JP4900020B2 - Maintenance sheet and liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a maintenance sheet and a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  In general, a full-line type ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) has been proposed as an ink jet printer (liquid ejecting apparatus) for performing printing on a recording sheet as a target at high speed. In this type of printer, the nozzle is clogged due to an increase or solidification of the ink viscosity due to evaporation of the ink solvent from the nozzle of the recording head as a liquid ejecting head, adhesion of dust, and mixing of bubbles. There is a fear. Also, the ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head may adhere to and solidify near the nozzle openings on the nozzle forming surface due to rebounding from the recording paper or the like, leading to a deviation in the ink ejection direction from the nozzles or nozzle clogging. There was also. Therefore, in such a printer, as maintenance for suppressing clogging of the nozzles of the recording head, capping for sealing the nozzle formation surface with a cap member and wiping for wiping the nozzle formation surface with a wiper member (also referred to as “wiping”). .) Is appropriately executed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  That is, in the printer described in Patent Document 1, a capping sheet (hereinafter referred to as “first conventional maintenance sheet”) capable of sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is used, and this first conventional maintenance sheet is used as a sheet conveying mechanism. Thus, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is transported from a non-maintenance position where sealing is impossible to a maintenance position where sealing is possible. Then, the first conventional maintenance sheet conveyed up to the maintenance position is pushed upward to press the first conventional maintenance sheet against the nozzle forming surface of the recording head. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to perform a capping operation in which the nozzle forming surface is sealed by the cap member without moving the recording head from the printing position toward the non-printing area.

Further, in the printer described in Patent Document 2, wiping is performed using a wiping sheet (hereinafter referred to as “second conventional maintenance sheet”) capable of wiping the nozzle forming surface of the recording head. That is, the second conventional maintenance sheet is formed with a wiper portion composed of a large number of fine hairs. Then, by moving at least one of the second conventional maintenance sheet and the recording head in the passing direction while maintaining the sliding contact state between the tip of the wiper portion and the nozzle forming surface of the recording head, The ink or dust adhered to the nozzle forming surface is wiped off.
JP 2005-53119 A JP 2002-192737 A

  By the way, although the 1st conventional maintenance sheet used with the printer of patent documents 1 has the function to seal the nozzle formation surface of a recording head, other maintenance functions (the function etc. which wipe a nozzle formation surface, etc.) ) Does not have. On the other hand, the second conventional maintenance sheet used in the printer described in Patent Document 2 has a function of wiping the nozzle formation surface of the recording head, but other maintenance functions (such as a function of capping the nozzle formation surface). Does not have. Therefore, in each printer described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, when a plurality of types of maintenance (for example, capping and wiping) are to be performed, the first conventional maintenance sheet and the second conventional maintenance sheet are used in each printer. Both can be used as needed.

  However, in this case, when the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is sealed, the first conventional maintenance sheet is conveyed to the maintenance position, while when the nozzle forming surface is wiped, the second conventional maintenance sheet is maintained. Must be transported to position. That is, it is necessary to perform complicated control of selecting and transporting any one of various maintenance sheets as necessary, and when performing various maintenance continuously, the control becomes complicated, and various maintenance is performed efficiently. There was a problem that it could not be executed well.

  In addition, each of the conventional maintenance sheets is not provided with a configuration that enables so-called cleaning for sucking ink from the nozzles of the recording head. Therefore, even if each conventional maintenance sheet is mounted on the printer, a cleaning device including a suction pump or the like must be provided separately from each conventional maintenance sheet in order to clean the recording head. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a maintenance sheet capable of efficiently performing a plurality of types of maintenance in the liquid ejecting head, and a liquid ejecting head using the maintenance sheet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can easily perform maintenance.

  In order to achieve the above object, a maintenance sheet of the present invention is a maintenance sheet having a facing surface with respect to a nozzle forming surface of a liquid ejecting head provided in a liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the facing surface is the nozzle forming surface. A wiper portion that wipes off the nozzle forming surface when the opposing surface and the nozzle forming surface are moved relative to each other in a direction parallel to the nozzle forming surface at an opposing position, and the opposing surface at the opposing position. When the nozzle forming surface is brought relatively close, a sealed space is formed between the nozzle forming surface and the nozzle forming surface, and the internal volume is variable in the contact state. A cap portion; a communication hole formed so as to communicate between the inside and the outside of the cap portion; and a valve that opens and closes the communication hole. The valve reduces the internal volume of the cap portion. While opening operation with, configured to valve closing operation due to the increase in internal volume of the cap portion.

  According to this configuration, the maintenance sheet is provided with the wiper portion for wiping the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and the cap portion for cleaning the liquid ejecting head. Therefore, unlike conventional maintenance sheets, there is no need to use different maintenance sheets according to the type of maintenance to be performed. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently perform a plurality of types of maintenance on the liquid ejecting head with a single maintenance sheet.

  In the maintenance sheet of the present invention, the cap part and the wiper part are arranged adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction, which is the conveyance direction of the maintenance sheet, on the facing surface.

  According to this configuration, after the cleaning of the liquid ejecting head is performed by the cap unit, when the maintenance sheet is transported in the transporting direction, the tip of the wiper unit is brought into sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, The nozzle forming surface is wiped off. That is, the cleaning of the liquid ejecting head and the wiping of the nozzle forming surface can be performed quickly and continuously.

  In the maintenance sheet of the present invention, the wiper portion has a protruding height from the facing surface that is higher than a protruding height of the cap portion from the facing surface when the internal volume of the cap portion is maximized. It is formed as follows.

  If the protrusion height from the facing surface of the wiper portion is lower than the protrusion height from the facing surface of the cap portion when the internal volume of the cap portion is the largest, the cleaning of the liquid ejecting head is performed. If the nozzle forming surface is wiped subsequently, at least one of the liquid ejecting head and the maintenance sheet is moved in a direction in which the nozzle forming surface and the facing surface are relatively approached, and then the nozzle forming surface is wiped. Will do. However, according to the present invention, after the cleaning of the liquid ejecting head using the cap portion is completed, at least one of the liquid ejecting head and the maintenance sheet is placed in a direction in which the nozzle forming surface and the facing surface are relatively close to each other. When the maintenance sheet is transported in the transport direction without being moved, the nozzle forming surface is wiped off. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently perform the cleaning of the liquid ejecting head and the wiping of the nozzle forming surface continuously.

  In the maintenance sheet of the present invention, a convex portion is formed at the edge portion on the facing surface so as to surround the cap portion and the wiper portion, and the wiper portion has a protruding height from the facing surface. Is formed to be lower than the protruding height of the convex portion from the facing surface.

  According to this configuration, when storing a plurality of maintenance sheets in a stacked state, the convex portion of one maintenance sheet comes into contact with another maintenance sheet. For this reason, the wiper portion is prevented from being inadvertently abutted against another maintenance sheet or the like during accommodation in a stacked state, and as a result, the wiper portion is prevented from being damaged.

  The maintenance sheet of the present invention further includes a liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid ejected as the waste liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle of the liquid ejecting head on the facing surface at the facing position.

According to this configuration, the liquid ejected as the waste liquid from the liquid ejecting head by the flushing can be received by the liquid receiving unit.
In the maintenance sheet according to the aspect of the invention, when the liquid receiving unit receives the liquid ejected as the waste liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle of the liquid ejecting head at the opposed position, the distance from the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head is The liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle of the liquid ejecting head is formed to have an interval capable of suppressing the mist from being formed.

  According to this configuration, the liquid ejected as the waste liquid from the liquid ejecting head at the time of flushing is received in the liquid receiving portion before being scattered as a mist. That is, the liquid receiving unit can reliably receive the liquid ejected as the waste liquid from the liquid ejecting head during the flushing.

  In the maintenance sheet of the present invention, the liquid receiving portion is located on the opposite surface to the wiper on a side opposite to a side where the cap portion is provided when viewed from the wiper portion in a predetermined direction that is a conveyance direction of the maintenance sheet. It is arranged to be adjacent to the part.

  According to this configuration, the liquid receiving portion is disposed on the maintenance sheet so as to be along the conveyance direction of the cap portion, the wiper portion, and the maintenance sheet. In other words, by moving the maintenance sheet in one direction (the transport direction) at the facing position, a cap part, a wiper part, or a liquid receiving part is arranged immediately below the liquid jet head. It becomes possible to do. In addition, since the liquid receiving portion is not disposed between the cap portion and the wiper portion, the liquid receiving portion obstructs the cleaning of the liquid ejecting head and the wiping of the nozzle forming surface quickly and continuously. It is suppressed.

  The maintenance sheet according to the present invention further includes another cap portion different from the cap portion, and the separate cap portion is configured such that when the facing surface and the nozzle forming surface are relatively close to each other at the facing position, By contacting the nozzle forming surface, a sealed space is formed between the nozzle forming surface and the nozzle forming surface.

  According to this structure, the separate cap part is provided in the maintenance sheet separately from the cap part. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean the liquid ejecting head, and when it is desired to perform only capping of the nozzle formation surface, the nozzle formation surface can be capped by another cap portion. On the other hand, when cleaning the liquid ejecting head, the cap portion is used. That is, since the cap part and the separate cap part can be properly used as necessary, unlike the case where only the cap part is provided, deterioration of the maintenance sheet (particularly the cap part) is suppressed.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a liquid ejecting nozzle to a target, the maintenance sheet described above, and a non-facing state in which the facing surface is not facing the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head. Forming a sheet conveying mechanism for conveying from a position to the opposite position, at least one of the maintenance sheet and the liquid ejecting head being conveyed to the opposite position by the sheet conveying mechanism, forming the opposite surface and the nozzle A relative movement mechanism that relatively moves in a direction in which the surface comes in contact with and separates from the surface, and a control unit that controls the drive of the relative movement mechanism and the sheet conveying mechanism are provided.

