JP2014034130A - Liquid jet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jet apparatus capable of suppressing contamination with mist caused by jetting a liquid.SOLUTION: A printer 11 includes a liquid jet unit 24 for jetting ink to paper P to be conveyed in a conveyance direction Y, a carriage 22 for retaining the liquid jet unit 24 while being movable in a main scanning direction X, a body case 12 surrounding a movement area M1 of the carriage 22, a discharge port formed in the body case 12, and a protrusion 38 projecting to extend in the conveyance direction Y from an inner wall 18b of the body case 12 arranged above the movement area M1 toward an end in the main scanning direction X of the discharge port.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting section that ejects liquid and a carriage that moves in a main body case while holding the liquid ejecting section.

  Conventionally, as a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting section that ejects liquid and a carriage that holds the liquid ejecting section and moves in the main body case in the main scanning direction, ink is applied to a target such as paper. There is an ink jet printer that performs recording by jetting.

  In such a printer, in order to prevent clogging of nozzles serving as ink ejection ports, flushing in which a small amount of ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles may be performed in the flushing region. The flushing area is generally provided at the end of the carriage movement area separately from the recording execution area for recording on the target.

  Note that when flushing is performed, mist composed of ink droplets of a size smaller than the ink droplets is generated as the ink droplets of a prescribed size are ejected. Further, when such mist is scattered in the main body case, for example, peripheral devices such as a linear encoder provided for grasping the position of the carriage may be contaminated with the mist.

  In order to eliminate such a risk, conventionally, a printer provided with a scattering prevention wall for preventing mist generated due to flushing from scattering toward the recording execution area near the boundary where the flushing area transitions to the recording execution area. Has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-38469 A

  Incidentally, such mist occurs not only when flushing is performed, but also when recording is performed on a target in the recording execution area. Thus, mist scattering in the recording execution area cannot be prevented by a scattering prevention wall as conventionally proposed. Further, when the carriage moves to the recording execution area after flushing, there is a problem that mist held in the flushing area by the scattering prevention wall flows out to the recording execution area side.

  Such a problem is not limited to an ink jet printer, and a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid and a carriage that holds the liquid ejecting unit and moves in the main body case along the main scanning direction. Are generally common.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of suppressing contamination due to mist that is generated when liquid is ejected.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid onto a target that is transported along the transport direction, and a main scanning direction that holds the liquid ejecting unit and intersects the transport direction. A carriage that is movable, a body case that surrounds the movement area of the carriage, a discharge port of the target formed in the body case, and an inner wall of the body case that is disposed above the movement area. And a protrusion projecting to extend in the transport direction toward an end of the outlet in the main scanning direction.

  According to this configuration, the mist generated when the liquid is ejected is collected at the end in the main scanning direction of the main body case along the airflow generated in the main body case as the carriage moves, and the protrusion extending in the transport direction. Collide with the part. Thereby, the mist contained in the airflow can be collected by being attached to the protrusion. At this time, since the protruding portion protrudes from the inner wall of the main body case disposed above the moving area, it is possible to efficiently collect the mist wound up above the moving area as the carriage moves. Further, since the airflow that collided with the protrusion flows toward the discharge port along the protrusion, the mist that cannot be collected by the protrusion is discharged out of the main body case through the discharge port. Since the protrusion extends toward the end of the discharge port in the main scanning direction, it is possible to suppress mist from adhering to the target discharged through the discharge port. Therefore, it is possible to suppress contamination due to mist that is generated when the liquid is ejected.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, in the main body case, an operation panel is provided at a position on the downstream side in the transport direction of the moving region, and an inner side wall of the operating panel that faces the moving region is disposed on an upper end side of the discharge region. It has an inclined surface that intersects the transport direction so that the lower end side is located above the discharge port while being located upstream of the outlet in the transport direction.

  According to this configuration, the airflow including the mist wound up above the moving area in accordance with the movement of the carriage can be made to flow toward the discharge port located below along the inclined surface of the operation panel. Thereby, the airflow containing mist can be discharged | emitted out of a main body case from a discharge port.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that a rectifying portion extending toward the discharge port is formed inside the main body case facing the end portion of the moving region in the main scanning direction.

According to this configuration, the airflow including the mist collected at the end of the moving region can be flowed toward the discharge port by the rectifying unit, and can be efficiently discharged out of the main body case.
In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the rectifying unit includes a plurality of ribs that protrude from the side wall of the main body case so as to extend toward the discharge port.

