JP2014117945A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet printer capable of sliding a wiper on a nozzle surface of a recording head by the relative movement of the wiper to the recording head, and preventing ink from remaining on an end and near the nozzle surface with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A wiper guide groove 72 of an ink jet printer includes a second dedicated path 72b for separating a wiper 41 from a nozzle surface 23b during a second movement that is a movement of a wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 from a contact position at which the wiper 41 contacts the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 to a retreat position at which the wiper 41 is separate from the nozzle surface 23b. A path switching plate 74 prevents the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 from entering the second dedicated path 72b during a first movement from the retreat position to the contact position, and allows the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 to exit the second dedicated path 72b.

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that ejects ink onto a recording medium.

  As a conventional ink jet printer, the ejection port surface is cleaned by sliding on the ejection port surface of a recording head having an ejection port surface on which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink to a recording material is formed. There is known an ink jet recording apparatus that includes a wiping member and a recovery system motor that moves the wiping member in a direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface of the recording head (see Patent Document 1). The wiping member of the ink jet recording apparatus is supported so as to be movable between a retracted position, which is a position away from the discharge port surface, and a forward position, which is a position in contact with the discharge port surface. In this ink jet recording apparatus, by moving the recording head with respect to the wiping member in a state where the wiping member is in the forward movement position, the wiping member is relatively slid on the discharge port surface of the recording head. Clean the discharge port surface. In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus can separate the wiping member from the ejection port surface of the recording head by changing the position of the wiping member from the forward movement position to the backward movement position.

  In this ink jet recording apparatus, after the ejection port surface is cleaned by relatively sliding the wiping member on the ejection port surface of the recording head, the recording is performed before the wiping member reaches the end of the ejection port surface of the recording head. Since the wiping member is separated from the ejection port surface of the head, it is difficult for ink to remain at the end of the ejection port surface of the recording head. If ink remains at the end of the ejection port surface of the recording head, this ink may accidentally adhere to the recording material and the print quality may be reduced. However, since the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 hardly retains ink at the end of the ejection port surface of the recording head, printing is performed in comparison with a configuration in which ink remains at the end of the ejection port surface of the recording head. The quality can be improved.

Japanese Patent No. 3234087

  In the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the wiping member slides on the discharge port surface of the recording head by the relative movement of the wiping member relative to the recording head due to the movement of the recording head.

  However, the inkjet printer includes not only the wiper that slides on the nozzle surface of the recording head due to the relative movement of the wiper relative to the recording head due to the movement of the recording head, but also the relative wiper to the recording head due to the movement of the wiper. There is a type in which the wiper slides on the nozzle surface of the recording head by the movement.

  Therefore, the present invention allows the wiper to slide on the nozzle surface of the recording head by the relative movement of the wiper relative to the recording head due to the movement of the wiper, and prevents ink from remaining at the end and the vicinity of the nozzle surface with a simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer that can be used.

  An inkjet printer of the present invention includes a wiper that cleans the nozzle surface by sliding on the nozzle surface of a recording head that includes a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink to a recording medium are formed. A wiper support member that supports the wiper; a guide member that is engaged with the wiper support member to guide movement of the wiper support member; and the wiper support member with respect to the guide member A drive source that moves the wiper, and the guide portion is a retracted position where the wiper is away from the nozzle surface, and a contact where the wiper is in contact with the nozzle surface. A position dedicated to the first movement that is the movement of the wiper support member from the retracted position to the contact position. A first dedicated path and a dedicated path in the second movement that is the movement of the wiper support member from the contact position to the retracted position, and a position in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface is the first dedicated path. A second dedicated path that is further away from the nozzle surface, wherein the second dedicated path separates the wiper from the nozzle surface by changing the position of the wiper in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface. It is a route.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention moves the wiper relative to the guide member by moving the wiper support member relative to the guide member. The ink jet printer according to the present invention is configured to slide the wiper on the nozzle surface of the recording head by the relative movement of the wiper relative to the recording head by the movement of the wiper relative to the guide member, and then wipe the wiper to the end of the nozzle surface of the recording head. The wiper is moved away from the nozzle surface of the recording head before reaching. Therefore, the ink jet printer of the present invention causes the wiper to slide on the nozzle surface of the recording head by the relative movement of the wiper relative to the recording head by the movement of the wiper, and ink remains at the end and the vicinity of the nozzle surface with a simple structure. This can be prevented. In the ink jet printer of the present invention, when the wiper support member moves from the retracted position to the contact position, the wiper support member has a first dedicated path whose position in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface is closer to the nozzle surface than the second dedicated path. Therefore, compared to the configuration in which the wiper support member passes through the second dedicated path, the movement distance of the wiper support member in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface relative to the movement distance of the wiper support member in the direction parallel to the nozzle surface is small. As a result, the movement load of the wiper support member is small. Therefore, in the inkjet printer of the present invention, when the wiper support member moves from the retracted position to the contact position, the wiper support member passes through the second dedicated path in the same manner as when the wiper support member moves from the contact position to the retracted position. Compared with, it is possible to reduce the load of movement of the wiper support member.