  According to this configuration, by using a maintenance sheet that includes a wiper portion and a cap portion in a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a sheet conveying mechanism and a relative movement mechanism, a plurality of types of maintenance in the liquid ejecting head, that is, wiping, Both cleanings can be easily performed with a single maintenance sheet. Further, for example, since it is not necessary to provide a cleaning mechanism having a suction pump, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the liquid ejecting apparatus itself.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit may suck liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle into the cap portion of the maintenance sheet that is in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head at the facing position. The relative movement mechanism is controlled so that the internal volume of the cap portion increases after the internal volume of the cap portion decreases.

  According to this configuration, the relative movement mechanism is configured so as to relatively move in the direction in which the facing surface of the maintenance sheet and the nozzle forming surface are in contact with and separated from each other while maintaining the state where the cap portion is in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head. Is driven, cleaning of the liquid ejecting head is executed. Therefore, the liquid ejecting head can be easily cleaned using the maintenance sheet.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention includes a sealing state elimination mechanism for eliminating a sealed state in the cap part when a sealed space is formed in the cap part by contacting the cap part and the nozzle forming surface. The control unit may further include an internal volume of the cap portion when the cap portion of the maintenance sheet that is in contact with the nozzle formation surface of the liquid jet head at the opposed position is separated from the nozzle formation surface. After the relative movement mechanism is controlled so as to decrease, the sealing state cancellation mechanism is controlled to cancel the sealing state in the cap portion, and thereafter, the opposing surface of the maintenance sheet and the liquid ejecting head The relative movement mechanism is controlled so as to be relatively spaced from the nozzle forming surface.

  According to this configuration, when a sealed space is formed in the cap part by contacting the cap part and the nozzle forming surface of the liquid jet head, the sealed state in the cap part is canceled by the sealed state elimination mechanism, Thereafter, the opposing surface of the maintenance sheet and the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head are relatively separated by a relative movement mechanism. Therefore, when the facing surface of the maintenance sheet and the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head are relatively separated from each other, the sealed state in the cap portion is eliminated, so that the suction action by the cap portion is inadvertently performed. It is suppressed that it acts on. That is, careless execution of the liquid jet head cleaning is suppressed.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the sheet conveying mechanism includes a plurality of conveying rollers and a plurality of belts hung between the conveying rollers, and each of the belts is conveyed to the facing position. Each of the sheets is disposed so as to come into contact with the non-formed portion of the communication hole.

  According to this configuration, when the maintenance sheet is disposed at the facing position, the portion of the maintenance sheet where the communication hole is formed is not in contact with each belt. Therefore, when the liquid is discharged from the cap portion to the outside of the cap portion through the communication hole due to the valve opening operation, the liquid is prevented from adhering to each belt. .

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the liquid ejecting head may have the liquid ejecting nozzle formed over the entire width of the liquid ejecting region of the target along a direction intersecting the transport direction of the target.

  A so-called full-line type liquid jet head is generally large, and it is difficult to perform various maintenance operations such as wiping and cleaning by moving the liquid jet head. In such a liquid ejecting apparatus, various maintenance operations can be easily performed by transporting the maintenance sheet by the sheet transport mechanism.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) 10 as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a main body frame 11 having a substantially box shape. A recording head 12 as a liquid ejecting head for ejecting (ejecting) ink as a liquid onto a sheet P as a target is disposed substantially at the center.

  On the lower surface of the recording head 12, a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) that is substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P (the X direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1) is indicated by an arrow in FIG. Openings of a large number of nozzles (liquid ejection nozzles) 13 are formed over the entire width of the liquid ejection area of the paper P along the Y direction. In this respect, the printer 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called full line capable of high-speed printing as compared with a printer of a type in which the recording head 12 is disposed on a carriage that reciprocates in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the paper P. The head type printer 10 is configured. Note that the surface of the area where the openings of many nozzles 13 are formed on the lower surface of the recording head 12 is the nozzle formation surface 14.

  The recording head 12 is connected to a plurality of ink cartridges (not shown) that store inks of different colors. During printing, the ink stored in each ink cartridge is supplied to the recording head 12 as needed, each adjusted to a predetermined pressure. Further, the recording head 12 is driven by the recording head moving mechanism 12a so that the recording head 12 approaches or separates from the main conveyance path 28 facing the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 at a predetermined interval (in FIG. 1). , Up and down direction). In this embodiment, the recording head 12 drives the recording head moving mechanism 12a when the conveyed paper P is misaligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (Y direction in FIG. 2). Based on this, it moves in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction to the extent that it can accommodate the amount of displacement.

  In the main body frame 11, below the recording head 12, a paper transport mechanism 15 for transporting the paper P and a sheet transport mechanism 17 for transporting a maintenance sheet 16 described later are disposed. Further, at a position directly below the recording head 12 and below a main conveyance path 28 described later, a collecting unit (also referred to as “waste ink tank”) for collecting ink ejected from the recording head 12 during cleaning. .) 18 is arranged. Here, the maintenance sheet 16 is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 when the printer 10 is in a printing pause state, and suppresses drying of the ink in the nozzle 13 or performs cleaning of the recording head 12. Or a nozzle for wiping the nozzle forming surface 14 or performing flushing by the recording head 12, the details of which will be described later.

  The paper transport mechanism 15 includes a paper feed tray 21 that stores a plurality of paper sheets P in a stacked state, a paper discharge tray 22 that stores the paper P after printing, and nozzle formation of the paper P that has been fed. It includes a plurality of (two in FIG. 2) endless transport belts 23 for passing and transporting directly below the surface 14 (position facing the nozzle forming surface 14). These conveyor belts 23 are juxtaposed along a direction (the Y direction) perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. Each conveyor belt 23 includes a driving roller (conveying roller) 24 that is driven after printing is started, and a driven roller (conveying roller) 25 that is driven and rotated by the driving roller 24 at the same height as the driving roller 24. And a tension roller 26 positioned below an intermediate position between the driving roller 24 and the driven roller 25, respectively, in a state where tension is applied. That is, the driving roller 24, the driven roller 25, and the tension roller 26 are arranged so that each of the conveying belts 23 forms a triangular shape when the conveying belts 23 are hooked on these three rollers 24, 25, and 26. Each is arranged.

  Further, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of auxiliary conveying rollers 27 are arranged between the driving roller 24 and the driven roller 25. In each conveyor belt 23, the upper surface of a belt portion horizontally supported from below by each auxiliary conveyor roller 27 between the driving roller 24 and the driven roller 25 is configured as a main conveyance path 28. A print start detection sensor 29 is provided above the main conveyance path 28 and at a position closer to the paper feed tray 21 than the recording head 12. The print start detection sensor 29 transports the paper P (or the maintenance sheet 16) from the position where the print start detection sensor 29 is disposed to a print position (or a facing position) directly below the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12. Used to get a starting point to count the amount of feed.

  Further, the paper P is guided between the paper feed tray 21 and each transport belt 23 from the paper feed tray 21 to one end side of the main transport path 28 (the driven roller 25 side which is the right end side in FIG. 1). A first guide plate 31 is provided. A pickup roller 32 for taking out the paper P stored in the uppermost portion of the paper feed tray 21 is provided at the upper part of the paper feed tray 21, and a connection portion between the paper feed tray 21 and the first guide plate 31 is provided. Is provided with a separation roller pair 33 for reliably feeding only one sheet of paper P picked up by friction.

  Further, above the first guide plate 31, a paper end detection sensor 34 that detects the paper P that has passed through the pair of separation rollers 33, and when the paper P is sent from the first guide plate 31 to the main conveyance path 28. And a paper gate roller pair 35 to be driven. Then, the pickup roller 32, the separation roller pair 33, and the paper gate roller pair 35 rotate in the direction in which the paper P is sent out to the main transport path 28, so that the paper P stored in the paper feed tray 21 is transferred to the main transport path 28. It is designed to be supplied upward.

  Further, the sheet P is guided between the other conveyor belt 23 and the paper discharge tray 22 between the other end side of the main conveyance path 28 (the drive roller 24 side which is the left end side in FIG. 1) and the paper discharge tray 22. For this purpose, a selector 36 is provided for feeding the maintenance sheet 16 to a sheet tray 41 described later. The selector 36 is rotatably supported with a base end portion (left end portion in FIG. 1) 36a on the downstream side in the paper transport direction as a fulcrum. In the horizontal state (closed state) indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, the main conveyance path 28 and the paper discharge tray 22 are connected via the selector 36. On the other hand, when the selector 36 is tilted upward (opened) as shown by a broken line in FIG. 1, the connection between the main transport path 28 and the paper discharge tray 22 is cut off, and the main transport path 28 is It is connected via a selector 36 to the conveyance path (third guide plate 46) to the sheet tray 41 side.

  A pair of paper discharge rollers 37 for discharging the printed paper P to the paper discharge tray 22 is provided between the base end portion 36 a of the selector 36 and the paper discharge tray 22. Accordingly, when the selector 36 is in the horizontal state (closed state), the respective conveyance belts 23 and the discharge roller pair 37 rotate, whereby the printed paper P is discharged from the main conveyance path 28 to the discharge tray 22. It has become so.

  Further, the charging roller 38 is disposed on the driven roller 25 so as to rotate with the respective conveying belts 23 being sandwiched between the circumferential surfaces, and the slow roller 39 is disposed on the circumferential surface of the driving roller 24. Corresponding arrangements are made such that the conveyor belts 23 are sandwiched therebetween and rotate. Accordingly, since the entire surface of the transport belt 23 serving as the support surface of the paper P (and the maintenance sheet 16) is changed to a negative charge by the charging roller 38, the paper P and the maintenance sheet 16 are transferred to the main transport path 28 of the transport belt 23. It is designed to be adsorbed and held on top.

