liquid is provided in the cap 3.

  Maintenance liquid for maintaining the cap 3 itself is supplied to the cap 3 used for maintaining the recording head 12 as described above. That is, in order to clean the inside of the cap 3 that receives the thickened ink in the nozzle 12 b and to keep the inside of the cap 3 moist, the maintenance device 2 supplies maintenance liquid to the cap 3 to remove the cap 3. to maintain. More specifically, the maintenance device 2 maintains the inside of the cap 3 by supplying maintenance liquid onto the bottom surface 31 a in the space surrounded by the peripheral wall 32. Therefore, the cap 3 is a maintenance fluid receiving member that receives maintenance fluid.

  The maintenance device 2 according to the present embodiment includes a maintenance liquid supply unit 6 including a maintenance liquid storage unit 61 and the like as a configuration for supplying maintenance liquid to the cap 3, and a closing member 7 that covers the opening of the cap 3. And a suction pump 4 as a suction mechanism.

  The maintenance liquid supply unit 6 according to this embodiment includes a maintenance liquid storage part 61 that stores maintenance liquid, a flow path 62 that leads the maintenance liquid from the maintenance liquid storage part 61 to the cap 3, and a flow that opens and closes the flow path 62. A path opening / closing valve 63, a gas flow path 64 that allows gas to flow into the flow path 62, and an air release valve 65 that opens and closes the gas flow path 64 are provided.

  The maintenance liquid reservoir 61 is a tank that stores maintenance liquid. For example, the maintenance liquid reservoir 61 stores water as maintenance liquid. A flow path 62 is connected to the maintenance liquid reservoir 61, and the maintenance liquid is led out from the inside of the maintenance liquid reservoir 61 to the outside through the flow path 62. The tank constituting the maintenance liquid reservoir 61 is preferably provided with an internal pressure adjusting valve 61a in order to adjust the atmospheric pressure inside the tank.

  The maintenance liquid reservoir 61 is connected to the upstream end 62a of the outlet tube 62A. The maintenance liquid is led out from the maintenance liquid reservoir 61 to the cap 3 through the flow path 62 provided in the lead-out tube 62A. A downstream end 62b of the outlet tube 62A made of a flexible material is connected to the closing member 7, and a flow path opening / closing valve 63 is provided in the flow path 62.

  The channel opening / closing valve 63 is a valve that opens and closes the channel 62. When the flow path opening / closing valve 63 is in an open state in which the flow path 62 is opened, the flow path 62 is opened, and the maintenance liquid flows from the upstream end 62a to the downstream end 62b of the outlet tube 62A. Is possible. Further, when the flow path opening / closing valve 63 is in a closed state in which the flow path 62 is closed, the flow path 62 is closed, and the maintenance liquid flows from the upstream end 62a to the downstream end 62b of the outlet tube 62A. Flow is restricted. The flow path opening / closing valve 63 in the present embodiment is an electrically driven valve that is driven by an electric force.

  A gas flow path 64 is connected to the flow path 62 on the downstream side of the flow path opening / closing valve 63, and air (gas) in the atmosphere flows into the flow path 62 through the gas flow path 64. . The gas flow path 64 is formed by branching the outlet tube 62A. The gas flow path 64 at one end of the branched outlet tube 62A is open to the atmosphere.

  The air release valve 65 is a valve that opens and closes the gas flow path 64. When the atmosphere release valve 65 is in an open state in which the gas flow path 64 is opened, the gas flow path 64 is opened and air can flow into the flow path 62. Further, when the atmosphere release valve 65 is in a closed state in which the gas flow path 64 is closed, the gas flow path 64 is closed and air is restricted from flowing to the flow path 62. The atmosphere release valve 65 in the present embodiment is an electrically driven valve that is driven by an electric force.

  The closing member 7 having a bottomed square frame shape includes a lid portion 71 provided so as to cover the bottom surface 31a of the cap 3 obliquely from above, and a peripheral wall 72 formed so as to project the lid portion 71 as a recess. I have.

