JP2015047854A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such the problem that when arraying intervals of a plurality of recording heads in a main scanning direction are different, a suction cap and a moisture retention cap cannot be moved by the same movement mechanism, and accordingly, a structure becomes complicated.SOLUTION: A cap holder 212b for holding a moisture retention cap 82b is held at a slider 402 so as to be slidable in a main scanning direction via springs 214a and 214b; a guide member 38 is provided to a head holder 37b; and a guide pin 213 that can come in contact with the guide member 38 is provided to the cap holder 212b. The guide member 38 and the guide pin 213 constitute a position correction mechanism and when the moisture retention cap 82b moves to a recording head 34c side, the guide pin 213 moves along a guide surface 38a of the guide member 38, and thus, the moisture retention cap 82b is slidably moved in the main scanning direction and is guided to a position which completely seals the nozzle surface of the recording head 34c.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a carriage on which a recording head for discharging droplets is mounted.

  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. As an apparatus, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus is known.

  Such a liquid discharge type image forming apparatus includes a maintenance / recovery mechanism for maintaining and recovering the ejection stability of the nozzles of the recording head. The maintenance / recovery mechanism, for example, is a suction cap for capping the nozzle surface to suck and discharge liquid from the nozzle, drying ink in the nozzle, a moisture retention cap for preventing dust from entering the nozzle, and wiping the nozzle surface of the recording head A maintenance / recovery mechanism including a wiper member (also referred to as a wiper blade, a wiping blade, a blade, etc.) that is cleaned by, for example, discharging the thickened ink from the nozzle into the suction cap, and then wiping the nozzle surface. The recovery operation of forming a nozzle meniscus by wiping with a member is performed.

  Conventionally, a carriage having a recording head arranged in a position shifted in the sub-scanning direction, a suction cap that also serves as a moisturizing cap arranged so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, and a position in which the position in the sub-scanning direction is shifted are arranged. What is provided with the maintenance recovery mechanism which has a moisture retention cap is known (patent document 1).

JP 2013-39723 A

  By the way, if the arrangement intervals in the main scanning direction of the plurality of recording heads are the same, suction caps smaller than the number of recording heads are used, and suction is performed by moving the suction caps relatively in the main scanning direction. In this case, even if the suction cap faces any recording head, the other moisture retaining cap faces the other recording head or is positioned away from the recording head.

  Therefore, with such a configuration, the suction cap and the moisture retaining cap can be simultaneously moved forward and backward with respect to the recording head using the same cap moving mechanism.

  However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the arrangement intervals of the plurality of recording heads are different. For this reason, if the suction cap and the moisture retaining cap are simultaneously moved forward and backward with respect to the recording head using the same cap moving mechanism, when the recording head facing the suction cap is capped, the other moisture retaining cap is not attached to the other recording head. It may be in an incomplete position for capping, such as breaking the meniscus by contacting the nozzle.

  Therefore, the cap moving mechanism of the suction cap and the cap moving mechanism of the moisturizing cap must be separated, and there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that the suction cap and the moisture retaining cap can be moved by the same moving mechanism even when the arrangement intervals of the plurality of recording heads in the main scanning direction are different.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention provides:
At least three recording heads having nozzles for discharging droplets;
A carriage capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction holding the recording head;
A maintenance and recovery mechanism for performing maintenance and recovery of the recording head,
The at least three recording heads are arranged at different intervals in the main scanning direction and held by the carriage;
The maintenance and recovery mechanism is
Capping the nozzle surface of the recording head, and at least one suction cap to which suction means is connected;
A plurality of moisture retaining caps for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head;
A cap moving mechanism that moves forward and backward with respect to the recording head simultaneously with the suction cap and the moisture retention cap;
The cap moving mechanism is
When the recording head is capped with the suction cap, a position correction mechanism is provided that moves the moisturizing cap in an incomplete position for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head in the main scanning direction.