  The sheet transport mechanism 17 includes a sheet tray 41 that accommodates a plurality of (for example, about 5 to 10) maintenance sheets 16 in a stacked state, and the maintenance sheet 16 from the sheet tray 41 directly below the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12. Each conveying belt 23 is configured to pass through (position facing the nozzle forming surface 14) and convey it to the sheet tray 41. In other words, each conveyance belt 23 of the sheet conveyance mechanism 15 is also used as the conveyance belt of the sheet conveyance mechanism 17.

  The sheet tray 41 is disposed below each conveyor belt 23. Then, on one end side (right end side in FIG. 1) of the sheet tray 41, the maintenance sheet 16 is placed between the sheet tray 41 and one end side of the main conveyance path 28 (on the driven roller 25 side which is the right end side in FIG. 1). A second guide plate 42 that is gently curved for guidance is provided. The second guide plate 42 is composed of a pair of strip-like plate pieces arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting with the guide direction of the maintenance sheet 16 with a space dimension slightly shorter than the width dimension of the maintenance sheet 16. . In addition, a sheet feeding roller 43 for taking out the maintenance sheet 16 accommodated in the lowermost part of the sheet tray 41 to the second guide plate 42 side is provided at the lower end on the one end side of the sheet tray 41 (lower right corner in FIG. 1). It has been.

  Furthermore, the second guide plate 42 (specifically, between the pair of strip-shaped plate pieces) is driven when the maintenance sheet 16 is sent from the second guide plate 42 to the main conveyance path 28 at the conveyance direction side end. A sheet gate roller pair 45 is provided. Then, the sheet feeding roller 43 and the sheet gate roller pair 45 are accommodated in the sheet tray 41 by rotating in the direction in which the maintenance sheet 16 is fed to the main conveyance path 28 side (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1). The maintenance sheet 16 is supplied onto the main conveyance path 28.

  On the other hand, on the other end side (left end side in FIG. 1) of the sheet tray 41, from the other end side (the driving roller 24 side which is the left end side in FIG. 1) of the main conveyance path 28, A third guide plate 46 having a partially curved shape for guiding the maintenance sheet 16 is provided.

  The third guide plate 46 is composed of a pair of strip-like plate pieces arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting with the guide direction of the maintenance sheet 16 with a space dimension slightly shorter than the width dimension of the maintenance sheet 16. . As described above, when the selector 36 is tilted upward (in the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1 and in the open state), the main transport path 28 is moved to the third guide plate 46 via the selector 36. Will be connected. Further, a sheet conveyance roller pair 48 for conveying the maintenance sheet 16 toward the sheet tray 41 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the maintenance sheet 16 on the third guide plate 46.

  A sheet discharge roller pair 49 for discharging the maintenance sheet 16 to the sheet tray 41 again after the start of printing is provided at the end of the third guide plate 46 on the sheet tray 41 side. Therefore, when the selector 36 is tilted upward (open state), the maintenance sheet 16 is moved to the side of the sheet tray 41 by rotating the conveyor belts 23, the sheet conveying roller pair 48, and the sheet discharge roller pair 49. To be discharged. In the present embodiment, the storage position of the maintenance sheet 16 in the sheet tray 41 corresponds to the non-opposing position, and the position facing the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 on the main conveying path 28 of each conveying belt 23 is opposed. Corresponds to position.

  Further, hot air is blown to the printer 10 against the facing surface 50a of the maintenance sheet 16 conveyed along the third guide plate 46 (the surface facing the recording head 12 at a position directly below the recording head 12). A blower A is provided.

Next, the maintenance sheet 16 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the maintenance sheet 16 is a sheet-like member having a rectangular shape in plan view, and includes a sheet body 50 made of an elastic material (for example, made of synthetic resin). The sheet main body 50 has a facing surface 50a with respect to the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 when the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed at the facing position. And the edge side convex part 51 which makes | forms a quadrilateral annular shape is protrudingly formed in the edge part on the opposing surface 50a of the sheet | seat main body 50. FIG. Each roller (such as the sheet conveying roller pair 48) positioned on the facing surface 50a side of the sheet main body 50 when the maintenance sheet 16 is conveyed in the sheet conveying mechanism 17 has a circumferential surface thereof on the edge-side convex portion 51 in the sheet main body 50. Abut.

  The sheet main body 50 includes a second cap portion 52, a first cap portion 53, a wiper portion 54, and an ink receiving portion 55 on one side in the conveyance direction of the maintenance sheet 16 on the facing surface 50 a surrounded by the edge-side convex portion 51. It is formed from the side (left side in FIG. 2) to the other side (right side in FIG. 2). The first cap portion 53 is a cap portion with a suction function whose internal volume is variable to perform cleaning of the recording head 12, and the second cap portion 52 is the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. This is a separate cap portion without a suction function that is capable of suppressing drying in each nozzle 13 when it comes into contact with the nozzle (that is, the nozzle forming surface 14 can be capped). The wiper part 54 is a part for wiping the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12, and the ink receiving part 55 is a liquid receiving part for receiving ink discharged as waste liquid from the recording head 12 by flushing. It is.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the first cap portion 53 and the wiper portion 54 are disposed adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction that is the conveyance direction of the maintenance sheet 16 (the X direction). The ink receiving portion 55 is adjacent to the wiper portion 54 in the predetermined direction, and is disposed on the opposite side of the first cap portion 53 in the predetermined direction when viewed from the wiper portion 54.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second cap portion 52 includes a standing convex portion 56 having a square annular shape, and the standing convex portion 56 is disposed on the facing surface 50 a side of the sheet body 50. Yes. The leaving convex portion 56 is formed so that the inner contour shape thereof is larger than the formation portion of each nozzle 13 on the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. When the recording head 12 moves toward the second cap portion 52 disposed immediately below the recording head 12, the upper end in FIG. 3 of the second cap portion 52 forms the nozzle of the recording head 12. It abuts on the surface 14 (that is, the surface outside the site where each nozzle 13 is formed). That is, the second cap portion 52 forms a sealed space with the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12 to cap the nozzle formation surface 14. The leaving convex portion 56 is formed such that the protruding height from the facing surface 50a (the height in the vertical direction in FIG. 3) is lower than the protruding height of the edge-side convex portion 51 from the facing surface 50a. Yes.

  Further, in the portion corresponding to the second cap portion 52 in the sheet main body 50, a space surrounded by the leaving convex portion 56 and a space on the non-facing surface side (lower surface side in FIG. 3) of the sheet main body 50 are provided. An air opening hole 57 for always communicating is formed. The air release hole 57 is a substantially central portion in the left-right direction in FIG. 3 and is formed at a position so as to be sandwiched between the respective conveyor belts 23 from the left-right direction in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first cap portion 53 has a substantially rectangular tube shape, and includes a volume variable portion 58 that can change its internal volume. The variable volume portion 58 is disposed on the facing surface 50 a side of the sheet main body 50. Further, since the variable volume portion 58 is made of an elastic material, its upper end portion (the upper end portion in FIG. 4 and an opening end portion having an opening on the nozzle forming surface 14 side) 58a is directed downward by the recording head 12. When not pushed down, the protruding height from the facing surface 50a is urged in a direction in which the protruding height from the facing surface 50a of the edge-side convex portion 51 is higher.

  Further, the variable volume portion 58 is formed such that the opening shape of the upper end portion 58 a is larger than the formation portion of each nozzle 13 on the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12. When the recording head 12 is moved toward the variable volume portion 58 (first cap portion 53) disposed immediately below the recording head 12 by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a, the variable volume portion 58 is obtained. The upper end portion 58a of the recording head 12 is elastically brought into contact with the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12 (that is, the surface outside the formation portion of each nozzle 13). That is, the volume variable section 58 forms a sealed space between the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the recording head moving mechanism 12a functions as a relative moving mechanism that relatively moves at least one of the recording head 12 and the maintenance sheet 16 in the direction in which the nozzle forming surface 14 and the facing surface 50a come in contact with and away from each other. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the upper end portion 58 a is displaced from the upper side to the lower side by the recording head 12, the volume variable unit 58 is elastically deformed, so that the volume inside the volume variable unit 58 is reduced. It is getting smaller. On the other hand, when the recording head 12 moves upward from the state in which the internal volume of the volume variable portion 58 is reduced, the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 is moved to the nozzle based on the elastic return force of the volume variable portion 58. It is displaced upward while in contact with the forming surface 14. As described above, the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 is displaced upward following the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12, whereby the internal volume of the variable volume portion 58 is increased.

  On the outer wall of the variable volume portion 58, a locking piece 59 protruding toward one side is formed on the side portion on one side (left side in FIG. 4) of both side portions along the Y direction, and the other side. A locking piece 59 protruding toward the other side is formed on the side portion (on the right side in FIG. 4). Further, the upper end of the portion corresponding to the variable volume portion 58 (first cap portion 53) in the Y direction among the both side portions (the left side portion and the right side portion in FIG. 4) along the X direction in the edge side convex portion 51 of the sheet main body 50. Each part is formed with a locking part 60 projecting inward.

  When the internal volume of the variable volume portion 58 gradually increases from the state in which the internal volume of the volume variable portion 58 is small (the state shown in FIG. 5), In addition, it comes into contact with the lower surface side of the corresponding locking portion 60. As a result, an increase in the internal volume of the volume variable unit 58 is restricted.

  That is, when the recording head 12 is raised in a state where the upper end portion 58 a of the variable volume portion 58 is displaced downward by the recording head 12, the upper end portion 58 a of the variable volume portion 58 is connected to the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. Displaces upwards following. However, when the height position of the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 (the position in the separating direction of the recording head 12) reaches a predetermined position, each locking piece 59 of the variable volume portion 58 is As a result of being locked by the locking portion 60, the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 is restricted from being displaced further upward.

  In the present embodiment, when the locking pieces 59 of the volume variable portion 58 are locked by the locking portions 60, the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 is located at the uppermost position. At the same time, the internal volume in the volume variable portion 58 is configured to be the largest. Even in this state, the engaging pieces 59 in the volume variable portion 58 and the edge side convex portions 51 of the sheet main body 50 so that the upper end portion 58 a of the volume variable portion 58 is positioned lower than the upper end of the edge side convex portion 51. The relative positional relationship of each locking part 60 is set.

