JP4643874B2 - Inkjet head maintenance unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inkjet head maintenance unit. More specifically, the present invention relates to an inkjet head maintenance unit configured to move an ink nozzle surface by moving a head cap in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the inkjet head and to capping the ink nozzle surface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a serial type ink jet printer, an ink jet head is mounted on a carriage, and printing is performed by reciprocating in the print width direction of a recording medium. In general, a maintenance unit for performing maintenance of the ink jet head is disposed at a position outside the print area of the ink jet head. In the non-driving state or the like, the ink jet head is positioned on the maintenance unit, and the ink nozzle surface is capped by the head cap, thereby preventing the ink nozzle surface from being dried and foreign matter adhering to the ink nozzle surface. Further, by discharging ink or sucking ink from the ink nozzle in the capping state, the thickened ink is discharged and the mixed bubbles are discharged. Further, in order to wipe ink, paper dust, etc. adhering to the ink nozzle surface, the wiper blade is pressed against the nozzle surface of the inkjet head moving to the maintenance unit, and the nozzle surface is wiped. .
[0003]
Here, in a multicolor ink jet head or the like, ink nozzle arrays of each color ink extending in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the ink jet head are arranged at a constant interval in the moving direction of the ink jet head. As a maintenance unit for such an ink jet head, the wiper blade corresponding to the ink nozzle row of each color ink is moved together with the head cap in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the ink jet head to individually wipe each ink nozzle row portion. The thing of the structure to do is known.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to form a small and compact maintenance unit for wiping the ink nozzle surface and capping the ink nozzle surface by moving the head cap together with the wiper blade in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the inkjet head. It is in. In particular, this type of maintenance unit is intended to be thinned.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a head cap for capping the ink nozzle surface of an ink jet head, a support base on which the head cap is mounted, and the support base in the moving direction of the ink jet head. In the maintenance unit of the inkjet head having a slide mechanism that reciprocates in a direction intersecting at a predetermined angle with respect to the
The slide mechanism is
A slider having first and second racks arranged in parallel in the moving direction of the support base with the teeth facing each other;
A sun gear, a planetary gear meshed with the sun gear, and a carrier that supports the planetary gear in a freely rotating and revolving state, and the planetary gear can mesh with the first and second racks. A planetary gear mechanism,
A unit case that supports the slider in a state in which it can reciprocate in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the inkjet head at a predetermined angle;
A rotation drive mechanism for rotating the sun gear,
In a state where the slider is in the first position, when the sun gear rotates in the first direction and the planetary gear reaches the first revolving position, the planetary gear becomes a tooth portion in the first rack. A state of meshing with the first end of the
When the slider slides from the first position to the second position, the planetary gear is disengaged from the second end of the tooth portion in the first rack and revolves in the first direction together with the sun gear,
When the planetary gear reaches the second revolution position, the planetary gear meshes with the second end of the tooth forming portion in the second rack of the slider in the second position;
When the slider slides from the second position to the first position, the planetary gear disengages from the first end of the tooth portion of the second rack and moves toward the first revolving position together with the sun gear. It is characterized by revolving.
[0006]
In the maintenance unit of the present invention, the slide mechanism for sliding the head cap includes a pair of racks and a planetary gear mechanism for sliding the rack, and these members are planar on the bottom surface of the unit case. Can be arranged. Therefore, since the slide mechanism can be arranged in a flat space, a thin maintenance unit can be realized.
[0007]
Here, the slide mechanism further includes:
A first for holding the planetary gear at the first revolution position so as not to move toward the second revolution position until the slider reaches the second position from the first position. Stopper mechanism of
The planetary gear is held in the second revolution position so as not to move toward the first revolution position until the slider reaches the first position from the second position. It is desirable to provide two stopper mechanisms.
[0008]
The first stopper mechanism includes: a protruding position capable of contacting the carrier; a stopper piece movable to the retracted position retracted from the protruding position; and an elastic member that constantly pushes the stopper piece toward the retracted position; A pressing surface that presses the stopper piece formed on the slider against the protruding position, and the pressing surface is configured to be disengaged from the stopper when the slider reaches the second position. .
[0009]
Similarly, the second stopper mechanism also has a protruding piece that can be brought into contact with the carrier and a stopper piece that can be moved to a retracted position that is retracted from the protruding position, and an elastic that always pushes the stopper piece toward the retracted position. A member and a pressing surface that presses the stopper piece formed on the slider to the protruding position, and the pressing surface is configured to be disengaged from the stopper when the slider reaches the first position. be able to.
[0010]
By disposing such a stopper mechanism, it is possible to prevent the planetary gear from biting into the teeth of each rack and generating an excessive load at the meshing portion between them.
[0011]
Next, the maintenance unit of the present invention has a wiper blade attached to the support base in addition to the above configuration.
[0012]
On the other hand, the maintenance unit of the present invention has an elevating mechanism for elevating the head cap in addition to the above configuration,
This lifting mechanism
A four-link parallel link mechanism that supports the head cap to be movable up and down with respect to the support;
The slider includes a stop portion that hits the head cap at a position in the middle of sliding from the first position to the second position and blocks only the head cap from sliding.
[0013]
Here, the four-link parallel link mechanism includes first and second links arranged in parallel in the movement direction at a predetermined interval in a vertical plane parallel to the movement direction of the support base. It can be configured. In this case, the lower ends of the first and second links are connected to the support base in a rotatable state, and the upper ends of the first and second links are connected to the head cap in a rotatable state. The first and second links are in a state of being tilted toward the second position when the slider is in the first position, and the slider is in the second position. If it reaches, it will be in the state which stood up substantially perpendicularly.
[0014]
Since the links constituting such a four-node parallel link mechanism can be arranged on the side surfaces of the support base and the head cap, they can be arranged without increasing the thickness dimension of the maintenance unit. Therefore, it is advantageous when configuring a thin maintenance unit.
[0015]
Here, in order to stably hold the head cap in its raised position (capping position), when the support base slides relative to the head cap toward the second position, the head cap It is desirable to provide a holding mechanism that lifts up to its raised position and holds it in that position.
[0016]
Such a holding mechanism may include a guide surface formed on the support base and a protrusion formed on the head cap that is slidable along the guide surface. In this case, the guide surface may be a curved surface that descends in a direction from the first position toward the second position.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of an ink jet head maintenance unit to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of an ink jet printer in which a maintenance unit of the ink jet head of this example is incorporated.
[0019]
Referring to FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 1 of this example is of a serial type, and includes an ink jet head 4 mounted on a carriage 3 that reciprocates along a guide shaft 2 extending in the print width direction A. Yes. The ink nozzle surface 5 of the inkjet head 4 is directed downward in the illustrated example, and includes four ink nozzle rows 6 extending in the direction B orthogonal to the direction A at equal intervals along the print width direction A. . Each ink nozzle row 6 is for ejecting Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and B (black) inks.
[0020]
A maintenance unit 10 is disposed at a position outside the print width area of the inkjet head 4. The maintenance unit 10 includes a shallow box-shaped unit case 11 as a whole, and a head cap 12 for capping the ink nozzle surface 5 of the inkjet head 4 and the head cap 12 are mounted on the unit case 11. A support base 13 is mounted. The head cap 12 includes four cap bodies 14, which are arranged at equal intervals in the print width direction A and extend in parallel to a direction B perpendicular to the print width direction A.
[0021]
The support 13 is reciprocated along a direction B perpendicular to the print width direction A by a slide mechanism shown in FIG. Further, four wiper blades 14 are attached to the front end of the support base 12 in the sliding direction B so as to stand substantially vertically, and each wiper blade 15 is positioned at the front end of each cap body 14. .
[0022]
The unit case 11 is equipped with a waste ink pump 16 and a waste ink tank 17, and the waste ink sucked by the waste ink pump 16 through the ink tube 18 passes through the ink tube 19 from the waste ink pump 16. Through the waste ink tank 17. The waste ink pump 16 is driven by a drive motor 20 mounted on the unit case 11. This drive motor 20 is also used as a drive source for a slide mechanism described later.
[0023]
Before explaining the structure of each part, the movement of the support base 13 and the head cap 12 will be explained. The support 13 slides between a first position 13 (1) (standby position) on the right side and a second position 13 (2) on the left side in FIG. The head cap 12 mounted on the support base 13 slides together with the support base 13 from the first position 12 (1) on the right side, but when the support base 13 reaches the vicinity of the second position 13 (2). The side end face of the stop piece 21 arranged in the unit case 11 hits. After this, only the support base 13 slides, and in conjunction with the slide, the head cap 12 rises from that position, and caps the nozzle surface 5 of the inkjet head 4 that is waiting just above the position. The capping position 12 (2) is reached.
[0024]
When the support base 13 starts to return from the second position 13 (2) to the first position 13 (1), the head cap 12 is lowered from the capping position 12 (2) in conjunction with the slide, and then supported. It returns to the first position 12 (1) together with the table 13.
[0025]
Since four wiper blades 15 are attached to the support base 13, when the support base 13 slides, the nozzle surface 5 of the inkjet head 4 standing by just above the maintenance unit 10 is wiped. Further, in the state where the nozzle surface 5 is capped by the head cap 12, ink nozzle recovery processing such as ink suction operation from the ink nozzle and ink discharge operation from the ink nozzle is performed.
[0026]
[Maintenance unit]
FIG. 2 is a plan configuration diagram and a side configuration diagram of the maintenance unit 10 of this example, and shows a state in which the support base and the head cap are in their first positions. FIG. 3 is also a plan configuration diagram and a side configuration diagram of the maintenance unit 10 of this example, and shows a state in which the support base and the head cap are in their second positions.
[0027]
With reference to these drawings, a slide mechanism of the head cap 12 incorporated in the maintenance unit 10 of this example and a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the head cap 12 will be described.
[0028]
(Slide mechanism)
First, the slide mechanism 30 of the present example has a plate-like slider 31 disposed on the bottom surface of the unit case 11, and a support base 13 is mounted on the plate-like slider 31 and formed on the bottom surface of the unit case 11. Attached to the rails 32 and 33 so as to be slidable in the B direction. The slider 31 includes first and second racks 34 and 35 extending in the sliding direction (B direction) at regular intervals, and a connecting portion 31a that connects them, and each rack 34 and 35 is a rail. It is possible to slide in the sliding direction B along 32 and 33. Teeth 36 and 37 are formed on opposite sides of each rack 34 and 35.
[0029]
The slide mechanism 30 includes a planetary gear mechanism 40 disposed on the bottom surface of the unit case between the pair of racks 34 and 35. The planetary gear mechanism 40 includes a sun gear 41, a planetary gear 42 meshing with the sun gear 41, and a carrier 43 that supports the planetary gear 42 in a freely rotating and revolving state. The planetary gear 42 can mesh with the tooth portions 36 and 37 of the first and second racks 34 and 35.
[0030]
A large-diameter gear 44 for power transmission is integrally formed in the sun gear 41 in a coaxial state, and this large-diameter gear 44 is connected to a planetary gear mechanism 46 for switching the power transmission path via an idle gear 45. Yes. The planetary gear mechanism 46 is connected to a drive gear 47 attached to the output shaft of the drive motor 20, and the rotational force of the drive motor 20 is transmitted to the sun gear 41 via the planetary gear mechanism 46 and the idle gear 45. Is possible.
[0031]
Here, as shown in FIG. 2, in a state where the support base 13 and the head cap 12 are in the first position, that is, in a state where the slider 31 on which these are mounted is in the first position 31 (1), When the sun gear 41 is rotated in the first direction indicated by the arrow C, the planetary gear 42 meshing with the sun gear 41 revolves together. When the planetary gear reaches the first revolution position 42 (1) indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, a state is formed in which the planetary gear 42 meshes with the first end 36 a of the tooth portion 36 in the first rack 34. .
[0032]
After this meshing state is formed, the planetary gear 42 rotates in a state of meshing with both the sun gear 41 and the first rack 34. Therefore, the rotation of the planetary gear 42 causes the first rack 34 to move to the arrow B1. Extruded in the direction of. As a result, the slider 31 slidably attached to the bottom surface of the unit case 11 slides in the direction of the arrow B1.
[0033]
The tooth portion 36 of the first rack 34 has a length that allows the slider 31 to slide from the first end 36a to the second position shown in FIG. 3, and is more distal than the second end 36b. The rack part on the side is a narrow part 36c having no tooth part. Therefore, when the slider 31 slides from the first position to the second position, the planetary gear 42 is disengaged from the first rack 34, and the slider 31 stops sliding. Further, when the planetary gear 42 is released from meshing with the first rack 34, the planetary gear 42 revolves in the first direction integrally with the sun gear 41 thereafter.
[0034]
Next, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 3, when the planetary gear reaches the second revolution position, the second tooth portion 37 in the second rack 35 of the slider 31 in which the planetary gear 42 is in the second position. Mesh with the end 37a. Thereafter, as the planetary gear 42 rotates, the slider 31 slides from the second position to the first position as indicated by an arrow B2.
