JP2014196001A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording device which properly performs cleaning on a nozzle surface even if a wiper member changes its position relative to the nozzle surface.SOLUTION: An ink jet recording device includes: a recording head 22; and a cleaning part 24 which cleans a nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22. The cleaning part 24 includes: a wiper member 25 which moves in a wiper direction Q after its tip contacts with the recording head 22; a wiper support member 250; a biasing member 270 which biases the wiper member 25 toward the nozzle surface 221; a pair of guide members 280 which has a pair of guide surfaces 281 and restricts the wiper support member 250 from moving in the wiper direction Q; a pair of roller members 290 which contacts with the pair of guide surfaces 281 on outer peripheral surfaces; and a pair of roller support members 251. The pair of roller members 290 is disposed at the recording head 22 side relative to the wiper support member 250.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium such as paper by ejecting ink from nozzles of a recording head.

  A recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus has a nozzle surface on which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed. This nozzle surface needs to be cleaned in order to prevent ink from being ejected or a change in the ink ejection direction due to foreign matter such as ink or dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle. .

  Regarding cleaning of the nozzle surface, after bringing the tip of the wiper member into contact with the recording head, the wiper member is moved relative to the recording head in the wiper direction, which is the direction along the nozzle surface. A technique for removing (cleaning) foreign matters such as attached ink and dust is known.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, the position of the wiper member with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head changes due to dimensional errors of various components, assembly errors of assembly of components, and the like. In such a case, the tip of the wiper member may not contact the nozzle surface with a predetermined force and a normal posture, and there is a possibility that the nozzle surface cannot be properly cleaned.

  In order to solve such a problem, an ink jet recording apparatus including a cleaning unit having a biasing member that biases a wiper member toward a nozzle surface of a recording head is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a plate-like support member that supports a wiper member, and the wiper member, the support member, and the biasing member are arranged so as to follow the ink ejection direction. The members and the biasing member are arranged in this order from the nozzle surface side of the recording head. The wiper member is provided perpendicular to one surface of the support member on the nozzle surface side. The biasing member is disposed on the other surface side of the support member, and biases the wiper member toward the nozzle surface of the recording head via the support member.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-40975

  In the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the wiper member moves in the wiper direction to clean the nozzle surface, the wiper member has a recording head with a predetermined force and a normal posture on the nozzle surface. It is moved in the vertical direction by the urging force of the urging member so as to abut on the nozzle surface. Thereby, even when there is a change in the position of the wiper member with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head, the nozzle surface can be properly cleaned.

  Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the wiper member, the support member, and the biasing member have a biasing member in the wiper direction, so that the wiper member has a reaction force when cleaning the nozzle surface. Easy to move in the wiper direction (easy to tilt). Therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a guide member that restricts the movement of the support member that supports the wiper member in the wiper direction.

  However, when the wiper member moves in the wiper direction, the support member may come into contact with the guide member by tilting the wiper member. When the support member comes into contact with the guide member, a frictional force is generated between the support member and the guide member.

When the position of the wiper member with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head changes when the wiper member moves in the wiper direction, the support member is repeatedly brought into contact with or separated from the guide member. When the support member is greatly inclined and the frictional force between the support member and the guide member is large, the support member that supports the wiper member may not move.
As a result, when the position of the wiper member with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head changes, the biasing member cannot move the wiper member in the vertical direction, and the tip of the wiper member has a predetermined force and normality on the nozzle surface. There was a problem that it was not possible to contact with a proper posture.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can properly clean a nozzle surface even when the position of a wiper member with respect to the nozzle surface changes.

  The present invention includes a recording head having a nozzle surface on which ink ejection nozzles are formed, and a cleaning unit that moves relative to the recording head to clean the nozzle surface of the recording head, The cleaning unit includes a wiper member that moves in a wiper direction along the nozzle surface after the tip abuts against the recording head, a wiper support member that supports the wiper member, and the wiper member that records the wiper member. An urging member that urges toward the nozzle surface of the head, and a pair of guide surfaces that are disposed so as to sandwich the wiper support member in the wiper direction and that support the wiper in the wiper direction. A pair of guide members for restricting the movement of the members, and the guide members arranged side by side in the wiper direction between the pair of guide members. A pair of roller members contacting the pair of guide surfaces, respectively, in serial pair of guide members, an ink jet recording apparatus having a.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the pair of roller members can rotate with their outer peripheral surfaces in contact with each other.

  The pair of roller members are preferably disposed on the recording head side with respect to the wiper support member.