  According to the present invention, the suction cap and the moisturizing cap can be moved by the same moving mechanism even when the arrangement intervals of the plurality of recording heads in the main scanning direction are different, and the configuration is simplified.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of a mechanism unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is principal part side explanatory drawing of the mechanism part. It is typical front explanatory drawing explaining an example of a maintenance recovery mechanism. It is a typical side surface explanatory drawing similarly. It is the plane explanatory view and front explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the head arrangement | positioning and cap arrangement | positioning in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the plane explanatory drawing and front explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the position shift of the head and cap in the said 1st Embodiment. It is the plane explanatory drawing and front explanatory drawing similarly provided for the same description. It is front explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the position correction mechanism in the said 1st Embodiment. It is front explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the position correction mechanism in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is front explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the position correction mechanism in 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side explanatory view similarly. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the head arrangement | positioning and cap arrangement | positioning in 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is plane explanatory drawing and front explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the position shift of the head and cap in the 4th implementation hair body. It is the plane explanatory drawing and front explanatory drawing similarly provided for the same description. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the head arrangement | positioning and cap arrangement | positioning in 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is plane explanatory drawing and front explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of position shift of the head and cap in the same 5th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the head arrangement | positioning and cap arrangement | positioning in 6th Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. An example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the mechanism of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the main part of the mechanism.

  This image forming apparatus is a serial type image forming apparatus. A carriage 33 is held so as to be movable in the main scanning direction by a main guide member 1 and a sub guide member (not shown) bridged between side plates (not shown). The carriage 33 is moved and scanned in the main scanning direction by a main scanning motor (not shown) via a timing belt spanned between the driving pulley and the driven pulley.

  Head holders 37 a and 37 b are detachably held on the carriage 33.

  The head holder 37a has two recording heads 34a and 34b arranged in a staggered pattern in the sub-scanning direction. Two recording heads 34c and 34d are mounted on the head holder 37b at the same position in the sub-scanning direction as the recording head 34b.

  Each of the recording heads 34 (34a to 34d) has two nozzle rows. The recording heads 34a and 34b discharge black droplets having the same color, and magenta (M), cyan (C), and cyan (C), using three of the four nozzle arrays of the recording heads 34c and 34d. A yellow (y) droplet is ejected.

  As a result, monochrome images can be formed with a width of two heads in one scan (main scanning) using the recording heads 34a and 34b, and color images are formed using, for example, the recording heads 34b to 34d. .

  Each of the recording heads 34 a to 34 d is provided with a head tank 35 that supplies a liquid to each recording head 34. The head tank 35 is supplied with ink of each color via the supply tube 6 from ink cartridges 10k, 10c, 10m, and 10y, which are main tanks that are replaceably attached to the apparatus main body.

  On the other hand, in order to transport the roll paper P in the sub-scanning direction, a transport unit that sucks the roll paper P and transports the roll paper P facing the recording head 34 is provided. The transport means includes a transport roller 21, a pressure roller 22 that is pressed against and in contact with the transport roller 21, a platen member 23 that faces the recording head 34, and a roll paper (paper) through a suction hole of the platen member 23. And a suction fan 24 that adsorbs 20.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 80 that performs maintenance / recovery of the recording head 34 is disposed on one side of the carriage 33 in the main scanning direction. Further, an idle discharge receiver 90 that performs idle discharge for discharging droplets that do not contribute to image formation from the recording head 34 is disposed on the other side of the carriage 33 in the main scanning direction.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism 80 is a maintenance unit, and includes a first maintenance / recovery unit 80A held in the apparatus main body so as to be able to reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction (arrow direction), and a second maintenance / recovery unit 80B held in the apparatus main body. have. The first maintenance / recovery unit 80A is in the position shown in FIG. 1 when performing the maintenance recovery of the recording head 34a, and moves to the same position in the sub-scanning direction as the second maintenance recovery unit 80B when performing the maintenance recovery of the recording heads 34b to 34d.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism 80 includes, for example, a suction cap 82a that also serves as a moisture retaining cap for capping the nozzle surface (surface on which the nozzle is formed) of the recording head 34, and moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 80 includes a wiper member 83 for wiping the nozzle surface, an empty discharge receiver 84 for receiving liquid droplets (empty discharge droplets) that do not contribute to image formation.

