JP2017121710A - Liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid discharge device which inhibits a liquid from being discharged to a medium to which foreign objects adhere while inhibiting influence on a liquid discharge mode of a discharge part.SOLUTION: A printer (a liquid discharge device) includes: a transport part which transports a medium M in a transport direction F; a discharge part 52 which discharges a liquid to the medium M; a carriage 100 which moves in a width direction X intersecting with the transport direction F while supporting the discharge part 52; and a duct 104 provided at the carriage 100 and having an intake port 101 opening in a carriage 100 moving direction (a second direction -X) and an outlet port 102 opening toward the medium M. The outlet port 102 is provided at an upstream side of the discharge part 52 in the transport direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a discharge section (recording head) that discharges ink as an example of a liquid onto a medium (recording medium) such as paper and a carriage that supports the discharge section, and a width that intersects the carriage conveyance direction with the carriage 2. Related Art Inkjet printing apparatuses that form characters and images on a medium by ejecting ink from an ejection unit while moving in a direction are known.

  In addition, in such a printing apparatus, the cross-sectional shape of the discharge portion in the width direction is a wing shape, thereby changing the airflow generated by the movement of the carriage in the width direction, and more between the discharge portion and the medium. There exists what guides gas (for example, patent documents 1).

JP2015-83387A

  By the way, in a printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium conveyed as described above, if foreign matter such as fluff or paper dust adheres to the medium, the ink ejected from the ejection unit by such foreign matter normally lands on the medium. If this is not done, the ink landing accuracy may be reduced. In addition, when foreign matter adhering to the medium is caused to flow in the airflow generated by the movement of the carriage, there is a possibility that gas mixed with foreign matter may pass between the ejection unit and the medium. In this case, the ejection mode of the ink ejected from the ejection unit is affected, and the ink landing accuracy may be reduced.

  Such a situation is not limited to a printing apparatus, but is generally common in liquid ejection apparatuses that eject liquid toward a medium from an ejection unit supported by a carriage that moves in a direction that intersects the medium conveyance direction. It has become.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus capable of suppressing the ejection of liquid onto a medium to which foreign matter has adhered while suppressing the influence of the liquid ejection mode of the ejection section.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A liquid ejection apparatus that solves the above problems includes a transport unit that transports a medium in a transport direction, a discharge unit that discharges liquid toward the medium, and a width that intersects the transport direction while supporting the discharge unit. A carriage that moves in a direction, and a duct that is provided in the carriage and has an intake port that opens toward the moving direction of the carriage and a blower port that opens toward the medium. It is provided upstream in the transport direction from the discharge unit.

  According to this configuration, ink is ejected from the ejection unit toward the medium as the carriage moves in the width direction. Further, when the carriage moves in the width direction, gas is taken into the duct inlet, while the gas blows out from the duct outlet. In addition, since the air outlet is provided upstream of the ejection unit in the transport direction, if foreign matter such as fluff or dust adheres to the medium, before the ink is ejected to the medium on which the foreign matter has adhered The foreign matter can be removed.

  Furthermore, since the blower outlet is provided upstream of the discharge part in the transport direction, the gas blown from the blower outlet is unlikely to flow between the discharge part and the medium. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the gas blown out from the outlet from affecting the liquid discharge mode of the discharge unit. Thus, according to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the discharge of the liquid onto the medium on which the foreign matter has adhered while suppressing the influence of the liquid discharge mode of the discharge unit.

  In the liquid ejection apparatus, a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles that eject liquid is formed in the ejection section in a direction intersecting the width direction, and the most upstream of the plurality of nozzles is formed in the transport direction. When the nozzle is the most upstream nozzle and the length of the nozzle row in the transport direction is the nozzle row length, the air outlet is not less than the nozzle row length from the most upstream nozzle toward the upstream in the transport direction. It is desirable to have a length.

  In the case where liquid is discharged onto the medium by alternately repeating the medium transport operation in the transport direction and the liquid discharge operation from the discharge unit accompanying the movement of the carriage in the width direction, the medium in the transport operation The unit transport amount may be determined according to the nozzle row length.

  According to this configuration, whether the medium transport amount in the transport operation (hereinafter also referred to as “unit transport amount”) is less than the nozzle row length or the nozzle row length, The region where the liquid is discharged in the current discharge operation is a region where gas is blown from the outlet of the duct in the previous discharge operation. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the liquid from being ejected onto the medium to which foreign matter has adhered, regardless of the unit transport amount in the transport operation.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, when the one direction in the width direction is a first direction and the opposite direction of the first direction is a second direction, the intake port faces the first direction. A first intake opening that opens and a second intake opening that opens in the second direction, wherein the outlet is in the second direction more than the first intake opening. A first air outlet provided on the side and a second air outlet provided closer to the first direction than the second intake port, and the duct includes the first intake port. And a first duct having the first air outlet, and a second duct having the second intake port and the second air outlet.

