JP2013071252A - Liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of supporting a target with a high degree of precision while performing maintenance of a liquid ejecting head.SOLUTION: An inkjet-type printer 11 includes a recording head 14 that ejects ink to a conveyed recording sheet 12 from each nozzle 15 formed on a nozzle formation surface 14a, and a functional unit 13 disposed so as to face the nozzle formation surface 14a, having each protrusion ridge 34 for supporting the recording sheet 12, an opening 35 through which flushing ink ejected from each nozzle 15 is caused to pass, and a wiper 36 capable of wiping the nozzle formation surface 14a. By a circular movement of a belt 32, the functional unit 13 is displaced among the three positions in a direction perpendicular to the recording sheet 12 conveying direction, that are a supporting position where each protrusion ridge 34 faces the nozzle formation surface 14a, a first maintenance position where the opening 35 faces the nozzle formation surface 14a, and a second maintenance position where the wiper 36 wipes the nozzle formation surface 14a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

  In general, inkjet printers are widely known as liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject liquid from a liquid ejecting head. Among such printers, a so-called line head printer that performs printing by ejecting ink (liquid) from nozzles of a recording head (liquid ejecting head) that is fixedly arranged on a paper (target) being conveyed. (For example, Patent Document 1).

  In the printer of Patent Document 1, a plurality of ribs that support paper and a flushing (spit) that forcibly ejects ink from nozzles regardless of printing are provided on a support base (platen). An accommodating portion (opening) for accommodating is provided. In this case, the accommodating portion is formed to be lower than the upper surface of the support base and the rib.

JP 2007-50704 A

  By the way, in the printer of Patent Document 1, although flushing ink can be ejected to the accommodating portion on the support base, the rib is not present in the region where the accommodating portion is formed on the support base, so the paper is accurately supported. There was a problem that I could not.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of accurately supporting a target while performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting head.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle formed on a nozzle forming surface with respect to a target conveyed from an upstream side to a downstream side, and the nozzle formation A functional member that is disposed so as to face the surface and has a support functional unit that supports the target and a maintenance functional unit that performs maintenance of the liquid jet head, and the functional member is orthogonal to the transport direction of the target. In this direction, the support function portion is configured to be displaceable between a support position where the support function portion faces the nozzle formation surface and a maintenance position where the maintenance function portion faces the nozzle formation surface.

  According to the present invention, the functional member is displaced to the support position when the target is supported, while the functional member is displaced to the maintenance position when the maintenance of the liquid ejecting head is performed. Function individually without interfering with each other's functions. Therefore, it is possible to accurately support the target while performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting head.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the functional member includes a plurality of rotating bodies that can rotate around an axis extending along the transport direction, and an endless belt-like shape that is wound around the rotating bodies so as to be able to move around. And the support function section and the maintenance function section are provided on the belt-shaped body.

  According to this invention, compared with the case where a functional member is displaced linearly between a support position and a maintenance position, the space required for the displacement of a functional member in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of a target is made small. It becomes possible.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the support function unit includes a plurality of convex portions that extend along the transport direction and are arranged in parallel at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.
According to the present invention, for example, even when a plurality of convex portions are provided on an endless belt-like body wound around a plurality of rotating bodies so as to be able to move around, the convex portions can be made of a hard material. For this reason, it becomes possible to support a target stably by a convex part.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the maintenance function unit may include an opening, and may be disposed so as to face the nozzle forming surface with the opening interposed between the function member and the maintenance member. And a liquid receiving portion capable of receiving the liquid discharged from the nozzle through the opening.

According to the present invention, it is possible to receive the liquid when the flushing is performed by forcibly discharging the liquid from the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head by the liquid receiving unit.
In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the maintenance function unit may include a wiping unit that can wipe the nozzle forming surface.

According to this invention, it is possible to remove the liquid adhering to the nozzle forming surface by wiping the liquid adhering to the nozzle forming surface when flushing is performed by the wiping unit.
The liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention includes a cleaning unit that cleans the wiping portion.