  Further, it is preferable that the pair of guide members and the pair of roller members are disposed in two sets apart from each other in a wiper width direction which is a direction orthogonal to the wiper direction.

  Preferably, a plurality of the recording heads are provided, and a plurality of the cleaning units are provided corresponding to the plurality of recording heads, and further includes a cleaning unit moving unit that integrally moves the plurality of cleaning units. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even when the position of the wiper member with respect to a nozzle surface changes, the inkjet recording device which can perform cleaning of a nozzle surface appropriately can be provided.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an outline of an ink jet recording apparatus 1 of an embodiment of the present invention from the front side. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a peripheral portion of a recording unit 20 and a transport unit 30 in which a cleaning unit 24 is arranged corresponding to each recording head 22 in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the cleaning unit 24 with respect to each recording head 22 in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. In the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a schematic view showing the arrangement of the wiper member 25 that abuts against each recording head 22 as viewed from the front side in comparison with each recording head 22. It is a vertical front view which shows the structure of the cleaning part 24 in this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the structure of the cleaning part 24 in this embodiment. It is a vertical side view which shows the structure of the cleaning part 24 in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the cleaning unit 24 when the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 in the present embodiment is inclined.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The outline of the overall structure of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an outline of an ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention from the front side. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the periphery of the recording unit 20 and the transport unit 30 in which the cleaning unit 24 is arranged corresponding to each recording head 22 in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the arrangement of the cleaning unit 24 with respect to each recording head 22 in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the wiper member 25 that abuts against each recording head 22 as viewed from the front side in comparison with each recording head 22 in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a recording unit 20, a cleaning unit 24, a transport unit 30, and a lifting device 40 that lifts and lowers the transport unit 30 in a main body 2. , A cap unit 50, a first horizontal movement mechanism (not shown) that horizontally moves the cap unit 50, and a second horizontal movement mechanism (not shown) that horizontally moves the cleaning unit 24.
The ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment further includes a paper feed cassette 3, a paper feed roller 4, a paper transport path 5, a registration roller pair 6, a drying device 7, a paper discharge roller pair 8, and paper discharge. A mouth 9 and a paper discharge tray 10 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport unit 30 includes a drive roller 32, a driven roller 33, a transport belt 31 that is stretched over the drive roller 32 and the driven roller 33, and a tension that adjusts the tension of the transport belt 31. The roller 34 and an air suction unit (not shown) provided on the lower side of the conveying surface of the conveying belt 31 (on the side opposite to the recording unit 20). A number of through holes (not shown) for suction are provided on the upper surfaces of the transport belt 31 and the air suction unit, respectively.

When the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33 rotate counterclockwise when viewed from the front, the transport surface 31A formed by the upper surface portion of the transport belt 31 is one of the paper transport directions P in the horizontal plane (XY plane). Horizontally to the other. That is, on the conveyance surface 31 </ b> A of the conveyance belt 31, the sheet conveyance direction P substantially coincides with the horizontal direction X. The air suction unit is disposed below the conveyance surface 31A of the conveyance belt 31 (on the side opposite to the recording unit 20), and applies a suction force that attracts the paper T as a recording medium to the conveyance surface 31A of the conveyance belt 31. .
As the conveyor belt 31, a belt in which both ends are overlapped and joined to form an endless shape, a seamless belt (seamless), or the like can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, at the time of predetermined recording, the paper T as a recording medium is introduced onto the transport surface 31 </ b> A of the transport belt 31 from one side in the paper transport direction P. A suction force acting on the transport belt 31 is generated on the transport surface 31A through the suction through-hole (not shown) with the operation of the air suction unit (not shown). The paper T introduced onto the transport surface 31A of the transport belt 31 is attracted to the transport surface 31A by the suction force and transported toward the other side in the paper transport direction P. Thus, an image or the like is recorded on the paper T by ejecting ink from the recording head 22 of the recording unit 20 to be described later toward the paper T being transported while being attracted to the transport surface 31A of the transport belt 31. (Printed).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette 3 accommodates the paper T in a stacked state, and is disposed on the upstream side of the paper transport direction P of the transport unit 30 below the inside of the main body 2. The paper feed roller 4 is disposed above the paper feed cassette 3. The paper feed roller 4 feeds the paper T toward the upper right of the paper feed cassette 3 in FIG.