  According to the above configuration, when the carriage moves in the first direction, the gas passing through the first duct is blown to the medium, while when the carriage moves in the second direction, the second A gas passing through the duct is blown onto the medium. Thus, according to this configuration, the foreign matter attached to the medium can be removed when the carriage moves in either direction in the width direction. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the liquid from being discharged onto the medium on which the foreign matter has adhered.

  In the liquid discharge apparatus, the first duct and the second duct are connected so that gas flowing through one duct flows into the other duct, and the second intake is connected from the first intake port. A first state that restricts the flow of gas to the inlet and allows the flow of gas from the first inlet to the first outlet, and the second state from the second inlet. A switching valve that switches between a second state that restricts the flow of gas to one intake port and allows the flow of gas from the second intake port to the second outlet, The switching valve is preferably in the first state when the carriage moves in the first direction, and in the second state when the carriage moves in the second direction.

  According to the above configuration, in order to allow connection of the first duct and the second duct, the first duct on the carriage and the first duct on the carriage are compared with the case where the first duct and the second duct are not connected. The degree of freedom in routing the second duct can be increased. In addition, by switching between the first state and the second state by the switching valve, the gas taken in from the first intake port is discharged from the second intake port when the carriage moves in the first direction. This can be suppressed, or when the carriage moves in the second direction, the gas taken in from the second intake port can be suppressed from being discharged from the first intake port.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, a force generated by the movement of the carriage when the carriage moves in the first direction acts on the switching valve in the second direction, while the carriage is The force generated with the movement of the carriage when moving in the direction of 2 acts in the first direction, and the switching valve has the force generated with the movement of the carriage in the first direction. In this case, it is desirable to enter the second state, and to enter the first state when a force generated in accordance with the movement of the carriage acts in the second direction.

  When the carriage moves in the first direction, inertial force or wind pressure (wind force) due to gas flowing through the duct acts on the switching valve in the second direction. Further, when the carriage moves in the second direction, inertial force or wind pressure (wind force) due to gas flowing through the duct acts on the switching valve in the first direction.

  In this regard, in the above configuration, the first state and the second state can be switched by the force generated as the carriage moves. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform control for switching the state of the switching valve in accordance with the moving direction of the carriage, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

In the liquid ejection device, it is preferable that the duct has a filter between the intake port and the outlet.
According to the above configuration, when foreign matter such as dust or fluff is included in the gas taken in from the intake port, the foreign matter is captured by the filter. As a result, it is possible to suppress the gas containing foreign matter from being blown out from the outlet.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, an operation for moving the carriage in the width direction without causing the medium to be ejected is an initial operation, and an operation performed after the initial operation, the carriage being moved in the width direction. When the operation of discharging the liquid from the discharge unit to the medium is a discharge operation, it is preferable that the carriage movement speed in the initial operation is faster than the carriage movement speed in the discharge operation.

  According to the above configuration, since the carriage moving speed in the initial operation is faster than the carriage moving speed in the discharging operation, in the initial operation, gas is blown out more vigorously from the duct outlet toward the medium than in the discharging operation. It becomes. For this reason, even when a large amount of foreign matter adheres to the medium, such as when the liquid ejection device has not been used for a long period of time, the initial operation is performed before performing the ejection operation. Can be removed more appropriately.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The front view which shows the positional relationship of the printing part of the printing apparatus of 1st Embodiment, a support part, and a maintenance part. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing unit of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing unit of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front view showing gas flow when the carriage moves in a second direction in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing gas flow when the carriage moves in a second direction in the first embodiment. The top view which shows schematic structure of the printing part of the printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. The front view which shows schematic structure of the printing part of the printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. In 2nd Embodiment, the front view which shows the distribution | circulation of the gas at the time of a carriage moving to a 2nd direction. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing gas flow when the carriage moves in a second direction in the second embodiment. In 2nd Embodiment, the front view which shows the distribution | circulation of the gas at the time of a carriage moving to a 1st direction. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing gas flow when the carriage moves in a first direction in the second embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in a printing apparatus will be described. Note that the printing apparatus of the present embodiment is an ink jet printer that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper by ejecting ink as an example of a liquid.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 10 conveys the medium M along a conveyance direction of the medium M, a feeding unit 20 that feeds the medium M wound in a roll shape, a support unit 30 that supports the medium M, and the medium M. A transport unit 40 that performs printing on the medium M, and a winding unit 60 that winds the medium M. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 70 that controls various components and a maintenance unit 80 that maintains the printing unit 50.

  In the following description, the width direction of the printing apparatus 10 is “width direction X”, the front-rear direction of the printing apparatus 10 is “front-rear direction Y”, the upper-lower direction of the printing apparatus 10 is “vertical direction Z”, and the medium The direction in which M is transported is referred to as “transport direction F”. In the present embodiment, the width direction X, the front-rear direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are directions that intersect (orthogonal) each other, and the conveyance direction F is a direction that intersects (orthogonal) the width direction X.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the width direction X, the side where the maintenance unit 80 is provided is a first end, and the opposite side is a second end. Furthermore, the direction from the second end to the first end in the width direction X is “first direction + X”, and the direction from the first end to the second end in the width direction X is “second direction −X”. To do.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the feeding unit 20 includes a holding unit 21 that detachably holds a roll body R1 in which the medium M is wound in a roll shape. Then, the feeding unit 20 rotates the roll body R1 in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) to feed the medium M unwound from the roll body R1, and the roll body R1 in the other direction (FIG. 1). Then, the medium M unwound from the roll body R1 is rewound by rotating in the clockwise direction.

