JP2014076576A - Liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably clean a nozzle face of a head.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device includes a head having a nozzle face provided with a nozzle for discharging liquid, a blade for wiping the nozzle face, and a holding member that holds the blade, the holding member having a metal nail. The blade has an opening formed therein, and in a state where the nail is positioned in the opening, the blade is fixed to the holding member.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus.

  As a liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer that forms an image by ejecting ink (a kind of liquid) from a nozzle of a head is known. In such a printer, it is necessary to perform maintenance (for example, wiping) in order to prevent clogging of the nozzles of the head (for example, see Patent Document 1). In particular, industrial printers need to be frequently maintained in order to ensure the quality of printed matter.

  When wiping the head, the upper end of the wiping blade is in contact with the nozzle forming surface (hereinafter referred to as the nozzle surface) of the head, and the head is bent while generating elastic force (repulsive force). Move relative to. In this way, ink droplets and dust adhering to the nozzle surface are wiped and cleaned. The lower part of the blade is held by a holding member. Thereby, the blade can be bent during wiping.

JP 2005-335404 A

  However, when the wiping is repeatedly executed, there is a possibility that the blade is lifted upward (nozzle surface side) as described later. As a result, the upper end of the blade does not properly contact the nozzle surface, and the nozzle surface may not be cleaned cleanly.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reliably clean the nozzle surface of the head by preventing the blade from lifting up.

The main invention for achieving the above object is:
A head having a nozzle surface provided with a nozzle for discharging liquid, a blade for wiping the nozzle surface, and a holding member for holding the blade, the holding member having a metal claw, The liquid ejecting apparatus is characterized in that an opening is formed in the blade, and the blade is fixed to the holding member in a state where the claw is located in the opening.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic sectional view of a printer 1. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a head 31. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an example of an internal structure of a head 31. FIG. 5A to 5D are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a cleaning method performed by the maintenance unit 70. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of the wiping part 73 of a comparative example. 7 is a perspective view of a blade 74. FIG. It is a perspective view of the attachment member 75a. It is a perspective view of the attachment member 75b. It is a figure which shows the mode of the shape of the braid | blade 74 when wiping is performed by the wiping part 73 of the comparative example. 11A and 11B are explanatory views showing the state of the blade 74 during wiping. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of the wiping part 73 of this embodiment. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the shape of the fixing member 75c. It is explanatory drawing about the front-end | tip shape of a nail | claw. 15A to 15C are explanatory diagrams of differences in the state of entry into the blade 74 due to the shape of the nail. It is a top view which shows the fixing member 75c of 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the fixing member 75c of 3rd Embodiment. 1 is a schematic external view of an ink jet printer. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer 501. FIG.

  At least the following matters will become clear from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A head having a nozzle surface provided with a nozzle for discharging liquid, a blade for wiping the nozzle surface, and a holding member for holding the blade, the holding member having a metal claw, The liquid ejecting apparatus is characterized in that an opening is formed in the blade, and the blade is fixed to the holding member in a state where the claw is located in the opening.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, the blade can be prevented from floating from the holding member, and the upper end of the blade can be appropriately brought into contact with the nozzle surface. Therefore, the nozzle surface of the head can be reliably cleaned.

In this liquid ejection apparatus, the blade moves relative to the head in the predetermined direction during the wiping, the opening is located downstream of the blade in the predetermined direction, and the claw Is preferably located within the opening.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to prevent the blade from floating.

In this liquid ejecting apparatus, it is desirable that the claw has a width that decreases as it approaches the tip, and the angle of the tip of the claw is an acute angle.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to make it easier for the claws to enter the blade.

In this liquid ejection apparatus, the holding member includes a plurality of the claws along the width direction of the blade, and among the plurality of claws, the claw at one end in the width direction has a tip. It is desirable that the end of the claw at the other end in the width direction is located at the one end and the tip is located at the other end.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the blade from floating.

  In this liquid ejecting apparatus, the claw whose tip is located at the one end and the claw whose tip is located at the other end may be alternately arranged in the width direction.

  Further, the claw having a tip positioned at the end on the one side is disposed on the one side from the center in the width direction of the blade, and the tip is disposed on the other side from the center in the width direction. The said nail | claw located in the edge of the other side may be arrange | positioned.

  Further, the claw having a tip positioned at the end on the one side is disposed on the one side from the center in the width direction of the blade, and the tip is disposed on the other side from the center in the width direction. The nail | claw located in the other end may be arrange | positioned, and the length to a front-end | tip may become long, so that the said center is near.

