JP2017061038A - Ink-jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recording device capable of suppressing the contamination of a nozzle face at a recovery action time for forcibly discharging ink from the nozzle toward a recovery container for recovering an absorber.SOLUTION: An ink-jet recording device comprises an ink jet head, an absorber and a recovery container. The ink jet head is formed with a nozzle for discharging the ink. An absorber absorbs the ink discharged from the nozzle. The recovery container accommodates the absorber. The recovery container is equipped with a support part in the recovery container. The support part supports the absorber. The absorber is so supported by the support part that the upper face of the absorber is spaced within a range, in which the upper face of the absorber leaves vertically within a range not to produce an ink mist vertically from a nozzle face, in the case where the ink is discharged from the nozzle while the nozzle face of the ink jet head formed with the nozzle opposes in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.

  A technique related to an ink jet recording apparatus has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet recording apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus has capping means. The capping unit covers the nozzle surface where the ink discharge port of the print head is formed. The capping unit is provided in the non-printing area. In the capping unit, the tip of the cap comes into contact with the nozzle surface outside the region where the ink discharge ports are present, and the nozzle surface is covered. The tip of the cap is made of an elastic member. The capping unit has an ink absorber formed of a porous material. The ink absorber is held by the taper portion of the cap while facing the nozzle surface. In the ink jet recording apparatus, after the printing operation is completed, the print head moves to the capping position, and the nozzle surface is capped by the capping means. Every time the capping time exceeds a predetermined time, the preliminary ejection is performed in the capped state.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an ink jet printing apparatus. In the ink jet printing apparatus, a recovery operation is performed when a predetermined print cycle elapses between printing operations. The recovery operation is performed in order to prevent or recover from the occurrence of ejection failure of the print head. In the recovery operation, the print head is moved to the preliminary discharge position when cleaning of the print head is completed, and preliminary discharge is performed. In the preliminary ejection, ink is ejected from all ejection ports of the print head to the absorber in the preliminary ejection box. The ejected ink is temporarily held by the absorber and is guided to the waste ink tank through the drain in contact with the absorber. In the ink jet printing apparatus, each time a recovery operation is performed, the cleaning water is poured into the absorber in the preliminary discharge box through the cleaning water pipe. In the absorbent body containing the cleaning water, the ink in the absorbent body is discharged together with the cleaning water to prevent the ink from being fixed, or the fixed ink is dissolved and discharged. In this document, an ink absorber is provided in a preliminary discharge box and a drain for guiding the ink held in the preliminary discharge box to a waste ink tank, whereby ink droplets generated by the preliminary discharge become mist-like. It is described that it can be prevented from diffusing.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an ink jet recording apparatus and a recording head storage method. In this document, a very thin protective film layer is generally formed on the recording head nozzle arrangement surface by, for example, ink-repellent treatment or water-repellent treatment in order to prevent ink droplets from adhering to the nozzle surface. It is said that. In this document, when the protective film layer is deteriorated or peeled off, the recording head cannot perform normal ink discharge, and discharge failure such as deflection or non-discharge occurs. Furthermore, in this document, it is said that the protective film layer on the nozzle arrangement surface is gradually damaged and peeled off in the worst case while being repeatedly subjected to physical impact during capping. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-249583 JP-A-8-25648 JP 2013-176898 A

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to eliminate or prevent clogging of nozzles formed on an ink jet head, for example, a recovery operation is appropriately executed at a predetermined timing before the start of image recording or during recording. The recovery operation includes an operation of driving the driving elements corresponding to the respective nozzles formed on the ink jet head and forcibly ejecting ink from all the nozzles. During the recovery operation, the collection container is disposed in a state of facing the nozzle surface of the inkjet head. The nozzle surface is a surface on which nozzles are formed in the inkjet head. The collection container is a container that receives ink ejected from the nozzle. The collection container accommodates an absorber that absorbs ink. That is, the ink ejected from the nozzle is absorbed by the absorber housed in the collection container. When the inventor houses the absorber in the collection container and the ink forcedly ejected from the nozzle is absorbed by the absorber, ink mist is generated, and the nozzle surface may be contaminated by the ink mist. I found out. Therefore, the inventor examined the occurrence of ink mist. As a result, the inventor has learned that the distance that the ink ejected from the nozzle flies is related to the generation of ink mist.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of suppressing contamination of a nozzle surface during a recovery operation in which ink is forcibly ejected from a nozzle toward a collection container containing an absorber.

  One aspect of the present invention includes an inkjet head in which nozzles that eject ink are formed, an absorber that absorbs ink ejected from the nozzles, and a recovery container that houses the absorber, and the recovery container Is provided with a support portion for supporting the absorber inside the recovery container, and the absorber has an upper surface of the absorber that is on the upper side in the vertical direction in a state where the absorber is accommodated in the recovery container. When ink is ejected from the nozzle in a state in which the nozzle surface of the inkjet head on which the nozzle is formed is opposed to the nozzle in the vertical direction, ink mist is generated in the upper surface of the absorber from the nozzle surface in the vertical direction. The inkjet recording apparatus is supported by the support unit in a state of being separated within a range not to be performed. In the ink jet recording apparatus, when the ink is ejected from the nozzle in a state where the upper surface of the absorber and the nozzle surface face each other in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the absorber is perpendicular to the nozzle surface. It is also possible to be supported by the support portion in a state of being separated within a range of 15 mm or less.