  According to this configuration, turbulence of the airflow at the end of the moving region can be suppressed by the plurality of ribs protruding so as to extend toward the discharge port, and mist can be discharged efficiently through the discharge port.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the plurality of protrusions are arranged in the main scanning direction on the inner wall of the main body case, and the protrusion length increases from the center side to the end side in the main scanning direction. Preferably they are arranged.

  According to this configuration, the plurality of protrusions arranged in the main scanning direction have a protruding length extending from the center side toward the end side, so that the mist that could not be collected by the inner protrusion is more than that. Also, it can be recovered at the protrusion on the end side.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, an opening is formed near the center in the main scanning direction on the upper wall of the main body case disposed above the moving region, and the protrusion is formed on the upper wall of the opening. It is preferable that they are arranged at both ends in the main scanning direction.

  According to this configuration, since the protrusions are provided at both ends in the main scanning direction, the mist can be efficiently collected at both ends of the moving area even when the carriage reciprocates along the main scanning direction. Can do. An opening is formed in the upper wall of the main body case near the center in the main scanning direction. By providing protrusions on both ends, the rigidity of the upper wall can be increased. Thereby, even when an external force is applied, the deformation of the upper wall is suppressed, so that the protrusion is suppressed from approaching or coming into contact with a peripheral device such as a carriage due to the deformation of the upper wall. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the peripheral device from being contaminated by the liquid adhering to the protrusion.

1 is a perspective view of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid ejecting apparatus in which a paper feed tray and a lid are opened. Sectional drawing which shows the structure in a main body case. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure in a main body case. Sectional drawing which shows the inner wall of the upper wall in a main body case. The perspective view for demonstrating the effect | action of a protrusion. The perspective view which shows the rectification | straightening member as a modification of a rectification | straightening part.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention is embodied in an ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 11 of this embodiment includes a main body case 12 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  An operation panel 13 for performing various operations of the printer 11 is disposed on one side surface of the main body case 12. In addition, a discharge port 14 is opened below the operation panel 13 on one side surface of the main body case 12. Further, an extendable paper discharge tray 15 is accommodated below the discharge port 14 in the main body case 12.

  In the present embodiment, one side surface of the main body case 12 where the discharge port 14 is opened is the front surface of the printer 11, the opposite side surface is the rear surface, and the direction from the rear side to the front side is the transport direction Y. Illustrated. Further, the gravity direction intersecting the transport direction Y is set as the downward direction, the anti-gravity direction is set as the upward direction, and the direction along the upward direction and the downward direction is shown as the vertical direction Z. Further, a direction that intersects the transport direction Y and the vertical direction Z is shown as a main scanning direction X. In the printer 11, the main scanning direction X is the longitudinal direction of the main body case 12.

  At the upper rear portion of the main body case 12, a rotating paper feed tray 16 and a lid portion 17 that is opened and closed when performing maintenance inside the main body case 12 are attached to be openable and closable. The paper feed tray 16 and the lid portion 17 are closed as shown in FIG. 1 when the printer 11 is not used. The lid 17 is formed with an accommodation recess 17a for accommodating the paper feed tray 16 at a position overlapping with the paper feed tray 16 in the vertical direction Z when the lid 17 is closed. Then, the paper feed tray 16 and the lid portion 17 are brought into the open state shown in FIG. 2 by rotating the front end side upward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the paper feed tray 16 is opened, the paper feed port 12a formed at the upper rear portion of the main body case 12 is exposed. Further, on the lower surface side of the lid portion 17, a convex portion 17 b which is the back surface side of the accommodating concave portion 17 a is formed.

  On the other hand, when the lid portion 17 is opened, the upper wall 18 of the main body case 12 and the opening 19 formed in the upper wall 18 are exposed. The opening 19 is a position that is closer to the front in the transport direction Y of the upper wall 18, and is open at a position that is near the center in the main scanning direction X. A recess 18 a having a shape corresponding to the protrusion 17 b of the lid 17 is formed on the upper wall 18 behind the opening 19.