  The transport unit 40 includes a drive roller 41 that rotates in contact with the back surface of the medium M, a driven roller 42 that rotates in contact with the surface of the medium M, and a transport motor 43 that drives the drive roller 41. . The medium M fed from the feeding unit 20 is transported in the transport direction F by driving the transport motor 43 in a state where the medium M is held between the drive roller 41 and the driven roller 42.

  The support unit 30 includes a first support unit 31 provided upstream of the transport unit 40 in the transport direction, and a second support unit 32 provided downstream of the transport unit 40 in the transport direction. The first support portion 31 is formed so as to proceed vertically upward as it goes forward of the printing apparatus 10. On the other hand, the second support portion 32 is formed so as to proceed vertically downward as it goes forward of the printing apparatus 10 after traveling forward of the printing apparatus 10. Further, the first support portion 31 and the second support portion 32 are provided across the width direction X of the printing apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 50 includes a discharge unit 52 (discharge head) having nozzles 51 that discharge ink, a control substrate 53 that controls driving of the discharge unit 52, and the discharge unit 52 and the control substrate 53. A carriage 100 for supporting, and a guide shaft 54 for supporting the carriage 100 so as to reciprocate in the width direction X are provided. The printing unit 50 includes a driving pulley 55 provided at a first end in the width direction X, a driven pulley 56 provided at a second end in the width direction X, and a timing belt 57 wound around the driving pulley 55 and the driven pulley 56. And a carriage motor 58 for driving the drive pulley 55.

  The discharge unit 52 is supported on the lower surface of the carriage 100. The ejection unit 52 is formed with a plurality of nozzles 51 that eject different types of ink (for example, cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink) toward the support unit 30. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a plurality (four rows) of nozzle rows 59 are formed in the width direction X by a plurality of nozzles 51 that eject different types of ink. Here, each nozzle row 59 (see FIG. 3) is formed along the transport direction F intersecting the width direction X. Further, the control substrate 53 controls the driving of the ejection unit 52 based on a control signal from the control unit 70.

  In the printing unit 50, ink is ejected from the ejection unit 52 based on a print command or a maintenance command from the user. For example, when a printing command is issued from the user, the timing belt 57 wound around the driving pulley 55 and the driven pulley 56 is rotated by driving the carriage motor 58, and the carriage 100 connected to the timing belt 57. Moves in the width direction X. Then, when the carriage 100 moves in the width direction X, the ejection unit 52 ejects ink onto the medium M supported by the first support unit 31.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the winding unit 60 applies a tension (tension) to the medium M in a direction crossing the transport direction F, and a holding unit 61 that detachably holds the roll body R2 on which the medium M is wound. And a tension bar 62 to be used. The winding unit 60 winds the printed medium M by rotating the roll body R2 in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the maintenance unit 80 includes a cap 81 that performs capping by contacting the discharge unit 52 of the printing unit 50 and closing the space in which the nozzles 51 are opened. It is desirable that the cap 81 has a box shape having an opening upward in the vertical direction, and at least a portion in contact with the discharge unit 52 is formed of elastic rubber or the like. In the present embodiment, the position where the maintenance unit 80 is provided is also referred to as “home position”. Then, in the maintenance unit 80, when capping is performed on the ejection unit 52 supported by the carriage 100 that has moved to the home position, the state in which no ink is ejected from the ejection unit 52 is continued. The ink is prevented from drying.

  The control unit 70 controls driving of the various configurations described above. For example, the control unit 70 controls the driving of the feeding unit 20, the transport unit 40, and the take-up unit 60 to perform a transport operation for transporting the medium M in the transport direction F by a predetermined unit amount. In addition, the control unit 70 controls the driving of the printing unit 50 to perform a discharge operation for discharging ink from the discharge unit 52 toward the medium M while moving the carriage 100 in the width direction X. Furthermore, the control unit 70 performs a printing operation for performing printing on the medium M by alternately performing the transport operation and the discharge operation.

  The unit transport amount is set based on the length of the nozzle row 59 in the transport direction F (hereinafter also referred to as “nozzle row length L1”). As an example, when priority is given to the printing speed, the unit conveyance amount may be equal to the nozzle row length L1 or may be set to a length that is half the nozzle row length L1. On the other hand, when priority is given to print quality, the unit transport amount may be set to 1/8 length of the nozzle row length L1 or 1/16 length.