  The sheet conveyance path 5, the registration roller pair 6, the recording unit 20, and the conveyance unit 30 are arranged on the downstream side of the sheet feeding cassette 3 in the sheet conveyance direction P. The paper T sent out from the paper feed cassette 3 reaches the registration roller pair 6 through the paper transport path 5. The registration roller pair 6 corrects the oblique feeding of the paper T and feeds the paper T again. The leading edge of the paper T is detected by a paper leading edge detection sensor (not shown) provided in the paper conveyance path 5 between the recording section 20 and the registration roller pair 6, and the recording section is based on the detected timing. 20 executes an ink ejection operation as described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the drying device 7 is arranged on the downstream side in the paper transport direction P of the transport unit 30 above the inside of the main body 2. The drying device 7 dries the ink on the paper T after being recorded by the ink ejected by the recording unit 20.

  The paper discharge roller pair 8, the paper discharge port 9, and the paper discharge tray 10 are arranged in this order on the downstream side in the paper transport direction P of the drying device 7. The paper T, which has been dried by the drying device 7, is sent to the downstream side in the paper transport direction P by the paper discharge roller pair 8, and passes through the paper discharge port 9 to the paper discharge tray 10 provided outside the main body 2. Sent to the outside of the main body 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording unit 20 includes recording heads 22 corresponding to four colors. The recording heads 22 corresponding to the four colors are a black recording head 22K, a cyan recording head 22C, a magenta recording head 22M, and a yellow recording head 22Y. These four color recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y extend long along the paper width direction Y orthogonal to the paper transport direction P (horizontal direction X). The recording heads 22 </ b> K, 22 </ b> C, 22 </ b> M, and 22 </ b> Y are arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper transport direction P along the paper transport direction P of the transport belt 31. In this embodiment, in each of the four color recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y, three recording heads for each color recording head are arranged in series in the paper width direction Y at equal intervals.

  The four-color recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y have nozzle surfaces 221 (see FIGS. 3B and 4) on which ink ejection nozzles are formed. The nozzle surface 221 is the lower surface of the four color recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y. The nozzle surface 221 in each of the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y faces the conveyance surface 31A of the conveyance belt 31. The four-color recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y record an image on the paper T with the ink ejected from the ink ejection nozzles formed on the nozzle surface 221.

  As shown in FIG. 1, below the transport unit 30, four ink tanks 23K, 23C, 23M, and 23Y are arranged corresponding to the four color recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y, respectively. The four color inks are supplied from the four ink tanks 23K, 23C, 23M, and 23Y to the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y corresponding to the four colors through supply tubes (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 24 is disposed corresponding to the recording head 22. One cleaning unit 24 is arranged for each row of recording heads 22 including three recording heads 22 arranged along the paper width direction Y for each ink color. Specifically, the cleaning unit 24 arranged corresponding to each row of recording heads 22 corresponds to one cleaning unit 24K arranged corresponding to the row of recording heads 22K and the row of recording heads 22C. One cleaning unit 24C arranged in a row, one cleaning unit 24M arranged corresponding to a row of recording heads 22M, and one cleaning unit 24Y arranged corresponding to a row of recording heads 22Y. is there.

  In detail, the cleaning unit 24 is configured to record each of the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y corresponding to the ink color at one end of each row in the paper width direction Y (in FIG. 2, three recordings arranged in the paper width direction Y). One of the heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y is disposed on the lower recording head 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y. The cleaning units 24K, 24C, 24M, and 24Y are configured to be integrally movable along the paper width direction Y.

  The cleaning units 24K, 24C, 24M, and 24Y move relative to the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y to clean the nozzle surfaces 221 of the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y. Do.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 3B, the cleaning unit 24 includes a wiper member 25 and a wiper case 26. The wiper member 25 included in the cleaning unit 24 includes the wiper member 25K included in the cleaning unit 24K, the wiper member 25C included in the cleaning unit 24C, the wiper member 25M included in the cleaning unit 24M, and the wiper member 25Y included in the cleaning unit 24Y.

  Each wiper member 25K, 25C, 25M, 25Y is formed in a plate shape by an elastic body. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the wiper members 25K, 25C, 25M, and 25Y are substantially perpendicular to the wiper cases 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y (in the vertical direction Z) so as to be orthogonal to the paper width direction Y. Erect so as to extend.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the wiper members 25K, 25C, 25M, and 25Y have a length m1 along the paper transport direction P in the paper transport direction P of the nozzle surface 221 of the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y. It is set larger than the length along the length (length of the short side) m2.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the wiper member 25 has a tip 253 protruding upward from the wiper case 26. The wiper member 25 is moved in the wiper direction Q, which is a direction along the nozzle surface 221, after the protruding tip 253 contacts the recording head 22.

