JP2013193340A - Cap device and liquid-jet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cap device and a liquid-jet apparatus that allow exposure to air while keeping humidity in a cap member without increasing the size of them.SOLUTION: A left cap device 24 includes: a cap member 30 able to contact a recording head so as to surround a nozzle, the recording head being provided to jet ink from the nozzle; and a rigid member 32 attached to the inside of the cap member 30. A first groove 48 and a second groove 49 are formed in the external faces 40a and 40b of the rigid member 32. The first and second grooves 48 and 49 compose at least part of a communication path for allowing the communication between the inside and outside of the cap member 30 in an attached state of the cap member 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer and a cap apparatus provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  In general, an ink jet printer is known as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from a nozzle of a liquid ejecting head to a target. In such a printer, a bottomed box-shaped cap is placed around the recording head to prevent the ink (liquid) in the nozzle of the recording head (liquid ejecting head) from drying when printing is suspended or not used. A so-called capping is performed.

  In this case, the inside of the cap is moisturized during capping of the recording head. However, when the pressure in the cap changes due to a change in ambient temperature or the like, the ink meniscus in the nozzles may be destroyed. For this reason, during capping of the recording head, it is necessary to release the atmosphere while keeping the inside of the cap moist. Conventionally, a printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a printer that releases the atmosphere while keeping the inside of the cap moist during capping.

  That is, the printer described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a long communication pipe made of an ultrafine stainless steel pipe member is inserted into a protective cap portion (cap member). Then, the inside of the protective cap portion is opened to the atmosphere via the elongated communication pipe, so that the humidity reduction in the protective cap portion is suppressed even during capping of the recording head. In this case, as the length of the communication pipe is longer, the effect of suppressing the decrease in humidity in the protective cap portion is higher.

JP 2002-331673 A

  By the way, the printer of Patent Document 1 has a structure in which a long communication pipe extends straight downward from the protective cap portion. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a space for the long communication pipe, resulting in an increase in size. There's a problem.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a cap device and a liquid ejecting apparatus that can be opened to the atmosphere while suppressing evaporation of moisture from a nozzle without increasing the size.

  In order to achieve the above object, a cap device of the present invention is attached to a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle so as to be able to abut so as to surround the nozzle, and to the inside of the cap member. And a rigid member, wherein a series of grooves are formed on an outer surface of the rigid member, and the grooves constitute at least a part of a communication path that communicates the inside and the outside of the cap member in a mounted state. .

  According to the above configuration, when the cap member is brought into contact with the liquid ejecting head so as to surround the nozzle, the communication path including a series of grooves formed on the outer surface of the rigid member functions as an air release path. The closed space formed between the liquid ejecting head and the cap member is opened to the atmosphere. Therefore, if this series of grooves is lengthened within the range of the outer surface of the rigid member, the distance of the communication path functioning as the atmosphere opening passage can be sufficiently secured without increasing the rigidity member. Therefore, without increasing the size of the apparatus, the inside of the cap member that is in contact with the liquid ejecting head so as to surround the nozzle can be released to the atmosphere while keeping moisture.

  Further, in the cap device of the present invention, of the inner surface of the cap member, a surface portion formed with the groove that is pressed by the outer surface of the rigid member when the rigid member is mounted inside the cap member; Opposing surface portions are formed as elastic portions that can be elastically deformed.

  According to the above configuration, when the rigid member is mounted on the inner side of the cap member so as to press the inner surface of the cap member, the opening of the series of grooves formed on the outer surface of the rigid member can be elastically deformed on the inner surface of the cap member. Covered by elastic part. That is, it adheres to the surface portion where the series of grooves on the outer surface of the rigid member are formed while elastically deforming so as to form a communication path in which the elastic portion on the inner surface of the cap member is sealed. Therefore, in a state where the cap member is in contact with the liquid ejecting head so as to surround the nozzle, it is possible to satisfactorily ensure a sealed state of the communication path communicating between the inside and the outside of the cap member.

  Further, in the cap device of the present invention, the elastic portion extends along the mounting direction of the rigid member with respect to the inside of the cap member, and the rigid member is mounted when the rigid member is moved in the mounting direction. It is formed in the shape which can give pinching pressure with respect to the outer surface.

  According to the above configuration, when the rigid member is mounted on the inner side of the cap member, the rigid member is moved by the elastic return force of the elastic portion on the inner surface of the cap member that is elastically deformed with the mounting of the rigid member. The wearing state is maintained. In the mounted state, the elastic portion on the inner surface of the cap member is in close contact with the outer surface of the rigid member on which the series of grooves are formed, so that a sealed communication path can be easily formed.

  Further, in the cap device of the present invention, the rigid member has a shaft portion extending along a mounting direction to the inside of the cap member, and the shaft portion extends inside and outside the cap member along the mounting direction. The tip is exposed to the outside of the cap member by being inserted into the penetrating through hole, and the communication path is configured to include a through path that extends from the inside of the shaft portion to the tip of the shaft portion. .