  Incidentally, in the ejection operation of the present embodiment, ink is ejected from the ejection unit 52 when the carriage 100 moves in the second direction −X, while the ejection unit 52 when the carriage 100 moves in the first direction + X. Ink is not ejected from the ink. That is, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment performs one-way printing that performs printing only when the carriage 100 moves in one direction in the width direction X.

  Further, the control unit 70 performs an “initial operation” in which the carriage 100 is reciprocated in the width direction X without discharging ink from the discharge unit 52 before performing the discharge operation. The initial operation is to detect whether there is an object that interferes with the carriage 100, such as the medium M jammed in the conveyance path, in the region in which the carriage 100 moves in the width direction X, or the medium M to be printed from now on. This is done to detect the size of. Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 70 makes the moving speed of the carriage 100 in the initial operation faster than the moving speed of the carriage 100 in the discharge operation.

Next, the printing unit 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4, illustration of a part of the configuration of the printing unit 50 is omitted for easy understanding of the description.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the carriage 100 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An intake port 101 for taking in gas is opened in the side wall on the second end side in the width direction X of the carriage 100, and gas is discharged on the side wall on the first end side in the width direction X of the carriage 100. The blow-out part 103 which the blower outlet 102 for doing is opened is provided. A duct 104 is formed in the carriage 100 for circulating the gas so that the gas taken in from the intake port 101 is discharged from the outlet 102.

  The intake port 101 opens in the moving direction when the carriage 100 moves from the first end to the second end in the width direction X, that is, in the second direction −X. Therefore, the intake port 101 takes in the gas into the duct 104 when the carriage 100 moves in the second direction −X. The intake port 101 may be partially formed on the side wall on the second end side in the width direction X of the carriage 100 as in this embodiment, or may be formed over the entire side wall. Good.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the blow-out portion 103 has a triangular prism shape with the conveyance direction F as the height direction. Further, in the transport direction F, the length of the blow-out portion 103 is shorter than the length of the carriage 100, and the blow-out portion 103 is provided at a position upstream of the carriage 100 in the transport direction. Further, when viewed from the air outlet 102, the discharge section 52 and the intake port 101 are both provided on the second direction −X side. In other words, the air outlet 102 is provided in the first direction + X from the discharge unit 52 and is provided in the first direction + X from the intake port 101.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the transport direction F, the length L2 of the air outlet 102 is longer than the nozzle row length L1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the nozzle 51 formed in the most upstream in the transport direction F among the plurality of nozzles 51 constituting the nozzle row 59 is the most upstream nozzle 511, the blowout port 102 is the most upstream nozzle 511. The nozzle array has a length equal to or longer than the nozzle row length L1 toward the upstream in the transport direction. In this respect, in the present embodiment, it can be said that the air outlet 102 of the air outlet 103 is provided upstream of the discharge part 52 in the transport direction. In the present embodiment, “the outlet 102 is provided upstream in the transport direction from the discharge unit 52” means that a part of the outlet 102 is formed upstream in the transport direction from the most upstream nozzle 511. Say that.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the duct 104 is formed so as to go vertically downward from the second end in the width direction X toward the first end in the blowout portion 103. For this reason, the blower outlet 102 is opened toward the support part 30 in the blowout part 103.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the duct 104 has a channel cross-sectional area that gradually decreases in the first direction + X. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control board 53 that controls the discharge unit 52 described above is exposed in the duct 104. For this reason, under the situation where the control board 53 is hotter than the outside air, the control board 53 can be cooled by heat transfer by circulating the gas through the duct 104.

  In addition, a filter 105 is provided between the intake port 101 and the air outlet 102 of the duct 104 to collect foreign substances contained in the gas taken in from the intake port 101. As the filter 105, not only dust and fluff but also a filter capable of collecting ink mist may be selected.

The carriage 100 is preferably formed by combining a plurality of resin members in order to reduce the processing work when forming the duct 104 on the carriage 100.
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the operation of the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment will be described. 5 and 6, the moving direction of the carriage 100 is indicated by a white arrow, and the gas flow is indicated by a solid arrow. 5 and 6, illustration of a part of the configuration is omitted for easy understanding of the explanation.

  In the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when printing on the medium M, the medium M is transported to the print start position, and an initial operation is performed. That is, the carriage 100 is reciprocated in the width direction X without ejecting ink from the ejection unit 52.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, in the initial operation, when the carriage 100 moves in the second direction −X, after the gas taken in from the intake port 101 circulates in the duct 104, the air outlet 102. Will blow out. That is, gas is blown from the blower outlet 102 toward the medium M, and the gas collides with the medium M, so that an airflow along the surface of the medium M is generated. As a result, foreign matters such as dust and paper dust attached to the surface of the medium M are removed from the surface of the medium M by the airflow along the surface of the medium M. In the initial operation, since the moving speed of the carriage 100 is relatively faster than the ejection operation, foreign matter is easily removed from the surface of the medium M.