  In addition, the space corresponding to the first cap portion 53 in the seat body 50 communicates the space in the volume variable portion 58 and the space on the non-facing surface side (the lower surface side in FIG. 4) of the seat body 50. A plurality (three in the present embodiment) of discharge holes 61 as communication holes are formed. Each of these discharge holes 61 is located along a direction substantially perpendicular to the X direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 4 and the Y-direction) and is sandwiched between the respective transport belts 23 from the left-right direction in FIG. That is, it is formed at a position between the conveyor belts 23.

  Further, a plurality (three in the present embodiment) of normally closed valves 62 are provided on the non-facing surface side of the seat body 50 for individually closing the discharge holes 61. Each of the normally closed valves 62 is always in a closed state, and the volume variable portion 58 and the space on the non-facing surface side of the seat body 50 are not in communication. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the upper end portion 58 a is displaced downward by the recording head 12, the internal volume of the volume variable section 58 is reduced and the internal pressure is external (volume). It becomes larger than the pressure outside the variable portion 58). In this case, each normally closed valve 62 opens as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4, and each discharge hole 61 is opened as shown in FIG. As a result, the inside of the variable volume portion 58 and the space on the non-opposing surface side of the sheet main body 50 are in communication with each other through the discharge holes 61.

  At this time, if the ink is stored in the first cap portion 53, the ink is discharged from each discharge hole 61 to the outside of the first cap portion 53, while the ink is stored in the first cap portion 53. If not, the air corresponding to the change in the internal volume of the variable volume portion 58 is discharged from each discharge hole 61. When the internal volume of the volume variable portion 58 is changed by discharging the ink or air through the discharge hole 61, the ink can be discharged from the first cap portion 53 and the recording head 12 can be discharged. It becomes possible to suppress the meniscus of the nozzle 13 from being broken by a pressure change. In this case, the biasing force that biases the normally closed valve 62 in the valve closing direction is a biasing force that opens the normally closed valve 62 with a pressure change smaller than the pressure change that breaks the meniscus of the nozzle 13. Is set.

  As described above, the recording head 12 of the present embodiment is movable not only in the vertical direction but also in the Y direction based on the driving of the recording head moving mechanism 12a. Then, when the recording head 12 is moved in the anti-Y direction (left direction in FIG. 5) in a state where the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 contacts the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 and the internal volume is reduced. In addition, a part of the upper end portion 58 a of the variable volume portion 58 is detached from the nozzle forming surface 14. Then, a part of the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 is detached from the nozzle forming surface 14 in this way, so that the inside of the volume variable portion 58 is externally (through the variable volume portion 58) via the upper end portion 58a side. (Outside the part 58). That is, the drive of the recording head moving mechanism 12a is performed in a state where a sealed space is formed in the variable volume portion 58 by contacting the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 with the variable volume portion 58 of the first cap portion 53. As a result, the recording head 12 moves in the anti-Y direction so that the sealed state in the volume variable portion 58 is eliminated. Therefore, in this embodiment, the recording head moving mechanism 12a functions as a sealed state elimination mechanism.

  The wiper portion 54 is made of a synthetic resin plate having a rectangular plate shape. The wiper portion 54 is formed such that the protruding height (about 1.5 mm) from the facing surface 50a is lower than the protruding height of the edge-side convex portion 51 from the facing surface 50a. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the wiper portion 54 protrudes from the facing surface 50 a of the first cap portion 53 when the protruding height from the facing surface 50 a has the largest internal volume of the volume variable portion 58. It is formed to be higher than the protruding height. More specifically, the wiper portion 54 has a leading end (upper end in FIG. 6) 54a when the recording head 12 with the nozzle forming surface 14 in contact with the volume variable portion 58 moves upward. The upper end portion 58 a of the variable volume portion 58 is formed at a position higher than the nozzle formation surface 14 immediately after being separated from the 12 nozzle formation surfaces 14. In FIG. 6, the conveyance belt 23 is not shown for convenience of explanation. Further, the wiper portion 54 of the present embodiment is formed so that the contact amount with the nozzle forming surface 14 when the nozzle forming surface 14 is wiped is “about 1 mm”.

  The ink receiving portion 55 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped ink absorbing member 63 made of a porous material. The ink absorbing member 63 is fixed on the facing surface 50 a of the sheet main body 50 in the maintenance sheet 16. The ink absorbing member 63 is formed such that the protruding height from the facing surface 50a is lower than the protruding height of the edge-side convex portion 51 from the facing surface 50a.

  Further, as described above, the ink receiving portion 55 (ink absorbing member 63) is a portion used in the maintenance sheet 16 during flushing. The interval h between the upper end of the ink absorbing member 63 and the nozzle forming surface 14 is discharged from the recording head 12 when the ink absorbing member 63 receives the ink discharged as the waste liquid from the recording head 12 at the facing position. In addition, the interval is set so that the ink can be prevented from becoming a mist (about 2 mm).

Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the printer 10 includes a control unit 70 as control means. The control unit 70 includes an input side interface (not shown), an output side interface (not shown), a digital computer including a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a timer 74, and the like, and a drive for driving each device. A circuit (not shown) is the main component.

  A paper edge detection sensor 34 and a print start detection sensor 29 are electrically connected to the input side interface. The output side interface includes a recording head moving mechanism 12a, a pickup roller 32, a separation roller pair 33, a paper gate roller pair 35, a driving roller 24, a paper discharge roller pair 37, a sheet feeding roller 43, and a sheet gate roller pair 45. The sheet conveying roller pair 48, the sheet discharge roller pair 49, the selector 36, and the blower A are electrically connected to each other. And the control part 70 controls each mechanism (drive roller 24 grade | etc.) Separately based on the detection signal from the various sensors 34 and 29, etc. FIG.

  In the digital computer, the ROM 72 stores a control program for controlling each mechanism (such as the driving roller 24). The RAM 73 stores various types of information (such as the magnitudes of input signals from the various sensors 34 and 29) that are appropriately rewritten while the printer 10 is being driven. The timer 74 measures time (elapsed time, etc.).

  In the printer 10 described above, by switching the selector 36, a paper transport path is formed in which the paper feed tray 21 to the paper discharge tray 22 are connected via the first guide plate 31 and the main transport path 28 during printing. . Further, when the maintenance sheet 16 is conveyed, a sheet conveyance path is formed in which the sheet tray 41 is connected from one end side to the other end side via the second guide plate 42, the main conveyance path 28, and the third guide plate 46. Is done.

  Therefore, when the selector 36 is in a horizontal state (closed state) indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1, the paper P taken out from the paper feed tray 21 is transported to the main transport path 28 via the first guide plate 31. At this time, since each conveyor belt 23 is charged, the paper P is held by suction on each conveyor belt 23. Printing (ink ejection) is performed when the paper P is conveyed to a position facing the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. The printed paper P is transported on the main transport path 28 as it is, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 22 via the selector 36.

  On the other hand, the maintenance sheet 16 taken out from the sheet tray 41 is conveyed to the main conveyance path 28 via the second guide plate 42. At this time, similarly to the above, since the respective conveyor belts 23 are charged, the maintenance sheet 16 is attracted and held on the respective conveyor belts 23. Then, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, the maintenance operation is performed when the maintenance sheet 16 is conveyed to a position facing the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12.

  Specifically, when the first cap portion 53 of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed immediately below the recording head 12, the recording head 12 is cleaned. Further, when the second cap portion 52 of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed immediately below the recording head 12, the capping of the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is executed. Further, the nozzle forming surface 14 is wiped by transporting the maintenance sheet 16 in the X direction with the tip 54a of the wiper portion 54 being in sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. When the ink receiving portion 55 of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed immediately below the recording head 12, ink is discharged from each nozzle 13 of the recording head 12 as waste liquid. That is, flushing is performed.

  When printing is started again and the selector 36 is in an inclined state (open state) indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, the maintenance sheet 16 is conveyed on the main conveyance path 28 and the selector 36 is moved. To the third guide plate 46. At this time, when the blower A is driven, hot air is blown to the facing surface 50 a side of the sheet main body 50 in the maintenance sheet 16 that moves on the third guide plate 46. Thereafter, the maintenance sheet 16 is again collected in the sheet tray 41.

Next, among the control processing routines executed by the control unit 70 of the present embodiment, a maintenance execution processing routine will be described based on flowcharts based on FIGS. 9 to 14.
Now, the control part 70 performs a maintenance execution process routine for every predetermined period (for example, every 0.01 second). In the maintenance execution processing routine, the control unit 70 determines whether or not a print command has been input (step S10). For example, it is determined whether a print execution flag is set. When this determination result is a negative determination, the control unit 70 proceeds to step S15 described later. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S10 is affirmative, the control unit 70 executes a paper transport process (described in detail in FIG. 10) as a precondition process for printing on the paper P (step 10). S11).

  When the paper transport process is completed, a print process (not shown) for the paper P is executed, and then the control unit 70 determines whether or not the printing of the “1” page is completed (step S12). That is, the control unit 70 determines whether or not printing on one sheet P has been completed. When the determination result is negative, the control unit 70 determines that printing on one sheet of paper P is being executed, and repeats the determination process of step S12 until the determination process of step S12 is positive. Execute. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S12 is affirmative, the control unit 70 determines that printing on one sheet of paper P has been completed, and determines whether there is a next page to be printed (step S13).

  If the determination result is affirmative, the control unit 70 performs a flushing process (described in detail in FIG. 11) in order to execute the flushing by the recording head 12 before the printing for the next page is executed. Execute (Step S14). Thereafter, the control unit 70 once ends the maintenance execution processing routine. On the other hand, if the determination result of step S13 is negative, the control unit 70 determines that printing for all pages has been completed, and proceeds to step S15 described later.