  According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, the blade can be reliably fixed.

=== First Embodiment ===
<< Configuration Example of Printer 1 >>
A configuration example of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the printer 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer 1.

  Here, when referring to “up and down direction” and “left and right direction”, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 is used as a reference. In addition, the “front-rear direction” refers to a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the printer 1 will be described using roll paper 2 (continuous paper) as a medium for recording an image.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a conveyance unit 20, a feeding unit 10, a platen 29, and a conveyance path along which the conveyance unit 20 conveys the roll paper 2. And a winding unit 80. Furthermore, the printer 1 includes a head unit 30, a carriage unit 40, a maintenance unit 70, a nozzle inspection unit 90, a controller 60 that controls these units and controls the operation as the printer 1, a detector group 50, and the like. ,have.

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

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

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

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

  The first transport roller 23 includes a first drive roller 23a driven by a motor (not shown), and a first driven roller 23b arranged to face the first drive roller 23a with the roll paper 2 interposed therebetween. have. The first transport roller 23 is a roller that pulls up the roll paper 2 slacked downward and transports it to the printing region R facing the platen 29. The first transport roller 23 is configured to temporarily stop transport during a period in which image formation is performed on a portion of the roll paper 2 on the print region R (that is, as described later, the head is By ejecting ink to the corresponding portion of the roll paper 2 that is stopped while moving in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, an image for one page is formed on the portion). In addition, when the first driven roller 23b rotates as the first drive roller 23a rotates by the drive control of the controller 60, the transport amount of the roll paper 2 positioned on the platen 29 (the length of the portion of the roll paper) Is adjusted).

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

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

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

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

  The feed roller 27 is configured to wind the roll paper 2 sent from the relay roller 26 from the lower left side and send it to the take-up unit 80.

  The platen 29 supports the part of the roll paper 2 located in the printing region R on the conveyance path and heats the part. As shown in FIG. 1, the platen 29 is provided in correspondence with the printing region R on the conveyance path, and in a region along the conveyance path between the first conveyance roller 23 and the second conveyance roller 24. Has been placed.

  As described above, the roll paper 2 moves sequentially through the rollers, whereby a transport path for transporting the roll paper 2 is formed. Note that the roll paper 2 is intermittently conveyed along the conveyance path in units of areas corresponding to the print area R by the conveyance unit 20 (that is, one page worth of the roll paper 2 on the print area R). Every time an image is formed is intermittently conveyed).

The head unit 30 is for ejecting ink as an example of a liquid onto a portion of the roll paper 2 that has been fed into the printing region R on the transport path (on the platen 29) by the transport unit 20. The head unit 30 has a head 31 in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink are formed.
Details of the configuration of the head 31 will be described later.

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

  The carriage 42 is configured to move in the transport direction (left-right direction) together with the head 31 by driving a motor (not shown). The carriage 42 is provided with a head guide rail (not shown) extending in the row direction (front-rear direction). The head 31 is driven in the row direction (front-rear direction) along the head guide rail by driving the motor. Configured to move to.

  The maintenance unit 70 is for performing maintenance (cleaning or the like) of the head 31. The maintenance unit 70 is provided at a home position (hereinafter referred to as HP, see FIG. 1). More specifically, it is provided at a position facing the head 31 when the carriage 42 is positioned at the HP. Details of the maintenance unit 70 will be described later.

  The winding unit 80 is for winding the roll paper 2 (image-formed roll paper) sent by the transport unit 20. This take-up unit 80 is fed from the relay roller 81 that is rotatably supported and a relay roller 81 for winding the roll paper 2 sent from the feed roller 27 from the upper left side and conveying it obliquely downward to the right. And a take-up drive shaft 82 for taking up the roll paper 2.

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

  The detector group 50 is for monitoring the situation in the printer 1. For example, the detector group 50 is attached to a transport roller and used for control such as transport of the roll paper 2. And a linear encoder for detecting the position of the carriage 42 (or head 31) in the transport direction (left-right direction).