  In addition, the ink jet printer of the present invention includes a driven member that is moved relative to the guide member by the driving source, and the guide member determines a position of the driven member in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface. The driven member is supported in a changeable manner, and the driven member supports the wiper supporting member in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface so that the position of the wiper supporting member can be changed. The driven member may be moved with respect to the guide member by the drive source by being moved by the drive source.

  With this configuration, the driven member is moved with respect to the guide member by the drive source, so that the wiper support member is moved with respect to the guide member by the drive source. The wiper can be moved relative to the guide member by moving the driven member. Therefore, the ink jet printer of the present invention can prevent ink from remaining at the end and the vicinity of the nozzle surface with a simple structure.

  In the inkjet printer according to the aspect of the invention, the wiper support member may include a protrusion, and the guide may be a wiper guide groove that guides the movement of the protrusion by inserting the protrusion. The printer includes a path switching member that switches a path of the protrusion by changing an inclination with respect to the wiper guide groove, and the path switching member contacts the protrusion in the first movement. The protrusion may be prevented from entering the second dedicated path, and the protrusion of the protrusion from the second dedicated path may be allowed in the second movement.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention can switch the path of the wiper support member by switching the path of the protrusion by the path switching member. Therefore, the ink jet printer of the present invention can prevent ink from remaining at the end and the vicinity of the nozzle surface with a simple structure.

  In addition, the inkjet printer of the present invention includes a switching member support member that supports the path switching member, and the switching member support member changes the inclination relative to the wiper guide groove when the inclination with respect to the wiper guide groove is changed. The inclination of the route switching member may be changed.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention changes the inclination of the path switching member with respect to the guide part by changing the inclination of the switching member support member with respect to the guide part. Compared with the configuration in which the inclination of the path switching member is changed, the amount of deformation of the path switching member itself can be reduced, and the durability of the path switching member can be improved.

  In the ink jet printer according to the aspect of the invention, the switching member support member may be placed in a state in which the path switching member contacts the projection in the first movement to prevent the projection from entering the second dedicated path. A supporting member urging member for urging may be provided.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention actively changes the inclination of the path switching member with respect to the guide portion by using the biasing force of the support member biasing member, so the weight of the path switching member and the switching member support member Compared with the configuration in which the inclination of the path switching member with respect to the guide part is changed using only the above, failure to change the inclination of the path switching member with respect to the guide part can be suppressed.

  The inkjet printer of the present invention further includes a biasing member that biases the wiper support member against the driven member in a direction in which the position of the wiper in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface is away from the nozzle surface. May be.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention uses the urging force of the urging member to positively position the wiper support member with respect to the driven member in the direction in which the wiper position in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface is away from the nozzle surface. Compared to the configuration in which the wiper support member position relative to the driven member is changed in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface away from the nozzle surface using only the weight of the wiper and wiper support member. Thus, failure to change the position of the wiper support member relative to the driven member in the direction in which the wiper position in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface is away from the nozzle surface can be suppressed.

