JP2013132764A - Liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove waste liquid caught in a clearance between a liquid injection head and a head holder.SOLUTION: An inkjet printer has a waste liquid removing member 22 which abuts on an edge 31a of a nozzle guide 31. The waste liquid removing member 22 contacts, upon abutting on the edge 31a of the nozzle guide 31, waste liquid which is pumped up to the surface by being caught and collected in the clearance 40 between an inkjet head 3 and the nozzle guide 31, and absorbs and removes this waste liquid.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid, in which a head holder that holds the liquid ejecting head is provided. As a liquid ejecting apparatus including such a head holder, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet printer that ejects ink.

  In the ink jet printer described in Patent Document 1, the head holder (housing) has a frame shape and is disposed so as to surround an ink ejecting surface that ejects ink of the ink jet head. The inkjet head is held with the ink ejection surface exposed.

JP 2009-208223 A (FIG. 4)

  By the way, if it is going to hold | maintain the circumference | surroundings of the ink ejection surface of an inkjet head with a head holder like the inkjet printer of patent document 1, a clearance gap will arise not less than between an inkjet head and a head holder. Then, the ink ejected from the ink jet head enters the gap, and when the ink accumulates in the gap, it drops and stains the inside of the apparatus.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that removes waste liquid that has entered a gap between a liquid ejecting head and a head holder.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head having a liquid ejecting surface for ejecting liquid, a head holder that holds the liquid ejecting head, and the liquid ejecting head ejected from the liquid ejecting head and the head holder. And a waste liquid removing member that contacts the waste liquid that has entered the gap and removes the waste liquid that has entered the gap.

  According to the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention, the waste liquid that has entered the gap can be removed by bringing the waste liquid removing member into contact with the waste liquid that has entered the gap between the liquid ejecting head and the head holder. As a result, it is possible to prevent waste liquid from accumulating in the gap between the liquid ejecting head and the head holder and dripping the waste liquid to stain the inside of the apparatus.

  Further, the waste liquid removing member can be brought into contact with at least one of the edge of the liquid jet head or the edge of the head holder adjacent to each other across the gap, and is in contact with the at least one edge. A resin body having a path that guides the waste liquid that has entered the gap in the contact state so as to exit from the gap and leave, and a waste liquid absorber that contacts the resin body and can absorb the waste liquid guided through the path; It is preferable to have.

  If the waste liquid absorber is directly brought into contact with or separated from the edge of the liquid jet head or the head holder in order to directly absorb and remove the waste liquid that has entered the gap, the waste liquid absorber may be broken. The fragments and fibers generated as a result are likely to adhere to the liquid ejection surface. Therefore, according to the configuration in which the resin body, which is less likely to generate debris and fibers than the waste liquid absorber, is brought into contact with the edge of the liquid jet head or the edge of the head holder, compared with the case where the waste liquid absorber is brought into direct contact. As a result, it is difficult to generate debris and fibers, and the liquid ejection surface can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, the resin body has a groove extending so as to connect a portion that contacts the edge portion of the head holder or the edge portion of the liquid ejecting head and a portion that contacts the waste liquid absorber. It is preferable.

  According to this, the waste liquid that has entered the gap can be reliably sent to the waste liquid absorber by the capillary force through the groove of the resin body.

  And it is preferable that the said resin body can contact | abut only to the said edge part of the said head holder.

  Since the resin body is harder than the waste liquid absorber, the abutted member is easily damaged. Therefore, when removing the waste liquid that has entered the gap, the resin body is brought into contact with the edge of the head holder, not the edge of the liquid jet head. As a result, the resin body does not contact the liquid ejecting head, and therefore does not contact the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the resin body from rubbing the liquid ejection surface and damaging the liquid ejection surface.

  The resin body is opposed to the edge portion in a direction orthogonal to the liquid ejecting surface and is capable of contacting the edge portion of the head holder; and the orthogonal direction from the contact member And an inclined member that has an inclined surface that extends so as to overlap the gap and the liquid ejecting surface and is inclined away from the liquid ejecting surface, and the waste liquid absorber is attached to the inclined member. It is preferably in contact.