<< About the configuration of the head >>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the head 31.
The head 31 has a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in the row direction on the lower surface thereof. In the present embodiment, each of the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors has a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles # 1 to #n (for example, 180). Yes. These nozzle rows are called yellow nozzle row Y, magenta nozzle row M, cyan nozzle row C, and black nozzle row K, respectively.
The nozzles # 1 to #n in each nozzle row are linearly arranged in a crossing direction that intersects the transport direction of the roll paper 2 (that is, the crossing direction is the above-described row direction). Each nozzle row is arranged in parallel with a space between each other along the transport direction.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an example of the internal structure of the head 31. In the drawing, a cross section of a portion corresponding to two nozzles adjacent in the transport direction is shown. The head 31 includes a drive unit 32, a case 33 for housing the drive unit 32, and a flow path unit 34 attached to the case 33.

  The drive unit 32 includes a piezo element group including a plurality of piezo elements 321, a fixed plate 323 to which the piezo element group is fixed, and a flexible cable 324 for supplying power to each piezo element 321. Each piezo element 321 is attached to the fixed plate 323 in a so-called cantilever state. The fixed plate 323 is a plate-like member having rigidity capable of receiving a reaction force from the piezo element 321. The flexible cable 324 is a flexible sheet-like wiring board, and is electrically connected to the piezo element 321 on the side surface of the fixed end opposite to the fixed plate 323. On the surface of the flexible cable 324, a head controller HC, which is a control IC for controlling driving of the piezo element 321 and the like, is mounted.

  The case 33 has a rectangular parallelepiped block-like outer shape having a storage empty portion 331 in which the drive unit 32 can be stored. The flow path unit 34 is joined to the front end surface of the case 33. The housing empty portion 331 has a size that allows the drive unit 32 to be fitted exactly. The case 33 is also formed with an ink supply pipe 332 for supplying ink from a corresponding ink cartridge (not shown) to the flow path unit 34.

  The flow path unit 34 includes a flow path forming substrate 35, a nozzle plate 36, and an elastic plate 37. The flow path forming substrate 35 is laminated and integrated so that the flow path forming substrate 35 is sandwiched between the nozzle plate 36 and the elastic plate 37. Constructed. The nozzle plate 36 is a thin plate made of stainless steel on which nozzles (Nz) are formed. The lower surface of the nozzle plate 36 (in other words, the lower surface of the head 31) corresponds to the nozzle surface, and the nozzle (Nz) opening is provided on the nozzle surface.

  In the flow path forming substrate 35, a plurality of empty portions to be the pressure chambers 351 and the ink supply ports 352 are formed corresponding to the respective nozzles Nz. The reservoir 353 is a liquid storage chamber for supplying the ink stored in the ink cartridge to each pressure chamber 351 and communicates with the other end of the corresponding pressure chamber 351 through the ink supply port 352. The ink supplied from the ink cartridge is introduced into the reservoir 353 through the ink supply pipe 332.

  The drive unit 32 is inserted into the housing empty portion 331 with the free end portion of the piezo element 321 facing the flow path unit 34, and the distal end surface of the free end portion is bonded to the corresponding island portion 373. Further, the back surface of the fixed plate 323 is bonded to the inner wall surface of the case 33 that partitions the housing empty portion 331. When a drive signal is supplied to the piezo element 321 via the flexible cable 324 in this stored state, the piezo element 321 expands and contracts to expand and contract the volume of the pressure chamber 351. Due to such a change in the volume of the pressure chamber 351, pressure fluctuation occurs in the ink in the pressure chamber 351. Ink droplets can be ejected from the corresponding nozzles Nz by utilizing the variation in the ink pressure.

<< Operation Example of Printer 1 >>
As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with the head 31 having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in the row direction (front-rear direction). Then, the controller 60 ejects ink from the nozzles while moving the head 31 in the transport direction (left-right direction), and forms a raster line along the transport direction (left-right direction). One page of image recording is performed on the portion of the roll paper 2.

  Here, the controller 60 according to the present embodiment executes printing of a plurality of passes (two passes, four passes, etc.). That is, in order to increase the resolution of the image in the column direction, printing is performed by changing the position of the head 31 in the column direction little by little for each pass. As an image forming method, for example, known interlace (microweave) printing is executed.

  Thus, after printing one page in the printing region R, the controller 60 transports the roll paper 2 in the transport direction by the transport amount of one page. As a result, the portion of the roll paper 2 that has not yet been printed is conveyed to the printing region R.

  Further, the controller 60 ends the printing process for forming an image for one page by moving the head 31 to the HP position.

  By repeating the above operation, an image is printed on the roll paper 2.

