JP2014054755A - Liquid discharge device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently and reliably guide ink and a filling liquid and the like which have flowed out from a discharge hole of a cap member into a waste liquid storage part with a simple configuration and without increasing a cost.SOLUTION: A maintenance and recovery device includes: a suctioning cap 82a to perform suctioning from a discharge surface of a discharge head; and a protective cap 82b, which does not perform suctioning, to protect the discharge surface of the discharge head. A replaceable waste liquid tank 264 to store a liquid from the suctioning cap 82a and a non-replaceable waste liquid storage part 260 to store a liquid which is received by an idle discharge receptacle 84 placed below the maintenance and recovery device are provided, and a guide path 90 to guide an effluent which has flowed out in a housing of the maintenance and recovery device from a discharge hole of the protective cap 82b is provided at a bottom 89 of the housing of the maintenance and recovery device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid droplets and an image forming apparatus including the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a copier multifunction machine, etc., an ink jet recording system that obtains a predetermined image by ejecting ink in droplets is known. In such a droplet discharge recording type image forming apparatus, since ink droplets are discharged from fine discharge ports, the discharge ports are clogged due to thickening or sticking of ink due to drying or bubbles generated in the ink. May occur, resulting in ejection failure. Therefore, in order to prevent such a discharge failure, a maintenance / recovery device is provided for maintaining / recovering the ink discharge function to a normal state. In general, the maintenance and recovery device is composed of a cap member, wiper blade, idle discharge receptacle, suction pump, waste liquid tank, etc., removing foreign substances adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle and thickened / fixed droplets, and moisturizing the droplet discharge surface Thus, the desired ejection characteristics are normally obtained.

  In such a cap member of the maintenance and recovery device, the ink filled in the recording head and the filling liquid preliminarily filled in the recording head in the stage before ink filling are changed due to changes in temperature and pressure during transportation. The head may hang down and flow into the cap member. In particular, in a cap (hereinafter referred to as a “moisturizing cap”) that is attached only for protection of the head that does not perform suction, a discharge hole for discharging the inflowing ink and filling liquid is provided in the lower portion of the cap.

  Further, an absorbing member that absorbs liquid at the lower portion of the moisturizing cap discharge hole in the vertical direction so that ink or filling liquid that has flowed into the maintenance / recovery device from the discharge hole of the cap does not adhere to surrounding parts or contaminate the inside of the machine It is already known to have

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-35503 (Patent Document 1) describes that the ink remaining in the cap member or the ink adhering to the opening edge of the cap member drips down when the cap is sealed or after the cap is opened, thereby contaminating the inside of the machine. In order to prevent this, the ink receiving member disposed at a position vertically below the opening edge of the cap that contacts the nozzle surface of the recording head and having a discharge port for discharging the received ink, and the ink receiving member A configuration having a discharge pipe for transporting ink discharged from the discharge port to a waste liquid tank is disclosed.

  However, in the conventional configuration in which the absorbing member is disposed below the moisture retaining cap, the volume of liquid that can be absorbed (accommodated) by the absorbing member is limited, and when a large amount of ink or filling liquid flows out, for example, during transportation Since the ink and filling liquid that has flowed out cannot be stored, the unit must be cleaned and the absorber must be replaced if the ink or filling liquid suddenly flows out during the production process. There was a problem that decreased. In addition, since the cost of the absorber itself is generated, it is required to reduce the number of parts in an airframe that requires low cost.

  In addition, in the above-described Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the ink or the filling liquid that has flowed out in a state where the cap is in contact with the recording head from being discharged / guided, There is a problem that a path and an absorbing member for guiding the outflowed ink and the filling liquid are separately required, the configuration is complicated, and the cost is increased.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional liquid discharge device, and is simple in configuration and without causing an increase in cost, the ink or the filling liquid flowing out from the discharge hole of the cap member can be reliably and efficiently supplied to the waste liquid storage unit. It is an object to provide a liquid ejection apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can be guided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a liquid ejection apparatus that includes an ejection head that ejects droplets and includes a maintenance and recovery device for maintaining and recovering the state of the ejection head. In order to maintain the discharge stability of the discharge head, an empty discharge receiver that receives liquid discharged from the discharge head or preliminarily discharged, and for sucking the discharged liquid covering the discharge surface of the discharge head by the suction means A replaceable waste liquid tank for storing liquid from the suction cap, the suction cap; and a protective cap that covers the discharge surface of the discharge head and protects the discharge surface without performing suction by the suction means; and the maintenance A non-replaceable waste liquid storage unit that is disposed below the recovery device and stores the liquid received by the idle discharge receiver, and is provided through the discharge hole of the protective cap. The guidance route to induce effluent flowing out into the body to the waste liquid storage portion, characterized in that it comprises a bottom portion of the housing.

