JP2015036210A - Liquid discharge head and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a wiped waste liquid from remaining on an edge part of a cover part for covering a peripheral edge part of a nozzle surface in wiping.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle cover member 101 having two cover parts 102 for respectively covering peripheral edge parts of two sides in a direction orthogonal to a wiping direction of a nozzle surface 2a of a nozzle plate 2. The cover part 102 includes an edge part (a side) 112 formed obliquely to the wiping direction. The edge part 112 has a shape which is formed from one end part 112a to other end part 112b in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction, and linearly inclines to a downstream side of the wiping direction, and in which the other end part 112b is positioned on the downstream side of the wiping direction than the one end part 112a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head and an image forming apparatus.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, a plotter, or a complex machine of these, for example, a liquid discharge recording type image forming using a recording head composed of a liquid discharge head (droplet discharge head) that discharges ink droplets. Devices such as ink jet recording devices are known.

  A nozzle cover that covers the peripheral edge of the nozzle surface to prevent the wiping member (hereinafter also referred to as “wiper member”) that wipes and cleans the nozzle surface as a liquid discharge head from being damaged by the edge of the nozzle surface Some have members.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, two nozzle cover members that respectively cover two peripheral edges in a direction orthogonal to the wiping direction of the nozzle surface are provided, and the nozzle cover member has a shape in which a side in a direction intersecting the wiping direction is orthogonal to the wiping direction What is formed in (1) is known.

  Also, it is known that an elliptical opening facing the nozzle surface is formed so that the center of the opening edge in the direction intersecting the wiping direction is located downstream of the wiping direction from both sides. (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3421149 JP 2002-067345 A

  However, in the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, since there is a step between the nozzle surface and the nozzle cover member, the waste liquid collected by the wiping member is not removed from the edge of the nozzle cover member. There are problems such as accumulation and solidification.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said subject, and it aims at reducing the residue in the nozzle surface of the waste liquid collected by the wiping member.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a liquid discharge head according to claim 1 of the present invention includes:
A nozzle plate having a nozzle surface on which nozzles for discharging droplets are formed;
A nozzle cover member having a cover portion that covers at least the peripheral edge portion on the downstream side in the wiping direction, out of the two sides in the direction perpendicular to the wiping direction of the nozzle surface,
The cover portion has a shape when the nozzle surface is seen in a plan view, and is gradually inclined toward the downstream side in the wiping direction from the one end side in the direction intersecting the wiping direction to the other end side. The part side is configured to have an edge part having a shape located on the downstream side in the wiping direction from the one end part side.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the residue on the nozzle surface of the waste liquid collected by the wiping member can be reduced.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating an example of a liquid discharge head according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram in a direction orthogonal to a nozzle arrangement direction along line XX in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line AA of FIG. It is a plane explanatory view of a liquid discharge head for explanation of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is front explanatory drawing similarly. It is a principal part enlarged front view similarly. It is a plane explanatory view used for operation explanation of the embodiment. It is side surface explanatory drawing which uses for description of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is plane explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a plane explanatory view used for description of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a plane explanatory view used for description of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a plane explanatory view used for description of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. It is plane explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the different example of 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a plane explanatory view used for description of an eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side explanatory view of a mechanism unit of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the mechanism part.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. An example of a liquid discharge head to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the head, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction along line XX in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line AA in FIG. It is.

  In the liquid discharge head 1, a nozzle plate 2, a flow path plate 3 that is a flow path member, and a vibration plate member 4 are joined.

  The nozzle plate 2 has a plurality of nozzles 20 for discharging droplets arranged in two rows in a staggered manner. The nozzle plate 2 is formed with a nozzle 20 by press working using, for example, stainless steel (here, SUS316).

  The flow path plate 3 forms a pressure chamber 21 that is an individual liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle 20. The flow path plate 3 was formed by press working using, for example, stainless steel (here, SUS304), and post-processing was performed so that deformation and burrs caused by the press became almost flat by double-side polishing.

  The diaphragm member 4 forms a part of the wall surface of the pressure chamber 21 as a displaceable vibration region 4a. In addition, a liquid supply path 22 is formed in the diaphragm member 4 so as to face the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter and through the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter and each pressure chamber 21. The diaphragm member 4 is formed by Ni electroforming.