  According to this invention, when the liquid adhering to the nozzle formation surface by flushing is wiped by the wiping portion, the wiping portion soiled with the liquid can be cleaned by the cleaning means.

1 is a schematic side view showing an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the printer. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printer. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state when the functional unit of the printer is in a first maintenance position. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state when the functional unit of the printer is in a second maintenance position. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state during wiping of a nozzle formation surface of a recording head in the printer. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state during cleaning of the wiper in the printer. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a printer according to a modification example.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention is embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, when referring to “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction”, and “up-down direction”, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction indicated by arrows in the drawings are respectively shown. In addition, in the arrows indicating the upward, rightward and forward directions in the drawings, those marked with “•” in “○” (viewed from the front of the arrow) are displayed from the back of the page. It means an arrow heading, and “X” in “○” (a view of the arrow blades from the back) means an arrow heading from the front to the back of the page.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 11 as a liquid ejecting apparatus is a so-called line head printer, and transports at a constant speed from a rear side that is upstream to a front side that is downstream along a transport path. A functional unit 13 is provided as a functional member having a function of supporting a recording paper 12 (for example, a sheet) as a target.

  Above the functional unit 13, a recording head 14 as a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink as liquid onto the recording paper 12 supported by the functional unit 13 is connected to the functional unit 13 across the conveyance path of the recording paper 12. It is arranged in a fixed state so as to face each other.

  The recording head 14 extends in the left-right direction (width direction of the recording paper 12) perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12 (the direction from the rear side to the front side) in the horizontal direction, and has a length in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction). The recording paper 12 is set to be slightly longer than the width in the left-right direction. The lower surface of the recording head 14 is a horizontal nozzle forming surface 14a in which a plurality of nozzles 15 are opened (formed).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, each nozzle 15 is arranged along the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the recording head 14 extends, on the nozzle forming surface 14a, and a plurality (four in this embodiment) of nozzle rows 15A. , 15B, 15C, 15D. The nozzle rows 15A to 15D are arranged in parallel with each other at regular intervals in the front-rear direction.

  A plurality of colors (in this embodiment, four colors of black, cyan, yellow, and magenta) are supplied to the recording head 14 from an ink cartridge (not shown). A piezoelectric element 16 (see FIG. 4) for ejecting ink from each nozzle 15 is provided in the recording head 14. Each color ink corresponds to each of the nozzle rows 15A to 15D.

  Then, by driving the piezoelectric element 16 (see FIG. 4), each ink in the ink cartridge (not shown) is supplied into the recording head 14, and each ink is supplied from each nozzle 15 of each nozzle row 15A to 15D to the functional unit. 13 is ejected onto the recording paper 12 supported by the printer 13 for printing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the upstream side of the functional unit 13 in the conveyance path of the recording paper 12, the plurality of recording papers 12 continuously conveyed from the upstream side at a predetermined conveyance interval are sandwiched and pressed. A feeding roller pair 17 is disposed that is constituted by a pair of upper and lower rollers that sequentially feed onto the functional unit 13.

  On the other hand, on the downstream side of the functional unit 13, a pair of upper and lower sides that sequentially discharge each recording paper 12 on which printing has been performed by ejecting ink on the functional unit 13 while being pressed from the functional unit 13 to the downstream side. A pair of discharge rollers 18 constituted by rollers is arranged.

  Each of the roller pairs 17 and 18 is rotationally driven by a transport motor 19 (see FIG. 4) around an axis extending in the left-right direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording paper 12. The interval between the centers of the roller pairs 17 and 18 is narrower than the conveyance interval of the recording paper 12.

  An end in the transport direction of the recording paper 12 discharged by the discharge roller pair 18 is located at a position corresponding to a region downstream of the functional unit 13 and upstream of the discharge roller pair 18 in the transport path of the recording paper 12. A paper edge sensor 20 for detecting the copy is disposed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the functional unit 13 includes a pair of left and right rollers 30 and 31 as rotating bodies configured to be rotatable around an axis extending in parallel with the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12, And a belt 32 made of hard rubber having flexibility as an endless belt wound around the rollers 30 and 31 so as to be able to move around.