  According to the above configuration, when the shaft portion of the rigid member is fitted into the through hole of the cap member, the outer surface of the shaft portion of the rigid member intersects the inner surface of the through hole of the cap member with the insertion direction of the rigid member. In close contact. Therefore, the sealing function of the communication path that communicates the inside and the outside of the cap member including the through path that extends from the inside of the shaft portion to the tip of the shaft portion can be maintained well.

Moreover, the cap apparatus of this invention WHEREIN: The said groove | channel is formed in the some surface site | part which comprises the outer surface of the said rigid member.
According to the said structure, it becomes possible to earn the distance of a communicating path effectively.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention includes the liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from the nozzle to the target, and the cap device configured as described above so as to contact the liquid ejecting head so as to surround the nozzle.

  According to the said structure, the effect similar to invention of the said cap apparatus is acquired.

1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a leaving cap device in the printer of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a leaving cap device in the printer of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. The perspective view of the rigid member in the printer of the embodiment. The perspective view of the rigid member in the printer of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of a leaving cap device in the printer according to the embodiment. The perspective view of the suction cap apparatus in the printer of the embodiment. The perspective view of the suction cap apparatus in the printer of the embodiment. The front view of the suction cap apparatus in the printer of the embodiment. The perspective view of the suction cap apparatus in the printer of the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 8. The top view of the cap holder of the suction cap apparatus in the printer of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing an action when the abandoned cap device abuts against the recording head, wherein (a) is a front view showing a state before the cap holder abuts against the recording head, and (b) is a view of the cap holder. FIG. 4C is a front view showing a state where the inclined surface slides on the recording head, FIG. 5C is a front view showing a state immediately after the inclined surface of the cap holder rides on the recording head, and FIG. The front view which shows the state which contact | abutted. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing an action when the abandoned cap device contacts the recording head, where (a) is a plan view showing a state where the inclined surface of the cap holder slides on the recording head; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the inclined surface of the cap holder rides on the recording head. FIGS. 14A and 14B are front views schematically showing an action when the leaving cap device is separated from the recording head, wherein FIG. 14A is a front view showing a state where the slider is lowered from the state shown in FIG. 14D, and FIG. The front view which shows the state which is pressing the slope part of the one side of a cap holder. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the effect | action at the time of shape | molding the cap member of a suction cap apparatus, (a) is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the cap holder was attached to the type | mold material, (b) is a penetration part of a cap holder Sectional drawing which shows the state with which the cap member was filled in, (c) is sectional drawing which shows the state from which the cap holder was removed from the mold material. The disassembled perspective view of the abandoned cap apparatus in the printer of another embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a leaving cap device in the printer according to the embodiment. (A), (b) is sectional drawing of the leaving cap apparatus in the printer of another embodiment which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an ink jet printer that is a kind of liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a support member 13 is extended along the longitudinal direction of an inner lower portion of a frame 12 having a substantially rectangular box shape in the printer 11. On the support member 13, the paper P as a target is fed based on driving of a paper feed motor 14 provided at the lower back of the frame 12.

  A guide shaft 15 is installed above the support member 13 in the frame 12 along the longitudinal direction of the support member 13. A carriage 16 is supported on the guide shaft 15 so as to be capable of reciprocating along the axial direction. A driving pulley 17 and a driven pulley 18 are rotatably supported at positions corresponding to both end portions of the guide shaft 15 on the inner surface of the wall portion on the back side of the frame 12.

  The drive pulley 17 is connected to an output shaft of a carriage motor 19 that serves as a drive source when the carriage 16 is reciprocated. An endless timing belt 20, part of which is connected to the carriage 16, is hung between the pair of pulleys 17 and 18. Accordingly, the carriage 16 is movable in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P via the timing belt 20 by the driving force of the carriage motor 19 while being guided by the guide shaft 15.

  A recording head 21 as a liquid ejecting head is supported on the lower surface of the carriage 16. A plurality of nozzles are opened on the lower surface of the recording head 21, and each nozzle is provided in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 16. Further, an ink cartridge 22 for supplying ink as a liquid to the recording head 21 is detachably mounted on the carriage 16. Then, ink droplets are ejected from each nozzle of the recording head 21 onto the paper P fed onto the support member 13, whereby recording is performed on the paper P.

  In addition, a maintenance device 23 for performing maintenance of the recording head 21 is provided at a home position HP provided at a position outside the recording area in which the paper P is conveyed in the frame 12. The maintenance device 23 is used for a leaving cap device 24 as a cap device used for suppressing evaporation of ink in each nozzle of the recording head 21 when printing is suspended or not used, and for cleaning or flushing the recording head 21. And a suction cap device 25.

Next, the configuration of the leaving cap device 24 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the abandoned cap device 24 includes a cap member 30, a cap holder 31 that holds the cap member 30, and a rigid member 32 that is attached to the cap member 30 from above. ing.