  The wiper members 25K, 25C, 25M, and 25Y move together with the wiper cases 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y relative to the corresponding recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y, and the leading ends (upper edges) ), The nozzle surfaces 221 of the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y are cleaned.

Specifically, the plurality of wiper members 25K, 25C, 25M, and 25Y are in a wiper direction Q that is a direction along the nozzle surface 221 after the tips contact with the respective recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y. By moving, the nozzle surface 221 is cleaned.
In the present embodiment, the wiper direction Q coincides with the paper width direction Y. Accordingly, during the cleaning operation, the plurality of wiper members 25K, 25C, 25M, and 25Y are moved along the paper width direction Y.

The plurality of cleaning units 24K, 24C, 24M, and 24Y are connected to the cleaning unit moving unit 27. The cleaning unit moving unit 27 integrally moves the plurality of cleaning units 24 in the wiper direction Q.
The cleaning unit moving unit 27 includes a single wiper support frame 28 to which a plurality of cleaning units 24 are fixed, and a drive mechanism (not shown) that reciprocates the wiper support frame 28 along the wiper direction Q. Composed. The drive mechanism (not shown) is driven by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. The drive source (not shown) is a single drive source that drives the plurality of wiper members 25 simultaneously.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3B, each of the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y has a recording head abutting portion 223 with which the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 abuts first when the wiper member 25 is moved. Have.
The recording head contact portion 223 is a side surface of the recording head 22 on one end side in the paper width direction Y. Further, when the wiper member 25 moves in the wiper direction Q, the protrusion height (projection length) from the wiper case 26 is obtained so that a predetermined height at which the tip 253 contacts the recording head contact portion 223 is obtained. ) Is set.
Details of the cleaning unit 24 will be described later.

  In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the four color recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y, the four ink tanks 23K, 23C, 23M, 23Y, and the cleaning corresponding to each recording head are used. For parts 24K, 24C, 24M, 24Y, wiper members 25K, 25C, 25M, 25Y, wiper cases 26K, 26C, 26M, 26Y, which are identification symbols “K”, “C”, “M”, “Y” Omitted and simply described as “recording head 22”, “ink tank 23”, “cleaning unit 24”, “wiper member 25”, and “wiper case 26”.

  Each recording head 22 of the recording unit 20 is placed on the conveyance surface 31A of the conveyance belt 31 corresponding to image data information (for example, characters, figures, patterns) received from an external computer (not shown). Four colors of ink are ejected toward the paper T. As shown in FIG. 2, each recording head 22 is supported by a rectangular plate-shaped recording head support member 21, and is fixed to the main body 2 together with the recording head support member 21. Then, with the rotational movement of the transport belt 31, four color inks are sequentially ejected from each recording head 22 at a predetermined timing, so that the four color inks of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are superimposed on the paper T. The color ink images are printed together.

  As an ink discharge method of the recording head 22, for example, a piezo method that pushes out ink using a piezo element (not shown), or bubbles are generated by a heating element (not shown), and ink is discharged by applying pressure. Various discharge methods such as a thermal ink jet method can be adopted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lifting device 40 that raises and lowers the transport unit 30 is disposed below the transport unit 30. The lifting device 40 moves the transport unit 30 up and down (moves) with respect to the recording head 22 in a direction Z (hereinafter also referred to as “vertical direction Z”) perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane). By the movement of the transport unit 30 in the vertical direction Z by the lifting device 40, the transport surface 31A of the transport belt 31 is configured to be relatively close to or away from the nozzle surface 221 (see FIG. 3B) of the recording head 22. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lifting device 40 includes two eccentric cams 41 disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side in the paper transport direction P below the transport belt 31. A total of four eccentric cams 41 are provided, two on each of the front side and the back side of the transport unit 30. The eccentric circumferential surface of the eccentric cam 41 approaches the outer bottom surface of the transport unit 30 from below. As shown in FIG. 1, each eccentric cam 41 includes a shaft portion 42 that extends in the paper width direction Y, and is configured by a cam having a rotational axis that is unevenly distributed. The eccentric cam 41 is rotated around the shaft portion 42 via a motor (not shown). The eccentric cam 41 includes a plurality of bearings 43 at the peripheral edge thereof. A part of the peripheral surface of the bearing 43 protrudes outward from the peripheral surface of the eccentric cam 41.

  The bearing 43 is rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the eccentric cam 41. The bearings 43 are sequentially arranged from the distal end side of the eccentric cam 41 toward the rotation axis side. In a normal printing state, as shown in FIG. 1, the bearing 43 farthest from the shaft portion 42 contacts the outer bottom surface of the transport unit 30 from below. Thereby, the transport unit 30 is moved up to the highest position.

