JP2012254541A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable wiping without causing color mixtures on two recording head rows, and to simplify and reduce a size as a whole together with a wiping mechanism.SOLUTION: The wiping mechanism 42 in which inkjet heads 21, 22 are arranged in two rows in parallel with each other in the fore-and-aft direction, and which wipes inks adhered to the heads comprises: one pinion 59; first and second moving frames 53, 54 which reciprocate in the fore-and-aft direction via racks 72, 82 which are engaged with the pinion; first and second wiping blades 63, 93 which are supported to the frames, respectively, so as to be oscillatory, and can make a nozzle face 20a slide-contact with the oscillating portion; first and second oscillating frames 52, 55 having cam followers 64, 94 which protrude in left and right directions; and a first groove cam 56 and a second groove cam 57 which are fit with the cam followers 64, 94, respectively, and regulate the oscillation of the first and second oscillation frames 52, 55 following the reciprocation of the first and second moving frames 53, 54.

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that wipes ink on a nozzle surface during head cleaning.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, as one of the cleaning processes of the recording head, there is so-called wiping that wipes ink adhering to the nozzle surface. In general, this wiping is an operation of wiping ink by bringing the edge of a thin wiping blade into sliding contact with the nozzle surface.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of recording heads arranged in series are arranged at a maintenance position on a maintenance device, and the edge of the wiping blade along the series direction is moved in a direction perpendicular to the series direction. A configuration is disclosed in which the nozzle surface of the recording head is slidably contacted. As a result, even when different inks adhere to the nozzle surfaces of the recording heads arranged in series, wiping can be performed simultaneously and quickly without mixing the inks.

  Further, the carriage for moving the recording head row has no mechanism for moving up and down. Therefore, when the wiping blade after wiping off the ink is returned to the original position, it is necessary to move the edge of the wiping blade away from each nozzle surface while preventing the ink from reattaching. For this reason, the related art includes an upper and lower substrate that swings the wiping blade up and down, a moving substrate that supports the upper and lower substrate so as to swing back and forth, and a vertical movement corresponding to the moving position of the moving substrate. A cam plate for regulating the vertical position of the substrate is provided.

JP 2006-35658 A

  In recent inkjet recording apparatuses, a large amount of white ink is used in addition to so-called YMCK four colors. For this reason, in addition to the first recording head array in which the four recording heads corresponding to the four colors of YMCK are combined, a second recording head array in which only a plurality of recording heads corresponding to white are combined is further provided. In many cases, the two recording head arrays are individually driven to move.

  On the other hand, in order to perform wiping while avoiding color mixing of ink between the recording heads, it is conceivable to provide two wiping mechanisms of the above-described prior art corresponding to each of the two sets of recording head arrays. In this case, the number of parts is doubled and the entire jet recording apparatus is enlarged. Further, for example, a configuration in which two recording head arrays are arranged in series and simultaneously wiped with one wiping blade as in the above-described prior art is conceivable, but even in this case, the entire maintenance device including the wiping mechanism is almost doubled in size. End up.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent ink wiped off by a wiping blade from adhering again to the nozzle surface of the other recording head row after wiping the nozzle surface of one recording head row with respect to the two recording head rows. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can be wiped and that can be simplified and downsized together with the wiping mechanism.

  To achieve the above object, the first invention is an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a wiping means for wiping off ink adhering to each nozzle surface with respect to a recording head array arranged at a maintenance position, The recording head rows are arranged in parallel at the maintenance position, and the wiping means is one pinion that is rotated by switching between normal rotation and reverse rotation within a predetermined rotation angle range by one motor, A first moving frame and a second moving frame that reciprocate within a predetermined range in a parallel direction of the two recording head rows via a rack meshing with a pinion, and the first moving frame and the second moving frame. Are individually supported by the two recording head rows. Correspondingly, a first oscillating frame and a second oscillating frame provided with a wiping blade slidably contactable with each nozzle surface, and a cam follower portion protruding in the series direction of the two rows of recording heads, and the first The cam follower portions are fitted to correspond to the swing frame and the second swing frame, respectively, and the first swing frame and the second swing frame correspond to the reciprocation of the first moving frame and the second moving frame, respectively. A first groove cam and a second groove cam for restricting the swing of the second swing frame are provided.

  In the first invention of the present application, two print head rows are arranged in parallel at the maintenance position. Assuming that the recording heads in each row or the recording head rows have different color inks attached thereto, the wiping means needs to wipe the respective nozzle surfaces without mixing the inks. Further, even when each recording head row uses the same color ink, after wiping the nozzle surface of one recording head row, the ink wiped by the wiping blade is removed from the other recording head row. It is not preferable to adhere again to the nozzle surface. For this reason, two wiping blades are individually provided corresponding to each recording head row, and each is moved in a parallel direction (direction in which the rows of the recording head rows are arranged) to wipe off the nozzle surface of the corresponding recording head row. There is a need.

  In the first invention of the present application, the first moving frame and the second moving frame move in the parallel direction, respectively, via the rack with respect to one pinion rotated and driven by one motor. The pinion is rotationally driven while switching between normal rotation and reverse rotation within a predetermined rotation angle range, so that the first moving frame and the second moving frame reciprocate within a predetermined range in the parallel direction. A first swing frame and a second swing frame provided with the two wiping blades individually are supported so as to be swingable corresponding to the first moving frame and the second moving frame, respectively. Each wiping blade is provided at each swinging portion of the first swing frame and the second swing frame. In addition, a cam follower portion that protrudes in the series direction (direction of each row of the recording head row) is provided in each of the other rocking portions of the first rocking frame and the second rocking frame. Each cam follower portion is fitted into a corresponding first groove cam and second groove cam. The first groove cam and the second groove cam correspond to the reciprocating movements of the first moving frame and the second moving frame through the cam followers, respectively. The swing of the wiping blade provided on each of the moving frames is restricted.