  According to the liquid ejection device of the present invention, the replaceable waste liquid tank that stores the liquid from the suction cap, and the non-replaceable waste liquid that is disposed below the maintenance and recovery device and stores the liquid received by the empty discharge receiver. It has been conventionally necessary since a housing is provided with a guide path for guiding the effluent that has flowed into the housing of the maintenance / recovery device from the discharge hole of the protective cap to the waste liquid container. A liquid absorbing member is not necessary, and confirmation work before shipment is not required, and costs can be reduced. In addition, there is no possibility that the effluent cannot be completely absorbed, and it is possible to prevent the productivity from being lowered due to the leakage of the effluent or the stoppage of the apparatus accompanying the replacement of the absorbing member.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. It is a top view which shows the image formation part. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory view of a maintenance recovery mechanism. It is typical explanatory drawing shown in the state which expanded a maintenance recovery mechanism partially. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the guidance path | route provided in the bottom part of the maintenance recovery mechanism. It is a figure which shows the modification of the guidance path | route provided in the bottom part of the maintenance recovery mechanism. It is typical explanatory drawing which shows 2nd Example of a maintenance recovery mechanism. It is typical explanatory drawing which shows the comparative example of a maintenance recovery mechanism.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as an ink jet printer or simply a printer), which is an example of an image forming apparatus using a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention for image recording.

  The ink jet recording apparatus includes an apparatus main body 1, a paper feed tray 2 for loading paper loaded in the apparatus main body 1, and a paper on which an image is recorded (formed) by being detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 1. A paper discharge tray 3 for stocking is provided. Further, a cartridge loading for loading an ink cartridge that protrudes from the front surface to the front side of the apparatus main body 1 and is lower than the upper surface is provided at one end of the front surface of the apparatus main body 1 (side of the paper supply / discharge tray section). The cartridge loading unit 4 has an operation / display unit 5 provided with operation buttons and a display.

  The cartridge loading unit 4 contains a plurality of recording liquids (inks) that are different color materials, such as black (K) ink, cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink. Ink cartridges 10k, 10c, 10m, and 10y (referred to as “ink cartridge 10” when the colors are not distinguished) are inserted from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus main body 1 and can be loaded. A front cover (cartridge cover) 6 that is opened when the ink cartridge 10 is attached or detached is provided on the front side of the cartridge loading unit 4 so as to be openable and closable.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the image forming unit.
As shown in these drawings, a carriage 33 is slidably held in a main scanning direction by main and slave guide rods 31 and 32 which are guide members horizontally mounted on the left and right side plates 21A and 21B, and a main scanning motor (not shown) is used. 3 moves and scans in the direction indicated by the arrow (carriage main scanning direction) in FIG. 3 via the timing belt.

  The carriage 33 includes recording heads 34a and 34b (which are liquid ejection heads for ejecting ink droplets of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K)). The “recording head 34” is arranged in such a manner that a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles is arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the ink droplet ejection direction is directed downward.

  Each of the recording heads 34 has two nozzle rows. One nozzle row of the recording head 34a has black (K) droplets, the other nozzle row has cyan (C) droplets, and the recording head 34b has one nozzle row. One nozzle row ejects magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row ejects yellow (Y) droplets.

  As an inkjet head constituting the recording head 34, a piezoelectric actuator such as a piezoelectric element, a thermal actuator that uses a phase change caused by film boiling of a liquid using an electrothermal transducer such as a heating resistor, and a metal phase change caused by a temperature change. It is possible to use a shape memory alloy actuator to be used, an electrostatic actuator using an electrostatic force, or the like provided as pressure generating means for generating a pressure for discharging a droplet.

  In addition, the carriage 33 is equipped with head tanks 35 a and 35 b (referred to as “head tank 35” when not distinguished) for supplying ink of each color corresponding to the nozzle row of the recording head 34. As described above, the sub tank 35 is supplied with ink of each color from the ink cartridge 10 of each color mounted in the cartridge loading unit 4 via the supply tube 36 of each color. The cartridge loading unit 4 is provided with a supply pump unit 24 for feeding ink in the ink cartridge 10.