[0035]
The second rack 35 is point-symmetric with the first rack 34, and has a length sufficient to slide the slider 31 from the second end 37a to the first position shown in FIG. The rack portion on the tip side of the first end 37b is a narrow portion 37c having no tooth portion. Therefore, when the slider 31 slides from the second position to the first position, the planetary gear 42 is disengaged from the second rack 35 and the slider 31 stops sliding. Further, when the planetary gear 42 is released from meshing with the second rack 35, the planetary gear 42 revolves in the first direction integrally with the sun gear 41 thereafter.
[0036]
Thus, when the sun gear 41 is rotated in the first direction, the planetary gear 42 repeats revolution and rotation, and the slider 31 can be slid between the first and second positions.
[0037]
(Stopper mechanism)
Here, the slide mechanism 30 of this example further does not revolve the planetary gear 42 toward the second revolution position 42 (2) until the slider 31 reaches the second position from the first position. Thus, a first stopper mechanism 51 for holding at the first revolution position 42 (1) is provided (see FIG. 2A). In addition, the planetary gear 42 is not revolved toward the first revolution position 42 (1) until the slider 31 reaches the first position from the second position. ) Is provided with a second stopper mechanism 52 (see FIG. 2A). The first and second stopper mechanisms 51 and 52 have the same structure, and are arranged at point-symmetric positions on the bottom surface of the unit case 11.
[0038]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the first stopper mechanism 51. Referring to this figure, the stopper mechanism 51 includes a stopper piece 53 that can be moved up and down to a position retracted from the surface of the bottom plate 11a of the unit case 11 and a position protruding from the surface, and the stopper piece 53 is always attached. A spring member 54 that is pressed downward and a protrusion 55 formed at the other end of the stopper piece 53 are provided. The stopper piece 53 and the protrusion 55 swing around the vertical rotation center 56 so that when one protrudes from the surface of the bottom plate 11a, the other is hidden downward from the surface.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 4A, when the stopper piece 53 protrudes, it hits the side surface of the carrier 43 of the planetary gear mechanism 40. As a result, the planetary gear 42 rotatably supported by the carrier 43 does not revolve toward the second revolving position. As a result, the planetary gear 42 and the first rack 34 can be engaged with each other with an appropriate tooth surface pressure.
[0040]
Here, the back surface of the first rack 34 of the slider 31 is a pressing surface 34a that presses the protrusion 55 downward against the spring force. However, since the tip end of the first rack 34 is a narrow portion 36 c, the pressing surface 34 a is detached from the protrusion 55 when the slider 31 reaches the second position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the stopper piece 53 positioned on the opposite side is pulled into the lower retracted position by the spring force and is detached from the carrier 43. As a result, the planetary gear 42 can revolve toward the second revolution position.
[0041]
Since the second stopper mechanism 52 has the same configuration as the first stopper mechanism 51, the description thereof will be omitted.
[0042]
(Head cap lifting mechanism)
2 and 3 again, in the maintenance unit 10 of the present example, the head cap 12 is mounted on the support base 13 via the lifting mechanism 60. The elevating mechanism 60 of this example includes a four-joint parallel link mechanism 61 that supports the head cap 12 so as to be movable up and down with respect to the support base 13, and the slider 31 is in the middle of sliding from the first position to the second position. The stop piece 62 hits the head cap 12 at the position and prevents only the head cap 12 from sliding.
[0043]
The four-link parallel link mechanism 61 is arranged on each side surface (both sides in the print width direction) of the support base 13 in parallel with a certain interval in the movement direction B in a vertical plane parallel to the support base movement direction B. The first and second links 63 and 64, and the coil spring 69 that always pulls the head cap 12 toward the second position are provided. The lower ends of the first and second links 63 and 64 are coupled to the support base 13 by coupling pins 65 and 66 in a rotatable state. On the other hand, long holes 63a and 64a that are long in the longitudinal direction of the link are formed at the upper ends of the first and second links 63 and 64, and through connecting pins 67 and 68 that are slidably inserted therein. The head cap 12 is connected to the side surface of the head cap 12 in a rotatable state.