  According to this, even if the waste liquid drops from the gap, the dropped waste liquid adheres to the inclined surface and slides down the inclined surface and is absorbed by the waste liquid absorber. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the waste liquid collected in the gap between the liquid jet head and the head holder from dripping and contaminating the inside of the apparatus.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that a plurality of the resin bodies are provided, and the plurality of the resin bodies are arranged separately along the edge portion of the liquid ejecting head or the edge portion of the head holder.

  According to this, as compared with the case where the resin body extends continuously along the edge portion, the entire area of the plurality of resin bodies is evenly contacted with the edge portion, and a plurality of the desired edge portions are arranged. The resin body can be reliably brought into contact.

  In addition, the liquid ejecting surface has a nozzle for ejecting liquid, and can be separated from and contacted with the liquid ejecting surface, and can cover the nozzle in close contact with the liquid ejecting surface. It is preferable that the waste liquid removing member be separated from and in contact with the liquid ejection surface integrally with the cap.

  The cap can be accurately separated from and in contact with the liquid ejection surface in order to reliably contact the portion of the liquid ejection surface where the nozzle is not open. Therefore, by separating the waste liquid removing member integrally with the cap, the waste liquid removing member can also be precisely separated from and brought into contact with the liquid ejection surface, and the waste liquid removing member can be brought into contact with a desired portion. it can.

  At this time, the contact portion of the cap with the liquid ejecting surface is disposed at a position closer to the liquid ejecting surface than the waste liquid removing member in a direction perpendicular to the liquid ejecting surface in a state of being separated from the liquid ejecting surface. It is preferable that

  According to this, the cap contacts the liquid ejecting surface before the waste liquid removing member contacts the edge of the liquid ejecting head or the edge of the head holder. Therefore, the cap can be securely adhered to the liquid ejection surface. Further, since the cap is brought into close contact with the liquid ejection surface, the force for crushing the waste liquid removing member can be reduced, and the force for pressing the cap holder against the liquid ejection surface can be reduced.

  In addition, the head holder is disposed so as to surround the liquid ejecting head with the liquid ejecting surface exposed, and the waste liquid removing member is the entire periphery of the edge of the liquid ejecting head or the head holder. It is preferable to contact only a part of.

  According to this, if you try to remove the waste liquid that has entered a part of the gap, the waste liquid that has entered the remaining part is also connected to the waste liquid that is removed because the gap is in communication, and it can be removed together. it can. Therefore, if only a part of the gap is brought into contact, all the waste liquid can be removed, and the waste liquid removing member can be downsized.

  At this time, at a position facing the liquid ejection surface, a transport unit that transports the ejection target medium in a predetermined transport direction, and an upstream side of the transport direction in which the nozzles of the liquid ejection surface are opened in the transport direction. And a pressing member that suppresses the floating of the ejection target medium toward the liquid ejecting surface, and the waste liquid removing member is at least the entire circumference of the edge of the head holder or the liquid ejecting head. You may contact | abut to the part located upstream from the said nozzle regarding a conveyance direction.

  According to this, it is possible to prevent waste liquid from being accumulated in a gap located upstream of the nozzle in the transport direction, dripping the waste liquid and soiling the pressing member, and contamination of the ejection target medium via the pressing member. .

  Further, in a state where a part of the liquid ejecting head of the liquid ejecting head is in contact with the liquid ejecting surface, the liquid adhering to the liquid ejecting surface is moved relative to the liquid ejecting surface in a predetermined wiping direction. The wiper further includes a wiper, and the waste liquid removing member is in contact with at least a portion of the entire circumference of the edge of the head holder or the liquid ejecting head that is located downstream of the nozzle in the wiping direction. Good.

  According to this, as compared with the case where the waste liquid removing member is provided for the other gap portion, the waste liquid collected in the gap portion where the waste liquid wiped by the wiper can easily enter can be reliably removed.

  The waste liquid that has entered the gap can be removed by bringing the waste liquid removal member into contact with the waste liquid that has entered the gap between the liquid jet head and the head holder. As a result, it is possible to prevent waste liquid from accumulating in the gap between the liquid ejecting head and the head holder and dripping the waste liquid to stain the inside of the apparatus.