  On the other hand, as a paper feeding unit for feeding the papers 42 stacked on the paper stacking unit (pressure plate) 41 of the paper feeding tray 2, a half-moon roller (feeding) that separates and feeds the papers 42 one by one from the paper stacking unit 41. A separation pad 44 made of a material having a large friction coefficient is provided facing the paper roller 43) and the paper feed roller 43, and the separation pad 44 is urged toward the paper feed roller 43 side.

  In order to feed the paper 42 fed from the paper feeding unit to the lower side of the recording head 34, a guide member 45 for guiding the paper 42, a counter roller 46, a transport guide member 47, and a tip pressure roller. And a holding belt 48 which is a conveying means for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 42 and conveying it at a position facing the recording head 34.

  The transport belt 51 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around the transport roller 52 and the tension roller 53 and circulate in the belt transport direction (sub-scanning direction).

  Further, a charging roller 56 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 51 is provided. The charging roller 56 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the transport belt 51 and to rotate following the rotation of the transport belt 51. The transport belt 51 rotates in the belt transport direction of FIG. 3 when the transport roller 52 is rotationally driven through timing by a sub-scanning motor (not shown).

  Further, as a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 42 recorded by the recording head 34, a separation claw 61 for separating the paper 42 from the conveying belt 51, a paper discharge roller 62, and a paper discharge roller 63 are provided. The paper discharge tray 3 is provided below the paper discharge roller 62.

  A duplex unit 71 is detachably mounted on the back surface of the apparatus body 1. The duplex unit 71 takes in the paper 42 returned by the reverse rotation of the conveyance belt 51, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 46 and the conveyance belt 51. The upper surface of the duplex unit 71 is a manual feed tray 72.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, which is a maintenance / recovery device including a recovery means for maintaining and recovering the state of the nozzles of the recording head 34 in the non-printing area on one side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction. 81 is arranged.

  The maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 includes a cap member (hereinafter referred to as “cap”) 82a and 82b (hereinafter referred to as “cap 82” when not distinguished) and a nozzle surface for capping each nozzle surface of the recording head 34. A wiper blade 83 that is a blade member for performing the above operation, and an empty discharge receiver 84 that receives a droplet when performing an empty discharge for discharging a droplet that does not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid. . A waste liquid tank 87 (see FIG. 2) for storing the waste liquid generated by the head maintenance and recovery operation is replaceably attached to the apparatus main body.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the non-printing area on the other side in the scanning direction of the carriage 33, idle discharge is performed to discharge liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during recording or the like. An ink recovery unit (empty discharge receiver) 88, which is a liquid recovery container according to the present invention for receiving liquid droplets at the time, is disposed, and an opening 89 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 34 is provided in the ink recovery unit 88. I have.

  In this image forming apparatus configured as described above, the sheets 42 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feed tray 2, and the sheet 42 fed substantially vertically upward is guided by the guide 45, and includes the transport belt 51 and the counter. It is sandwiched between the rollers 46 and conveyed, and further, the leading end is guided by the conveying guide 37 and pressed against the conveying belt 51 by the leading end pressing roller 49, and the conveying direction is changed by approximately 90 degrees.

  At this time, a positive output and a negative output are alternately repeated with respect to the charging roller 56, that is, an alternating voltage is applied, and a charging voltage pattern in which the conveying belt 51 alternates, that is, in a sub-scanning direction that is a circumferential direction. , Plus and minus are alternately charged in a band shape with a predetermined width. When the paper 42 is fed onto the conveyance belt 51 charged alternately with plus and minus, the paper 42 is attracted to the conveyance belt 51, and the paper 42 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the conveyance belt 51.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 34 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 33, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 42 to record one line, and after the paper 42 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 42 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 42 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3.

  Further, during printing (recording) standby, the carriage 33 is moved to the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 side, and the recording head 34 is capped by the cap 82 to keep the nozzles in a wet state, thereby preventing ejection failure due to ink drying. . In addition, the recording liquid is sucked from the nozzle by a suction pump (not shown) with the recording head 34 capped by the cap 82 (referred to as “nozzle suction” or “head suction”), and the recovered recording liquid and bubbles are discharged. Perform the action.

  Further, before the start of recording, during the recording, etc., an idle ejection operation is performed to eject ink (liquid droplets as waste liquid) that is not related to recording toward the recovery unit 88 or the like. As a result, the stable ejection performance of the recording head 34 is maintained.