  According to this configuration, the ink ejected from the nozzle can be absorbed by the absorber. Suppressing the occurrence of ink mist regardless of the type and / or characteristics of the ink by providing the absorber at a position separated from the nozzle surface within a range where ink mist due to ink ejection from the nozzle does not occur. Can do.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, when the ink is ejected from the nozzle in a state where the upper surface of the absorber and the nozzle surface face each other in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the absorber is perpendicular to the nozzle surface. Further, it may be supported by the support portion in a state of being separated within a range of 4 mm to 15 mm. In the ink jet recording apparatus, the following recovery operation may be executed in addition to the recovery operation in which the drive element is driven to forcibly eject ink from the nozzle as described above. That is, there is a case where a recovery operation is performed in which compressed ink is used to pressurize ink supplied to the inkjet head and forcibly eject (discharge) ink from the nozzle. In such a recovery operation, a large amount of ink is ejected from each nozzle. However, since the ejected ink is absorbed by the absorber, for example, it is possible to suppress ink bounce. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the ink that has bounced back adheres to the nozzle surface. In the recovery operation using compressed air, the ink ejected from the nozzle has an extremely large volume of one ink droplet as compared with the time of image recording or the recovery operation in which the drive element is driven. When the volume of the ink droplet increases, it is assumed that the nozzle surface and the upper surface of the absorber are connected by ink. When the nozzle surface and the upper surface of the absorber are connected, the columnar ink is likely to spread on the nozzle surface and / or the upper surface of the absorber. The ink spread on the nozzle surface contaminates the nozzle surface. The ink spread on the upper surface of the absorber becomes difficult to move downward in the vertical direction inside the absorber due to its own weight. When the nozzle surface and the upper surface of the absorber are connected, the ink in the nozzle is sucked toward the absorber, and as a result, foreign matter easily enters the nozzle. Air is exemplified as the foreign matter. By setting the distance between the nozzle surface and the upper surface of the absorber to 4 mm or more, the nozzle surface and the upper surface of the absorber are prevented from being connected by the ink ejected from the nozzle, regardless of the type and / or characteristics of the ink. Can do. Contamination of the nozzle surface with columnar ink can be suppressed. Intrusion of foreign matter into the nozzle can be suppressed.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, the support portion may be provided inside the collection container that is on the upper side in the vertical direction from the bottom surface of the collection container that is on the lower side in the vertical direction. According to this configuration, the ink absorbed by the absorber can be dropped from the absorber by its own weight and collected on the bottom surface of the collection container.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, the support part includes a mounting part in which a hole penetrating in the vertical direction is formed, and the absorber is supported by the support part in a state of sealing the hole. Also good. According to this configuration, the ink absorbed by the absorber can be dropped by passing through the hole from the absorber by its own weight while supporting the absorber.

  Another aspect of the present invention includes an inkjet head in which nozzles that eject ink are formed, an absorber that absorbs ink ejected from the nozzles, and a recovery container that houses the absorber, and the recovery The container includes a support portion that supports the absorber inside the recovery container that is vertically above the bottom surface of the recovery container that is below the vertical direction, and the support portion penetrates in the vertical direction. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a mounting portion in which a hole is formed, and the absorber is supported by the support portion in a state of sealing the hole. According to this configuration, while the absorber is supported, the ink absorbed by the absorber can be dropped by passing through the hole from the absorber by its own weight and collected on the bottom surface of the collection container.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, the placement unit may be formed of a net-like member in which a plurality of the holes are formed. According to this configuration, the absorber can be supported regardless of the material or state of the absorber. An absorber may be formed with a fabric with low rigidity. Even if the fabric has low rigidity, it is possible to support the absorber at a position separated from the nozzle surface within a range in which ink mist is not generated in the vertical direction by placing the cloth on the placement portion formed by the mesh member. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the inkjet recording device which can suppress the contamination of the nozzle surface at the time of the recovery operation which forcibly discharges an ink from a nozzle toward the collection | recovery container which accommodates an absorber can be obtained.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of schematic structure of an inkjet recording device. It is a perspective view which shows an example of schematic structure of a sub tank, a connection flow path, and an inkjet head. It is the DD sectional view taken on the line shown in FIG. The carriage is moved to the maintenance device, and the collection container and the lower surface of the carriage are in close contact with each other. It is a perspective view which shows an example of schematic structure of a maintenance apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows an example of schematic structure of an absorber, a support part, and a collection container.

  Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the configurations described below, and various configurations can be employed in the same technical idea. For example, some of the configurations shown below may be omitted or replaced with other configurations. Other configurations may be included.

<Inkjet recording apparatus>
The ink jet recording apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the ink jet recording apparatus 10, the recording medium 15 is conveyed and an image is recorded on the recording medium 15. In the ink jet recording apparatus 10, images are recorded on various recording media 15. As the recording medium 15, for example, a fabric or a building material is used. In the embodiment, the case where the recording medium 15 is a long fabric is illustrated (see FIG. 1). The ink colors used for image recording are four colors of black, magenta, yellow and cyan. The ink color may be a color other than these. The number of ink colors may be 3 colors or less or 5 colors or more. A pattern given to the portion of the recording medium 15 illustrated on the downstream side in the transport direction in FIG. 1 corresponds to an image recorded on the recording medium 15.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a transport unit 20, main tanks 30K, 30M, 30Y, and 30C, supply channels 31K, 31M, 31Y, and 31C, sub tanks 32K, 32M, 32Y, and 32C, and connection channels 35K and 35M. , 35Y, 35C, a carriage 40, inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, 50C, a first moving unit 60, and a maintenance device 70 (see FIG. 1). The transport unit 20 transports the recording medium 15. The recording medium 15 transported by the transport unit 20 passes through the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C. In the embodiment, a direction in which the recording medium 15 is transported by the transport unit 20 is referred to as a “transport direction”. A direction orthogonal to the transport direction is referred to as a “main scanning direction”. As the transport unit 20, a known belt conveyor can be employed. Therefore, the other description regarding the conveyance part 20 is abbreviate | omitted.

  The main tank 30K stores black ink. The supply flow path 31K connects the main tank 30K and the sub tank 32K. The sub tank 32K stores black ink supplied to the ink jet head 50K as a secondary storage. The connection flow path 35K connects the sub tank 32K and the inkjet head 50K. The main tank 30M stores magenta ink. The supply flow path 31M connects the main tank 30M and the sub tank 32M. The sub tank 32M stores magenta ink supplied to the inkjet head 50M as a secondary storage. The connection flow path 35M connects the sub tank 32M and the inkjet head 50M.

  The main tank 30Y stores yellow ink. The supply flow path 31Y connects the main tank 30Y and the sub tank 32Y. The sub tank 32Y stores the yellow ink supplied to the inkjet head 50Y as a secondary storage. The connection flow path 35Y connects the sub tank 32Y and the inkjet head 50Y. The main tank 30C stores cyan ink. The supply flow path 31C connects the main tank 30C and the sub tank 32C. The sub tank 32C stores the cyan ink supplied to the inkjet head 50C as a secondary storage. The connection channel 35C connects the sub tank 32C and the inkjet head 50C.