  The ink jet printer according to the present invention allows the wiper to slide on the nozzle surface of the recording head by the relative movement of the wiper with respect to the recording head by the movement of the wiper, and that ink remains at the end and the vicinity of the nozzle surface with a simple structure. Can be prevented.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a left side view in which a part of the recording head shown in FIG. 1 is broken. FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the recording head shown in FIG. It is a front view of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 1 when the wiper is in the retracted position. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wiper vertical movement member and the wiper longitudinal movement member shown in FIG. 4. It is a block diagram of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1 when cleaning the recording head. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the recording head and the wiper shown in FIG. 4 when the position in the main scanning direction is shifted. FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 4 when a wiper vertical movement guide pin enters a first dedicated path. FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 4 when the wiper vertical movement guide pin leaves the first dedicated path. FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 4 when the wiper is in the preparation position. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the recording head and the wiper shown in FIG. 4 when the positions in the main scanning direction match. FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 4 when the wiper is in contact with the nozzle surface of the recording head. FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 4 when a wiper vertical movement guide pin enters a second dedicated path. FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 4 when the wiper is separated from the nozzle surface of the recording head. FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 4 when the wiper vertical movement guide pin leaves the second dedicated path. It is a side view of the wiper unit of the inkjet printer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention in the time of a wiper existing in a retracted position. FIG. 18 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 17 when the wiper vertical movement guide pin leaves the first dedicated path. FIG. 18 is a side view of the wiper unit shown in FIG. 17 when the wiper vertical movement guide pin leaves the second dedicated path.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 10 includes a main body 20 that extends in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10 a and a transport device 30 that transports a recording medium 99.

  The main body 20 includes a guide rail 21 extending in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10a, and a carriage 22 supported by the guide rail 21 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10a. The carriage 22 has a plurality of recording heads 23 mounted thereon.

  The transport device 30 is a device that transports the recording medium 99 to the recording head 23 of the main body 20 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b orthogonal to the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a.

  The recording head 23 is a device that ejects ink to the recording medium 99 in a direction indicated by an arrow 10c orthogonal to both the direction indicated by the arrow 10a and the direction indicated by the arrow 10b.

  FIG. 2A is a left side view in which a part of the recording head 23 is broken. FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the recording head 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 23 includes a nozzle surface 23b on which a plurality of nozzles 23a for discharging ink to the recording medium 99 (see FIG. 1) are formed. The nozzle 23a is a hole having a diameter of about 30 μm, for example. The nozzle surface 23b is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment. A plurality of nozzle rows 23c including a plurality of nozzles 23a are formed on the nozzle surface 23b.

  The ink in the recording head 23 is always applied with a negative pressure of about −1.0 kPa, for example, due to a configuration (not shown) of the ink jet printer 10, and a concave meniscus is formed in each nozzle 23a.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink jet printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inkjet printer 10 wipes the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 in the extending direction of the nozzle row 23c (see FIG. 2), that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow 10b (see FIG. 1) ( A wiper unit 40 is provided.

  The wiper unit 40 includes a wiper 41 that wipes (wipes) the nozzle surface 23 b of the recording head 23. That is, the wiper 41 cleans the nozzle surface 23b by sliding on the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b.

  When wiping the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23, the wiper 41 slides on the nozzle surface 23b in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b, and then moves away from the end of the nozzle surface 23b in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. Then, there is a problem that ink remains at the end of the nozzle surface 23b. Further, when wiping the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23, the wiper 41 slides on the nozzle surface 23b in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b, and subsequently moves in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b to move the carriage 22. If it comes into contact with the lower surface of the ink, there is a problem that ink remains on the lower surface of the carriage 22 that has not been subjected to the hydrophilic treatment, that is, in the vicinity of the nozzle surface 23b. These problems are significant when a high viscosity ink such as latex ink or UV ink is employed as the ink. If ink remains at or near the end of the nozzle surface 23 b of the recording head 23, this ink may accidentally adhere to the recording medium 99 and the print quality may deteriorate. Accordingly, after the wiper 41 slides on the nozzle surface 23b in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b, the wiper unit 40 has the nozzles of the recording head 23 before the wiper 41 reaches the end of the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23. The wiper 41 is separated from the surface 23b.

  FIG. 4 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 at the time when the wiper 41 exists at the retracted position, which is a position away from the nozzle surface 23 b of the recording head 23. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wiper vertical movement member 50 and the wiper longitudinal movement member 60.