  The cap holder 31 is substantially U-shaped in a side view, and a substantially rectangular wall 34 (see FIG. 4) protrudes from the bottom wall 33 between the wall portions 61 and 62 in the cap holder 31. . The inside of the wall 34 is a recess 34a, and a cap member 30 made of an elastic member such as an elastomer is fitted into the wall 34 from above. For this reason, the cap member 30 also has a substantially rectangular shape having a recess 30b therein. Then, with the carriage 16 moved to the home position HP so that the recording head 21 is positioned directly above the cap member 30, the cap holder 31 is raised by the lifting device, so that the seal portion on the upper portion of the cap member 30 is moved. 35 contacts the recording head 21 so as to surround the nozzle. The cap member 30 covers the inner side (recess 34a side) of the wall 34 from the seal portion 35 covering the upper side of the wall 34 to the bottom wall 33 with the inner side surface 30a.

  The substantially rectangular shape of the cap member 30 has a shape in which a portion along the longitudinal direction and a portion along the short direction in the seal portion 35 are continuous, that is, a corner portion of the rectangle is curved in a substantially arc shape. For this reason, the seal portion 35 is easily elastically deformed when coming into contact with the recording head 21. Therefore, the seal portion 35 can be adhered to the recording head 21 in a reliable and airtight manner. The substantially rectangular shape of the cap member 30 may be any shape that surrounds the nozzle, and includes an elliptical shape. The rigid member 32 is attached from above to a recess 30b formed inside the cap member 30 through an opening at the upper end of the cap member 30. At this time, the inner surface 30a and the rigid member 32 in the cap member 30 are in contact with each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rigid member 32 is made of a hard synthetic resin having a high gas barrier property such as PP (polypropylene), and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the longitudinal direction of the cap member 30. A main body 40 is provided. As a material of the rigid member 32, any material can be adopted as long as it is a hard material having a high gas barrier property. For example, PE (polyethylene), PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) or the like may be adopted. .

  Further, a concave portion 41 is formed in the central portion in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the main body portion 40. A convex strip 43 extending in the lateral direction of the main body 40 is formed at the central portion of the inner bottom surface 42 of the concave portion 41, and a cap portion 44 having a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view is formed at the upper end of the convex strip 43. It is integrally formed. In this case, a notch recess 45 is formed at the upper end of the ridge 43 that is connected to the center of the lower surface of the cap 44. Further, step portions 46 are formed at the edges on both sides in the lateral direction on the upper surface of the cap portion 44 so as to be slightly lower than other portions. In each step portion 46, the end portions on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the shade portion 44 are bent at a right angle toward the lower side and then inclined obliquely downward toward both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shade portion 44.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a through passage 47 that penetrates the main body 40 in the short direction is formed at a position near the lower end of the outer surface 40 a on one side along the longitudinal direction of the main body 40. A first groove 48 as a groove extending from the through passage 47 to the notch recess 45 is formed on the outer surface 40 a of the main body 40. The first groove 48 extends so as to meander in the longitudinal direction of the main body 40 and communicates the through passage 47 and the notch recess 45. Specifically, the first groove 48 extends in a direction away from the through passage 47 in the horizontal direction, extends upward, extends in a direction approaching the through passage 47 in the horizontal direction, and extends upward above the through passage 47. Then, it extends again in the direction away from the through-passage 47 in the horizontal direction, and communicates with the notch recess 45 after extending upward. Note that the opening 48 a on the upper end side of the first groove 48 faces the lower surface of the cap portion 44 with the cutout recess 45 in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a through passage 47 that extends horizontally from the outer surface 40 a of the main body 40 is opened on the other outer surface 40 b along the longitudinal direction of the main body 40. A second groove 49 as a groove is formed on the outer surface 40 b of the main body 40. That is, the second groove 49 extends straight from the through passage 47 toward the upper side, then extends in a direction away from the through passage 47 in the horizontal direction, makes a U-turn, goes downward, and approaches the through passage 47 in the horizontal direction. It extends in the direction and reaches the through passage 50 extending inside the main body 40 after meandering.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in the center of the lower surface of the main body portion 40, a fitting insertion portion as a shaft portion having a substantially columnar shape extending along the mounting direction of the main body portion 40 inside the cap member 30. 51 is integrally formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion portion 51 is formed at the central portion in the longitudinal direction on the inner bottom surface of the cap member 30 so as to communicate the inside and outside of the cap member 30 along the mounting direction of the main body portion 40. The circular through hole 52 is inserted downward. In this case, the outer diameter of the fitting portion 51 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 52. For this reason, since the fitting portion 51 is press-fitted into the through hole 52 of the cap member 30, the outer peripheral surface of the fitting insertion portion 51 tightly adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 52 in an airtight manner. ing. Further, a flange portion 53 is formed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 51. Therefore, when the fitting portion 51 is fitted into the through hole 52 of the cap member 30, the flange portion 53 of the fitting portion 51 is inserted into the hole edge portion of the through hole 52 of the cap member 30. Locked in the insertion direction.

  Further, the insertion portion 51 is inserted into a through hole 55 formed in the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 33 of the cap holder 31, so that the tip is exposed to the outside of the cap holder 31. A through passage 50 that extends straight from the main body 40 side toward the bottom reaches the lower surface of the insertion portion 51 inside the insertion portion 51. That is, one end side of the through passage 50 opens on the outer side surface 40 b of the main body 40, and the other end side opens on the lower surface of the fitting insertion portion 51 exposed to the outside of the cap member 30.