  When the initial operation is completed, the discharge operation and the transport operation are alternately performed in order to start printing on the medium M. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the ejection operation, when the carriage 100 moves in the second direction −X, ink is ejected from the ejection unit 52 toward the medium M, and the blowing is performed. Gas is blown toward the medium M from the outlet 102.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the blower outlet 102 is viewed from the ejection unit 52 in a direction (first direction + X) opposite to the movement direction (second direction −X) of the carriage 100 during ink ejection. Is provided. For this reason, the blower outlet 102 is provided in the movement direction (second direction −X) of the carriage 100 when viewed from the discharge unit 52, or overlaps the discharge unit 52 in the movement direction (second direction −X) of the carriage 100. Compared with the case where it provides, the collision flow which generate | occur | produces by colliding with the surface of the medium M cannot pass between the discharge part 52 and the medium M easily. In this way, the gas blown from the outlet 102 is suppressed from affecting the flying mode of the ink ejected from the ejection unit 52.

  In FIG. 6, gas is blown from the discharge target area A1 (area surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line) in which ink is discharged in the Nth discharge operation, and from the outlet 102 in the Nth discharge operation. A blown area A2 and a discharged area A11 (area surrounded by a two-dot chain line) in which ink is discharged in the (N + 1) th discharge operation are illustrated.

  Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in the transport direction F, the amount of overlap between the discharged area A1 in the Nth discharge operation and the blown area A2 in the Nth discharge operation is small. As a result, the collision flow generated when the gas blown from the outlet 102 collides with the surface of the medium M is less likely to pass between the ejection unit 52 and the medium M than when the amount of overlap is large. Become. In this way, the gas blown from the outlet 102 is suppressed from affecting the flying mode of the ink ejected from the ejection unit 52.

  Further, the discharged area A11 in the (N + 1) th discharging operation is included in the blown area A2 in the Nth discharging operation. For this reason, ink will be discharged in this discharge operation with respect to the area | region where gas was blown in the last discharge operation. For this reason, the possibility that ink is ejected to the medium M to which foreign matter has adhered is reduced.

According to the first embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the discharge operation, when the carriage 100 moves in the second direction −X, the gas is taken into the intake port 101 of the duct 104 and the gas is blown from the outlet 102 of the duct 104. It will be. And since the blower outlet 102 is provided in the conveyance direction upstream from the discharge part, when foreign matters, such as fluff and dust, are adhering to the medium M, the foreign matter is generated by the gas blown from the blower outlet 102. The foreign matter can be removed before the ink is ejected onto the medium M to which is adhered.

  Furthermore, since the blower outlet 102 is provided upstream of the discharge unit 52 in the transport direction, the gas blown from the blower outlet 102 and a collision flow generated by the collision of the gas with the medium M cause the discharge unit 52 and It is difficult to distribute between the media M. Therefore, it can suppress that the gas ventilated from the blower outlet 102 affects the discharge mode of the liquid of the discharge part 52. FIG. In this way, it is possible to suppress the liquid from being discharged onto the medium M to which foreign matter has adhered while suppressing the liquid discharge mode of the discharge unit 52 from being affected.

  (2) Since the outlet 102 has a length equal to or longer than the nozzle row length L1 from the most upstream nozzle 511 toward the upstream in the carrying direction, the unit carrying amount of the medium M in the carrying operation is equal to the nozzle row length L1. Even so, the region in which the liquid is discharged in the current discharge operation is a region in which gas is blown from the outlet 102 of the duct 104 in the previous discharge operation. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the liquid from being discharged onto the medium M to which foreign matter has adhered, regardless of the unit transport amount.

  (3) By providing the filter 105 in the duct 104, when the gas taken in from the intake port 101 contains foreign matter such as dust, fluff, and ink mist, the foreign matter is captured by the filter 105. . As a result, it is possible to suppress the gas mixed with foreign matter from being blown out from the air outlet 102.

  (4) Since the moving speed of the carriage 100 in the initial operation is faster than the moving speed of the carriage 100 in the discharge operation, the gas is more vigorously moved from the outlet 102 of the duct 104 toward the medium M in the initial operation than in the discharge operation. Can be blown. For this reason, for example, even when a large amount of foreign matter adheres to the medium M, such as when the printing apparatus 10 is not used for a long period of time, the initial operation is performed before the ejection operation. The foreign matter can be removed more appropriately.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment in which the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in a printing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. In the printing apparatus 10A of the second embodiment, the configuration of the printing unit 50A (carriage 200) is different from that of the first embodiment. For this reason, in the following description, about the same member structure as the printing apparatus 10 of 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  First, with reference to FIG.7 and FIG.8, the printing part 50A of 10 A of printing apparatuses of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. In FIGS. 7 and 8, some components are not shown for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the carriage 200 of the printing unit 50A has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In addition, a first intake port 211 for taking in a gas and a second air outlet 222 for discharging the gas are opened on the side wall on the first end side in the width direction X of the carriage 200. The blowing part 223 is provided. On the other hand, on the side wall on the second end side in the width direction X of the carriage 200, a first inlet 221 for taking in gas and a first outlet 212 for discharging gas are opened. The blowing part 213 is provided.