From this state, the eccentric cam 41 on the upstream side in the paper transport direction P is rotated counterclockwise in front view, and the eccentric cam 41 on the downstream side in the paper transport direction P is rotated clockwise in front view. Accordingly, the plurality of bearings 43 sequentially contact the outer bottom surface of the transport unit 30 in order of the bearing 43 farthest from the shaft portion 42 to the bearing 43 closest to the shaft portion 42. Therefore, the transport unit 30 can be lowered.
The plurality of bearings 43 are arranged at intervals such that when the eccentric cam 41 rotates, the two bearings 43 adjacent in the peripheral direction simultaneously have a period of contact with the outer bottom surface of the transport unit 30.

  By rotating the eccentric cam 41 of the elevating device 40 and lowering the transport unit 30, the transport surface 31 </ b> A of the transport belt 31 in the transport unit 30 is separated downward with respect to the recording head 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cap unit 50 is configured to be disposed below the recording unit 20 and above the conveyance unit 30 (between the recording unit 20 and the conveyance unit 30). As shown in FIG. 2, the cap unit 50 includes a plurality of cap cases 52 provided corresponding to the respective recording heads 22 and a cap base member 53 that fixes and supports the plurality of cap cases 52 in a predetermined positional relationship. .

  The cap unit 50 is configured to be movable up and down in conjunction with the lifting and lowering of the transport unit 30 by the lifting device 40 in a state where the cap unit 50 is disposed between the recording unit 20 and the transport unit 30. By rotating the eccentric cam 41 of the elevating device 40 and lowering the transport unit 30, the cap unit 50 is separated downward with respect to the recording head 22 in conjunction with the lowering of the transport surface 31 </ b> A of the transport belt 31. .

  As a result, the cap unit 50 is detached from the recording head 22. Ink is ejected from an ink ejection nozzle (not shown) on the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 in a state where the cap unit 50 is detached from the recording head 22, whereby high viscosity ink remaining in the nozzles. It is possible to execute a discharge recovery process for discharging the ink to eliminate the ink clogging, that is, purge.

  On the other hand, the conveyance unit 30 is returned to the normal recording position (printing position) by rotating the eccentric cam 41 of the elevating device 40 in the direction opposite to the above to raise the conveyance unit 30.

  Here, in a state where the cap unit 50 is disposed between the recording unit 20 and the transport unit 30, the cap unit 50 can be mounted on the nozzle surface 221 (see FIGS. 3B and 4) of the recording head 22. It becomes. When the cap unit 50 is not disposed between the recording unit 20 and the transport unit 30 by a first horizontal movement mechanism (not shown) described later, the recording head 22 is placed on the transport surface 31A of the transport belt 31. Ink can be ejected toward the loaded paper T.

  The cap unit 50 is configured to be horizontally movable in the paper transport direction P (see FIG. 1) when the cap base member 53 is moved in the horizontal direction by a first horizontal movement mechanism (not shown).

  The position of the cap unit 50 is switched to an attaching / detaching position where the cap case 52 can be attached to and detached from each recording head 22 or a retreating position away from the attaching / detaching position in the horizontal direction by a moving operation by the first horizontal moving mechanism. During the recording operation in the recording unit 20, the cap unit 50 is disposed at the retracted position.

  The cleaning unit 24 is configured to be disposed below the cap unit 50 and above the transport unit 30 (between the cap unit 50 and the transport unit 30). Similarly to the cap unit 50, the cleaning unit 24 is configured to be able to be lifted and lowered in conjunction with the lifting and lowering of the transport unit 30 by the lifting device 40 in a state where it is disposed between the cap unit 50 and the transport unit 30.

  The cleaning unit 24 is configured to be horizontally movable in a paper width direction Y (see FIG. 1) perpendicular to the paper transport direction P by a second horizontal movement mechanism (not shown). The cleaning unit 24 is a wipe position that is disposed below each recording head 22 and can clean each recording head 22 by a moving operation by the second horizontal movement mechanism, or a retreat position that is separated from the wipe position in the horizontal direction. Can be switched to. When the recording unit 20 performs a recording operation or when the cap unit 50 is mounted on the nozzle surface 221 (see FIGS. 3B and 4) of the recording head 22, the cleaning unit 24 is disposed at the retracted position.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, a configuration related to the cleaning unit 24 which is a characteristic part in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal front view showing the configuration of the cleaning unit 24 in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a configuration of the cleaning unit 24 in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the configuration of the cleaning unit 24 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cleaning unit 24 includes a wiper case 26, a wiper member 25, a wiper support member 250, a coil spring 270 as an urging member, a pair of guide members 280, and a pair of rollers. Member 290.