  In this image forming apparatus configured as described above, the roll paper (roll-shaped print medium) P is fed from the paper feeding device, and is sub-scanned while being sucked on the platen member 23 by the conveying roller 21 and the pressure roller 22. Conveyed in the direction.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 34 in accordance with the image signal while moving the carriage 33 in the main scanning direction, droplets are ejected onto the stopped roll paper P to record one line, and the roll paper P , The next line is recorded, and the roll paper P is sequentially discharged.

  Next, an example of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 80 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the maintenance and recovery mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the same.

  As described above, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 80 includes the first maintenance / recovery unit 80A and the second maintenance / recovery unit 80B. Then, a cap moving mechanism 81 for moving the suction cap 82a of the first maintenance / recovery unit 80A and the moisture retention caps 82b to 82d of the second maintenance / recovery unit 80B by the motor 231 that is the same drive source is provided, and the suction cap 82a and the moisture retention cap are provided. 82b to 82d are simultaneously moved forward and backward with respect to the recording head 34.

  In the first maintenance / recovery unit 80A, the cap 211a held by the cap holder 212a, the wiper member 83 including an elastic body, and the wiper cleaner 86 are held movably (movable up and down) on the frame 211 of the maintenance device. Has been.

  A cylindrical empty discharge receiver 84 is disposed between the wiper member 83 and the suction cap 82a, and the upper end of the empty discharge receiver 84 on the wiper member 83 side wipes off ink adhering to the wiper member 83. A portion 85 is formed. When cleaning the wiper member 83, the wiper member 83 is lowered while the wiper member 83 is pressed against the wiper cleaner portion 85 by the wiper cleaner 86, so that the ink adhering to the wiper member 83 is scraped off to the empty ejection receiver 84 side. .

  A tubing pump (suction pump) 220 as a suction means is connected to the suction cap 82a through a tube 219.

  A cam shaft 221a rotatably supported by the frame 211 is disposed below the suction cap 82a and the wiper member 83. The cam shaft 221a includes a cap cam 222a for moving the cap holder 212a, a wiper cam 224 for moving the wiper member 83 up and down, a roller 226 in the idle discharge receiver 84, and a cleaner cam 228 for moving the wiper cleaner 86, respectively. Provided. By moving the cap holder 212 a, the suction cap 82 a moves forward and backward with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head 34.

  In order to rotationally drive the suction pump 220 and the cam shaft 221a, the rotation of the motor 231 is meshed with the motor gear 232 provided on the motor shaft 231a and the pump gear 233 provided on the pump shaft 220a of the suction pump 220.

  Further, an intermediate gear 236 with a one-way clutch 237 is engaged with an intermediate gear 234 integral with the pump gear 233 via the intermediate gear 235. A cam gear 240 fixed to the cam shaft 221a via the intermediate gear 239 is meshed with the intermediate gear 238 coaxial with the intermediate gear 236.

  The intermediate shaft 241 that is the rotation shaft of the intermediate gears 236 and 238 with the clutch 237 is rotatably held by the frame 211.

  On the other hand, in the second maintenance / recovery unit 80B, the moisture retention caps 82b to 82d respectively held by the cap holders 212b to 212d are held by the maintenance device frame 211 so as to be movable (movable up and down).

  A cam shaft 221b that is rotatably supported by the frame 211 is disposed below the moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d. The cam shaft 221b is provided with cap cams 222b to 222d for moving the cap holders 212a to 212d, respectively. As the cap holders 212b to 212d move, the moisture retention caps 82b to 82d move forward and backward with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head 34.

  The rotation of the cam shaft 221a of the first maintenance / recovery unit 80A is transmitted to the cam shaft 221b via the timing pulleys 245a, 245b and 246 and the timing belts 247a and 247b.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the driving force transmitted from the motor 231 to the cam shaft 221a is transmitted from the timing pulley 245a to the timing pulley 246 via the timing belt 247a. Further, the rotation of the timing pulley 246 is transmitted to the timing pulley 245b via the timing belt 247b, and the cam shaft 221b rotates. By rotating the cam shaft 221b, the cams 222b to 222d rotate, and the moisturizing caps 82b to 82d move forward and backward.