  4 and 5, the wiper unit 40 includes a wiper 41, a wiper vertical movement member 50 as a wiper support member that supports the wiper 41, and a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23, that is, The wiper up / down moving member 60 as a driven member that supports the wiper up / down moving member 50 so that the position of the wiper up / down moving member 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c can be changed, and a direction parallel to the nozzle surface 23b, that is, the arrow 10b The wiper unit main body 70 as a guide member that supports the wiper back and forth moving member 60 so that the position of the wiper back and forth moving member 60 in the sub-scanning direction shown in the figure can be changed, and the position of the wiper 41 in the direction shown by the arrow 10c is separated from the nozzle surface 23b. The wiper up-and-down moving member 50 is urged against the wiper back-and-forth moving member 60 in the direction. A spring 81, and a wiper drive motor 82 as a driving source for moving the wiper longitudinal movement member 60 relative to the wiper unit body 70 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b.

  The wiper vertical movement member 50 includes a wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 as a protrusion. The wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 extends in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a.

  Further, the wiper vertical movement member 50 has a hole 52 through which a guide rail 62 (described later) of the wiper longitudinal movement member 60 passes. Two holes 52 are formed for one guide rail 62.

  The wiper longitudinally moving member 60 includes two wiper longitudinally moving guide pins 61 extending in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a, and a hole 52 of the wiper vertically moving member 50 extending in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c. And two guide rails 62 inserted into the. The two wiper longitudinally moving guide pins 61 are arranged apart from each other in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b, and the positions in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c are the same. The two guide rails 62 are spaced apart in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b, and the positions in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a are the same.

  Further, the wiper vertical movement member 60 is provided with a wiper vertical movement guide groove 63 for inserting the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 and guiding the movement of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c.

  The wiper unit main body 70 includes a main body plate 71 to which a wiper drive motor 82 is fixed.

  The main body plate 71 has a wiper guide groove 72 as a guide portion for inserting the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 to guide the movement of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 and two wiper longitudinal movement guide pins 61 inserted therein. A wiper longitudinal movement guide groove 73 that guides the movement of the longitudinal movement guide pin 61 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b is formed.

  The wiper guide groove 72 is a first movement which is a movement of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 from the retracted position to the contact position between the retracted position of the wiper 41 shown in FIG. The first dedicated path 72a that is a dedicated path and the dedicated path in the second movement that is the movement of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 from the contact position to the retracted position, and the position in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c is the first dedicated path. And a second dedicated path 72b that is further from the nozzle surface 23b than the path 72a. Here, the second dedicated path 72b is a path for separating the wiper 41 from the nozzle surface 23b by changing the position of the wiper 41 in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c.

  The wiper unit main body 70 extends in the main scanning direction indicated by the path switching plate 74 as a path switching member for switching the path of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 by changing the inclination with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 and the arrow 10a. The support plate 75 is supported by the main body plate 71 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 75a, and serves as a switching member support member for supporting the path switching plate 74, and in the rotational direction indicated by the arrow 75b with the shaft 75a as the center. A spring 76 as a support member urging member that urges the support plate 75, a rotation restricting member 77 that restricts rotation of the support plate 75 in the direction indicated by the arrow 75b by contacting the support plate 75, and an arrow 10b. A cleaning unit that removes ink adhering to the wiper 41 from the wiper 41 when the wiper 41 moving in the sub-scanning direction slides. And a 78.

  One end of the spring 76 is supported by the main body plate 71, and the other end is supported by the support plate 75.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the inkjet printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inkjet printer 10 includes a transport device 30 and a wiper drive motor 82 described above, an operation unit 91 to which various operations are input, a display unit 92 that displays various information, a LAN (Local), and the like. A communication unit 93 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) via a network such as an area network or the Internet or directly without a network is driven, and the carriage 22 is driven. A storage device such as a carriage drive device 94, a head drive device 95 that drives the recording head 23, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores various data. A unit 96 and a control unit 97 that controls the entire inkjet printer 10 are provided.

  The control unit 97 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM.

  Next, the operation of the inkjet printer 10 will be described.

  When receiving the print data via the communication unit 93, the control unit 97 of the inkjet printer 10 controls the transport device 30, the carriage drive device 94, and the head drive device 95 according to the print data. That is, the control unit 97 moves the recording medium 99 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b by the transport device 30 according to the print data, and moves the carriage 22 along the guide rail 21 by the carriage drive device 94 according to the print data. The ink is moved in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a, and ink is ejected to the recording head 23 by the head driving device 95 according to the print data. That is, the ink jet printer 10 prints an image based on the print data on the recording medium 99 with ink.