  The wiper case 26 is formed in a bottomed rectangular tube shape that opens upward in the vertical direction Z. The wiper case 26 is fixed to a single wiper support frame 28 in the cleaning unit moving unit 27. The cleaning unit 24 is reciprocated along the wiper direction Q by the cleaning unit moving unit 27.

  At the bottom of the wiper case 26, a discharge port 261 is formed that penetrates the bottom of the wiper case 26 and opens downward in the vertical direction Z. The discharge port 261 discharges the ink cleaned from the nozzle surface 221 by the wiper member 25 to the outside of the wiper case 26.

  The wiper support member 250 is fixed to the base end portion of the wiper member 25 and supports the wiper member 25. The wiper support member 250 is formed of a rectangular plate member having a long side in the wiper width direction R, which is a direction orthogonal to the wiper direction Q, and a short side in the wiper direction Q. The wiper width direction R coincides with the paper transport direction P. The wiper support member 250 is accommodated in the wiper case 26.

  The coil spring 270 is interposed between the wiper support member 250 and the bottom surface of the wiper case 26. The coil spring 270 urges the wiper member 25 toward the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 via the wiper support member 250.

  The pair of guide members 280 are arranged so as to sandwich the wiper support member 250 from both sides in the wiper direction Q. The lower ends of the pair of guide members 280 are in contact with the bottom surface of the wiper case 26. The pair of guide members 280 are in contact with the ridges 262 whose rear surfaces protrude inward from the side walls of the wiper case 26. As a result, the pair of guide members 280 are supported by the wiper case 26.

The pair of guide members 280 regulates the movement of the wiper support member 250 in the wiper direction Q. The pair of guide members 280 have a pair of guide surfaces 281 that face each other in the wiper direction Q.
As shown in FIG. 5, the guide surface 281 includes a support member guide surface 282 and a roller member contact surface 283. By disposing the wiper support member 250 so as to be sandwiched between the pair of support member guide surfaces 282, the wiper support member 250 is restricted from moving in the wiper direction Q.

An outer peripheral surface of a roller member 290 described later is in contact with the roller member contact surface 283.
The roller member contact surface 283 is a bottom surface of a groove-shaped recess 284 formed so as to be recessed from the support member guide surface 282. The recess 284 extends in the vertical direction Z with a predetermined width.

  The pair of roller members 290 are disposed on the recording head 22 side with respect to the wiper support member 250. The pair of roller members 290 are arranged in the wiper direction Q between the pair of guide members 280. The pair of roller members 290 are rotatably supported by the upper end portion of the roller support member 251 extending upward (from the recording head 22 side) from the wiper support member 250.

  The pair of roller members 290 are arranged so that the outer peripheral edges fit into the recesses 284 of the pair of guide members 280. Accordingly, the pair of roller members 290 can move in the vertical direction Z along the recesses 284 by rotating or sliding.

  The pair of roller members 290 can rotate with their outer peripheral surfaces in contact with each other, and the outer peripheral surfaces contact with the roller member contact surfaces 283 of the pair of guide members 280, respectively. That is, the pair of roller members 290 is in a state of being sandwiched between the pair of guide members 280. Thus, the pair of roller members 290 regulates the positions of the wiper support member 250 and the wiper member 25 in the wiper direction Q.

  Further, the pair of roller members 290 are connected to the wiper support member 250 and the wiper member 25 via the roller support member 251. Accordingly, the pair of roller members 290 supports the wiper support member 250 and the wiper member 25 between the pair of guide members 280.

  Further, since the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of roller members 290 are in contact with each other, when one roller member 290 rotates, the rotational force is transmitted and the other roller member 290 rotates simultaneously. The pair of roller members 290 rotate so as to be in the same direction at a portion where the pair of rollers face each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the pair of guide members 280 and the pair of roller members 290 are arranged in two sets apart from each other in the wiper width direction R. The two pairs of guide members 280 and the pair of roller members 290 are disposed in the vicinity of both end portions in the long side direction (wiper width direction R) of the wiper support member 250.

  Next, the operation of the cleaning unit 24 in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4 and 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the cleaning unit 24 when the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 is inclined in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning unit 24 moves in the wiper direction Q along the nozzle surface 221 after the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 contacts the recording head 22. In the wiper member 25, the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 with a substantially constant force by the biasing force of the coil spring 270. As a result, the wiper member 25 moves in the wiper direction Q and cleans the nozzle surface 221 with the tip 253 pressed against the nozzle surface 221 with a substantially constant force (linear pressure).