<< About Maintenance Unit 70 >>
The maintenance unit 70 of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment performs suction cleaning by sucking ink and wiping for wiping and cleaning ink droplets and dust adhering to the nozzle surface (the lower surface of the nozzle plate 36).

  5A to 5D are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a cleaning method performed by the maintenance unit 70. The maintenance unit 70 includes a suction cap 72, a wiping unit 73, a suction pump (not shown), and the like. As described above, the maintenance unit 70 is provided in the HP.

  After performing the printing process for one page, the controller 60 moves the carriage 42 (head 31) to the HP as shown in FIG. 5A. When the head 31 is positioned at the HP, the controller 60 raises the maintenance unit 70 to bring the suction cap 72 into close contact with the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head 31 as shown in FIG. 5B. As shown in FIG. 5C, when a suction pump (not shown) is operated in a state where the suction cap 72 is in close contact with the head 31, ink in the head 31 is sucked together with thickened ink and paper dust. In this way, the head is cleaned. Further, when the printer 1 does not perform printing (when the carriage 42 is positioned at HP), the suction cap 72 rises and comes into close contact with the lower surface of the head 31. This suppresses ink evaporation from the nozzles (in other words, ink drying). In other words, the suction cap 72 functions as a lid that seals the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head 31 during printing suspension and suppresses ink evaporation.

  When wiping is performed, the controller 60 lowers the maintenance unit 70 by a predetermined amount from the state of FIG. 5C.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, the head 31 and the maintenance unit 70 (wiping unit 73) are relatively moved, and the nozzle surface of the head 31 is cleaned by the wiping unit 73.

<< About Wiping Unit 73 >>
<Comparative example>
Before describing this embodiment, a comparative example will be described first.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the wiping portion 73 of the comparative example. In the following description, directions are determined as indicated by arrows. Further, the side indicated by the arrow is the plus (+) side, and the opposite side is the minus (−) side.

  The wiping unit 73 includes a blade 74 that wipes the nozzle surface and a holding member 75 that holds the blade 74. The holding member 75 has an attachment member 75a and an attachment member 75b.

  7 is a perspective view of the blade 74, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mounting member 75a, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mounting member 75b.

  The blade 74 is a flat plate member made of an elastic body (for example, rubber). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the width direction of the blade 74 corresponds to the x direction, and the upper end (+ z side end) is slightly inclined toward the + y side. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower end (−z side end) side of the blade 74 has two portions protruding downward, and a hole 741 is formed through the portion in the y direction.

  The holding member 75 is made of resin (for example, plastic) and has an attachment member 75a and an attachment member 75b.

  The attachment member 75a has a depression corresponding to the shape of the lower portion of the blade 74 in the upper portion (the + z side portion), and a cylindrical protrusion protruding in the + y direction at a position corresponding to the hole 741 of the blade 74. 751 is provided. Moreover, the notch part 752 is provided in the both ends of the x direction of the attachment member 75a, and the opening 753 is provided in the center part of the x direction.

  The attachment member 75b is formed in a shape corresponding to the attachment member 75a. Specifically, a hole 755 is provided at a position corresponding to the protrusion 751, an engagement piece 756 is provided at a position corresponding to the notch 752, and an engagement is provided at a position corresponding to the opening 753. A piece 757 is provided. Further, in the attachment member 75b, a rib 754 having a triangular cross section is provided along the x direction at the upper end (+ z side end) of the surface (−y side) facing the attachment member 75a.

  With the above configuration, the engagement piece 756 and the engagement piece 757 of the attachment member 75a of the attachment member 75b are respectively opened to the notch 752 in the state where the hole 741 of the blade 74 is fitted to the protrusion 751 of the attachment member 75a. 753 is engaged. As a result, the rib 754 comes into pressure contact with the blade 74 as shown in FIG. Thus, the blade 74 is held by the holding member 75 (mounting members 75a and 75b).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the blade 74 when wiping is performed by the wiping portion 73 of the comparative example. In the figure, the solid line shows the shape before wiping, and the dotted line shows the shape after repeated wiping. The alternate long and short dash line indicates the position of the rib 754. 11A and 11B are explanatory views showing the state of the blade 74 during wiping. FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example when wiping is appropriately performed, and FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating an example when wiping is not performed appropriately.