  In step S <b> 15, the control unit 70 determines that printing based on the print command has been completed or that no print command has been input, and opens the selector 36. Subsequently, the control unit 70 rotates the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 (Step S16).

  Then, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the first cap unit 53 (volume variable unit 58) of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed at a position directly below the recording head 12 (step S17). Specifically, the control unit 70 detects that the maintenance sheet 16 conveyed from the sheet tray 41 is detected by the print start detection sensor 29 based on the rotation of the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45. Is read from the timer 74, and it is determined whether or not the read elapsed time (hereinafter referred to as “first elapsed time”) is equal to or longer than a predetermined first predetermined time. The first predetermined time is a time required for the first cap portion 53 to move to a position directly below the recording head 12 after the passage of the maintenance sheet 16 is detected based on a signal from the print start detection sensor 29. It is set in advance by experiments or simulations. Whether or not the number of rotations of the roller (for example, the driving roller 24) from the detection point of the print start detection sensor 29 has reached a predetermined rotation number, not the control based on the elapsed time from the detection point of the print start detection sensor 29. You may control by determining.

  If the determination result in step S17 is negative (first elapsed time <first predetermined time), the control unit 70 determines that the first cap unit 53 has not yet moved to the position directly below the recording head 12. The determination process of step S17 is repeatedly executed until the determination result of step S17 is affirmative. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S17 is affirmative (first elapsed time ≧ first predetermined time), the control unit 70 determines that the first cap unit 53 has moved to a position directly below the recording head 12, and The rotation of the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 is stopped (step S18).

  Subsequently, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the recording head 12 is to be cleaned (step S19). Note that the types of cleaning executed by the printer 10 in the present embodiment include so-called timer cleaning executed every predetermined cycle (for example, 7 days) or operation of an operation switch (not shown). There are so-called manual cleaning and so on. Therefore, in step S19, it is determined whether or not it is time to execute timer cleaning, and whether or not the operation switch has been operated is determined.

  If the determination result in step S19 is negative, the control unit 70 proceeds to step S22, which will be described later, without cleaning the recording head 12. On the other hand, if the determination result of step S19 is affirmative, the control unit 70 performs a cleaning process (described in detail in FIG. 12) to execute the cleaning of the recording head 12 (step S20). Subsequently, when the cleaning process in step S20 is completed, the control unit 70 executes a wiping process (described in detail in FIG. 13) in order to wipe the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 (step S21). When the wiping process in step S21 ends, the control unit 70 proceeds to step S22 described later.

  In step S <b> 22, the control unit 70 executes a capping process (described in detail in FIG. 14) for capping the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12. Thereafter, the control unit 70 ends the maintenance execution processing routine.

Next, the paper conveyance process (paper conveyance process routine) executed in step S11 described above will be described below with reference to FIG.
In the paper transport process routine, the control unit 70 closes the selector 36 (step S30). Subsequently, the control unit 70 rotates the drive roller 24, the pickup roller 32, the separation roller pair 33, and the paper gate roller pair 35 (step S31). And the control part 70 determines whether the signal from the paper end detection sensor 34 was input (step S32). That is, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the paper P has started to be fed from the paper feed tray 21 toward the main conveyance path 28.

  If the determination result in step S32 is negative, the control unit 70 determines that the sheet P is not yet fed from the paper feed tray 21 side onto the main transport path 28, and the determination result in step S32 Until the determination becomes affirmative, the determination process of step S32 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S32 is affirmative, the control unit 70 determines that the sheet P has started to be fed onto the main conveyance path 28, and stops the rotation of the pickup roller 32 and the separation roller pair 33. (Step S33).

  Next, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the signal from the paper end detection sensor 34 is no longer input (step S34). When this determination result is a negative determination, the control unit 70 repeatedly executes the determination process of step S34 until the determination result of step S34 becomes a positive determination. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S34 is affirmative, the control unit 70 determines that the paper P has been completely fed from the paper feed tray 21 side onto the main transport path 28, and executes the paper transport processing routine. finish.

  When the paper transport processing routine is completed, the control unit 70 thereafter determines whether or not the paper P is transported to a printing position directly below the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12 based on the detection result of the print start detection sensor 29. Determine whether. If the determination result is affirmative, the rotation of the paper gate roller pair 35 is stopped and ink is ejected from the nozzles 13 of the recording head 12 to execute the printing process on the paper P. At the time of printing, since it is necessary to move the paper P in the X direction, the driving roller 24 is rotating.

Next, the flushing process (flushing process routine) executed in step S14 described above will be described with reference to FIG.
In the flushing process routine, the control unit 70 opens the selector 36 (step S40). Subsequently, the control unit 70 rotates the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 (Step S41).

  Then, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the ink receiving unit 55 (ink absorbing member 63) of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed at a position directly below the recording head 12 (step S42). Specifically, the control unit 70 detects that the maintenance sheet 16 conveyed from the sheet tray 41 is detected by the print start detection sensor 29 based on the rotation of the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45. Is read from the timer 74, and it is determined whether or not the read elapsed time (hereinafter referred to as “second elapsed time”) is equal to or greater than a predetermined second predetermined time. The second predetermined time is a time required for the ink receiving portion 55 to move to a position directly below the recording head 12 after the passage of the maintenance sheet 16 is detected based on a signal from the print start detection sensor 29. Set by experiment or simulation. Whether or not the number of rotations of the roller (for example, the driving roller 24) from the detection point of the print start detection sensor 29 has reached a predetermined rotation number, not the control based on the elapsed time from the detection point of the print start detection sensor 29. You may control by determining.

  If the determination result in step S42 is negative (second elapsed time <second predetermined time), the control unit 70 determines that the ink receiving unit 55 has not yet moved to a position directly below the recording head 12, and The determination process of step S42 is repeatedly executed until the determination result of step S42 is affirmative. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S42 is affirmative (second elapsed time ≧ second predetermined time), the control unit 70 determines that the ink receiving unit 55 has moved to a position directly below the recording head 12, and drives the control unit 70. The rotation of the roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 is stopped (step S43).

  Subsequently, the control unit 70 causes ink to be ejected from each nozzle 13 of the recording head 12 (step S44). That is, the controller 70 causes the recording head 12 to perform flushing. Then, the control unit 70 rotates the driving roller 24, the sheet conveying roller pair 48, and the sheet discharge roller pair 49 (step S45), and drives the blower A (step S46).

  Subsequently, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the maintenance sheet 16 is accommodated in the sheet tray 41 (step S47). Specifically, the control unit 70 reads the elapsed time from the execution of the process of step S45 from the timer 74, and the read elapsed time (hereinafter referred to as “third elapsed time”) is predetermined. It is determined whether or not the third predetermined time has elapsed. The third predetermined time is a time taken for the maintenance sheet 16 at the facing position to be conveyed to the sheet tray 41 at the non-facing position, and is set in advance by experiments or simulations.

  If the determination result in step S47 is negative (third elapsed time <third predetermined time), the control unit 70 determines that the maintenance sheet 16 has not yet been conveyed to the sheet tray 41, and the determination in step S47. The determination process of step S47 is repeatedly executed until the result is affirmative. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S47 is affirmative (third elapsed time ≧ third predetermined time), the control unit 70 stops the rotation of the drive roller 24, the sheet conveying roller pair 48, and the sheet discharge roller pair 49. (Step S48), and the drive of the blower A is stopped (Step S49). Thereafter, the control unit 70 ends the flushing processing routine.

Next, the cleaning process (cleaning process routine) in step S20 described above will be described below with reference to FIG.
In the cleaning process routine, the control unit 70 drives the recording head moving mechanism 12a because the first cap portion 53 of the maintenance sheet 16 has already been arranged at a position directly below the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. As a result, the recording head 12 is lowered (step S50). That is, the control unit 70 displaces the upper end portion 58 a of the volume varying unit 58 in the first cap unit 53 downward by the recording head 12. Subsequently, when the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 reaches the lowest point position, the control unit 70 raises the recording head 12 by reversing the driving direction of the recording head moving mechanism 12a (step S51). .

  The uppermost point position (the respective locking pieces 59 are the respective locking portions) while the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is kept in contact with the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 in the first cap portion 53. When the position reaches the position 60), the control unit 70 reverses the driving direction of the recording head moving mechanism 12a again. From this point of time, the recording head 12 is lowered again by the reverse driving of the recording head moving mechanism 12a (step S52). Subsequently, the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is moved to the lowest point position while maintaining the contact state with the upper end portion 58 a of the volume variable portion 58 in the first cap portion 53, and then the control portion 70. Moves the recording head 12 in the anti-Y direction by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a (step S53).

  Then, the control unit 70 raises the recording head 12 again by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a (step S54). At this time, the recording head 12 rises in a state where the sealed state in the volume variable portion 58 is eliminated, and the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 keeps contacting the nozzle forming surface 14 following the rise. To rise. In the middle of its rise, the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 is restrained from rising further by the locking pieces 59 being locked to the locking portions 60 on the seat body 50 side. On the other hand, the recording head 12 moves up from the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 until the nozzle forming surface 14 is separated.

  Subsequently, when the nozzle forming surface 14 is separated from the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58, the control unit 70 drives the recording head moving mechanism 12a to move the recording head 12 in the anti-Y direction in the process of step S23. The recording head 12 is moved in the Y direction (right direction in FIG. 4) by the amount moved (step S55). Thereafter, the control unit 70 ends the cleaning processing routine.