  Here, when the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 has a small inclination, the wiper member 25 is attached to the coil spring 270 with the tip 253 maintaining a substantially constant force (linear pressure) against which the nozzle surface 221 is pressed. It is moved in the vertical direction Z according to the inclination of the nozzle surface 221 by the force.

  The pair of roller members 290 can move smoothly in the vertical direction Z along the recess 284 of the guide member 280. Thus, the wiper member 25 can properly clean the nozzle surface even when the position of the wiper member relative to the nozzle surface changes due to dimensional errors or assembly errors of various components.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 may have a large inclination so as to approach the cleaning unit 24 side in the wiper direction Q (downward in FIG. 7). In such a case, the pressure (linear pressure) generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 gradually increases during cleaning due to the wiper member 25 moving in the wiper direction Q. The wiper member 25 may tilt.
When the wiper member 25 is inclined, the pressing force generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 passes through the wiper member 25, the wiper support member 250, and the roller support member 251 to the pair of roller members 290. Communicated.

  The pair of roller members 290 are rotated by the transmitted pressing force in a state in which the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are in contact with the pair of roller member contact surfaces 283. In this case, since the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of roller members 290 are in contact with each other, they rotate in the same rotation direction (for example, the downward direction in the vertical direction Z in FIG. 7) at the portions where they face each other.

  As a result, the pressing force generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 can be converted into the movement in the vertical direction Z of the wiper member 25 before the wiper member 25 is largely inclined. As a result, the wiper member 25 is reduced from being greatly inclined. Therefore, the wiper support member 250 is reduced from contacting the pair of guide surfaces 281. Accordingly, the wiper member 25 is biased in an appropriate state toward the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 by the biasing force of the coil spring 270 according to the inclination of the nozzle surface 221.

  In particular, by reducing the contact area between the pair of roller members 290 and the contact area between the roller member 290 and the guide member 280, the pressing force generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 is reduced. It is possible to efficiently convert the movement of the member 25 in the vertical direction Z.

  As described above, the cleaning unit 24 converts the pressing force generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 into the rotational force of the pair of roller members 290, and converts the force in the wiper direction Q in the vertical direction. Z can be converted. Thereby, since the wiper member 25 is reduced from being largely inclined, the wiper support member 250 is reduced from coming into contact with the pair of guide surfaces 281. Therefore, even if the position of the wiper member 25 with respect to the guide surface 281 changes, the cleaning unit 24 presses the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 against the nozzle surface 221 with a substantially constant force (linear pressure) by the biasing force of the coil spring 270. Proper cleaning can be performed.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a plurality of cleaning units 24 in the present embodiment are provided corresponding to the plurality of recording heads 22. The plurality of cleanings are integrally moved by the cleaning unit moving unit 27.
Accordingly, since each of the plurality of wiper members 25 has the above-described configuration, each of the plurality of cleaning units 24 has the above-described configuration. Therefore, when the position of the wiper member 25 with respect to the guide surface 281 is different, or during the cleaning, Even when the position changes, the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 can be pressed against the nozzle surface 221 with a substantially constant force (linear pressure) by the biasing force of the coil spring 270 to perform proper cleaning.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, for example, the following effects are exhibited.
In the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the recording head 22 having the nozzle surface 221 on which the ink ejection nozzles are formed, and the cleaning of the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22 by moving relative to the recording head 22. A cleaning unit 24 that performs cleaning, and the cleaning unit 24 supports a wiper member 25 that moves in a wiper direction Q that is a direction along the nozzle surface 221 after the tip abuts against the recording head 22, and the wiper member 25. A wiper support member 250, a coil spring 270 that urges the wiper member 25 toward the nozzle surface 221 of the recording head 22, and a pair of guide surfaces that are disposed so as to sandwich the wiper support member 250 in the wiper direction Q and that face each other And a pair that regulates the movement of the wiper support member 250 in the wiper direction Q. Having a guide member 280 is arranged in the wiper direction Q between the pair of guide members 280, a pair of roller members 290 in contact with the respective pair of guide surfaces 281 of the outer peripheral surface a pair of guide members 280, the.

  Therefore, the pressing force generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 can be converted into the rotation of the pair of roller members 290 and converted into the vertical direction Z. Thus, even if the position of the wiper member 25 relative to the nozzle surface 221 changes due to dimensional errors or assembly errors of various parts, the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is applied to the nozzle surface 221 by a biasing force of the coil spring 270. The nozzle surface 221 can be properly cleaned by pressing with (linear pressure).

