JP2013159008A - Printing device, and wetting liquid supply method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately wet a cloth wiper by a wetting portion.SOLUTION: A printing device includes: a head discharging ink from an ink discharge nozzle; a cloth wiper made of cloth and wiping a nozzle surface of the head; and a wetting portion for wetting the cloth wiper with a wetting liquid. The wetting portion includes a contact member coming into contact with the cloth wiper to supply the wetting liquid.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a wetting liquid supply method.

A printing apparatus having a head for discharging ink from an ink discharge nozzle is already well known. An example of such a printing apparatus is an ink jet printer.
In such a printing apparatus, as a head cleaning process, a wiping process for wiping the nozzle surface of the head is performed after the head suction process or the like.

JP 2009-196229 A

Incidentally, some of the printing apparatuses include a cloth wiper made of cloth for wiping the nozzle surface and a wetting unit for moistening the cloth wiper with a wetting liquid in order to realize the wiping process. In such a printing apparatus, the cloth wiper that is wetted with the wetting liquid by the wetting unit wipes the nozzle surface.
However, conventionally, the cloth wiper has not been properly wetted by the wet portion. As a result, problems such as an inappropriate wiping of the nozzle surface by the cloth wiper have occurred.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this subject, The place made into the objective is to wet the cloth wiper appropriately by a wet part.

The main present invention is a head for ejecting ink from an ink ejection nozzle;
A cloth wiper made of cloth for wiping the nozzle surface of the head;
A wetting part for moistening the cloth wiper with a wetting liquid,
The wetting unit includes a contact member that contacts the cloth wiper and supplies a wetting liquid.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording apparatus 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording apparatus 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a cleaning unit 43. It is the schematic diagram which showed a mode that the cloth wiper 212 wiped the nozzle surface 32. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of a wetting cartridge 232 when the cloth wiper 212 is separated from the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of the wetting cartridge 232 when the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is in contact with the cloth wiper 212. It is a schematic diagram when the wet cartridge 232 is viewed from below. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 1st state of the cleaning unit 43 when an automatic cleaning process is performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 2nd state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of an automatic cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 3rd state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of an automatic cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 4th state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of an automatic cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 5th state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of an automatic cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 6th state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of an automatic cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 7th state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of an automatic cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 1st state of the cleaning unit 43 when a manual cleaning process is performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 2nd state of the cleaning unit 43 when a manual cleaning process is performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 3rd state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of a manual cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the 4th state of the cleaning unit 43 at the time of a manual cleaning process being performed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the mode of the wetting cartridge 232 which concerns on the 2nd supply form when the cloth wiper 212 is separated from the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240. It is the schematic diagram which showed the mode of the wetting cartridge 232 which concerns on the 2nd supply form when the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is contacting the cloth wiper 212. FIG. It is a schematic diagram when the wet cartridge 232 which concerns on a modification is seen from lower direction. 1 is a schematic external view of an ink jet printer. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer 501. FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet head 541 and its peripheral members of the inkjet printer 501.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A head for ejecting ink from an ink ejection nozzle;
A cloth wiper made of cloth for wiping the nozzle surface of the head;
A wetting part for moistening the cloth wiper with a wetting liquid,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wetting unit includes a contact member that contacts the cloth wiper and supplies a wetting liquid.
According to such a printing apparatus, the cloth wiper can be appropriately wetted by the wet part.

In addition, a transfer unit that moves the contact member relative to the cloth wiper,
The transfer unit is
Moving the contact member relative to the cloth wiper to bring the cloth wiper away from the contact member into contact with the contact member; and
When the cloth wiper contacts the contact member, the relative movement is stopped,
The contact member may contact the cloth wiper and supply the wetting liquid in a state where the relative movement is stopped.
In such a case, the cloth wiper can be wetted more appropriately by the wet part.

In addition, the wetting section includes a wetting liquid supply nozzle that supplies the wetting liquid with the opening contacting the cloth wiper as the contact member,
The wetting unit may further include a wetting liquid storage unit that stores a wetting liquid.
In such a case, the wetting liquid can be appropriately fed into the cloth wiper by adopting a supply method using a nozzle.

In addition, a meniscus by a wetting liquid is formed in the opening of the wetting liquid supply nozzle in a state where the opening is not in contact with the cloth wiper.
When the opening contacts the cloth wiper, the meniscus is destroyed by the contact, and the wetting liquid is supplied to the cloth wiper by the wetting liquid supply nozzle.
In such a case, power saving can be realized.

The wet part includes a valve,
Having a controller for controlling the opening and closing of the valve;
When the opening contacts the cloth wiper, the controller opens the valve so that the wetting liquid is supplied to the cloth wiper by the wetting liquid supply nozzle.
In such a case, it is possible to reliably avoid the wetting liquid from leaking when the wetting liquid supply nozzle is not used.

Next, a cloth wiper made of cloth that wipes the nozzle surface of the head that discharges ink from the ink discharge nozzle is provided in a wetting section for moistening the cloth wiper with a wetting liquid, and wets in contact with the cloth wiper. Making the cloth wiper that has been separated from the contact member contact the contact member by relatively moving the contact member that supplies the liquid;
When the cloth wiper comes into contact with the contact member, the relative movement is stopped, and the contact member contacts the cloth wiper and supplies the wetting liquid in a state where the relative movement is stopped. And
A method of supplying a wetting liquid, comprising:
According to such a wetting liquid supply method, it is possible to appropriately wet the cloth wiper.

=== About Configuration Example of Image Recording Apparatus 1 ===
A configuration example of an image recording apparatus 1 (an ink jet printer, in particular, a lateral scan type label printing machine in this embodiment) as an example of a printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the image recording apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image recording apparatus 1.
In the following description, when referring to “up and down direction” and “left and right direction”, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 is used as a reference. In addition, the “front-rear direction” refers to a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG.
In the present embodiment, a description will be given using a sheet wound in a roll shape (hereinafter referred to as a roll sheet (continuous sheet)) as an example of a medium on which the image recording apparatus 1 records an image.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit 20 and a transport path through which the transport unit 20 transports the roll paper 2 (in FIG. 1, the transport path is , Along the roll paper winding shaft 18 to the roll paper winding drive shaft 92 (represented by the portion where the roll paper 2 is positioned), the feeding unit 10, the platen 29, and the winding unit 90 are provided. Further, a head unit 30 that performs image recording by discharging a plurality of types of ink in the image recording region R on the transport path, an ink supply unit 35, a carriage unit 40, a cleaning unit 43, a heater unit 70, A blower unit 80 for sending air to the roll paper 2 on the platen 29, and a control unit that controls these units and controls the operation of the image recording apparatus 1. The roller 60, and a detector group 50, a.