1 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a carriage positioned in a recording area and the vicinity thereof. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the paper feed direction of the carriage located in a maintenance area | region, and its vicinity. It is a perspective view of a maintenance part main part. It is a perspective view of the maintenance part main body which removed the cap member from the cap holder. It is a top view of a waste liquid removal member. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3. It is a top view of the waste liquid removal member vicinity contact | abutted to the nozzle guide. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view along a scanning direction in the vicinity of a carriage located in a maintenance area in Modification 1; FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view along a paper feed direction in the vicinity of a carriage positioned in a maintenance area in Modification 2;

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an inkjet printer having an inkjet head that is held by a head holder and ejects ink onto a recording sheet.

  First, a schematic configuration of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view along the paper feed direction in the vicinity of the carriage located in the recording area. In FIG. 2, for ease of explanation, the inkjet head 3 is not shown in cross section, and the nozzle 9 provided in the inkjet head 3 is illustrated by a virtual line (two-dot chain line). Also, the sub tank 16 is not shown in cross section for easy viewing of the drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 1 (liquid ejecting apparatus) includes a carriage 2 configured to reciprocate along a predetermined scanning direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1), and an ink jet mounted on the carriage 2. The head 3 (liquid ejecting head), the transport mechanism 4 for transporting the recording paper P in the paper feeding direction (transport direction) orthogonal to the scanning direction, and the ink ejecting performance of the ink jet head 3 are restored. It has a maintenance unit 5 and the like.

  The carriage 2 is configured to be reciprocally movable along two guide shafts 6 extending in parallel with the scanning direction. An endless belt 7 is connected to the carriage 2. When the endless belt 7 travels and is driven by the carriage drive motor 8, the carriage 2 moves in the scanning direction as the endless belt 7 travels. It has become. An ink jet head 3 is mounted below the carriage 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inkjet head 3 reciprocates in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2, and an ink ejecting surface 3 a having a plurality of nozzles 9 is formed on the lower surface thereof. The inkjet head 3 ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles 9 by a piezoelectric actuator to the recording paper P conveyed in the paper feeding direction (downward in FIG. 1) by the conveying mechanism 4, thereby recording paper A desired character or image is recorded in P. A plurality of nozzles 9 are arranged side by side in the paper feed direction to form a nozzle row, and this nozzle row is arranged in four rows in the scanning direction. For each nozzle row, magenta, cyan, yellow, Black ink is ejected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower surface of the carriage 2 is recessed, and the inkjet head 3 is accommodated in the recessed space. A frame-shaped reinforcing frame 30 is attached to the inkjet head 3 so as to surround the periphery thereof. The reinforcing frame 30 has an outer shape larger than the outer shape of the inkjet head 3 and is joined to the upper surface of the inkjet head 3. The upper surface of the reinforcing frame 30 is joined to the lower surface of the carriage 2 that defines the recessed space of the carriage 2. As a result, the inkjet head 3 is fixed to the carriage 2 via the reinforcing frame 30.

  In addition, a nozzle guide 31 that protrudes below the ink ejection surface 3a (to be described later on the platen 14 side) on a lower surface portion of the reinforcing frame 30 that surrounds the inkjet head 3 and to which the inkjet head 3 is not joined. Are joined. The nozzle guide 31 is made of a synthetic resin material and is disposed so as to surround the inkjet head 3 and expose the ink ejection surface 3a downward. The nozzle guide 31 is provided to protect the ink ejection surface 3a.

  A sub tank 16 for storing ink is accommodated in the internal space of the carriage 2. The sub tank 16 is connected to the inkjet head 3 and supplies the stored ink to the inkjet head 3.

  The transport mechanism 4 includes a paper feed roller 10 disposed on the upstream side in the paper feed direction from the ink jet head 3 and a paper discharge roller 11 disposed on the downstream side in the paper feed direction from the ink jet head 3. The paper feed roller 10 and the paper discharge roller 11 are rotationally driven by a paper feed motor 12 and a paper discharge motor 13, respectively. The transport mechanism 4 transports the recording paper P from above in FIG. 1 to the ink-jet head 3 by the paper feed roller 10, and records the characters and images recorded by the ink-jet head 3 by the paper discharge roller 11. The paper P is discharged downward in FIG.