  The closing member 7 is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the cap 3 (contact and separation are possible). In the present embodiment, when the cap 3 moves toward the closing member 7, the closing member 7 contacts the cap 3. The closing member 7 is configured to cover the cap 3 by contacting the cap 3.

  More specifically, the blocking member 7 is formed so that the sealed space S2 (see FIG. 3A) is formed in the cap 3 by the peripheral wall 72 of the closing member 7 coming into contact with the peripheral wall 32 of the cap 3. Cover the cap 3. Thus, when the closing member 7 covers the cap 3 and the sealed space S2 is formed, the flow path 62 in the downstream end portion 62b of the outlet tube 62A is provided so as to open in the sealed space S2. Then, when the flow path opening / closing valve 63 is opened, the flow path 62 communicates the sealed space S <b> 2 and the maintenance liquid reservoir 61.

  When the sealed space S2 is formed and the channel 62 communicates with the sealed space S2 and the maintenance liquid reservoir 61, the suction pump 4 is driven to The maintenance liquid is sucked from the maintenance liquid reservoir 61 into the sealed space S2. Thus, the maintenance liquid is supplied from the maintenance liquid supply unit 6 to the cap 3 by sucking the maintenance liquid into the sealed space S <b> 2 by the suction pump 4. That is, the maintenance liquid supply unit 6 supplies maintenance liquid to the sealed space S <b> 2 formed by the closure member 7 covering the cap 3 as the sealed space S <b> 2 becomes negative pressure by the suction drive of the suction pump 4. Supply.

  The maintenance device 2 is a control unit 8 that controls the suction pump 4, the flow path opening / closing valve 63, the atmosphere opening valve 65, and the like as components for automatically performing a series of operations when supplying the maintenance liquid to the cap 3. It has.

  The control unit 8 is configured by an integrated circuit such as a microcomputer or a CPU, and has an electric configuration such as a suction pump 4 configured by an electric pump, a flow path opening / closing valve 63 configured by an electric drive valve, and an air release valve 65 Control elements. Specifically, when the closing member 7 is separated from the cap 3, the flow path opening / closing valve 63 is controlled by the control unit 8 so as to close the flow path 62 without opening it. Further, when the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3 and when the maintenance liquid is supplied to the cap 3, the flow path opening / closing valve 63 is controlled by the control unit 8 so as to open the flow path 62. The

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 8 controls the suction pump 4 and the atmosphere release valve 65 so that the maintenance device 2 can switch and perform the following operations (A) to (C). It is configured. That is, the maintenance device 2 can perform any of the following operations (A) to (C), and can switch which operation is performed. Note that the operation switching is performed based on, for example, the operation status of the printer 1 or user settings.

-Operation of the maintenance device 2 related to the supply of maintenance liquid (A to C)
(A) Operation in which the suction pump 4 is driven to suck by closing the gas flow path 64 in a state where the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3 and the flow path 62 is opened (B). In the state in which the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3 and the flow path 62 is opened, the gas flow path 64 is closed and the suction pump 4 is driven to perform suction. In the closed state, the gas channel 64 is opened and the suction pump 4 performs suction driving. (C) The closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3, and the channel 62 is opened. Operation in which the suction passage 4 is driven to suck by opening the gas flow path 64

  Next, a method for maintaining the cap 3 by the maintenance device 2 according to the above (A) to (C) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow of operation of the maintenance device 2 according to (A). FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow of operation of the maintenance device 2 according to (B). FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an operation flow of the maintenance device 2 according to (C).