  The user looks at the image printed by the inkjet printer 10 and determines whether the recording head 23 needs to be cleaned. When the user determines that the recording head 23 needs to be cleaned, the user can instruct the inkjet printer 10 to clean the recording head 23 via the operation unit 91.

  Further, the control unit 97 of the inkjet printer 10 determines that the recording head 23 needs to be cleaned when a predetermined condition such as a predetermined number of times of printing is satisfied.

  When the control unit 97 of the inkjet printer 10 determines that the cleaning of the recording head 23 is instructed via the operation unit 91 or the recording head 23 needs to be cleaned, the control unit 97 performs the operation shown in FIG.

  Note that the wiper 41 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 at the start of the operation shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the inkjet printer 10 when the recording head 23 is cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 97 of the inkjet printer 10 moves the carriage 22 along the guide rail 21 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10 a by the carriage driving device 94, thereby causing the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10 a. The position of the recording head 23 and the position of the wiper 41 are shifted (S101).

  If the position of the recording head 23 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a has already shifted from the position of the wiper 41 immediately before executing the process of S101, the control unit 97 omits the process of S101.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view of the recording head 23 and the wiper 41 when the position of the recording head 23 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a is shifted from the position of the wiper 41. FIG.

  The recording head 23 and the wiper 41 have the positional relationship shown in FIG. 8, for example, as a result of the process of S101.

  As shown in FIG. 7, after the process of S101, the control unit 97 moves the wiper back-and-forth moving member 60 with respect to the wiper unit main body 70 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b by the wiper drive motor 82. 41 is moved from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 to a later-described preparation position (S102).

  FIG. 9 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 when the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 enters the first dedicated path 72a. FIG. 10 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 at the time when the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 retreats from the first dedicated path 72a. FIG. 11 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 at the time when the wiper 41 is in a preparation position, which is a position waiting for preparation for wiping.

  When the wiper back-and-forth moving member 60 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b with respect to the wiper unit main body 70 by the process of S102 shown in FIG. 7, the wiper unit 40 is changed from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG. , Transition to the state shown in FIG. 10 and the state shown in FIG.

  The wiper vertical movement member 60 supported by the wiper forward / backward movement member 60 so that the position in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c can be changed by moving the wiper forward / backward movement member 60 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b with respect to the wiper unit main body 70. While the guide pin 51 moves along the wiper guide groove 72 from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 9, the wiper 41 slides on the cleaning member 78 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. Ink adhering to the wiper 41 itself is adhered to the cleaning member 78 and removed.

  When the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 reaches the position shown in FIG. 9, the path switching plate 74 urged by the spring 76 in the rotational direction indicated by the arrow 75 b around the shaft 75 a is applied to the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51. By making contact, the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 is prevented from entering the second dedicated path 72b. That is, the spring 76 prevents the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 from entering the second dedicated path 72b when the path switching plate 74 contacts the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 in the first movement of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51. The support plate 75 is urged in a state of being Accordingly, the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves on the first dedicated path 72 a along the path switching plate 74.

  The wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 pushes the path switching plate 74 while the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves along the path switching plate 74 from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. Therefore, the support plate 75 supporting the path switching plate 74 resists the urging force of the spring 76 and rotates as indicated by an arrow 75c having a direction opposite to the rotation direction indicated by the arrow 75b around the shaft 75a. Rotate in the direction.

  The wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 reaches the preparation position shown in FIG. 11 from the position shown in FIG. 10 along the wiper guide groove 72.

  As shown in FIG. 7, after the process of S102, the control unit 97 moves the carriage 22 along the guide rail 21 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a by the carriage driving device 94, thereby causing the main drive indicated by the arrow 10a. In the scanning direction, the position of the recording head 23 to be wiped is matched with the position of the wiper 41 (S103).

  12 is a plan view of the recording head 23 and the wiper 41 when the position of the recording head 23 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a matches the position of the wiper 41. FIG.

  The recording head 23 and the wiper 41 have the positional relationship shown in FIG. 12, for example, as a result of the process of S103.