Next, the wiping process (wiping process routine) in step S21 described above will be described below with reference to FIG.
Now, in the wiping process routine, the controller 70 rotates the drive roller 24 (step S61). That is, the maintenance sheet 16 is moved in the X direction in a state where the tip 54 a of the wiper portion 54 is in sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. Subsequently, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the ink receiving unit 55 (ink absorbing member 63) of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed at a position directly below the recording head 12 (step S62). Specifically, the control unit 70 reads from the timer 74 the elapsed time from the start of rotation of the drive roller 24 based on the process of step S61, and the read elapsed time (hereinafter referred to as “fourth elapsed time”). Is determined to be equal to or longer than a predetermined fourth predetermined time. During the fourth predetermined time, the wiper portion 54 passes through the position immediately below the recording head 12 from the state where the first cap portion 53 is disposed immediately below the recording head 12, and the ink receiving portion is positioned immediately below the recording head 12. This is the time taken for 55 to be placed, and is set in advance through experiments, simulations, or the like. In addition, it is not the control by the elapsed time after the drive of the drive roller 24 is started, but whether or not the rotation speed of the drive roller 24 after the drive roller 24 is started has reached a predetermined rotation speed. You may control by determining.

  When the determination result of step S62 is negative (fourth elapsed time <fourth predetermined time), the control unit 70 repeatedly executes the determination process of step S62 until the determination result of step S62 is affirmative. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S62 is affirmative (fourth elapsed time ≧ fourth predetermined time), the control unit 70 stops the rotation of the drive roller 24 (step S63) and wipes the nozzle forming surface 14. Later, flushing is performed to stabilize the meniscus (nozzle ink meniscus) in each nozzle 13. Thereafter, the control unit 70 ends the wiping process routine. Note that the controller 70 may move the recording head 12 upward by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a before performing the flushing in this way.

Next, the capping process (capping process routine) in step S22 described above will be described with reference to FIG.
In the capping process routine, the control unit 70 moves the recording head 12 upward by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a (step S70). That is, the control unit 70 determines that the distance (about “2 mm”) from the facing surface 50 a to the nozzle forming surface 14 in the sheet body 50 of the maintenance sheet 16 is longer than the distance from the facing surface 50 a to the tip 54 a of the wiper unit 54. Thus, the recording head 12 is moved upward. Then, the control unit 70 moves the maintenance sheet 16 in the anti-X direction on the main conveyance path 28 by rotating the drive roller 24 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction in step S61 in the wiping process (step S61). S71). Subsequently, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the second cap unit 52 of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed at a position directly below the recording head 12 (step S72). Specifically, the control unit 70 reads the elapsed time from the start of the movement of the maintenance sheet 16 from the timer 74 based on the process of step S71, and reads the elapsed time (hereinafter, “fifth elapsed time”). It is determined whether or not a predetermined time exceeds a predetermined fifth predetermined time. The fifth predetermined time is changed from the state where the ink receiving portion 55 is located immediately below the recording head 12 to the state where the second cap portion 52 is located immediately below the recording head 12 by the rotation of the driving roller 24 in the reverse direction. This is the time it takes to become, and is set in advance by experiments or simulations. In addition, it is not the control by the elapsed time after the drive of the drive roller 24 is started, but whether or not the rotation speed of the drive roller 24 after the drive roller 24 is started has reached a predetermined rotation speed. You may control by determining.

  If the determination result in step S72 is negative (fifth elapsed time <fifth predetermined time), the control unit 70 assumes that the second cap unit 52 is not yet disposed immediately below the recording head 12. The determination process of step S72 is repeatedly executed until the determination result of step S72 is affirmative. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S72 is affirmative (fifth elapsed time ≧ fifth predetermined time), the control unit 70 stops the rotation of the drive roller 24 (step S73).

  Subsequently, the control unit 70 drives the recording head moving mechanism 12a to lower the recording head 12 (step S74). Then, the control unit 70 lowers the recording head 12 until the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 abuts on the second cap portion 52 and forms a sealed space in the second cap portion 52, and then performs recording. The driving of the head moving mechanism 12a is stopped, and the capping processing routine is ended.

  Next, of the operations of the printer 10 according to the present embodiment, the operation when the maintenance process is executed using the maintenance sheet 16 will be mainly described below. As a premise of the description, it is assumed that after the recording head 12 is cleaned, the recording head 12 is wiped, and then the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12 is capped by the second cap portion 52.

  When the cleaning of the recording head 12 is executed, first, the selector 36 is opened (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1), whereby the second guide plate 42, the main transport path 28, and the like. A sheet conveyance path including the third guide plate 46 is formed. Next, the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 start driving. Then, the lowermost maintenance sheet 16 out of the maintenance sheets 16 accommodated in a stacked state in the sheet tray 41 at the non-facing position is taken out from the sheet tray 41, and the maintenance sheet 16 moves the second guide plate 42. To the main transport path 28.

  At this time, since the transport belts 23 are in a state where their support surfaces are charged by the charging roller 38, the maintenance sheet 16 is attracted and held on the transport belts 23. Then, until the first cap portion 53 of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed at a position directly below the recording head 12, the maintenance sheet 16 is conveyed on each conveyance belt 23 (on the main conveyance path 28) in the X direction. Then, the driving of the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 is stopped.

  Then, the recording head 12 is cleaned. That is, as the recording head 12 is lowered by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12 a, the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 comes into contact with the upper end portion 58 a of the variable volume portion 58. At this time, the first cap portion 53 (volume variable portion 58) forms a sealed space with the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. When the recording head 12 is further lowered, the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 is displaced downward, so that the internal volume of the variable volume portion 58 is reduced. ) Is higher than the outside (outside the first cap portion 53). As a result, each normally closed valve 62 is opened to allow the space in the volume variable portion 58 and the outside to communicate with each other through each discharge hole 61.

  When the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 moves to the lowest point position, the recording head 12 stops descending and the pressure increase in the space in the volume variable section 58 stops. Therefore, each normally closed valve 62 is closed, and the space in the volume variable portion 58 is not in communication with the outside. That is, the pressure in the variable volume portion 58 becomes substantially the same pressure as the external pressure. Then, this time, the recording head 12 starts to rise by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a. At this time, the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 follows the nozzle forming surface 14 based on the elastic return force of the variable volume portion 58 while maintaining the contact state with the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. Then, it is displaced upward.

  That is, the internal volume in the variable volume portion 58 gradually increases in a state where the sealed space formed by the variable volume portion 58 and the nozzle forming surface 14 is maintained. For this reason, the pressure inside the variable volume portion 58 becomes lower than the external pressure (outside the first cap portion 53), resulting in a negative pressure state. As a result, ink is sucked from the recording head 12 through the nozzles 13. The ink thus discharged is ejected into the volume variable portion 58. When the height position of the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 reaches the predetermined position, that is, the height at which the locking pieces 59 of the volume variable portion 58 are locked to the locking portions 60 of the edge-side convex portion 51. When the recording head 12 is raised to this position, the recording head moving mechanism 12a is driven in reverse, and the recording head 12 is lowered again.

  When the recording head 12 descends again while maintaining the contact state between the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 and the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 by the reverse drive of the recording head moving mechanism 12a, the recording head 12 When the head 12 further descends, each normally closed valve 62 opens, and the ink stored in the volume variable portion 58 is discharged through each discharge hole 61. Then, the ink stored in the variable volume unit 58 is collected in the collection unit 18 arranged below the maintenance sheet 16 arranged in the facing position.

  Thereafter, when the recording head 12 moves to the lowest point position, the lowering of the recording head 12 stops and the recording head 12 moves in the anti-Y direction by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a. In other words, the recording head 12 moves in the anti-Y direction in a state where the upper end portion 58a of the variable volume portion 58 and the nozzle forming surface 14 are in sliding contact with each other. As a result, the upper end side of the variable volume portion 58 opens, thereby changing the volume. The inside of the part 58 and the outside are in a communication state. That is, the sealed state in the volume variable portion 58 is eliminated.

  The recording head 12 is raised by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12a. At this time, since the inside of the variable volume portion 58 is in communication with the outside, the pressure in the variable volume portion 58 does not decrease due to the rise of the recording head 12. Therefore, the suction action does not act on the recording head 12 due to the pressure drop in the variable volume portion 58. That is, ink is not unnecessarily ejected from the recording head 12. Thereafter, when the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 and the upper end portion 58a of the volume variable portion 58 are separated from each other, the rising of the recording head 12 stops and the recording head 12 moves in the Y direction. That is, the cleaning process of the recording head 12 is completed. At this time, the distance from the facing surface 50a of the maintenance sheet 16 to the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is “about 0.5 mm”.

  Next, when the cleaning of the recording head 12 is completed, the maintenance roller 16 is conveyed on the main conveyance path 28 by rotating the driving roller 24. At this time, the tip 54 a of the wiper portion 54 comes into sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12. Therefore, even when ink has adhered to the nozzle forming surface 14 during cleaning of the recording head 12, the nozzle forming surface 14 is wiped by the wiper portion 54. That is, wiping of the nozzle forming surface 14 is executed.

  Then, when the wiper portion 54 passes through the position immediately below the recording head 12 and the ink receiving portion 55 reaches the position immediately below the recording head 12, ink is directed from each nozzle 13 of the recording head 12 toward the ink receiving portion 55. Discharged. That is, flushing is performed. Then, after the flushing is completed, the recording head 12 is raised and the rotation of the driving roller 24 is reversed. Then, the maintenance sheet 16 moves in the anti-X direction (right direction in FIG. 1), and when the second cap portion 52 is disposed at a position directly below the recording head 12, the rotation of the driving roller 24 is stopped. The At this time, since the distance from the facing surface 50a of the maintenance sheet 16 to the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is “about 2 mm”, the protruding height from the facing surface 50a is “about 1.5 mm”. The wiper part 54 does not contact the recording head 12. Then, capping of the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is executed.

  That is, as the recording head 12 is lowered by driving the recording head moving mechanism 12 a, the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 comes into contact with the upper end of the leaving convex portion 56. At this time, the second cap portion 52 forms a sealed space between the nozzle formation surface 14 of the recording head 12 and caps the nozzle formation surface 14.

  In addition, since the atmosphere opening hole 57 is formed in the 2nd cap part 52 of this embodiment, the space (above-mentioned) in the 2nd cap part 52 resulting from the temperature change of external air (outside the 2nd cap part 52) The pressure change in the sealed space) is suppressed. Therefore, unlike the case where the air opening hole 57 is not formed, the meniscus in each nozzle 13 of the recording head 12 is prevented from being damaged by the pressure change in the space in the second cap portion 52.