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the operation described in (A) is performed, first, the control unit 8 controls the moving mechanism of the cap 3 so that the cap 3 comes into contact with the closing member 7. . That is, the closed space S2 is formed by bringing the closing member 7 into contact with the cap 3 and covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7 (step S1). Next, the control unit 8 opens the flow path opening / closing valve 63 so as to open the flow path 62, and closes the atmosphere open valve 65 so as to close the gas flow path 64 (step S2).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the control unit 8 drives the suction pump 4, the maintenance liquid is sucked from the flow path 62 and supplied to the sealed space S2 (step S3). That is, in step S3, the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3, the flow path 62 is opened, and the gas flow path 64 is closed. The suction pump 4 is driven to suck so that the maintenance liquid is sucked into the sealed space S2.

  As described above, when the operation described in (A) is performed, the maintenance liquid is supplied to the sealed space S2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7, and maintenance is performed in the sealed space S2. The maintenance liquid filling state in which the liquid is filled is maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the operation described in (B) above is performed, first, as in step S1, the cap 3 is brought into contact with the cap 3 so that the cap 3 is closed. A sealed space S2 is formed by covering with (Step S11). Next, as in step S2, the control unit 8 opens the flow path opening / closing valve 63 so as to open the flow path 62, and closes the atmosphere open valve 65 so as to close the gas flow path 64 (see FIG. Step S12).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, as in step S3, the control unit 8 drives the suction pump 4 so that maintenance fluid is sucked from the flow path 62 and supplied to the sealed space S2. (Step S13).

  Next, after the maintenance liquid is sucked for a predetermined time, the control unit 8 closes the flow path opening / closing valve 63 so as to close the flow path 62 and opens the gas flow path 64 to the atmosphere release valve 65. Is opened (step S14).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the control unit 8 drives the suction pump 4, so that the maintenance liquid sucked into the sealed space S2 in step S13 is discharged to the tank 5 and also into the sealed space S2. On the other hand, air is sucked in place of the maintenance liquid (step S15). That is, in step S15, the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3, the flow path 62 is closed, and the gas flow path 64 is opened. The suction pump 4 is driven to suck so that air is sucked into the sealed space S2. When the maintenance liquid in the cap 3 is discharged to the tank 5, the control unit 8 stops driving the suction pump 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the control unit 8 controls the moving mechanism of the cap 3 to separate the closing member 7 from the cap 3 (step S16).

  As described above, when the operation described in (B) is performed, the maintenance liquid is supplied to the sealed space S2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7, and then the sealed space S2 is supplied. Air is sucked into the cap 3 and the maintenance liquid is discharged from the cap 3.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the operation described in (C) above is performed, first, the cap 3 is closed by bringing the closing member 7 into contact with the cap 3 as in steps S1 and S11. The sealed space S2 is formed by covering with the member 7 (step S21). Next, the control unit 8 opens the flow path opening / closing valve 63 so as to open the flow path 62, and opens the atmospheric release valve 65 so as to open the gas flow path 64 (step S22).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the control unit 8 drives the suction pump 4, the maintenance liquid is sucked from the flow path 62 and supplied to the sealed space S2 (step S23). That is, in step S23, the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3, the flow path 62 is opened, and the gas flow path 64 is also opened. The suction pump 4 is driven to suck so that the maintenance liquid is sucked together with air into the sealed space S2. If the maintenance liquid cannot be sucked together with air when the atmosphere release valve 65 is fully open, the atmosphere release valve 65 is in a half-open state in which the opening degree is smaller than that in the fully open state in step S22. It is preferable to be controlled.

  Next, after the maintenance liquid is sucked together with the air for a predetermined time, the control unit 8 closes the flow path opening / closing valve 63 so as to close the flow path 62 and maintains the open state of the air release valve 65 ( Step S24).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the maintenance liquid sucked into the sealed space S <b> 2 in step S <b> 23 is discharged to the tank 5 by driving the suction pump 4 as in step S <b> 15. At the same time, air is sucked into the sealed space S2 instead of the maintenance liquid (step S25). Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, similarly to step S16, the control unit 8 controls the moving mechanism of the cap 3 to separate the closing member 7 from the cap 3 (step S26).