  When the insertion portion 51 of the rigid member 32 is inserted into the through hole 52 and the rigid member 32 is attached to the cap member 30, both outer side surfaces 40 a and 40 b of the rigid member 32 are the inner side surfaces 30 a of the cap member 30. Close contact with. At this time, the opening portions of the first groove 48, the second groove 49, and the through passages 47 and 50 are covered with the inner side surface 30a of the cap member 30, and each of them becomes a ventilation passage. The through passage 50, the second groove 49, the through passage 47, and the first groove 48 that become the air passage constitute a communication passage that communicates the inside and outside of the cap member 30. That is, the outside air of the cap member 30 includes a series of grooves formed on the outer surface of the rigid member 32 through the through passage 50, the second groove 49, the through passage 47, and the first groove 48 in this order. The inside of the cap member 30 is opened to the atmosphere by the configured communication path.

  The main body 40 has substantially the same shape as the opening at the upper end of the cap member 30 in plan view. Therefore, when the rigid member 32 is inserted inside the cap member 30, the inner side surface 30 a of the cap member 30 comes into close contact with the outer side surfaces 40 a and 40 b of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 with elastic deformation. That is, in the present embodiment, of the inner surface of the cap member 30, the first groove pressed by the outer surfaces 40 a and 40 b of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 when the rigid member 32 is mounted inside the cap member 30. The surface portion opposite to the surface portion where the 48 and the second groove 49 are formed is constituted by the inner side surface 30a of the cap member 30 that can be elastically deformed. The inner side surface 30 a of the cap member 30 extends along the mounting direction of the rigid member 32 with respect to the inner side of the cap member 30. The inner side surface 30a of the cap member 30 is a rigid member that is in a direction intersecting the mounting direction with respect to the outer side surface 40a of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 when the rigid member 32 is mounted in the mounting direction. A clamping pressure is applied from both sides of the 32 main body portions 40 in the short direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the cap holder 31 is provided with wall portions 61 and 62 so as to protrude upward from both sides in the longitudinal direction. The height of the wall portion 61 is higher than the height of the wall portion 62, and the both wall portions 61, 62 are arranged at an interval substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the recording head 21. The wall portions 61 and 62 are formed with slope portions 61A and 62A that are inclined obliquely downward toward both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cap holder 31, respectively. In this case, the inclination angle of the slope portion 61 </ b> A of the wall portion 61 is smaller than the inclination angle of the slope portion 62 </ b> A of the wall portion 62.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both wall portions 61, 62 are provided with concave portions 63, 64 having a substantially U shape in plan view as viewed from above, and their inner surfaces face the longitudinal direction of the cap holder 31. Is formed. The first inclined surfaces 61B and 62B are formed on both sides of the cap holder 31 in the short direction at the upper end portions of the both wall portions 61 and 62, respectively. These first inclined surfaces 61B and 62B are formed such that the distance between the first inclined surfaces 61B and 62B gradually increases as it goes upward. A second inclined surface 61 </ b> C that is inclined obliquely upward toward the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the cap holder 31 is formed at the upper end portion of the wall portion 61. The second inclined surface 61C is formed such that the distance from the wall portion 62 gradually increases as it goes upward.

Next, the configuration of the suction cap device 25 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the suction cap device 25 includes a cap member 71 and a cap holder 72 that holds the cap member 71.

  The cap holder 72 is substantially U-shaped in a side view, and a bottom wall 73 of the cap holder 72 has a through portion 74 (see FIGS. 11 to 13) having a substantially elliptical annular shape in plan view. The wall 73 is formed through in the thickness direction. And the inside of this penetration part 74 is filled with the cap member 71 which consists of butyl rubber, for example. The material of the cap member 71 is preferably a material highly resistant to ink containing an organic solvent. For example, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber or silicone rubber may be employed.

  Incidentally, in the present embodiment, as the material of the cap member 71, a material that does not contain a plasticizer for enhancing the flexibility of the cap member 71 is used. Therefore, even if an ink containing an organic solvent is used as the ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 21, the plasticizer is removed from the cap member 71 when the cap member 71 comes into contact with the ink discharged from the recording head 21. Thus, the cap member 71 does not shrink.

  FIG. 13 shows the cap holder before the cap member 71 is filled. As shown in FIG. 13, the through-hole 74 of the cap holder 72 caps the space area filled with the cap member 71. A partition wall 75 for partitioning in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 73 of the holder 72 is provided. In the partition wall 75, a plurality of communication holes 76 are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the through portion 74.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cap member 71 has a substantially elliptical annular seal portion 77 protruding upward from the opening at the upper end of the through portion 74, so that the seal portion 77 is the bottom of the cap holder 72. Projecting upward from the wall 73. Therefore, when the carriage 16 is moved to the home position HP so that the recording head 21 is positioned directly above the cap member 71, the cap holder 72 is raised by the lifting device so that the seal portion 77 is attached to the recording head 21. It abuts so as to surround the nozzle.

  In this case, since the portion where the portion along the longitudinal direction and the portion along the short direction in the seal portion 77 are continuous has a shape curved in a substantially arc shape, the seal portion 77 is in contact with the recording head 21. It is easy to be elastically deformed. Therefore, the seal portion 77 can be reliably and tightly adhered to the recording head 21.