  On the side opposite to the pressure chamber 21 of the diaphragm member 4, a second common liquid chamber member 5 that also serves as a damper chamber forming member, a filter damper member 6 that also serves as a damper member, and a head that also serves as the first common liquid chamber member. The frame members 7 are sequentially laminated and bonded with an adhesive.

  A common liquid chamber 10 communicating with each pressure chamber 21 is formed by the frame member 7 and the second common liquid chamber member 5. The common liquid chamber 10 is formed by a filter upper common liquid chamber 26 on the upstream side of the filter damper member 6 and a filter lower common liquid chamber 25 on the downstream side.

  The filter damper member 6 is provided with a filter region 29 in which a large number of filter holes are formed, and collects (filters) foreign substances from the liquid flowing from the filter upper common liquid chamber 26 to the filter lower common liquid chamber 25. Further, at both ends of the filter damper member 6 in the nozzle arrangement direction, although not shown, a deformable region (damper region) that forms a part of the wall surface of the filter common liquid chamber 26 is formed.

  The frame member 7 forms a common liquid chamber 26 on the filter, and is provided with a liquid supply port portion 37 for supplying a liquid from the outside. The liquid supply ports 37 are respectively arranged at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the on-filter common liquid chamber 26.

  A piezoelectric actuator 8 is disposed on the vibration region 4 a of the diaphragm member 4 on the side opposite to the pressure chamber 21.

  In the piezoelectric actuator 8, two piezoelectric members 32 in which columnar piezoelectric elements (piezoelectric columns) 32 </ b> A are formed on one base member 33 at a pitch of half the nozzle pitch, for example, are joined to two nozzle rows. Each piezoelectric column of the piezoelectric member 32 is joined to the vibration region 4 a of the diaphragm member 4, and a drive signal is given from the drive IC 81 provided in the flexible wiring member 34 through the flexible wiring member 34.

  A part of the diaphragm member 4 forming the wall surface of the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter is a deformable region (damper region) 24, and the common liquid under the filter is sandwiched between the flow passage plate 3 and the damper region 24. A damper chamber 35 opposite to the chamber 25 is formed.

  In this liquid discharge head, the vibration region 4 a of the vibration plate member 4 is displaced by driving the piezoelectric actuator 8, the liquid in the pressure chamber 21 is pressurized, and a droplet is discharged from the nozzle 20.

  Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of the liquid ejection head used for explaining the embodiment, FIG. 5 is an explanatory front view, FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of the main part, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the operation of the embodiment. It is.

  In the present embodiment, nozzle cover members 101 and 101 having two cover portions 102 that respectively cover the peripheral portions of two sides in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction of the nozzle surface 2a of the nozzle plate 2 are provided. The wiping direction is the arrow Y1 direction or the arrow Y2 direction.

  The nozzle cover member 101 is formed by bending a single elastic member to form a cover portion 102 and a support portion 103, and a reinforcing member 104 that also serves as a fixing portion is integrally connected to the support portion 103 by welding or the like.

  As described above, the cover portion 102 contacts the nozzle surface 2a of the nozzle plate 2 and covers the peripheral edge portion in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction. The support portion 103 is a portion that is bent from the cover portion 102 and faces the head side surface. A reinforcing member 104 having a higher rigidity than the elastic member forming the cover portion 102 is integrally connected to the support portion 103 by welding or the like, so that the rigidity of the support portion 103 is higher than the rigidity of the cover portion 102. . The reinforcing member 104 is fixed to the frame member 7 with screws 108 that are fastening members.

  Here, the cover part 102 which is the part which covers the peripheral part of the nozzle surface 2a on the downstream side in the wiping direction has a shape when the nozzle surface 2a is viewed in plan, and is an edge part which is inclined with respect to the wiping direction. (Side) 112 is provided.

  Specifically, the edge portion 112 facing the wiping direction and intersecting the wiping direction is inclined linearly toward the downstream side in the wiping direction from the one end 112a to the other end 112b in the direction intersecting the wiping direction. And the other end 112b is positioned downstream of the one end 112a in the wiping direction.

  In other words, the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102 is not parallel to the contact line of the contact surface of the wiping member that contacts the nozzle surface 2a when a wiping member (not shown) wipes the nozzle surface 2a, but is orthogonal to the wiping direction. It is set as the shape where at least one (here other end part 112b) of the edge part of the direction to perform is located in the wiping direction most downstream side.