  At this time, even if the suction cap 82a moves in the sub-scanning direction (the white arrow in FIG. 4a), the timing belt 247a and 247b are held without being bent because the timing pulley 246 is pulled by the spring 248. Is done. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4B, the driving force from the motor 231 can be transmitted to the cam shafts 221a and 221b even when the suction cap 82a moves.

  Thus, here, the suction cap 82a and the moisturizing caps 82b to 82d of the first maintenance recovery unit 80A and the second maintenance recovery unit 80B are advanced and retracted by one drive source.

  Next, the head arrangement and the cap arrangement in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view and a front view for explaining the same. In the following explanatory plan view, the cap is shown in a transparent state.

  When at least three (here, four) recording heads 34a to 34d mounted on the head holders 37a and 37b of the carriage 33 have a distance of "1" between the recording head 34c and the recording head 34d in the main scanning direction. The recording head 34a and the recording head 34b are arranged so that the distance between them is “1.75” and the distance between the recording head 34b and the recording head 34c is “1.5”.

  Since the recording heads 34a to 34d must be capped (sealed) by the suction cap 82a and the moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d, respectively, the suction cap 82a and the moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d are arranged in the main scanning direction. They are arranged at the same arrangement interval as the arrangement intervals of 34a to 34d.

  The recording head 34 has two nozzle rows 134a and 134b in which a plurality of nozzles 134n are arranged on the nozzle surface 34n. In the following, reference numerals of nozzle surfaces and nozzle rows are omitted.

  Next, the positional deviation between the head and the cap in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view and an explanatory front view for explaining the same, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view and an explanatory front view for explaining the same.

  When the recording head 82a is capped with the suction cap 82a, the position shown in FIG. 5 (this is referred to as the initial position) is obtained. Therefore, when the recording head 82a is capped with the suction cap 82a, even if the moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d are moved in the capping direction, the moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d are not displaced from the recording heads 34b to 34d.

  In contrast, when capping the recording head 82b with the suction cap 82a, in the main scanning direction (hereinafter the same), as shown in FIG. 6, the moisturizing cap 82b partially faces the recording head 34c, The nip portion of the moisture retention cap 82b (the portion that comes into contact with the nozzle surface) interferes with the nozzle row 134b. The moisturizing caps 82c and 82d are positioned so as not to interfere with the nozzle surface of the recording head 34.

  When the recording head 82c or 82d is capped with the suction cap 82a, the moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d are positioned so as not to interfere with the nozzle surface of the recording head 34, as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6 above, when the nozzle surface of the recording head 34 is capped with the suction cap 82a, the other moisturizing cap incompletely caps the nozzle surface of the other recording head 34 (the capping becomes incomplete). The nozzle meniscus is destroyed.

  In order to eliminate this inconvenience, the suction cap 82a and the moisturizing caps 82b to 82d may be moved forward and backward independently, but this complicates the cap moving mechanism.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a position correcting mechanism for moving the moisturizing cap 82b in the main scanning direction is provided while the cap moving mechanism 81 for moving the suction cap 82a and the moisturizing caps 82b to 82d back and forth by the same drive source (motor 231). I am doing so.

  Next, the position correction mechanism in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view for explaining the same.

  The moisturizing cap 82b is held by a cap holder 212b, and the cap holder 212b is held by a slider 402 so as to be slidable in the main scanning direction via springs 214a and 214b.

  A guide member 38 is provided in the head holder 37b. On the other hand, a guide pin 213 that can contact the guide member 38 is provided on the cap holder 212b. The guide member 38 is formed with a guide surface 38 a for moving the moisture retention cap 82 b to the nozzle surface side of the recording head 34 in the main scanning direction via the guide pin 213. These guide members 38 and guide pins 213 constitute a position correction mechanism.