  In the main body case 12, a main body frame 12 b extending in the main scanning direction X is provided at a position above the transport path R of the paper P that is an example of the target. In addition, in FIG. 2, about the conveyance path | route R and the main body frame 12b, the shape at the time of seeing from the side (left side) is shown in figure. Further, a plurality of ribs 20a as an example of a rectifying portion extending from the upper side and the rear side of the side wall 20 toward the discharge port 14 are protruded from the inner side of the side wall 20 intersecting the main scanning direction X in the main body case 12. .

  In the main body case 12, the front end side of the side wall 20 has a curved shape curved toward the front side of the main body case 12. The rib 20a is curved along the inner wall of the main body case 12 from the position on the front side of the main body frame 12b on the side wall 20 of the main body case 12 to the discharge port 14 formed on the front side of the main body case 12. It is extended.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of transport rollers 21 </ b> R and 21 </ b> F for transporting the paper P is accommodated in the main body case 12. A support member 25 for supporting the paper P is disposed between the transport roller pair 21R and the transport roller pair 21F in the transport direction Y of the paper P.

  The main body frame 12b forms a pair of guide rails 12c arranged in the vertical direction Z by bending upper and lower ends. Further, the carriage 22 is held on the guide rail 12c of the main body frame 12b so as to be reciprocally movable along the main scanning direction X.

  A plurality of ink cartridges 23 containing ink as an example of liquid are detachably mounted on the carriage 22. Further, a liquid ejecting unit 24 capable of ejecting ink is held on the lower surface side of the carriage 22. A plurality of liquid ejection nozzles (not shown) are opened on the lower surface side of the liquid ejection section 24.

  Then, recording (printing) is performed by ejecting the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 23 from the liquid ejecting unit 24 onto the paper P transported along the transport direction Y by the transport roller pairs 21R and 21F. Is called. The recorded paper P is transported by the transport roller pairs 21R and 21F and discharged out of the main body case 12 through the discharge port 14.

  Note that the operation panel 13 is disposed at a position downstream of the moving region of the carriage 22 in the transport direction. The inner wall 13a facing the moving area of the operation panel 13 intersects the transport direction Y so that the upper end side is positioned upstream of the discharge port 14 in the transport direction while the lower end side is positioned above the discharge port 14. It has an inclined surface 13b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of pulleys 26 are arranged behind the carriage 22 so as to be aligned in the main scanning direction X. On one side (right side in FIG. 4), a drive shaft of a carriage motor 27 is attached to the pulley 26. The carriage 22 is fixed to an endless timing belt 28 wound around both pulleys 26. Then, the carriage motor 27 is driven in the forward and reverse directions, and the timing belt 28 is rotated forward and backward, whereby the carriage 22 reciprocates in the main scanning direction X.

  A linear encoder 29 for grasping the position of the carriage 22 in the main scanning direction X is provided at the rear portion of the carriage 22 along the movement path of the carriage 22. The linear encoder 29 includes a code plate 30 fixed to the main body case 12 side and a photodetector 31 mounted on the carriage 22.

  The code plate 30 has a large number of slits that open at a constant pitch along the main scanning direction X. On the other hand, when the carriage 22 moves along the main scanning direction X, the photodetector 31 emits light to the code plate 30 and detects light passing through the slit. The linear encoder 29 outputs a pulse signal having a pulse number proportional to the moving distance of the carriage 22 and a cycle inversely proportional to the moving speed of the carriage 22.

  Here, the main body case 12 is configured to surround the moving region M1 along the main scanning direction X of the carriage 22. Further, in the moving area M1, the vicinity of the center excluding both ends in the main scanning direction X is a recording execution area M2 for recording on the paper P. Therefore, the support member 25 is disposed at a position corresponding to the recording execution area M2.

  A position on one end side (the right end side in FIG. 4) of the moving area M1 and outside the recording execution area M2 is a home position HP where the carriage 22 is arranged when recording is not performed. In the main body case 12, a maintenance device 32 for performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting unit 24 is disposed below the home position HP.

  The maintenance device 32 includes a bottomed box-shaped cap 33 that opens upward, a lifting device 34 that moves the cap 33 up and down, a suction pump 35 that can suck the inside of the cap 33, and a waste liquid tank 36. Prepare. An upstream end side of a flexible discharge tube 37 is connected to the bottom of the cap 33. The downstream end side of the discharge tube 37 is introduced into the waste liquid tank 36. Further, a suction pump 35 is disposed in the middle of the discharge tube 37.