  7A, when the nozzle surface 2a is wiped by the wiper member 283 that is a wiping member, the waste liquid 300 collected by the wiper member 283 is removed from the edge portion of the cover portion 102. It moves along 112 in the direction (arrow B direction) from the one end 112a side toward the other end 112b side.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the waste liquid 300 that has moved to the other end 112 b side along the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102 as the wiper member 283 further moves in the wiping direction causes the wiper member 283 to move. It is pushed out to the side end portion side and removed.

  In this way, the cover portion on the downstream side in the wiping direction has a shape when the nozzle surface is seen in a plan view and has an edge portion that is inclined with respect to the wiping direction. The collected waste liquid on the nozzle surface can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the two nozzle cover members 101 are used. However, the two nozzle cover members 101, 101 are cross-linked on the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the head and formed as one member, that is, two One nozzle cover member having the cover portion 102 may be used.

  Further, here, as described above, the edge portion 112 of the two cover portions 102 is wiped in the shape when the nozzle surface is viewed in plan so that the wiping direction can be handled in any direction. The shape is inclined with respect to the direction. However, when the wiping direction is one direction, only the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102 on the downstream side of the wiping direction may have a shape when the nozzle surface is viewed in plan and is inclined with respect to the wiping direction. Good.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory side view for explaining the embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the nozzle cover member 101 is directly fixed to the frame member 7 of the head by screws 108 as fastening members.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the nozzle cover member 101 is bent until the angle θ formed by the cover portion 102 and the support portion 103 becomes an acute angle of less than 90 °. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the cover portion 102 of the nozzle cover member 101 is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 2a, and the support portion 103 is fixed to the frame member 7 of the head with screws 108 as fastening members.

  As a result, at least the tip edge portion of the cover portion 102 is pressed against the nozzle surface 2a due to elastic deformation and comes into close contact therewith.

  The surface of the nozzle cover member 101 is preferably subjected to an ink repellency water repellency treatment. The water repellent treatment may be performed only on the surface that contacts the wiper member and contacts the ink (the surface of the cover portion 102). However, since the ink may be transmitted to the surface of the support portion 103, it is preferable that the entire region is subjected to water repellent treatment.

  The nozzle cover member 101 can use a hard metal material, for example, a SUS material. As described above, since the cover portion 102 is elastically deformed and pressed, the nozzle cover member 101 is formed of a spring material, whereby the contact state can be quantified in terms of mechanical design. In addition, by managing the amount of deformation at the time of attachment, it is possible to always obtain the same close contact state, so that the reliability can be improved.

  There is also an advantage that a sufficient pressing force can be obtained even with a thin material. For example, it is preferable to use a SUS304-CSP-H-TA material having a plate thickness of 0.1 mm or less.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the edge part 112 of the cover part 102 forms the one end part 112a and the other end part 112b in the round shape (R shape). Here, the one end 112a and the other end 112b are rounded, but the rounded end may be rounded, specifically, the corner on the most upstream side.

  With this configuration, when the wiping member (such as the wiper member 283 described above) starts to contact the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102, it can be prevented from being caught by the corner portion of the edge portion 112 and being damaged.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the cover part 102 which is the part which covers the peripheral part of the nozzle surface 2a on the downstream side in the wiping direction has a shape when the nozzle surface is viewed in plan, and is curved and slanted with respect to the wiping direction. Edge portion 112 is provided.

  Specifically, the edge portion 112 is formed to be inclined in a curved shape from the one end portion 112a in the direction intersecting the wiping direction toward the other end portion 112b and toward the downstream side in the wiping direction, and is other than the one end portion 112a. The end 112b has a shape located on the downstream side in the wiping direction.

  In this case, both the one end 112a and the other end 112b of the edge 112 are formed in a round shape.

  Thus, by forming the edge part 112 of the cover part 102 diagonally with a curved shape, damage to the wiping member can be reduced.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the cover part 102 which is the part which covers the peripheral part of the nozzle surface 2a on the downstream side in the wiping direction is a shape when the nozzle surface is seen in a plan view, and in the wiping direction from the intermediate part toward both ends. On the other hand, it has the edge part 112 which is slanting linearly.