  The feeding unit 10 feeds the roll paper 2 to the transport unit 20. The feeding unit 10 includes a roll paper winding shaft 18 around which the roll paper 2 is wound and rotatably supported, and a relay roller 19 for winding the roll paper 2 fed from the roll paper winding shaft 18 and guiding the roll paper 2 to the transport unit 20. And have.

  The transport unit 20 transports the roll paper 2 sent by the feeding unit 10 along a preset transport path. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 20 includes a relay roller 21 that is positioned horizontally to the right of the relay roller 19, a relay roller 22 that is positioned obliquely downward to the right when viewed from the relay roller 21, and the relay roller 22. A first conveyance roller 23 located obliquely right above (as viewed from the platen 29 in the conveyance direction), and a steering unit (steering unit) 20a positioned between the relay roller 22 and the first conveyance roller 23, A second transport roller 24 positioned on the right side (downstream in the transport direction as viewed from the platen 29) as viewed from the first transport roller 23, a reversing roller 25 positioned vertically downward as viewed from the second transport roller 24, A relay roller 26 located on the right side when viewed from the reversing roller 25, a delivery roller 27 positioned above when viewed from the relay roller 26, It has.

  The relay roller 21 is a roller that winds the roll paper 2 sent from the relay roller 19 from the left side and loosens it downward.

  The relay roller 22 is a roller that winds the roll paper 2 sent from the relay roller 21 from the left side and conveys it obliquely upward to the right.

  The first transport roller 23 includes a first drive roller 23a driven by a motor (not shown), and a first driven roller 23b arranged to face the first drive roller 23a with the roll paper 2 interposed therebetween. have. The first transport roller 23 is a roller that pulls up the roll paper 2 slacked downward and transports it to the image recording region R facing the platen 29. The first conveyance roller 23 temporarily stops conveyance during a period in which image printing is performed on the portion of the roll paper 2 on the image recording region R. In addition, the conveyance amount of the roll paper 2 positioned on the platen 29 is adjusted by rotating the first driven roller 23b in accordance with the rotational drive of the first drive roller 23a by the drive control of the controller 60.

  As described above, the transport unit 20 has a mechanism for transporting the portion of the roll paper 2 wound between the relay rollers 21 and 22 and the first transport roller 23 by slacking it downward. The slackness of the roll paper 2 is monitored by the controller 60 based on a detection signal from a slack detection sensor (not shown). Specifically, when a portion of the roll paper 2 slackened between the relay rollers 21 and 22 and the first transport roller 23 is detected by the slack detection sensor, a tension of an appropriate magnitude is applied to the portion. Therefore, the transport unit 20 can transport the roll paper 2 in a relaxed state. On the other hand, when the portion of the roll paper 2 that has been loosened is not detected by the slack detection sensor, an excessive amount of tension is applied to the portion, so that the roll paper 2 is transported by the transport unit 20. It is temporarily stopped and the tension is adjusted to an appropriate magnitude.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the steering unit 20a is positioned on the conveyance path in an inclined state, and rotates to roll paper 2 in the width direction position (width direction (front-back direction shown in FIG. 1)) of the roll paper 2. This is for changing the position at which is located. That is, when the roll paper 2 is conveyed along the conveyance path, the tension applied to the roll paper 2 fluctuates due to an axial deviation or an assembly error of a relay roller or the like. The position may be displaced. The steering unit 20 a is for adjusting the position in the width direction of the roll paper 2.

  The second transport roller 24 includes a second drive roller 24a driven by a motor (not shown), and a second driven roller 24b disposed so as to face the second drive roller 24a with the roll paper 2 interposed therebetween. have. The second transport roller 24 is a roller that transports the portion of the roll paper 2 on which the image is recorded by the head unit 30 in the horizontal right direction along the support surface of the platen 29 and then transports it vertically downward. Thereby, the conveyance direction of the roll paper 2 is changed. The second driven roller 24b rotates as the second drive roller 24a is driven to rotate by the drive control of the controller 60, whereby a predetermined amount given to the portion of the roll paper 2 located on the platen 29 is obtained. Tension is adjusted.

  The reversing roller 25 is a roller that wraps the roll paper 2 sent from the second conveying roller 24 from the upper left side and conveys it diagonally upward to the right.

  The relay roller 26 is a roller that winds the roll paper 2 sent from the reversing roller 25 from the lower left side and conveys it upward.

  The delivery roller 27 winds the roll paper 2 sent from the relay roller 26 from the lower left side and sends it to the take-up unit 90.

  As described above, the roll paper 2 moves sequentially through the rollers, whereby a transport path for transporting the roll paper 2 is formed. The roll paper 2 is intermittently transported along the transport path by the transport unit 20 in units of regions corresponding to the image recording regions R.

  The head unit 30 is for recording an image on a portion of the roll paper 2 located in the image recording region R on the transport path. In other words, the head unit 30 forms an image by ejecting ink from the ink ejection nozzles onto the portion of the roll paper 2 that has been fed into the image recording region R (on the platen 29) on the transport path by the transport unit 20. In the present embodiment, the head unit 30 has M heads 31.

  Each head 31 has an ink ejection nozzle row in which ink ejection nozzles are arranged in the row direction on the lower surface (that is, the nozzle surface 32). In the present embodiment, there is an ink discharge nozzle row composed of a plurality of ink discharge nozzles # 1 to #N for each color such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). doing. The ink discharge nozzles # 1 to #N of each ink discharge nozzle row are linearly arranged in a cross direction that intersects the transport direction of the roll paper 2 (that is, the cross direction is the above-described row direction). . The respective ink discharge nozzle rows are arranged in parallel with a space therebetween along the transport direction.

  Each of the ink discharge nozzles # 1 to #N is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for discharging ink droplets. When a voltage having a predetermined time width is applied between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element expands according to the voltage application time and deforms the side wall of the ink flow path. As a result, the volume of the ink flow path contracts according to the expansion and contraction of the piezo element, and the ink corresponding to the contraction is ejected from the ink ejection nozzles # 1 to #N of the respective colors as ink droplets.