  The main tanks 30K, 30M, 30Y, and 30C have the same configuration. The supply flow paths 31K, 31M, 31Y, and 31C have the same configuration. The sub tanks 32K, 32M, 32Y, and 32C have the same configuration. The connection flow paths 35K, 35M, 35Y, and 35C have the same configuration. In the embodiment, the main tanks 30K, 30M, 30Y, and 30C are referred to as “main tank 30” when they are not distinguished or are collectively referred to. When the supply flow paths 31K, 31M, 31Y, and 31C are not distinguished or are collectively referred to as “supply flow path 31”. The sub tanks 32K, 32M, 32Y, and 32C are referred to as “sub tank 32” when they are not distinguished or are collectively referred to. The connection flow paths 35K, 35M, 35Y, and 35C are referred to as “connection flow path 35” when they are not distinguished or are collectively referred to. In FIG. 1, the supply flow paths 31K, 31M, 31Y, 31C and the maintenance device 70 are illustrated in a simplified state. The supply flow paths 31K, 31M, 31Y, and 31C are provided in a state that can cope with the movement of the carriage 40 by the first moving unit 60 described later.

  The inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C are mounted on the carriage 40 in a state where they are positioned at predetermined positions. The inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C are mounted on the carriage 40 in a state of being adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction. The arrangement order of the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C may be different from that shown in FIG. These arrangement orders are appropriately determined in consideration of various conditions. The ink jet head 50K is an ink jet head that discharges black ink and records an image with the black ink. The inkjet head 50M is an inkjet head that discharges magenta ink and records an image with the magenta ink. The inkjet head 50Y is an inkjet head that discharges yellow ink and records an image with the yellow ink. The ink jet head 50C is an ink jet head that discharges cyan ink and records an image with the cyan ink.

  The inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C have the same configuration. In the embodiment, the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C are not distinguished or are collectively referred to as “inkjet head 50”. The ink stored in the main tank 30 flows out of the main tank 30, flows through the supply channel 31, and is supplied to the sub tank 32. The ink supplied to the sub tank 32 flows through the connection flow path 35 and is supplied to the inkjet head 50.

  The inkjet head 50 includes an electrode plate 56 and a plurality of driving elements 57 (see FIG. 2). A plurality of drive elements 57 are attached to the upper surface of the electrode plate 56. The upper surface of the electrode plate 56 is the surface of the electrode plate 56 that is the upper side in the vertical direction. A plurality of nozzles 51 for ejecting ink are formed in the inkjet head 50 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In the inkjet head 50, the plurality of nozzles 51 are arranged along the transport direction. In the embodiment, the arrangement of the nozzles 51 is one row in the main scanning direction. However, the arrangement of the nozzles 51 in the inkjet head 50 for one color may be a plurality of rows in the main scanning direction. In FIG. 2, the number of nozzles 51 per row is seven, but this is an example. The number of nozzles 51 per row is appropriately determined in consideration of various conditions.

  In the embodiment, the surface of the inkjet head 50 on which the nozzles 51 are formed is referred to as a “nozzle surface 52”. The nozzle surface 52 is a surface (lower surface) of the inkjet head 50 which is the lower side in the vertical direction (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In the embodiment, in a state where the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C are mounted on the carriage 40, the nozzle surfaces 52 of the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C are below the lower surface of the carriage 40 in the vertical direction. It protrudes (see FIG. 3). The lower surface of the carriage 40 is a lower surface of the carriage 40 in the vertical direction. When the nozzle surfaces 52 of the ink jet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C are protruded downward in the vertical direction from the lower surface of the carriage 40, the protrusion amount is appropriately set in consideration of various conditions. For example, the protrusion amount is a size smaller than 1 mm. For example, the protrusion amount is about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

  An internal flow path 53 is formed inside the inkjet head 50 (see FIG. 3). The ink supplied to the inkjet head 50 through the connection flow path 35 flows through the internal flow path 53. The internal flow path 53 includes a plurality of branch sections 55 branched from the main flow section 54 connected to the connection flow path 35. One branch portion 55 is connected to one nozzle 51. The plurality of drive elements 57 are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of nozzles 51. The driving element 57 generates a driving force for ejecting ink from the nozzle 51. Examples of the drive element 57 include a piezoelectric element or a heater. In the embodiment, it is assumed that the drive element 57 is a piezoelectric element. In the inkjet head 50, the drive element 57 is in a state of facing the branch portion 55 connected to the corresponding nozzle 51 via the electrode plate 56.

  In the inkjet recording apparatus 10, a vacuum pump and a compressor are connected to the sub tank 32 via a pipe 33 (see FIG. 2). A solenoid valve is provided in the pipe 33 between the sub tank 32 and the vacuum pump and compressor. In FIG. 1, the piping 33 is not shown. In each figure of embodiment, illustration of the above-mentioned electromagnetic valve is abbreviate | omitted. When an image is recorded, the vacuum pump depressurizes the internal space where the ink is stored in the sub tank 32. Thereby, a meniscus is formed in the nozzle 51 in the inkjet head 50. The compressor supplies compressed air to the internal space of the sub tank 32 when a second discharge operation described later is executed. Thereby, in the sub tank 32, the pressure in the internal space is increased, and the ink supplied to the inkjet head 50 is pressurized. When the internal space of the sub tank 32 is depressurized, the connection between the sub tank 32 and the compressor is interrupted by an electromagnetic valve. When the internal space of the sub tank 32 is pressurized, the connection between the sub tank 32 and the vacuum pump is interrupted by an electromagnetic valve.

  In the inkjet recording apparatus 10, a driving voltage is applied to a predetermined driving element 57 among the plurality of driving elements 57 via the electrode plate 56 according to the image data. The image data is data corresponding to the image recorded on the recording medium 15. The drive element 57 to which the drive voltage is applied is deformed. When the drive element 57 is deformed, the force accompanying the deformation acts on the ink in the tributary part 55 connected to the nozzle 51 corresponding to the drive element 57. As a result, the ink in the branch portion 55 is ejected from the nozzle 51. The volume of ink droplets by ink ejected during image recording is about 3 pl to 30 pl. It is assumed that a first discharge operation described later is executed in the inkjet recording apparatus 10. In the first discharge operation, it is assumed that ink is ejected from all the nozzles 51 formed in the inkjet head 50. In this case, a drive voltage is applied to all the drive elements 57 provided in the inkjet head 50 in accordance with image data corresponding to this operation. Accordingly, ink is ejected from all the nozzles 51. The inkjet head 50 is the same as a known inkjet head. Therefore, the other description regarding the inkjet head 50 is abbreviate | omitted.