  Next, an outline of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 is an external perspective view of the maintenance / recovery mechanism, and FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing the maintenance / recovery mechanism partially expanded.

  As described above, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 includes a cap holder 201A including a holding mechanism that holds the suction and moisturizing cap 82a, a cap holder 201B including a holding mechanism that holds the moisturizing cap 82b, and the recording head 34. A nozzle holder 203 that holds a wiper blade 83 that is a blade made of an elastic body for cleaning (wiping off) the nozzle surface (surface on which the nozzle is formed), and droplets that do not contribute to printing are discharged from the recording head 34 An empty discharge receiver 84 for performing an empty discharge operation (preliminary discharge operation) and a wiper cleaner 85 (only shown in FIG. 4) for cleaning the wiper blade 83 are disposed.

  Here, a tubing pump (suction pump) 211 as a suction means is connected to the cap 82a through a flexible tube 210. Therefore, when performing the maintenance recovery operation of the recording head 34, the recording head 34 performing the recovery operation is selectively moved to a position where it can be capped by the cap 82a.

  Further, the flexible tube 210 is connected to a liquid storage tank 264 (exchangeable waste liquid tank) provided separately from the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81, and a recording liquid and a filling liquid that do not contribute to printing are connected via the tubing pump 211. The liquid is supplied to the liquid storage tank 264. The recording liquid fed through the tubing pump 211 does not evaporate and therefore has a relatively low viscosity, and a fibrous liquid absorption holding member 265 is provided inside the liquid storage tank 264. It keeps the liquid contained in it from flowing out. In addition, the liquid storage tank 264 (replaceable waste liquid tank) is hermetically sealed and easily removable, and is configured to be replaceable by the user.

  On the other hand, a wiper blade 83, which is a blade member for wiping the nozzle surface, and droplets for empty discharge or preliminary discharge for discharging droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid. The recording liquid discharged from the received empty discharge receiver 84 is stored and held in a waste liquid storage container 260 (non-exchangeable waste liquid storage section).

  A cam shaft 213 rotatably supported by the frame 212 is disposed below the cap holders 201A and 201B, and cap cams 214A and 214B for raising and lowering the cap holders 201A and 201B are disposed on the cam shaft 213. A wiper cam 215 for raising and lowering the blade holder 203 and a cleaner cam for swinging the wiper cleaner 85 (not shown in FIG. 5) are provided.

  Then, in order to rotationally drive the tubing pump 211 and the camshaft 213, the motor gear 221 provided on the motor shaft 221a is engaged with the pump gear 223 provided on the pump shaft 211a of the tubing pump 211. An intermediate gear 226 with a one-way clutch 227 is engaged with an intermediate gear 224 integrated with the pump gear 223 via an intermediate gear 225, and the intermediate gear 228 coaxial with the intermediate gear 226 is fixed to the camshaft 213 via the intermediate gear 229. The cam gear 230 is engaged.

  In the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81, when the motor 221 rotates forward, the motor gear 222, the intermediate gear 224, the pump gear 223, the intermediate gears 225 and 226 rotate, and the shaft 211a of the tubing pump 211 rotates, so that the tubing pump 211 is activated to suck the inside of the cap 82a (this operation is referred to as “in-cap suction” or “head suction”). Since the other gears 228 and thereafter are blocked by the one-way clutch 227, they do not rotate (activate). Further, since the one-way clutch 227 is connected by the reverse rotation of the motor 221, the rotation of the motor 221 passes through the motor gear 222, the intermediate gear 224, the pump gear 223, the intermediate gears 225, 226, 228, and 229. , And the cam shaft 213 rotates. At this time, the tubing pump 211 has a structure that does not operate by reversing the pump shaft 211a. With the rotation of the cam shaft 213, the cap cams 214A and 214B and the wiper cam 215 are raised and lowered at predetermined timings, respectively.

  When cleaning the nozzle surface a of the recording head 34, the wiper blade 83 is raised, and the nozzle surface is wiped by moving the recording head 34 relative to the wiper blade 83.

  A guide path 90 is provided at the bottom of the frame of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 to guide the ink or filling liquid that has flowed into the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81, and the ink that has flowed out from the guide path 90 via the idle discharge receiver 84. And the filling liquid are guided to the waste liquid storage container 260. In this example, the guide path 90 is provided as a receiving surface on the bottom frame 89 that is a member constituting the housing of the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81.