  In the carriage 200, the first duct 214 for discharging the gas taken in from the first inlet 211 from the first outlet 212 and the gas taken in from the second inlet 221. And a second duct 224 for discharging the air from the second air outlet 222. That is, the first duct 214 has a first intake port 211 and a first air outlet 212, and the second duct 224 has a second intake port 221 and a second air outlet 222. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the width direction X, the first intake port 211 and the second intake port 221 are formed to face each other. The first intake port 211 opens in the first direction + X, and the second intake port 221 opens in the second direction −X. Therefore, the first intake port 211 takes in gas when the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X, and the second intake port 221 moves the carriage 200 in the second direction −X. In some cases, gas is taken in.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the transport direction F, the lengths of the first blower 213 and the second blower 223 are shorter than the length of the carriage 200 and are provided at positions upstream of the carriage 200 in the transport direction. Yes. In addition, a first duct 214 and a second duct 224 are formed substantially vertically downward inside the first blowing part 213 and the second blowing part 223, respectively. For this reason, the 1st blower outlet 212 and the 2nd blower outlet 222 are opened toward the perpendicular downward direction.

  The first air outlet 212 is provided in the second direction −X with respect to the first intake port 211, and the second air outlet 222 is in the first direction with respect to the second intake port 221. + X is provided. Thus, in the present embodiment, in the width direction X, the discharge unit 52 is located between the first intake port 211 and the first air outlet 212, and the second intake port 221 and the second air outlet 222. In between, the discharge part 52 is located.

  In the transport direction F, the length L3 of the first air outlet 212 and the second air outlet 222 is longer than the nozzle row length L1. Further, the first air outlet 212 and the second air outlet 222 have a length equal to or longer than the nozzle row length L1 from the most upstream nozzle 511 toward the upstream in the transport direction. In this respect, in the present embodiment, it can be said that the first air outlet 212 and the second air outlet 222 are provided upstream of the discharge unit 52 in the transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first duct 214 is formed so as to proceed vertically downward as it goes in the second direction −X, and the second duct 224 is formed as it goes in the first direction + X. Are formed so as to proceed vertically downward. Further, the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 are connected at the central portion in the width direction X of the carriage 200 so that the gas flowing through one duct flows into the other duct. A switching valve 231 for switching the gas flow state of the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 is provided at a connection portion between the first duct 214 and the second duct 224.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the switching valve 231 has a plate shape having a length corresponding to the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 in the transport direction F. Further, the switching valve 231 is supported such that the vertical upper portion thereof is rotatable with the direction intersecting the width direction X (in the present embodiment, the transport direction F) as the rotation axis direction. For this reason, the switching valve 231 rotates by the action of a force such as an inertial force or wind force generated with the movement of the carriage 200.

  Then, the switching valve 231 rotates in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 8) with the movement of the carriage 200, thereby allowing gas to flow from the first intake port 211 to the second intake port 221. While limiting, it will be in the 1st state which permits distribution of the gas from the 1st inlet 211 to the 1st outlet 212. Further, the switching valve 231 rotates in the other direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 8) as the carriage 200 moves, so that the gas flows from the second intake port 221 to the first intake port 211. And a second state in which the flow of gas from the second intake port 221 to the second air outlet 222 is allowed.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the carriage 200 moves in the first direction, the switching valve 231 is set to the first state, and when the carriage 200 moves in the second direction, the switching valve 231 is set. Will be in the second state.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 9-12, the effect | action of 10 A of printing apparatuses of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. 9 to 12, the moving direction of the carriage 200 is indicated by a white arrow, and the gas flow is indicated by a solid arrow. In addition, in FIGS. 9 to 12, illustration of a part of the configuration is omitted for easy understanding of the description.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X in the ejection operation, gas is taken in from the second intake port 221. Then, when the gas flowing through the second duct 224 collides with the wall surface on the second end side in the width direction X of the switching valve 231, wind pressure (wind force) acts on the switching valve 231 in the first direction + X. . In addition, an inertial force acts on the switching valve 231 in the first direction + X as the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X.

  Thus, when the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X, the switching valve 231 rotates by the force (inertial force / wind force) acting on the switching valve 231 as the carriage 200 moves, and the second The second inlet 221 and the second outlet 222 are communicated with each other, while the second inlet 221 and the first inlet 211 are not communicated with each other.

  As a result, the gas taken in from the second intake port 221 as the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X is not discharged from the first intake port 211, and the second After flowing through the duct 224, it is discharged from the second outlet 222. In this way, when the gas is blown from the second air outlet 222 to the surface of the medium M, the foreign matter attached to the medium M is removed.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X in the ejection operation, gas is taken in from the first intake port 211. The gas flowing through the first duct 214 collides with the wall surface on the first end side in the width direction X of the switching valve 231, so that wind force acts on the switching valve 231 in the second direction −X. In addition, an inertial force acts on the switching valve 231 in the second direction −X as the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X.