  When recording an image on the recording medium 15, the first moving unit 60 moves the carriage 40 back and forth in the main scanning direction. The “main scanning range” shown in FIG. 1 indicates a moving range in the main scanning direction in which the carriage 40 is reciprocated during image recording. The first moving unit 60 moves the carriage 40 to a position where the maintenance device 70 is provided when a recovery operation described later is executed or when an image is not recorded on the recording medium 15. In FIG. 1, a carriage 40, an inkjet head 50, and the like indicated by a two-dot chain line indicate these parts moved to the maintenance device 70. The first moving unit 60 moves the carriage 40 to the main scanning range when starting to record an image on the recording medium 15 from a state where the carriage 40 is in the maintenance device 70. Thereafter, the first moving unit 60 starts reciprocating movement in the main scanning direction. The first moving unit 60 includes two pulleys 61 and 62, a timing belt 63, and a motor 64. The two pulleys 61 and 62 are respectively provided on both sides in the main scanning direction with respect to the transport unit 20. A motor 64 is connected to the pulley 61. The pulley 62 is rotatably supported. The pulley 61 rotates as the motor 64 rotates. The timing belt 63 is stretched over pulleys 61 and 62 in a state where tension is applied. A carriage 40 is attached to the timing belt 63 via a stay 41.

  In the maintenance device 70, a recovery operation is executed. Examples of the recovery operation include a first discharge operation, a second discharge operation, and wiping. The first discharge operation is a recovery operation in which all the drive elements 57 are driven and ink is forcibly ejected from all the nozzles 51. The second discharge operation is a recovery operation in which the ink supplied from the sub tank 32 to the inkjet head 50 is pressurized using the compressed air from the compressor and the ink is forcibly discharged from all the nozzles 51. In the first discharge operation, a minute amount of ink is discharged from the nozzle 51, and in the second discharge operation, a larger amount of ink is discharged from the nozzle 51 than the ink in the first discharge operation. The size of the ink droplet by the ink discharged from the nozzle 51 in the second discharge operation may be about 3 mm (less than 4 mm) in the vertical direction. The ink droplets by the ink ejected by the first ejection operation fly at a higher speed toward the lower side in the vertical direction than in the second ejection operation. The wiping is a recovery operation that wipes the nozzle surfaces 52 of the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C and cleans the nozzle surfaces 52. The other description regarding the maintenance apparatus 70 is mentioned later.

  When an image is recorded on the recording medium 15 by the ink jet recording apparatus 10, the first moving unit 60 and the conveying unit 20 operate as follows. That is, in the first moving unit 60, the motor 64 connected to the pulley 61 reciprocally rotates in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. As the motor 64 rotates, the pulley 61 rotates back and forth on both the left and right sides. An arc-shaped arrow shown inside the pulley 61 in FIG. 1 indicates the rotation direction of the pulley 61. When the pulley 64 rotates counterclockwise as the motor 64 rotates in a predetermined direction, the timing belt 63 also rotates counterclockwise. The pulley 62 rotates following the timing belt 63 that rotates counterclockwise. Accordingly, the carriage 40 moves the main scanning range from the first side to the second side in the main scanning direction. When the carriage 40 reaches the second moving end in the main scanning direction within the main scanning range, the rotation direction of the motor 64 is reversed, and the pulley 61 rotates to the right. When the pulley 61 rotates to the right, the timing belt 63 also rotates to the right. The pulley 62 rotates following the timing belt 63 that rotates clockwise. Accordingly, the carriage 40 moves the main scanning range from the second side in the main scanning direction to the first side. When the carriage 40 reaches the first moving end in the main scanning direction in the main scanning range, the rotation direction of the motor 64 is reversed again, and the pulley 61 rotates left again.

  The transport unit 20 transports the recording medium 15 in the transport direction in response to the above-described reciprocation of the carriage 40 in the main scanning direction. That is, the conveyance of the recording medium 15 by the conveyance unit 20 is intermittently performed according to the reciprocation of the carriage 40 in the main scanning direction. The inks of the respective colors are ejected toward the recording medium 15 from the nozzles 51 respectively formed on the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C at a predetermined timing when the carriage 40 moves in the main scanning direction. The inks of the respective colors ejected from the nozzles 51 of the ink jet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C land on the recording medium 15. An image is recorded on the recording medium 15 by the landed ink of each color. The first moving unit 60 operates until image recording is completed. Therefore, the reciprocating movement of the carriage 40 in the main scanning direction is repeated until the image recording is completed. For example, the conveyance unit 20 stops at a predetermined timing after the image recording is completed. As the transport unit 20 stops, transport of the recording medium 15 in the transport direction also ends.

<Maintenance device>
The maintenance device 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. The maintenance device 70 includes an absorber 71, a first lifting / lowering unit 72, a collection container 73, and a wiping unit 90 (see FIG. 4). The wiping unit 90 is provided at a predetermined position with respect to the collection container 73. In the embodiment, the wiping unit 90 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the collection container 73. The absorber 71 absorbs ink ejected from the nozzles 51 in each of the first discharge operation and the second discharge operation. The absorber 71 is formed of a member having ink absorbability. For example, the absorber 71 is formed of a fabric. The absorbent body 71 may be formed by a porous member such as a sponge. The thickness of the absorber 71 is about several millimeters to several tens of millimeters. For example, the absorbent body 71 is a fabric having a thickness of about 3 mm or a laminate of a fabric having a thickness of about 3 mm by stacking a plurality of fabrics.

  The first elevating unit 72 moves the collection container 73 in the vertical direction. For example, it is assumed that the carriage 40 is moved to the maintenance device 70 by the first moving unit 60 and the first discharge operation or the second discharge operation is executed by the maintenance device 70. The first elevating unit 72 moves the collection container 73 upward in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the collection container 73 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the carriage 40 on the lower surface of the carriage 40 (see FIG. 3). Predetermined areas including the nozzle surfaces 52 of the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C and the lower surface of the carriage 40 are sealed with a collection container 73. In the first discharge operation or the second discharge operation, ink is discharged from the nozzle 51 in such a state. When the first discharge operation or the second discharge operation is completed, the first lifting unit 72 moves the collection container 73 downward in the vertical direction. The wiping is performed in a state where the collection container 73 is arranged on the lower side in the vertical direction by the first elevating part 72. In the embodiment, the first elevating part 72 is constituted by two air cylinders. However, the 1st raising / lowering part 72 is good also as a mechanism using the well-known components different from an air cylinder. For example, a mechanism using a ball screw and a motor may be used.