  Then, M such heads 31 are arranged in the intersecting direction (the row direction), thereby forming the head unit 30. Therefore, the head unit 30 has M × N ink ejection nozzles for each color.

  The ink supply unit 35 is for supplying ink to the head unit 30 when the amount of ink in the head unit 30 decreases due to ink ejection by the head 31.

  The ink supply unit 35 is provided for each ink color. That is, a yellow ink supply unit for supplying yellow ink, a magenta ink supply unit for supplying magenta ink, a cyan ink supply unit for supplying cyan ink, and a black ink supply For this purpose, a black ink supply unit or the like is provided.

  The ink supply unit 35 includes an ink cartridge, a large number of tubes serving as ink flow paths (passages), a large number of valves for opening and closing the tubes, and the like. The place where the ink cartridge is installed is indicated by reference numeral 35 in FIG.

  The carriage unit 40 is for moving the head unit 30 (head 31). The carriage unit 40 is supported by a carriage guide rail 41 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) extending in the transport direction (left-right direction) and reciprocally movable along the carriage guide rail 41 in the transport direction (left-right direction). A carriage 42 and a motor (not shown).

  The carriage 42 is provided with a head unit 30 (head 31). The carriage 42 is configured to move in the transport direction (left-right direction) together with the head unit 30 (head 31) by driving a motor (not shown).

  The cleaning unit 43 is for cleaning the head 31. As cleaning, a suction process for sucking ink in the head 31 and a wiping process for wiping (wiping) the nozzle surface 32 of the head 31 are performed in this order. The cleaning unit 43 performs both the suction process and the wiping process. A member for realizing is provided. The cleaning unit 43 will be described in detail later.

  Further, a flushing unit 44 is provided between a home position (hereinafter referred to as HP; see FIG. 1) in the transport direction (left and right direction) and the platen 29, and the head 31 (carriage 42) moves in the transport direction ( When the head 31 moves to the left and right and faces the flushing unit 44, the head 31 performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by ejecting ink from each ink ejection nozzle belonging to the ink ejection nozzle row.

  The platen 29 supports the part of the roll paper 2 located in the image recording region R on the conveyance path and heats the part. As shown in FIG. 1, the platen 29 is provided corresponding to the image recording area R on the conveyance path, and is an area along the conveyance path between the first conveyance roller 23 and the second conveyance roller 24. Is arranged. The platen 29 can heat the portion of the roll paper 2 by receiving supply of heat generated by the heater unit 70.

  The heater unit 70 is for heating the roll paper 2 and has a heater (not shown). This heater has a nichrome wire, and the nichrome wire is arranged inside the platen 29 so as to be at a fixed distance from the support surface of the platen 29. For this reason, when the heater is energized, the nichrome wire itself generates heat, and heat can be conducted to the portion of the roll paper 2 located on the support surface of the platen 29. Since this heater is configured by incorporating a nichrome wire in the entire area of the platen 29, heat can be uniformly conducted to the portion of the roll paper 2 on the platen 29. In the present embodiment, the portion of the roll paper 2 is uniformly heated so that the temperature of the portion of the roll paper 2 on the platen is 45 ° C. Thereby, the ink landed on the part of the roll paper 2 can be dried.

  The blower unit 80 is for sending wind to the roll paper 2 on the platen 29. The blower unit 80 includes a fan 81 and a motor (not shown) that rotates the fan 81. The fan 81 rotates to send wind to the roll paper 2 on the platen 29 and dry the ink landed on the roll paper 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of fans 81 are provided on an openable / closable cover (not shown) provided on the main body. Each fan 81 is positioned above the platen 29 when the cover is closed, and faces the support surface of the platen 29 (the roll paper 2 on the platen 29).

  The take-up unit 90 is for taking up the roll paper 2 (roll paper on which an image has been recorded) sent by the transport unit 20. This take-up unit 90 is fed from the relay roller 91 that is rotatably supported by the relay roller 91 for winding the roll paper 2 sent from the feed roller 27 from the upper left side and conveying it to the lower right side. A roll paper take-up drive shaft 92 for taking up the roll paper 2.

  The controller 60 is a control unit for controlling the image recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The interface unit 61 is for transmitting and receiving data between the host computer 110 as an external device and the image recording apparatus 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing device for controlling the entire image recording apparatus 1. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like. The CPU 62 controls each unit by a unit control circuit 64 according to a program stored in the memory 63.

  The detector group 50 is for monitoring the situation in the image recording apparatus 1. For example, a rotary encoder that is attached to the above-described slack detection sensor and the conveyance roller and is used for controlling the conveyance of the roll paper 2. A paper detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the roll paper 2 being conveyed, a linear encoder for detecting the position of the carriage 42 (or head 31) in the conveyance direction (left and right direction), and the paper edge in the width direction of the roll paper 2 There is a paper edge position detection sensor for detecting the (edge) position.

=== About Cleaning Unit 43 ===
Next, the cleaning unit 43 will be described. Below, the structural example of the cleaning unit 43 is demonstrated first, and the operation example of the cleaning unit 43 is demonstrated following this.

<<< Configuration Example of Cleaning Unit 43 >>>
First, a configuration example of the cleaning unit 43 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the cleaning unit 43. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing how the cloth wiper 212 wipes the nozzle surface 32. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state of the wetting cartridge 232 when the cloth wiper 212 is away from the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state of the wetting cartridge 232 when the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is in contact with the cloth wiper 212. FIG. 7 is a schematic view when the wet cartridge 232 is viewed from below. In FIGS. 5 to 7, the carriage 42 to which the wet cartridge 232 is attached is omitted for easy understanding of the drawings.

  The cleaning unit 43 is for cleaning the head 31 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning unit 43 includes a cap member 200, a wiping unit 210, and a wet unit 230 as an example of a wet part.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cap member 200 has a bottomed box shape and can move in the vertical direction (up and down direction) (the mechanism for movement will be described later). The cap member 200 caps the nozzle surface 32 by moving upward and in close contact with the nozzle surface 32 of the head 31 when the suction process is executed.

  A suction pump (not shown) is connected to the cap member 200. When the suction pump is operated under the control of the controller 60 in a state where the cap member 200 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 32, the ink in the head 31 is sucked together with the thickened ink and paper dust, and the clogged ink discharge nozzle It recovers from the non-ejection state.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the wiping unit 210 includes a cloth wiper 212, a cloth wiper winding shaft 214, a cloth wiper winding drive shaft 216, and a pressing member 218.