  Thus, when the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X, the switching valve 231 is rotated by the force (inertial force / wind force) acting on the switching valve 231 as the carriage 200 moves, so that the first While the intake port 211 and the 1st blower outlet 212 are connected, it will be in the 1st state which makes the 1st intake port 211 and the 2nd intake port 221 not connect.

  As a result, the gas taken in from the first intake port 211 as the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X is not discharged from the second intake port 221, and the first duct After flowing through 214, the air is discharged from the first air outlet 212. In this way, when the gas is blown from the first air outlet 212 to the surface of the medium M, the foreign matters attached to the medium M are removed.

  In the printing apparatus 10A of the second embodiment, it is assumed that unidirectional printing is performed by ejecting ink from the ejection unit 52 when the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X. Thus, in the second embodiment, when performing the ejection operation, both the case where the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X and the case where the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X are directed toward the medium M. Gas is blown. For this reason, it is suppressed that ink is ejected toward the medium M to which foreign matter has adhered.

According to the second embodiment described above, in addition to the effects (1) and (2) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(5) The first duct 214 having the first intake port 211 and the first air outlet 212 and the second duct having the second intake port 221 and the second air outlet 222 in the carriage 200. 224. For this reason, when the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X, the gas passing through the first duct 214 is blown to the medium M, while the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X. The gas passing through the second duct 224 is blown to the medium M. In this way, even when the carriage 200 moves in any direction in the width direction X, the foreign matter attached to the medium M can be removed.

  (6) Since the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 are connected, the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 on the carriage 200 are compared with the case where the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 are not connected. The degree of freedom in routing the two ducts 224 can be increased. Further, when the carriage 200 moves in the first direction + X by switching between the first state and the second state by the switching valve 231, the gas taken in from the first intake port 211 becomes the second intake port. It is possible to suppress the discharge from 221. Further, when the carriage 200 moves in the second direction −X, it is possible to suppress the gas taken in from the second intake port 221 from being discharged from the first intake port 211.

  (7) In the present embodiment, the state of the switching valve 231 is switched by the inertial force generated by the movement of the carriage 200 in the width direction X and the wind force. Therefore, the switching is performed according to the movement direction of the carriage 200. It is not necessary to perform control for switching the state of the valve 231 and the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as shown below.
In the first embodiment, gas may be blown toward the medium M when the carriage 100 moves in the first direction + X.

-It is not necessary to provide the filter 105 in the printing apparatus 10 of 1st Embodiment. On the other hand, the filter 105 may be provided in the printing apparatus 10A of the second embodiment.
-In 2nd Embodiment, the switching valve 231 may switch a 1st state and a 2nd state based on the electrical signal from the control part 70. FIG.

  In the second embodiment, the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 may not be connected so that the gas flowing through one duct flows into the other duct. That is, the first duct 214 and the second duct 224 may be provided independently. In this case, the switching valve 231 may not be provided.

In the ejection operation, unidirectional printing may be performed by ejecting ink from the ejection unit 52 when the carriages 100 and 200 move in the first direction + X.
In the ejection operation, ink is ejected from the ejection unit 52 in both cases where the carriages 100 and 200 move in the first direction + X and the carriages 100 and 200 move in the second direction −X. Thus, bidirectional printing may be performed.

  The opening length in the width direction X of the outlet 102 may not be constant in the transport direction F. For example, the opening length of the upstream portion in the conveyance direction where the flow rate tends to decrease and the opening length of the downstream portion in the conveyance direction may be longer than the opening length of the central portion in the conveyance direction where the flow velocity is high.

The duct 104 may not be formed inside the carriages 100 and 200. For example, the duct 104 may be provided so as to be routed around the upper and side portions of the carriages 100 and 200.
In the transport direction F, the length L2 of the air outlet 102 may be longer than the lengths of the carriages 100 and 200.

  In the width direction X, the air outlet 102 may be provided so as to overlap with the discharge unit 52. In this case, the upstream end of the air outlet 102 in the transport direction is positioned upstream of the upstreammost nozzle 511 of the discharge unit 52 in the transport direction.

  The length L2 of the air outlet 102 in the transport direction F may be changeable by, for example, forming the duct 104 near the air outlet 102 with an elastic member having a bellows shape. In this case, it is desirable to lengthen the length L2 of the air outlet 102 as the unit transport amount in the transport operation is longer. According to this, the blown area A2 in the Nth discharge operation and the discharged area in the (N + 1) th discharge operation can be matched.

  The nozzle row 59 may be formed in a direction between the width direction X and the transport direction F. In this case, the nozzle row length L1 is not the length of the nozzle row 59 in the forming direction of the nozzle row 59, but the length of the nozzle row 59 in the transport direction F. In addition, the nozzle row 59 including the nozzles 51 that eject the same color ink may have a multi-row configuration (for example, a 2-row configuration).

  -The blower outlet 102 does not need to have the length more than nozzle row length L1 toward the upstream of a conveyance direction from the most upstream nozzle 511. As shown in FIG. In this case, the air outlet 102 has a length equal to or longer than the unit transport amount of the transport operation when the printing apparatuses 10 and 10A perform printing with the highest importance on the print speed from the upstream nozzle 511 toward the upstream in the transport direction. Is desirable. According to this, the blown area A2 in the Nth discharge operation and the discharged area in the (N + 1) th discharge operation can be matched.