  The collection container 73 accommodates the absorber 71. The collection container 73 includes a cap part 74 and a support part 75. The cap part 74 is provided in the opening edge part of the collection | recovery container 73 used as the upper side of a perpendicular direction. The cap part 74 is formed of a member having elasticity. For example, the cap part 74 is formed of rubber. When the collection container 73 is moved upward in the vertical direction by the first elevating part 72, the cap part 74 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the lower surface of the carriage 40 in the collection container 73.

  The support part 75 is provided inside the collection container 73 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Inside the collection container 73, the support portion 75 is provided inside the collection container 73 that is above the bottom surface of the collection container 73 in the vertical direction. The support portion 75 includes a placement portion 76, a receiving portion 77, and a spacer 78. The placement unit 76 is placed on the receiving unit 77. In the embodiment, one receiving portion 77 is provided on each inner wall of the collection container 73 (four in total). The number and position of the receiving portions 77 provided on the inner wall of the collection container 73 are appropriately determined in consideration of various conditions. The receiving part 77 is fixed to a mounting hole formed on the inner wall of the collection container 73, for example. For example, the mounting hole is a screw hole, and the receiving portion 77 is screwed to the mounting hole. The receiving part 77 may be fixed to the inner wall of the collection container 73 by forming a mounting hole in the inner wall and fitting a part of the receiving part 77 into the mounting hole.

  The placement portion 76 is formed by a mesh member. A plurality of holes penetrating in the vertical direction are formed in the mesh member. The mesh member is, for example, a wire mesh. The absorber 71 is placed on the placement unit 76 in a state of sealing the plurality of holes. That is, the absorbent body 71 is supported by the support portion 75 in a state in which a plurality of holes are sealed, and is accommodated in the collection container 73. A spacer 78 may be provided between the placing portion 76 and the receiving portion 77 in the vertical direction. In the embodiment, the number of spacers 78 is one, but a plurality of spacers 78 may be provided between the receiving portion 77 and the placing portion 76. When the spacer 78 is provided, the vertical position of the placement portion 76 on which the absorber 71 is placed can be adjusted according to the thickness and / or number of the spacers 78. The spacer 78 is not used and may be omitted. For example, when it is not necessary to adjust the position of the placement unit 76 in the vertical direction, the spacer 78 is omitted.

  Regarding the arrangement of the mounting holes of the collection container 73 to which the receiving portion 77 is fixed, a plurality of hole rows by a plurality of mounting holes may be provided on the inner wall of the collection container 73. In the embodiment in which one receiving portion 77 is provided on each inner wall of the collection container 73, the above-described hole row is one row on each inner wall (four rows in total). In each hole row, the vertical positional relationship in which the plurality of mounting holes are respectively formed is the same position. For example, the number of mounting holes is 4 per row, for a total of 4 rows. In this case, in the four hole rows, the vertical positions of the Nth mounting holes (N is any one of 1, 2, 3 and 4) from the upper side in the vertical direction are the same. The four receiving portions 77 are respectively fixed to mounting holes whose vertical positions are the same in each hole row. By arranging the mounting holes in such a manner, the position in the vertical direction of the mounting portion 76 on which the absorber 71 is placed can be adjusted. The spacer 78 can be used in combination while the mounting holes are arranged as described above. The placement unit 76 is placed directly or via a spacer 78 on four receiving portions 77 having the same vertical position.

  By changing the vertical position of the mounting portion 76, the vertical position of the absorber 71 can be changed inside the collection container 73. Accordingly, the interval G in the state where the collection container 73 and the lower surface of the carriage 40 are in close contact with each other can be set as appropriate. The interval G is a vertical distance between the nozzle surface 52 and the upper surface of the absorber 71 in the state described above (see FIG. 3). The upper surface of the absorber 71 is the surface of the absorber 71 that is the upper side in the vertical direction in a state where the absorber 71 is accommodated in the collection container 73. The gap G is a distance in which the upper surface of the absorber 71 is separated from the nozzle surface 52 in a range in which no ink mist is generated in the vertical direction when ink is ejected from the nozzle 51 in the state described above. That is, when the ink is ejected from the nozzle 51, the absorber 71 is supported by the support portion 75 in a state where the upper surface of the absorber 71 is separated from the nozzle surface 52 in a range where no ink mist is generated in the vertical direction. The range where ink mist is not generated will be described later.

  A discharge port 79 is formed on the bottom surface of the collection container 73 (see FIG. 3). The bottom surface of the collection container 73 is an inclined surface that is inclined downward in the vertical direction toward the discharge port 79. A discharge channel 80 is connected to the discharge port 79. For example, ink that has been absorbed by the absorber 71 and dripped from the absorber 71 and a humidifying liquid that will be described later flow out from the discharge port 79 to the discharge channel 80. The discharge channel 80 is connected to a waste tank. Accordingly, the ink or the like dripping from the absorber 71 flows through the discharge channel 80 and is collected in the waste tank. An opening / closing valve 81 is provided in the discharge flow path 80. When the on-off valve 81 is in an open state, the discharge channel 80 is in an open state. In this case, the collection container 73 and the waste tank communicate with each other, and the ink or the like flowing out from the discharge port 79 can flow through the discharge flow path 80 toward the waste tank. When the on-off valve 81 is in a closed state, the discharge channel 80 is in a closed state. In this case, for example, the ink dripping from the absorber 71 is stored in the collection container 73.