  In addition, the inner surface of the seal portion 77 is not formed with a corner portion where the planes are narrowly interlaced. Therefore, the waste ink discharged from the nozzles of the recording head 21 into the cap member 71 does not flow upward through the seal portion 77 along the corner portion by capillary action. Therefore, when the seal portion 77 comes into contact with the recording head 21, the ink discharged into the cap member 71 is suppressed from being transferred to the recording head 21.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a recess 78 extending in the longitudinal direction of the cap holder 72 is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the bottom wall 73 of the cap holder 72. The recess 78 contains an ink absorbing material 79 made of a porous material. The peripheral portion of the recess 78 in the cap holder 72 is in contact with the inner surface of the seal portion 77 from the inside of the seal portion 77. Therefore, when a negative pressure is generated in the cap member 71 in a state where the seal portion 77 is tightly adhered to the recording head 21 at the time of cleaning the recording head, the seal portion 77 tilts inside the cap member 71. This is regulated by the cap holder 72. Therefore, it is possible to reliably maintain the state in which the seal portion 77 is in airtight contact with the recording head 21.

Next, the operation of the printer 11 configured as described above will be described, in particular, the operation of the leaving cap device 24 when the printer 11 is not printing and when not in use.
Now, when the printer 11 is not printing or not in use, the carriage 16 is moved to the home position HP in order to suppress the evaporation of water (solvent component) of the ink in the nozzles of the recording head 21, and then the recording head 21 is moved to the recording head 21. On the other hand, the state in which the leaving cap device 24 abuts so as to surround the nozzle is maintained.

  At this time, if the inside of the cap member 30 is completely sealed, the effect of suppressing moisture evaporation in the ink in each nozzle is enhanced, but the pressure in the cap member 30 fluctuates with environmental changes such as ambient temperature. In this case, the ink meniscus in each nozzle may be destroyed. On the other hand, if the atmosphere is released by simply providing a hole in the cap member 30, the meniscus can be prevented from being destroyed by pressure fluctuation, but the water in the ink in the nozzles evaporates through the atmosphere opening hole. .

  In this case, the first groove 48 and the second groove 49 constituting the communication path are respectively formed on the side surfaces on both sides in the short side direction among the four side surfaces of the main body 40. That is, the communication path is defined by a space surrounded by the inner surface 30 a of the cap member 30 and the first groove 48, a space surrounded by the inner surface 30 a of the cap member 30 and the second groove 49, and the through passages 47 and 50. Since it is configured, it is within the range of the cap member 30. In addition, the communication path extends along the second groove 49 after extending along the first groove 48 and then penetrating the main body 40. Therefore, in the leaving cap device 24, although the communication path is compact, the distance of the communication path is sufficiently secured, and the effect of suppressing evaporation of moisture in the ink can be obtained.

  As a result, the leaving cap device 24 capping the recording head 21 when the printer 11 is not printing or not in use, thereby suppressing the evaporation of moisture in the ink in the nozzles and the pressure fluctuation in the cap member 30. It is possible to suppress the ink meniscus from being destroyed in each nozzle.

  In addition, if the printer 11 is shaken or receives an impact while the recording head 21 is capped by the leaving cap device 24, ink may drop from the nozzles into the cap member 30. However, even in such a case, in the leaving cap device 24, since the opening 48a of the first groove 48 is located below the shade 44, ink dripped from within each nozzle is communicated from the opening 48a. Intrusion into the inside is suppressed by the cap 44.

  At this time, when the ink dripped from the inside of each nozzle onto the upper surface of the cap portion 44 flows in the short direction of the cap portion 44, the ink is received by the step portions 46. For this reason, it is suppressed that the ink dripped from the inside of each nozzle onto the upper surface of the cap portion 44 reaches the opening 48 a of the first groove 48 along the short side of the cap portion 44 along the lower surface of the cap portion 44. Therefore, the communication path is suppressed from being clogged with ink, so that the atmosphere communication state in the cap member 30 through the communication path is maintained.

Next, the operation of the leaving cap device 24 when the cap member 30 moves up and down in the direction approaching or separating from the recording head 21 will be described.
FIG. 14A shows a state in which the seal portion 35 is disposed so as to face the recording head 21 in the vertical direction while being displaced with respect to the recording head 21 in the longitudinal direction of the seal portion 35. And as shown to Fig.14 (a), the lower surface of the cap holder 31 is connected via the coil spring 81 with respect to the slider 80 raised / lowered by the raising / lowering apparatus. Further, the cap holder 31 biased upward by the coil spring 81 has the slope portions 61A and 62A of the both wall portions 61 and 62 locked from above by the slider 80.

  From this state, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the slider 80 rises so as to approach the recording head 21, the second inclined surface 61 </ b> C of the wall portion 61 comes into contact with the recording head 21. When the second inclined surface 61 </ b> C slides with respect to the recording head 21, the cap holder 31 moves upward relative to the recording head 21 while moving relative to the recording head 21.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14C, when the slider 80 is lifted so as to be closer to the recording head 21, the second inclined surface 61 </ b> C of the wall portion 61 of the cap holder 31 rides on the recording head 21. .