  As a result, the first invention of the present application relates to two wiping blades provided individually corresponding to each of the two print head rows provided in parallel, and is driven by a single motor to drive the nozzles on one print head row. After the surface is wiped, the ink wiped by the wiping blade can be wiped in the parallel direction so that the ink does not adhere again to the nozzle surface of the recording head row on the other side. As a result, the whole inkjet recording apparatus can be simplified and downsized together with the wiping means.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, at least one of the first swing frame and the second swing frame is biased with respect to a support point from the first movable frame and the second movable frame. The corresponding first groove cam and second groove cam are provided with a biasing operation groove portion for swinging the first swinging frame and the second swinging frame by utilizing the biased weight. And

  In the second invention of the present application, when the first moving frame and the second moving frame reciprocate within a predetermined range, the first groove cam to which one of the cam follower portions of the first swing frame and the second swing frame corresponds. And by arriving at the load actuating groove portion of the second groove cam, it automatically swings due to the offset of the corresponding first swing frame and second swing frame. Thus, the vertical movement of the wiping blade can be controlled by swinging the first swing frame and the second swing frame without requiring a special drive mechanism including a dedicated motor.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the cam follower portion of at least one of the first swing frame and the second swing frame is biased in the protruding direction, The 1-slot cam and the 2nd-slot cam are provided with an irreversible advancing groove that irreversibly regulates the advancing direction of the cam follower by providing a step at the bottom of the groove.

  In the third invention of the present application, the first groove cam and the second groove cam regulate the vertical position of each cam follower portion on the side surface of the path groove, and the cam follower portion is urged in the protruding direction by the step at the groove bottom. An irreversible travel part for irreversibly regulating the route is provided. By providing another path for guiding the cam follower section on the derivation side of the irreversible travel section, the cam follower section can be guided to different travel paths in the forward path and the return path of the first moving frame and the second moving frame.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention based on the third aspect, the first groove cam and the second groove cam use the irreversible advancing groove portion to move the first moving frame and the second moving frame forward and backward. The rocking frame and the second rocking frame are configured to have different rocking angles.

  In the fourth invention of the present application, the first groove cam and the second groove cam use the irreversible traveling groove portion, and the vertical positions of the respective cam follower portions are made different between the forward path and the return path of the first moving frame and the second moving frame. Guide to the traveling path of the trajectory to go around. As a result, the swing angle of the first swing frame and the second swing frame is different between the forward path and the return path, and either the forward path or the return path of each wiping blade is in sliding contact with the nozzle surface of the recording head row. And can be separated on the other side. As a result, the ink can be wiped off in only one direction (not in both reciprocating directions) with respect to the nozzle surface, and reattachment in the other direction can be prevented.

  In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the first moving frame and the second moving frame are opposite to each other by meshing with each other so that the tooth directions of the racks face each other so as to sandwich the pinion. The first groove cam and the second groove cam are respectively corresponding to the first oscillating frame and the wiping blade of the second oscillating frame. The first swing frame and the first oscillating frame so that the tip of the wiping blade is positioned below the nozzle surface of the corresponding recording head row in the forward path from the starting point position to the end point position inside the two recording head rows. The swing angle of the second swing frame is regulated, and the tip of the wiping blade is in sliding contact with the corresponding nozzle surface of the recording head row in the return path. Characterized by restricting the swing angle of the first swing frame and the second swing frame to be positioned ability height.

  In the fifth invention of the present application, the first moving frame and the second moving frame are meshed so as to sandwich the pinion in an arrangement in which the tooth directions of the respective racks face each other. Thus, by switching the rotation direction of the pinion, the two wiping blades respectively connected to the first moving frame and the second moving frame move in the opposite direction depending on whether they are close to each other or separated from each other.

  In the fifth invention of the present application, in the setting of the circulation path of the first groove cam and the second groove cam, the starting point positions of the tips of the two wiping blades are both set on the outside in the parallel direction of the two recording head arrays. The end point position is set inside the two recording head rows in the parallel direction. In the forward path moving from the start point position to the end point position, the first swing frame and the second swing frame are arranged so that the tip of each wiping blade is positioned below the nozzle surface of the corresponding recording head row to avoid sliding. The swing angle of the moving frame is regulated. Further, in the return path that moves from the end point position to the start point position, the first swing frame and the second swing frame are positioned so that the tip of each wiping blade is positioned at a height at which the nozzle surface of the corresponding recording head row can be slidably contacted. The swing angle of the swing frame is regulated.

  Thus, by operating two wiping blades symmetrically, the respective wiping operations can be performed simultaneously, and the entire operation time can be shortened. In addition, since each recording head row is wiped from the inside to the outside, even if the ink wiped off by the wiping blade bounces when wiping at high speed, it jumps outside the two rows of recording heads. Therefore, it is possible to prevent contamination with each other.

  A sixth invention is characterized in that, in the fifth invention, the first moving frame and the second moving frame are arranged so as to substantially overlap each other in the vertical direction or in the series direction at the end point position of the forward path. To do.

  In the sixth invention of the present application, the first moving frame and the second moving frame that move in opposite directions are arranged in such a manner that the first moving frame and the second moving frame overlap each other at the end position of the forward path that is closest to each other. As a result, the entire wiping means can be reduced in size.

  In a seventh aspect based on the sixth aspect, the first moving frame and the second moving frame are slidably supported by two guide shafts along the parallel direction, and the support portions reciprocate. It is arranged not to cross each other in the predetermined range that moves.

  In the seventh invention of this application, the number of parts can be reduced and the entire wiping means can be reduced in size as compared with the case where the first moving frame and the second moving frame are each supported by two guide shafts.

  In an eighth aspect based on the seventh aspect, each of the first moving frame and the second moving frame is supported by two sliding support portions arranged in a sliding direction with respect to each of the two guide shafts. The first moving frame and the second moving frame are characterized in that one sliding support portion is disposed between the other two sliding support portions.

  In the eighth invention of the present application, the distance between the two sliding support portions for each guide shaft along the sliding direction of each moving frame can be shortened, that is, the sliding direction length of each moving frame can be set short. The entire wiping means can be reduced in size.