  The printing apparatuses 10 and 10A may be a so-called on-carriage type printing apparatus in which an ink supply source such as an ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage 100 or 200, or the ink supply source is mounted on the carriage 100 or 200. It may be a so-called off-carriage type printing apparatus that is not.

  The medium M is not limited to paper, but may be a fabric used for a plastic film, a textile printing apparatus, or the like. Further, the medium M may not be the long medium M fed from the roll body R1. For example, a cut sheet may be used.

  The liquid ejected or ejected by the ejection unit 52 is not limited to ink, and may be, for example, a liquid material in which functional material particles are dispersed or mixed in the liquid. For example, recording is performed by ejecting a liquid material in which a material such as an electrode material or a color material (pixel material) used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, and a surface emitting display is dispersed or dissolved. It may be configured.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10A ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Printing apparatus, 20 ... Feeding-out part, 21 ... Holding part, 30 ... Support part, 31 ... 1st support part, 32 ... 2nd support part, 40 ... Conveyance part, 41 ... Drive roller, 42 ... driven roller, 43 ... transport motor, 50, 50A ... printing unit, 51 ... nozzle, 511 ... most upstream nozzle, 52 ... discharge unit, 53 ... control board, 54 ... guide shaft, 55 ... drive pulley, 56 ... driven pulley, 57 ... timing belt, 58 ... carriage motor, 59 ... nozzle row, 60 ... winding part, 61 ... holding part, 62 ... tension bar, 70 ... control part, 80 ... maintenance part, 81 ... cap, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Carriage, 101 ... Inlet, 102 ... Outlet, 103 ... Outlet part, 104 ... Duct, 105 ... Filter, 200 ... Carriage, 211 ... First inlet, 212 ... First Air outlet, 213 ... first air outlet, 214 ... first duct, 221 ... second inlet, 222 ... second air outlet, 223 ... second air outlet, 224 ... second duct, 231 ... Switching valve, A1, A11 ... Area to be discharged, A2 ... Air blown area, L1 ... Nozzle row length, L2, L3 ... Length, R1, R2 ... Roll body, M ... Medium, F ... Transport direction, X ... Width direction, + X: first direction, -X: second direction, Y: front-rear direction, Z: vertical direction.

Claims (7)

A transport unit for transporting the medium in the transport direction;
A discharge unit that discharges liquid toward the medium;
A carriage that moves in a width direction intersecting the transport direction in a state where the discharge unit is supported;
A duct provided on the carriage and having an intake opening that opens toward the moving direction of the carriage and an air outlet that opens toward the medium;
The liquid ejection device, wherein the air outlet is provided upstream of the ejection unit in the transport direction. In the ejection part, a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles that eject liquid is formed in a direction intersecting the width direction,
Among the plurality of nozzles, when the nozzle formed in the most upstream in the transport direction is the most upstream nozzle, and the length of the nozzle array in the transport direction is the nozzle row length,
The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet has a length equal to or longer than the nozzle row length from the most upstream nozzle toward the upstream in the transport direction. When one direction in the width direction is a first direction and the opposite direction of the first direction is a second direction,
The intake port includes a first intake port that opens in the first direction, and a second intake port that opens in the second direction,
The outlet is a first outlet provided on the second direction side with respect to the first intake port, and a second side provided on the first direction side with respect to the second intake port. An air outlet, and
The duct includes a first duct having the first intake port and the first air outlet, and a second duct having the second intake port and the second air outlet. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is a liquid ejecting apparatus. The first duct and the second duct are connected so that gas flowing through one duct flows into the other duct,
A first flow restricting the flow of gas from the first intake port to the second intake port and allowing the flow of gas from the first intake port to the first air outlet. The state and the flow of gas from the second intake port to the first intake port are restricted, and the flow of gas from the second intake port to the second outlet is allowed. A switching valve for switching between the second state and the second state;
The switching valve is in the first state when the carriage moves in the first direction, and is in the second state when the carriage moves in the second direction. The liquid ejection device according to claim 3. When the carriage moves in the first direction, a force generated by the movement of the carriage acts on the switching valve in the second direction, while the carriage moves in the second direction. A force generated along with the movement of the carriage acts in the first direction,
The switching valve is in the second state when a force generated along with the movement of the carriage acts in the first direction, and a force generated along with the movement of the carriage acts in the second direction. The liquid ejection device according to claim 4, wherein the first state is established in some cases. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the duct includes a filter between the intake port and the air outlet. An operation of moving the carriage in the width direction without discharging liquid onto the medium is an initial operation, and is an operation performed after the initial operation, and is performed from the discharge unit while moving the carriage in the width direction. When the operation for discharging liquid to the medium is a discharge operation,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving speed of the carriage in the initial operation is faster than a moving speed of the carriage in the discharging operation.

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