  As shown in FIG. 7, after the process of S103, the control unit 97 moves the wiper back-and-forth moving member 60 with respect to the wiper unit main body 70 by the wiper drive motor 82 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. 41 is moved from the preparation position shown in FIG. 11 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 (S104), and the operation shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 when the wiper 41 is in contact with the nozzle surface 23 b of the recording head 23. FIG. 14 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 at the time when the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 enters the second dedicated path 72b. FIG. 15 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 when the wiper 41 is separated from the nozzle surface 23 b of the recording head 23. FIG. 16 is a side view of the wiper unit 40 at the time when the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 retreats from the second dedicated path 72b.

  When the wiper back-and-forth moving member 60 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b with respect to the wiper unit main body 70 in the process of S104 shown in FIG. 7, the wiper unit 40 is changed from the state shown in FIG. 11 to the state shown in FIG. 14, the state shown in FIG. 15, the state shown in FIG. 16, and the state shown in FIG.

  The wiper vertical movement member 60 supported by the wiper forward / backward movement member 60 so that the position in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c can be changed by moving the wiper forward / backward movement member 60 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b with respect to the wiper unit main body 70. The guide pin 51 moves along the wiper guide groove 72 from the preparation position shown in FIG. 11, and the wiper 41 contacts the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 as shown in FIG.

  After the wiper 41 contacts the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23, the wiper 41 moves on the nozzle surface of the recording head 23 while the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves along the wiper guide groove 72 to the position shown in FIG. It moves, that is, slides while contacting 23b. That is, the nozzle surface 23 b is wiped by the wiper 41. As described above, the position from when the wiper 41 contacts the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 to the position shown in FIG. 14 is a position where the wiper 41 contacts the nozzle surface 23b. It is composed.

  When the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 reaches the position shown in FIG. 14, the path switching plate 74 prevents the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 from entering the first dedicated path 72 a by contacting the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51. To do. Accordingly, the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves along the second dedicated path 72b.

  Here, the wiper vertical movement member 50 is biased against the wiper longitudinal movement member 60 by the spring 81 in a direction in which the position of the wiper 41 in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c is away from the nozzle surface 23b. Accordingly, the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves from the position shown in FIG. 14 to the position shown in FIG. 15 in the second dedicated path 72b. At this time, the wiper 41 moves away from the nozzle surface 23b in the direction indicated by the arrow 10c.

  While the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the position shown in FIG. 16 along the wiper guide groove 72 in the second dedicated path 72b, the path switching plate 74 is pushed by the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51. Therefore, the support plate 75 supporting the path switching plate 74 rotates in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow 75c centered on the shaft 75a against the urging force of the spring 76. Therefore, the path switching plate 74 allows the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 to leave the second dedicated path 72b.

  While the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves along the wiper guide groove 72 from the position shown in FIG. 16 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 4, the wiper 41 slides on the cleaning member 78 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. As a result, the ink adhering to the wiper 41 itself is adhered to the cleaning member 78 and removed.

  Then, the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 reaches the retracted position shown in FIG.

  As described above, the inkjet printer 10 moves the wiper 41 relative to the wiper unit main body 70 by moving the wiper vertical movement member 50 relative to the wiper unit main body 70. The inkjet printer 10 moves the wiper 41 on the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 by the relative movement of the wiper 41 with respect to the recording head 23 by the movement of the wiper 41 with respect to the wiper unit main body 70. After sliding, before the wiper 41 reaches the end of the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23, the wiper 41 is separated from the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the ink jet printer 10 slides the wiper 41 on the nozzle surface 23b of the recording head 23 by the relative movement of the wiper 41 with respect to the recording head 23 by the movement of the wiper 41, and the end of the nozzle surface 23b with a simple structure. Ink can be prevented from remaining in the vicinity.

  Further, when the wiper vertical movement member 50 moves from the retracted position to the contact position, the inkjet printer 10 has a first dedicated path 72a whose position in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 23b is closer to the nozzle surface 23b than the second dedicated path 72b. The wiper vertical movement member 50 passes through the nozzle surface 23b relative to the movement distance of the wiper vertical movement member 50 in the direction parallel to the nozzle surface 23b as compared with the configuration in which the wiper vertical movement member 50 passes through the second dedicated path 72b. The movement distance of the wiper vertical movement member 50 in the vertical direction is small, and as a result, the movement load of the wiper vertical movement member 50 is small. Therefore, in the inkjet printer 10, when the wiper vertical movement member 50 moves from the retracted position to the contact position, the wiper vertical movement member 50 is the second dedicated member as in the case where the wiper vertical movement member 50 moves from the contact position to the retracted position. Compared with the configuration passing through the path 72b, the load of movement of the wiper vertical movement member 50 can be reduced.