  In the collection container 73, a liquid supply port 82 penetrating the outer wall and the inner wall of the wall portion is formed (see FIG. 3). In the collection container 73, the number and positions of the liquid supply ports 82 are appropriately determined in consideration of various conditions. In the embodiment, one liquid supply port 82 is formed on the first side wall portion of the collection container 73 in the main scanning direction. In the wall portion of the recovery container 73, the liquid supply port 82 is disposed below the support portion 75 in the vertical direction. A liquid supply passage 83 connected to the liquid supply apparatus is connected to the liquid supply port 82. From the liquid supply port 82, the humidifying liquid supplied from the liquid supply device through the liquid supply channel 83 is discharged. The humidifying liquid discharged from the liquid supply port 82 is stored in the recovery container 73. The liquid supply channel 83 is provided with an open / close valve. In each figure of the embodiment, the above-described opening / closing valve is not shown. Release of the humidifying liquid is started by opening an on-off valve provided in the liquid supply flow path 83, and stopped by setting it to a closed state.

  The wiping unit 90 includes a blade 91, a holding unit 95, a second lifting unit 96, and a second moving unit 97 (see FIG. 4). In FIG. 4, illustration of the supply flow path 31, the sub tank 32, the stay 41, and the first moving unit 60 is omitted. The blade 91 is in contact with the nozzle surface 52 and wipes the nozzle surface 52. The blade 91 is formed of an elastic member. For example, the blade 91 is made of rubber. The blade 91 is fixed to the holding unit 95.

  The holding unit 95 is moved in the vertical direction by the second elevating unit 96. Thereby, in the wiping unit 90, the position of the blade 91 in the vertical direction is adjusted. The contact pressure and / or contact amount of the blade 91 with respect to the nozzle surface 52 can be adjusted. The holding unit 95 is moved by the second moving unit 97 in a direction opposite to the transport direction and in the transport direction. Accordingly, the blade 91 can be reciprocated along the arrangement of the nozzles 51 in the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C.

  In the embodiment, the second elevating part 96 is constituted by an air cylinder. In the second elevating part 96, the rod of the air cylinder is fixed to the holding part 95. The second moving part 97 includes a ball screw 98, a motor 101, two linear guides 102, and a pedestal part 105. The ball screw 98 is provided with the screw shaft 99 along the transport direction. The motor 101 rotates the screw shaft 99. In FIG. 4, the arc-shaped arrow shown inside the motor 101 indicates the direction of rotation of the screw shaft 99 by the motor 101. The linear guides 102 are respectively provided on the first side and the second side in the main scanning direction with reference to the screw shaft 99 of the ball screw 98. In the two linear guides 102, the guide rail 103 is provided in a state along the transport direction. In the linear guide 102, the block 104 moves on the guide rail 103 in a direction opposite to the transport direction and in the transport direction. A second elevating part 96 fixed to the holding part 95 is attached to the pedestal part 105. The pedestal portion 105 is attached to the nut portion 100 of the ball screw 98. Further, the pedestal portion 105 is attached to each block 104 of the two linear guides 102.

  When the screw shaft 99 is rotated in a predetermined direction by the motor 101, the nut portion 100 moves in a direction opposite to the conveying direction. When the screw shaft 99 is rotated in the direction opposite to the aforementioned direction by the motor 101, the nut portion 100 moves in the transport direction. The pedestal part 105 moves in the same direction as the nut part 100 moves in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction or in the conveyance direction. As the pedestal part 105 moves, the holding part 95 also moves in the same direction. Such movement of the holding portion 95 is guided by the two linear guides 102.

  The wiping by the wiping unit 90 is executed as follows, for example. When wiping is executed, the collection container 73 is moved downward in the vertical direction by the first elevating unit 72 as described above. In this state, the second elevating unit 96 is driven to move the holding unit 95 to a predetermined position on the upper side in the vertical direction. Subsequently, the second moving unit 97 is driven to move the holding unit 95 in the direction opposite to the transport direction. Along with this, the blade 91 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction in a state where the tip is in contact with the nozzle surface 52, and wipes the nozzle surface 52. The ink wiped off by the blade 91 drips down on the upper surface of the absorber 71. When the blade 91 passes through the nozzle surface 52 and reaches a predetermined position in a predetermined transport direction, the movement in the direction opposite to the transport direction by the second moving unit 97 is stopped.

  Thereafter, the second lifting and lowering unit 96 is driven to move the holding unit 95 to a predetermined position on the lower side in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the blade 91 is lowered to a position where the tip is separated from the nozzle surface 52 in the vertical direction. Subsequently, the second moving unit 97 is driven to move the holding unit 95 in the transport direction. The blade 91 moves in the transport direction while being separated from the lower surface of the carriage 40 and the nozzle surface 52. When the blade 91 passes through the nozzle surface 52 and reaches a predetermined position in a predetermined transport direction, the movement in the transport direction by the second moving unit 97 is stopped. Even when the holding unit 95 is moved in the transport direction, the tip of the blade 91 may be in contact with the nozzle surface 52 without moving the holding unit 95 to a predetermined position below the vertical direction. In this case, after the movement in the transport direction by the second moving unit 97 is stopped, the holding unit 95 is moved to a predetermined position on the lower side in the vertical direction by the second elevating unit 96.

  In the maintenance device 70, in addition to the recovery operation described above, the following operation is also executed. That is, if an image is not recorded on the recording medium 15 continuously for a certain time by the ink jet recording apparatus 10, it is assumed that the ink in the nozzle 51 is dried and the nozzle 51 is easily clogged in the ink jet head 50. Therefore, when an image is not recorded continuously for a certain time, the carriage 40 is moved to the maintenance device 70 in the inkjet recording apparatus 10. In the maintenance device 70, the on-off valve 81 is closed. In this state, a predetermined amount of the humidifying liquid is discharged from the liquid supply port 82. Accordingly, the humidifying liquid is stored in the collection container 73. The amount of the humidifying liquid stored in the collection container 73 is, for example, the amount from the absorber 71 to the lower side in the vertical direction. However, the humidifying liquid may be released until the absorber 71 is immersed in the humidifying liquid.

  Release of the humidifying liquid from the liquid supply port 82 is stopped in a state where a predetermined amount of the humidifying liquid is stored in the recovery container 73. Thereafter, the first elevating unit 72 is driven, and the collection container 73 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the carriage 40 as in the case of the first discharge operation or the second discharge operation. Accordingly, predetermined areas including the nozzle surfaces 52 of the inkjet heads 50K, 50M, 50Y, and 50C and the lower surface of the carriage 40 are sealed by the collection container 73. As the humidifying liquid stored in the collection container 73 evaporates, the inside of the collection container 73 is wetted. As a result, drying of the ink in the nozzle 51 is suppressed, and thickening of the ink can be prevented. An example of the humidifying liquid is pure water.