  The cloth wiper 212 is a sheet-like wiper made of cloth (nonwoven fabric) for wiping (wiping) the nozzle surface 32 of the head 31. In the present embodiment, the cloth wiper 212 is a roll cloth.

  The cloth wiper winding shaft 214 is a shaft around which the cloth wiper 212 is wound for feeding the cloth wiper 212, and the cloth wiper winding drive shaft 216 is wound around the cloth wiper 212 for winding the cloth wiper 212. Axis. The cloth wiper winding shaft 214 and the cloth wiper winding drive shaft 216 are located at substantially the same position in the vertical direction. When the cloth wiper take-up drive shaft 216 is driven under the control of the controller 60, the cloth wiper 212 is taken up by the cloth wiper take-up drive shaft 216 and fed out from the cloth wiper take-up shaft 214. As a result, the cloth wiper 212 moves in the direction from the left to the right (the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 3).

  The pressing member 218 has a function of pressing the cloth wiper 212 against the head 31 when the wiping process is executed. The pressing member 218 has a long cylindrical shape whose longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 3 and 4) in order to correspond to the M (multiple) heads 31 described above. doing. The pressing member 218 is positioned between the cloth wiper winding shaft 214 and the cloth wiper winding drive shaft 216 in the horizontal direction (left-right direction). Moreover, it is located above these axes in the vertical direction.

  The wiping unit 210 can move in the vertical direction (a mechanism for moving will be described later). In other words, the cloth wiper 212, the cloth wiper winding shaft 214, the cloth wiper winding drive shaft 216, and the pressing member 218 are integrally movable in the vertical direction.

  When the wiping process is executed, the wiping unit 210 is located at a predetermined position in the vertical direction (a position where the cloth wiper 212 can contact the nozzle surface 32; hereinafter referred to as a wiping position for convenience). In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, when the head 31 moves in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) as the carriage 42 moves (see the white arrow), the cloth wiper 212 takes up the cloth wiper. In a state where the cloth wiper 212 is pressed against the nozzle surface 32 by the pressing member 218 (a state where the cloth wiper 212 is held between the nozzle surface 32 and the pressing member 218). The cloth wiper 212 rubs against the nozzle surface 32, and the nozzle surface 32 is wiped by the cloth wiper 212.

  After the wiping by one movement of the head 31 is performed, the cloth wiper is prepared for the next wiping (so that the nozzle surface 32 is wiped at a new portion of the cloth wiper 212 by the next wiping). The winding drive shaft 216 is driven, and the cloth wiper 212 is moved (sent).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the head 31 is provided with a cover head 33 for the purpose of pressing the nozzle surface 32 toward the head body 34. Since the cover head 33 covers both ends of the nozzle surface 32 in the horizontal direction (left-right direction), a step is generated at the boundary B between the cover head 33 and the nozzle surface 32. And the cloth wiper 212 is suitable for the wiping of the said boundary part B which is hard to wipe compared with the conventional rubber wiper.

  In the above description, it has been described that the cap member 200 and the wiping unit 210 are movable in the vertical direction. However, the cap member 200 and the wiping unit 210 are integrally moved. In order to realize such movement, the cleaning unit 43 is provided with a storage case 220 and a lifting device 222 as shown in FIG.

  The housing case 220 is for housing and supporting the cap member 200 and the wiping unit 210. The housing case 220 has an opening at the top and has a bottomed box shape. A cloth wiper winding shaft 214 and a cloth wiper winding drive shaft 216 are rotatably supported by the housing case 220. Further, the pressing member 218 and the cap member 200 are also supported. Accordingly, the wiping unit 210 and the cap member 200 are fixed to the housing case 220.

  Then, the storage case 220 is moved up and down in the vertical direction by driving the lifting device 222 made of a cylinder or the like, so that the integral movement of the cap member 200 and the wiping unit 210 in the vertical direction is realized. It has become.

  In the present embodiment, the housing case 220 (the cap member 200 and the wiping unit 210) is positioned at three different vertical positions. The first position is the above-described wiping position where the cloth wiper 212 can contact the nozzle surface 32 (see, for example, FIG. 8D). The second position is a position where the cap member 200 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 32 (hereinafter referred to as a cap position for convenience) (for example, see FIG. 8A). As shown in FIG. 3, since the uppermost part of the cloth wiper 212 is located above the uppermost part of the cap member 200, the cap position is higher than the wiping position. The third position is a position where both the cap member 200 and the cloth wiper 212 cannot contact the nozzle surface 32 (hereinafter referred to as a non-contact position for convenience) (see, for example, FIG. 8B). ). This non-contact position is naturally lower than the cap position and the wiping position. Note that the specific timing at which the storage case 220 is raised and lowered will be described in detail later.

The wetting unit 230 is for moistening the cloth wiper 212 with a wetting liquid.
Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the cloth wiper 212 wipes the nozzle surface 32 at the first state portion and the second wiping operation at the second state portion. The wiping operation is selectively performed. That is, a first wiping operation in which the nozzle surface 32 is wiped at a wet portion (corresponding to a first state portion) wetted with the wet liquid by the wet unit 230 and a non-wet portion in a state not wetted with the wet liquid ( The second wiping operation for wiping the nozzle surface 32 in a second state) is selectively performed. In addition, the first wiping operation for wiping the nozzle surface 32 at a first wetting portion (corresponding to the portion in the first state) wetted with water as an example of the first wetting liquid by the wetting unit 230 and the wetting unit 230 A second wiping operation for wiping the nozzle surface 32 at a second wet portion (corresponding to a portion in the second state) wet with an organic solvent as an example of the second wetting liquid is selectively performed. Yes.

  That is, more specifically, the cloth wiper 212 is wetted with an organic solvent and a wiping operation (hereinafter referred to as a water wiping operation for the sake of convenience) of wiping the nozzle surface 32 at a wet site wetted with water. A wiping operation for wiping the nozzle surface 32 at a wet portion in a state (hereinafter referred to as an organic solvent wiping operation for convenience), and a wiping operation for wiping the nozzle surface 32 at a non-wet portion in a non-wet state (hereinafter, for convenience) It is possible to execute a non-wetting wiping operation).