  Specifically, the edge portion 112 is directed to the one end portion 112a and the other end portion 112b from the intermediate portion 112c between the one end portion 112a and the other end portion 112b in the direction intersecting with the wiping direction, and on the downstream side in the wiping direction. The two end portions 112a and 112b are formed on the downstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the intermediate portion 112c.

  Since it comprised in this way, when wiping the nozzle surface 2a with a wiping member, the collected waste liquid 300 is moved from the intermediate part 112c to the one end part 112a side and the other end part 112b side along the edge part 112 of the cover part 102. It moves to the direction which goes, and is pushed and removed by the both-ends side of a wiping member.

  In this case, the intermediate portion 112c is preferably arranged at a position shifted from an extension line (position of the nozzle 20) of the row of nozzles 20 (nozzle row) in a direction orthogonal to the wiping direction.

  That is, the portion that contacts the intermediate portion 112c of the edge portion of the wiping member is more easily damaged than the other portions. If the edge part of the wiping member is damaged, the wiping residue of the nozzle surface 2a is generated. If this wiping residue occurs at the nozzle 20 portion, the droplet ejection characteristics are affected.

  Therefore, even if the wiping member is damaged due to repeated contact with the intermediate portion 112c, the intermediate portion 112c is displaced from the extension line in the wiping direction of the nozzle row so that no wiping remains in the vicinity of the nozzle 20 occur. It is arranged at the position.

  Thereby, even when a wiping member is damaged, it can reduce that wiping performance is affected.

  Further, the distance between the intermediate portion 112c and the one end portion 112a may be different from the distance between the intermediate portion 112c and the other end portion 112b.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the cover part 102 which is the part which covers the peripheral part of the nozzle surface 2a on the downstream side in the wiping direction is a shape when the nozzle surface is seen in a plan view, and in the wiping direction from the intermediate part toward both ends. On the other hand, it has an edge portion 112 that is curved and slanted.

  Specifically, the edge portion 112 is directed toward the downstream side in the wiping direction from the intermediate portion 112c between the one end portion 112a and the other end portion 112b in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction toward the one end portion 112a and the other end portion 112b. In this case, both end portions (one end portion 112a and the other end portion 112b) are located downstream of the intermediate portion 112c in the wiping direction.

  Thus, the damage of the wiping member can be reduced by making the edge part 112 of the cover part 102 into a curved shape (curved diagonal shape).

  Next, a different example of the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the cover part 102 which is the part which covers the peripheral part of the nozzle surface 2a on the downstream side in the wiping direction is a shape when the nozzle surface is viewed in plan, and is a polygonal line and oblique to the wiping direction. Edge portion 112 is provided.

  Specifically, the edge portion 112 is formed to be inclined in a polygonal line from the one end portion 112a in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction toward the other end portion 112b and toward the downstream side in the wiping direction, and is other than the one end portion 112a. The end 112b has a shape located on the downstream side in the wiping direction.

  Here, the example of FIG. 13A shows a case where the one end 112a side has the inclination angle θ1 with respect to the wiping direction, but changes to the inclination angle θ2 (θ1> θ2) in the middle. Further, the example of FIG. 13B shows a case where the one end 112a side has the inclination angle θ3 with respect to the wiping direction, but changes to the inclination angle θ4 (θ3 <θ4) in the middle.

  Here, an example in which the tilt angle changes in two stages is shown, but a configuration in which the tilt angle changes in three or more stages may be adopted. Further, the present invention can be applied to an embodiment that is inclined from the intermediate portion toward both end portions.

  Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the wiping member (wiper member) 283 on the image forming apparatus main body side is disposed to be inclined with respect to the wiping direction, and is inclined to the direction opposite to the inclination direction of the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102. ing. The wiping direction itself is a direction along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 20. An example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus main body will be described later.

  That is, the larger the inclination of the contact line of the wiping member 283 and the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102, the more efficiently the waste liquid moves at the edge portion 112. However, increasing the inclination of the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102 increases the area covered by the cover portion 102 in the nozzle surface 2a and increases the area of the nozzle surface 2a. .