  As described above, when the operation described in (B) is performed, the maintenance liquid is supplied to the sealed space S2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7, and then the sealed space S2 is supplied. Air is sucked into the cap 3 and the maintenance liquid is discharged from the cap 3.

  As described above, when the operation described in the above (C) is executed, the gas-liquid two-phase flow in which the gas is mixed in the sealed space S2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7 is formed. Maintenance fluid is supplied.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The maintenance device 2 that maintains the cap 3 can be brought into contact with and separated from the cap 3, and the closing member 7 that covers the cap 3 by contacting the cap 3, and the closing member 7 is the cap 3. And a maintenance fluid supply unit 6 for supplying maintenance fluid to the sealed space S2 formed by covering. That is, the maintenance liquid is supplied to the sealed space S <b> 2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7. Therefore, when the maintenance liquid is supplied to the cap 3, the closing member 7 contacts the cap 3 to cover the cap 3, so that the maintenance liquid can be prevented from flowing out from the cap 3. Therefore, even when the cap 3 is provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H, the maintenance liquid can be prevented from overflowing from the cap 3.

  (2) The maintenance liquid supply unit 6 supplies maintenance liquid to the sealed space S2 as the sealed space S2 becomes negative pressure by the suction drive of the suction pump 4. Accordingly, when the sealed space S2 becomes negative pressure in accordance with the suction drive of the suction pump 4 with the closing member 7 covering the cap 3, the maintenance liquid is sucked into the sealed space S2 from the maintenance liquid supply unit 6 and is put into the cap 3. Maintenance fluid is supplied smoothly.

  (3) The maintenance liquid supply section 6 includes a maintenance liquid storage section 61 that stores maintenance liquid, a flow path 62 that communicates the sealed space S2 and the maintenance liquid storage section 61, and a flow path opening and closing that opens and closes the flow path 62. And a valve 63. For this reason, the maintenance fluid is supplied from the maintenance fluid reservoir 61 in which the maintenance fluid is stored to the sealed space S <b> 2 in which the cap 3 is covered by the closing member 7 by the channel opening / closing valve 63 that opens and closes the channel 62. Can be controlled. Specifically, when the flow path 62 is opened by the flow path opening / closing valve 63, maintenance liquid can be supplied to the sealed space S2 formed by the cap 3 being covered with the closing member 7, When the flow path 62 is closed by the path opening / closing valve 63, the supply of maintenance liquid to the sealed space S2 can be stopped.

  (4) The flow path opening / closing valve 63 opens the flow path 62 when the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3, and closes the flow path 62 when the closing member 7 is separated from the cap 3. That is, the flow path 62 is opened and closed in conjunction with the contact and separation of the closing member 7 with respect to the cap 3. Therefore, when the closing member 7 is separated from the cap 3, that is, when the cap 3 is not covered by the closing member 7 and maintenance fluid is supplied to the cap 3, maintenance is performed from the cap 3. In a state where the liquid may flow out, the flow path 62 is closed. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately suppress the maintenance liquid from flowing out from the cap 3.

  (5) The maintenance liquid supply unit 6 further includes a gas flow path 64 that allows gas to flow into the flow path 62, and an air release valve 65 that opens and closes the gas flow path 64. Therefore, when the air release valve 65 opens the gas flow path 64, the gas can flow into the flow path 62 that communicates the sealed space S <b> 2 and the maintenance liquid reservoir 61 via the gas flow path 64. it can. For this reason, air (gas) can be supplied to the sealed space S <b> 2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7 through the flow path 62.

  (6) The maintenance device 2 is in a state in which the closing member 7 is in contact with the cap 3 and the flow path 62 is opened, and the suction pump 4 is driven by suction by opening the gas flow path 64. To do. For this reason, the maintenance liquid of the gas-liquid two-phase flow in which the gas is mixed is sucked into the sealed space S <b> 2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7, and the foam-like maintenance is performed on the cap 3. The liquid can be supplied. Since the foam-like maintenance liquid has a larger cleaning effect than the maintenance liquid not containing bubbles, the cap 3 can be effectively cleaned.