  A platen 14 is provided below the inkjet head 3 so as to face the ink ejection surface 3a. The platen 14 supports the recording paper P, which is fed in the paper feeding direction by the paper feed roller 10 and onto which ink is ejected from the inkjet head 3, from below. As shown in FIG. 2, a plate-like corrugate 15 (pressing member) is provided between the inkjet head 3 and the platen 14. The corrugate 15 is attached to the guide shaft 6 and extends from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper feeding direction to a position just before the area where the nozzle 9 of the ink ejection surface 3a is opened. Absent. The corrugate 15 presses the recording paper P from above so that the recording paper P conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 4 does not float upward (on the ink ejection surface 3a side).

  Returning to FIG. 1, the maintenance unit 5 is arranged in an area (maintenance area) on the outer side (right side in FIG. 1) than the recording area facing the recording paper P in the movement range of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction. . FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the carriage located in the maintenance area and the vicinity thereof. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the maintenance unit main body. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the maintenance unit main body with the cap member removed from the cap holder.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the maintenance unit 5 includes a cap 20 that can be in close contact with the ink ejection surface 3 a of the inkjet head 3, a wiper 21 that wipes the ink ejection surface 3 a, and the inkjet head 3. A waste liquid removing member 22 that removes waste liquid that has entered a gap with a nozzle guide 31 to be described later, a cap holder 23 that supports the cap 20, the wiper 21, and the waste liquid removing member 22, a suction pump 24 connected to the cap 20, A cap drive mechanism 25 that drives the cap holder 23 to move up and down, a maintenance unit main body 26 that holds the cap holder 23 so as to be movable up and down, and the like.

  The cap 20 is formed of a flexible material such as rubber or synthetic resin, and is supported by the cap holder 23. The cap 20 faces the ink ejection surface 3a of the inkjet head 3 when the carriage 2 (inkjet head 3) moves to the maintenance area. In this state, the cap 20 is lifted together with the cap holder 23 by the cap driving mechanism 25, is in close contact with the ink ejection surface 3 a of the inkjet head 3, and covers the plurality of nozzles 9.

  When the suction operation of the suction pump 24 is performed in a state where the cap 20 is in close contact with the ink ejection surface 3a of the inkjet head 3 and covers the nozzle 9, the sealing defined by the cap 20 and the ink ejection surface 3a. Air in the space is sucked to reduce the pressure, and ink is discharged from the nozzle 9 into the cap 20 (liquid purge). Thereby, it is possible to discharge the thickened ink in the nozzle 9 and the bubbles mixed in the ink flow path in the inkjet head 3 from the nozzle 9 together with the ink. The liquid purge is performed after replacement of the cartridge in which bubbles are likely to be mixed into the ink flow path in the inkjet head 3.

  The wiper 21 is supported by the cap holder 23 and is disposed adjacent to the cap 20 on the recording area side in the scanning direction with respect to the cap 20. The wiper 21 is made of a material having elasticity such as rubber, and is erected upward, and has a width longer than the length of the ink ejection surface 3a in the paper feeding direction. The wiper 21 can be moved up and down with respect to the cap holder 23 by a wiper drive mechanism (not shown), and is moved up and down over a wiping position protruding from the tip (upper end) of the cap 20 and a retracted position not protruding. It is possible.

  When the cap 20 is separated from the ink ejection surface 3a of the inkjet head 3 after the liquid purge described above, a part of the ink discharged from the nozzles 9 adheres to the ink ejection surface 3a. Therefore, the wiper 21 is moved to the wiping position, and the cap holder 23 is lowered to a height position where the wiper 21 at the wiping position can come into contact with the ink ejecting surface 3a, and then the inkjet head 3 is maintained together with the carriage 2. The wiper 21 at the wiping position is moved from the area toward the recording area in a wiping direction parallel to the scanning direction with respect to the wiper 21 (see FIG. 2: a direction from the right to the left in FIG. 1). Ink adhering to the ink ejection surface 3a is wiped off. Further, when the ink ejection surface 3a of the inkjet head 3 is not wiped, the wiper 21 is retracted to the lower retracted position.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the waste liquid removing member 22 is supported by the cap holder 23, and is disposed upstream of the cap 20 in the paper feeding direction. The waste liquid removing member 22 is in contact with the edge portion 31 a of the nozzle guide 31 and removes the waste liquid that is ejected from the nozzle 9 of the inkjet head 3 and enters the gap 40 between the nozzle guide 31 and the inkjet head 3. .