  Here, as in the fifth and sixth embodiments, a shape that is convex toward the upstream side in the wiping direction at the substantially central part (intermediate part) and inclined toward the downstream side in the wiping direction toward both end parts. It is more effective to increase the inclination efficiently than when it has a uniform inclination.

  On the other hand, in the case of a uniformly inclined shape, the inclination becomes about half. Therefore, the contact line of the wiping member 283 is inclined with respect to the wiping direction, and the inclination direction is opposite to the edge portion 112 of the cover portion 102.

  By doing so, the waste liquid can be moved efficiently, and the residual on the nozzle surface can be reliably reduced.

  Next, an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 is an explanatory side view of the mechanism part of the apparatus, and FIG. 16 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the mechanism part.

  This image forming apparatus is a serial type image forming apparatus, and a carriage 233 is slidably held in a main scanning direction by main and slave guide rods 231 and 232 which are guide members horizontally mounted on left and right side plates 221A and 221B. . Then, the main scanning motor (not shown) moves and scans in the direction indicated by the arrow (carriage main scanning direction) via the timing belt.

  The carriage 233 is mounted with a recording head 234 including the liquid ejection head according to the present invention for ejecting ink droplets of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). ing. The recording head 234 is mounted with a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the ink droplet ejection direction facing downward.

  The recording head 234 is configured by attaching liquid ejection heads 234a and 234b each having two nozzle rows to one base member. One nozzle row of one head 234a discharges black (K) droplets, and the other nozzle row discharges cyan (C) droplets. One nozzle row of the other head 234b discharges magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row discharges yellow (Y) droplets. Note that, here, a two-head configuration is used to eject four color droplets, but a liquid ejection head for each color may be provided.

  The carriage 233 is equipped with sub tanks 235a and 235b (referred to as “sub tank 235” when not distinguished) for supplying ink of each color corresponding to the nozzle rows of the recording head 234. The sub tank 235 is supplied with ink of each color from the ink cartridge 210 of each color by the supply unit 224 via the supply tube 236 of each color.

  On the other hand, as a paper feeding unit for feeding the paper 242 stacked on the paper stacking unit (pressure plate) 241 of the paper feed tray 202, a half-moon roller (feeding) that separates and feeds the paper 242 one by one from the paper stacking unit 241. Paper roller) 243 and a separation pad 244 facing the paper feed roller 243. The separation pad 244 is urged toward the paper feed roller 243 side.

  In order to feed the sheet 242 fed from the sheet feeding unit to the lower side of the recording head 234, a guide member 245 for guiding the sheet 242, a counter roller 246, a conveyance guide member 247, and a tip pressure roller. And a pressing member 248 having 249. A transport belt 251 serving as a transport unit for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 242 and transporting the paper 242 at a position facing the recording head 234 is provided.

  The conveyor belt 251 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around the conveyor roller 252 and the tension roller 253 so as to circulate in the belt conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction). In addition, a charging roller 256 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 251 is provided. The charging roller 256 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the conveyor belt 251 and to rotate following the rotation of the conveyor belt 251. The transport belt 251 rotates in the belt transport direction when the transport roller 252 is rotationally driven through timing by a sub-scanning motor (not shown).

  Further, as a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 242 recorded by the recording head 234, a separation claw 261 for separating the paper 242 from the transport belt 251, a paper discharge roller 262, and a paper discharge roller 263 are provided. A paper discharge tray 203 is provided below the paper discharge roller 262.

  A double-sided unit 271 is detachably attached to the back surface of the apparatus main body. The duplex unit 271 takes in the paper 242 returned by the reverse rotation of the transport belt 251, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 246 and the transport belt 251. The upper surface of the duplex unit 271 is a manual feed tray 272.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 281 for maintaining and recovering the nozzle state of the recording head 234 is disposed in a non-printing area on one side in the scanning direction of the carriage 233. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 281 includes cap members (hereinafter referred to as “caps”) 282a and 282b (hereinafter referred to as “caps 282” when not distinguished) for capping the nozzle surfaces of the recording head 234. . The maintenance / recovery mechanism 281 includes a wiper member 283 that is a wiping member for wiping the nozzle surface. The wiper member 283 is moved in the arrow direction to wipe the nozzle surface of the recording head 234. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 281 includes a blank discharge receptacle 284 that receives droplets when performing blank discharge for discharging droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge thickened ink.