  (7) The maintenance device 2 includes a control unit 8 that switches the operations (A) to (C) described above by controlling the suction pump 4 and the air release valve 65. That is, since the suction pump 4 and the air release valve 65 are controlled so as to switch and execute the operations described in the above (A) to (C), the cap 3 can be appropriately and flexibly maintained. Specifically, when the operation described in the above (A) is executed, maintenance liquid is supplied to the sealed space S2 in which the cap 3 is covered by the closing member 7, and the maintenance liquid is filled with the maintenance liquid. The liquid filling state can be maintained. For this reason, for example, when the maintenance device 2 stops its operation, the cap 3 can be sufficiently maintained while maintaining the maintenance liquid filling state. Further, when the operation described in (B) above is executed, maintenance liquid is supplied to the sealed space S2 in which the cap 3 is covered by the closing member 7, and then gas is supplied to the sealed space S2. For this reason, after the cap 3 is maintained using the maintenance liquid, the maintenance liquid is discharged from the sealed space S2 and the closing member 7 is separated from the cap 3, and the cap 3 is disposed to face the recording head 12. Can be made. Further, when the operation described in (C) above is performed, the cap 3 can be effectively cleaned.

  (8) The printer 1 includes a recording head 12 that ejects liquid and the maintenance device 2 configured as described above. For this reason, the effect similar to the effect as described in said (1)-(7) can be acquired.

  (9) The recording head 12 is provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H. In general, when the recording head 12 is provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H, the cap 3 provided with respect to the recording head 12 is also provided in an inclined state as in the present embodiment. The maintenance liquid easily overflows from 3. In this regard, since the printer 1 according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the maintenance liquid can be prevented from flowing out from the cap 3. In other words, the configuration of the maintenance device 2 of the present invention can be suitably applied to the printer 1 in which the recording head 12 is provided inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H.

  (10) The suction pump 4 that sucks the maintenance liquid is also a suction mechanism used for cleaning the inside of the nozzle 12b, that is, a suction mechanism that sucks the thickened ink in the nozzle 12b. Accordingly, the configuration of the printer 1 including the maintenance device 2 is simplified as compared with the case where the suction mechanism that sucks the thickened ink in the nozzle 12b and the suction mechanism that sucks maintenance liquid are configured separately. can do.

  (11) The maintenance liquid sucked by the suction pump 4 is discharged through the discharge passage 41 to the tank 5 that is also used as a waste ink tank. Accordingly, the configuration of the printer 1 including the maintenance device 2 can be simplified as compared with the case where the tank 5 from which the maintenance liquid is discharged and the waste ink tank are configured separately.

  (12) A maintenance method for maintaining the cap 3 includes a step of forming the sealed space S2 by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7 (steps S1, S11, S21), and supplying maintenance liquid to the sealed space S2. Process (steps S3, S13, S23). That is, the maintenance liquid is supplied to the sealed space S <b> 2 formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7. Therefore, when the maintenance liquid is supplied to the cap 3, the closing member 7 contacts the cap 3 to cover the cap 3, so that the maintenance liquid can be prevented from flowing out from the cap 3.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
The maintenance device 2 of the present invention may also be applied when the recording head 12 is provided without being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H and the bottom surface 31a of the cap 3 is provided parallel to the horizontal direction H.

  The maintenance device 2 may not be a device that performs all the operations (A) to (C). That is, for example, the maintenance device 2 may be configured to switch and execute the operations (B) and (C), or may be configured to execute only the operation (B).

  In the above embodiment, the air flows into the flow path 62 from the gas flow path 64 opened and closed by the atmosphere release valve 65. However, the maintenance liquid is discharged from the sealed space S2, or As long as the phase maintenance liquid is sucked into the sealed space S <b> 2, a configuration in which a gas other than air flows into the flow path 62 may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the maintenance liquid supply unit 6 includes the gas flow path 64 that allows gas to flow into the flow path 62 and the atmosphere release valve 65 that opens and closes the gas flow path 64. The gas 62 may be configured not to flow in. That is, the gas flow path 64 and the air release valve 65 may be omitted from the maintenance liquid supply unit 6 of the above embodiment.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a gas introduction tube 42 </ b> A is connected to the cap 3, and a gas flow path 42 that allows air (gas) to flow into the cap 3 is provided in the cap 3. The gas passage 42 may be provided with an air release valve 43 that opens and closes the gas passage 42. Thus, even when the gas flow path 42 and the air release valve 43 are provided on the cap 3 side, after the maintenance liquid is sucked into the sealed space S2, air is substituted for the maintenance liquid into the sealed space S2. Can be aspirated.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the flow path opening / closing valve 63 may not be an electrically driven valve. Specifically, in the maintenance device 2 shown in FIG. 6, a maintenance liquid flow path 73 is provided inside the closing member 7, and a downstream end portion 62 b of the outlet tube 62 </ b> A made of a flexible material is provided. It is provided so as to open inside the closing member 7. The flow path 73 is provided with a flow path opening / closing valve 63 that moves as the cap 3 comes into contact with the closing member 7 and opens and closes the flow path 73. When the closing member 7 comes into contact with the cap 3, the flow path opening / closing valve 63 moves so as to open the flow path 73. As the flow path opening / closing valve 63 moves in this way, the flow path 73 communicates the closed space formed by the cap 3 being covered with the closing member 7 and the maintenance liquid reservoir 61. When the closing member 7 is separated from the cap 3, the flow path opening / closing valve 63 moves so as to close the flow path 73. With such a configuration in which the flow path 73 is opened and closed in conjunction with the contact and separation of the closing member 7 with respect to the cap 3, the same effect as the above (4) can be obtained.

  As long as the closing member 7 can contact and separate from the cap 3, the cap 3 may not be configured to move toward the closing member 7. For example, the structure which the closing member 7 moves toward the cap 3 may be sufficient. That is, it is only necessary that at least one of the cap 3 and the closing member 7 moves so as to contact each other.

  In the above embodiment, the sealed space S2 is formed by the closing member 7 and the cap 3. However, the closed space formed by the cap 3 being covered by the closing member 7 may not be completely sealed. That is, it is only necessary that the closing member 7 covers the cap 3 so that the maintenance liquid does not flow out of the cap 3, and the maintenance liquid can be sucked and supplied to the cap 3 by the suction mechanism.

  In the above embodiment, the maintenance liquid in the cap 3 is discharged to the tank 5 by driving the suction pump 4, but the maintenance liquid supplied to the cap 3 by a mechanism (not shown) other than the suction pump 4 is capped. 3 may be configured to be discharged to the outside. That is, the operation according to (B) includes a step of discharging the maintenance liquid to the outside of the cap 3 using the suction pump 4, but the operation according to (A) and (C) is performed using the suction pump 4. It does not necessarily include the step of discharging the maintenance liquid.

  The maintenance liquid may be supplied to a closed space formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7 by a suction mechanism other than the suction pump 4. In addition, if the maintenance liquid can be supplied to the closed space formed by covering the cap 3 with the closing member 7, the maintenance device 2 may not include the suction mechanism. For example, the maintenance liquid may be pressurized and supplied from the maintenance liquid supply unit 6 to the sealed space S2.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid receiving member to which the maintenance liquid is supplied is the cap 3, but the present invention can also be applied to the case where the maintenance liquid is supplied to a liquid receiving member other than the cap 3. In addition, the printer 1 may perform a flushing process in which ink is discharged as waste liquid from the nozzles 12 b in the cap 3 that faces the recording head 12.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in the ink jet printer 1, but a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink may be employed. The present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a minute amount of liquid droplets. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, a color filter, or the like in a dispersed or dissolved state. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a textile printing apparatus, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali to etch the substrate may be employed. The present invention can be applied to any one of these liquid ejecting apparatuses.