  In addition, in the inkjet printer 10, the wiper vertical movement member 60 is moved relative to the wiper unit main body 70 by the wiper drive motor 82, so that the wiper vertical movement member 50 is moved relative to the wiper unit main body 70 by the wiper drive motor 82. Therefore, the wiper 41 can be moved with respect to the wiper unit main body 70 by moving the wiper back-and-forth moving member 60 with respect to the wiper unit main body 70. Therefore, the ink jet printer 10 can prevent ink from remaining at the end and the vicinity of the nozzle surface 23b with a simple structure.

  Further, the inkjet printer 10 can switch the path of the wiper vertical movement member 50 by switching the path of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 of the wiper vertical movement member 50 by the path switching plate 74. Therefore, the ink jet printer 10 can prevent ink from remaining at the end and the vicinity of the nozzle surface 23b with a simple structure.

  In addition, the inkjet printer 10 changes the inclination of the path switching plate 74 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 by changing the inclination of the support plate 75 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 14, and 16. As a result, the amount of deformation of the path switching plate 74 itself is reduced compared to a configuration in which the inclination of the path switching plate 74 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 is changed only by deformation of the path switching plate 74 itself. The durability of 74 can be improved.

  Further, since the inkjet printer 10 positively changes the inclination of the path switching plate 74 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 using the biasing force of the spring 76, only the weight of the path switching plate 74 and the support plate 75 is used. Compared with the configuration in which the inclination of the path switching plate 74 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 is changed, failure to change the inclination of the path switching plate 74 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 can be suppressed.

  The inkjet printer 10 may be configured to change the inclination of the path switching plate 74 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 using only the weight of the path switching plate 74 and the support plate 75.

  Further, the inkjet printer 10 uses the biasing force of the spring 81 so that the position of the wiper vertical movement member 50 with respect to the wiper back-and-forth movement member 60 is in a direction in which the position of the wiper 41 in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 23b is away from the nozzle surface 23b. Since the position of the wiper 41 in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 23b is determined by using only the weight of the wiper 41 and the wiper vertical movement member 50, the position of the wiper vertical movement member 50 relative to the wiper longitudinal movement member 60 is changed. Compared to the configuration in which the wiper 41 is moved away from the nozzle surface 23b, the position of the wiper vertical movement member 50 relative to the wiper back-and-forth movement member 60 is changed in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 23b. Can suppress the failure.

  The inkjet printer 10 determines the position of the wiper vertical movement member 50 with respect to the wiper longitudinal movement member 60 by using only the weight of the wiper 41 and the wiper vertical movement member 50 to determine the position of the wiper 41 in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 23b. The structure to change may be sufficient.

(Second Embodiment)
First, the configuration of the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In addition, about the structure similar to the structure of the inkjet printer 10 (refer FIG. 1) which concerns on 1st Embodiment among the structures of the inkjet printer which concerns on this Embodiment, the code | symbol same as the structure of the inkjet printer 10 is shown. Detailed description will be omitted.

  FIG. 17 is a side view of the wiper unit 140 of the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment when the wiper 41 is in the retracted position.

  The configuration of the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration provided in the ink jet printer 10 in place of the wiper unit 140 shown in FIG. 17 instead of the wiper unit 40 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the configuration of the wiper unit 140 includes a path switching plate 174 as a path switching member that switches the path of the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 by changing the inclination with respect to the wiper guide groove 72, and a main body plate 71. The support plate 175 that is fixed to the path and supports the path switching plate 174 is the same as the configuration provided in the wiper unit 40 in place of the path switching plate 74, the support plate 75, the spring 76, and the rotation regulating member 77 shown in FIG. It is.

  The path switching plate 174 is a leaf spring that changes the inclination of the path switching plate 174 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 only by deformation of the path switching plate 174 itself.

  Next, the operation of the ink jet printer according to this embodiment will be described.

  In addition, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the operation | movement similar to the operation | movement of the inkjet printer 10 (refer FIG. 1) which concerns on 1st Embodiment among the operations of the inkjet printer which concerns on this Embodiment.