  In order to realize the water wiping operation and the organic solvent wiping operation, the wet unit 230 is supplied with water to the cloth wiper 212 in order to wet the two wet cartridges 232, that is, the cloth wiper 212 with water. In order to wet the wet cartridge 233 and the cloth wiper 212 with the organic solvent, a second wet cartridge 234 for supplying the organic solvent to the cloth wiper 212 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the two wet cartridges 232 are both provided in the carriage 42. Specifically, the carriage 42 includes a first mounting portion 42a to which the first wet cartridge 233 can be attached and detached, and a second attachment portion 42b to which the second wet cartridge 234 can be attached and detached. 233 is mounted on the first mounting portion 42a, and the second wet cartridge 234 is mounted on the second mounting portion 42b. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the first wet cartridge 233 is located on the right side of the head 31 in the horizontal direction (left and right direction), and the second wet cartridge 234 is placed in the horizontal direction (left and right direction). ) Are located on the left side of the head 31, respectively, and the two wet cartridges 232 sandwich the head 31 in the horizontal direction (left-right direction).

  The first wetting cartridge 233 and the second wetting cartridge 234 have the same configuration, although there are differences in the wetting liquid to be accommodated. Therefore, the configuration of the first wetting cartridge 233 will be mainly described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the first wetting cartridge 233 includes an upper body 235 and a lower body 236 positioned vertically below the upper body 235, and a wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is provided in the lower body 236. The upper body 235 is provided (formed) with a wetting liquid reservoir 242.

  The wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is a contact member that supplies the wetting liquid when the opening 240 a contacts the cloth wiper 212. In the state where the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 (opening 240a) is not in contact with the cloth wiper 212, a meniscus M is formed by the wetting liquid at the opening 240a of the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 as shown in FIG. (This meniscus M can be formed using the same principle as the meniscus formation in the ink discharge nozzles of the head 31). When the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 (opening 240a) contacts the cloth wiper 212, the meniscus M is destroyed by the contact as shown in FIG. (See the arrows shown in FIG. 6). In this way, the wetting liquid is supplied to the cloth wiper 212 by the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower body 236 has a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 3 and 6) in order to correspond to the M (multiple) heads 31 described above. A large number of wetting liquid supply nozzles 240 are arranged in the front-rear direction on the lower surface 236a (wetting liquid supply nozzle surface) of the lower body 236.

  Further, the vertical position of the lower surface 236a (in other words, the opening 240a of the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240) is set to the same position as the vertical position of the nozzle surface 32 of the head 31, as shown in FIG. Has been.

  Further, since the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is provided in the carriage 42, it can move in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) integrally with the head 31 as the carriage 42 moves.

  When the cloth wiper 212 moves away from the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 (see, for example, FIG. 8E) and moves in the horizontal direction (left and right direction) with the movement of the carriage 42, the cloth wiper eventually. 212 contacts the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 (see FIG. 8F). When the cloth wiper 212 comes into contact with the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240, the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 stops, and the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 contacts the cloth wiper 212 and supplies the wetting liquid in the stopped state.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the carriage 42 functions as a transfer unit that moves the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 relative to the cloth wiper 212, and is separated from the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 by moving the relative movement. When the cloth wiper 212 is in contact with the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 and the cloth wiper 212 is in contact with the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240, the relative movement is stopped. Then, the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 contacts the cloth wiper 212 and supplies the wetting liquid in a state where the relative movement is stopped.

  The wetting liquid storage unit 242 is for storing the wetting liquid supplied to the cloth wiper 212 by the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240. The wetting liquid storage unit 242 is connected to the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240.

  Further, since the lower body 236 is a long structure whose longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction, the upper body 235 is a similar long structure as shown in FIG. For this reason, the wetting liquid reservoir 242 also includes a long wetting liquid storage portion whose longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction.

  In the present embodiment, the wetting liquid reservoir 242 is also provided in the carriage 42. Therefore, the wetting liquid reservoir 242 moves in the horizontal direction (left and right direction) integrally with the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240.

<<< Example of Operation of Cleaning Unit 43 >>>
Next, an operation example of the cleaning unit 43 when the cleaning process is executed will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 9D. 8A to 8G are schematic views showing the state of the cleaning unit 43 when the automatic cleaning process is executed. 9A to 9D are schematic diagrams illustrating the state of the cleaning unit 43 when the manual cleaning process is executed.

  In the present embodiment, two types of processing modes are prepared as cleaning processing. That is, a cleaning process in which cleaning is automatically performed by control of the controller 60 at a predetermined timing (hereinafter referred to as an automatic cleaning process for convenience), and a cleaning command is issued from the user via the host computer 110 or the like. A cleaning process (hereinafter referred to as a manual cleaning process for the sake of convenience) in which cleaning is executed by the control of the controller 60 based on the received cleaning command is executed.

  In any processing mode, as described above, the suction process for sucking the ink in the head 31 and the wiping process for wiping the nozzle surface 32 of the head 31 are performed in this order, but the automatic cleaning process and the manual cleaning process are performed. And the wiping operation performed in the wiping process is different (while the suction process is the same). That is, in the automatic cleaning process, the cloth wiper 212 performs two types of wiping operations in the order of the non-wetting wiping operation and the water wiping operation, whereas in the manual cleaning process, the cloth wiper A wiping process 212 is performed in which only the organic solvent wiping operation is performed.

  The reason why such a processing mode is prepared in the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is as follows.

  That is, in the automatic cleaning process, first, large dirt (for wiping such dirt, non-wetting wiping is more suitable than wet wiping) is wiped with a cloth wiper 212 that is not moistened (ie, Wipe off by dry wiping). Further, it is difficult to wipe off with non-wet wiping, and as a result, small dirt that remains as a result (for example, dirt that is buried in the above-described step of the boundary B. However, the dirt is not limited to such dirt). Wipe with a cloth wiper 212 wetted with water (that is, wiping is performed by wiping with water). Since wiping with a capillary phenomenon is possible by wiping with water, the above-mentioned residual dirt can also be wiped off appropriately.

  The manual cleaning process is a process that is assumed to be executed less frequently than automatic cleaning (for example, once a year). In this manual cleaning process, the solidified dirt that has accumulated due to accumulation of dirt that cannot be removed by water wiping is wiped off with a cloth wiper 212 moistened with an organic solvent.