  The configuration of the waste liquid removing member 22 will be specifically described. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the waste liquid removing member. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the waste liquid removing member 22 includes a foam 34 that absorbs the waste liquid and a foam cap 35 (resin body) that sends the waste liquid that has entered the gap 40 between the nozzle guide 31 and the inkjet head 3 to the foam 34. ).

  The foam 34 is made of an elastic material that can absorb a liquid such as urethane. In the cap holder 23, a support member 23a for supporting the form 34 from both sides in the scanning direction is erected on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction at the position where the cap 20 is attached (see FIG. 5). The position of the foam 34 with respect to the cap holder 23 is fixed by being supported by the support member 23a.

  The foam cap 35 is made of a synthetic resin material and is disposed in contact with the upper surface of the foam 34. The foam cap 35 is connected to the two contact members 36 that can contact the nozzle guide 31 and the corresponding contact member 36, and is inclined downward and includes two inclined members 37 that are in contact with the foam 34. And a connecting member 38 that connects the two inclined members 37.

  The two abutting members 36 are opposed to the edge 31a upstream of the ink ejection surface 3a in the paper feed direction among the four sides of the nozzle guide 31 that surrounds the ink ejection surface 3a. They are arranged at intervals. A gap 40 formed by the edge 31a on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction and the edge 3b of the inkjet head 3 overlaps the corrugated 15 in the vertical direction when the inkjet head 3 is located in the recording area. Further, the contact member 36 is disposed at a position lower than the tip (upper end) of the cap 20 in a state of being separated from the ink ejection surface 3a.

  Each contact member 36 is connected to a corresponding inclined member 37. The inclined member 37 is inclined downward toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction so as to be separated from the ink ejecting surface 3a, and then extends downward. The lower surface of the inclined member 37 is in contact with the foam 34. When the contact member 36 comes into contact with the nozzle guide 31 and is pressed, the foam 34 contracts, and the contact member 36 moves downward (form 34 side). When the pressing of the contact member 36 is released, the foam 34 extends to the original state, and the contact member 36 moves upward.

  Further, the upper surface 36a of the contact member 36 and the inclined surface 37a of the inclined member 37 are continuous, and the upper surface 36a and the inclined surface 37a are connected to a portion that contacts the nozzle guide 31 and a portion that contacts the foam 34. Grooves 39 (paths) extending in the direction are formed.

  When the cap 20 is lifted together with the cap holder 23 by the cap driving mechanism 25 and is brought into close contact with the ink ejection surface 3a, the waste liquid removing member 22 is also lifted and comes into contact with the edge 31a of the nozzle guide 31. Here, the mist generated by ejecting ink from the nozzle 9 or the wiper 21 wiping the ink ejecting surface 3a, etc., between the edge 31a of the nozzle guide 31 and the edge 3b of the inkjet head 3 is used. In some cases, the waste liquid enters the gap 40 and accumulates and drops.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the waste liquid removing member 22 is raised to bring the contact member 36 into contact with the edge 31 a of the nozzle guide 31. At this time, if the waste liquid accumulates and rises on the surface, the waste liquid contacts the contact member 36 and moves toward the foam 34 by capillary force through the groove 39 and is absorbed by the foam 34. Removed. When the waste liquid that has entered the gap surrounding the ink ejection surface 3a is connected over the entire circumference, the waste liquid in a part of the gap 40 is absorbed to enter the entire circumference, and the connected waste liquid is also absorbed. be able to. The operation of absorbing and removing the waste liquid that has entered the gap 40 is performed when the cap 20 is brought into close contact with the ink ejection surface 3a to perform a liquid purge or to protect the ink ejection surface 3a (nozzles).