  According to the present invention, after wiping the nozzle surface of one recording head row with respect to two recording head rows, the ink wiped with the wiping blade does not adhere again to the nozzle surface of the other recording head row. Wiping is possible, and the whole wiping mechanism can be simplified and downsized.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall appearance of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in perspective. It is the top view which looked at the whole appearance of the ink jet recording device of one embodiment of the present invention from the upper part. It is the front view which looked at the whole appearance of the ink jet recording device of one embodiment of the present invention from the front. It is a perspective view showing the whole appearance of a maintenance device. It is a perspective view showing the whole appearance of the 1st swing frame. It is a perspective view showing the whole appearance of the 1st movement frame. It is a perspective view showing the whole appearance of the 2nd movement frame. It is a perspective view showing the whole appearance of the 2nd swing frame. It is a side view of only the wiping mechanism which assembled four frame members and other peripheral parts. It is the top view seen from the arrow V in FIG. It is a side view showing the arrangement | positioning relationship of the 1st moving frame and 2nd moving frame which move back and forth with a guide shaft. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the maintenance device corresponding to FIG. 4 in a state in which the first moving frame and the second moving frame are spaced apart from each other. It is a figure showing the structure of a 1st groove cam. It is a side view showing the locus which the upper edge of the 1st wiping blade of the 1st swing frame draws by regulation of the 1st slot cam. It is an enlarged view of the locus which each upper edge part of the 1st wiping blade and the 2nd wiping blade draws.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  An ink jet printer 1 as an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. Specifically, it is a fabric printing apparatus that performs printing by an inkjet method using a fabric such as a T-shirt as a recording medium. 1 is a perspective view of the inkjet printer 1, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inkjet printer 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the inkjet printer 1. FIG. The forward direction (downward direction in FIG. 2) of the inkjet printer 1 is the Z direction, the right direction (right direction in FIGS. 2 and 3) is the X direction, and the upward direction (upward direction in FIG. 3) is Y. The direction is indicated and applied in the following figures.

  In the present embodiment, the inkjet printer 1 is an inkjet printer that supplies ink corresponding to the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 to perform printing on a recording medium. A cloth such as a T-shirt is handled as a recording medium, and printing is performed on the cloth such as a T-shirt based on input image information and the like. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the inkjet printer 1 has the housing | casing 2 by which the flame | frame and the thin plate were couple | bonded and the whole was comprised by the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  The recording mechanism of the ink jet printer 1 in this embodiment is a well-known ink jet recording mechanism. The ink jet printer 1 is provided with a first ink jet head 21 and a second ink jet head 22. Each of these two first inkjet heads 21 and 22 is composed of four recording heads 20 each having a nozzle surface 20a for ejecting ink on the lower surface in series in the left-right direction (X direction: series direction, the same applies hereinafter). It is arranged and arranged. The carriage 14 mounted with the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 arranged in two rows in the front-rear direction (Z direction: parallel direction) is installed over the entire lateral direction of the housing 2. The movement in the left-right direction is guided along the guide rail 11. The carriage 14 is reciprocated in the left-right direction by driving through a pulley 12 from a carriage motor 13 provided near the right end of the guide rail 11. The first ink jet head 21 and the second ink jet head 22 correspond to the recording head row described in each claim.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, four sides of white ink are stored on the side of the left end portion of the housing 2, and CMYK (cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black ( A total of eight ink cartridges 31 for storing the respective color inks K)) are mounted. Of these, four ink cartridges 31 containing white ink and the four recording heads 20 of the first inkjet head 21 are connected to each other via an ink supply tube (not shown). White ink is supplied to each recording head 20 of the first inkjet head 21. In addition, four ink cartridges 31 that store CMYK inks and the four recording heads 20 of the second inkjet head 22 are connected to each other via ink supply tubes (not shown). The ink of each color in the cartridge 31 is supplied in association with each recording head 20 of the second inkjet head 22.

  In the present embodiment, the left-right direction of the inkjet printer 1 is the main scanning direction of the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22.

  The housing 2 is provided with a feed mechanism 6 for guiding the movement of the platen 5 that holds the recording medium in the front-rear direction (Z direction; hereinafter the same) of the inkjet printer 1 (in FIG. 2). (Omitted). The feed mechanism 6 includes a guide rail 7 and a platen transport motor 8 provided at an end of the guide rail 7. The platen 5 reciprocates in the front-rear direction by driving the platen transport motor 8.

  The platen 5 is formed in a pentagonal shape in plan view. Specifically, the platen 5 is a pentagon having a shape in which the center of the short side on the side facing the operator of the rectangular plate body protrudes. The shape is suitable for horizontally placing a recording medium made of a fabric such as the above. The platen 5 has a plurality of types, and the type of the platen 5 to be used is determined depending on the size and shape of a T-shirt or the like that is a recording medium.

  In the illustrated example, a maintenance device 40 that performs maintenance on the first ink jet head 21 and the second ink head 22 is provided at the left end of the guide rail 11. The maintenance device 40 includes a capping function for covering each recording head 20 with a cap described later with respect to the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22, a purging function for sucking ink through each cap, and each recording. A wiping function for wiping off ink adhering to the nozzle surface 20a of the head 20 is provided. 1 to 3, the maintenance device 40 is shown in a simplified manner.

  When the carriage 14 is positioned at the leftmost end (the negative side in the X direction) of the guide rail 11, the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 are placed above the maintenance device 40 (the positive side in the Y direction). It can be located at the maintenance position. In this maintenance position, the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 are arranged in two rows in the front-rear direction (Z direction: parallel direction), and the maintenance device 40 is in the first inkjet head 21 in this arrangement state, The maintenance functions described above can be activated for the second inkjet head 22.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of the maintenance device 40. In FIG. 4, the maintenance device 40 includes a casing 41 that is configured as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outline by combining flat plates. The housing 41 is provided with a wiping mechanism 42 that executes the wiping function. The wiping mechanism 42 includes two guide shafts 51, a first swing frame 52, a first moving frame 53, and a second moving frame. It has a frame 54, a second swing frame 55, a first groove cam 56, a second groove cam 57, and a wiping drive portion 58 (see FIG. 9 described later).

  In addition, the maintenance device 40 includes eight caps 43 that are attached to the respective nozzle surfaces 20a of the recording heads 20 to execute the capping function. These eight caps 43 are arranged in parallel in two rows in the front-rear direction corresponding to the respective recording head rows of the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22. The upper position of each cap row is a maintenance position for the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22.

  A perspective view of the overall appearance of the first swing frame 52 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the first swing frame 52 includes a frame main body portion 61, a blade holding portion 62, a first wiping blade 63, and a cam follower portion 64. The frame main body 61 has two side wall portions 61a that are long along the front-rear direction, and the two cross beams 61b, 61c are arranged so as to bridge between the side walls 61a arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. Are integrally formed.