  In the following, first, an example of the operation of the cleaning unit 43 when the automatic cleaning process is executed will be specifically described, and subsequently, an example of the operation of the cleaning unit 43 when the manual cleaning process is executed will be described. Explained. The operation is mainly realized by the controller 60. In particular, this embodiment is realized by the CPU 62 processing the program stored in the memory 63. And this program is comprised from the code | cord | chord for performing the various operation | movement demonstrated below.

  The controller 60 first controls the carriage 42 to position the carriage 42 at a position where the head 31 faces the cap member 200, and controls the lifting device 222 to place the storage case 220 (cap member 200) in the cap position. To be located. As a result, the cap member 200 comes into close contact with the nozzle surface 32 and the suction process can be executed (FIG. 8A). In this state, the controller 60 operates the suction pump to perform a suction process for sucking ink.

  When the suction process is completed, the controller 60 controls the lifting device 222 to lower the storage case 220 from the cap position to the non-contact position (downward arrow in FIG. 8A). Thus, neither the cap member 200 nor the cloth wiper 212 can come into contact with either the head 31 or the wet cartridge 232 (FIG. 8B).

  In this state, the controller 60 controls the carriage 42 to move the carriage 42 from the right to the left until the cloth wiper 212 is positioned between the head 31 and the second wet cartridge 234 in the horizontal direction (left-right direction). (Left arrow in FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C). Further, the lifting device 222 is controlled to raise the storage case 220 (cloth wiper 212) from the non-contact position to the wiping position (upward arrow in FIG. 8C). As a result, the cloth wiper 212 is raised to a position where it can come into contact with the head 31, and a wiping process (specifically, a non-wetting wiping operation) can be performed (FIG. 8D).

  When the controller 60 controls the carriage 42 in this state to move the carriage 42 from right to left (left arrow in FIG. 8D), the cloth wiper 212 eventually comes into contact with the head 31. As the carriage 42 further moves, the cloth wiper 212 slides on the head 31 to wipe the head 31 (a non-wetting wiping operation is performed). When the carriage 42 moves to a position where the cloth wiper 212 moves away from the head 31 (FIG. 8E), the non-wetting wiping operation ends. After the end, the controller 60 continues the control of moving the carriage 42 from the right to the left (left arrow in FIG. 8E), and prepares the cloth wiper winding in preparation for the subsequent water wiping operation. The take-up drive shaft 216 is controlled to feed the cloth wiper 212 (an oblique arrow in FIG. 8E).

  When the controller 60 continues the control of moving the carriage 42 from the right to the left, the cloth wiper 212 eventually comes into contact with the first wet cartridge 233. At this time, the controller 60 stops the carriage 42 (FIG. 8F). In this state, water is supplied from the first wetting cartridge 233 to the cloth wiper 212, and the cloth wiper 212 is wetted with water.

  In this state, when a predetermined time (a time sufficient for the cloth wiper 212 to wet properly) elapses, the controller 60 controls the carriage 42, and this time the carriage 42 is moved in the reverse direction (from left to right). Move (right arrow in FIG. 8F). The cloth wiper 212 eventually comes into contact with the head 31, and the cloth 42 wiped with water is rubbed against the head 31 by the further movement of the carriage 42 to wipe the head 31 (water wiping operation is performed). When the carriage 42 moves to a position where the cloth wiper 212 moves away from the head 31 (FIG. 8G), the water wiping operation ends. After the end, the controller 60 controls the cloth wiper take-up drive shaft 216 and sends the cloth wiper 212 in preparation for wiping in a cleaning process that can be performed in the future (in the oblique direction of FIG. 8G). Arrow).

  Next, an operation example of the cleaning unit 43 when the manual cleaning process is executed will be described.

  As in the automatic cleaning process, the controller 60 first controls the carriage 42 to position the carriage 42 at a position where the head 31 faces the cap member 200 and controls the lifting device 222 to control the storage case 220 (cap member). 200) is positioned at the cap position. As a result, the cap member 200 comes into close contact with the nozzle surface 32 and the suction process can be executed (FIG. 9A). In this state, the controller 60 operates the suction pump to perform a suction process for sucking ink.

  When the suction process is completed, the controller 60 controls the lifting device 222 to lower the storage case 220 from the cap position to the wiping position (downward arrow in FIG. 9A). As a result, the cloth wiper 212 is lowered to a position where the cloth wiper 212 can come into contact with the head 31, and a wiping process (specifically, an organic solvent wiping operation) can be performed (FIG. 9B).

  When the controller 60 controls the carriage 42 in this state and moves the carriage 42 from right to left (left direction in FIG. 9B), the cloth wiper 212 eventually comes into contact with the second wet cartridge 234. At this time, the controller 60 stops the carriage 42 (FIG. 9C). In this state, the organic solvent is supplied from the second wetting cartridge 234 to the cloth wiper 212, and the cloth wiper 212 is wetted with the organic solvent.

  In this state, when a predetermined time (a time sufficient for the cloth wiper 212 to wet properly) elapses, the controller 60 controls the carriage 42 to move the carriage 42 again from right to left (FIG. 9C). Left). The cloth wiper 212 eventually comes into contact with the head 31 and, as the carriage 42 further moves, the cloth wiper 212 wetted with the organic solvent rubs against the head 31 and wipes the head 31 (the organic solvent wiping operation is performed). ) When the carriage 42 moves to a position where the cloth wiper 212 moves away from the head 31 (FIG. 9D), the organic solvent wiping operation ends. After the end, the controller 60 controls the cloth wiper take-up drive shaft 216 and sends the cloth wiper 212 in preparation for wiping in a cleaning process that can be performed in the future (in the oblique direction of FIG. 9D). Arrow).

=== Effectiveness of Image Recording Apparatus 1 According to the Present Embodiment ===
As described above, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the head 31 that ejects ink from the ink ejection nozzles, the cloth wiper 212 that wipes the nozzle surface 32 of the head 31, and the cloth wiper 212. A wetting unit 230 for moistening with the wetting liquid, and the wetting unit 230 includes a contact member (wetting liquid supply nozzle 240) that contacts the cloth wiper 212 and supplies the wetting liquid. Thus, the cloth wiper 212 can be appropriately wetted by the wet unit 230.

  That is, in the image recording apparatus 1 according to the comparative example, the wetting unit 230 injects (discharges) the wetting liquid toward the cloth wiper 212 in a state where it is not in contact with the cloth wiper 212. It was moistened. For this reason, the cloth wiper 212 has not been properly wetted. That is, many of the sprayed wetting liquids do not reach the cloth wiper 212, and the cloth wiper 212 may be insufficiently wetted. In addition, the wetting liquid that does not reach and floats as mist, and the mist adheres to a site where the wetting liquid is not originally supposed to adhere, which may cause other harmful effects.