  The carriage 22 reciprocates along the main scanning direction X in the moving area M1 when recording, but moves at a constant high speed in the recording execution area M2, while at both ends of the moving area M1. At, slow down to change direction.

  That is, when the moving speed of the carriage 22 changes, the landing position of the ink droplets ejected from the liquid ejecting unit 24 on the paper P may change, leading to a decrease in recording quality. Therefore, ink droplets are ejected from the liquid ejecting unit 24 toward the paper P in the recording execution area M2 where the carriage 22 moves at a constant speed. On the other hand, flushing for ejecting ink to prevent or eliminate nozzle clogging is performed on the cap 33 disposed at the home position HP located on one end side of the moving region M1.

  In the main body case 12, a plurality of protrusions 38 (38A, 38B, 38C, 38D, 38E) are arranged in the main scanning direction X from the inner wall 18b of the upper wall 18 disposed above the movement region M1. It protrudes downward.

  Note that an opening 19 is formed in the upper wall 18 of the main body case 12 near the center in the main scanning direction X, but the protrusions 38 are formed on the upper wall 18 at both ends in the main scanning direction X. Has been placed. For example, the protrusions 38A and 38B are arranged on one end side in the main scanning direction X (left side in FIG. 4), while the protrusions 38C, 38D, and 38E are on the other end side in the main scanning direction X (right side in FIG. 4). Is arranged.

  The plurality of protrusions 38 arranged in the main scanning direction X are arranged so that the protruding length increases from the center side to the end side in the main scanning direction X. In other words, the protrusion 38B has a longer projecting length than the protrusion 38A located on the center side in the main scanning direction X than the protrusion 38B. Further, the protrusion 38E is longer than the protrusions 38E than the protrusions 38C and 38D located on the center side in the main scanning direction X. Further, the protrusion 38D has a longer projecting length than the protrusion 38C, which is located on the center side in the main scanning direction X, than the protrusion 38D.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 38 extends so as to extend in the transport direction Y intersecting the main scanning direction X and the vertical direction Z. In addition, the convex part 18c used as the back surface side of the recessed part 18a is formed in the inner wall 18b side of the upper wall 18. As shown in FIG. The protrusions 38A and 38E located at both ends in the main scanning direction X do not intersect the protrusion 18c in the transport direction Y, but the remaining three protrusions 38B, 38C, and 38D are the protrusion 18c in the transport direction Y. Intersects. Therefore, the protrusions 38A and 38E that do not intersect with the protrusion 18c are longer in the transport direction Y than the remaining three protrusions 38B, 38C, and 38D that intersect with the protrusion 18c.

Next, the operation of the printer 11 configured as described above will be described.
When recording is performed in the printer 11, ink mist is generated in the vicinity of the support member 25 as ink is ejected onto the paper P. Further, the generated mist is caused to flow in the airflow generated along with the movement of the carriage 22 and floats in the main body case 12.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, since the main body frame 12b extends in the main scanning direction X behind the carriage 22, the air flow F does not flow so much behind the carriage 22, and the two-dot chain line in FIG. As shown by the figure, the air flows from the side of the carriage 22 upward and forward. The mist that has swung upward from the vicinity of the support member 25 adheres to the surface of the protrusion 38 when the airflow F flowing in the main scanning direction X collides with the protrusion 38 provided on the upper wall 18 of the main body case 12. To do.

  Since the moving speed of the carriage 22 is slower at both ends than near the center of the moving area M1, the speed of the airflow generated along with the movement of the carriage 22 is also at both ends in the main scanning direction X. Become slow. Further, since both end sides of the moving region M1 in the main scanning direction X are surrounded by the main body frame 12b, the upper wall 18 and the side wall 20 of the main body case 12, the velocity of the airflow is particularly reduced, and mist tends to stay.

  And the protrusion 38 is provided in the inner side of the main body case 12 facing the end in the main scanning direction X of the moving region M1 where the velocity of the airflow is thus reduced so as to increase the surface area of the inner wall 18b. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently collect the mist that is generated as the ink is ejected from the liquid ejecting unit 24.

  If the mist floating in the main body case 12 adheres to the linear encoder 29, the position of the carriage 22 may not be accurately grasped. However, the linear encoder 29 can be recovered by adsorbing and collecting the mist on the protrusion 38. The adhesion of mist to peripheral devices such as is suppressed.

  In addition, an inclined surface 13 b of the operation panel 13 is disposed on the front side of the movement region of the carriage 22. Therefore, the airflow F wound up above the moving region of the carriage 22 flows toward the discharge port 14 positioned below along the inclined surface 13b as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the mist that could not be collected by the protrusion 38 is discharged from the inside of the main body case 12 through the discharge port 14 together with the airflow F.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of protrusions 38 arranged in the main scanning direction X have a protruding length that increases from the center side toward the end portion side, so that the inner protrusions 38B and 38C The mist that could not be recovered is recovered by the protrusions 38A, 38D, and 38E on the end side of the mist. Then, by colliding with the projecting portion 38 whose length changes in this way, the air flow F flows from the space above the carriage 22 toward the lower position where the discharge port 14 is located, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 38 extends in the transport direction Y from the inner wall 18b of the main body case 12 disposed above the movement region M1 toward the end of the discharge port 14 in the main scanning direction X. Projected. In FIG. 6, the lid portion 17 is not shown in order to clearly show the upper wall 18. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lid portion 17 disposed above the opening portion 19 in the closed state has a shape in which the front end side is gently curved downward. Therefore, the airflow F that has collided with the protrusion 38 flows toward the discharge port 14 along the curved surfaces of the protrusion 38 and the lid portion 17 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the mist that cannot be collected by the protrusion 38 is discharged out of the main body case 12 through the discharge port 14. Further, since the protrusion 38 extends toward the end of the discharge port 14 in the main scanning direction X, adhesion of mist to the paper P discharged through the discharge port 14 is suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of ribs 20 a extending so as to be curved along the inner wall of the main body case 12 are provided on the inner side of the main body case 12 facing the end in the main scanning direction X of the moving region M <b> 1. Is formed. Therefore, the airflow F including the mist collected at the end of the moving region M1 is prevented from being disturbed when it collides with the side wall 20 by the rib 20a, and is efficient toward the discharge port 14 as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. Well discharged.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The mist generated as a result of ink ejection is collected at the end in the main scanning direction X of the main body case 12 along the air flow F generated in the main body case 12 as the carriage 22 moves, and the transport direction Y It collides with the protrusion 38 extending in Thereby, the mist contained in the airflow F can be attached to the protrusion 38 and collected. At this time, since the protrusion 38 protrudes from the inner wall 18b of the main body case 12 arranged above the movement area M1, the mist wound up above the movement area M1 with the movement of the carriage 22 is efficiently collected. It can be recovered. Further, since the airflow F colliding with the protrusion 38 flows toward the discharge port 14 along the protrusion 38, the mist that cannot be collected by the protrusion 38 is discharged out of the main body case 12 through the discharge port 14. . In addition, since the protrusion 38 extends toward the end of the discharge port 14 in the main scanning direction X, adhesion of mist to the target discharged through the discharge port 14 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress contamination due to mist that is generated when ink is ejected.

  (2) The airflow F including the mist wound up above the moving region with the movement of the carriage 22 can be made to flow toward the discharge port 14 positioned below along the inclined surface 13 b of the operation panel 13. . Thereby, the airflow F containing mist can be discharged | emitted out of the main body case 12 from the discharge port 14. FIG.

(3) The air flow F including the mist collected at the end of the moving region M1 can be made to flow toward the discharge port 14 by the rib 20a and efficiently discharged out of the main body case 12.
(4) The turbulence of the air flow F at the end of the moving region M1 is suppressed by the plurality of ribs 20a protruding so as to extend toward the discharge port 14, and the mist can be discharged efficiently through the discharge port 14. it can.

  (5) The plurality of protrusions 38 arranged in the main scanning direction X have a protruding length extending from the center side toward the end side, so that the mist that could not be collected by the inner protrusion 38 is more than that. Also, it can be recovered by the protrusion 38 on the end side.

  (6) Since the protrusions 38 are provided at both ends in the main scanning direction X, even when the carriage 22 reciprocates along the main scanning direction X, mist is efficiently collected at both ends of the moving region M1. can do. In addition, an opening 19 is formed in the upper wall 18 of the main body case 12 in the vicinity of the center in the main scanning direction X. By providing the protrusions 38 at both ends, the rigidity of the upper wall 18 can be increased. . Thereby, even when an external force is applied, the deformation of the upper wall 18 is suppressed, so that the protrusion 38 is prevented from approaching or contacting a peripheral device such as the carriage 22 due to the deformation of the upper wall 18. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the peripheral device from being contaminated by the ink attached to the protrusion 38.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
The protrusion 38 may be formed by attaching a porous member such as sponge or a nonwoven fabric. According to this configuration, more mist can be adsorbed. Moreover, you may make it attach these porous members and nonwoven fabrics so that replacement | exchange is possible.

-The protruding lengths of the plurality of protrusions 38 may be equal. Further, the position and protruding length of the protrusion 38 in the main scanning direction X can be arbitrarily changed.
-It is good also as a structure which does not provide the rib 20a. Moreover, you may form a groove part in the inner wall of the main body case 12 as a rectification | straightening part.

  As the rectification unit, a curved surface extending from the main body frame 12 b side toward the discharge port 14 side may be formed on the upper wall 18 or the side wall 20. Or you may arrange | position the rectification | straightening member which forms a rectification | straightening part in the space in the main body case 12. FIG. According to this configuration, the airflow generated with the movement of the carriage 22 can be discharged from the discharge port 14 more efficiently. For example, a rectifying member 40 having a rectifying surface 39, which is an example of a rectifying unit having a substantially spiral curved surface as shown in FIG. 7, is provided above the moving region of the carriage 22 or at the end of the moving region in the main scanning direction X. You may arrange in. According to this configuration, the air flow F that flows toward the end portion in the main scanning direction X as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 7 is lowered along the curved surface of the rectifying surface 39 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It can be made to flow toward the discharge port 14 located in the position. A plurality of such rectifying members 40 may be provided along the main scanning direction X.

The operation panel 13 may not include the inclined surface 13b.
When a component other than the operation panel 13 or the inner wall of the main body case 12 is disposed downstream in the conveyance direction of the carriage 22 moving region, the inner wall of the component or the main body case 12 forms the inclined surface 13b. You may make it prepare.

  The operation panel 13 may be inclined so that the operation panel 13 itself intersects the transport direction Y as in the above embodiment, and the outer wall and the like of the operation panel 13 are arranged in the vertical direction Z and the main scanning direction X. On the other hand, only the inner surface side of the inner wall 13a may be inclined.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink. Note that the state of the liquid ejected as a minute amount of liquid droplets from the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a granular shape, a tear shape, and a thread-like shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected from 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 ). Further, not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a substance in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is included. Typical 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 the liquid. Further, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid as a sample that is used as a precision pipette, 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. May be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects the liquid onto the substrate. Further, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali in order to etch a substrate or the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus, 12 ... Main body case, 13 ... Operation panel, 13a ... Inner side wall, 13b ... Inclined surface, 14 ... Discharge port, 18 ... Upper wall, 18b ... Inner wall, 19 ... Opening part, 20 ... side wall, 20a ... rib, 22 ... carriage, 24 ... liquid ejecting section, 38, 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D, 38E ... projection, M1 ... moving area, X ... main scanning direction, Y ... transport direction.

Claims (6)

A liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid onto a target transported along the transport direction;
A carriage that holds the liquid ejecting unit and is movable along a main scanning direction intersecting the transport direction;
A body case surrounding the carriage movement area;
A discharge port of the target formed in the main body case;
A protrusion projecting from the inner wall of the main body case disposed above the moving region so as to extend in the transport direction toward the end of the discharge port in the main scanning direction;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: In the main body case, an operation panel is provided at a position downstream of the moving region in the transport direction,
The inner wall of the operation panel facing the moving area is inclined so as to intersect the transport direction so that the upper end side is positioned upstream of the discharge port in the transport direction while the lower end side is positioned above the discharge port. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a surface.   The rectification | straightening part extended toward the said discharge port is formed in the inner side of the said main body case facing the edge part in the said main scanning direction of the said movement area | region, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Liquid ejector.   4. The liquid jet according to claim 3, wherein the rectifying unit has a plurality of ribs that protrude toward the discharge port on a side wall that intersects the main scanning direction of the main body case. apparatus.   A plurality of the protrusions are arranged on the inner wall of the main body case so as to be arranged in the main scanning direction and have a protruding length that increases from the center side to the end side in the main scanning direction. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. On the upper wall of the main body case disposed above the moving region, an opening is formed near the center in the main scanning direction,
6. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is disposed on both ends of the opening in the main scanning direction on the upper wall.