  A blade holding part 62 is mounted on the front end part of the two side wall parts 61a, and a first wiping blade 63 is provided so as to protrude above the blade holding part 62. Further, cam follower portions 64 are provided penetrating in the left-right direction at the rear end portions of the two side wall portions 61a. The cam follower portion 64 has a substantially elongated and generally cylindrical shape, and the left end portion (the negative side in the X direction) protrudes greatly from the side wall portion 61a. The protruding end is always urged to the left by the urging spring 65. Further, a swing support hole 61d is formed at the same position corresponding to the two side wall portions 61a, and the entire first swing frame 52 is on the rear side (Z direction negative side) with reference to the swing support hole 61d. It is heavily biased. The swing support hole 61d corresponds to a support point from the first moving frame described in each claim.

  A perspective view of the overall appearance of the first moving frame 53 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the first moving frame 53 includes a frame main body 71 and a rack 72. The frame main body 71 has a substantially flat plate shape whose overall lateral width is slightly wider than that of the first swing frame 52, and arm portions 71a extending forward are formed at both ends in the width direction. A total of four locations at the rear end of both ends in the same width direction as the tips of the arm portions 71a have sliding support portions 71b bent downward (negative side in the Y direction), and these sliding support portions 71b. A slide hole 71c into which the guide shaft 51 can be fitted is formed. Further, on the inner sides facing each other at the tips of the two arm portions 71a, there are swing support portions 71d that are bent upward at the same interval as the width of the first swing frame 52 in the left-right direction. The swing support portion 71 d is provided with a convex swing support point 73 that can be fitted into the two swing support holes 61 d of the first swing frame 52. In addition, a rack 72 is provided on the lower surface of the frame main body 71, and a tooth row thereof is fixed at an approximately central position in the left-right direction of the frame main body 71 along the front-rear direction.

  A perspective view of the overall appearance of the second moving frame 54 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the second moving frame 54 includes a frame main body 81 and a rack 82. The frame main body 81 includes two arm portions 81a extending in the front-rear direction and arranged in parallel at substantially the same interval as the width in the left-right direction of the second swing frame 55 described later, and the rear of the two arm portions 81a. And a horizontal beam 81b that spans the ends. Each of the four arm portions 81a has a sliding support portion 81c bent upward (positive side in the Y direction) at a total of four locations, the front end and the rear end, and the sliding support portions 81c include A sliding hole 81d into which the guide shaft 51 can be fitted is formed. Further, on the inner side facing each other at the tips of the two arm portions 81a, there are swing support portions 81e that are bent upward at the same interval as the width in the left-right direction of the second swing frame 55 described later, The swing support portions 81e are provided with convex swing support points 83 that can be fitted into two swing support holes 91f (see FIG. 8 described later) provided in the second swing frame 55 described later. ing.

  Further, a rack 82 is provided on the upper surface of the frame main body 81, and a tooth row thereof is fixed in an arrangement along the front-rear direction at substantially the center in the left-right direction of the frame main body 81. In addition, a long hole 81f into which a pinion 59 (see FIG. 9 described later) can be loosely fitted along the tooth row of the rack 82 is formed in the frame main body 81.

  A perspective view of the overall appearance of the second swing frame 55 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the second swing frame 55 includes a frame main body portion 91, a blade holding portion 92, a second wiping blade 93, and a cam follower portion 94. The frame main body portion 91 has two side wall portions 91a that are long along the front-rear direction, and two side walls 91a are bridged between the front end and the rear end while they are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. The horizontal beams 91b and 91c are integrally formed.

  A blade support portion 91d extending upward is provided near the front of the two side wall portions 91a, and a blade holding portion 92 provided with a second wiping blade 93 is bridged between the upper end portions of these blade support portions 91d. Passed and mounted. Further, a cam follower portion 94 is provided penetrating in the left-right direction at the rear end portion of each of the two side wall portions 91a. The cam follower portion 94 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and the right side (positive side in the X direction) end portion protrudes greatly from the side wall portion 91a. The end on the protruding side is always urged to the left by the urging spring 95. Further, swing support portions 91e extending upward are provided slightly behind the blade support portions 91d of the two side wall portions 91a, respectively, and swing support holes 91f are formed at their tips. The entire second swing frame 55 is greatly biased to the rear side with reference to the swing support hole 91f. The swing support hole 91f corresponds to a support point from the second moving frame 54 described in each claim.

  FIG. 9 shows a side view of the above four frame members 52, 53, 54, 55 and the other wiping mechanism 42 assembled from the other peripheral parts, as viewed from the arrow H in FIG. In FIG. 9, two guide shafts 51 (in the figure, overlapped at the same height and appear as one) are installed over the entire front and rear direction of the casing 41 (see FIG. 4). A first moving frame 53 and a second moving frame 54 are bridged between the two guide shafts 51. The first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are respectively provided with sliding holes 71c and 81d in two sliding support portions 71b and 81c along the axial direction with respect to the two guide shafts 51, respectively. Since the guide shaft 51 is penetrated through the guide shaft 51, the guide shaft 51 is supported so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.

  In each guide shaft 51, only the sliding support portion 71 b on the front side of the first moving frame 53 is disposed between the two front and rear sliding support portions 81 c of the second moving frame 54. Only the rear sliding support portion 81 c is disposed between the two front and rear sliding support portions 71 b of the first moving frame 53. That is, one set of front and rear sliding support portions 71b and 81c of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are mutually connected with one of the sliding support portions 71b and 81c and the other two sliding support portions 71b and 81c. It is arranged between.

  As described above, the frame main body portions 71 and 81 of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are formed in a flat plate shape, and the first moving frame 53 moves above the two guide shafts 51 and moves in the second direction. Frames 54 are horizontally disposed below the two guide shafts 51. For this reason, although each sliding support part 71b and 81c may approach and space | separate with each movement of the 1st moving frame 53 and the 2nd moving frame 54, each frame main-body part 71 and 81 is separated. They do not contact each other while maintaining a parallel arrangement. In addition, each sliding support part 71b and 81c is equivalent to the support part of each claim.

  By fitting the swing support point 73 and the swing support hole 61d, the first swing frame 52 is supported by the swing support portion 71d of the first moving frame 53, and the first moving frame 53 has moved in the front-rear direction. At this time, the first swing frame 52 also moves and can swing about the swing support point 73. Similarly, by fitting the swing support point 83 and the swing support hole 91f, the second swing frame 55 is supported by the swing support portion 81e of the second moving frame 54, and the second moving frame 54 moves in the front-rear direction. In this case, the second swing frame 55 also moves and can swing around the swing support point 83.