  With this configuration, the slider 402b is moved (in this case, lifted) from the state shown in FIG. 8A toward the recording head 34c by the cap cam 222b as shown by a white arrow in FIG. 8B. At this time, the guide pin 213 of the cap holder 212b contacts the guide surface 38a of the guide member 38 and moves following the guide surface 38a.

  As a result, the moisture retention cap 82b slides in the main scanning direction (left direction in the figure), and is guided to a position where the nozzle surface of the recording head 34 is completely sealed, as shown in FIG. 8B.

  In this way, the moisture retaining cap 82b that is in an incomplete position for capping can be moved in the main scanning direction to be in a complete position for capping, and inconveniences such as destruction of the nozzle meniscus can be prevented.

  Thereby, like the cap moving mechanism 81 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 80 described above, the suction cap 82a and the moisturizing caps 82b to 82d can be moved back and forth with the same drive source, and the configuration of the maintenance / recovery mechanism becomes simple.

  Next, a position correction mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view for explaining the same.

  The head arrangement and the cap arrangement in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the position correction mechanism of this embodiment, the guide member 38 is provided with a guide surface 38b for moving the moisture retaining cap 82b between the recording head 34c and the recording head 34d in the main scanning direction via the guide pin 213. Yes. Other configurations are the same as the position correction mechanism of the first embodiment.

  With this configuration, when the recording head 34b is suctioned by the suction cap 82a, even if the moisture retaining cap 82c moves to the recording head 34 side at the same time as the suction cap 82a, the moisture retaining cap 82b remains in the main scanning direction. And the recording head 34d, that is, the recording head 34d moves to a retracted position where it does not come into contact with the recording head 34d.

  Therefore, inconveniences such as incomplete interference of the moisturizing cap 82b with the recording head 34 and destruction of the meniscus do not occur.

  Thereby, the suction cap 82a and the moisture retaining caps 82b to 82d can be advanced and retracted by the cap moving mechanism 81 of the same drive source.

  Next, a position correction mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a front explanatory view for explaining the same, and FIG. 11 is a side explanatory view.

  The head arrangement and the cap arrangement in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the cap holder 212b is held by the slider 402b. The moisturizing cap 82b is held by the cap holder 212b so as to be movable (a direction in which the recording head 34 advances and retreats), and is urged by a spring 401 in a direction approaching the recording head 34. The moisturizing cap 82b is also guided by the guide member 415 with respect to the cap holder 212b.

  The moisturizing cap 82b is provided with guide pins 410a and 410b at both ends in the sub-scanning direction. On the other hand, on the head holder 37b side, guide pin receiving members 39a and 39b are provided which come into contact with the guide pins 410a and 410b of the moisturizing cap 82b.

  With this configuration, when the slider 402b is raised by the cap cam 222 (moves toward the recording head 34b) from the state shown in FIG. 11A, the guide pins 410b and 410b provided on the moisture retention cap 82b are moved. The guide pin receiving members 39a and 39b provided on the head holder 37b are in contact with each other. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11B, the moisture retaining cap 82b is pushed down (pressed away from the recording head 34) and does not contact the nozzle surface of the recording head 34c.

  As described above, the suction cap 82a and the moisture retention caps 82b to 82d can be advanced and retracted by the cap moving mechanism 81 of the same drive source by preventing the moisture retention cap 82b from coming into contact with the nozzle surface of the recording head 34c.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the head arrangement and the cap arrangement in the embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the four recording heads 34a to 34d mounted on the carriage 33 are arranged in one row in the main scanning direction, the distance between the recording head 34b and the recording head 34c, and the recording head 34c and the recording head 34d. And the recording head 34b are arranged so that the distance between the recording head 34a and the recording head 34b is "1.25".

  The arrangement intervals of the suction cap 82a and the moisture retention caps 82b to 82d are the same as the arrangement intervals of the recording heads 34a to 34d. Here, the recording heads 34 b to 34 d are held on the same head holder 37 and mounted on the carriage 33.

  Next, the positional deviation between the head and the cap of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is an explanatory plan view and an explanatory front view for explaining the same, and FIG. 14 is an explanatory plan view and an explanatory front view for explaining the same.