  According to the ink jet printer 1 in the present embodiment, the foam cap 35 of the waste liquid removing member 22 comes into contact with the edge 31 a of the nozzle guide 31 that forms the gap 40 between the ink jet head 3 and the nozzle guide 31, thereby entering the gap 40. The waste liquid can be removed. As a result, it is possible to prevent waste liquid from accumulating in the gap 40 between the ink jet head 3 and the nozzle guide 31 and dripping the waste liquid to stain the inside of the ink jet printer 1. The carriage 2 and the nozzle guide 31 in the present embodiment correspond to the head holder in the present invention.

  Further, if the foam 34 is brought into direct contact with or separated from the edge portion 31a of the nozzle guide 31 in order to directly absorb and remove the waste liquid that has entered the gap 40, the foam 34 is broken. Debris and fibers tend to adhere to the ink ejection surface 3a. Therefore, when the foam cap 35 in contact with the foam 34 is brought into contact with the edge portion 31a of the nozzle guide 31, the amount of waste liquid that has entered the gap 40 increases, and when the surface protrudes from the gap 40, the surface rises. The waste liquid is guided through the groove 39 of the foam cap 35 and absorbed by the foam 34. At this time, the foam cap 35 is less likely to generate debris and fibers than the foam 34, and is less likely to adhere to the ink ejection surface 3a.

  In addition, since the groove 39 extending so as to connect the portion in contact with the nozzle guide 31 and the portion in contact with the foam 34 is formed in the foam cap 35, the waste liquid that has entered the gap 40 is removed from the foam cap 35. It can be reliably sent to the foam 34 by the capillary force through the groove 39.

  Furthermore, since the foam cap 35 is harder than the foam 34, the contacted member is easily damaged. Therefore, when removing the waste liquid that has entered the gap 40, the foam cap 35 is brought into contact with the edge 31 a of the nozzle guide 31 instead of the edge 3 b of the inkjet head 3. As a result, the foam cap 35 comes into contact with a position away from the ink ejection surface 3a, and even if the foam cap 35 comes in contact with a slight displacement, the foam cap 35 is less likely to contact the nozzle 9 opening in the ink ejection surface 3a. It is possible to suppress damage to the nozzle 9 opening in the ejection surface 3a.

  In addition, since the inclined surface 37a of the inclined member 37 overlaps the gap 40 in the vertical direction, even if the waste liquid is dripped from the gap 40, the dropped waste liquid adheres to the inclined surface 37a, and the inclined surface 37a is It slides down and is absorbed by the foam 34. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the waste liquid accumulated in the gap 40 from dripping and soiling the ink jet printer 1.

  In addition, since the two foam caps 35 are spaced apart along the edge 31a of the nozzle guide 31, compared to a case where the foam cap 35 extends continuously along the edge 31a, The entire area of the two foam caps 35 can be brought into contact with the edge 31a evenly, and the entire area of the two foam caps 35 can be reliably brought into contact with the edge 31a to be contacted.

  Furthermore, the cap 20 can be accurately separated from and brought into contact with the cap holder 23 in order to reliably contact the portion of the ink ejection surface 3a where the nozzle 9 is not open. Therefore, by separating the waste liquid removing member 22 integrally with the cap 20, the waste liquid removing member 22 can also be accurately separated from the ink ejection surface 3a, and the waste liquid removing member 22 can be brought into a desired portion. It can be made to contact.

  In addition, the tip (upper end) of the cap 20 is disposed at a position closer to the ink ejection surface 3 a than the upper surface of the contact member 36 of the waste liquid removing member 22. Thereby, before the contact member 36 contacts the edge part 31a of the nozzle guide 31, the cap 20 contacts the ink ejection surface 3a. Therefore, the cap 20 can be reliably adhered to the ink ejection surface 3a. Further, in order to bring the cap 20 into close contact with the ink ejection surface 3a, the force for crushing the waste liquid removing member 22 can be reduced, and the force for pressing the cap holder 23 against the ink ejection surface 3a can be reduced.

  Further, the waste liquid removing member 22 is in contact with only a part of the entire circumference of the edge 31 a of the nozzle guide 31. Thereby, if it is going to remove the waste liquid which entered into a part of crevice 40, the waste liquid which entered into the remaining part is connected with the waste liquid removed because crevice 40 is connected, and it removes together. Can do. Therefore, if only a part of the gap 40 is brought into contact, all the waste liquid can be removed, and the waste liquid removing member 22 can be downsized.

  Further, the waste liquid removing member 22 is in contact with a portion of the entire circumference of the edge portion 31a of the nozzle guide 31 that is upstream of the nozzle 9 in the paper feeding direction and overlaps the corrugate 15 in the recording area in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent waste liquid from being accumulated in a gap located upstream of the nozzle 9 in the paper feeding direction, dripping the waste liquid and soiling the corrugate 15, and preventing the recording paper P from being stained via the corrugate 15. it can.

  Next, modified embodiments in which various modifications are made to the embodiment will be described. However, components having the same configuration as in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, the foam cap 35 of the waste liquid removing member 22 is in contact with the edge 31a of the nozzle guide 31 that is located upstream of the ink ejection surface 3a in the paper feed direction. Any part of the edge of the nozzle guide 31 surrounding the surface 3a may be used. For example, you may contact | abut to the perimeter of the edge part of the nozzle guide 31. FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the waste liquid removing member 122 is arranged on the right side of the cap 20 in FIG. 9 so as to abut on a gap located downstream of the nozzle 9 in the wiping direction of the wiper 21. (Modification 1). According to this, compared with the case where the waste liquid removing member 122 is provided in another gap, the waste liquid collected in the gap where the waste liquid wiped off by the wiper 21 easily enters can be reliably removed.

  In this embodiment, the waste liquid removing member 22 is provided in the cap holder 23 and moved up and down together with the cap 20. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the waste liquid removing member 22 is provided in the cap holder 23. Instead, a lifting mechanism 125 that lifts and lowers the waste liquid removing member 22 independently may be provided (Modification 2). Thereby, regardless of the lifting / lowering operation of the cap 20, for example, immediately after the wiping operation by the wiper 21, the waste liquid removing member 22 can be lifted / lowered to remove the waste liquid that has entered the gap.

  In the present embodiment, two foam caps 35 of the waste liquid removing member 22 are arranged at intervals in the scanning direction at the edge portion of the nozzle guide 31 located upstream of the ink ejection surface 3a in the paper feeding direction. However, one resin body may be provided extending in the scanning direction.

  In the present embodiment, the foam 34 is not directly brought into contact with the edge of the nozzle guide 31 and is interposed via the foam cap 35. However, the foam 34 is not provided and the foam 34 is directly attached to the edge of the nozzle guide 31. You may contact | abut.

  In this embodiment, the foam cap 35 has an inclined member 37 connected to the contact member 36 in addition to the contact member 36, and the inclined member 37 is in contact with the foam 34. The abutting member 36 may contact the foam 34 without being provided with 37.

  In this embodiment, a groove 39 is formed in the waste liquid removing member 22, and the waste liquid that has entered the gap is guided to the foam 34 through the groove 39, but the waste liquid that has entered the gap is supplied to the foam 34. The route to be guided is not limited to the groove 39 and may be any configuration. For example, the guide path may be configured by applying a water-repellent coating to the surface of the waste liquid removing member 22 except for a portion serving as a waste liquid guide path. Further, a guide path may be configured by forming a through hole reaching the foam 34 in the waste liquid removing member 22.

  In the present embodiment, the waste liquid removing member 22 is brought into contact with the edge portion 31a of the nozzle guide 31, but the portion with which the waste liquid removing member 22 is brought into contact is not limited to the edge portion 31a of the nozzle guide 31, and ink. It may be the edge 3b of the ejection surface 3a. Alternatively, the waste liquid removing member 22 may be inserted into the gap 40 between the edge 31a of the nozzle guide 31 and the edge 3b of the ink ejection surface 3a, and the waste liquid that has entered the gap 40 may be directly removed.