  Thereafter, when a printing command is input to the control unit 70, the recording head 12 is raised by the driving of the recording head moving mechanism 12a, and the capping of the nozzle forming surface 14 is released. Then, the rotation of the drive roller 24, the sheet conveying roller pair 48, and the sheet discharge roller pair 49 is started. Then, the maintenance sheet 16 on the main conveyance path 28 is conveyed in the X direction from the facing position, and is transferred to the third guide plate 46 from the other end side (left end side in FIG. 1) of the main conveyance path 28. The maintenance sheet 16 on the third guide plate 46 is accommodated in the sheet tray 41 in a state of being placed on each maintenance sheet 16 in a stacked state in the sheet tray 41.

  Thereafter, the selector 36 is closed (the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1), and the sheet from the paper feed tray 21 to the paper discharge tray 22 is connected via the first guide plate 31 and the main conveyance path 28. A conveyance path is formed. When the paper P is transported from the paper feed tray 21 to a position directly below the recording head 12 in the main transport path 28, printing is started by ejecting ink from the recording head 12.

  Then, when printing on one sheet P is completed and there are still pages to be printed, after the printed sheet P is transported to the paper discharge tray 22, the selector 36 is opened. Then, the drive roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 are rotated to take out one maintenance sheet 16 from the sheet tray 41, and this maintenance sheet 16 passes through the second guide plate 42. To the main transport path 28.

  When the ink receiving portion 55 of the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed immediately below the recording head 12, the rotation of the driving roller 24, the sheet feeding roller 43, and the sheet gate roller pair 45 is stopped. Next, ink is ejected from each nozzle 13 of the recording head 12 toward the ink receiving portion 55. That is, flushing by the recording head 12 is executed. At this time, the interval between the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 and the upper end of the ink absorbing member 63 is set to an interval h that can prevent the ejected ink from becoming mist. The ejected ink is received in the ink receiving portion 55 before becoming mist.

  Thereafter, rotation of the drive roller 24, the sheet conveying roller pair 48, and the sheet discharge roller pair 49 is started. Then, the maintenance sheet 16 on the main conveyance path 28 is conveyed in the X direction from the facing position, and is transferred to the third guide plate 46 from the other end side of the main conveyance path 28. At this time, hot air is blown from the blower A to the facing surface 50 a side of the sheet body 50 in the maintenance sheet 16. Therefore, most of the ink absorbed by the ink receiving portion 55 is evaporated by the hot air from the blower A. Thereafter, the maintenance sheet 16 is accommodated in the sheet tray 41 and printing of the next page is executed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The sheet main body 50 of the maintenance sheet 16 includes a wiper portion 54 for wiping the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 and a first cap portion (for cleaning the recording head 12). And a cap portion 53 with a suction function). Therefore, unlike a conventional maintenance sheet, it is not necessary to use a plurality of types of maintenance sheets depending on the type of maintenance (wiping of the nozzle forming surface 14 or cleaning of the recording head 12) to be performed. Therefore, a single maintenance sheet 16 can efficiently perform a plurality of types of maintenance on the recording head 12.

  (2) The first cap part (cap part with a suction function) 53 and the wiper part 54 are respectively arranged along the conveyance direction of the maintenance sheet 16 in the sheet main body 50. For this reason, after the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 is cleaned by the first cap portion 53, when the maintenance sheet 16 is transported in the transport direction (X direction), the tip 54 a of the wiper portion 54 is moved to the recording head 12. The nozzle forming surface 14 is wiped by being brought into sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 14. That is, the cleaning of the recording head 12 and the wiping of the nozzle forming surface 14 can be performed quickly and continuously.

  (3) Temporarily, if the protrusion height from the opposing surface 50a of the wiper part 54 has the largest internal volume of the 1st cap part (cap part with a suction function) 53, this 1st cap part 53 will be shown. It is assumed that the protrusion height from the facing surface 50a is lower. Then, in this case, if the nozzle forming surface 14 is wiped following the cleaning of the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12, the recording head 12 is moved downward (the nozzle forming surface 14 and the facing surface 40a are relatively close to each other). The nozzle forming surface 14 is wiped after being moved in the direction). However, according to the present embodiment, after the cleaning of the recording head 12 using the first cap portion 53 is completed, the maintenance sheet 16 is moved in the X direction (conveyance direction) without moving the recording head 12 downward. When transporting, the nozzle forming surface 14 is wiped off. Therefore, the cleaning of the recording head 12 and the wiping of the nozzle forming surface 14 can be performed continuously and efficiently.

  (4) When storing a plurality of maintenance sheets 16 in a stacked state in the sheet tray 41, the edge-side convex portion 51 of one maintenance sheet 16 comes into contact with another maintenance sheet 16. . As a result, the wiper portion 54 can be prevented from being inadvertently abutted against another maintenance sheet 16 or the like during accommodation in a stacked state, and the wiper portion 54 can be prevented from being damaged. Further, when the maintenance sheet 16 is conveyed, each roller (such as the sheet conveying roller pair 48) positioned on the opposite surface 50a side of the sheet body 50 abuts only on the edge-side convex portion 51 of the sheet body 50. In addition, since the cap portions 52 and 53, the wiper portion 54, and the ink receiving portion 55 are not in contact with each other, it is possible to suppress contamination of the peripheral surface of each roller with ink.

  (5) In the maintenance sheet 16 of the present embodiment, ink (liquid) ejected (ejected) as waste liquid from the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 by flushing is received by the ink receiving portion (liquid receiving portion) 55. Can do. That is, the maintenance sheet 16 can cope with not only wiping of the nozzle forming surface 14 and cleaning of the recording head 12 but also flushing by the recording head 12.

  (6) The ink (liquid) ejected as the waste liquid from the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 at the time of flushing is received in the ink receiving portion (liquid receiving portion) 55 before being scattered in the form of mist. That is, the ink receiving unit 55 can reliably receive the ink ejected as the waste liquid from the recording head 12 during the flushing.

  (7) The ink receiving portion (liquid receiving portion) 55 is arranged on the sheet main body 50 so as to follow the conveyance direction (X direction) of the first cap portion (cap portion with a suction function) 53 and the wiper portion 54 and the sheet main body 50. Is arranged. That is, by moving the maintenance sheet 16 in the X direction (the transport direction) at the facing position, the first cap portion 53, the wiper portion 54, and the ink are disposed at a position directly below the recording head 12. The receiving portion 55 can be arranged. In addition, since the ink receiving portion 55 is not disposed between the first cap portion 53 and the wiper portion 54, when performing the cleaning of the recording head 12 and the wiping of the nozzle forming surface 14 continuously and quickly, It can suppress that the ink receiving part 55 becomes obstructive.

  (8) The second cap portion (cap portion without suction function) 52 is provided separately from the first cap portion (cap portion with suction function) 53. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12, and the nozzle forming surface 14 can be capped by the second cap portion 52 when only capping of the nozzle forming surface 14 is desired. On the other hand, when the recording head 12 is cleaned, the first cap portion 53 is used. That is, since the first cap portion 53 and the second cap portion 52 can be used properly as necessary, unlike the case where only the first cap portion 53 is provided, the maintenance sheet (particularly the first cap portion 53). 16 deterioration can be suppressed.

  (9) By using the maintenance sheet 16 having the first cap portion 53 with the suction function in the printer (liquid ejecting apparatus) 10 having the sheet conveying mechanism 17 and the recording head moving mechanism (relative moving mechanism) 12a. The recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 can be easily cleaned. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a cleaning mechanism having, for example, a suction pump, an increase in size of the printer 10 itself can be suppressed.

  (10) Driving the recording head moving mechanism (relative moving mechanism) 12a in a state where the first cap portion (cap portion with a suction function) 53 is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12. Thus, the recording head 12 is cleaned by moving the recording head 12 up and down. Accordingly, the recording head 12 can be easily cleaned using the maintenance sheet 16.

  (11) When the volume variable portion 58 of the first cap portion (cap portion with a suction function) 53 and the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 come into contact with each other, a sealed space is formed in the volume variable portion 58. If formed, the sealed state in the volume variable portion 58 is canceled by the recording head moving mechanism (sealed state canceling mechanism) 12a. Thereafter, the opposed surface 50a of the sheet main body 50 and the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 are separated from each other by the recording head moving mechanism (relative moving mechanism) 12a. Therefore, when the recording head 12 is separated from the maintenance sheet 16, the sealed state in the volume variable portion 58 has already been eliminated, so that the suction action by the first cap portion 53 is inadvertently applied to the recording head 12. Can be suppressed. That is, it is possible to prevent the cleaning of the recording head 12 from being performed carelessly.

  (12) When the maintenance sheet 16 is disposed at the opposing position, the portion of the maintenance sheet 16 where the discharge holes (communication holes) 61 are formed is not in contact with the transport belts 23. Therefore, due to the opening operation of each normally closed valve 62, ink (liquid) is discharged from the inside of the variable volume portion 58 of the first cap portion (cap portion with a suction function) 53 through each discharge hole 61. Can be prevented from adhering to the transport belts 23 when the ink is discharged out of the first cap portion 53.

  (13) Since the so-called full-line type recording head (liquid ejecting head) 12 is generally large, the large recording head 12 is moved to a cap device arranged in a non-printing area to perform various maintenance operations. Difficult to do. In this regard, in this embodiment, in such a printer (liquid ejecting apparatus) 10, various maintenance can be easily performed by transporting the maintenance sheet 16 to a position facing the recording head 12 by the sheet transport mechanism 17.