  On the other hand, in the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the wetting unit 230 contacts the cloth wiper 212 to supply the wetting liquid, so that the wetting liquid surely reaches the cloth wiper 212 and the cloth wiper 212 is supplied. Is sufficiently wet. Moreover, generation | occurrence | production of mist is also suppressed. Therefore, the wet wiper 212 is appropriately wetted by the wet unit 230.

  In the present embodiment, a carriage 42 that moves the contact member relative to the cloth wiper 212 is provided, and the carriage 42 moves away from the contact member by moving the contact member relative to the cloth wiper 212. When the cloth wiper 212 has been brought into contact with the contact member and the cloth wiper 212 has come into contact with the contact member, the relative movement is stopped, and the contact member is in a state in which the relative movement is stopped. The wetting liquid was supplied in contact with 212. That is, the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 supplies the wetting liquid in a stopped state. Therefore, compared with the case where the wetting liquid is supplied while moving, the wetting liquid reaches the cloth wiper 212 more reliably, and the generation of mist is further suppressed. Therefore, wetting of the cloth wiper 212 by the wetting unit 230 is performed more appropriately.

=== Other Embodiments ===
Although the above embodiments are mainly described with respect to a printing apparatus, disclosure of a wetting liquid supply method and the like is also included. The above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the roll paper 2 was mentioned as an example and demonstrated as a medium, it is not limited to this, For example, a cut paper, a film, and cloth may be sufficient.

  In the above embodiment, the head unit 30 has a plurality of (M) heads 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the head unit 30 may be composed of one head 31.

  In the above embodiment, the first wetting liquid is water and the second wetting liquid is an organic solvent. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, both the first wetting liquid and the second wetting liquid may be different types of organic solvents.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 that supplies the wetting liquid when the opening 240a contacts the cloth wiper 212 is described as an example of the contact member, and the wetting unit 230 separately supplies the wetting liquid. Although the wet liquid storage section 242 for storing is provided, the present invention is not limited to such a form, and any contact member may be used as long as the wet liquid is supplied by contact.

  However, the above embodiment is preferable in that the wetting liquid can be appropriately fed into the cloth wiper 212 by adopting the supply method using the nozzle.

  In addition, regarding the wetting liquid supply by the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 according to the above-described embodiment, the wetting liquid is provided in the opening 240 a of the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 in a state where the opening 240 a is not in contact with the cloth wiper 212. When the meniscus M is formed and the opening 240a contacts the cloth wiper 212, the meniscus M is destroyed by the contact, so that the wetting liquid is supplied to the cloth wiper 212 by the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the following form may be used (referred to as the second supply form).

  A 2nd supply form is demonstrated using FIG.10 and FIG.11. FIG. 10 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of the wetting cartridge 232 according to the second supply form when the cloth wiper 212 is separated from the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240. FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of the wetting cartridge 232 according to the second supply form when the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is in contact with the cloth wiper 212.

  Also in the second supply mode, as in the first supply mode, the first wetting cartridge 233 includes an upper body 235 and a lower body 236, and the lower body 236 has a wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 and the upper body 235 stores a wetting liquid. Each part 242 is provided (formed).

  However, in the second supply form, unlike the first supply form, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the wetting unit 230 includes a valve 244. The valve 244 is provided in a wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 that is a contact member whose opening 240 a contacts the cloth wiper 212 and supplies the wetting liquid. The controller 60 controls the opening and closing thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in a state where the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 (opening 240a) is not in contact with the cloth wiper 212, the valve 244 is in a closed state (“S” in FIG. 10 is the valve closed). Status). When the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 (opening 240a) contacts the cloth wiper 212, as shown in FIG. 11, the controller 60 opens the valve (“O” in FIG. 10 indicates the valve open state). The wetting liquid is supplied to the cloth wiper 212 by the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240.

  When comparing the first supply form and the second supply form, the second supply form requires electric power to open the valve 244, whereas the first supply form requires electric power when supplying the wetting liquid. It is superior in that it does not. On the other hand, in the case of the second supply mode, it is possible to reliably avoid the leakage of the wetting liquid when the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 is not used by closing the valve 244 (in any situation). Has an advantage.

  Further, in the above embodiment, a large number of wetting liquid supply nozzles 240 are provided on the lower surface 236a (wetting liquid supply nozzle surface) of the lower body 236. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, one elongate wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 whose longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIGS. 3 and 6) may be provided. FIG. 12 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 7, and is a schematic diagram when the wet cartridge 232 according to the modification is viewed from below.

  In the above embodiment, the carriage 42 that moves the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 relative to the cloth wiper 212 is taken as an example of the transfer unit that moves the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 relative to the cloth wiper 212. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the transfer unit may move the cloth wiper 212 instead of the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240.

  For example, the storage case 220 described above can move not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction (left-right direction), and the cloth wiper 212 moves in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) as the storage case 220 moves. The contact of the cloth wiper 212 with the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 may be realized. In such a case, the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 does not necessarily need to be movable. Therefore, the wetting liquid supply nozzle 240 may not be provided in the carriage 42.

  In the above embodiment, the image recording apparatus 1 includes two cartridges, the first wet cartridge 233 for supplying water and the second wet cartridge 234 for supplying an organic solvent, as the wet cartridge 232. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, there may be only one mounting portion on which the wet cartridge 232 is mounted. If the operation of replacing the first wet cartridge 233 and the second wet cartridge 234 as necessary is performed, the automatic cleaning and the manual cleaning described above can be realized even in such a case.

  In the above embodiment, the non-wetting wiping operation and the water wiping operation are performed in the wiping process in the automatic cleaning process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The operation may be performed in a wiping process in the manual cleaning process. Further, in the wiping process in the manual cleaning process, the organic solvent wiping operation is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the organic solvent wiping operation is performed in the wiping process in the automatic cleaning process. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, in the wiping process in the automatic cleaning process, the non-wetting wiping operation and the water wiping operation are performed as a set. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the non-wetting wiping operation may be performed alone in the wiping process in the automatic cleaning process or the manual cleaning process. Further, the water wiping operation may be performed independently in the wiping process in the automatic cleaning process or the manual cleaning process.