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the pair of roller members 290 can rotate with their outer peripheral surfaces in contact with each other.
Therefore, when one roller member 290 is rotated along with the transmission of the pressing force generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221, the rotation is transmitted to the other roller member 290 and the other These roller members 290 can also be rotated simultaneously. Accordingly, the cleaning unit 24 applies the pressing force generated when the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 is pressed against the nozzle surface 221 with respect to the change in the position of the wiper member 25 with respect to the guide surface 281, in the vertical direction Z of the wiper member 25. Can be converted well into exercise. Therefore, the tip 253 of the wiper member 25 can be favorably pressed against the nozzle surface 221 by the biasing force of the coil spring 270.

In the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the pair of roller members 290 are disposed on the recording head 22 side with respect to the wiper support member 250.
Therefore, the pair of roller members 290 supports the wiper support member 250 and the wiper member 25 at positions close to the recording head 22 and restricts the positions of the wiper support member 250 and the wiper member 25 in the wiper direction Q. As a result, the pair of roller members 290 can favorably support the wiper support member 250 and the wiper member 25. Further, the pair of roller members 290 can favorably regulate the positions of the wiper support member 250 and the wiper member 25 in the wiper direction Q.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the pair of guide members 280 and the pair of roller members 290 are arranged in two sets apart from each other in the wiper width direction R that is a direction orthogonal to the wiper direction Q.
Therefore, the wiper member 25 and the wiper support member 250 can be supported at two locations in the width direction (wiper width direction) R. Thereby, for example, even if the wiper member 25 and the wiper support member 250 are large in the width direction R, the movement of the wiper support member 250 in the wiper direction Q can be well controlled, and the pressing force as described above can be applied. The operation of converting to rotation can be performed satisfactorily.

  Further, in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of recording heads 22 are provided, and a plurality of cleaning units 24 are provided corresponding to the plurality of recording heads 22, and the plurality of cleaning units 24 are moved integrally. A cleaning unit moving unit 27 is further provided.

  Therefore, the front ends 253 of the plurality of wiper members 25 are moved to the corresponding recording heads 22 without performing adjustment for properly contacting the nozzle surfaces 221 of the recording heads 22 with respect to each of the plurality of wiper members 25. The nozzle surface 221 can be pressed well. Thereby, the plurality of cleaning units 24 can appropriately clean the nozzle surfaces 221 of the plurality of recording heads 22.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can be implemented with a various form, without being limited to embodiment mentioned above.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning is performed by moving the wiper member 25 along the sheet width direction Y. However, the cleaning is performed by moving the wiper member 25 along the sheet conveyance direction P. Also good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the guide member 280 has a configuration having the concave portion 284. However, the guide member 280 is not limited thereto, and may have a configuration without the concave portion 284.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of roller members 290 are in contact with each other, but are not limited thereto, and may be separated from each other.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet recording device, 22 ... Recording head, 24 ... Cleaning part, 25 ... Wiper member, 27 ... Cleaning part moving part, 221 ... Nozzle surface, 250 ... Wiper support member, 253 ... Tip 270 Coil spring (biasing member) 280 Guide member 281 Guide surface 290 Roller member Q Wiper direction

Claims (4)

A recording head having a nozzle surface on which ink ejection nozzles are formed;
A cleaning unit that moves relative to the recording head and cleans the nozzle surface of the recording head,
The cleaning unit
A wiper member that moves in a wiper direction that is a direction along the nozzle surface after the tip abuts against the recording head;
A wiper support member for supporting the wiper member;
A biasing member that biases the wiper member toward the nozzle surface of the recording head;
A pair of guide members arranged to sandwich the wiper support member in the wiper direction, having a pair of guide surfaces facing each other, and restricting movement of the wiper support member in the wiper direction;
A pair of roller members that are arranged between the pair of guide members in the wiper direction, and whose outer peripheral surfaces abut against each of the pair of guide surfaces in the pair of guide members;
One end portion rotatably supports the pair of roller members, and the other end portion has a pair of roller support members fixed to the wiper support member.
The pair of roller members is an ink jet recording apparatus disposed on the recording head side with respect to the wiper support member. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of roller members are rotatable with their outer peripheral surfaces in contact with each other. 3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of guide members and the pair of roller members are disposed in two sets apart from each other in a wiper width direction that is a direction orthogonal to the wiper direction. A plurality of the recording heads are provided,
A plurality of the cleaning units are provided corresponding to the plurality of recording heads,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a cleaning unit moving unit that integrally moves the plurality of cleaning units.

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