<Examination of distance between nozzle surface and upper surface of absorber>
In order to clarify the range in which ink mist does not occur and to set the optimum range of the gap G, the inventor studied the following method. That is, in the first method studied by the inventor, the maximum value of the interval G is determined. The inventor has known that ink mist is more likely to occur as the distance over which ink flies after ejection becomes longer. The first method is based on such knowledge. The maximum value of the interval G is the maximum interval between the nozzle surface 52 and the upper surface of the absorber 71 that can suppress the occurrence of ink mist. In the first method, a plurality of different distances are set as the intervals G, and the first discharge operation is executed at each set distance. The discharge conditions of the first discharge operation are the same at each distance. In order to observe the degree of contamination after the end of the first discharging operation, an observation recording medium is attached to a predetermined area that does not cover the nozzle 51 in the lower surface of the carriage 40 and the nozzle surface 52. The observation recording medium is, for example, a predetermined recording paper. The recording medium for observation is replaced every time the first discharge operation at each distance is completed. The ink attached to the observation recording medium subjected to the first discharging operation at a predetermined distance is observed. A predetermined region on the nozzle surface 52 and / or the lower surface of the carriage 40 may be directly set as an observation target without using an observation recording medium. In this case, the first discharging operation at each distance is started in a state where the surface of the observation mode is clean.

  The same examination as in the first method is performed by subtracting the increase in the mass of the absorber 71 before and after the start of the first discharge operation from the total mass of ink ejected from the nozzles 51 in the first discharge operation at a predetermined distance. The difference amount may be compared at each distance. In this case, ink of the same mass is ejected in the first discharge operation at each distance. The maximum value of the interval G can be determined based on the distance at which the difference amount increases.

  Furthermore, the inventors examined a second method for determining the minimum value of the interval G. In this examination, the inventor knows that in the second discharging operation, the ink discharged from the nozzle 51 has an extremely large volume of one ink droplet compared to the time of image recording or the first discharging operation. doing. When the volume of the ink droplet increases, it is assumed that the nozzle surface 52 and the upper surface of the absorber 71 are connected by ink. When the nozzle surface 52 and the upper surface of the absorber 71 are connected, the columnar ink is likely to spread on the nozzle surface 52 and / or the upper surface of the absorber 71. The ink spread on the nozzle surface 52 contaminates the nozzle surface 52. The ink spreading on the upper surface of the absorber 71 is difficult to move downward in the vertical direction inside the absorber 71 due to its own weight. When the nozzle surface 52 and the upper surface of the absorber 71 are connected, the ink in the nozzle 51 is sucked toward the absorber 71, and as a result, foreign matter easily enters the nozzle 51. Air is exemplified as the foreign matter. The second method is based on such knowledge.

  In the second method, a plurality of different distances are set as the intervals G, and the second discharge operation is executed at each set distance. The discharge conditions of the second discharge operation are the same at each distance. In order to observe the degree of contamination after the end of the second ejection operation, an observation recording medium is attached to a predetermined area that does not cover the nozzle 51 in the lower surface of the carriage 40 and the nozzle surface 52. The recording medium for observation is replaced every time the second discharge operation at each distance is completed. The ink attached to the observation recording medium subjected to the second discharging operation at a predetermined distance is observed. A predetermined region on the nozzle surface 52 and / or the lower surface of the carriage 40 may be directly set as an observation target without using an observation recording medium. In this case, the second discharging operation at each distance is started in a state where the surface of the observation mode is clean.

  As a result of the investigation based on the first method, the inventor found a maximum value of 15 mm of the gap G as a critical value that increases the amount of ink adhering to the recording medium for observation. As a result of the investigation based on the second method, the inventor has found a minimum value 4 mm of the interval G as a critical value that increases the amount of ink adhering to the recording medium for observation. That is, the inventor can suppress the occurrence of ink mist by setting the gap G to 15 mm or less. However, when the gap G is shortened, the nozzle surface 52 is contaminated for the reason described above in connection with the second method. In order to prevent foreign matter from entering the nozzle 51, the optimum range of the gap G was found to be 4 mm or more and 15 mm or less.

<Effect of embodiment>
According to the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) In the maintenance device 70, the absorber 71 is accommodated in the collection container 73 in a state of being supported by the support portion 75 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). In the inkjet recording apparatus 10, the carriage 40 is moved to the maintenance device 70 by the first moving unit 60, and the first discharge operation or the second discharge operation is performed. The first discharge operation or the second discharge operation is executed in a state where the collection container 73 is moved upward in the vertical direction by the first elevating unit 72 and the collection container 73 is in close contact with the lower surface of the carriage 40 by the cap unit 74. In this state, the gap G between the nozzle surface 52 and the upper surface of the absorber 71 in the vertical direction is set to a predetermined distance of 4 mm or more and 15 mm or less from the result of the examination based on the first method and the second method described above. The That is, in the maintenance device 70, when ink is ejected from the nozzle 51 in the first discharging operation or the second discharging operation, the absorber 71 has an upper surface of the absorber 71 that is vertically 4 mm or more and 15 mm or less from the nozzle surface 52. It is supported by the support part 75 in a state of being separated by a predetermined distance.

  Therefore, the ink ejected from the nozzle 51 can be absorbed by the absorber 71. It is possible to prevent the ink ejected from the nozzle 51 from rebounding. In the first discharging operation, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ink mist with various inks used for image recording. In the second discharging operation, it is possible to suppress the nozzle surface 52 and the upper surface of the absorber 71 from being connected by the ink discharged from the nozzle 51. In the case where the first discharge operation and the second discharge operation are performed, it is possible to suppress ink from adhering to the nozzle surface 52. Contamination of the nozzle surface 52 with the ink ejected from the nozzle 51 can be reduced or prevented. Intrusion of foreign matter into the nozzle 51 can be suppressed. By executing the first discharge operation and the second discharge operation, a high-quality image can be recorded on the recording medium 15.

  (2) In the support part 75, the mounting part 76 is formed of a mesh member (see FIG. 5). Therefore, a plurality of holes penetrating in the vertical direction are formed in the mounting portion 76. Therefore, the ink absorbed by the absorber 71 can be dropped from the absorber 71 by its own weight and collected on the bottom surface of the collection container 73.

