JP2017170876A - Maintenance recovery device of liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit, and liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance recovery device of a liquid discharge head which enables improvement of maintenance performance of the liquid discharge head.SOLUTION: A maintenance recovery device of a liquid discharge head includes: a first cap (a nozzle cap 82) which seals a nozzle formation surface of a liquid discharge head 34; a second cap (a head cap 99) which covers the first cap and seals the liquid discharge head; and a humidity adjustment part (a humidity adjusting agent) which is disposed at a position located outside the first cap and inside the second cap and adjusts humidity of a space between the first cap and the second cap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head maintenance / recovery device, a liquid ejection unit, and an apparatus for ejecting liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus that is used for outputting digitized information or used for copying a document has become an indispensable device. Among such image forming apparatuses, ink jet printers that perform printing by discharging ink onto a recording medium from nozzles formed on a liquid discharge head are widely used.

  In such an ink jet printer, if the ink droplets are not ejected from the nozzles continuously, the ink solvent in the nozzles evaporates, so that the ink in the nozzles is dried and the ink viscosity is increased. The meniscus may be destroyed. As a result, a phenomenon may occur in which printing is not performed satisfactorily due to clogging in the nozzles or intrusion of bubbles into the nozzles.

  Therefore, in order to prevent these phenomena, an ink jet printer is known that can prevent ink drying and meniscus destruction by capping the nozzle forming surface and keeping the vicinity of the nozzle forming surface at a constant water vapor pressure ( For example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  In such an ink jet printer, the scattered ink may adhere to the liquid discharge head or the nozzle formation surface after the ink is discharged. If the ink is left as it is, the adhered ink dries, solidifies, and accumulates, so that the solidified ink hangs down from the liquid discharge head and the nozzle formation surface, or the nozzle formation surface becomes dirty.

  Therefore, in an ink jet printer, when printing is performed in such a state, the ink that hangs down contacts a conveyance member such as a recording medium or a conveyance roller, and printing failure occurs, or the ink solidified on the nozzle forming surface is ink. The ejection of ink droplets may be hindered, resulting in defective ejection of ink droplets.

  Therefore, among such ink jet printers, there are known ink jet printers that perform maintenance for removing ink adhering to a liquid discharge head and a nozzle forming surface.

  However, in an inkjet printer that performs such maintenance, it is difficult to completely remove the adhered ink. Therefore, the remaining ink dries, solidifies, and accumulates, so that the solidified ink hangs down from the liquid discharge head and the nozzle formation surface or the nozzle formation surface becomes dirty. Or ejection failure occurs.

  The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is to keep the nozzle surface or the entire head moisturized by continuing to supply the aqueous solution at regular intervals in the cap, but it is always necessary to supply the aqueous solution. There is a problem that the cost is increased and the apparatus is increased in size. Further, when this aqueous solution is dried, the viscosity becomes several hundred to several thousand times that of the ink, such as 1000 mPa · s. Therefore, even if the aqueous solution is continuously supplied at regular intervals, the aqueous solution is dried, There are problems such as hindering supply and discharge systems.

  Moreover, although the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3 can prevent the ink in the nozzles from drying and the meniscus from being destroyed, the ink remaining after the maintenance is not taken into consideration.

  Such a problem is not limited to an ink jet printer, and can be similarly caused in a device that discharges liquid from nozzles formed in a liquid discharge head.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to improve the maintenance performance of a liquid discharge head.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a first cap that seals a nozzle formation surface of a liquid ejection head, the first cap, and a surface on at least a nozzle formation surface side of the liquid ejection head A second cap that seals between the first cap and the second cap, wherein the humidity in the space between the first cap and the second cap is reduced. And a humidity adjusting unit to be adjusted.

  According to the present invention, the maintenance performance of the liquid discharge head can be improved.

It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from the side. It is a permeation | transmission figure when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from upper direction. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration and a functional configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the conventional inkjet printer is seen from a subscanning direction. It is a front view when the nozzle plate in the conventional inkjet printer is seen from the lower part. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is a front view when the nozzle cap and head cap in the ink jet printer which concern on embodiment of this invention are seen from upper direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is a front view when the nozzle cap and head cap in the ink jet printer which concern on embodiment of this invention are seen from upper direction. It is sectional drawing when the nozzle cap and head cap in the inkjet printer which concern on embodiment of this invention are seen from a subscanning direction. It is a front view when the nozzle cap and head cap in the ink jet printer which concern on embodiment of this invention are seen from upper direction. It is sectional drawing when the nozzle cap and head cap in the inkjet printer which concern on embodiment of this invention are seen from a subscanning direction. It is a front view when the nozzle cap and head cap in the ink jet printer which concern on embodiment of this invention are seen from upper direction. It is a front view when the nozzle cap and head cap in the ink jet printer which concern on embodiment of this invention are seen from upper direction. 6 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap when the liquid ejection head is capped by the head cap according to the embodiment of the invention. 6 is a graph showing a change in water content of residual ink when a liquid ejection head is capped by a head cap according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a graph showing the time-dependent change of the generation | occurrence | production probability of the malfunction resulting from the residual ink in the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap when the liquid ejection head is capped by the head cap according to the embodiment of the invention. It is a table | surface showing the relative humidity by each saturated salt water in each temperature in sealed space. 6 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap when the liquid ejection head is capped by the head cap according to the embodiment of the invention. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. 6 is a graph showing a change in water content of residual ink when a liquid ejection head is capped by a head cap according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. 6 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap when the liquid ejection head is capped by the head cap according to the embodiment of the invention. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. It is sectional drawing when the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is seen from a subscanning direction. 6 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap when the liquid ejection head is capped by the head cap according to the embodiment of the invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an inkjet printer including a carriage and a liquid ejection head mounted on the carriage will be described as an apparatus for ejecting liquid.

  The constructed ink jet printer is a device that includes a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge liquid. The apparatus for ejecting liquid includes not only an apparatus capable of ejecting liquid to an object to which liquid can adhere, but also an apparatus for ejecting liquid toward the air or liquid.