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 14D, the cap holder 31 rises while the wall portion 61 slides with respect to the side surface of the recording head 21, so that the seal portion 35 is in the longitudinal direction of the seal portion 35. Positioned with respect to the recording head 21. When the seal portion 35 comes into contact with the recording head 21, the cap holder 31 applies the slider 80 to the slider 80 while compressing the coil spring 81 based on the reaction force acting downward from the recording head 21 to the seal portion 35. On the other hand, it is relatively displaced downward. As a result, in the cap holder 31, the slope portions 61 </ b> A and 62 </ b> A of the both wall portions 61 and 62 are separated from the slider 80.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 15A, it is assumed that the seal portion 35 is displaced with respect to the recording head 21 in the short direction of the seal portion 35. In this case, as the slider 80 rises, the first inclined surfaces 61B and 62B of the both wall portions 61 and 62 of the cap holder 31 slide relative to the protrusions 82 provided on the side surface of the recording head 21.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 15B, when the first inclined surfaces 61B, 62B of the both wall portions 61, 62 ride on the protrusions 82 of the recording head 21, the protrusions 82 of the recording head 21 become both wall portions 61. , 62 so as to fit into the recesses 63, 64. Therefore, the seal portion 35 is positioned with respect to the recording head 21 in the short direction of the seal portion 35.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the seal portion 35 is positioned in the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the seal portion 35 in parallel. When the seal portion 35 comes into contact with the recording head 21 in such a positioned state, a closed space surrounding the nozzles of the recording head 21 is surely formed between the seal portion 35 and the recording head 21.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 16A, when the slider 80 is moved away from the recording head 21, the slider 80 is relatively displaced downward with respect to the cap holder 31. As a result, the cap holder 31 has a wall portion on the other side (left side in FIG. 16A) in a state where the slope portion 62A of the wall portion 62 on one side (right side in FIG. 16A) is separated from the slider 80. 61 sloped portion 61A is locked by slider 80.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16B, when the slider 80 is lowered further away from the recording head 21, the cap holder 31 is pushed down by the inclined surface portion 61 </ b> A locked by the slider 80, so that the cap holder 31. Tilt in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the seal portion 35 of the cap member 30 held by the cap holder 31 is separated from the recording head 21 while being inclined with respect to the lower surface of the recording head 21. Accordingly, since the closed space formed between the seal portion 35 and the recording head 21 is gradually released to the atmosphere, the ink is prevented from scattering from the nozzles of the recording head 21.

Next, the operation when the cap member 71 of the suction cap device 25 is molded will be described.
As shown in FIG. 17A, when the cap member 71 is molded with respect to the suction cap device 25, first, the mold material 90 is attached to the cap holder 72 of the suction cap device 25. In the mold 90, a recess 91 having an inner bottom surface shaped like the seal portion 77 of the cap member 71 is formed at a position corresponding to the penetrating portion 74 of the cap holder 72.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 17B, a high-temperature molten material (butyl rubber as an example in the present embodiment) is poured from the upper opening 92 of the mold member 90. Then, the molten material is gradually filled in the through-hole 74 of the cap holder 72 and the space region between the cap holder 72 and the mold material 90. When the filling of the material is completed, vulcanization is performed by adding heat to the filled material and then applying heat. In this case, as a material of the cap holder 72, the melting point temperature needs to be set higher than the vulcanization temperature, and as an example, PPS (Poly Phenylene Sulfide Resin) can be adopted. When the vulcanization of the filled material is completed, the filled material is gradually cooled and solidified by radiating heat into the atmosphere.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 17C, when the solidification of the filled material is completed, the mold material 90 is removed from the cap holder 72. In this case, the material filled in the penetrating portion 74 of the cap holder 72 is such that a portion of the penetrating portion 74 above the partition wall 75 and a portion below the partition wall 75 are in the communication hole 76 of the partition wall 75. It becomes the form which continued through the part with which it filled. Therefore, the molded cap member 71 is mechanically coupled to the cap holder 72 by being locked by the partition wall 75 in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 73 of the cap holder 72.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the cap member 30 is brought into contact with the recording head 21 so as to surround the nozzle, the first groove 48 and the second groove 49 formed on the outer surfaces 40a and 40b of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 are formed. The communication path configured to function as an air release path opens the closed space formed between the recording head 21 and the cap member 30 to the atmosphere. Therefore, if this series of grooves is lengthened within the range of the outer surface of the rigid member 32, the distance of the communication passage functioning as the atmosphere release passage can be sufficiently secured without increasing the rigidity member 32. Therefore, it is possible to release the atmosphere while keeping the inside of the cap member 30 in contact with the recording head 21 so as to surround the nozzles without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  (2) When the rigid member 32 is mounted on the inner side of the cap member 30 so as to press the inner surface 30a of the cap member 30, the first groove 48 formed in the outer side surfaces 40a and 40b of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32. The opening of the second groove 49 is covered with the inner side surface 30a of the cap member 30 that can be elastically deformed. That is, a communication path in which the inner side surface 30a of the cap member 30 is sealed with respect to the surface portion where the first groove 48 and the second groove 49 are formed in the outer side surfaces 40a and 40b of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 is formed. It adheres while elastically deforming. Therefore, in a state where the cap member 30 is in contact with the recording head 21 so as to surround the nozzle, it is possible to satisfactorily ensure a sealed state of the communication path that communicates the inside and outside of the cap member 30.