  In the above embodiment, the suction process and the wiping process are performed as a set in the cleaning process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the wiping process may be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the lateral scanning type label printing machine has been described as an example of the printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a serial scanning type large format printer may be used. Good.

  The serial scan type large format printer (hereinafter referred to as an inkjet printer 501) will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a schematic external view of the ink jet printer 501. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the inkjet printer 501. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the inkjet head 541 and its peripheral members of the inkjet printer 501.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the ink jet printer 501 includes a printer main body 502 having an ink jet head 541 (described later) and a support stand 503 that supports the printer main body 502. The ink jet printer 501 basically includes an ink jet head 541, a printing unit 521 for printing on the roll paper R, a feed unit for feeding the roll paper R along a feed path, and an ink cartridge 581. And the ink supply unit 523 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 541, the maintenance unit 524 for maintenance of the inkjet head 541, and the overall control of the inkjet printer 501 by controlling these units in relation to each other. And a control means 525 for performing the above. An image is printed on the roll paper R by driving the printing unit 521 and the feeding unit in synchronization while supplying ink to the inkjet head 541 by the ink supply unit 523. The printing unit 521 includes a head unit 531 on which an inkjet head 541 is mounted, and a head moving mechanism 532 that supports the head unit 531 in a movable manner and moves the head unit 531.

  The head moving mechanism 532 is configured to reciprocate the head unit 531 within a preset head moving area 564. In the present embodiment, the position corresponding to the right end of the head movement area 564 in the figure is set as the home position of the head unit 531, and the movement position of the head unit 531 is grasped using this position as a reference position.

  The maintenance unit 524 includes a suction unit 631 that sucks the inkjet head 541 and a moisturizing unit 632 that suppresses drying of the discharge nozzles of the inkjet head 541. The suction means 631 is disposed so as to face the home position, and the cap 641 can be brought into close contact with the inkjet head 541 of the head unit 531 facing the home position (see FIG. 15). Similarly to the suction means, the moisturizing means is disposed facing the home position, and the moisturizing cap can be brought into close contact with the ink jet head 541 of the head unit 531 facing the home position. (See FIG. 15).

  The suction means 631 (cap 641) is also used to store the ink jet head 541. When the ink jet printer 501 is not in operation, the cap 641 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 556 of the ink jet head 541 so that the discharge nozzle Prevent drying. Further, the suction means (cap 641) is configured such that, during the printing operation of the inkjet head 541, the cap 641 is configured to cover the portion that receives the ink with a cap sealing portion (not shown) so that the ink adhered to the cap 641 by suction or the like. Is prevented from proceeding during the printing operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording device, 2 Roll paper 10 Feed unit 18 Roll paper winding axis, 19 Relay roller 20 Transport unit, 20a Steering unit 21 Relay roller, 22 Relay roller 23 First transport roller, 23a First drive roller, 23b First driven Roller 24 Second transport roller, 24a Second drive roller, 24b Second driven roller 25 Reverse roller, 26 Relay roller, 27 Delivery roller 29 Platen, 30 Head unit, 31 Head 32 Nozzle surface, 33 Cover head, 34 Head body 35 Ink supply unit 40 Carriage unit, 41 Guide rail 42 Carriage, 42a First mounting portion, 42b Second mounting portion 43 Cleaning unit, 44 Flushing unit 50 Detector group, 60 controller, 61 interface Face unit 62 CPU, 63 Memory, 64 Unit control circuit 70 Heater unit, 80 Blower unit, 81 Fan 90 Winding unit, 91 Relay roller, 92 Roll paper winding drive shaft 110 Host computer 200 Cap member, 210 Wiping unit 212 Cloth wiper , 214 Cloth wiper winding shaft, 216 Cloth wiper winding drive shaft 218 Press member, 220 Storage case, 222 Lifting device 230 Wetting unit, 232 Wetting cartridge 233 First wetting cartridge, 234 Second wetting cartridge 235 Upper body, 236 Lower body 236a Lower surface 240 Wetting liquid supply nozzle, 240a Opening 242 Wetting liquid storage section, 244 Valve 501 Inkjet printer, 502 Printer main body 503 Support stand, 521 Printing means 523 Ink supply means, 524 Maintenance means, 525 Control means 531 Head unit, 532 Head moving mechanism, 541 Inkjet head 556 Nozzle surface, 564 Head moving area 581 Ink cartridge, 631 Suction means 632 Moisturizing means, 641 Cap

Claims (6)

A head for ejecting ink from an ink ejection nozzle;
A cloth wiper made of cloth for wiping the nozzle surface of the head;
A wetting part for moistening the cloth wiper with a wetting liquid,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wetting unit includes a contact member that contacts the cloth wiper and supplies a wetting liquid. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
A transfer unit for moving the contact member relative to the cloth wiper;
The transfer unit is
Moving the contact member relative to the cloth wiper to bring the cloth wiper away from the contact member into contact with the contact member; and
When the cloth wiper contacts the contact member, the relative movement is stopped,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact member contacts the cloth wiper and supplies the wetting liquid in a state where the relative movement is stopped. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The wetting part includes a wetting liquid supply nozzle that supplies the wetting liquid with the opening contacting the cloth wiper as the contact member,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wetting unit further includes a wetting liquid storage unit that stores a wetting liquid. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.
A meniscus by a wetting liquid is formed in the opening of the wetting liquid supply nozzle in a state where the opening is not in contact with the cloth wiper.
When the opening comes into contact with the cloth wiper, the meniscus is destroyed by the contact, so that the wetting liquid is supplied to the cloth wiper by the wetting liquid supply nozzle. . The printing apparatus according to claim 3.
The wet part includes a valve,
Having a controller for controlling the opening and closing of the valve;
When the opening contacts the cloth wiper, the controller opens the valve so that the wetting liquid is supplied to the cloth wiper by the wetting liquid supply nozzle. For the cloth wiper made of cloth that wipes the nozzle surface of the head that discharges ink from the ink discharge nozzle, it is provided in the wetting section for moistening the cloth wiper with the wetting liquid, and the wetting liquid is supplied by contacting the cloth wiper Making the cloth wiper that has been separated from the contact member into contact with the contact member by moving the contact member relative to the contact member;
When the cloth wiper comes into contact with the contact member, the relative movement is stopped, and the contact member contacts the cloth wiper and supplies the wetting liquid in a state where the relative movement is stopped. And
A method of supplying a wetting liquid, comprising: