JP2021049726A - Cleaning device and ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress deterioration of performance for removing ink adhering to a conveying roller over time.SOLUTION: A cleaning device 60 includes: an impregnation roller 83 which supplies a cleaning liquid to a conveying surface 34 of a resist roller 33 for conveying a sheet S with ink discharged; a press roller 67 which presses a web W1 for absorbing the ink adhering to the conveying surface 34 together with the cleaning liquid to the conveying surface 34; and a web driving mechanism which supplies an unused part of the web W1 to the press roller 67.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an inkjet recording device.

An image forming apparatus such as a printer is provided with a transport roller (including a resist roller) for transporting a sheet, but if foreign matter such as paper dust or ink adheres to the transport surface (the surface where the sheet contacts) of the transport roller, Poor transport and poor image quality may occur. Therefore, conventionally, a technique for removing foreign matter from the transport surface of a transport roller has been studied. For example, in Patent Document 1, a cleaning web, a pressure roller that presses the cleaning web against a resist roller, and a voltage application that applies a voltage to the pressure roller that is opposite to the charging polarity of paper dust or the like and has the same polarity as the resist roller. Cleaning devices equipped with means have been proposed. Patent Document 2 proposes that a supply roller for supplying a cleaning liquid and a liquid absorbing roller for absorbing the cleaning liquid are brought into contact with a pair of transport rollers.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-117420 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-65594

By the way, as the speed of the inkjet recording apparatus increases, there is a problem that the ink is easily adhered to the conveying roller because the sheet is conveyed in a state where the ink is not sufficiently fixed on the sheet (not dried). .. Further, in double-sided printing, a sheet whose front and back are reversed after printing on one side is transferred to a resist roller, but since the resist roller has a higher nip pressure than other transfer rollers, ink on the sheet adheres to the sheet. Cheap. In addition, since water is absorbed or evaporated by the sheet in the process of transporting the sheet, the ink adhering to the resist roller has an increased viscosity and a stronger adhesive force.

Under these circumstances, there is an increasing need for a technique for removing ink adhering to a transport roller (including a resist roller), but since water-based ink contains water and is difficult to be charged, it is proposed in Patent Document 1. Cleaning by the charge gradient cannot be expected to be effective. Further, cleaning with a material having water absorption proposed in Patent Document 2 is considered to have a certain effect, but since the water absorption decreases with time due to the accumulation of the absorbed cleaning liquid, the cleaning effect There is a problem that it decreases with time.

In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device and an inkjet recording device capable of suppressing a decrease in the ability to remove ink adhering to a transport roller over time.

In order to solve the above problems, the cleaning device according to the present invention has a supply unit that supplies a cleaning liquid to a transport surface of a transport member that transports a sheet on which ink has been discharged, and a cleaning device that cleans the ink adhering to the transport surface. It is characterized by including a web pressing portion that presses a web that absorbs together with the liquid against the conveying surface, and a web driving mechanism that supplies an unused portion of the web to the web pressing portion.

In the cleaning device according to the present invention, the web drive mechanism may be configured to intermittently supply an unused portion of the web to the web pressing portion.

Further, the cleaning device according to the present invention has a supply unit that supplies a cleaning liquid to a transport surface of a transport member that transports a sheet on which ink has been discharged, and a blade that scrapes the ink adhering to the transport surface together with the cleaning liquid. A container for accommodating the ink scraped by the blade and the cleaning liquid.

In the cleaning device according to the present invention, the supply portion is formed in a tubular shape, contains the cleaning liquid inside, and has a plurality of through holes penetrating in the radial direction, and has a hollow shaft that can rotate around the axis. An impregnated layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft and impregnated with the cleaning liquid flowing out from the plurality of through holes may be provided.

In the cleaning device according to the present invention, the supply unit supplies an impregnated web pressing portion that presses the impregnated web impregnated with the cleaning liquid against the transport surface and an unused portion of the impregnated web to the impregnated web pressing portion. It may be provided with an impregnated web drive mechanism.

In the cleaning device according to the present invention, the cleaning liquid may contain a deliquescent-imparting agent.

Further, the inkjet recording device according to the present invention is characterized by including an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet by ejecting the ink, and any of the above-mentioned cleaning devices.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the ability to remove ink adhering to the transport roller over time.

It is a front view which shows typically the internal structure of the printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the structure of the resist roller apparatus, the cleaning unit and the unit moving mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the cleaning unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the cleaning unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the cleaning unit and the web drive mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the state which the cleaning unit is located in the attachment / detachment position. It is a front view which shows how the cleaning unit is located at a separated position. It is a front view which shows how the cleaning unit is located in a cleaning position. It is a front view which shows typically the structure of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the structure of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the structure of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a list and a graph showing the experimental results.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the cleaning device 60 and the printer 1 (inkjet recording device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the internal configuration of the printer 1. Hereinafter, the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 1 will be the front side (front side) of the printer 1, and the left-right orientation will be described with reference to the direction in which the printer 1 is viewed from the front. In each figure, U, Lo, L, R, Fr, and Rr indicate top, bottom, left, right, front, and back, respectively. In the following description, the upstream side and the downstream side mean the upstream side in the transport direction and the downstream side in the transport direction of the sheet S, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 is an inkjet type image forming apparatus that ejects ink to form an image on the sheet S, and can perform single-sided printing and double-sided printing on the sheet S. The printer 1 includes a box-shaped housing 10 in which various devices are housed. A pull-out paper cassette 15 in which the sheet S is housed is provided in the lower portion of the housing 10, and a manual feed tray 16 in which the sheet S is manually loaded is provided on the right side surface 11 of the housing 10. A paper ejection tray 17 on which the image-formed sheet S is loaded is provided on the upper part of the left side surface 12 of the housing 10, and the sheet S is ejected on the upper portion of the paper ejection tray 17 on the left side surface 12. A paper ejection port 56 is formed. Sheet S is a sheet-fed sheet such as plain paper or coated paper.