  (3) When the rigid member 32 is attached to the inside of the cap member 30, the rigid member 32 is caused by the elastic restoring force of the cap member 30 on the inner surface of the cap member 30 that is elastically deformed along with the attachment of the rigid member 32. Is maintained in its mounted state. In the mounted state, the inner side surface 30a of the cap member 30 is in close contact with the outer side surfaces 40a, 40b in which the first groove 48 and the second groove 49 of the rigid member 32 are formed, so that the sealed communication path can be simplified. Can be formed.

  (4) When the insertion portion 51 of the rigid member 32 is inserted into the through hole 52 of the cap member 30, the outer surface of the insertion portion 51 of the rigid member 32 is rigid with respect to the inner surface of the through hole 52 of the cap member 30. It sticks in the direction which intersects 32 insertion directions. Therefore, the sealing function of the communication path that communicates the inside and the outside of the cap member 30 including the through passage 50 that extends from the inside of the insertion part 51 to the tip of the insertion part 51 can be satisfactorily maintained.

(5) Since the 1st groove | channel 48 and the 2nd groove | channel 49 are formed in the some surface site | part which comprises the outer surface of the rigid member 32, the distance of a communicating path can be earned effectively.
(6) Since the first groove 48 and the second groove 49 are formed on the outer side surfaces 40a and 40b of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 having rigidity, a series of grooves having fine shapes can be easily formed. can do.

  (7) Since the rigid member 32 has a plan view shape with a size over the entire opening of the cap member 30, the user can easily hold the rigid member 32 and attach it to the inside of the cap member 30. .

  (8) Since the leaving cap device 24 has a shape in which a portion where the portion along the longitudinal direction and the portion along the short direction of the seal portion 35 are continuous is curved in a substantially arc shape, the seal portion 35 is formed by the recording head. 21 is easily elastically deformed when it abuts against 21. Therefore, the seal portion 35 can be in close contact with the recording head 21 in a reliable and airtight manner.

  (9) In the suction cap device 25, a portion where the portion along the longitudinal direction and the portion along the short direction in the seal portion 77 are formed in a substantially arcuate shape. In this case, corners where the planes are narrowly interlaced are not formed. Therefore, the waste ink discharged from the nozzles of the recording head 21 into the cap member 71 does not flow upward through the seal portion 77 along the corner portion by capillary action. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the ink discharged into the cap member 71 from being transferred to the recording head 21 when the seal portion 77 contacts the recording head 21.

  (10) The shapes of the slope portions 61A and 62A in the both wall portions 61 and 62 of the cap holder 31 are different from each other. Therefore, when the slider 80 is moved away from the recording head 21, the cap holder 31 is tilted in the longitudinal direction of the cap holder 31 by pushing down one inclined surface portion 61 </ b> A locked by the slider 80. As a result, the seal portion 35 of the cap member 30 held by the cap holder 31 is separated from the recording head 21 while being inclined with respect to the lower surface of the recording head 21. Accordingly, since the closed space formed between the cap member 30 and the recording head 21 is gradually released to the atmosphere, it is possible to suppress ink from being scattered from the nozzles of the recording head 21.

  (11) The cap member 71 is molded by pouring the molten material into the through-hole 74 of the cap holder 72 and the space between the cap holder 72 and the mold material 90. Therefore, the volume of the cap member 71 occupying the cap holder 72 can be reduced. Therefore, the amount of change in the volume of the cap member 71 when the cap member 71 expands or contracts as the cap member 71 comes into contact with the ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 21 can be reduced.

  (12) The cap member 71 is mechanically coupled to the cap holder 72 by being locked by the partition wall 75 in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 73 of the cap holder 72. Therefore, the cap member 71 can be stably held with respect to the cap holder 72.

  (13) As the material of the cap member 71, a material that does not include a plasticizer for increasing the flexibility of the cap member 71 is used. Therefore, even if an ink containing an organic solvent is used as the ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 21, the plasticizer is removed from the cap member 71 when the cap member 71 comes into contact with the ink discharged from the recording head 21. Thus, the cap member 71 can be prevented from contracting.

  (14) The cap holder 72 is in contact with the inner surface of the seal portion 77 from the inside of the seal portion 77. Therefore, when the recording head 21 is cleaned, when the negative pressure is generated in the cap member 71 in a state where the seal portion 77 is tightly adhered to the recording head 21, the seal portion 77 tilts inward of the cap member 71. This is restricted by the cap holder 72. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the state in which the seal portion 77 is tightly adhered to the recording head 21 with high reliability.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment into another embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the rigid member 32 has a gas barrier so as to cover the openings of the first groove 48 and the second groove 49 with respect to the outer surfaces 40 a and 40 b of the main body 40. It is good also as a structure by which the film 100 with high property is heat-welded.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the rigid member 132 does not include an insertion portion that extends along the mounting direction of the main body 140 inside the cap member 130. It is good also as a structure. That is, the protrusion 120 extending inward from the seal part 135 may be provided on the cap member 130, and the rigid member 132 may be pressed downward by the protrusion 120 to be in close contact with the inner bottom surface 130 b of the cap member 130. In this case, the protrusion 120 and the inner bottom surface 130b of the cap member 130 apply a clamping pressure to the rigid member 132 from both sides in the attachment / detachment direction when the rigid member 132 is attached with movement in the attachment direction. .