  Thereby, for example, in the protective (moisturizing) cap 82b attached for the purpose of protecting the recording head 34 and protecting the cap without performing suction, the ink (recording liquid) filled in the recording head 34 and before arrival When the filling liquid (preliminary liquid) filled in place of the ink flows into the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 through the discharge hole 263b provided in the moisture retention cap 82b, the effluent is discharged into the waste liquid storage container through the guide path 90. To 260. In this example, since the effluent guide path 90 is provided at the bottom of the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81, the liquid absorption holding member used in the conventional configuration is not required, and the effluent is reliably recovered with a cheaper configuration. It became possible.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the guide path 90 provided at the bottom of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81.
In FIG. 6, the guide path 90 is formed on the frame bottom 89 as a groove that generates a capillary force. Moreover, you may provide the recessed part or receiving part 91 connected to the groove part of the guidance path | route 90 so that it may be located under the moisture retention cap 82b (FIG. 5). In this way, by guiding the effluent to the waste liquid storage container 260 by the guide path 90 formed by the groove portion that generates the capillary force, the effluent can be efficiently sent to the waste liquid storage container 260, and the effluent is more reliably discharged. The liquid can be recovered.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a modification of the guide path 90 provided at the bottom of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81.
In FIG. 7, the guide path 90 is formed on the frame bottom 89 as a groove that generates a capillary force. Moreover, you may provide the recessed part or receiving part 91 connected to the groove part of the guidance path | route 90 so that it may be located under the moisture retention cap 82b (FIG. 5). The guide path 90 of this example is provided so that the groove width on the upstream side in the liquid guide direction is widened, and the groove width becomes narrower from upstream to downstream (approaching the waste liquid container 260). By configuring the capillary force generating groove so that the groove width on the upstream side is increased and the groove width becomes narrower as it goes downstream in the liquid feeding direction, the movement of the liquid can be promoted, and the effluent can be more efficiently drained. It can be sent to the storage container 260, and the effluent can be recovered more reliably.

FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81.
The difference between the maintenance / recovery mechanism of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and the maintenance / recovery mechanism of the first embodiment of FIG. 5 is that the frame bottom 89 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 is inclined and a guide path 90 provided there. However, it is provided as an inclined surface which inclines toward the waste liquid storage part (waste liquid storage container 260). Since the other configuration is the same as that of the maintenance / recovery mechanism of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 of the second embodiment, by providing the guide path 90 provided at the bottom of the frame of the maintenance / recovery mechanism as an inclined surface, the effluent is more efficiently discharged using the height difference. The effluent can be recovered more reliably.

  In the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 of the second embodiment, the configuration described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 can be applied as the guide path 90. In this case, the effluent is obtained using capillary force. In addition to facilitating the movement of the liquid and more efficiently sending the effluent to the waste liquid storage container 260, the inclination angle of the frame bottom 89 can be made as small as possible to save space. As a result, the apparatus can be reduced in size.

FIG. 9 illustrates a maintenance and recovery mechanism before applying the present invention for comparison with the present invention.
In the form shown in this figure, the guide path is not provided at the bottom of the frame of the maintenance / recovery mechanism, and the liquid absorbing member 259 is attached to the upper surface of the bottom of the frame. When the ink or the filling liquid flows out from the discharge hole 263b provided in the moisturizing cap 82b, the liquid absorbing member 259 can absorb it and hold a constant amount. This constant amount is assumed to be the outflow of the filling liquid (preliminary liquid) that is filled in place of ink before arrival, because the internal pressure of the head tank 35 changes mainly due to changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure generated during transportation. Is. In addition, there is a step of confirming the amount of liquid absorbed by the liquid absorbing member 259 (absorption holding member) so that the liquid does not penetrate into the liquid absorbing member 259 in the process before shipment and the liquid storage amount does not decrease.

  In such a configuration, the cost increases due to the necessity of a liquid absorbing member that absorbs the liquid that has flowed out and the need to confirm the liquid absorbing member before shipment. In addition, when the spilled liquid cannot be absorbed by the liquid absorbing member, the spilled liquid may leak outside the maintenance and recovery mechanism, in which case cleaning is necessary and the liquid absorbing member must be replaced. Therefore, there is a problem in that productivity is reduced by interrupting operations such as image formation.

  On the other hand, in the droplet discharge device and the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as described above, the guiding path for guiding the effluent is provided at the bottom of the maintenance and recovery device, and the effluent is sent to the waste liquid tank. Therefore, the liquid absorbing member is not required, the confirmation work before shipment is not required, and the cost can be suppressed. In addition, since the capacity of the waste liquid tank is much larger than the amount that can be absorbed by the liquid absorbing member, there is no risk that the effluent cannot be absorbed completely, and the productivity of the product due to leakage of the effluent and the stoppage of the device due to replacement of the absorbing member A decrease can be prevented.

  By providing the guiding path of the effluent as a receiving surface on the bottom frame constituting the housing of the maintenance / recovery device, the frame of the maintenance / recovery device can be used as the guiding path, and there is no need to add another member. Increase in cost can be suppressed.

By providing the flow path for the effluent as an inclined surface, the effluent can be more efficiently guided to the waste liquid storage unit.
Further, the effluent can be guided more efficiently by forming the guide path by the groove portion that generates the capillary force.

In addition, the effluent can be guided more efficiently by providing the guide path so that the path width becomes narrower as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side.
In addition, by providing a recess or receiving part for receiving the effluent that has fallen from the discharge hole of the protective cap so as to be connected to the groove part of the guide path, the dropped effluent is reliably and efficiently collected and guided to the groove part of the guide path. be able to.

Further, by guiding the effluent liquid to the waste liquid container 260 via the idle discharge receptacle 84, the path can be simplified and the configuration can be simplified.
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the example of illustration, this invention is not limited to this. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the effluent is guided from the guide path 90 to the waste liquid storage container 260 via the empty discharge receptacle 84, but may be configured to be guided directly to the waste liquid storage container without passing through the empty discharge receiver. .

  The “liquid” is not limited to the recording liquid and the ink, and is not particularly limited as long as it becomes a fluid when ejected. The “liquid ejecting apparatus” means an apparatus that ejects liquid from a liquid ejecting head, and is not limited to an apparatus that performs image formation and image recording. Further, the number and configuration of the ejection heads are arbitrary. Any method can be adopted as the discharge method. Further, the liquid discharge direction can be set in an appropriate direction, and the maintenance and recovery device can be configured appropriately according to the liquid discharge direction.

  In the image forming apparatus, the number of ink colors is not limited to four, and can be configured with any number of colors. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to the serial type but also to a line ink jet type recording apparatus. Further, the image forming apparatus is not limited to a printer, and may be a copying apparatus, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions.

1 Device Main Body 33 Carriage 34 Recording Head (Discharge Head)
81 Maintenance / recovery mechanism 82 Cap 83 Wiper blade 84 Empty discharge receptacle 82a Suction cap 82b Moisturizing cap (protection cap)
89 Bottom frame 90 Guide path 91 Recess or receiving part 211 Suction pump (suction means)
264 Liquid storage tank (exchangeable waste liquid tank)
260 Waste liquid container (non-replaceable waste liquid container)

JP 2012-35503 A

Claims (8)

In a liquid discharge apparatus having a discharge head for discharging droplets, and comprising a maintenance recovery device for maintaining and recovering the state of the discharge head,
The maintenance / recovery device sucks the discharged liquid that covers the discharge surface of the discharge head and the empty discharge receiver that receives the liquid that is discharged or preliminary discharged from the discharge head in order to maintain the discharge stability of the discharge head. A suction cap for sucking by means, and a protective cap that covers the discharge surface of the discharge head and protects the discharge surface without performing suction by the suction means;
An exchangeable waste liquid tank for storing the liquid from the suction cap, and a non-replaceable waste liquid storage section for storing the liquid received by the empty discharge receiver disposed below the maintenance and recovery device,
The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, further comprising: a guide path for guiding the effluent that has flowed into the housing of the maintenance / recovery device from the discharge hole of the protective cap to the waste liquid container.   The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the guide path is provided as a receiving surface on a bottom frame constituting a housing of the maintenance / recovery device.   The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide path is provided as an inclined surface that is inclined toward the waste liquid storage unit.   The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide path is formed by a groove that generates a capillary force.   5. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of the guide path becomes narrower from an upstream side to a downstream side in an effluent guide direction.   5. The liquid ejection device according to claim 4, wherein a concave portion or a receiving portion that receives the effluent that has dropped from the discharge hole of the protective cap is provided so as to be connected to the groove portion.   The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the guide path guides effluent liquid to the waste liquid storage unit via the idle discharge receiver. An image forming apparatus comprising the liquid ejection device according to claim 1.

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