  Upper end edges of the first wiping blade and the second wiping blade 93 provided in the first oscillating frame 52 and the second oscillating frame 55, respectively, are the two first ink jet heads 21 and second located at the maintenance position. The inkjet head 22 is disposed at a height close to each nozzle surface 20a, and its height position moves up and down depending on the respective swing angles of the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55. Further, in the state shown in FIG. 9, the two first wiping blades 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are close to each other in the front-rear direction, and the two first ink jet heads 21 and second are located at the maintenance position. Located between the inkjet heads 22.

  The swing support points 73 and swing support points 83 of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are substantially the same height as the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93, that is, at the maintenance position. The two first ink-jet heads 21 and the second ink-jet heads 22 are disposed at substantially the same height as the nozzle surfaces 20a. Thus, by setting the rotation center point of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93, the front and rear direction of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 when they are swung are set. The amount of movement can be reduced.

  Further, the first groove cam 56 is fixed to the casing 41 at the left side position (the rear side position in FIG. 9) of the wiping mechanism 42, and the right side surface (the front side surface in FIG. 9). The projecting portion of the cam follower portion 64 of the first swing frame 52 is fitted into the path groove 56a formed in (1). Further, the second groove cam 57 is fixed to the casing 41 at the right side position (the near side position in FIG. 9) of the wiping mechanism 42, and the left side surface (the back side surface in FIG. 9). The projecting portion of the cam follower portion 94 of the second swing frame 55 is fitted in the path groove 57a formed in ().

  In addition, one pinion 59 that can rotate around the rotation axis along the vertical direction is connected to the motor 103 via the reduction gears 101 and 102, and these constitute the wiping drive unit 58. The pinion 59 passes through a long hole 81 f formed in the frame body 81 of the second moving frame 54, and the upper end of the pinion 59 is positioned at the same height as the rack 72 provided on the lower surface of the first moving frame 53. ing. The racks 72 and 82 of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 mesh with the pinion 59, respectively, and the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are driven by the rotational drive in which the motor 103 is switched between normal rotation and reverse rotation. Move forward and backward. The wiping mechanism 42 having the above configuration corresponds to the wiping means described in each claim.

  FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the meshed state of the racks 72 and 82 and the pinion of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 as viewed from the direction of the arrow V in FIG. In FIG. 10, in order to avoid the complexity of the drawing, the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are shown only in the peripheral portions of the racks 72 and 82, respectively, and the frame main body portions 71 and 81, etc. The other parts are omitted. In FIG. 10, the rack 72 of the first moving frame 53 has its tooth direction directed to the right (downward in the figure), and the rack 82 of the second moving frame 54 has its tooth direction leftward (upward in the figure). Are engaged with each other from the opposite side with respect to the radial direction of the same pinion 59. That is, the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are meshed so as to sandwich the pinion 59 in an arrangement in which the tooth directions of the racks 72 and 82 face each other.

  With this meshing structure, for example, when the pinion 59 is rotated in the clockwise M direction in the top view shown in the figure by driving the motor 103, the rack 72 and the first moving frame shown in the upper part of the figure. 53 moves backward (rightward in the figure), and the rack 82 and the second moving frame 54 shown in the lower part of the figure move forward (leftward in the figure). When the pinion 59 is rotated counterclockwise in the N direction, the first moving frame 53 moves forward (leftward in the figure) and the second moving frame 54 moves rearward (right in the figure). Move to In this way, the wiping drive unit 58 can move the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 simultaneously and in opposite directions by the rotation of one pinion 59. As a result, the two first wiping blades 63 and the second wiping blades 93 that are linked to the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 via the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55 respectively are connected to the pinion. By switching the rotation direction of 59, it moves in the opposite direction, either close to each other or away from each other.

  Further, the range of forward and backward movement of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 is restricted by the arrangement relationship of the sliding support portions 71b and 81c, the first swing frame 52, and the second swing frame 55, respectively. . For example, as shown in FIG. 8 above, when the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are close to each other, the first moving frame 53 is located at the foremost position, and the second moving frame 54 is located at the most rearward position. To position. FIG. 11A shows a side view showing the positional relationship between the guide shaft 51, the first moving frame 53, and the second moving frame 54 at this time. In the state shown in FIG. 11A, the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are arranged so as to substantially overlap each other in the vertical direction. Further, in a state where the sliding support portion 71b in front of the first moving frame 53 and the sliding support portion 81c in the rear of the second moving frame 54 are close to each other, the first moving frame 53 is located at the rearmost position, and the second The moving frame 54 is located at the forefront. FIG. 11B shows a side view showing the arrangement relationship between the guide shaft 51, the first moving frame 53, and the second moving frame 54 at this time.

  The difference between the positions of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 between FIG. 11 (a) and FIG. 11 (b) is the forward / backward moving range, and their distances D1, D2 are equal. As described above, the pair of front and rear sliding support portions 71b and 81c of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are mutually connected to the other two sliding support portions 71b and 81c. It arrange | positions between the support parts 71b and 81c. For this reason, the respective sliding support portions 71b and 81c do not intersect each other in the respective forward and backward moving ranges of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the maintenance device 40 corresponding to FIG. 4 in the arrangement state of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the two first wiping blades 63 and the second wiping blades 93 that are in the most separated state are located outside the two rows of caps 43 in the front-rear direction, that is, in the maintenance position. The two first ink-jet heads 21 and the second ink-jet heads 22 are also located outside them.

  Next, the configuration of the groove cams 56 and 57 will be described. 13A shows a side view of the first groove cam 56, FIG. 13B shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-B in FIG. 13A, and FIG. 13C shows FIG. Sectional drawing of the arrow A-C cross section in (a) is shown. The first groove cam 56 is a resin member formed by a thin mold. The cam follower portion 64 included in the first swing frame 52 is provided on the side surface (the right side surface on the X direction positive side, that is, the front side in FIG. 13A) of the first groove cam 56 shown in FIG. A path groove 56a in which the leading end of the protruding side can be fitted and moved is provided in a substantially annular shape.