  In such an arrangement, as shown in FIG. 13, when the recording head 34b is sucked by the suction cap 82a, the moisturizing caps 82b and 82c are in positions where they are partially capped with respect to the recording heads 34c and 34d, respectively. .

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, when the recording head 34c is sucked by the suction cap 82a, the moisture retaining cap 82b is in a position where it partially caps the recording head 34d.

  Therefore, by applying the position correction mechanism as described above for the moisturizing caps 82b and 83c, the moisturizing caps 82b and 83c are moved in the main scanning direction to correspond to the positions where the nozzle surfaces are correctly capped or between the recording heads. Move to position.

  Thereby, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the head arrangement and the cap arrangement in the embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the three recording heads 34a to 34c mounted on the carriage 33 are arranged in one row when the interval between the recording head 34b and the recording head 34c is “1” in the main scanning direction. The distance between the recording head 34b and the recording head 34b is set to be “1.2”.

  The arrangement intervals of the suction cap 82a and the moisture retention caps 82b and 82c are the same as the arrangement intervals of the recording heads 34a to 34c. Here, the recording heads 34 a and 34 b are mounted on the carriage 33 while being held by the same head holder 37 a as in the first embodiment.

  Next, the positional deviation between the head and the cap of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is an explanatory plan view and an explanatory front view for explaining the same.

  In such an arrangement, as shown in FIG. 16, when the recording head 34b is sucked by the suction cap 82a, the moisturizing cap 82b is in a position for capping a part of the nozzle surface of the recording head 34c.

  Therefore, by applying the position correction mechanism as described above to the moisturizing cap 82b, the moisturizing cap 82b is moved in the main scanning direction and moved to a position where the nozzle surface is correctly capped or a position corresponding to between the print heads. .

  Thereby, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the head arrangement and the cap arrangement in the embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, the recording head 34e is mounted on the head holder 37b and a moisture retention cap 82e is provided.

  Even in such a head arrangement, the position of the moisture retention cap relative to the head as described above is generated. Therefore, by applying a position correction mechanism to the moisture retention cap that is in an incomplete position, the moisture retention cap is moved in the main scanning direction. The nozzle surface is moved to a position where the nozzle surface is correctly capped, or a position corresponding to between the recording heads.

  Thereby, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which there is one suction cap has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where two or more suction caps are provided.

  In the present application, the “paper” is not limited to paper, but includes OHP, cloth, glass, a substrate, etc., and means a material to which ink droplets or other liquids can be attached. , 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, includes DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, resins, and the like.

  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.

  In addition to a vertical printing type image forming apparatus in which a recording head discharges droplets downward in the vertical direction, a horizontal direction in which the recording head discharges droplets in a direction perpendicular to or intersecting with the vertical direction. The present invention can also be applied to a strike type image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide rod 33 Carriage 34, 34a-34e Recording head 38 Guide member 39 Guide pin receiving member 80 Maintenance recovery mechanism 80A 1st maintenance recovery part 80B 2nd maintenance recovery part 81 Cap moving mechanism 82a Suction cap 82b-82e Humidity retention cap 213 Guide pin

Claims (4)

At least three recording heads having nozzles for discharging droplets;
A carriage capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction holding the recording head;
A maintenance and recovery mechanism for performing maintenance and recovery of the recording head,
The at least three recording heads are arranged at different intervals in the main scanning direction and held by the carriage;
The maintenance and recovery mechanism is
Capping the nozzle surface of the recording head, and at least one suction cap to which suction means is connected;
A plurality of moisture retaining caps for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head;
A cap moving mechanism that moves forward and backward with respect to the recording head simultaneously with the suction cap and the moisture retention cap;
The cap moving mechanism is
When capping the recording head with the suction cap, a position correction mechanism is provided for moving the moisture retention cap that is in an incomplete position for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head in the main scanning direction. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position correction mechanism moves the moisturizing cap to a retracted position where it does not contact the recording head.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position correction mechanism moves the moisturizing cap to a position for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head. The at least one recording head among the at least three recording heads is arranged with a position shifted in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction with respect to the other recording heads. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

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