  When performing wiping, as shown in FIG. 11A, the head 31 and the wiping portion 73 are relatively moved while the upper end of the blade 74 is in contact with the nozzle surface. In the present embodiment, the position of the wiping unit 73 is fixed, and the head 31 is moved as shown in the figure. That is, the wiping unit 73 moves relative to the head 31 in the direction indicated by the dotted line (the direction opposite to the moving direction of the head 31). As a result, the blade 74 slides in the nozzle surface while bending in the direction in which the elastic force (repulsive force) is generated, and wipes ink droplets and the like on the nozzle surface.

  However, when the ink wiped by the blade 74 drips to the position of the rib 754 during wiping, the frictional force between the blade 74 and the rib 754 is weakened. When wiping is performed in this state, the blade 74 may float upward as shown by the dotted line in FIG. In particular, the lift increases at the end in the x direction away from the fitting portion (hole 741) with the holding member 75. Since the blade 74 is an elastic body, after wiping is finished, the blade 74 tries to return to the original shape (solid line). However, since it is pushed in the −y direction by the rib 754, it cannot return to the original shape.

  When the blade 74 is lifted upward, the nozzle surface of the head 31 is wiped not by the upper end of the blade 74 but by the side surface as shown in FIG. 11B. For this reason, when the next wiping is performed, the ink attached to the side surface of the blade 74 may adhere to the side surface of the head 31. Furthermore, the ink attached to the side surface of the head 31 may adhere to the blade 74 during the next wiping, and may adhere to the nozzle surface as it is.

  As described above, in the comparative example, the blade 74 is lifted, and the nozzle surface may not be cleaned cleanly. Therefore, in this embodiment, the blade 74 is prevented from being lifted.

<This embodiment>
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the wiping portion 73 of this embodiment. In FIG. 12, parts having the same configuration as in FIG. In the following description, the direction is set similarly to the comparative example.

  In the present embodiment, the wiping portion 73 includes a fixing member 75c in addition to the attachment member 75a and the attachment member 75b.

  13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the shape of the fixing member 75c. 13A is a top view, FIG. 13B is a side view, and FIG. 13C is a perspective view.

The fixing member 75c is a member made of metal (for example, stainless steel), and its shape viewed from the side (x direction) is L-shaped as shown in FIG.
The fixing member 75c is provided with a hole 77 and claws 76a and 76b.

The hole 77 is provided to fit with the protrusion 751 of the attachment member 75a.
The claw 76a and the claw 76b are provided at the upper end (+ z side end) of the fixing member 75c perpendicularly to the formation surface (xz plane) of the hole 77 (so as to protrude in the −y direction). The claws 76a and 76b each have a claw width (width in the x direction) that becomes shorter as it approaches the tip (−y side end). The claw 76a has a claw tip positioned at one end (−x side) in the x direction, and the claw 76b has a claw tip positioned at the other end (+ x side) in the x direction. . The claw 76a and the claw 76b are alternately arranged in the x direction.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the tip shape of the nail.
The figure shows the tip shape when the nail is viewed from above (+ z direction). As described above, the claw width becomes shorter as it approaches the tip.

  In this embodiment, as indicated by a solid line, the tip of the claw is located at the end in the x direction (right end in the figure). The tip has an acute angle (for example, the angle θ is 60 degrees). By making the tip at an acute angle in this way, it becomes easy to make a slit (corresponding to the opening) in the blade 74. In the present embodiment, the claws 76a and 76b are alternately arranged. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a claw having a sharp tip as shown by a dotted line in the figure (the tip is at the center in the x direction). A certain nail) may be arranged side by side.

  However, it is desirable to arrange a claw (claw 76a or 76b) whose tip shown by a solid line in the figure is at the end in the x direction, at the end in the x direction. The reason for this will be described below.

  FIGS. 15A to 15C are explanatory diagrams of differences in the state of entry into the blade 74 due to the shape of the nail.

In FIG. 15A, the nail | claw (claw shown with the continuous line of FIG. 14) similar to this embodiment is used. In this case, if the distance between the + x side end of the claw and the + x side end of the blade 74 is d1, the distance between the tip position of the claw and the + x side end of the blade 74 is also d1.
On the other hand, in the case of the nail shown by the dotted line in FIG. 14, if the distance between the + x side end of the nail and the + x side end of the blade 74 is d1, as shown in FIG. 15B, the distance between the tip of the nail and the end of the blade 74 Becomes d2 (> d1).