  First, in FIG. 13A, the tip of the cam follower portion 64 corresponds to the rearmost position of the first moving frame 53 shown in FIG. It is located at the I-th path point. In this example, the position of the I-th path point is the starting point position of the moving path of the cam follower unit 64. When the cam follower portion 64 moves forward together with the first moving frame 53 and the first swinging frame 52 by driving the wiping drive portion 58 from the first route point, the second route is maintained while maintaining the height position. Pass through the point and go straight ahead to reach the third path point. Up to this point, the height position of the cam follower portion 64 is restricted by the upper and lower side walls of the path groove 56 a of the first groove cam 56.

  However, since the lower side wall disappears in front of the third path point, when the cam follower portion 64 moves further forward from the third path point, its height position suddenly drops to the fourth path point. To reach. This is because, as described above, the entire first swing frame 52 is largely biased to the rear side, that is, the side including the cam follower portion 64 with respect to the swing support hole 64d. That is, an urging force that is always pushed downward acts on the cam follower portion 64, and the cam follower portion 64 descends at a portion where there is no side wall below the path groove 56 a of the first groove cam 56. When the cam follower portion 64 reaches the load acting groove 111 between the third path point and the IV path point, the first swing frame 52 automatically swings due to the load. In this example, the position of the IV path point is the turning point of the moving path of the cam follower section 64, that is, the end position of the forward path. The distance Dc1 in the front-rear direction between the I-th route point and the IV-th route point coincides with the distance D1 of the front-back movement range of the first moving frame 53 shown in FIG.

  When the cam follower portion 64 moves rearward together with the first moving frame 53 and the first swing frame 52 by switching the driving direction of the wiping drive portion 58 from the IV path point, the upper and lower side walls of the path groove 56a. The vehicle travels straight backward while maintaining the height position to reach the Vth path point. Behind this Vth path point, the lower side wall of the path groove 56a is inclined obliquely upward. For this reason, when the cam follower portion 64 moves rearward from the Vth path point, the cam follower part 64 gradually rises due to the restriction of the side wall below the path groove 56a and reaches the second path point. Further, when the cam follower portion 64 moves rearward from the second path point, the cam follower 64 moves straight back while maintaining the height position by the upper and lower side walls of the path groove 56a, and ends at the last path position I path point. In this example, the I-th path point is the starting point position of the moving path of the cam follower unit 64 as described above, and is also the end position of the moving path and the return path.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13B, the groove bottom is the deepest at the I-th path point and the II-th path point, and the groove bottom gradually becomes shallower on the path from the second path point to the third path point. . As shown in FIG. 13C, the groove bottom is the deepest at the IV path point, and the groove bottom is gradually shallower along the path from the IV path point to the V path point. In the path from the third path point having the shallow groove bottom to the fourth path point having the deep groove bottom, there is a step in which the depth of the groove abruptly changes in the vicinity of the IV path point. Further, in the path from the V-th path point having a shallow groove bottom to the II-th path point having a deep groove bottom, there is a step where the depth of the groove abruptly changes near the second path point.

  On the other hand, as described above, the cam follower portion 64 is always urged toward the distal end of the protruding side by the urging spring 65 (see FIG. 5), and presses the groove bottom of the first groove cam 56. For this reason, in the path from the III path point to the IV path point, the step portion near the IV path point becomes the irreversible travel groove 112 and irreversibly regulates the traveling direction of the cam follower section 64. That is, the cam follower portion 64 can travel from the third path point to the fourth path point, but cannot travel in the reverse direction. Similarly, in the path from the Vth path point to the IIth path point, the step portion in the vicinity of the IIth path point becomes the irreversible travel groove 112, and the travel direction of the cam follower section 64 is irreversibly restricted. That is, the cam follower portion 64 can travel from the Vth path point to the second path point, but cannot travel in the reverse direction.

  As a result, the forward path of the cam follower section 64 always starts from the I-th path point, passes in the order of the II-th path point, and the III-th path point, and ends at the IV-th path point. The reverse return path always starts from the IVth path point, passes in the order of the Vth path point and the IIth path point, and ends at the Ith path point.

  As described above, when the first groove cam 56 includes the eccentric operation groove portion 111 and the irreversible advance groove portion 112 in combination, the first moving frame 53 moves back and forth over the entire front and rear movement range. The traveling path of the cam follower section 64 always moves in the order of the first route point, the second route point, the third route point, the fourth route point, the Vth route point, the second route point, and the first route point. It becomes a route. Note that the entire configuration of the second groove cam 57 including the shape of the path groove 57a is symmetrical with the first groove cam 56 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and the cam follower portion of the second swing frame 55 It is made to travel on a circular path symmetrical in the front-rear direction with respect to 94 (not shown). In this manner, the first groove cam 56 and the second groove cam 57 regulate the height position corresponding to the reciprocating movement of the cam follower portions 64 and 94, respectively, so that the first swing frame 52 and the second swing cam The swing angle of the frame 55 and the height positions of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are also restricted.

  Due to the restriction of the first groove cam 56, the upper edge portion of the first wiping blade 63 of the first swing frame 52 draws a locus indicated by a thick line in FIG. FIG. 14 shows only the connection configuration of the first swing frame 52 and the first groove cam 56 in a side view corresponding to FIG. Note that the locus corresponding to the route between the I-th route point and the II-th route point is omitted.

  As described above, the first swing frame 52 includes the first wiping blade 63 at the front end, the cam follower 64 at the rear end, and the swing support hole 61d is located therebetween. For this reason, in most of the forward paths where the cam follower portion 64 passes through the second path point, the upper edge portion of the first wiping blade 63 moves forward while maintaining a relatively low position. In the return path where the cam follower 64 starts from the IV path point, the upper edge of the first wiping blade 63 moves backward while maintaining a relatively high position in the first half, and gradually descends from the second half of the way. Thus, the swing angle of the first swing frame 52 and the height of the upper edge of the first wiping blade 63 are different between the forward path and the return path, respectively. The change in the height of the upper edge of the first wiping blade 63 is the difference in height between the forward and return path grooves in the first groove cam 56, the upper edge, the swing support point, and the cam follower. It depends on the arrangement relationship.

  FIG. 15 shows an enlarged view of the locus drawn by the upper edge portions of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93. In FIG. 15, the trajectory drawn by the upper edge of the first wiping blade 63 is indicated by the I to V positions corresponding to the respective path points of the first groove cam 56. The trajectory drawn by the upper edge of the second wiping blade 93 is indicated by the positions I ′ to V ′ corresponding to the respective path points of the second groove cam 57. For the sake of clarity, the scale in the vertical direction of each trajectory is shown larger than that in the front-rear direction.