  The “liquid ejection head” is a functional component that ejects liquid, and corresponds to the liquid ejection head 34 in this embodiment. As energy generation sources for discharging liquid, piezoelectric actuators (laminated piezoelectric elements and thin film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators using electrothermal transducers such as heating resistors, electrostatic actuators consisting of vibration plates and counter electrodes are used. To be included. In this embodiment, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. are all synonymous.

  A “liquid ejection unit” is a unit in which functional parts and mechanisms are integrated with a liquid ejection head, and is an assembly of parts related to liquid ejection. For example, the “liquid discharge unit” includes a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism with a liquid discharge head.

  Here, the term “integrated” refers to, for example, a liquid discharge head, a functional component, and a mechanism that are fixed to each other by fastening, adhesion, engagement, etc., and one that is held movably with respect to the other. Including. Further, the liquid discharge head, the functional component, and the mechanism may be configured to be detachable from each other.

  For example, there is a “liquid discharge unit” in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated. In some cases, the liquid discharge head and the tank are integrated with each other by being connected to each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter may be added between the head tank and the liquid discharge head of these “liquid discharge units”. Further, there is a “liquid discharge unit” in which a liquid discharge head and a carriage are integrated.

  In addition, there is a “liquid discharge unit” in which the liquid discharge head and the main scanning movement mechanism are integrated by holding the liquid discharge head movably on a guide member that forms part of the main scanning movement mechanism. . Further, there is a “liquid discharge unit” in which a main scanning movement mechanism of a liquid discharge head and a carriage is integrated.

  As a “liquid discharge unit”, a cap member that is a part of the maintenance / recovery mechanism is fixed to a carriage to which the liquid discharge head is attached, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism are integrated. is there.

  In addition, there is a “liquid discharge unit” in which a tube is connected to a liquid discharge head to which a head tank or a flow path component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and the supply mechanism are integrated.

  The main scanning movement mechanism includes a guide member alone. The supply mechanism includes a single tube and a single loading unit.

  The “apparatus for ejecting liquid” can include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging a liquid to which liquid can adhere, as well as a pre-processing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

  As a “device that ejects liquid”, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper by ejecting ink, or a powder that is formed in layers to form a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model) There is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus (three-dimensional modeling apparatus) that discharges a modeling liquid to a layer.

  Further, the “apparatus for ejecting liquid” is not limited to an apparatus in which significant images such as characters and figures are visualized by the ejected liquid. For example, it includes a pattern forming a pattern that has no meaning per se, and a pattern forming a three-dimensional image.

  The above-mentioned “applicable liquid” means that the liquid can be attached at least temporarily and adheres and adheres, or adheres and penetrates. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, recording media such as film and cloth, electronic parts such as electronic substrates and piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and test cells. Unless otherwise specified, all those to which liquid adheres are included.

  The material of the above-mentioned “material to which liquid can adhere” is not limited as long as liquid such as paper, thread, fiber, cloth, cloth skin, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics can be adhered even temporarily.

  The “liquid” is not particularly limited as long as it has a viscosity and surface tension that can be discharged from the liquid discharge head. For example, the viscosity is 30 mPas at normal temperature and normal pressure, and by heating and cooling. -It is preferable that it is below s. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, functional materials such as polysynthetic compounds, resins, and surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, and calcium , Edible materials such as natural dyes, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, etc., which include, for example, inkjet inks, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic elements and light emitting elements, and formation of electronic circuit resist patterns It can be used for applications such as liquids for use, three-dimensional modeling material liquids, and the like.

  In addition, the “apparatus for ejecting liquid” is an apparatus in which the liquid ejection head and the apparatus to which the liquid can be attached move relatively, but are not limited thereto. Specific examples include a serial type apparatus that moves the liquid discharge head, a line type apparatus that does not move the liquid discharge head, and the like.

  In addition to the “device for discharging liquid”, a processing liquid coating apparatus for discharging a processing liquid onto a sheet for applying a processing liquid to the surface of the sheet for the purpose of modifying the surface of the sheet, or a raw material There is an injection granulator for forming fine particles of raw materials by spraying a composition liquid dispersed in a solution through a nozzle.

  The ink jet printer according to the present embodiment ejects ink droplets from the nozzles formed on the liquid ejection head while moving the carriage in the main scanning direction with respect to the recording medium, thereby moving the carriage in the main scanning direction once. To form an image for one line or a plurality of lines. The ink jet printer according to the present embodiment performs printing by sequentially repeating the operation of forming an image in the same manner for the subsequent lines in the sub-scanning direction on the recording medium.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal configuration and mechanism of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following drawings, the side on which the paper discharge tray 3 is disposed is the front of the inkjet printer 1. FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of an ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the main scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a paper feed tray 2, a paper discharge tray 3, a carriage support bar 31, a stay 32, a carriage 33, a paper stacking unit 41, paper 42, and a paper feed roller 43. , Separation pad 44, guide member 45, counter roller 46, conveyance guide member 47, pressing member 48, tip pressure roller 49, conveyance belt 51, conveyance roller 52, tension roller 53, charging roller 56, recording guide member 57, A separation claw 61, a paper discharge roller 62, a paper discharge roller 63, a duplex unit 71, a manual feed tray 72, and a paper detection sensor 95 are configured.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a cartridge loading unit 4, an ink cartridge 10, a frame 21, a wire harness 22, a supply pump unit 24, a locking member 25, an ink supply tube 36, A standby maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 (liquid discharge head maintenance / recovery device), a recording maintenance / recovery mechanism 88, and a paper detection sensor 96 are included.

  The ink cartridge 10 includes an ink cartridge 10k, an ink cartridge 10c, an ink cartridge 10m, and an ink cartridge 10y. The frame 21 includes a left frame 21A, a right frame 21B, and a back frame 21C. The carriage 33 includes a liquid discharge head 34 and a sub tank 35. The standby maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 includes a nozzle cap 82 (first cap), a wiper blade 83, and an idle discharge receiver 84. The recording maintenance / recovery mechanism 88 includes an idle discharge receiver 89.