  Among these rollers 30 and 31, the one located on the left side is a driving roller 30 that is rotationally driven by a functional motor 33 (see FIG. 4), while the one located on the right side is associated with the rotational driving of the driving roller 30. The driven roller 31 is driven and rotated (followed) via the belt 32.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the driving roller 30 is rotationally driven counterclockwise when viewed from the front side, the belt 32 rotates around the rollers 30 and 31 counterclockwise (circular movement direction). At the same time, the driven roller 31 is driven to rotate counterclockwise. In the left-right direction, the driving roller 30 is located on the left side of the recording head 14, while the driven roller 31 is located on the right side of the recording head 14. The drive roller 30 is provided with a rotary encoder 40 (see FIG. 4) that detects the amount of rotation of the drive roller 30.

  On the outer surface of the belt 32, a plurality of ridges 34 are erected as a plurality of (five in the present embodiment) convex portions constituting a support function unit capable of supporting the recording paper 12. Each ridge 34 extends along the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12 and is arranged in parallel at equal intervals in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Each protrusion 34 extends over the entire width of the belt 32 in the front-rear direction and is made of a hard material (for example, metal or hard resin).

  On the outer surface of the belt 32, a rectangular opening 35 constituting the maintenance function unit is formed so as to penetrate the belt 32 at a position on the rear side in the circumferential movement direction with respect to each protrusion 34. ing. The size of the opening 35 is set so that all the nozzles 15 of the recording head 14 can be accommodated in the opening 35 in the vertical direction when the opening 35 is opposed to the recording head 14 in the vertical direction.

  A wiper 36 as a wiping unit constituting a maintenance function unit capable of wiping the nozzle forming surface 14a of the recording head 14 at a position on the outer surface of the belt 32 on the rear side in the circumferential movement direction with respect to the opening 35. Is provided. The wiper 36 is made of rectangular plate rubber. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the width in the front-rear direction of the wiper 36 is larger than the distance from the rear end of the nozzle row 15A to the front end of the nozzle row 15D, and is larger than the width in the front-rear direction of the nozzle forming surface 14a. It is set to be smaller.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, as a cleaning unit configured to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction at a position facing the drive roller 30 on the lower side with the belt 32 interposed therebetween. A sponge roller 37 is arranged.

  In this case, the sponge roller 37 is disposed so as to engage with the wiper 36 and not to engage with each protrusion 34 as the belt 32 rotates. Then, the sponge roller 37 cleans the wiper 36 by wiping off the ink adhering to the wiper 36 when the wiper 36 wipes (wipes) the nozzle forming surface 14 a by engaging with the wiper 36.

  Then, the functional unit 13 has a support position (shown in FIG. 3) that is a position where each convex line 34 faces the nozzle forming surface 14 a as the belt 32 rotates around the rollers 30 and 31 counterclockwise. Position), a first maintenance position (position shown in FIG. 5) where the opening 35 faces the nozzle formation surface 14a, and a second maintenance position (position shown in FIG. 5) where the wiper 36 wipes the nozzle formation surface 14a. 6) (the position indicated by 6).

  As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid container having a bottomed rectangular box shape with an upper end opened on the inner side of the belt 32 between the rollers 30 and 31 so as to face the nozzle forming surface 14 a with the belt 32 interposed therebetween. A flushing box 38 is arranged. The width in the front-rear direction of the flushing box 38 is set to be larger than the width in the front-rear direction of the opening 35 and smaller than the width in the front-rear direction of the belt 32. On the other hand, the lateral width of the flushing box 38 is set to be slightly larger than the length of the opening 35 in the circumferential movement direction of the belt 32.

  The upper surface of the flushing box 38 is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the belt 32. That is, the flushing box 38 supports the region of the belt 32 that faces the nozzle forming surface 14a from below.