An image forming portion 41 for forming an image on the sheet S is provided in the central portion of the housing 10, and a first conveying unit 44 for conveying the sheet S on which the image is formed is provided below the image forming portion 41. A second transport unit 50 for transporting the image-formed sheet S is provided on the left side of the first transport unit 44.

On the right side of the housing 10, a first transport path 21 from the paper feed cassette 15 to the first transport unit 44 and a manual feed transport path 24 that joins the manual feed tray 16 into the first transport path 21 are formed. A second transport path 22 from the second transport unit 50 to the output tray 17 is formed on the left side of the housing 10. A third transport path 23 that branches off from the second transport path 22 and joins the first transport path 21 is formed in the upper part of the housing 10.

A paper feed unit 18 is provided at the upstream end of the first transport path 21, and a resist roller device 30 is provided downstream of the paper feed section 18 of the first transport path 21. The paper feed unit 18 includes a roller that feeds the sheets S housed in the paper feed cassette 15 one by one to the first transport path 21. The resist roller device 30 includes a pair of resist rollers 32, 33 that face each other in the vertical direction. When the pair of resist rollers 32 and 33 come into contact with each other, a nip region N1 in which the sheet S is sandwiched is formed.

The manual feed transfer path 24 joins the first transfer path 21 between the paper feeding unit 18 and the resist roller device 30. A manual paper feed unit 19 is provided at the upstream end of the manual paper feed path 24. The manual paper feed unit 19 includes a roller that feeds the sheets S loaded on the manual feed tray 16 one by one to the manual feed transport path 24.

The image forming unit 41 is provided with a plurality of line heads 42Bk, 42C, 42M, 42Y for ejecting ink. The line heads 42Bk, 42C, 42M, and 42Y eject four colors of ink, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively.

The first transport unit 44 includes a first transport belt 45 wound around a plurality of tension rollers 46a to 46e. The tension roller 46a is driven by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor, so that the first transport belt 45 is driven in the Y2 direction. A large number of through holes are formed in the first transport belt 45. A first suction portion 47 that creates a negative pressure in the through hole of the first transport belt 45 is provided at a position facing the image forming portion 41 inside the first transport belt 45.

The second transport unit 50 includes a second transport belt 51 wound around a plurality of tension rollers 52a and 52b. The tension roller 52a is driven by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor, so that the second transport belt 51 is driven in the Y3 direction. A large number of through holes are formed in the second transport belt 51. A second suction portion 53 that generates a negative pressure in the through hole of the second transport belt 51 is provided on the inner upper portion of the second transport belt 51.

A decal device 54 is provided at the upstream end of the second transport path 22, and a paper discharge portion 55 is provided at the downstream end of the second transport path 22. The decal device 54 includes a belt wound around a plurality of rollers and a roller that abuts on the belt, and is driven by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. The paper ejection unit 55 includes a roller that ejects the sheet S from the second transport path 22 to the paper ejection tray 17. A guide member 25 is provided between the upstream end and the downstream end of the second transport path 22. The guide member 25 is a wedge-shaped member that swings by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor, and closes either the second transport path 22 or the third transport path 23.

The third transport path 23 is a downstream transport path 23a that branches from the second transport path 22 and a downstream side that branches from the upstream transport path 23a and joins the first transport path 21 on the upstream side of the resist roller device 30. A transport path 23b is provided, and a reversing roller 26 and a guide member 27 are provided at a branch point between the upstream transport path 23a and the downstream transport path 23b. The reversing roller 26 can rotate in the forward direction and the reverse direction. The guide member 27 is a wedge-shaped member that swings by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor, and closes either the upstream side transport path 23a or the downstream side transport path 23b.

Next, the image forming operation of the printer 1 will be described. When an image formation instruction is input to the printer 1, the sheet S is sent out from the paper feed cassette 15 or the manual feed tray 16 and is conveyed in the Y1 direction along the first transfer path 21. When the sheet S reaches the resist roller device 30, the skew of the sheet S is corrected by abutting the tip end portion (downstream side end portion) of the sheet S against the nip region N1 of the resist roller device 30 that has stopped rotating, and the image. The sheet S is conveyed from the resist roller device 30 to the first transfer unit 44 in synchronization with the ink ejection timing by the forming unit 41. The sheet S is attracted to the first transport belt 45 by the negative pressure of the through hole of the first transport belt 45 and is transported in the Y2 direction. Then, ink is ejected from each line head 42Bk, 42C, 42M, 42Y toward the sheet S adsorbed on the first transport belt 45, so that an image is formed on the first surface of the sheet S.

The sheet S on which the image is formed on the first surface is conveyed to the second transfer unit 50 by the first transfer unit 44, is attracted to the second transfer belt 51 by the negative pressure of the through hole of the second transfer belt 51, and is Y3. Transported in the direction. Subsequently, the sheet S is conveyed to the decal device 54, and is sandwiched and conveyed to the decal device 54 to correct the curl. During the single-sided printing operation, the guide member 25 closes the third transport path 23, so that the sheet S is transported in the Y4 direction along the second transport path 22, and the sheet S is ejected to the output tray 17 by the paper ejection unit 55. Will be done.

On the other hand, during the double-sided printing operation, the guide member 25 closes the second transport path 22, so that the sheet S is guided to the third transport path 23, the guide member 27 closes the downstream transport path 23b, and the reversing roller 26 closes. The sheet S is conveyed in the Y5 direction by rotating in the forward direction. When the left end of the sheet S reaches the reversing roller 26, the guide member 27 closes the upstream transport path 23a and the reversing roller 26 rotates in the reverse direction to switch back the sheet S to the downstream transport path 23b in the Y6 direction. Will be transported to. Then, the sheet S is conveyed to the resist roller device 30 in a state of being turned upside down. After the skew of the sheet S is corrected by the resist roller device 30, the sheet S is transported to the first transport unit 44, and an image is formed on the second surface of the sheet S. The sheet S on which the image is formed on the second surface is conveyed in the Y3 direction by the second conveying unit 50, curled by the decal device 54, conveyed in the Y4 direction along the second conveying path 22, and discharged. It is discharged from the output port 56 to the output tray 17 by the unit 55.

By the way, in the double-sided printing operation, after the image is formed on the first surface, the sheet S is conveyed to the resist roller device 30 with the first surface facing downward. At this time, the ink on the first surface may adhere to the lower resist roller 33 (an example of the conveying member), and the adhered ink may be transferred to the subsequent sheet S, resulting in poor image quality. Therefore, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to remove the ink adhering to the resist roller 33 by the cleaning device 60. The above-mentioned image quality deterioration is likely to occur in the case of a pigment-based ink in which a coloring material is relatively likely to remain on the sheet. Therefore, although the use of pigment-based ink is assumed in the present embodiment, the present invention may be applied to an inkjet recording apparatus using dye-based ink.

Hereinafter, the resist roller device 30 and the cleaning device 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the configurations of the resist roller device 30, the cleaning unit 61, and the unit moving mechanism 62. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the cleaning unit 61. FIG. 5 is a front view of the cleaning unit 61 and the web drive mechanism 63. FIG. 6 is a front view showing how the cleaning unit 61 is located at the attachment / detachment position P3. FIG. 7 is a front view showing how the cleaning unit 61 is located at the separation position P2. FIG. 8 is a front view showing how the cleaning unit 61 is located at the cleaning position P1.

The resist roller device 30 and the cleaning device 60 are controlled by the control device 120. The control device 120 may be realized by software using a processor, or may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit or the like. When a processor is used, various processes are performed by the processor reading and executing a program stored in the memory. As the processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is used. The memory is composed of one or a plurality of storage media such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory) depending on the intended use. A control program used for controlling each part of the printer 1 is stored in the memory.

[Resist roller device]
The resist roller device 30 (see FIG. 2) has a resist housing 31 in which a transfer path for the sheet S is formed. The pair of resist rollers 32, 33 are arranged with the front-rear direction as the axial direction, and are supported by the front-rear side walls of the resist housing 31. The upper resist roller 32 is made of metal. The lower resist roller 33 is formed by covering the outer peripheral surface of the rubber roller with a PFA (tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkoxy alkane copolymer resin) tube. The lower resist roller 33 is located slightly upstream (right side) of the sheet S in the transport direction with respect to the upper resist roller 32.

When the resist roller 32 is pressed against the resist roller 33 by an urging means such as a spring (not shown), the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33 is partially crushed and comes into surface contact with the resist roller 32, and the nip region N1 is formed. It is formed. A resist motor 35 is connected to the pair of resist rollers 32 and 33 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown). The sheet S is sandwiched between the pair of resist rollers 32 and 33 in the nip region N1, and the pair of resist rollers 32 and 33 are rotated by the driving force of the resist motor 35, so that the sheet S becomes the image forming portion 41 (FIG. 1). See).

[Cleaning device]
The cleaning device 60 (see FIG. 2) is provided below the resist roller device 30. The cleaning device 60 includes an impregnation roller 83 (an example of a supply unit) that supplies the cleaning liquid to the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33 (conveyor member) that transports the sheet S on which ink is discharged, and ink adhering to the transport surface 34. Is provided with a removing portion for removing the ink together with the cleaning liquid. The removing unit supplies the pressing roller 67 (an example of the web pressing portion) that presses the web W1 that absorbs the ink adhering to the conveying surface 34 together with the cleaning liquid against the conveying surface 34, and the unused portion of the web W1 to the pressing roller 67. The web drive mechanism 63 is provided.

Specifically, the cleaning device 60 includes a cleaning unit 61 (see FIGS. 2 to 5) that can be attached to and detached from the housing 10, a unit moving mechanism 62 (see FIG. 2) fixed to the housing 10, and a web drive mechanism 63. (See FIG. 5). By mounting the cleaning unit 61 on the housing 10, the unit moving mechanism 62 and the web drive mechanism 63 are connected to the cleaning unit 61. The cleaning unit 61 is moved in the vertical direction by the unit moving mechanism 62, and the unused portion of the web W1 is fed out by the web driving mechanism 63.

[Cleaning unit]
The cleaning unit 61 includes an impregnated roller 83 impregnated with a cleaning liquid, a feeding roller 66 for feeding out the web W1, a pressing roller 67 for pressing the web W1 against the transport surface 34, and a winding roller 68 for winding the web W1. To be equipped.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning unit 61 includes a cleaning frame 71 having a shape in which the front-rear direction is the longitudinal direction as a whole. The cleaning frame 71 is a side that connects a pair of support frames 72, 73 facing each other in the front-rear direction, a lower frame 74 that connects the lower portions of the pair of support frames 72, 73, and a right side portion of the pair of support frames 72, 73. A section frame 75 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, both front and rear ends of the impregnation roller 83 are supported on the upper left portions of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. Both front and rear ends of the feeding roller 66 are supported on the lower right of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. Both front and rear ends of the pressing roller 67 are supported on the upper right portions of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. Both front and rear ends of the take-up roller 68 are supported on the lower left of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. The impregnation roller 83, the feeding roller 66, the pressing roller 67, and the take-up roller 68 are supported by the pair of support frames 72 and 73, and the pair of support frames 72 and 73 are connected by the lower frame 74 and the side frame 75. As a result, the rigidity of the cleaning frame 71 is ensured. The upper part of the cleaning frame 71 is open, and the impregnation roller 83 and the web W1 wound around the pressing roller 67 are exposed.

[Immersion roller]
The impregnation roller 83 (see FIG. 2) is formed in a tubular shape, contains a cleaning liquid inside, and has a plurality of through holes 85h penetrating in the radial direction. An impregnated layer 84 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 85 and impregnated with the cleaning liquid flowing out from the plurality of through holes 85h is provided. The hollow shaft 85 is a cylindrical tube made of an aluminum alloy, and a plurality of fine through holes 85h having a size through which a cleaning liquid can pass are formed. The impregnated layer 84 is made of a foam or a non-woven fabric and has water absorption. The foam is an elastic material having open cells, and is formed of, for example, urethane, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), silicone, or the like. As the non-woven fabric, for example, felt, rayon non-woven fabric and the like are used.

Inside the housing 10, a tank 86 for storing the cleaning liquid, a supply pipe 87 connected to the tank 86 and the hollow shaft 85 of the impregnation roller 83, and a pump 88 for delivering the cleaning liquid from the tank 86 are provided. There is. The cleaning liquid is water containing a deliquescent-imparting agent. As the deliquescent-imparting agent, for example, 1,3-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) -5,5-dimethyl-2,4-imidazolidinedione (see JP-A-2019-43030, etc.) is used. The pump 88 is, for example, a gear pump, a diaphragm pump, or the like.

[web]
The web W1 is formed of a strip-shaped material such as a non-woven fabric or a woven fabric having water absorption. A web roll WR1 in which the web W1 is wound in a roll shape is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller 66, the web W1 unwound from the web roll WR1 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 67, and the tip of the web W1 is It is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the take-up roller 68. The web W1 is pressed against the transport surface 34 of the lower resist roller 33 by the pressing roller 67. The pressing roller 67 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and when the pressing roller 67 is pressed against the resist roller 33, the outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 67 is partially crushed and the conveying surface of the web W1 and the resist roller 33 is partially crushed. It comes into surface contact with 34 to form a nip region N2.

A torque limiter 76 is provided on the shaft of the pressing roller 67 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). When the sheet S is clogged while being sandwiched between the pair of resist rollers 32 and 33, it is necessary to pull out the sheet S from the pair of resist rollers 32 and 33, but when the sheet S is pulled out, it is pressed by friction with the sheet S. The roller 67 is rotated. The torque limiter 76 locks the pressing roller 67 when an excessive rotational force is transmitted to the pressing roller 67 to prevent the web W1 from being fed out from the feeding roller 66.

A support pin 77 connected to the unit moving mechanism 62 (see FIG. 2) is provided on the outer surface of the lower left portion of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. A guide roller 78 that guides the movement of the cleaning unit 61 with respect to the housing 10 is provided on the outer surface of the upper right portion of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. An input gear 79 connected to the web drive mechanism 63 (see FIG. 5) is provided in the lower right portion of the support frame 72 on the front side. The input gear 79 is connected to the take-up roller 68 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown) provided in the cleaning frame 71.

The lower frame 74 forms the bottom surface of the cleaning frame 71, and serves as a tray for ink that has fallen from the web W1 or the like. The side frame 75 covers the upper half of the right side surface of the cleaning frame 71, and the lower half of the right side surface of the cleaning frame 71 is open. By visually recognizing the web roll WR1 from the opening on the right side surface, it is possible to prevent the cleaning unit 61 having a small remaining amount of the web roll WR1 from being erroneously mounted on the housing 10. Further, a sheet member 80 is attached to the lower frame 74 to cover the left side surface of the cleaning frame 71 to prevent ink from scattering toward the first transport belt 45 (see FIG. 1).

[Unit movement mechanism]
The unit moving mechanism 62 (see FIG. 2) is located between the cleaning position P1, the separation position P2 below the cleaning position P1 (see FIG. 7), and the attachment / detachment position P3 below the separation position P2 (see FIG. 6). It is configured to move the cleaning unit 61. The cleaning position P1 is a position where the web W1 wound around the pressing roller 67 is in contact with the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33, and the separation position P2 is a position where the cleaning unit 61 is separated from the cleaning position P1. P3 is a position where the cleaning unit 61 can be attached to and detached from the housing 10. At the cleaning position P1, the cleaning unit 61 and the web drive mechanism 63 (see FIG. 5) are connected, and at the separation position P2, the connection between the cleaning unit 61 and the web drive mechanism 63 is released. The housing 10 is provided with a sensor (not shown) that detects that the cleaning unit 61 is mounted on the housing 10.

The unit moving mechanism 62 includes a rotatable support shaft 91 supported by the housing 10, a pair of front and rear swing arms 92 fixed to the support shaft 91 (only the rear side is shown), and a power transmission mechanism (power transmission mechanism) attached to the support shaft 91. It has a cleaning motor 94 connected via (not shown). The base end portion of the swing arm 92 is fixed to the support shaft 91, and a hook 93 for receiving the support pin 77 of the cleaning unit 61 is formed at the tip end portion of the swing arm 92. The hook 93 is a notch formed in the edge of the swing arm 92, and when the support pin 77 of the cleaning unit 61 is inserted into the hook 93, the cleaning unit 61 is supported by the pair of swing arms 92, and the pair is supported by the pair of swing arms 92. It becomes rotatable relative to the swing arm 92 of.

As shown in FIG. 6, the unit moving mechanism 62 has a pair of front and rear guide portions 115 (only the rear side is shown) that guide the cleaning unit 61 from the attachment / detachment position P3 to the cleaning position P1 (see FIG. 8). .. Each guide portion 115 is formed with a guide surface 116 in contact with the guide roller 78 of the cleaning unit 61. When the driving force is transmitted from the cleaning motor 94 to the support shaft 91, the swing arm 92 swings around the support shaft 91, and the cleaning unit 61 is positioned at the attachment / detachment position P3, the separation position P2, and the cleaning position P1. To. Further, the unit moving mechanism 62 is provided with a first sensor 95 and a second sensor 96 for detecting the position of the cleaning unit 61.

The first sensor 95 and the second sensor 96 are, for example, photo interrupters, and output different levels of signals depending on whether the light is blocked or not. A pulse plate 97 in which a plurality of slits are radially formed at equal intervals is fixed to the output shaft of the cleaning motor 94. The first sensor 95 outputs a pulse signal whose level changes alternately due to the rotation of the pulse plate 97. The control device 120 obtains the rotation amount of the cleaning motor 94 with reference to the attachment / detachment position P3 based on the pulse signal output from the first sensor 95, and determines the position of the cleaning unit 61 from the obtained rotation amount. .. The second sensor 96 is arranged at a position where the cleaning unit 61 is blocked by the cleaning unit 61 when the cleaning unit 61 is located at the cleaning position P1, and outputs a first level detection signal when the light is not blocked. , Outputs a second level detection signal when the light is blocked. The control device 120 determines that the cleaning unit 61 has moved to the cleaning position P1 when the detection signal output from the second sensor 96 changes from the first level to the second level.

A control device 120 is connected to the cleaning motor 94. When the rotation amount is fed back from the control device 120 to the cleaning motor 94, the cleaning motor 94 is servo-controlled and the movement amount of the cleaning unit 61 is adjusted. The first sensor 95 may be able to detect the amount of rotation of the cleaning motor 94, and the second sensor 96 may be able to detect the cleaning unit 61 at the cleaning position P1. Therefore, the first sensor 95 and the second sensor 96 may be a photo reflector or the like.

[Web drive mechanism]
The web drive mechanism 63 (see FIG. 5) transmits a driving force to the cleaning unit 61 to apply an unused portion of the web W1 to the nip region N2 between the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33 (see FIG. 2) and the pressing roller 67. Supply intermittently. As described above, the web drive mechanism 63 is connected to the cleaning unit 61 by positioning the cleaning unit 61 at the cleaning position P1 and transmits power to the cleaning unit 61. The web drive mechanism 63 is provided with a web solenoid 101 (solenoid actuator) as a drive source.

The tip of the rod 102 integrated with the iron core is exposed from the upper part of the web solenoid 101, and the rod 102 appears and disappears in the vertical direction according to a drive command output from the control device 120. On the left side of the web solenoid 101, a swing lever 103 that converts the infestation motion of the rod 102 into a rotary motion is provided. The swing lever 103 is supported by the housing 10 via the support shaft 104 and is urged clockwise. The swing lever 103 is formed in an L shape having a side lever 105 extending laterally from the support shaft 104 and a lower lever 106 extending downward from the support shaft 104. The tip of the rod 102 is in contact with the lower surface of the side lever 105, and the detection piece 107 is provided at the lower end of the lower lever 106.

An output gear 108 that rotates integrally with the support shaft 104 is provided at the rear end of the support shaft 104. A swing lever 103 is connected to the support shaft 104 via a one-way clutch (not shown), and when the swing lever 103 swings clockwise due to the rod 102 retracting downward, the support shaft 104 And the output gear 108 rotates. On the other hand, when the swing lever 103 swings counterclockwise due to the rod 102 protruding upward, the support shaft 104 and the output gear 108 do not rotate. The input gear 79 of the cleaning unit 61 is connected to the output gear 108 via a plurality of transmission gears 111 and 112. The input gear 79 is connected to the take-up roller 68 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the take-up roller 68 is driven and the web W1 is taken up only when the swing lever 103 swings clockwise. The winding direction of the web W1 is one direction, and in order to prevent reverse winding and slackening of the web W1, a braking mechanism (not shown) is provided on the feeding roller 66, and a one-way clutch (not shown) is provided on the winding roller 68. It is provided.

Below the lower lever 106, a third sensor 109 that detects the detection piece 107 is provided. The third sensor 109 is, for example, a photo interrupter, and when the swing lever 103 swings clockwise, the detection piece 107 does not block the light, so that the first level detection signal is output and swings. When the lever 103 swings counterclockwise, the detection piece 107 blocks the light and outputs a second level detection signal. The third sensor 109 may be a photo reflector or the like as long as it can detect the detection piece 107.

[Operation of cleaning device]
Next, the operation of the cleaning device 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

[Moving operation of cleaning unit]
When the cleaning unit 61 is mounted on the housing 10, the cleaning unit 61 is located at the attachment / detachment position P3 (see FIG. 6). At the attachment / detachment position P3, the tip of the swing arm 92 is directed downward, and the support pin 77 of the cleaning unit 61 is supported by the hook 93. Further, the guide roller 78 of the cleaning unit 61 is separated from the guide surface 116 of the guide portion 115.

When it is detected that the cleaning unit 61 is mounted on the housing 10, the cleaning motor 94 is driven by a drive command from the control device 120, and the swing arm 92 fixed to the support shaft 91 swings counterclockwise. Move. The support pin 77 of the cleaning unit 61 is pushed up by the hook 93 of the swing arm 92, and the guide roller 78 of the cleaning unit 61 rolls on the guide surface 116 of the guide portion 115, so that the cleaning unit 61 moves upward from the attachment / detachment position P3. Moving. At this time, since the support pin 77 of the cleaning unit 61 can rotate relative to the hook 93 of the swing arm 92, the cleaning unit 61 is smoothly lifted according to the swing of the swing arm 92.

The control device 120 determines the position of the cleaning unit 61 based on the pulse signal output from the first sensor 95, and when it is determined that the cleaning unit 61 has reached the separation position P2, the control device 120 stops driving the cleaning motor 94. , The cleaning unit 61 is positioned at the separation position P2 (see FIG. 7). The control device 120 causes the cleaning unit 61 to stand by at the separation position P2 when the resist roller 33 is not cleaned.

When an instruction for double-sided printing is input to the printer 1, the cleaning motor 94 is driven by a drive command from the control device 120, the swing arm 92 swings further counterclockwise, and the cleaning unit is further swayed by the second sensor 96. When 61 is detected, the cleaning unit 61 is positioned at the cleaning position P1 (see FIG. 8). At this time, the cleaning unit 61 and the web drive mechanism 63 are connected (see FIG. 5).

[Cleaning operation]
At the cleaning position P1, the resist roller 33 rotates in the A direction of FIG. 8 in a state where the impregnation roller 83 and the web W1 are pressed against the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33. As the impregnation roller 83 rotates following the rotation of the resist roller 33, the cleaning liquid flows out from the through hole 85h of the hollow shaft 85 due to centrifugal force, is impregnated into the impregnation layer 84, and exudes from the impregnation layer 84. It adheres to the transport surface 34 and mixes with the ink adhering to the transport surface 34. The ink is diluted with the cleaning liquid and absorbed by the web W1 together with the cleaning liquid.

During the cleaning of the resist roller 33 by the cleaning unit 61, the exciting current is continuously supplied from the control device 120 to the cleaning motor 94, so that the swing arm 92 is suppressed from swinging downward and the cleaning unit 61 is moved. It is held at the cleaning position P1.

The ink adhering to the transport surface 34 is the ink ejected to the sheet S when the image of the first surface is formed and is transferred from the sheet S. However, the ink is transferred from the sheet S during the transfer of the sheet S after the image is formed on the first surface. Is absorbed or evaporated by the sheet S, so that the viscosity increases and the adhesive force becomes stronger. In the present embodiment, the ink adhering to the transport surface 34 is diluted by the cleaning liquid supplied from the impregnation roller 83, so that the viscosity is reduced and the adhesive force is weakened. Therefore, the ink is more easily absorbed by the web W1 as compared with the case where the ink is not diluted with the cleaning liquid. Further, since the cleaning liquid is contained in the hollow shaft 85, the state in which the cleaning liquid is impregnated in the impregnated layer 84 can be maintained. Further, since the cleaning liquid is replenished from the tank 86 to the impregnation roller 83, the cleaning liquid is less likely to be exhausted. Further, since the cleaning liquid contains a deliquescent-imparting agent, the ink is easily dissolved in the cleaning liquid.

[Web winding operation]
During execution of double-sided printing, the rod 102 of the web solenoid 101 periodically appears and disappears according to a drive command from the control device 120. When the rod 102 protrudes, the swing lever 103 swings counterclockwise, and the swing lever 103 idles with respect to the support shaft 104 by the one-way clutch. On the other hand, when the rod 102 is retracted, the swing lever 103 swings clockwise, and the swing lever 103 and the support shaft 104 rotate integrally via the one-way clutch. In this way, the driving force is transmitted from the output gear 108 at the rear end of the support shaft 104 to the input gear 79 of the cleaning unit 61 via the transmission gears 111 and 112.

Then, in the cleaning unit 61, a driving force is transmitted from the input gear 79 to the take-up roller 68 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and the take-up roller 68 winds the web W1 from the web roll WR1 of the take-out roller 66. Be done. In this way, the web drive mechanism 63 intermittently winds up the used portion of the web W1 by utilizing the stroke of the rod 102 of the web solenoid 101. Since the used portion of the web W1 is intermittently wound up, the unused portion of the web W1 is intermittently unwound from the feeding roller 66, and the web W1 is not yet provided in the nip region N2 between the pressing roller 67 and the resist roller 33. Used parts are supplied intermittently.

The control device 120 counts the number of times the detection signal from the third sensor 109 changes from the first level to the second level as the number of detections of the detection piece 107, and calculates the amount of delivery of the web roll WR1 from the number of detections. When the feeding amount reaches a predetermined amount, the control device 120 displays a message prompting the replacement of the cleaning unit 61 on the operation panel (not shown).

According to the cleaning device 60 according to the present embodiment described above, since the unused portion of the web W1 is supplied to the transport surface 34, there is a case where the transport surface 34 is not provided with a configuration for supplying the unused portion of the web W1. In comparison, the decrease in water absorption of the web W1 pressed against the transport surface 34 with time is suppressed. Therefore, according to the cleaning device 60 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the ability to remove the ink adhering to the resist roller 33 over time.

Further, according to the cleaning device 60 according to the present embodiment, since the unused portion of the web W1 is intermittently supplied to the transport surface 34, the unused portion of the web W1 is intermittently supplied to the transport surface 34. The decrease in water absorption of the web W1 pressed against the transport surface 34 with time is suppressed within a limited range as compared with the case where the web W1 is not provided. Therefore, according to the cleaning device 60 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the ability to remove the ink adhering to the resist roller 33 with time within a limited range.

[Modified example of the first embodiment]
Next, the cleaning device 160 according to the modified example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 9. FIG. 9 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of the cleaning device 160. The components having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The cleaning unit 161 (see FIG. 9) included in the cleaning device 160 includes a feeding roller 166 that feeds out the impregnated web W2 and a pressing roller 167 that presses the impregnated web W2 against the transport surface 34 instead of the impregnated roller 83 of the first embodiment. (An example of an impregnated web pressing portion) and a take-up roller 168 for winding the impregnated web W2 that has passed through the transport surface 34 are provided. Further, the cleaning device 160 includes an impregnated web driving mechanism 163 that supplies an unused portion of the impregnated web W2 impregnated with the cleaning liquid to the pressing roller 167 (see FIG. 5). The feeding roller 166, the pressing roller 167, the take-up roller 168, and the impregnated web drive mechanism 163 are examples of the supply unit.

Both front and rear ends of the pressing roller 67 are supported on the upper right portions of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. Both front and rear ends of the take-up roller 68 are supported in a portion of the pair of support frames 72 and 73 below the pressing roller 67. Both front and rear ends of the feeding roller 66 are supported on the lower right portion of the pair of support frames 72 and 73 with respect to the winding roller 68. The front and rear ends of the pressing roller 167 are supported on the upper left portions of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. Both front and rear ends of the take-up roller 168 are supported in a portion of the pair of support frames 72 and 73 below the pressing roller 167. Both front and rear ends of the feeding roller 166 are supported on the lower right portion of the winding rollers 168 of the pair of supporting frames 72 and 73.

The impregnated web W2 is formed of a strip-shaped material such as a non-woven fabric or a woven fabric having water absorption, and is impregnated with a cleaning liquid. An impregnated web roll WR2 in which the impregnated web W2 is wound in a roll shape is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller 166, and the impregnated web W2 unwound from the impregnated web roll WR2 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 167 and impregnated. The tip of the web W2 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the take-up roller 168. The impregnated web W2 is pressed against the transport surface 34 of the lower resist roller 33 by the pressing roller 167. The pressing roller 167 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and when the pressing roller 167 is pressed against the resist roller 33, the outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 167 is partially crushed and the impregnated web W2 and the resist roller 33 are conveyed. The surface 34 is in surface contact with each other to form a nip region N3. The impregnated web drive mechanism 163 (see FIG. 5) transmits a driving force to the cleaning unit 161 to intermittently supply an unused portion of the impregnated web W2 toward the nip region N3.

According to the cleaning device 160 according to this modification, the ink adhering to the transport surface 34 is diluted by the cleaning liquid supplied from the impregnated web W2 and absorbed by the web W1 together with the cleaning liquid. Therefore, according to the cleaning device 260 according to the present modification, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the ability to remove the ink adhering to the resist roller 33 over time. Further, according to the cleaning device 160 according to the present modification, since the unused portion of the impregnated web W2 is intermittently supplied to the transport surface 34, the supply of the cleaning liquid to the transport surface 34 can be continued.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the cleaning device 260 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 10. FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of the cleaning device 260. The cleaning unit 261 included in the cleaning device 260 includes a blade 201 and a container 202 instead of the feeding roller 66, the pressing roller 67, the winding roller 68, and the web drive mechanism 63 of the first embodiment (an example of a removing unit).

The front and rear ends of the container 202 are supported on the upper right portions of the pair of support frames 72 and 73. The container 202 is formed in a box shape with the front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction. An opening 203 is formed in the upper left portion of the container 202, and a rubber blade 201 is provided in the upper right portion of the container 202. The opening 203 faces the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33, and the left end of the blade 201 contacts the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33. Further, the cleaning unit 261 includes a feeding roller 166, a pressing roller 167, and a take-up roller 168 instead of the impregnation roller 83 of the first embodiment. The cleaning device 360 includes an impregnated web drive mechanism 163 (see FIG. 5).

According to the cleaning device 260 according to the second embodiment, the ink adhering to the transport surface 34 is diluted with the cleaning liquid supplied from the impregnated web W2, scraped off by the blade 201 together with the cleaning liquid, and stored in the container 202. Ru. Therefore, according to the cleaning device 260 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the ability to remove the ink adhering to the resist roller 33 with time.

[Modified example of the second embodiment]
Next, the cleaning device 360 according to the modified example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 11. FIG. 11 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of the cleaning device 360.

The cleaning unit 361 included in the cleaning device 360 includes an impregnation roller 83 (an example of a supply unit) in place of the feeding roller 166, the pressing roller 167, the take-up roller 168, and the impregnation web drive mechanism 163 of the second embodiment. The front and rear ends of the hollow shaft 85 of the impregnation roller 83 are supported on the upper left portions of the pair of support frames 72 and 73.

According to the cleaning device 360 according to this modification, the ink adhering to the transport surface 34 is diluted with the cleaning liquid supplied from the impregnation roller 83, scraped off by the blade 201 together with the cleaning liquid, and stored in the container 202. .. Therefore, according to the cleaning device 360 according to the present modification, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the ability to remove the ink adhering to the resist roller 33 over time.

[Experimental result]
Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the experimental results using the cleaning device 60 and the cleaning device 260 will be described. FIG. 12 is a list and a graph showing the experimental results. In this experiment, a transparent adhesive tape was attached to the transport surface 34 of the resist roller 33 after performing double-sided printing, and the transmission density of the peeled adhesive tape was measured with a transmission densitometer. The ink remaining on the transport surface 34 is peeled off by the peeled adhesive tape, but the less ink remains on the transport surface 34, the less ink adheres to the adhesive tape, so that the transmission density becomes low. That is, the lower the transmission density, the higher the ink removing ability of the cleaning devices 60 and 260.

Case 1 in the list is a case in which the resist roller 33 has not been cleaned. Case 2 is a case in which cleaning is performed using a conventional configuration in which the dry web is pressed against the resist roller 33. The dry web is a web that is not impregnated with a cleaning liquid, and corresponds to the web W1 of the above embodiment. In this experiment, Asahi Kasei Corporation SD140 cotton fabric was used as the dry web. Cases 3 and 4 are cases in which cleaning is performed using the cleaning device 60 of the first embodiment. Of these, in the case 3, the impregnated layer 84 is made of a foam of EPDM, and in the case 4, the impregnated layer 84 is made of a non-woven fabric. Case 5 is a case in which cleaning is performed using the cleaning device 260 of the second embodiment. Case 6 is a reference example in which cleaning is performed using a rubber blade 201 without supplying a cleaning liquid.

In each case, continuous double-sided printing was performed, and the transmission density was measured when the cumulative number of sheets to be passed reached 100, 1000, or 3000. Further, the torque of the resist roller 33 was measured when the number of sheets to be passed reached 3000. Since the experimental results of Case 3 and Case 4 are similar, Case 4 is omitted in the graph.

In Case 2, since the ink was removed by the dry web, the transmission density was lower than that in Case 1, but the ink removing ability was judged to be poor because it did not reach a level practically usable.

In cases 3 to 5, the transmission density was reduced to about 1/10 of that in case 2, and it is considered that the ink removing ability was enhanced by diluting the ink with the cleaning liquid. Therefore, the ink removing ability of Cases 3 to 5 was judged to be good. Further, in cases 3 to 5, since the rate of increase in the transmission density with the increase in the number of sheets to be passed is smaller than that in the case 2, the effects of the web drive mechanism 63 in the cases 3 and 4 and the blades 201 and the container 202 in the case 5 Therefore, it is considered that the decrease in the ink removing ability is suppressed.

In case 6, although the cleaning liquid is not supplied, the ink removing ability is only slightly lower than that in cases 3 to 5. However, in the case 6, the torque of the resist roller 33 is higher than that of the cases 3 to 5. It is considered that this is because the ink having increased viscosity is not diluted with the cleaning liquid, so that the load due to the friction between the blade 201 and the ink is high. Therefore, the ink removing ability of Case 6 was determined to be slightly poor.

From the above, the effects of the cleaning device 60 according to the first embodiment and the cleaning device 260 according to the second embodiment were confirmed.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the cleaning device 60 removes the ink adhering to the resist roller 33 has been shown, but the cleaning device 60 is configured to remove the ink adhering to the conveying member other than the resist roller 33. May be good. The transport members other than the resist rollers include the first transport belt 45, the second transport belt 51, the rollers and belts provided in the decal device 54, and the transport rollers provided in the second transport path 22 and the third transport path 23. The reversing roller 26 and the like. In the above embodiment, since ink can be transferred from the sheet S to the resist roller 33 only during double-sided printing, the unit moving mechanism 62 moves the cleaning unit 61 from the separation position P2 to the cleaning position P1 only during double-sided printing. Although it is configured to be moved, the cleaning unit 61 is configured to be moved from the separation position P2 to the cleaning position P1 even during single-sided printing for the transport member which can transfer ink from the sheet S even during single-sided printing. May be done.

In the above embodiment, the use of water-based ink is assumed, but the present invention may be applied to an inkjet recording device that uses oil-based ink. In that case, paraffin oil, veggie sol, soybean oil or the like is used as the cleaning liquid.

In the above embodiment, an example in which water containing a deliquescent-imparting agent is used as a cleaning liquid has been shown, but water not containing a deliquescent-imparting agent may be used as a cleaning liquid.

1 Printer (inkjet recording device)
33 Resist roller (conveying member)
34 Transport surface 41 Image forming part 60 Cleaning device 63 Web drive mechanism 67 Pressing roller (web pressing part)
84 Impregnated layer 85 Hollow shaft 85h Through hole 163 Impregnated web drive mechanism 167 Pressing roller (impregnated web pressing part)
201 Blade 202 Container

Claims (7)

A supply unit that supplies cleaning liquid to the transport surface of the transport member that transports the sheet from which ink is discharged, and
A web pressing portion that presses a web that absorbs the ink adhering to the transport surface together with the cleaning liquid against the transport surface, and a web pressing portion.
A cleaning device including a web drive mechanism that supplies an unused portion of the web to the web pressing portion. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the web drive mechanism intermittently supplies an unused portion of the web to the web pressing portion. A supply unit that supplies cleaning liquid to the transport surface of the transport member that transports the sheet from which ink is discharged, and
A blade that scrapes off the ink adhering to the transport surface together with the cleaning liquid,
A cleaning device comprising: a container for accommodating the ink scraped by the blade and the cleaning liquid. The supply unit
A hollow shaft that is formed in a tubular shape, contains the cleaning liquid inside, has a plurality of through holes that penetrate in the radial direction, and can rotate around the axis.
The cleaning according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an impregnated layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft and impregnated with the cleaning liquid flowing out from the plurality of through holes. apparatus. The supply unit includes an impregnated web pressing unit that presses the impregnated web impregnated with the cleaning liquid against the transport surface.
The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an impregnated web driving mechanism that supplies an unused portion of the impregnated web to the impregnated web pressing portion. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning liquid contains a deliquescent-imparting agent. An image forming portion that forms an image on the sheet by ejecting the ink, and an image forming portion.
An inkjet recording apparatus comprising the cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images