  Here, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 10, the blade 74 is likely to float away from the hole 741 (the end portion in the x direction). Therefore, in order to prevent the blade 74 from lifting, the position of the tip of the nail is as much as possible. It is more effective to arrange (invade) at the end in the x direction. Therefore, the case of FIG. 15A is more suitable for suppressing the lifting of the blade 74 than the case of FIG. 15B.

  Further, if the distance between the tip of the claw and the end of the blade 74 is set to d1 as shown in FIG. 15C, the end of the blade 74 (+ x side end) may be split. As described above, when a slit enters the end of the blade 74, the slit of the blade 74 spreads when the blade 74 is bent by wiping, and the durability deteriorates.

  Thus, the case of FIG. 15A is the most effective for preventing the blade 74 from floating. The same applies to the −x side.

  With the above configuration, after the blade 74 is attached to the attachment member 75a, the holes 77 of the fixing member 75c are fitted into the protrusions 751 of the attachment member 75a so that the claws (the claws 76a and 76b) face the blade 74. Let

  Then, when the attachment member 75a and the attachment member 75b are engaged with the blade 74 and the fixing member 75c interposed therebetween, each claw of the fixing member 75c tears the surface of the blade 74 on the + y side. In other words, a tear (corresponding to the opening) is formed in the blade 74. And each nail | claw penetrate | invades in the said tear (refer FIG. 12). That is, at the time of wiping, a tear (opening) is located on the downstream surface of the direction in which the blade 74 moves relative to the head 31 (corresponding to a predetermined direction), and each nail penetrates into the tear ( Position).

  In this way, each nail is inserted into the + y side surface of the blade 74. The + y side surface is a surface that bends and extends during wiping, and it is lifted that this surface is fixed by each nail. This is because it is effective in preventing this. A similar claw may be provided on the opposite surface (the surface on the -y side) to enter the blade 74, or a similar claw may be provided on the side surface (the end surface in the x direction) to enter the blade 74. Also good. Or you may combine these.

  Further, the position of each claw only needs to be lower (−z side) than the rib 754. For example, the fixing member 75c may be attached upside down. However, when the claws are arranged at positions close to the ribs 74 to enter the blade 74 as in the present embodiment, the blade 74 can be further prevented from lifting.

  In this way, the claws (claws 76a, 76b) of the metal fixing member 75c are used to rip the blade 74, and the respective claws are inserted into the crevice (each claw is located in the crevice). Therefore, the blade 74 can be securely fixed, and the blade 74 can be prevented from floating.

  In the present embodiment, the fixing member 75c (the claws 76a and 76b) and the attachment members 75a and 75b are separate from each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the attachment member 75b and the fixing member 75c include It may be formed integrally. That is, the metal claws 76a and 76b may be formed on the attachment member 75b.

  As described above, the printer 1 of the present embodiment holds the head 31 having the nozzle surface provided with the nozzles Nz that eject ink, the blade 74 that wipes the nozzle surface of the head 31, and the blade 74. A holding member 75 is provided. Furthermore, the holding member 75 has a metal fixing member 75c in which claws 76a and 76b are formed.

  The claw 76a, 76b forms a slit in the blade 76, and the blade 74 is fixed to the holding member 75 in a state where the claw 76a, 76b is located in the crevice.

  By doing so, it is possible to prevent the blade 74 from being lifted by wiping, so that the nozzle surface of the head 31 can be reliably cleaned by the blade 74.

=== Second Embodiment ===
In 2nd Embodiment, arrangement | positioning of the nail | claw in the fixing member 75c differs from 1st Embodiment. In addition, since it is the same as 1st Embodiment except the fixing member 75c, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 16 is a top view showing the fixing member 75c of the second embodiment.

  In the figure, the dotted line indicates the center position of the fixing member 75c in the x direction. This position corresponds to the center position of the blade 74 in the x direction.

  In the fixing member 75c of the second embodiment, a claw 76b whose tip is located on the + x side end is disposed on the + x side from the center, and the tip is located on the −x side end on the −x side from the center in the x direction. The nail | claw 76a to perform is arrange | positioned.

  As described above, in the fixing member 75c of the second embodiment, the shape of the claw is different between the + side and the − side with respect to the center in the x direction, and the tip is disposed on the outer side.

  Also in the case of the second embodiment, the blade 74 can be fixed similarly to the first embodiment, and the lifting of the blade 74 can be suppressed.