  (14) Hot air is blown from the blower A to the facing surface 50 a side of the sheet main body 50 in the maintenance sheet 16 transferred to the third guide plate 46. Therefore, most of the ink adhering to the facing surface 50a side of the maintenance sheet 16 evaporates. Accordingly, when the maintenance sheet 16 is accommodated in the sheet tray 41, it is possible to prevent the other maintenance sheet 16 from adhering to the ink as a result of the ink dripping from the maintenance sheet 16.

  (15) Since most of the ink absorbed in the ink receiving portion 55 at the time of flushing by the recording head 12 is also evaporated by the hot air from the blower A, a plurality of maintenance sheets 16 are provided. It is possible to prevent the ink absorption efficiency in the ink receiving portion 55 from being lowered when used repeatedly.

The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment as described below.
In the above embodiment, the blower A may be driven when the maintenance sheet 16 at the opposite position is conveyed to the sheet tray 41.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sheet conveyance mechanism 17 may include a plurality of (for example, four) conveyance belts 23 other than two. Even in this case, it is desirable that the transport belts 23 be disposed so as to abut the non-formation positions of the discharge holes 61 in the maintenance sheet 16 disposed at the facing position.

  In the above embodiment, if the sealing state elimination mechanism can relatively move the recording head 12 and the maintenance sheet 16 in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the facing surface 50a and the nozzle forming surface 14 contact and separate from each other, It may be a sheet conveying mechanism 17 that can move the maintenance sheet 16 arranged at the facing position along the X direction. Even in such a configuration, the volume variable portion 58 of the first cap portion 53 and the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 are in contact with each other so that a sealed space is formed in the volume variable portion 58. In addition, the sealed state in the variable volume portion 58 can be eliminated by driving the sheet conveying mechanism 17.

The sealing state elimination mechanism may be a drive mechanism that moves the entire sheet conveyance mechanism 17 in the Y direction and the anti-Y direction.
Furthermore, the sealing state elimination mechanism is configured in a state where a sealed space is formed in the volume variable portion 58 by the volume variable portion 58 of the first cap portion 53 and the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 contacting each other. For example, at least one of the normally closed valves 62 may be forcibly opened.

  In the above-described embodiment, the relative movement mechanism moves the facing surface 50a of the sheet main body 50 and the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 in the relatively contacting / separating direction in the maintenance sheet 16 arranged at the facing position. If it is possible, a device that can move the sheet conveying mechanism 17 in the vertical direction may be used. Further, the relative movement mechanism may be configured by an apparatus that can move the sheet conveying mechanism 17 in the vertical direction and the recording head moving mechanism 12a.

  In the above embodiment, the maintenance sheet 16 may have a configuration in which the second cap portion 52 is not provided. In this case, the first cap portion 53 is used even when the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is simply capped.

  In the above embodiment, the maintenance sheet 16 may have a configuration in which the ink receiving portion 55 is disposed between the first cap portion 53 and the second cap portion 52. Further, the ink receiving portion 55 may be arranged on the transport direction side (X direction side in FIG. 2) from the first cap portion 53.

  The interval h between the upper end of the ink absorbing member 63 of the ink receiving portion 55 and the nozzle forming surface 14 of the recording head 12 is an interval that can suppress the ink ejected from the recording head 12 from becoming mist-like. It is not limited to about 2 mm.

In the above-described embodiment, the wiper portion 54 may be configured such that the protruding height from the facing surface 50 a is higher than the protruding height of the edge-side convex portion 51 from the facing surface 50 a.
In the above embodiment, the maintenance sheet 16 does not need to be provided with the edge convex portion 51.

In the above embodiment, the maintenance sheet 16 may be provided with a plurality of edge-side convex portions 51 having a columnar shape on the edge side on the facing surface 50a side.
In the above-described embodiment, the wiper portion 54 may be configured such that the protruding height from the facing surface 50 a is lower than the protruding height of the first cap portion 53 from the facing surface 50 a.

  In the above embodiment, the maintenance sheet 16 may have a configuration in which the second cap portion 52, the ink receiving portion 55, and the like are disposed between the first cap portion 53 and the wiper portion 54.

In the above embodiment, the maintenance sheet 16 may have a configuration in which an arbitrary number (for example, two) of discharge holes 61 other than three are formed.
In the above embodiment, the ink jet printer 10 having the full line type recording head 12 is embodied. However, the recording head 12 is disposed on a carriage that reciprocates in the direction intersecting the transport direction of the paper P. It may be embodied in a type printer.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied as an ink jet printer used for printing on the paper P. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid ejecting apparatus may be embodied as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid other than ink. . For example, for manufacturing liquid chips and biochips for spraying liquid materials containing dispersed or dissolved materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bioorganic material to be used, or a sample ejecting apparatus as a precision pipette.

1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. The schematic plan view of the maintenance sheet in this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which an upper end portion of a volume variable portion is displaced downward by a recording head. The schematic sectional drawing which shows the height relationship between a wiper part and a 1st cap part. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an ink jet printer. The flowchart explaining a maintenance execution process routine. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a sheet conveyance processing routine. The flowchart explaining a flushing process routine. The flowchart explaining a cleaning process routine. The flowchart explaining a wiping process routine. The flowchart explaining a capping process routine.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet printer (liquid ejecting apparatus), 12 ... Recording head (liquid ejecting head), 12a ... Recording head conveyance mechanism (relative movement mechanism, sealing state elimination mechanism), 13 ... Nozzle (liquid ejecting nozzle), 14 ... Nozzle Forming surface, 16 ... maintenance sheet, 17 ... sheet conveying mechanism, 23 ... conveying belt, 24 ... driving roller (conveying roller), 25 ... driven roller (conveying roller), 50a ... facing surface, 51 ... edge side convex part, 52 ... Second cap part (another cap part without suction function), 53... First cap part (cap part with suction function), 54. Wiper part, 55. Ink receiving part (liquid receiving part), 61. ... normally closed valve, 70 ... control unit (control means), h ... interval, P ... paper (target).

Claims (13)

A maintenance sheet having a surface facing the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus,
A wiper portion for wiping the nozzle forming surface when the facing surface and the nozzle forming surface are relatively moved in a direction parallel to the nozzle forming surface at a position where the facing surface faces the nozzle forming surface; ,
When the facing surface and the nozzle forming surface are relatively close to each other at the facing position, a sealed space is formed between the nozzle forming surface and the nozzle forming surface. A cap portion whose internal volume is variable in
A communication hole formed so as to penetrate between the inside and the outside of the cap portion;
A valve for opening and closing the communication hole,
The maintenance seat is configured such that the valve opens as the internal volume of the cap portion decreases and closes as the internal volume of the cap portion increases. The maintenance sheet according to claim 1, wherein the cap part and the wiper part are arranged adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction that is a conveyance direction of the maintenance sheet on the facing surface. The wiper portion is formed such that a protruding height from the facing surface is higher than a protruding height of the cap portion from the facing surface when the internal volume of the cap portion is maximized. The maintenance sheet according to claim 1 or claim 2. A convex portion is formed on an edge portion on the facing surface so as to surround the cap portion and the wiper portion, and the wiper portion has a protruding height from the facing surface that is opposite to the convex portion. The maintenance sheet according to claim 3, wherein the maintenance sheet is formed to be lower than a protruding height from the surface. 5. The liquid receiving unit according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid receiving unit configured to receive liquid ejected as a waste liquid from a liquid ejecting nozzle of the liquid ejecting head on the facing surface at the facing position. Maintenance sheet. When the liquid receiving unit receives the liquid ejected as the waste liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle of the liquid ejecting head at the facing position, the distance between the liquid receiving unit and the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head is set to The maintenance sheet according to claim 5, wherein the maintenance sheet is formed to have an interval capable of suppressing the liquid ejected from the ejection nozzle from becoming mist. The liquid receiving portion is disposed on the opposite surface so as to be adjacent to the wiper portion on a side opposite to the side where the cap portion is provided when viewed from the wiper portion in a predetermined direction that is a conveyance direction of the maintenance sheet. The maintenance sheet according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the maintenance sheet is used. The cap portion further includes a cap portion different from the cap portion, and the separate cap portion abuts on the nozzle forming surface when the facing surface and the nozzle forming surface are relatively brought close to each other at the facing position. The maintenance sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is configured to form a sealed space between the nozzle forming surface and the nozzle forming surface. A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a liquid ejecting nozzle to a target;
The maintenance sheet according to claim 1, for transporting the maintenance sheet from a non-facing position where the facing surface is in a non-facing state to a nozzle forming surface of the liquid jet head to the facing position. A sheet conveying mechanism;
A relative movement mechanism for relatively moving at least one of the maintenance sheet and the liquid ejecting head in a state of being conveyed to the opposing position by the sheet conveying mechanism in a direction in which the opposing surface and the nozzle forming surface are in contact with or separated from each other; ,
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the relative movement mechanism and the sheet conveyance mechanism. When the controller sucks liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle into the cap portion of the maintenance sheet that is in contact with the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head at the facing position, the internal volume of the cap portion is The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the relative movement mechanism is controlled so that the internal volume of the cap portion increases after the decrease. A sealing state elimination mechanism for eliminating a sealed state in the cap part when a sealed space is formed in the cap part by contacting the cap part and the nozzle forming surface;
When the control unit separates the cap portion of the maintenance sheet that is in contact with the nozzle formation surface of the liquid jet head at the opposed position, the internal volume of the cap portion decreases. After controlling the relative movement mechanism as described above, the sealed state in the cap part is canceled by controlling the sealed state cancellation mechanism, and then the nozzles of the opposing surface of the maintenance sheet and the liquid ejecting head are formed. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the relative movement mechanism is controlled so as to be relatively separated from the surface. The sheet conveyance mechanism includes a plurality of conveyance rollers and a plurality of belts that are hung between the conveyance rollers, and each of the belts does not form the communication hole of the maintenance sheet conveyed to the facing position. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is disposed so as to be in contact with the part. 13. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 9, wherein the liquid ejecting nozzle is formed over the entire width of the liquid ejecting region of the target along a direction intersecting the transport direction of the target. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to one item.

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