  P ... recording paper (recording medium), P1 ... roll body, Pa ... paper surface, S1 ... negative pressure generating space, S2 ... sealed space (closed space), 1 ... printer (liquid ejecting device), 2 ... maintenance device, 3 ... Cap (liquid receiving member), 4 ... suction pump (suction mechanism), 5 ... tank, 5a ... absorbent, 6 ... maintenance liquid supply unit, 7 ... closing member, 8 ... control unit, 11 ... paper feed roller, 12 ... Recording head (liquid ejecting head), 12a ... nozzle forming surface, 12b ... nozzle, 12c ... piezoelectric element, 13 ... carriage, 14 ... platen, 15 ... fan, 16 ... guide shaft, 17 ... winding device, 31 ... bottom, 31a ... bottom surface, 32 ... peripheral wall, 41 ... discharge passage, 41A ... discharge tube, 41a ... upstream end, 41b ... downstream end, 42 ... gas flow path, 42A ... gas introduction tube, 43 ... atmospheric release valve, 61 ... Maintenance Reservoir 61a ... Internal pressure regulating valve 62 ... Flow path 62A ... Deriving tube 62a ... Upstream side end 62b ... Downstream side end 63 ... Flow path opening / closing valve 64 ... Gas flow path 65 ... Open to atmosphere Valve (open valve), 71 ... lid, 72 ... peripheral wall, 73 ... flow path.

Claims (10)

A maintenance device for maintaining a liquid receiving member arranged to receive liquid discharged from a liquid ejecting head as waste liquid,
A closing member that is capable of contacting and separating from the liquid receiving member and covers the liquid receiving member by contacting the liquid receiving member;
A maintenance device, comprising: a maintenance fluid supply unit configured to supply maintenance fluid to a closed space formed by the closure member covering the liquid receiving member.   The maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance liquid supply unit supplies the maintenance liquid to the closed space as the closed space becomes negative pressure by suction driving of a suction mechanism.   The maintenance liquid supply section includes a maintenance liquid storage section that stores maintenance liquid, a flow path that connects the closed space and the maintenance liquid storage section, and a flow path opening / closing valve that opens and closes the flow path. The maintenance device according to claim 2, wherein   The flow path opening / closing valve opens the flow path when the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member, and closes the flow path when the closing member is separated from the liquid receiving member. The maintenance device according to claim 3.   The maintenance device according to claim 3, wherein the maintenance liquid supply unit further includes a gas flow path that allows gas to flow into the flow path, and an open valve that opens and closes the gas flow path. .   When the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member and the channel is opened, the gas channel is opened and the suction mechanism is driven to perform suction. The maintenance device according to claim 5. A control unit that switches the following operations (a) to (c) by controlling the suction mechanism and the opening valve: (a) the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member; and In the state where the flow path is opened, the gas flow path is closed and the suction mechanism is driven for suction. (B) The closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member, and When the flow path is opened, the gas flow path is closed and the suction mechanism is driven to suck. After that, when the flow path is closed, the gas flow path is opened and the suction mechanism is sucked. (C) When the closing member is in contact with the liquid receiving member and the flow path is opened, the gas flow path is opened and the suction mechanism is driven for suction. It is characterized by The maintenance device according to claim 6.   A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid; and the maintenance apparatus according to claim 1.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the liquid ejecting head is provided to be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. A maintenance method for maintaining a liquid receiving member arranged to receive liquid discharged from a liquid ejecting head as waste liquid,
Forming a closed space by covering the liquid receiving member with a closing member;
And a step of supplying maintenance liquid to the closed space.

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