  In addition, in the non-printing area on the other side of the carriage 233 in the scanning direction, idle ejection that receives droplets when performing idle ejection that ejects droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge ink that has been thickened during recording or the like. A receptacle 288 is arranged. The idle discharge receiver 288 includes an opening 289 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 234 and the like.

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the sheets 242 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feeding tray 202, and the sheet 242 fed substantially vertically upward is guided by the guide member 245, It is sandwiched between the counter roller 246 and conveyed. Further, the leading edge of the sheet 242 is guided by the conveying guide 237 and pressed against the conveying belt 251 by the leading end pressure roller 249, and the conveying direction is changed by approximately 90 °.

  When the paper 242 is fed onto the charged transport belt 251, the paper 242 is attracted to the transport belt 251, and the paper 242 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the transport belt 251.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 234 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 233, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 242 to record one line, and after the paper 242 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 242 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 242 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 203.

  Thus, since the image forming apparatus includes the liquid discharge head according to the present invention, the deformation of the nozzle cover member due to the wiping operation is prevented, and a high-quality image can be stably formed.

  In the present application, “paper” is not limited to paper, but includes OHP, cloth, glass, a substrate, and the like, and can be attached to ink droplets and other liquids. This includes recording media, recording media, recording paper, recording paper, and the like. In addition, image formation, recording, printing, printing, and printing are all synonymous.

  The “image forming apparatus” means an apparatus that forms an image by discharging a liquid onto a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like. In addition, “image formation” not only applies an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to a medium but also applies an image having no meaning such as a pattern to the medium (simply applying a droplet to the medium). It also means to land on.

  The “ink” is not limited to an ink unless otherwise specified, but includes any liquid that can form an image, such as a recording liquid, a fixing processing liquid, or a liquid. Used generically. For example, DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, resins and the like are also included.

  In addition, the “image” is not limited to a planar image, and includes an image given to a three-dimensionally formed image and an image formed by three-dimensionally modeling a solid itself.

  Further, the image forming apparatus includes both a serial type image forming apparatus and a line type image forming apparatus, unless otherwise limited.

2 Nozzle plate 3 Channel plate 4 Vibration plate member 5 Second common liquid chamber member 6 Filter damper member 7 Frame member 8 Piezoelectric actuator 10 Common liquid chamber 20 Nozzle 21 Pressure chamber (individual liquid chamber)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Nozzle cover member 102 Cover part 103 Support part 104 Reinforcement member 112 Side (edge part) of cover part
233 Carriage 234a, 234b Recording head

Claims (7)

A nozzle plate having a nozzle surface on which nozzles for discharging droplets are formed;
A nozzle cover member having a cover portion that covers at least the peripheral edge portion on the downstream side in the wiping direction, out of the two sides in the direction perpendicular to the wiping direction of the nozzle surface,
The said cover part is the shape when the said nozzle surface is planarly viewed, and it inclines toward the other end part side from the one end part side of the direction which cross | intersects a wiping direction, and is inclined toward the downstream side in the wiping direction, and said other end part The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, further comprising an edge portion having a shape positioned on the downstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the one end portion side.   The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the one end portion of the edge portion is formed in a round shape. A nozzle plate having a nozzle surface on which nozzles for discharging droplets are formed;
A nozzle cover member having a cover portion that covers at least the peripheral edge portion on the downstream side in the wiping direction, out of the two sides in the direction perpendicular to the wiping direction of the nozzle surface,
The cover part is in a shape when the nozzle surface is viewed in plan, and is inclined from the intermediate part between both end parts in the direction intersecting with the wiping direction toward the both end parts, and toward the downstream side in the wiping direction, A liquid discharge head, characterized in that both end portions have edge portions that are positioned downstream of the intermediate portion in the wiping direction.   The liquid discharge head according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate portion of the edge portion is located at a position shifted from the position of the nozzle in a direction orthogonal to the wiping direction.   5. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion has a shape inclined in a straight line shape, a curved shape, or a polygonal line shape.   55. An image forming apparatus comprising the liquid ejection head according to claim 1. A liquid discharge head according to claim 1 or 2,
A wiping member for wiping the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the wiping member is disposed to be inclined with respect to a wiping direction and is inclined to a direction opposite to an inclination of an edge portion of the cover portion.

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