[0044]
As can be seen from FIG. 2, the first and second links 63 and 64 are pulled by the coil spring 69 when the slider 31 is in the first position, and fallen toward the second position. is there. When the slider 31 reaches the second position, the head cap 13 hits the stop piece 62 of the unit case 11 at the troubled position, and does not slide any more. In this state, only the lower support base 13 slides to the second position. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the head cap 12 is lifted vertically by the four-node parallel link mechanism 61 connecting them, and reaches the capping position. The links 63 and 64 stand up almost vertically.
[0045]
(Head cap holding mechanism)
Here, in this example, a holding mechanism 70 for holding the head cap 12 in the capping position is provided so that the head cap 12 lifted to the capping position is stably held in that position.
[0046]
The holding mechanism 70 includes guide surfaces 71 and 72 formed on the support base 13 and protrusions 73 and 74 formed on the head cap 12 that can slide along the guide surfaces 71 and 72. The guide surfaces 71 and 72 are formed on the front and back of the support base 13 in the sliding direction, and are curved surfaces descending along the direction from the first position toward the second position. The protrusions 73 and 74 are also formed before and after the sliding direction, and have convex curved surfaces that can slide smoothly along the guide surfaces 71 and 72.
[0047]
When the slider 31 slides from the first position toward the second position and the head cap 12 mounted on the slider 31 hits the stop piece 62 of the unit case 11, only the slider 31 and the support base 13 as described above. Slides to the second position and the head cap 12 remains stationary. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the protrusions 73 and 74 of the head cap 12 slide along the guide surfaces 71 and 72 of the support base 13 and rise along the guide surfaces. The highest position of the surfaces 71 and 72 is reached. This position is set to be a height position where the connecting pin is just pressed against the upper end of the long hole of each link. As a result, the head cap 12 that has reached the capping position can be stably held at that position without rattling.
[0048]
(Power transmission path switching mechanism)
The planetary gear mechanism 46 for transmitting the rotational force from the drive motor 20 to the sun gear 41 is a sun gear 82 that is integrally formed coaxially with a large-diameter gear 81 that meshes with a drive gear attached to the motor output shaft. And a planetary gear 83 meshed with the sun gear 82 and a carrier 84 supporting the planetary gear 83 so as to be capable of revolving and rotating. When the drive motor 20 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 20a, the planetary gear 83 revolves toward the idle gear and meshes therewith, and the rotational force is transmitted to the slide mechanism 30.
[0049]
Conversely, when the drive motor 20 is rotated in the opposite direction, the planetary gear 83 revolves toward the cam gear 86 for rotating the cylindrical cam 85 for driving the waste ink pump and meshes with the cam gear 86. As a result, the motor rotational force is transmitted to the waste ink pump 16 via the cam gear 86, and the waste ink pump 16 is driven. In this example, the waste ink pump 16 is a diaphragm pump, and the cylindrical cam 85 converts the motor rotation motion into the diaphragm pumping motion.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the inkjet head maintenance unit of the present invention includes the slide mechanism that slides the head cap in the direction intersecting the moving direction of the inkjet head by the pair of racks and the planetary gear mechanism. . Therefore, a mechanism for sliding the head cap to the capping position and a mechanism for moving the wiper blade for wiping the nozzle surface of the inkjet head can be compactly arranged in a flat space. Therefore, a thin maintenance unit can be realized, which is advantageous for downsizing and downsizing of the ink jet printer.
[0051]
In the present invention, since the stopper mechanism for meshing the first and second racks and the planetary gear in an appropriate state is provided, the sliding movement of the head cap by the sliding mechanism can be performed smoothly. Can do.
[0052]
Next, in the present invention, since the four-link parallel link mechanism is used as the lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the head cap that has been slid to the position facing the nozzle surface of the inkjet head to the capping position, The mechanism can be contained substantially within the thickness dimension of the head cap. Therefore, a thin maintenance unit can be realized, which is advantageous for thinning the inkjet printer.
[0053]
In addition, the present invention includes a holding mechanism for holding the head cap that has been raised to the capping position at the capping position without rattling. Can be held.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied.
2 is a plan configuration diagram and a side configuration diagram illustrating the maintenance unit of FIG. 1; FIG.
3 is a plan configuration diagram and a side configuration diagram showing the maintenance unit of FIG. 1; FIG.