  FIG. 18 is a side view of the wiper unit 140 at the time when the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 retreats from the first dedicated path 72a.

  When the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 18 in the first dedicated path 72a, the path switching plate 174 pushed by the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 becomes the wiper guide groove only by deformation of the path switching plate 174 itself. The inclination of the path switching plate 174 with respect to 72 is changed.

  FIG. 19 is a side view of the wiper unit 140 at the time when the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 retreats from the second dedicated path 72b.

  When the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 moves to the position shown in FIG. 19 in the second dedicated path 72b, the path switching plate 174 pushed by the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 becomes the wiper guide groove only by the deformation of the path switching plate 174 itself. The inclination of the path switching plate 174 with respect to 72 is changed. Therefore, the path switching plate 174 allows the wiper vertical movement guide pin 51 to leave the second dedicated path 72b.

  Since the inkjet printer according to the present embodiment changes the inclination of the path switching plate 174 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 only by deformation of the path switching plate 174 itself as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the first embodiment Compared with the configuration in which the inclination of the path switching plate 74 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 is changed by changing the inclination of the support plate 75 with respect to the wiper guide groove 72 as in the inkjet printer 10 according to the present invention, the nozzle has a simple structure. It is possible to prevent ink from remaining at the end of the surface 23b and in the vicinity thereof.

10 Inkjet printer 10b Arrow (arrow indicating a direction parallel to the nozzle surface)
10c Arrow (Arrow indicating the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface)
23 Recording head 23a Nozzle 23b Nozzle surface 41 Wiper 50 Wiper vertical movement member (wiper support member)
51 Wiper vertical movement guide pin (protrusion)
60 Wiper forward / backward moving member (driven member)
70 Wiper unit body (guide member)
72 Wiper guide groove (guide part)
72a First dedicated path 72b Second dedicated path 74 Path switching plate (path switching member)
75 Support plate (switching member support member)
76 Spring (support member biasing member)
81 Spring (biasing member)
82 Wiper drive motor (drive source)
99 recording medium 174 path switching plate (path switching member)

Claims (6)

A wiper that cleans the nozzle surface by sliding on the nozzle surface of a recording head having a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink to the recording medium are formed, and a wiper that supports the wiper A support member; a guide member formed with a guide portion that engages with the wiper support member to guide the movement of the wiper support member; and a drive source that moves the wiper support member relative to the guide member. Has
The guide portion is located between the retracted position where the wiper is away from the nozzle surface and the contact position where the wiper is in contact with the nozzle surface. A first dedicated path that is a dedicated path in the first movement that is the movement of the wiper support member to the contact position, and a dedicated path in the second movement that is the movement of the wiper support member from the contact position to the retracted position. And a second dedicated path whose position in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface is farther from the nozzle surface than the first dedicated path,
The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the second dedicated path is a path for separating the wiper from the nozzle surface by changing a position of the wiper in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface. A driven member that is moved relative to the guide member by the driving source;
The guide member supports the driven member so that the position of the driven member in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface can be changed,
The driven member supports the wiper support member so that the position of the wiper support member in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface can be changed,
The wiper support member is moved by the drive source relative to the guide member when the driven member is moved by the drive source relative to the guide member. Inkjet printer. The wiper support member includes a protrusion,
The guide part is a wiper guide groove into which the protrusion is inserted to guide the movement of the protrusion,
The inkjet printer includes a path switching member that switches a path of the protrusion by changing an inclination with respect to the wiper guide groove.
The path switching member prevents the protrusion from entering the second dedicated path by contacting the protrusion in the first movement, and the protrusion from the second dedicated path in the second movement. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the exit of the ink jet is allowed. A switching member support member for supporting the path switching member;
The inkjet printer according to claim 3, wherein the switching member support member changes an inclination of the path switching member with respect to the wiper guide groove by changing an inclination with respect to the wiper guide groove.   A support member biasing member that biases the switching member support member in a state in which the path switching member contacts the projection in the first movement to prevent the projection from entering the second dedicated path; The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein the inkjet printer is provided.   3. A biasing member that biases the wiper support member with respect to the driven member in a direction in which the position of the wiper in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface is away from the nozzle surface. The ink jet printer according to claim 5.

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