In FIG. 15, the upper edge portions of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are the start point positions (the illustrated first position) outside the two rows of the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 in the front-rear direction. The first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 in the two rows move from the I and I 'positions) to the end positions (the IV and IV' positions shown in the drawing) as forward paths. In most of the forward paths, the upper edge portions of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are below the nozzle surfaces 20a of the first ink jet head 21 and the second ink jet head 22 located at the maintenance positions, respectively. Move to move away from each other. In the section between the first IV, IV ′ position and the V, V ′ position in the first half of the return path, the upper edge portions of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 correspond to the corresponding first. The nozzle surfaces 20a of the rows of the first ink jet head 21 and the second ink jet head 22 are positioned at a slidable height and move away from each other.

  Note that, in the sliding contact section from the IVth, IV ′ positions to the Vth, V ′ positions, the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are respectively upright and perpendicular to the nozzle surface 20a. The posture angle is tilted in the other sections while maintaining the above. Further, in the section from the V, V ′ position to the II, II ′ position in the return path, the upper edge portions of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 have high ink absorbability. The ink wiped from the nozzle surface 20a is wiped by the blade cleaner in sliding contact with the surface of a blade cleaner (not shown) made of sponge in an inclined posture. As shown in FIG. 8, unlike the case of the first swing frame 52, the height positions of the second wiping blade 93 and the cam follower portion 94 are greatly different in the second swing frame 55. However, since the swing support point 83 is arranged at a higher position by that amount, the change in the posture angle of the second wiping blade 93 itself and the height of the upper edge thereof is suppressed small between the forward path and the return path.

  As described above, in the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 are arranged in two rows in parallel at the maintenance position above the maintenance device 40. Since the recording heads 20 in each row of the ink jet heads 21 and 22 or the ink jet heads 21 and 22 have different color inks attached thereto, the wiping mechanism 42 does not mix the ink colors, It is necessary to wipe off 20a. For this reason, two first wiping blades 63 and second wiping blades 93 are provided corresponding to the respective ink jet heads 21 and 22, respectively, and the front and rear sides are in the parallel direction of the first ink jet head 21 and the second ink jet head 22, respectively. The nozzle surfaces 20a of the corresponding first inkjet head 21 and second inkjet head 22 need to be wiped by moving in the direction.

  In the present embodiment, the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 move in the front-rear direction via the racks 72 and 82, respectively, with respect to one pinion 59 that is rotationally driven by one motor 103. The pinion 59 is rotationally driven while switching between normal rotation and reverse rotation within a predetermined rotation angle range, so that the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 reciprocate within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction. The first oscillating frame 52 and the second oscillating frame 55 provided with the two first wiping blades 63 and the second wiping blade 93, respectively, are provided on the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54, respectively. Correspondingly, it is swingably supported.

  The wiping blades 63 and 93 are provided on the swinging portions of the first swinging frame 52 and the second swinging frame 55, respectively. In addition, cam follower portions 64 and 94 projecting in the left-right direction are also provided on the other swing portions of the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55, respectively. Each of the cam follower portions 64 and 94 is fitted into a first groove cam 56 and a second groove cam 57 that correspond to each other individually. The first groove cam 56 and the second groove cam 57 correspond to the reciprocating movement of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 via the cam follower portions 64 and 94, respectively. The swing of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 provided on the moving frame 52 and the second swing frame 55 is restricted.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, two first wiping blades 63 and second wiping blades 93 provided individually corresponding to each of the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 provided in two rows in parallel are The nozzle surfaces 20a can be wiped in the front-rear direction without being mixed with ink by interlocking with the driving of the two motors 103. Further, the ink wiped by the wiping blades 63 and 93 after wiping off the nozzle surface 20a of the ink jet heads 21 and 22 on one side does not adhere again to the nozzle surface 20a of the ink heads 21 and 22 on the other side. As a result, it is possible to simplify and downsize the entire inkjet printer 1 together with the wiping mechanism 42.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, when the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 reciprocate within a predetermined range, one of the cam follower portions 64 of the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55, When the 94 reaches the load acting groove 111 of the corresponding first groove cam 56 and the second groove cam 57, it swings automatically due to the load of the corresponding first swing frame 52 and second swing frame 55. . Thus, the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are moved up and down by swinging the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55 without requiring a special drive mechanism including a dedicated motor. Control.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the first groove cam 56 and the second groove cam 57 regulate the vertical positions of the cam follower portions 64 and 94 on the side surfaces of the path grooves 56a and 57a, and project in the protruding direction at the step of the groove bottom. There is provided an irreversible traveling portion 112 that irreversibly regulates the traveling path of the cam follower portions 64 and 94 biased by the. By providing another path for guiding the cam follower parts 64 and 94 on the derivation side of the irreversible traveling part 112, the cam follower parts 64 and 94 travel differently in the forward path and the backward path of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54. It can be guided to the route.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the first groove cam 56 and the second groove cam 57 use the irreversible travel groove portion 112, and each cam follower portion 64, in the forward path and the return path of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54, The vertical position of 94 is made different, that is, it is guided to the traveling path of the trajectory that circulates. As a result, the swing angles of the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55 are different in the forward path and the return path, and the first inkjet head 21, in the return path of the first wiping blade 63 and the second wiping blade 93, respectively. It can be slidably contacted with the nozzle surface 20a of the second inkjet head 22 and separated in the forward path. As a result, the wiping blades 63 and 93 can be wiped off from the nozzle surface 20a only in the backward direction (not in both reciprocal directions), and adhesion in the forward direction can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 mesh with each other so as to sandwich the pinion 59 in an arrangement in which the tooth directions of the racks 72 and 82 face each other. Accordingly, whether the two first wiping blades 63 and second wiping blades 93 respectively connected to the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are close to each other or separated by switching the rotation direction of the pinion 59. Move in the opposite direction at either.

  In the present embodiment, in setting the circulation path of the first groove cam 56 and the second groove cam 57, both are arranged in the parallel direction of the two rows of the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22, that is, outside in the front-rear direction. The start point positions of the tips of the two first wiping blades 63 and the second wiping blade 93 are set, and the end point positions are set inside the two rows of the first inkjet head 21 and the second inkjet head 22 in the parallel direction. ing. In the forward path from each start point position to the turn-back position, the tip of each wiping blade 63, 93 is positioned below the corresponding nozzle surface 20a of the first ink jet head 21 and the second ink jet head 22 to avoid sliding. Thus, the swing angle of the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55 is restricted. Further, in the return path that moves from the respective folding position to the starting position, the tip of each wiping blade 63, 93 is at a height that allows the nozzle surface 20a of the corresponding first inkjet head 21 and second inkjet head 22 to be in sliding contact. The swing angles of the first swing frame 52 and the second swing frame 55 are regulated so as to be positioned.