=== Third Embodiment ===
Also in the third embodiment, the shape of the claw of the fixing member 75c is different from the above-described embodiment. In addition, since it is the same as 1st Embodiment except the fixing member 75c, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 17 is a top view showing the fixing member 75c of the third embodiment.

  In the figure, the dotted line indicates the center position of the fixing member 75c in the x direction. This position corresponds to the center position of the blade 74 in the x direction.

  Also in the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the claw (claws 76b, 76b ′, 76b ″) on the + x side from the center is positioned at the + x side end, and −x from the center in the x direction. The tips of the side claws (the claws 76a, 76a ′, 76a ″) are located at the −x side end.

  However, in the third embodiment, the closer to the center in the x direction, the longer the length of the nail (the length in the y direction).

Specifically, in the drawing, the claw 76a ′ has a longer length in the y direction than the claw 76a, and the claw 76a ″ has a longer length in the y direction than the claw 76a ′. Similarly, the claw 76b. 'Is longer in the y direction than the claw 76b, and further, the claw 76b "is longer in the y direction than the claw 76b'. In the case of this third embodiment, first, the claw 76a" near the center. And claw 76 b ″ enter the blade 74 with a tear, and then the claw 76 a ′ and claw 76 b ′ enter the blade 74 with a tear. Finally, the claw 76a and the claw 76b enter the blade 74 with a slit.

  In this way, each claw can be sequentially inserted into the blade 74n from the vicinity of the center in the x direction toward the end. Also in the case of the third embodiment, the blade 74 can be reliably fixed, and the lifting of the blade 74 can be suppressed.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiments are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

<About the printer>
In the above-described embodiment, the printer has been described as an example of the liquid ejection apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, color filter manufacturing apparatus, dyeing apparatus, fine processing apparatus, semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, surface processing apparatus, three-dimensional modeling machine, liquid vaporizer, organic EL manufacturing apparatus (particularly polymer EL manufacturing apparatus), display manufacturing apparatus, film formation The same technology as that of the present embodiment may be applied to various liquid ejection devices to which inkjet technology such as a device and a DNA chip manufacturing device is applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, a lateral scan type label printer has been described as an example of the liquid ejection device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a serial scan type large format printer. May be.

  The serial scan type large format printer (hereinafter referred to as an ink jet printer 501) will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 18 is a schematic external view of the ink jet printer 501. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the inkjet printer 501.

  In each figure, the direction is determined as indicated by an arrow. In the printer 1 of the above-described embodiment, the conveyance direction of the medium (roll paper 2) and the movement (scanning) direction of the carriage 42 are the same direction (x direction), whereas in the inkjet printer 501, the medium (roll paper) The transport direction of R) is the y direction, and the carriage movement direction is the x direction.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, the ink jet printer 501 includes a printer main body 502 having an ink jet head 541 (described later) and a support stand 503 that supports the printer main body 502. The ink jet printer 501 basically includes a printing unit 521 for printing on the roll paper R, a feed unit for feeding the roll paper R along the feed path, and an ink cartridge 581. Ink supply means 523 for supplying ink, maintenance means 524 for maintenance of the ink-jet head 541, and a control unit 525 for controlling the entire ink-jet printer 501 by controlling these means in relation to each other. ing. An image is printed on the roll paper R by driving the printing unit 521 and the feeding unit in synchronization while supplying ink to the inkjet head 541 by the ink supply unit 523. The printing unit 521 includes a carriage 531 on which an inkjet head 541 is mounted, and a head moving mechanism 532 that supports the carriage 531 in a movable manner and moves the carriage 531.

  The head moving mechanism 532 is configured to reciprocate the carriage 531 within a preset head moving area 534. In the present embodiment, the position corresponding to the right end of the head movement area 534 in the figure is set as the home position of the carriage 531, and the movement position of the carriage 531 is grasped using this position as a reference position.

  The maintenance unit 524 includes a suction unit 631 that sucks the inkjet head 541 and a wiping unit 632 that wipes the inkjet head 541. The suction means 631 is disposed facing the home position, and the cap 641 can be brought into close contact with the inkjet head 541 of the carriage 531 facing the home position. Similarly to the suction unit 631, the wiping unit 632 is disposed facing the home position, and wipes the nozzle surface by moving relative to the inkjet head 541 of the carriage 531 facing the home position. It has become.

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

  Also in such a serial scan type ink jet printer 501, the above-described embodiment can be applied to the wiping means 632.