  20A, a groove 121 is provided on the outer surface 140a of the rigid member 132, and a through passage 122 extending from the groove 121 to the inside of the rigid member 132 is formed in the bottom portion 130A of the cap member 130. It is good also as a structure provided so that it may communicate with the through-hole 123 which it was. In this configuration, the communication path is configured by a space surrounded by the inner surface 130 a of the cap member 130 and the groove 121, and the through path 122.

  In this case, the groove 121 provided on the outer surface 140a of the rigid member 132 is provided so as to communicate with the through hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the cap member 130 without providing the through passage 122 extending inside the rigid member 132. It is good.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 20B, a through-hole formed in the bottom portion 130 </ b> A of the cap member 130 while ensuring a gap between the outer surface 140 a of the rigid member 132 and the inner surface 130 a of the cap member 130. The groove 124 may be provided on the bottom surface 140 c of the rigid member 132 so as to communicate with the 123. In this configuration, the communication path is configured by a space surrounded by the inner bottom surface 130 b of the cap member 130 and the groove 124.

  In this case, a groove communicating with the groove 124 provided on the bottom surface 140 c of the rigid member 132 is formed outside the rigid member 132 without providing a gap between the outer surface 140 a of the rigid member 132 and the inner surface 130 a of the cap member 130. It is good also as a structure provided in the side 140a.

  In the above embodiment, the groove constituting the communication path may be provided on the outer surface along the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 and the outer surface along the short direction adjacent to the outer surface. Good.

  In the above embodiment, the grooves constituting the communication path may be provided on the bottom surface of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 and the outer surface of the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32 adjacent to the bottom surface.

In the above embodiment, the grooves constituting the communication path may be provided on the outer side surfaces on both sides along the short direction in the main body portion 40 of the rigid member 32.
In the embodiment described above, the grooves constituting the communication path may be provided on a single outer surface of the rigid member 32.

In the above embodiment, the rigid member 32 is not necessarily made of hard synthetic resin, and may be made of metal, for example.
In the above embodiment, the target may be a plastic film, cloth, metal foil, or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in the ink jet printer 11, but may be embodied in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink. The present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a minute amount of liquid droplets. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And liquids as one state of the substance, as well as particles in which functional material particles made of solid materials such as pigments and metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, or a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. There is a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting. Alternatively, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid that is used as a precision pipette and a sample, a printing apparatus, a micro dispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali to etch the substrate may be employed. The present invention can be applied to any one of these liquid ejecting apparatuses.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus, 21 ... Recording head as a liquid ejecting head, 24 ... Unused cap apparatus as a cap apparatus, 30 ... Cap member, 30a ... Inner side surface as an elastic part, 32 ... Rigid member, 40a, 40b: an outer surface as an outer surface, 48: a first groove as a groove constituting the communication path, 49: a second groove as a groove constituting the communication path, 50: a through path constituting the communication path, 51: a shaft portion Insertion portion as 52, through hole 121, groove constituting communication passage 124, groove constituting communication passage 130a inner surface as elastic portion 130b inner bottom surface as elastic portion 130 cap Members 132, rigid members, 140a, outer surface as an outer surface, 140c, bottom surface as an outer surface, P, paper as a target.

Claims (6)

A cap member that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from the nozzle to surround the nozzle;
A rigid member mounted inside the cap member;
A cap device comprising:
A series of grooves are formed on the outer surface of the rigid member, and the grooves constitute at least a part of a communication path that communicates the inside and outside of the cap member in a mounted state. The cap device according to claim 1,
Of the inner surface of the cap member, the surface portion facing the surface portion where the groove pressed by the outer surface of the rigid member when the rigid member is mounted inside the cap member can be elastically deformed. Cap device characterized in that it is formed as a flexible elastic part. The cap device according to claim 2,
The elastic portion extends along the mounting direction of the rigid member with respect to the inside of the cap member, and applies a clamping pressure to the outer surface of the rigid member when the rigid member is mounted with movement in the mounting direction. A cap device characterized by being formed into a possible shape. In the cap apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The rigid member has a shaft portion extending along a mounting direction on the inner side of the cap member,
The shaft portion is inserted into a through-hole penetrating the inside and outside of the cap member along the mounting direction, and the tip is exposed to the outside of the cap member.
The said communicating path is comprised including the penetration path extended inside the said axial part to the front-end | tip of the said axial part, The cap apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the cap apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The said groove | channel is formed in the some surface part which comprises the outer surface of the said rigid member, The cap apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. A liquid jet head for jetting liquid from a nozzle to a target;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: the cap apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head contacts the liquid ejecting head so as to surround the nozzle.