  Further, the liquid discharge head 34 includes a droplet discharge head 34k, a droplet discharge head 34c, a droplet discharge head 34m, and a droplet discharge head 34y. The sub tank 35 includes a sub tank 35k, a sub tank 35c, a sub tank 35m, and a sub tank 35y. The nozzle cap 82 includes a nozzle cap 82k, a nozzle cap 82c, a nozzle cap 82m, and a nozzle cap 82y. The recording maintenance mechanism 88 includes an idle discharge receiver 89k, an idle discharge receiver 89c, an idle discharge receiver 89m, and an idle discharge receiver 89y. As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle cap 82 as the first cap has a configuration corresponding to each of the plurality of ink cartridges 10. That is, a plurality of nozzle caps 82 are provided.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal configuration and mechanism of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described separately for a part related to a recording operation on a sheet and a part related to a sheet conveying operation.

  First, the part regarding the recording operation on the sheet of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The cartridge loading unit 4 is mounted with four color ink cartridges, ie, a yellow ink cartridge 10y, a cyan ink cartridge 10c, a magenta ink cartridge 10m, and a black ink cartridge 10k. .

  The carriage support bar 31 is a guide member horizontally mounted on the left frame 21A and the right frame 21B, and holds the carriage 33 slidably in the carriage main scanning direction shown in FIG. The carriage 33 is slidably held in the main scanning direction shown in FIG. 2 by the carriage support bar 31 and the stay 32, and is moved and scanned by the main scanning motor via the main scanning belt. The carriage 33 includes a liquid discharge head 34 for discharging ink droplets of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Furthermore, the liquid discharge head 34 includes four liquid discharge heads, that is, liquid discharge heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k, independently for each color.

  These four liquid discharge heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k are respectively arranged in a direction perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction shown in FIG. The four liquid discharge heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k are arranged in parallel with the carriage main scanning direction shown in FIG. 2, and are mounted with the liquid discharge direction facing downward.

  The carriage 33 is equipped with a sub tank 35 for supplying ink to the liquid ejection heads 34 y, 34 c, 34 m, and 34 k of the liquid ejection head 34. The sub tank 35 includes four sub tanks, a sub tank 35k, a sub tank 35c, a sub tank 35m, and a sub tank 35y so as to correspond to the color of each liquid discharge head of the liquid discharge head 34.

  Ink is replenished and supplied to each color sub-tank 35 from the ink cartridge 10 of each color mounted in the cartridge loading unit 4 via the ink supply tube 36. The cartridge loading unit 4 is provided with a supply pump unit 24 for feeding the ink in the ink cartridge 10 to the sub tank 35 via the ink supply tube 36. The ink supply tube 36 is held by the locking member 25 fixed to the back frame 21 </ b> C in the middle of scooping inside the inkjet printer 1.

  The standby maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 maintains or recovers the state of the nozzles of the liquid ejection heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k of the liquid ejection head 34 during non-recording or standby. In this embodiment, the standby maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 is provided in a non-printing area on the right frame 21B side as shown in FIG.

  The standby maintenance mechanism 81 includes a nozzle cap 82 for capping the nozzle formation surfaces of the liquid ejection heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k of the liquid ejection head 34, and a blade member for wiping the nozzle formation surfaces. A wiper blade 83 and an empty discharge receptacle 84 for discharging excess recording liquid thickened by drying or the like are provided. The nozzle cap 82 needs to maintain a constant air pressure in a space (hereinafter referred to as “nozzle cap interior 106”) (first space) in contact with the nozzle formation surface. 106 is sealed.

  The nozzle cap 82 includes four caps, nozzle caps 82c, 82m, 82y, and 82k, corresponding to the liquid ejection heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k of the liquid ejection head 34. The nozzle caps are arranged in the same direction with the same width as the liquid discharge heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k of the liquid discharge head 34.

  The standby maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 has suction tubes 85y and 85c for sucking the recording liquid and bubbles thickened from the nozzles with the nozzle cap 82 capping each nozzle forming surface. 85m, 85k, moisturizing / absorbing agents 86y, 86c, 86m, 86k for moisturizing ink in the nozzles and absorbing excess ink.

  Then, the waste liquid of the recording liquid generated by the maintenance and recovery operation by the standby maintenance and recovery mechanism 81, the ink discharged to the nozzle cap 82, and the ink discharged to the empty discharge receiver 84 are discharged and stored in the waste liquid tank. The Ink adhering to the wiper blade 83 is removed by the wiper cleaner and discharged to the waste liquid tank.

  With such a configuration, the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment performs suction and moisturization of the nozzles of each liquid ejection head during standby or when operation is stopped. Ink ejection in the heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k and ejection failure due to air bubbles can be prevented, and stable ejection performance can be maintained.

  The recording maintenance mechanism 88 maintains or recovers the state of the nozzles of the liquid ejection heads 34y, 34c, 34m, and 34k of the liquid ejection head 34 at the start of recording or during recording. In the present embodiment, the recording maintenance mechanism 88 is provided in a non-printing area on the left frame 21A side, as shown in FIG. This recording maintenance and recovery mechanism 88 includes an empty discharge receptacle 89 for discharging an extra recording liquid thickened by drying or the like.

  Next, the hardware configuration and functional configuration of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration and a functional configuration of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the electrical connection is indicated by a solid arrow. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 denote the same or corresponding parts, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a carriage 33, a conveyance belt 51, a charging roller 56, a printer driver 100, a control unit 200, an operation panel 300, a head driver 400, a main scanning motor 500, a linear The encoder 600, the sub-scanning motor 700, and the wheel encoder 800 are included.

  The printer driver 100 generates print data in an information processing terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer), an image reading device such as an image scanner, or a host device such as an imaging device such as a digital camera.

  The control unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, an NVRAM (Non Volatile Memory I / O), and an ASIC (Application Specific I / C 205). Input / Output) 206, host I / F (Interface) 207, head control unit 208, main scanning motor driving unit 209, AC bias supply unit 210, and sub-scanning motor driving unit 211.

  The CPU 201 is a calculation unit and controls the operation of the entire inkjet printer 1. That is, the CPU 201 performs control related to the sheet transport operation and the liquid ejection head moving operation. The ROM 202 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium and stores a program such as firmware. The RAM 203 is a volatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 201 processes information. The NVRAM 204 is a nonvolatile storage medium that can read and write information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like.

  In such a hardware configuration, the CPU 201 reads a program stored in a storage medium such as the ROM 202, the NVRAM 204, or an optical disk into the RAM 203, and performs a calculation according to the read program, thereby configuring a software control unit. A functional block that realizes the functions of the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by a combination of the software control unit configured as described above and hardware.

  The ASIC 205 includes various interfaces for controlling the entire inkjet printer 1, an image processing circuit, and a circuit for controlling input / output of image data, and is controlled by the CPU 201. That is, the ASIC 205 processes various signal processing for image data, image processing for performing data rearrangement processing, and input / output signals for controlling the entire inkjet printer 1.

  The I / O 206 inputs detection pulses from the linear encoder 600 and the wheel encoder 800 and detection signals from the paper detection sensor 95 and the paper detection sensor 96 and other various sensors to the control unit 200. The host I / F 207 transmits / receives data to / from the host device via a network, a USB cable, or the like. The linear encoder 600 detects the position of the carriage 33 in the main scanning direction, and the wheel encoder 800 detects the position of the transport belt 51 in the sub scanning direction.

  The head control unit 208 generates a drive waveform for driving each liquid discharge head of the liquid discharge head 34, and also outputs image data for selectively driving the pressure generating means of each liquid discharge head and various data associated therewith to the head driver 400. Output to. The main scanning motor driving unit 209 drives the main scanning motor 500. The AC bias supply unit 210 supplies an AC bias to the charging roller. The sub scanning motor driving unit 211 drives the sub scanning motor 700.

  The operation panel 300 is a visual user interface for the user to check the state of the inkjet printer 1. The operation panel 300 is an output interface for visually displaying the state of the ink jet printer 1, and an input when the user directly operates the ink jet printer 1 or inputs information to the ink jet printer 1 as a touch panel. It is also an interface. That is, the operation panel 300 includes a function for displaying an image for receiving an operation by the user.

  The head driver 400 is based on image data (dot pattern data) corresponding to one line of the liquid ejection head 34 that is input serially. By selectively applying a driving voltage corresponding to the driving waveform composed of the driving pulses to the pressure generating means of each liquid ejecting head 34y, 34c, 34m, 34k of the liquid ejecting head 34, the liquid ejecting head 34 Each liquid discharge head is driven.

  The main scanning motor 500 moves and scans the carriage 33 along the carriage support bar 31 via the main scanning belt in accordance with a signal from the main scanning motor driving unit 209. The sub-scanning motor 700 rotates the conveyance roller 52 via the sub-scanning belt in accordance with a signal from the sub-scanning motor driving unit 211, thereby causing the conveyance belt 51 to move in the belt conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) shown in FIG. Move around.

  With such a configuration, in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the CPU 201 reads and analyzes the print data in the reception buffer received by the host I / F 207, and the ASIC 205 performs necessary image processing and data. Are rearranged and transferred to the head controller 208, and image data and drive waveforms are output from the head controller 208 to the head driver 400 at a required timing.

  In the ink jet printer configured as described above, after the ink is ejected, the scattered ink may adhere to the liquid ejection head 34 or the nozzle formation surface. If the ink is left as it is, the adhered ink dries, solidifies, and accumulates, so that the solidified ink hangs down from the liquid ejection head 34 and the nozzle formation surface, or the nozzle formation surface becomes dirty.

  Therefore, in an ink jet printer, when printing is performed in such a state, the ink that hangs down contacts a conveyance member such as a recording medium or a conveyance roller, and printing failure occurs, or the ink solidified on the nozzle forming surface is ink. The ejection of ink droplets may be hindered, resulting in defective ejection of ink droplets.

  Therefore, the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment performs wiping to remove ink adhering to the liquid ejection head 34 and the nozzle formation surface.

  Here, the operation when the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment wipes the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head 34 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 13. 4 to 13 are cross-sectional views of the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment when viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 13, the liquid ejection head 34 according to this embodiment includes a nozzle plate 37 and a nozzle cover 38 in addition to the above configuration. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 12, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment uses the wiper blade 83, the cleaner roller 87, the wiper scraper 97, and the path 98 to the waste ink collection bottle as the standby maintenance recovery mechanism 81. (At least a part of these are provided with a liquid removing unit).

  The nozzle plate 37 is a nozzle plate having a nozzle forming surface on which nozzles are formed. The nozzle cover 38 is a nozzle cover for protecting the nozzle plate 37. The cleaner roller 87 is a cleaner roller for pressing the wiper blade 83 against the wiper scraper 97. The wiper scraper 97 is a wiper scraper for scraping the ink 39 adhering to the wiper blade 83. A path 98 to the waste ink collection bottle is a path to the waste ink collection bottle for collecting the ink scraped by the wiper scraper 97.

  The nozzle cap 82, the wiper blade 83, the suction tube 85, and the cleaner roller 87 are operated at the timing at which they should operate in conjunction with the same drive unit.

  Before the ink jet printer 1 starts the wiping operation of the nozzle forming surface of the liquid discharge head 34, the nozzle forming surface formed on the nozzle plate 37 is capped by the nozzle cap 82 as shown in FIG. ing.

  Then, when starting the wiping operation of the liquid discharge head 34, the inkjet printer 1 first lowers the nozzle cap 82 with respect to the direction of gravity as shown in FIG. 5, and as shown in FIG. The blade 83 is raised with respect to the direction of gravity.

  Then, the ink jet printer 1 moves the liquid ejection head 34 in the main scanning direction as shown in FIGS. As a result, the ink 39 adhering to the nozzle forming surface is wiped by the wiper blade 83 and moves to the wiper blade 83.

  Then, the inkjet printer 1 lowers the wiper blade 83 in the direction of gravity as shown in FIG. 10 while pressing the wiper blade 83 against the wiper scraper 97 by the cleaner roller 87 as shown in FIG. As a result, the ink 39 adhering to the wiper blade 83 moves to the wiper scraper 97.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the inkjet printer 1 returns the cleaner roller 87 to the original position, and then moves the liquid ejection head 34 to the original position (capping position) as shown in FIG. At this time, the ink adhering to the wiper scraper 97 is collected by the gravity along the path to the waste ink recovery bottle into the waste ink recovery bottle.

  Then, when the liquid discharge head 34 moves to the capping position, the inkjet printer 1 raises the nozzle cap 82 with respect to the direction of gravity as shown in FIG. 13, and the nozzle formation surface formed on the nozzle plate 37 becomes the cap. To do.

  The above is the operation when the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment wipes the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head 34.

  The ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can remove the ink 39 adhering to the liquid ejection head 34 and the nozzle formation surface by such a wiping operation.

  However, even if the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head 34 is wiped as described above, it is difficult to completely remove the attached ink 39. Therefore, the remaining ink 39 (hereinafter also referred to as “residual ink”) dries, solidifies, and accumulates, so that the solidified ink 39 hangs from the end of the liquid ejection head 34 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the contact portion between the nozzle plate 37 and the nozzle cap 82 is stained with the solidified ink 39. Therefore, even if the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejection head 34 is wiped, printing failure or ejection failure may occur.

  FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional inkjet printer 1 when viewed from the sub-scanning direction. FIG. 15 is a front view of the nozzle plate 37 in the conventional inkjet printer 1 when viewed from below. Since the portion corresponding to the inside of the nozzle cap 82 in the nozzle plate 37 is moisturized during capping, the above-described problems are unlikely to occur.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a head cap 99 that covers all of the liquid ejection head 34 to the end outside the nozzle cap 82 in the standby maintenance / recovery mechanism 81. (Second cap) is provided. The head cap 99 seals a space including the contact portion between the nozzle plate 37 and the nozzle cap 82 and the end of the liquid ejection head 34 (hereinafter referred to as “head cap interior 107”) (second space). The head cap 99 keeps the inside of the head cap 107 moisturized. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the head cap 99 according to the present embodiment includes an outside air blocking member 101 and a humidity adjusting agent 102 (humidity adjusting unit). As already described, since there are a plurality of ink cartridges 10 provided in the inkjet printer 1, a plurality of nozzle plates 37 are also present. One nozzle plate 37 illustrated in FIG. 15 is shown, but in the inkjet printer 1, a plurality of nozzle plates 37 are arranged on the left and right sides of the paper surface.

  FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment when viewed from the sub-scanning direction. FIG. 17 is a front view of the nozzle cap 82 and the head cap 99 in the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment as viewed from above.

  The outside air blocking member 101 blocks the inside of the head cap 107 from outside air by being in close contact with the end of the liquid ejection head 34 on the nozzle forming surface side. The outside air blocking member 101 is made of, for example, a material containing urethane rubber, silicon, or PVDC (Polyvinylidene Chloride).

  The humidity adjusting agent 102 keeps the inside 107 of the head cap at a constant humidity. That is, the humidity adjusting agent 102 keeps the amount of vapor (hereinafter referred to as “vapor amount”) inside the head cap 107 constant. Specifically, for example, the relative humidity of air in a thermal equilibrium state with a saturated aqueous solution of a salt such as sodium chloride is determined by the type of salt and the temperature of the solution. Humidity can be kept constant. Here, the vapor is in a state where the substance is in a gas state, and in the present embodiment, the vapor is water vapor in a state where the water as the substance is in a gas state. The amount of steam is the amount of steam (mass, weight, substance amount, etc.) present per unit volume. The humidity adjusting agent 102 is stored and arranged in a container having a plurality of slits and holes.

  The ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, so that the contact portion between the nozzle plate 37 and the nozzle cap 82 or the liquid discharge head in a state where the liquid discharge head 34 is capped by the head cap 99. It becomes possible to moisturize the end of 34. The head cap 99 as the second cap may be configured to keep the plurality of nozzle caps 82 moisturized together. In this case, only one head cap 99 may be provided. Alternatively, one head cap 99 may be provided for each nozzle cap 82.

  Therefore, the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can prevent the remaining ink from drying and solidifying, and the state in which the viscosity of the remaining ink is low by wiping the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head 34 is reduced. Can be maintained. Thereby, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the wiping performance, and can prevent the occurrence of printing failure and ejection failure.

  Further, the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured in this way, so that it is possible to improve the maintenance performance of the liquid ejection head 34 with a simple configuration and at a low cost.

  As shown in FIG. 16, an impact buffer member 103 is provided below the head cap 99. The shock absorbing member 103 buffers the shock due to the vibration or the like in order to prevent the head cap 99 from being shaken by the vibration of the ink jet printer 1 and the like to create a gap between the head cap 99 and the liquid ejection head 34. As shown in FIG. 18, the head cap 99 moves in conjunction with the nozzle cap 82. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment when viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

  Next, in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, a method of sealing the head cap interior 107 by the outside air blocking member 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 22. 19 and 21 are front views of the nozzle cap 82 and the head cap 99 in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. 20 and 22 are cross-sectional views of the nozzle cap 82 and the head cap 99 in the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment as viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 to 22, the outside air blocking member 101 moves from two directions toward the end of the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejection head 34 so as to face each other, so that the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejection head 34. Close contact with the end of the side. As a result, the inside of the head cap 107 is hermetically sealed so as to cover all the nozzle forming surface side of the liquid ejection head 34 to the end.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the outside air blocking member 101 moves from the four directions toward the end of the nozzle forming surface of the liquid discharge head 34 so as to face each other. You may be comprised so that it may closely_contact | adhere to the edge part by the side of a nozzle formation surface. 23 and 24 are front views of the nozzle cap 82 and the head cap 99 in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above.

  Next, effects of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 25 is a graph showing a relative humidity change inside the head cap 107 when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to this embodiment.

  FIG. 25 also shows a case where the head cap 99 is not provided for comparison. That is, in FIG. 25, a solid line is a graph when the head cap 99 is provided, and a broken line is a graph when the head cap 99 is not provided. In FIG. 25, it is assumed that the in-machine humidity of the inkjet printer 1 is constant.

  FIG. 26 is a graph showing a change in the water content of the residual ink when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to this embodiment.

  FIG. 26 also shows a case where the head cap 99 is not provided for comparison. That is, in FIG. 26, a solid line is a graph when the head cap 99 is provided, and a broken line is a graph when the head cap 99 is not provided. In FIG. 26, it is assumed that the in-machine humidity of the inkjet printer 1 is constant.

  FIG. 27 is a graph showing the change over time in the probability of occurrence of defects due to residual ink in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment.

  27 also shows a case where the head cap 99 is not provided for comparison. That is, in FIG. 27, the solid line is a graph when the head cap 99 is provided, and the broken line is a graph when the head cap 99 is not provided.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the relative humidity inside the head cap 107 during capping of the liquid ejection head 34 by the head cap 99 according to the present embodiment rises with time, and then becomes stable at a constant relative humidity. . On the other hand, when the head cap 99 is not provided, the relative humidity remains the same as the in-machine humidity.

  As described above, the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can retain all the moisture up to the nozzle forming surface side end of the liquid ejection head 34 in a state where the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99. Become.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the water content of the residual ink when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to the present embodiment has a low internal relative humidity immediately after sealing, as shown in FIG. Since it is in a state, it once decreases, but thereafter, it rises with an increase in the internal relative humidity and becomes stable at a constant moisture content. On the other hand, when the head cap 99 is not provided, the moisture content of the residual ink continues to evaporate, so that the moisture content continues to decrease.

  As described above, the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment can prevent the remaining ink from drying and solidifying, and the viscosity of the ink remaining by wiping the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head 34 can be reduced. It becomes possible to maintain a low state. Thereby, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the wiping performance, and can prevent the occurrence of printing failure and ejection failure.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 27, the probability of occurrence of a defect due to residual ink in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is kept low due to the improvement of the wiping performance. On the other hand, when the head cap 99 is not provided, the residual ink dries and solidifies and accumulates, so that the solidified ink 39 hangs down from the end of the liquid ejection head 34 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the contact portion between the nozzle plate 37 and the nozzle cap 82 is soiled by the solidified residual ink, so that the probability of occurrence of a defect continues to increase. As described above, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can prevent the occurrence of problems.

  Next, the main components of the humidity adjusting agent 102 in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 28 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap 107 when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to this embodiment.

  In FIG. 28, the solid line is a graph when the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is saturated brine, and the dotted line is a graph when the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is the same component or glycerin as the ink. It is. FIG. 28 also shows a case where the head cap 99 is not provided for comparison. That is, in FIG. 28, the broken line is a graph when the head cap 99 is not provided. In FIG. 28, it is assumed that the in-machine humidity of the inkjet printer 1 is constant.

  As shown in FIG. 28, when the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is saturated brine, a constant humidity can be maintained over a longer time than when the same component or glycerin as the ink is used. Therefore, the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 may be the same component or glycerin as the ink. However, from the viewpoint of keeping the inside of the liquid ejection head 34 capped by the head cap 99, it is saturated salt water. Is preferred.

  Here, the saturated salt water is a mixture of one or more kinds of powdery salts and a saturated aqueous solution of one or more kinds of salts.

  Note that the saturated salt water used in the present embodiment is obtained by immersing a saturated aqueous salt solution in a powdered salt so that the shape of the humidity adjusting agent 102 can be maintained. Therefore, in this embodiment, the humidity adjusting agent 102 can be disposed at any position regardless of the direction of gravity.

  Further, in the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the humidity adjusting agent 102 can be disposed so as not to contact the metal portion constituting the apparatus, and the container for storing the humidity adjusting agent 102 is a non-metallic container. If so, the corrosion of them can be prevented. Thereby, the maintenance of the inkjet printer 1 can be reduced.

  Next, the relative humidity inside the head cap 107 during capping by the head cap 99 when the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is saturated salt water will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30. FIG.

  FIG. 29 is a table showing the relative humidity due to each saturated salt water at each temperature in the sealed space. FIG. 30 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap 107 when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to this embodiment.

  In addition, in FIG. 30, when the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is each saturated salt water shown in FIG. 29, a graph is shown for every saturated salt water. That is, in FIG. 30, the solid line is a graph when the salt of saturated brine is potassium sulfate, the alternate long and short dash line is the graph when the salt of saturated brine is potassium chloride, and the long dashed line is the graph when saturated brine is It is a graph when it is sodium chloride, a one-dot long chain line is a graph when a saturated salt water is sodium bromide, and a two-dot chain line is a graph when a saturated salt water is potassium carbonate.

  FIG. 30 also shows a case where the head cap 99 is not provided for comparison. That is, in FIG. 30, a broken line shows a graph when the head cap 99 is not provided. FIG. 30 also shows a case where the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is the same component or glycerin as the ink for comparison. That is, in FIG. 30, a dotted line is a graph in the case where the main component of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is the same component as ink or glycerin. In FIG. 30, it is assumed that the in-machine humidity of the inkjet printer 1 is constant.

  In FIGS. 29 and 30, the case where the salt of saturated brine is potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, or potassium carbonate is shown. In addition, the salt of the saturated salt water is not limited to these as long as the relative humidity in the sealed space can be kept constant.

  Further, from the viewpoint of moisturizing the inside of the liquid discharge head 34 capped by the head cap 99, the salt of the saturated brine can maintain the relative humidity in the sealed space at 40% RH or higher. Is preferred. All of the saturated brines shown in FIG. 29 satisfy this condition. Moreover, as a salt of saturated salt water, the thing with low environmental impact and the thing with little influence on a human body are preferable. As such a salt, sodium chloride is preferred.

  The location of the humidity adjusting agent 102 is not limited to the bottom inside the head cap 99 as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 31, the humidity adjusting agent 102 may be disposed at a position facing the end of the liquid ejection head 34 on the nozzle forming surface side, that is, the side surface of the head cap 99. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment when viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

  Here, an advantage when the humidity adjusting agent 102 is arranged on the side surface of the head cap 99 as shown in FIG. 31 will be described. When the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured in this way, a position close to the end portion of the liquid discharge head 34 where the ink tends to remain after wiping the nozzle forming surface or the contact portion between the nozzle plate 37 and the nozzle cap 82. Thus, the humidity adjusting agent 102 is disposed.

  Therefore, when the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment is configured in this way, the moisture content of the residual ink at the end portion and the contact portion is determined as shown in FIG. It can be maintained in a higher state than when placed at the bottom.

  Thereby, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the wiping performance, and can prevent the occurrence of printing failure and ejection failure. FIG. 32 is a graph showing a change in the water content of the residual ink when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to this embodiment.

  In FIG. 32, the solid line is a graph when the humidity adjusting agent 102 is disposed on the side surface of the head cap 99, and the broken line is a graph when the humidity adjusting agent 102 is disposed at the bottom inside the head cap 99. It is. In FIG. 32, the in-machine humidity of the inkjet printer 1 is assumed to be constant.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the moisture content of the residual ink decreases once immediately after sealing because the internal relative humidity is low as shown in FIG. When it is disposed on the side surface, the time until the humidity adjusting agent 102 becomes stable at a constant relative humidity is shorter than when the humidity adjusting agent 102 is disposed on the bottom inside the head cap 99.

  Therefore, when the humidity adjusting agent 102 is disposed on the side surface of the head cap 99, the humidity adjusting agent 102 determines the water content of the residual ink at the end of the liquid ejection head 34 and the contact portion between the nozzle plate 37 and the nozzle cap 82. It can be maintained in a higher state than when it is arranged at the bottom inside the head cap 99. Thereby, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the wiping performance, and can prevent the occurrence of printing failure and ejection failure.

  However, when the humidity adjusting agent 102 is disposed at the bottom inside the head cap 99 as shown in FIG. 16 or the like, the head cap is more than when it is disposed at the side surface of the head cap 99 as shown in FIG. The entire interior 107 can be uniformly moisturized.

  Further, a configuration in which the humidity adjusting agent 102 is arranged on the bottom inside the head cap 99 as shown in FIG. 16 and the like and arranged on the side surface of the head cap 99 as shown in FIG. In such a configuration, the entire inside of the head cap 107 is uniformly moisturized while the water content of the residual ink at the end of the liquid discharge head 34 and the contact portion between the nozzle plate 37 and the nozzle cap 82 is kept higher. can do.

  Note that during maintenance such as printing, wiping, and idle ejection, the liquid ejection head 34 is released from the capping state by the head cap 99 and the inside of the head cap 99 is opened. If the state in which the inside of the head cap 99 is opened continues, the relative humidity inside the head cap 99 continues to decrease.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 33, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a head cap cover 104 for sealing the head cap interior 107 when the capping state of the liquid ejection head 34 by the head cap 99 is released. (Sealed state maintaining part) may be provided. FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment when viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

  The ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, so that even when the capping state of the liquid ejection head 34 by the head cap 99 is released, the relative humidity change in the head cap interior 107 is suppressed. It becomes possible to do.

  Therefore, the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, and can immediately retain moisture in the residual ink after the capping state of the liquid ejection head 34 is released to the capping state. It becomes. Thereby, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the wiping performance, and can prevent the occurrence of printing failure and ejection failure.

  Here, the relative humidity change in the head cap interior 107 when the head cap 99 is sealed with the head cap cover 104 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 34 is a graph showing a relative humidity change in the head cap interior 107 when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to this embodiment.

  34 also shows a case where the inside of the head cap 99 is not sealed by the head cap cover 104 for comparison. That is, in FIG. 34, the solid line is a graph when the inside of the head cap 99 is sealed with the head cap cover 104, and the dotted line is a graph when the inside of the head cap 99 is not sealed with the head cap cover 104.

  FIG. 34 also shows a case where the head cap 99 is not provided for comparison. That is, in FIG. 34, the broken line is a graph when the head cap 99 is not provided. In FIG. 34, the in-machine humidity of the inkjet printer 1 is assumed to be constant.

  As shown in FIG. 34, when the capping state of the liquid ejection head 34 by the head cap 99 is released, the head cap interior 107 is sealed by the head cap cover 104, whereby the relative humidity change in the head cap interior 107 is changed. It becomes possible to suppress. On the other hand, when the capping state of the liquid ejection head 34 by the head cap 99 is released, if the head cap interior 107 is not sealed by the head cap cover 104, the capping state of the liquid ejection head 34 is changed from the released state to the capping state. Until the transition, the relative humidity inside the head cap 99 continues to decrease.

  Therefore, the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, and can immediately retain moisture in the residual ink after the capping state of the liquid ejection head 34 is released to the capping state. It becomes. Thereby, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the wiping performance, and can prevent the occurrence of printing failure and ejection failure.

  In the inkjet printer 1, residual ink may adhere not only to the liquid discharge head 34 and the nozzle formation surface, but also to the wiper blade 83, the cleaner roller 87, and the wiper scraper 97. Therefore, the residual ink adhering to the wiper blade 83, the cleaner roller 87, and the wiper scraper 97 is dried, solidified, and deposited, so that the wiping performance is deteriorated.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment not only retains the liquid discharge head 34 but also wipes the wiper blade 83, the cleaner roller 87, and the wiper scraper 97 with the humidity adjusting agent 102. You may be comprised so that the space containing them may be sealed with the external air blocking member 101 so that influence may be exerted. When the head cleaning is performed in the present embodiment, the outside air blocking member 101 moves in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction and operates to open the wiper blade 83 upward. The operation of the outside air blocking member 101 may be performed using an electric motor such as an electric motor. 35 and 36 are cross-sectional views of the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment when viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

  The ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, so that the space including the wiper blade 83, the cleaner roller 87, and the wiper scraper 97 can be moisturized, and the residual ink attached to them can be dried. It is possible to prevent solidification and accumulation. Thereby, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the wiping performance, and can prevent the occurrence of printing failure and ejection failure.

  Note that the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration shown in FIG. 37 in order to shorten the time from when the head cap interior 107 is sealed until the steam is filled in the entire area of the head cap 107 and the relative humidity is stabilized. As shown in FIG. 3, the head cap 107 may be configured to include a stirring member 105 (for example, a propeller) (stirring unit) for stirring the gas inside the head cap 107. FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of the ink jet printer 1 according to this embodiment when viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

  Here, the relative humidity change in the head cap internal 107 when the stirring member 105 stirs the gas in the head cap internal 107 after the head cap internal 107 is sealed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 38 is a graph showing a change in relative humidity inside the head cap 107 when the liquid ejection head 34 is capped by the head cap 99 according to this embodiment.

  FIG. 38 also shows a case where stirring by the stirring member 105 is not performed for comparison. That is, in FIG. 38, a solid line is a graph when stirring by the stirring member 105 is performed, and a dotted line is a graph when stirring by the stirring member 105 is not performed. Also, in FIG. 38, for comparison, and in FIG. 38, the in-machine humidity of the inkjet printer 1 is assumed to be constant.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 2 Paper feed tray 3 Paper discharge tray 4 Cartridge loading part 10 Ink cartridge 21 Frame 22 Harness 24 Supply pump unit 25 Locking member 31 Carriage support rod 32 Stay 33 Carriage 34 Liquid discharge head 35 Sub tank 36 Ink supply tube 37 Nozzle Plate 38 Nozzle cover 39 Adhered ink 41 Paper stacking section 42 Paper 43 Paper feed roller 44 Separation pad 45 Guide member 46 Counter roller 47 Transport guide member 48 Pressing member 49 Pressure roller 51 Transport belt 52 Transport roller 53 Tension roller 57 Guide during recording Member 61 Separation Claw 62 Paper Discharge Roller 63 Paper Discharge Roller 64 Paper Discharge Guide 65 Guide Outer Circle 66 Shaft 67 Axis 68 Guide 69 Bent Part 71 Double-sided Unit 72 Manual feed tray 73 Paper feed guide 74 Bending cancel guide 81 Maintenance recovery mechanism during standby 82 Nozzle cap 83 Wiper blade 84 Empty discharge receiver 85 Suction tube 86 Moisturizing / absorbing agent 87 Cleaner roller 88 Recording recovery recovery mechanism 89 Empty discharge receiver 95 Paper Detection sensor 96 Paper detection sensor 97 Wiper scraper 98 Path to waste ink collection bottle 99 Head cap 100 Printer driver 101 Outside air blocking member 102 Humidity adjusting agent 103 Impact buffer member 104 Head cap cover 105 Stirring member 106 Nozzle cap inside 107 Head cap inside 200 control unit 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 NVRAM
205 ASIC
206 I / O
207 Host I / F
208 Head Control Unit 209 Main Scanning Motor Driving Unit 210 AC Bias Supply Unit 211 Sub Scanning Motor Driving Unit 212 Thermistor 213 Step-up Transformer 200 Control Circuit 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 NVRAM
205 ASIC
207 Print control unit 208 Head driver 210 Motor drive unit 212 AC bias supply unit 213 IO
214 Operation panel 215 Temperature / humidity sensor 221 Shift register 222 Latch circuit 223 Decoder 224 Level shifter 225 Analog switch 231 Flow path plate 232 Vibration plate 233 Nozzle plate 234 Nozzle 235 Nozzle communication path 236 Liquid chamber 238 Common liquid chamber 239 Ink supply port 241 Piezoelectric element 242 Base substrate 243 Supporting part 244 FPC cable 245 Frame member 246 Through part 247 Ink supply hole 248 Piezoelectric material 249 Internal electrode 250 Individual electrode 251 Common electrode 400 Head driver 500 Main scanning motor 600 Linear encoder 700 Sub scanning motor 800 Wheel encoder

JP 2007-175969 A JP 2006-168093 A JP2012-096513A

Claims (12)

A first cap for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the liquid discharge head;
A first cap and a second cap that seals at least a surface of the liquid ejection head on the nozzle forming surface side;
A humidity adjusting unit arranged outside the first cap and inside the second cap to adjust the humidity of the space between the first cap and the second cap;
An apparatus for maintaining and recovering a liquid discharge head, comprising:   The apparatus for maintaining and recovering a liquid discharge head according to claim 1, further comprising a stirring unit that stirs the gas in the space.   The apparatus for maintaining and recovering a liquid discharge head according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid removal unit that is disposed in the space and removes the liquid attached to the nozzle formation surface.   The apparatus for maintaining and recovering a liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the humidity adjusting unit adjusts the humidity of the space by generating steam.   The apparatus for maintaining and recovering a liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the humidity adjusting unit is configured to be able to maintain a shape.   The liquid recovery head maintenance / recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the humidity adjusting unit includes saturated salt water.   The liquid discharge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the humidity adjusting unit includes saturated brine containing at least one of potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, and potassium carbonate. Head maintenance and recovery device.   The liquid recovery head maintenance / recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the humidity adjusting unit is disposed on a side surface of the second cap.   The liquid ejection head maintenance and recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the humidity adjusting unit is disposed on a bottom of the second cap.   The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, further comprising a sealed state maintaining unit that seals the space including the space in a state where the sealed state of the liquid discharge head is released. Maintenance recovery device.   A liquid discharge unit comprising the liquid discharge head maintenance / recovery device according to claim 1.   An apparatus for ejecting liquid, comprising the apparatus for maintaining and recovering a liquid ejection head according to claim 1.