  In this embodiment, since the nozzle guide 31 is disposed so as to surround the ink ejection surface 3a, the gap 40 into which the waste liquid enters is formed so as to surround the ink ejection surface 3a. It may be formed only on a part such as both sides in the scanning direction and both sides in the paper feeding direction without surrounding 3a. Thereby, the gap 40 into which the waste liquid enters can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the contact member 36 of the waste liquid removing member 22 is in contact with the edge portion 31a of the nozzle guide 31. However, if it contacts the waste liquid that has entered the gap 40, the contact member 36 is not necessarily in contact with the edge portion 31a. There is no.

  The above-described embodiment and its modifications are examples in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer that ejects ink onto a recording sheet to record characters, images, and the like. It is not restricted to what is used for. In other words, the present invention can be applied to various liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject various types of liquids other than ink onto a target according to the application.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 2 Carriage 3 Inkjet head 3a Ink ejection surface 22 Waste liquid removal member 31 Nozzle guide 30 Reinforcement frame 40 Gap

Claims (11)

A liquid ejecting head having a liquid ejecting surface for ejecting liquid;
A head holder for holding the liquid jet head;
A waste liquid removing member that is ejected from the liquid ejecting head and contacts the waste liquid that has entered the gap between the liquid ejecting head and the head holder, and that removes the waste liquid that has entered the gap. Liquid ejecting device. The waste liquid removing member is
It is possible to abut against at least one of the edge of the liquid jet head or the edge of the head holder adjacent to each other across the gap, and enters the gap in a state of being in contact with the at least one edge. A resin body having a route for guiding the waste liquid to leave the gap and leave
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a waste liquid absorber that contacts the resin body and is capable of absorbing the waste liquid guided through the path.   The resin body has a groove extending so as to connect a portion that contacts the edge portion of the head holder or the edge portion of the liquid jet head and a portion that contacts the waste liquid absorber. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resin body can contact only the edge of the head holder. The resin body is
An abutting member that opposes the edge with respect to a direction orthogonal to the liquid ejection surface and is capable of abutting on the edge of the head holder;
An inclined member extending from the contact member so as to overlap the gap and the liquid ejecting surface in the orthogonal direction, and having an inclined surface inclined so as to be separated from the liquid ejecting surface,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the waste liquid absorber is in contact with the inclined member. A plurality of the resin bodies are provided,
The plurality of the resin bodies are arranged separately from each other along the edge portion of the liquid jet head or the edge portion of the head holder. Liquid ejector. The liquid ejection surface has a nozzle for ejecting liquid,
A cap that is separable from the liquid ejecting surface and can cover the nozzle in close contact with the liquid ejecting surface;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste liquid removing member is separated from and in contact with the liquid ejecting surface integrally with the cap.   The contact portion of the cap with the liquid ejecting surface is disposed at a position closer to the liquid ejecting surface than the waste liquid removing member in a direction perpendicular to the liquid ejecting surface in a state of being separated from the liquid ejecting surface. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 7. The head holder is disposed so as to surround the liquid ejecting head with the liquid ejecting surface exposed.
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste liquid removing member is in contact with only a part of the entire circumference of the edge of the liquid ejecting head or the head holder. Transport means for transporting the ejected medium in a predetermined transport direction at a position facing the liquid ejecting surface;
A pressing member disposed on the upstream side of the portion of the liquid ejecting surface where the nozzle opens in the transport direction, and a pressing member that suppresses the lifting of the ejected medium toward the liquid ejecting surface,
The waste liquid removing member is in contact with at least a portion of the entire circumference of the edge portion of the head holder or the liquid ejecting head that is located on the upstream side of the nozzle in the transport direction. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to 1. A wiper that wipes off the liquid adhering to the liquid ejecting surface by moving relative to the liquid ejecting surface in a predetermined wiping direction parallel to the liquid ejecting surface in a state where a part of the liquid ejecting head is in contact with the liquid ejecting surface. Further comprising
The waste liquid removing member is in contact with at least a portion of the entire circumference of the edge portion of the head holder or the liquid ejecting head that is located downstream of the nozzle in the wiping direction. Or the liquid ejecting apparatus according to 10.

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