  Thus, by operating the two 1st wiping blades 63 and the 2nd wiping blade 93 symmetrically, each wiping operation | movement can be performed simultaneously and the whole operation time can be shortened. In addition, in any row of the inkjet heads 21 and 22, since wiping is performed from the inside to the outside, even when the ink wiped off by the wiping blades 63 and 93 bounces when wiping at high speed, the two rows Since it only jumps to the outside of the first ink jet head 21 and the second ink jet head 22, it is possible to prevent them from becoming dirty.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 that move in opposite directions are arranged in a shape and size so as to overlap in the vertical direction at the turn-around position of the forward path closest to each other. Therefore, the entire wiping mechanism 42 can be reduced in size.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are slidably supported by the two guide shafts 51 along the front-rear direction, and the sliding support portions 71b and 81c are respectively supported. Are arranged so as not to cross each other in the range of back-and-forth movement. Thereby, compared with the case where the 1st moving frame 53 and the 2nd moving frame 54 are each supported by the two guide shafts 51, a number of parts can be reduced and the whole wiping mechanism 42 can be reduced in size.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, each of the first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 is supported by two sliding support portions 71b and 81c arranged in the sliding direction with respect to the two guide shafts 51, respectively. Has been. The first moving frame 53 and the second moving frame 54 are arranged such that one of the two sliding support portions 71b and 81c arranged in the sliding direction is disposed between the other two sliding support portions 71b and 81c. ing. As a result, the distance between the two sliding support portions 71b, 81c for each guide shaft 51 along the sliding direction of each moving frame 53, 54 can be shortened, that is, the sliding direction length of each moving frame 53, 54. Since the length can be set short, the entire wiping mechanism 42 can be reduced in size.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

1 Inkjet printer (inkjet recording device)
20 Recording Head 20a Nozzle Surface 21 First Inkjet Head (Recording Head Array)
22 Second inkjet head (recording head array)
40 Maintenance Device 42 Wiping Mechanism 51 Guide Shaft 52 First Oscillating Frame 53 First Moving Frame 54 Second Moving Frame 55 Second Oscillating Frame 56 First Groove Cam 56a Path Groove 57 Second Groove Cam 57a Path Groove 58 Wiping Drive 59 Pinion 61 Frame body 61d Swing support hole (support point)
63 First wiping blade 64 Cam follower portion 71 Frame body portion 71b Sliding support portion (support portion)
71d swing support portion 72 rack 73 swing support point 81 frame body portion 81c sliding support portion (support portion)
81e Swing support part 82 Rack 83 Swing support point 91 Frame body part 91f Swing support hole (support point)
93 Second wiping blade 94 Cam follower 103 Motor 111 Unbalanced operation groove 112 Irreversible travel groove

Claims (8)

An ink jet recording apparatus provided with a wiping means for wiping off ink adhering to each nozzle surface with respect to a recording head row arranged at a maintenance position,
The recording head rows are arranged in two rows in parallel at the maintenance position,
The wiping means includes
One pinion that is driven to rotate by switching between normal rotation and reverse rotation within a predetermined rotation angle range by one motor;
A first moving frame and a second moving frame that reciprocally move within a predetermined range with respect to the parallel direction of the two rows of recording heads, each via a rack that meshes with the pinion;
The first moving frame and the second moving frame are supported so as to be able to swing, and each of the swinging portions is slid onto each nozzle surface individually corresponding to the two recording head rows. A first oscillating frame and a second oscillating frame provided with a wiping blade capable of contacting, and a cam follower portion protruding in a series direction of the two recording head rows;
The cam follower portion is inserted corresponding to each of the first swing frame and the second swing frame, and the first swing frame corresponds to the reciprocating movement of the first moving frame and the second moving frame. A first groove cam and a second groove cam for restricting the swing of the frame and the second swing frame;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: At least one of the first swing frame and the second swing frame is biased with respect to a support point from the first moving frame and the second moving frame;
The corresponding first groove cam and second groove cam are provided with a biasing operation groove portion that swings the first swing frame and the second swing frame by using the bias. The inkjet recording apparatus according to 1. The cam follower portion of at least one of the first swing frame and the second swing frame is biased in the protruding direction,
The corresponding first groove cam and second groove cam are provided with an irreversible advancing groove portion that irreversibly regulates the advancing direction of the cam follower portion by providing a step at the groove bottom and urging. Item 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to Item 1 or 2.   The first groove cam and the second groove cam use the irreversible advancing groove portion to move the first swing frame and the second swing frame between the forward path and the return path of the first moving frame and the second moving frame. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the swing angle is made different. The first moving frame and the second moving frame move in opposite directions by meshing with each other so as to sandwich the pinion in an arrangement in which the tooth directions of the racks face each other.
The first groove cam and the second groove cam are respectively configured so that the corresponding wiping blades of the first swing frame and the second swing frame are located from the start position outside the two recording head rows in the parallel direction. In the forward path that moves to the end point position inside the two print head rows, the first swing frame and the second swing frame are positioned so that the tip of the wiping blade is located below the nozzle surface of the corresponding print head row. The first swing frame and the second swing are controlled so that the swing angle of the moving frame is regulated and the tip of the wiping blade is positioned at a height at which the nozzle surface of the corresponding recording head row can slide on the return path. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a swing angle of the frame is restricted.   6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first moving frame and the second moving frame are arranged so as to substantially overlap each other in the vertical direction or the series direction at the end point position of the forward path.   The first moving frame and the second moving frame are slidably supported by the two guide shafts along the parallel direction, and are arranged so as not to cross each other within the predetermined range in which the respective support portions reciprocate. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided. Each of the first moving frame and the second moving frame is supported by two sliding support portions arranged in a sliding direction with respect to each of the two guide shafts,
8. The inkjet recording according to claim 7, wherein the first moving frame and the second moving frame are arranged such that one sliding support portion is disposed between the other two sliding support portions. apparatus.

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