<Modification>
The embodiment can also be performed as follows. Some configurations of the modifications shown below can be appropriately combined and employed. Hereinafter, points different from the above will be described, and description of similar points will be omitted as appropriate.

  (1) In the inkjet recording apparatus 10, an image is recorded on the recording medium 15 that is transported in the transport direction by the transport unit 20 while the carriage 40 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the first moving unit 60 (see FIG. 1). ). An ink jet recording apparatus of a type different from the ink jet recording apparatus 10 has been put into practical use. This different type of ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head called a line type. The maintenance device 70 can also be employed in an inkjet recording apparatus that includes a line-type inkjet head. In the line-type inkjet head, the plurality of nozzles are arranged in the direction of the width W of the recording medium 15 that coincides with the main scanning direction.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus including a line type ink jet head, the carriage is not reciprocated in the main scanning direction during image recording. Therefore, in this ink jet recording apparatus, a first moving unit having a function of moving the carriage on which the line type ink jet head is mounted to the maintenance device 70 like the first moving unit 60 is separately provided. As the first moving unit, a known moving mechanism can be adopted. For example, the first moving unit is formed by assembling a ball screw, a motor, and a linear guide, like the second moving unit 97 of the wiping unit 90. By rotating the screw shaft of the ball screw by the motor, the carriage can be moved in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction. The linear guide guides the movement of the carriage. The ball screw and the motor may be omitted, and the carriage may be moved manually. The wiping is performed by moving the blade along the direction in which the nozzles are arranged by the inkjet head for each color. Therefore, in the wiping for the line type ink jet head, the moving direction of the blade by the second moving unit is the main scanning direction shown in FIG.

  (2) The first discharge operation and the second discharge operation are executed in a state where the collection container 73 and the lower surface of the carriage 40 are in close contact (see FIG. 3). The first discharge operation and the second discharge operation may be executed in a state where the collection container 73 and the lower surface of the carriage 40 are not in close contact with each other.

  (3) The support part 75 is provided with the mounting part 76 (refer FIG.3 and FIG.5). The absorbent body 71 formed by the fabric is placed on the placement unit 76. This is because the fabric forming the absorbent body 71 has low rigidity and falls directly on the bottom surface of the collection container 73 when placed on the receiving portion 77 or the spacer 78 directly. The rigidity of the material forming the absorber is high. For example, if the absorber does not fall on the bottom surface of the collection container 73 without supporting the entire surface of the absorber from the lower side in the vertical direction, the mounting portion 76 is omitted. You may do it. In this case, the absorber is placed directly on the receiving portion as the support portion. However, the vertical position can also be adjusted by the spacer 78 as described above.

  The placing portion 76 is formed of a mesh member (see FIGS. 3 and 5). A plurality of holes penetrating in the vertical direction are formed in the mounting portion 76 formed by the mesh member. The placement portion may be annular like the spacer 78. Assume that the absorbent body is a thin fabric as described above. In this case, for example, the placement unit has a structure divided into two in the vertical direction. Each part of the mounting part divided into two sandwiches the outer peripheral part of the absorber from the upper side and the lower side in the vertical direction. One hole penetrating in the vertical direction in the mounting portion is in a state of being blocked by the absorber. Each part of the mounting part divided into two is fixed by a predetermined fastener in a state where the absorber is sandwiched. A screw is illustrated as a fastener used for this fixation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet recording device, 15 recording medium, 20 conveyance part 30,30K, 30M, 30Y, 30C Main tank 31,31K, 31M, 31Y, 31C Supply flow path 32,32K, 32M, 32Y, 32C Sub tank, 33 Piping 35, 35K, 35M, 35Y, 35C connection flow path, 40 carriage 41 stay, 50, 50K, 50M, 50Y, 50C inkjet head 51 nozzle, 52 nozzle surface, 53 internal flow path, 54 main flow section 55 branch section, 56 electrode plate, 57 drive element, 60 first moving part 61, 62 pulley, 63 timing belt, 64 motor 70 maintenance device, 71 absorber, 72 first elevating part, 73 collection container 74 cap part, 75 support part, 76 mounting part, 77 Receiving part 78 Spacer, 79 Discharge port, 80 Outlet channel, 81 On-off valve 82 Supply port, 83 Supply channel, 90 Wiping unit, 91 Blade 95 Holding unit, 96 Second lifting unit, 97 Second moving unit, 98 Ball screw 99 Screw shaft, 100 Nut unit , 101 motor, 102 linear guide 103 guide rail, 104 blocks, 105 pedestal, G interval W width

Claims (7)

An inkjet head on which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed;
An absorber for absorbing ink ejected from the nozzle;
A collection container for containing the absorber,
The collection container includes a support portion that supports the absorber inside the collection container,
In the absorber, the upper surface of the absorber that is on the upper side in the vertical direction in a state where the absorber is accommodated in the recovery container and the nozzle surface of the inkjet head on which the nozzles are formed face each other in the vertical direction. When ink is ejected from the nozzle in a state where the ink is discharged, the upper surface of the absorber is supported by the support portion in a state where the upper surface of the absorber is separated from the nozzle surface in a range in which no ink mist is generated.   When the ink is ejected from the nozzle in a state where the upper surface of the absorber and the nozzle surface face each other in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the absorber is within a range of 15 mm or less in the vertical direction from the nozzle surface. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is supported by the support portion in a state of being separated at a distance.   When the ink is ejected from the nozzle in a state where the upper surface of the absorber and the nozzle surface face each other in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the absorber is 4 mm or more and 15 mm or less in the vertical direction from the nozzle surface. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is supported by the support portion in a state of being separated within a range.   The inkjet recording according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support portion is provided inside the collection container that is vertically above the bottom surface of the collection container that is below the vertical direction. apparatus. The support part includes a mounting part in which a hole penetrating in the vertical direction is formed,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the absorber is supported by the support portion in a state of sealing the hole. An inkjet head on which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed;
An absorber for absorbing ink ejected from the nozzle;
A collection container for containing the absorber,
The collection container includes a support portion that supports the absorber inside the collection container that is vertically above the bottom surface of the collection container that is below the vertical direction,
The support part includes a mounting part in which a hole penetrating in the vertical direction is formed,
The ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the absorber is supported by the support portion in a state of sealing the hole.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the placement unit is formed of a net-like member in which a plurality of the holes are formed.

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