  The flushing box 38 receives ink ejected from each nozzle 15 through the opening 35 when the functional unit 13 is in the first maintenance position. In other words, the flushing box 38 performs the flushing that forcibly ejects (discharges) the ink from each nozzle 15 irrespective of printing for the purpose of eliminating clogging of each nozzle 15 and the like. Flushing ink).

The flushing box 38 accommodates an ink absorbent 39 for absorbing and holding ink received when flushing.
A function sensor 41 is disposed at a position facing the drive roller 30 on the left side with the belt 32 interposed therebetween. In this case, the function sensor 41 is disposed so as not to be engaged with both the wiper 36 and each protrusion 34 as the belt 32 rotates. Further, a detected member 42 detected by the function sensor 41 is provided on the outer surface of the belt 32. The functional unit 13 is set so that the position mode when the detected member 42 is detected by the functional sensor 41 is a support position at which the recording paper 12 can be supported.

Next, the electrical configuration of the ink jet printer 11 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the ink jet printer 11 (see FIG. 1) includes a control unit 43 that performs overall control of the entire apparatus. A paper edge sensor 20, a function sensor 41, and a rotary encoder 40 are electrically connected to an input side interface (not shown) of the control unit 43, respectively. On the other hand, the transport motor 19, the functional motor 33, and the piezoelectric element 16 are electrically connected to the output side interface (not shown) of the control unit 43.

  The control unit 43 individually controls the driving of the transport motor 19, the functional motor 33, and the piezoelectric element 16 based on signals transmitted from the paper edge sensor 20, the function sensor 41, and the rotary encoder 40. In this case, the control unit 43 grasps the position mode of the function unit 13 based on signals transmitted from the function sensor 41 and the rotary encoder 40.

Next, the operation of the ink jet printer 11 will be described.
When the recording paper 12 is printed, the functional unit 13 is at a support position where the recording paper 12 can be supported. When the roller pairs 17 and 18 are respectively rotated by the driving of the transport motor 19, the recording paper 12 sequentially transported from the upstream side of the transport path is fed to the ridges 34 of the functional unit 13 by the feed roller pair 17. After being transported upward, the paper is continuously transported from the top of each ridge 34 to the downstream side of the transport path by the discharge roller pair 18.

  At this time, when the piezoelectric element 16 is driven in the process in which the recording paper 12 is conveyed on the ridges 34, each ink is ejected from the nozzles 15 of the recording head 14 to the recording paper 12 to perform printing. . In this way, each recording sheet 12 is sequentially printed.

  Further, during printing of each recording paper 12, all the nozzles 15 of the recording head 14 are regularly nozzles 15 so that the ink in each nozzle 15 that is not ejected by the current print pattern does not thicken and become clogged. Flushing that forcibly ejects (discharges) ink from 15 is performed. Such flushing is performed at a timing at which the trailing edge of the recording paper 12 conveyed in advance on the ridges 34 of the functional unit 13 is detected by the paper edge sensor 20.

  This is because the distance between the centers of the roller pairs 17 and 18 is narrower than the conveyance interval of each recording paper 12, so that the trailing edge of the recording paper 12 conveyed in advance is detected by the paper edge sensor 20. This is because the subsequent recording paper 12 has not yet been fed onto each of the ridges 34.

  When performing the flushing, first, as shown in FIG. 5, the belt 32 is moved by driving the drive roller 30 to displace the functional unit 13 from the support position to the first maintenance position. As a result, the opening 35 and the nozzle forming surface 14a of the recording head 14 face each other.

  In this state, when flushing is performed by forcibly ejecting from all the nozzles 15 of the recording head 14, the flushing ink (discharged ink) forcibly ejected from all the nozzles 15 passes through the opening 35 and is flushed by the flushing box 38. Accepted within. The flushing ink received in the flushing box 38 is absorbed and held by the ink absorber 39.

  After the flushing is finished, as shown in FIG. 6, the belt 32 is moved by driving the drive roller 30 to displace the functional unit 13 from the first maintenance position to the second maintenance position. At this time, the wiper 36 wipes the nozzle forming surface 14a of the recording head 14 from the right side to the left side as the belt 32 moves, so that the flushing ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface 14a by the flushing is wiped by the wiper 36. .

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the wiper 36 wipes the nozzle forming surface 14 a along the front-rear direction in which the nozzle rows 15 </ b> A to 15 </ b> D extend. Mixing (mixing of colors) is suppressed. That is, the ink in each nozzle 15 is prevented from being mixed by wiping the nozzle forming surface 14a by the wiper 36.

  Subsequently, when the belt 32 is moved by the drive roller 30 so that the functional unit 13 is displaced from the second maintenance position to the support position, the wiper 36 is moved along the sponge roller as shown in FIG. 37 is engaged. Due to the engagement of the wiper 36 with the sponge roller 37, when the wiper 36 wipes (wipes) the nozzle forming surface 14a, the ink attached to the wiper 36 is wiped off by the sponge roller 37 and the wiper 36 is cleaned.

  The operation until the functional unit 13 returns to the support position through the support position, the first maintenance position, and the second maintenance position in order to perform flushing, wiping, and cleaning of the wiper 36 in this way is the subsequent recording. This is completed before the paper 12 is fed onto each ridge 34. Therefore, when the succeeding recording paper 12 is fed onto each ridge 34, the belt 32 does not move, so the printing accuracy of the recording paper 12 does not decrease.

  As described above, the functional unit 13 includes the area where the protrusions 34 that support the recording paper 12 during printing and the opening 35 for receiving the flushing ink discharged from the nozzles 15 in the flushing box 38. Since the region provided with is completely separated, each protrusion 34 and the opening 35 (and the wiper 36) function individually without interfering with each other's function. Therefore, the recording paper 12 is accurately and stably supported while the recording head 14 is suitably flushed.

As described above, according to the embodiment described in detail, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The functional unit 13 is configured to be displaceable between a support position, a first maintenance position, and a second maintenance position in a direction (left / right direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (front / rear direction) of the recording paper 12. Has been. For this reason, the functional unit 13 is displaced to the support position during printing, to the first maintenance position when performing flushing, and to the second maintenance position when wiping the nozzle forming surface 14a, Each ridge 34, opening 35, and wiper 36 can be individually functioned without interfering with each other's functions. Therefore, the recording paper 12 can be accurately supported while flushing and wiping the recording head 14.

  (2) The functional unit 13 includes a pair of left and right rollers 30 and 31 that can rotate around an axis extending in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12, and an endless shape that is wound around each of the rollers 30 and 31 so as to be able to move around. The belt 32 is provided with each ridge 34, an opening 35, and a wiper 36. Therefore, the functional unit 13 is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12 as compared with the case where the functional unit 13 is linearly displaced along the left-right direction between the support position, the first maintenance position, and the second maintenance position. The space required for the displacement of the functional unit 13 in the direction can be reduced. As a result, the ink jet printer 11 can be reduced in size.

  (3) The ridges 34 extend along the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12 on the belt 32 and are arranged in parallel at equal intervals in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. For this reason, even if each ridge 34 is made of a hard material, the circumferential movement of the belt 32 is not hindered by each ridge 34. Therefore, since each ridge 34 can be made of a hard material, the recording paper 12 can be supported more stably than when each ridge 34 is made of a flexible material.

  (4) Inside the belt 32, when the functional unit 13 is in the first maintenance position, it is arranged so as to face the nozzle forming surface 14a of the recording head 14 with the opening 35 interposed therebetween, and each nozzle is passed through the opening 35. A flushing box 38 that can receive each ink ejected from 15 is disposed. For this reason, even in the case of a line head type printer in which the recording head 14 is fixed, the flushing ink (waste ink) at the time of performing the flushing that forcibly ejects ink from each nozzle 15 of the recording head 14 is a flushing box. 38 can be suitably received.

  (5) On the belt 32, a wiper 36 capable of wiping the nozzle forming surface 14a of the recording head 14 is provided. For this reason, unnecessary ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface 14a can be easily removed by wiping the unnecessary ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface 14a by the wiper 36 at the time of flushing.

(6) The ink jet printer 11 includes a sponge roller 37 that cleans the wiper 36. For this reason, when the unnecessary ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface 14 a by the flushing is wiped by the wiper 36, the wiper 36 that is soiled with the unnecessary ink can be cleaned by the sponge roller 37.
(Example of change)
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the flushing box 38 may be changed to a cap 50 and an elevating device 51 for elevating the cap 50 may be provided. In this case, it is necessary to provide two openings 35 in the belt 32 and to arrange each opening 35 so as to face the nozzle forming surface 14a of the recording head 14 in the vertical direction. In this way, the capping position of the cap 50 by the elevating device 51 (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9) and the flushing position for performing the flushing (position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 9). And a retracted position (a position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 9) that does not hinder the circular movement of the belt 32.

  A plurality of ridges having different heights from the respective ridges 34 may be further provided on the belt 32 as support function portions. In this way, the distance between the recording paper 12 and the recording head 14 can be easily changed.

  -Instead of the function unit 13, you may use as a functional member what provided each protruding item | line 34 and the opening part 35 so that it might adjoin to the rectangular plate at the longitudinal direction. In this case, in the left-right direction, the functional member includes a support position where each protrusion 34 is opposed to the nozzle forming surface 14a and a first maintenance position where the opening 35 is opposed to the nozzle forming surface 14a. It is comprised so that it may reciprocate linearly between them. In this case, the wiper 36 is omitted.

A chain or an endless track may be used as the belt instead of the belt 32.
In place of the ridge 34, a protrusion (for example, a circular, elliptical, or polygonal protrusion) may be used as the support function unit.

-The flushing box 38 may be omitted.
The wiper 36 may be omitted.
The sponge roller 37 may be omitted.

-You may make it each ridge 34 arrange | position by changing a space | interval suitably in the direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to a conveyance direction.
In flushing, it is not always necessary to eject ink from all the nozzles 15 regularly, and ink is ejected from the nozzles 15 that need to be flushed irregularly as long as the ink in each nozzle 15 is not clogged. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in the ink jet printer 11, 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 liquids as one state of the substance, as well as particles in which functional material particles made of solid materials such as pigments and 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, or a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid used as a precision pipette, a 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.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Inkjet printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus, 12 ... Recording paper as a target, 13 ... Functional unit as a functional member, 14 ... Recording head as a liquid ejecting head, 14a ... Nozzle formation surface, 15 ... Nozzle, 30 ... Drive roller as a rotating body, 31... Driven roller as a rotating body, 32... Belt as a belt-like body, 34. Convex line as a convex part constituting a support function part, 35. Opening part constituting a maintenance function part, 36... Wiper as a wiping part constituting the maintenance function part, 37... Sponge roller as cleaning means, 38... Flushing box as a liquid receiving part.

Claims (6)

A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle formed on a nozzle forming surface with respect to a target conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side;
A functional member that is disposed so as to face the nozzle forming surface and includes a support function unit that supports the target and a maintenance function unit that performs maintenance of the liquid jet head;
The functional member is displaced between a support position where the support function portion faces the nozzle formation surface and a maintenance position where the maintenance function portion faces the nozzle formation surface in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the target. A liquid ejecting apparatus configured to be possible. The functional member is
A plurality of rotating bodies rotatable around an axis extending along the conveying direction;
An endless belt-like body wound around each rotating body so as to be able to move around, and
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support function section and the maintenance function section are provided on the strip.   The said support function part has a some convex part which extended along the said conveyance direction, and was parallelly arranged in the direction orthogonal to the said conveyance direction at intervals. The liquid ejecting apparatus described. The maintenance function unit has an opening,
When the functional member is in the maintenance position, a liquid receiving portion is provided so as to face the nozzle forming surface with the opening interposed therebetween and capable of receiving the liquid discharged from the nozzle through the opening. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is a liquid ejecting apparatus.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance function unit includes a wiping unit capable of wiping the nozzle forming surface.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a cleaning unit that cleans the wiping unit.

Images