JP2020183061A - Cleaning device and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cleaning device which can properly clean an ink discharge surface of a recording head and an image formation apparatus.SOLUTION: A cleaning device for cleaning an ink discharge surface of a recording head of an image formation apparatus comprises: an absorption member which absorbs residual ink adhering to the ink discharge surface; a storage unit which stores cleaning fluid for cleaning the absorption member absorbing the residual ink; a discharge unit to which the residual ink absorbed by the absorption member is discharged; and a removal unit which removes the residual ink from the absorption member to discharge it to the discharge unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an image forming device.

Conventionally, a cleaning device for cleaning the ink ejection surface of a recording head in an inkjet image forming device has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning device having a rotatable roller member that absorbs residual ink on an ink ejection surface and an accommodating member that houses a cleaning liquid for cleaning the roller member.

In this configuration, the roller member rotates while the roller member is immersed in the cleaning liquid. The roller member absorbs the residual ink from the ink ejection surface, and the predetermined portion that has absorbed the residual ink reaches the position of the cleaning liquid to be cleaned by the cleaning liquid.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-161870

By the way, when the roller member is washed with the cleaning liquid, the residual ink absorbed by the roller member is mixed in the cleaning liquid. Therefore, when the frequency of cleaning the ink ejection surface increases or when the amount of ink absorbed by the roller member by one cleaning increases due to the increase in the number of mounted heads, the ink concentration in the cleaning liquid increases. ..

Then, the roller member cannot be properly cleaned, and the cleaning of the ink ejection surface becomes insufficient. Therefore, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 has room for improvement as a configuration for cleaning the ink ejection surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device and an image forming device capable of appropriately cleaning the ink ejection surface of a recording head.

The cleaning device according to the present invention
A cleaning device that cleans the ink ejection surface of the recording head of an image forming device.
An absorbing member that absorbs residual ink adhering to the ink ejection surface and
An accommodating portion for accommodating a cleaning liquid for cleaning the absorbing member that has absorbed the residual ink,
A discharge section where the residual ink absorbed by the absorption member is discharged, and
A removing portion that removes the residual ink from the absorbing member and discharges the remaining ink toward the discharging portion.
To be equipped.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is
A recording head with an ink ejection surface and
With the above cleaning equipment
To be equipped.

According to the present invention, the ink ejection surface of the recording head can be appropriately cleaned.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main functional composition of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the cleaning apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the state of crimp separation with respect to the absorption member of the accommodation member in a cleaning apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating how the removal part is separated from the absorbing member in a cleaning apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the state of crimping with respect to the absorption member of a removal part in a cleaning apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the state of cleaning a discharge part. It is a figure which shows the modification of the accommodating member which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure which provided the communication hole in the removal part. It is a figure which shows the removal part which concerns on the modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is an inkjet type image forming apparatus, and includes a belt conveying device 2, a recording head 3, a cleaning device 4, and the like.

In the belt transport device 2, an endless transport belt 23 having a predetermined width is stretched over a drive roller 21 and a driven roller 22 arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. The upper surface of the transport belt 23 bridged to the drive roller 21 and the driven roller 22 is a mounting surface on which the recording medium P is placed in close contact with each other.

The surface of the transport belt 23 is coated with an adhesive called grounding in order to bring the recording medium P being transported into close contact with the upper surface of the transport belt 23. Further, the drive roller 21 is driven by a sub-scanning motor (not shown).

In the belt transfer device 2, the drive roller 21 is rotated at a predetermined speed in the counterclockwise direction (see the arrow) in FIG. 1 by the rotational drive of the sub-scanning motor, so that the drive roller 21 is bridged with the driven roller 22. The conveyor belt 23 is rotated and moved. By such an operation, the recording medium P mounted on the upper surface of the transport belt 23 is transported in the direction of the arrow A in the drawing, which is the sub-scanning direction.

As the recording medium P, for example, a recording medium usually used for inkjet recording such as paper, cloth, a plastic film, and a glass plate can be used. The recording medium P may be in the form of a sheet cut to a predetermined size, or may be in the form of a long piece that is continuously unwound from the original winding wound in a roll shape.

A belt cleaning device (not shown) is provided on the side of the belt transport device 2 opposite to the transport surface of the recording medium P. The belt cleaning device removes foreign matter adhering to the transport belt 23.

The recording head 3 has a plurality of recording elements (injection heads), and is arranged above the surface on which the recording medium P is placed on the transport belt 23 at a predetermined interval. The recording head 3 is desired on the recording medium P which is conveyed by the rotational movement of the conveying belt 23 by ejecting ink droplets from the ink ejection surfaces 3A (see FIG. 3) of a large number of nozzles provided on the lower surface thereof. Record the image.

In the present embodiment, the recording head 3 is mounted on a carriage (not shown), and a shuttle-type recording head that reciprocates in the chief examiner direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium P that is intermittently conveyed is used. In this case, at the time of recording, the drive of the drive roller 21 is controlled so that the transfer belt 23 performs an intermittent operation of repeating the standby state and the drive state.

The recording head 3 is a line-type recording head that is fixedly bridged over the width direction of the transport belt 23 and records an image by ejecting ink droplets on a recording medium P that is continuously transported. It may be. In this case, at the time of recording, the drive of the drive roller 21 is controlled so that the transfer belt 23 continuously moves (rotates).

The cleaning device 4 is a device that cleans the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3, and has an absorbing member 41, an accommodating member 42, and a drawing member 43 (see FIG. 3). Details of the cleaning device 4 will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 100, a recording head drive unit 110, a transport drive unit 120, an input / output interface 130, and a cleaning drive unit 140.

The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101 (Central Processing Unit), a RAM 102 (Random Access Memory), a ROM 103 (Read Only Memory), and a storage unit 104.

The CPU 101 reads out various control programs and setting data stored in the ROM 103, stores them in the RAM 102, executes the programs, and performs various arithmetic processes. Further, the CPU 101 comprehensively controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

The RAM 102 provides the CPU 101 with a working memory space and stores temporary data. The RAM 102 may include a non-volatile memory.

The ROM 103 stores various control programs, setting data, and the like executed by the CPU 101. Instead of the ROM 103, a rewritable non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash memory may be used.

The storage unit 104 stores a print job (image recording command) input from the external device 6 via the input / output interface 130 and image data related to the print job. As the storage unit 104, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) may be used, or a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like may be used in combination.

The recording head drive unit 110 supplies a drive signal according to the image data to the recording head 3 at an appropriate timing based on the control of the control unit 100, thereby converting the pixel value of the image data from the nozzle of the recording head 3. Discharge the corresponding amount of ink.

The transport drive unit 120 rotates and moves the transport belt 23 at a predetermined speed and timing by supplying a drive signal to the sub-scanning motor of the drive roller 21 based on the control of the control unit 100.

The input / output interface 130 mediates the transmission and reception of data between the external device 6 and the control unit 100. The input / output interface 130 is composed of, for example, any of various serial interfaces, various parallel interfaces, or a combination thereof.

The external device 6 is, for example, a personal computer, and supplies an image recording command (print job), image data, and the like to the control unit 100 via the input / output interface 130.

The cleaning drive unit 140 rotationally drives the absorption member 41 by supplying a drive signal to the absorption member 41 described later based on the control of the control unit 100.

Next, the details of the cleaning device 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cleaning device 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning device 4 has an absorbing member 41, an accommodating member 42, and a drawing member 43 as described above. The cleaning device 4 is arranged beside the belt transport device 2. Therefore, when the cleaning device 4 cleans the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3, the recording head 3 moves to a position corresponding to the cleaning device 4 under the control of the control unit 100.

The absorbing member 41 is a roller member that absorbs residual ink adhering to the ink ejection surface 3A, and is made of a porous member such as a sponge. The absorbing member 41 is provided at a position where it can come into contact with the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3, and is configured to be rotatable in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

When cleaning the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3, the control unit 100 controls the recording head driving unit 110 so as to move the recording head 3 to the outside of the transport belt 23. The absorbing member 41 comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 3A of the moving recording head 3 and absorbs the residual ink D1 adhering to the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3.

The accommodating member 42 is a box-shaped member having an accommodating portion 42A and a discharging portion 42B. The accommodating member 42 has a removing portion 42C which is a resin wall separating the accommodating portion 42A and the discharging portion 42B. The removing portion 42C may be made of metal.

The accommodating portion 42A accommodates the cleaning liquid W for cleaning the absorbing member 41. The lower end of the absorbing member 41 is immersed in the cleaning liquid W in the accommodating portion 42A. As a result, the portion of the absorbing member 41 immersed in the cleaning liquid W is cleaned by the cleaning liquid W.

Further, for example, a supply device 5 is provided in the image forming device 1. The supply device 5 has a supply unit 5A and a tank (not shown). The supply device 5 supplies the cleaning liquid stored in the tank into the accommodating unit 42A via the supply unit 5A. Thereby, it is possible to replenish the cleaning liquid W in the accommodating portion 42A.

The discharge unit 42B accommodates the residual ink D discharged from the absorbing member 41. The discharge portion 42B is located on the upstream side of the accommodating portion 42A in the rotation direction of the absorption member 41. Specifically, the discharge unit 42B is arranged on the upstream side of the accommodating unit 42A with respect to the contact position between the removal unit 42C and the absorption member 41 in the rotation direction.

The removing unit 42C removes the residual ink D2 absorbed by the absorbing member 41 from the absorbing member 41 by contacting the absorbing member 41 so as to be pressed against the absorbing member 41 on the downstream side of the ink ejection surface 3A in the rotational direction. The tip of the removing portion 42C has a tapered shape and has a first surface C1 and a second surface C2.

The first surface C1 is a surface located on the discharge portion 42B side with respect to the apex C3 of the tip portion of the removal portion 42C. The second surface C2 is a surface located on the accommodating portion 42A side with respect to the apex C3 and is a curved surface. The second surface C2 comes into contact with the absorbing member 41. As a result, the residual ink D2 absorbed by the absorbing member 41 is removed by the second surface C2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the accommodating member 42 is configured to be crimp-separable from the absorbing member 41. Specifically, when the removing portion 42C of the accommodating member 42 is in contact with the absorbing member 41, the accommodating member 42 is configured to be movable downward.

By doing so, when the cleaning device 4 is not operated, the absorbing member 41 and the removing portion 42C can be separated from each other, so that the absorbing member 41 and the removing portion 42C continue to be in contact with each other. Deformation of the absorbing member 41 due to this can be suppressed.

The drawing member 43 is a member that discharges the cleaning liquid absorbed by the absorbing member 41 from the absorbing member 41 by contacting and drawing the drawing member 41. The diaphragm member 43 is arranged in the rotation direction on the downstream side of the portion of the absorption member 41 immersed in the cleaning liquid W and on the upstream side of the contact position with the ink ejection surface 3A.

Further, the drawing member 43 is configured so as to be crimp-separable from the absorbing member 41. Specifically, when the drawing member 43 is in contact with the absorbing member 41, the drawing member 43 is configured to be separable from the absorbing member 41.

By doing so, when the cleaning device 4 is not operated, the absorbing member 41 and the drawing member 43 can be separated from each other, so that the absorbing member 41 and the drawing member 43 continue to be in contact with each other. It is possible to suppress the deformation of the absorbing member 41 due to the above.

In the cleaning device 4 configured in this way, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the absorbing member 41 comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 3A to absorb the residual ink D1 adhering to the ink ejection surface 3A. As the absorbing member 41 rotates, the predetermined portion of the absorbing member 41 that has absorbed the residual ink D2 comes into contact with the second surface C2 of the removing portion 42C. When the predetermined portion comes into contact with the second surface C2, the residual ink D2 adhering to the predetermined portion is removed at the contact position between the absorbing member 41 and the second surface C2.

Specifically, when the second surface C2 of the removing portion 42C is pressed against the absorbing member 41, the absorbing member 41 is squeezed and the residual ink D3 is removed from the absorbing member 41. The removed residual ink D3 flows down along the first surface C1 side portion of the removing portion 42C and is discharged to the discharging portion 42B.

Further, the absorbing member 41 rotates, and the predetermined portion from which the residual ink D2 has been removed enters the cleaning liquid W and is cleaned by the cleaning liquid W. Since the residual ink D2 is removed from the predetermined portion, the amount of the residual ink mixed with the cleaning liquid W is significantly reduced. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the ink density in the cleaning liquid W.

The absorbing member 41 further rotates, and the predetermined portion cleaned by the cleaning liquid W comes into contact with the drawing member 43. As a result, the predetermined portion is squeezed by the drawing member 43, and the cleaning liquid absorbed by the predetermined portion is discharged from the absorbing member 41. The discharged cleaning liquid is returned to the housing portion 42A.

The predetermined portion where the cleaning liquid is discharged comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 3A again and absorbs the remaining ink D1. The above operation is repeated.

Further, the liquid level of the cleaning liquid W in the accommodating portion 42A is adjusted to be higher than the liquid level of the remaining ink D in the discharging portion 42B. Specifically, each of the accommodating unit 42A and the discharging unit 42B is provided with a liquid level height detecting unit (not shown), and the control unit 100 accommodates the product based on the signals of the liquid level detecting units. The liquid level in the portion 42A is adjusted to be higher than the liquid level in the discharge portion 42B.

As the amount of residual ink D discharged to the discharging unit 42B increases, there is a possibility that the remaining ink may flow over the removing unit 42C into the accommodating portion 42A. Therefore, when the liquid level in the discharge unit 42B approaches the liquid level in the accommodating unit 42A, the control unit 100 removes the remaining ink D in the discharge unit 42B based on the signal of each liquid level height detection unit. Controls the discharge to the outside of the device.

Examples of the control for discharging the remaining ink D in the discharging unit 42B to the outside of the device include a control for notifying the user to dispose of the remaining ink D.

By doing so, it is possible to prevent the remaining ink D in the discharging portion 42B from flowing into the accommodating portion 42A.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the removing unit 42C discharges the residual ink D2 absorbed by the absorbing member 41 toward the discharging unit 42B. As a result, the absorbing member 41 in the state where the residual ink D2 has been removed enters the cleaning liquid W, so that it is possible to suppress an increase in the ink concentration in the cleaning liquid W.

As a result, the absorbing member 41 can be appropriately cleaned by the cleaning liquid W, so that the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3 can be cleaned by the cleaned absorbing member 41. That is, in the present embodiment, the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3 can be appropriately cleaned.

Further, when the frequency of cleaning the ink ejection surface 3A increases, or when the amount of ink absorbed by the roller member by one cleaning increases due to an increase in the number of mounted heads, the ink absorbed by the absorbing member 41 The amount of absorption increases. Therefore, from the viewpoint of improving the cleaning performance of the cleaning device 4, it is necessary to properly clean the absorbing member 41.

In the present embodiment, the residual ink is removed by the removing unit 42C before the portion of the absorbing member 41 that has absorbed the residual ink enters the cleaning liquid W, so that the residual ink can be reduced from being mixed in the cleaning liquid W. it can. As a result, the absorbing member 41 is appropriately cleaned by the cleaning liquid W, and the cleaning performance of the cleaning device 4 can be improved.

Further, since the increase in the ink concentration of the cleaning liquid W is suppressed, it is not necessary to frequently replace the cleaning liquid, so that the cost related to the cleaning liquid can be reduced.

By the way, there is known a configuration in which the remaining ink on the ink ejection surface 3A of the recording head 3 is directly removed by the blade member. With such a configuration, it is necessary to clean the residual ink adhering to the blade member, but if a cleaning mechanism for the blade member is provided, the configuration of the device becomes complicated. Further, when the blade member is configured to be flexible and deformable, the residual ink is scattered from the blade member and inside the apparatus when the blade member comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 3A in a bent state and then is restored to the original state. There is a risk of polluting.

However, in the present embodiment, the residual ink is removed from the absorbing member 41 by the removing unit 42C, and the ink is washed with the cleaning liquid W. As a result, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the configuration having the blade member, and the residual ink absorbed from the ink ejection surface 3A can be prevented from scattering.

Further, since the second surface C2 of the removing portion 42C, which is a curved surface, comes into contact with the absorbing member 41, it is possible to prevent the absorbing member 41 from being damaged due to the removing portion 42C coming into contact with the absorbing member 41. Can be done.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cleaning device 4 according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning device 4 according to the second embodiment has an absorbing member 41, an accommodating member 42, and a drawing member 43, as in the first embodiment. The absorbing member 41 and the drawing member 43 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

A discharge port B is formed at the bottom of the discharge portion 42B of the accommodating member 42. The discharge port B is an opening for discharging the residual ink D discharged to the discharge unit 42B from the inside of the discharge unit 42B, and communicates with, for example, the residual ink accommodating portion. As a result, the residual ink D in the discharge unit 42B can be discharged, so that it is possible to prevent the residual ink D from accumulating too much in the discharge unit 42B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the removing portion 42C is configured to be crimp-separable from the absorbing member 41. Specifically, the removing portion 42C is configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the bottom portion of the accommodating member 42.

For example, when exchanging the cleaning liquid, the removing portion 42C is separated from the absorbing member 41. Then, the cleaning liquid W in the accommodating portion 42A flows into the discharging portion 42B and is discharged from the discharge port B to the outside of the accommodating member 42. As a result, the cleaning liquid can be easily discharged, and the inside of the discharge portion 42B can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the cleaning liquid is supplied into the accommodating portion 42A, the removing portion 42C is crimped to the absorbing member 41. Then, even if the cleaning liquid is supplied to the accommodating unit 42A by the supply device 5, the cleaning liquid does not flow to the discharge unit 42B side by the removing unit 42C, so that the cleaning liquid in the accommodating unit 42A can be replaced.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid can be easily replaced, so that the cleaning liquid can be maintained in a relatively new state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink concentration of the cleaning liquid from increasing due to the residual ink that could not be completely discharged from the absorbing member 41 by the removing unit 42C.

Further, the above cleaning liquid may be replaced automatically by the control unit 100 according to the cleaning frequency in the cleaning device 4 and the time elapsed since the last cleaning liquid was replaced, or according to the user's instruction. It may be done.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when cleaning only the discharge portion 42B, for example, the cleaning liquid W is supplied into the accommodating portion 42A by the supply device 5 to raise the liquid level of the cleaning liquid W. Then, the cleaning liquid W is supplied into the discharge unit 42B over the removing unit 42C. As a result, the inside of the discharge unit 42B can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid W.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the bottom portion of the discharge portion 42B may be inclined so as to be located below toward the discharge port B. By doing so, it is possible to easily guide the residual ink D and the like in the discharge portion 42B to the discharge port B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the removing portion 42C may be formed with a communication hole C4 for communicating the space in the accommodating portion 42A and the space in the discharging portion 42B. By doing so, when cleaning the inside of the discharge portion 42B, if the liquid level of the cleaning liquid is raised to the position of the communication hole C4, the cleaning liquid flows into the discharge portion 42B through the communication hole C4. As a result, the inside of the discharge portion 42B can be easily cleaned.

According to the second embodiment configured as described above, the cleaning liquid W can be easily discharged by the discharge port B, so that the cleaning liquid W can be easily replaced. As a result, by exchanging the cleaning liquid W at a constant frequency, the ink concentration in the cleaning liquid W is increased due to the residual ink mixed in the cleaning liquid W that has washed the absorbing member 41 that could not be completely removed by the removing unit 42C. It is possible to suppress the rise.

Further, since the cleaning liquid W can be easily replaced to maintain a relatively new state, even if the amount of residual ink absorbed by the absorbing member 41 increases due to an increase in the cleaning frequency or the number of heads, the ink is absorbed. The member 41 can be properly cleaned. As a result, the cleaning performance of the cleaning device 4 can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the removing portion 42C has a second surface C2 which is a curved surface, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the removing portion 42C It may have a roller member C5 in contact with the absorbing member 41.

In such a configuration, the roller member C5 is driven to rotate in the removing portion 42C to further suppress damage to the absorbing member 41 as compared with a configuration in which the tip portion of the removing portion 42C such as a wall is brought into contact with the roller member C5. Can be done.

Further, the removing portion 42C may be configured to come into contact with the absorbing member 41 on a flat surface. Further, the removing portion 42C may be configured to come into contact with the absorbing member 41 at the corner portion of the tip portion. However, from the viewpoint of suppressing damage to the absorbing member 41, the contact surface of the removing portion 42C with the absorbing member 41 is preferably a flat surface, and more preferably a curved surface.

Further, in the above embodiment, the accommodating member 42 in which the accommodating portion 42A and the discharging portion 42B are integrally formed is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the accommodating portion 42A and the discharging portion 42B It may be a separate body.

Further, in the above embodiment, the removing portion 42C is a wall separating the accommodating portion 42A and the discharging portion 42B, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the removing portion 42C is a member capable of discharging the residual ink to the discharging portion 42B. As long as it is, the member may have any shape.

Further, in the above embodiment, the recording head 3 is moved to a position corresponding to the cleaning member 4, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cleaning member 4 is moved to the position of the recording head 3. It may be.

Further, when the cleaning member 4 is configured to move to the position of the recording head 3, it is preferable that the discharge port B according to the second embodiment is provided with a shutter member or the like that opens and closes the discharge port B.

According to this, for example, when the cleaning device 4 has a movable configuration, the shutter member opens the discharge port B at a position where the discharge port B communicates with the residual ink accommodating portion, and the shutter member is not at that position. Closes the discharge port B with. As a result, when the cleaning device 4 moves, it is possible to prevent the residual ink from being discharged to the outside of the device through the discharge port B.

In addition, the above-described embodiments are merely examples of embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner by these. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its gist or its main features.

1 Image forming device 2 Belt transport device 3 Recording head 3A Ink ejection surface 4 Cleaning device 6 External device 21 Drive roller 22 Driven roller 23 Conveyor belt 41 Absorption member 42 Containment member 42A Containment unit 42B Discharge unit 42C Removal unit 43 Squeezing member 100 Control Unit 110 Recording head drive unit 120 Transport drive unit 130 Input / output interface 140 Cleaning drive unit C1 1st surface C2 2nd surface C3 Top

Claims (14)

A cleaning device that cleans the ink ejection surface of the recording head of an image forming device.
An absorbing member that absorbs residual ink adhering to the ink ejection surface and
An accommodating portion for accommodating a cleaning liquid for cleaning the absorbing member that has absorbed the residual ink,
A discharge section where the residual ink absorbed by the absorption member is discharged, and
A removing portion that removes the residual ink from the absorbing member and discharges the remaining ink toward the discharging portion.
A cleaning device equipped with. The absorbing member rotates in the rotation direction while contacting the ink ejection surface,
The removing portion removes the residual ink from the absorbing member by contacting the absorbing member on the downstream side of the ink ejection surface in the rotational direction.
The discharging portion is arranged on the upstream side of the accommodating portion with respect to the contact position between the removing portion and the absorbing member in the rotational direction.
The cleaning device according to claim 1. The accommodating portion and the discharging portion are integrally configured.
The removing portion is a wall that separates the accommodating portion and the discharging portion, and has a wall that contacts the absorbing member at the tip portion.
The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2. The removing portion is configured to be crimp-separable from the absorbing member.
The cleaning device according to claim 3. The discharge unit has a discharge port for discharging the residual ink discharged from the absorption member.
The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The accommodating portion is configured so that the cleaning liquid can be discharged to the discharging portion.
The cleaning device according to claim 5. The removing portion is configured so as to be crimp-separable from the absorbing member.
The accommodating portion discharges the cleaning liquid to the discharging portion by separating the removing portion from the absorbing member.
The cleaning device according to claim 6. The removing portion moves from a position separated from the absorbing member to a crimping position at the timing when the cleaning liquid is supplied to the accommodating portion.
The cleaning device according to claim 7. The removing portion has a communication hole for communicating the accommodating portion and the discharging portion.
The cleaning device according to claim 6. The bottom of the discharge portion is inclined so as to be located below toward the discharge port.
The cleaning device according to claim 9. The removing portion has a roller member in contact with the absorbing member.
The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The removing portion has a curved surface in contact with the absorbing member.
The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The liquid level of the cleaning liquid in the accommodating portion is higher than the liquid level of the residual ink in the discharging portion.
The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. A recording head with an ink ejection surface and
The cleaning device according to claims 1 to 13 and
An image forming apparatus comprising.

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