<Discharge method>
In the above-described embodiment, ink is ejected using a piezoelectric element (piezo element). However, the method for discharging the liquid is not limited to this. For example, other methods such as a method of generating bubbles in the nozzle by heat may be used.

<About ink>
In the above-described embodiment, since the embodiment is a printer, ink is used as the liquid. However, the liquid ejected from the nozzle is not limited to such ink. For example, liquids (including water) including metal materials, organic materials (especially polymer materials), magnetic materials, conductive materials, wiring materials, film-forming materials, electronic inks, processing liquids, gene solutions, etc. are ejected from nozzles. May be.

<About media>
In the above-described embodiment, the roll paper 2 has been described as an example of the medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be cut paper, film, or cloth, for example.

<About wiping>
In the above-described embodiment, the position of the maintenance unit 70 (blade 74) is fixed and the head 31 is moved during wiping. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the maintenance unit 70 (blade 74) may move while the position of the head 31 is stopped. In short, it is only necessary that the upper end of the blade 74 abuts on the nozzle surface of the head 31 by the relative movement of the head 31 and the blade 74.

<About the tip shape of the nail>
In the embodiment described above, the angle (angle θ) of the tip of the nail is an acute angle, but is not limited thereto, and may be an obtuse angle, for example. Or the shape of a nail | claw may be a rectangle. However, as in the above-described embodiment, the blade 74 is more likely to be split when the tip has an acute angle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Roll paper 10 Feed unit 18 Roll axis 19 Relay roller 20 Transport unit 21 Relay roller 22 Relay roller 23 First transport roller 23a First drive roller 23b First driven roller 24 Second transport roller 24a Second drive roller 24b Second driven roller 25 Reverse roller 26 Relay roller 27 Feed roller 29 Platen 30 Head unit 31 Head 32 Drive unit 33 Case 34 Channel unit 35 Channel forming substrate 36 Nozzle plate 37 Elastic plate 40 Carriage unit 41 Guide rail 42 Carriage 50 Detection Instrument group 60 Controller 61 Interface unit 62 CPU
63 Memory 64 Unit control circuit 70 Maintenance unit 72 Suction cap 73 Wiping part 74 Blade 75 Holding member 75a Mounting member 75b Mounting member 75c Fixing member 76a Claw 76b Claw 77 Hole 80 Winding unit 81 Relay roller 82 Winding drive shaft 110 Host computer 321 Piezo element 323 Fixed plate 324 Flexible cable 331 Storage empty part 332 Ink supply pipe 351 Pressure chamber 352 Supply port 353 Reservoir 501 Inkjet printer 502 Printer main body 503 Support stand 521 Printing means 523 Ink supply means 524 Maintenance means 525 Control part 531 Carriage 532 Head moving mechanism 534 Head moving area 541 Ink jet head 581 Ink cartridge 631 Suction means 6 2 wiping means 641 cap 741 hole 751 protruding 752 notch 753 opening 754 rib 755 hole 756 engaging piece 757 engaging piece

Claims (7)

A head having a nozzle surface provided with nozzles for discharging liquid;
A blade for wiping the nozzle surface;
A holding member for holding the blade, the holding member having a metal claw;
With
An opening is formed in the blade,
The liquid ejection apparatus, wherein the blade is fixed to the holding member in a state where the claw is located in the opening. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1,
The blade moves in a predetermined direction relative to the head during the wiping;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening is located downstream of the blade in the predetermined direction, and the claw is located in the opening. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The claw is shorter in width as it approaches the tip,
The angle of the tip portion of the nail is an acute angle,
A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by that. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The holding member has a plurality of the claws along the width direction of the blade,
Among the plurality of claws, the claw at one end in the width direction has a tip positioned at the one end, and the claw at the other end in the width direction has the tip at the other end. To position,
A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by that. The liquid ejection device according to claim 4,
The claw whose tip is located at the one end and the claw whose tip is located at the other end are alternately arranged in the width direction.
A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by that. The liquid ejection device according to claim 4,
The claw having a tip positioned at the end on the one side is disposed on the one side of the blade in the width direction, and the tip is on the other side of the blade in the other side of the width direction. The nail located at the end of the
A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by that. The liquid ejection device according to claim 4,
The claw having a tip positioned at the end on the one side is disposed on the one side of the blade in the width direction, and the tip is on the other side of the blade in the other side of the width direction. The claw located at the end of the head is arranged, and the closer to the center, the longer the length to the tip,
A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by that.