4 is an explanatory view showing a stopper mechanism of the maintenance unit of FIG. 1. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Inkjet printer
4 Inkjet head
5 Ink nozzle surface
10 Maintenance unit
11 Unit case
12 Head cap
13 Support stand
A Print width direction
B Head cap movement direction
14 Wiper blade
30 Slide mechanism
31 Slider
34, 35 racks
36, 37 teeth
40 Planetary gear mechanism
41 Sun Gear
42 Planetary gear
43 Career
51, 52 Stopper mechanism
53 Stopper piece
54 Spring member
55 Protrusions
56 Center of rotation
60 Lifting mechanism
61 Four-link parallel link mechanism
63, 64 links
70 Holding mechanism
71, 72 Guide surface
73, 74 protrusion

Claims (9)

A head cap for capping the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head, a support base on which the head cap is mounted, and the support base are reciprocated in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the inkjet head at a predetermined angle. In an inkjet head maintenance unit having a slide mechanism,
The slide mechanism is
A slider having first and second racks arranged in parallel in the moving direction of the support base with the teeth facing each other;
A sun gear, a planetary gear meshed with the sun gear, and a carrier that supports the planetary gear in a freely rotating and revolving state, and the planetary gear can mesh with the first and second racks. A planetary gear mechanism,
A unit case that supports the slider in a state in which it can reciprocate in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the inkjet head at a predetermined angle;
A rotation drive mechanism for rotating the sun gear,
In a state where the slider is in the first position, when the sun gear rotates in the first direction and the planetary gear reaches the first revolving position, the planetary gear becomes a tooth portion in the first rack. A state of meshing with the first end of the
When the slider slides from the first position to the second position, the planetary gear is disengaged from the second end of the tooth portion in the first rack and revolves in the first direction together with the sun gear,
When the planetary gear reaches the second revolution position, the planetary gear meshes with the second end of the tooth forming portion in the second rack of the slider in the second position;
When the slider slides from the second position to the first position, the planetary gear disengages from the first end of the tooth portion of the second rack and moves toward the first revolving position together with the sun gear. An inkjet head maintenance unit characterized by revolving. In claim 1,
The slide mechanism further includes:
A first for holding the planetary gear at the first revolution position so as not to move toward the second revolution position until the slider reaches the second position from the first position. Stopper mechanism of
The planetary gear is held in the second revolution position so as not to move toward the first revolution position until the slider reaches the first position from the second position. An ink jet head maintenance unit comprising: 2 stopper mechanisms. In claim 2,
The first stopper mechanism includes:
A protruding piece capable of contacting the carrier and a stopper piece movable to a retracted position retracted from the protruding position;
An elastic member that constantly pushes the stopper piece toward the retracted position;
A pressing surface for pressing the stopper piece formed on the slider against the protruding position,
An ink jet head maintenance unit, wherein when the slider reaches the second position, the pressing surface is detached from the stopper. In claim 2 or 3,
The second stopper mechanism is
A protruding piece capable of contacting the carrier and a stopper piece movable to a retracted position retracted from the protruding position;
An elastic member that constantly pushes the stopper piece toward the retracted position;
A pressing surface for pressing the stopper piece formed on the slider against the protruding position,
An ink jet head maintenance unit, wherein when the slider reaches the first position, the pressing surface is detached from the stopper. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
A maintenance unit for an ink jet head, wherein a wiper blade for wiping the ink nozzle surface is attached to the support base. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering the head cap;
This lifting mechanism
A four-link parallel link mechanism that supports the head cap to be movable up and down with respect to the support;
An ink jet head comprising: a stop portion that hits the head cap at a position where the slider slides from the first position to the second position and blocks only the head cap from sliding. Maintenance unit. In claim 6,
The four-link parallel link mechanism is
First and second links arranged in parallel in the movement direction at a predetermined interval in a vertical plane parallel to the movement direction of the support base,
The lower ends of these first and second links are connected to the support base in a rotatable state,
The upper ends of these first and second links are connected to the head cap in a rotatable state,
The first and second links are tilted toward the second position when the slider is in the first position, and are substantially perpendicular when the slider reaches the second position. An ink jet head maintenance unit characterized by being in an upright state. In claim 7,
When the support base slides relative to the head cap toward the second position, the support base includes a holding mechanism that lifts the head cap to the raised position and holds the head cap at the raised position. Inkjet head maintenance unit. In claim 8,
The holding mechanism includes a guide surface formed on the support base, and a protrusion formed on the head cap that can slide along the guide surface.
The maintenance unit for an ink jet head, wherein the guide surface is a curved surface that descends in a direction from the first position toward the second position.

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