JP4998598B2 - Liquid suction device and liquid jet device for liquid jet head - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid sucking device and a liquid ejecting apparatus for a liquid ejecting head that apply a liquid to a nozzle surface of a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid to suck the liquid from the nozzle surface or apply the liquid to the nozzle surface to keep the nozzle surface moist.

Due to the development of personal computers and the like, graphic processing can be executed relatively easily. Therefore, there is a demand for a recording apparatus capable of outputting a hard copy of, for example, a color image displayed on a display with high quality.
As a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head onto a recording medium has been known. Such an ink jet recording apparatus records desired images such as characters and figures by ejecting minute ink droplets from the nozzles of the recording head onto the recording medium.
This ink jet recording apparatus has a relatively low noise during printing and can form small dots with a high density, and is used in many printing including color printing in recent years.

An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head that receives ink supplied from an ink cartridge, and a paper feeding unit that moves the recording paper relative to the recording head. Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper while moving in the direction.
For example, a black recording head that discharges black ink and a color recording head that can discharge yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are mounted on a common carriage. Full color printing is made possible by changing the ink ejection ratio.

  Inkjet recording heads perform printing by ejecting ink pressurized in a pressure generating chamber as ink droplets from a nozzle opening onto a recording sheet, so that the ink viscosity increases due to evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle opening, the ink There is a problem that the nozzle opening is clogged due to solidification of dust, adhesion of dust, mixing of bubbles, and the like, resulting in poor printing.

For this purpose, the ink jet recording apparatus includes a capping unit for sealing the nozzle openings of the recording head during non-printing, and a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle plate as necessary.
This capping means not only exhibits a moisturizing function that prevents drying of the ink at the nozzle opening when printing is suspended, but also seals the nozzle plate surface with a cap member when clogging occurs in the nozzle opening, It also has a function of eliminating ink clogging by sucking ink droplets from the nozzle opening by the negative pressure from the suction pump.
There has been proposed an ink jet recording apparatus configured to suck ink from the nozzle plate surface of this type of recording head (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 11-268299 A (6th page, FIG. 8)

In the cap member described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of ink absorbing materials are arranged. One ink absorbing material and the other ink absorbing material have different ink wettability, and the one ink absorbing material and the other ink absorbing material are arranged so as to overlap each other vertically with respect to the nozzle plate surface. .
One upper ink absorbing material is disposed on the side facing the nozzle plate surface, and the other lower ink absorbing material is disposed on the side away from the nozzle plate surface. The ink wettability of the upper ink absorbing material is lower than the ink wettability of the lower ink absorbing material.

When the cap member having such a structure is used, one ink absorbing material and the other ink absorbing material are provided in two upper and lower stages so as to be positioned in the vertical direction with respect to the nozzle plate surface. At the same time, there is a problem in that it is difficult to achieve both the so-called brushing property (ink discharging property) of the ink required for the ink absorbing material in the cap member and the moisture retention of the ink.
This is because one ink absorbing material having low ink wettability and the other ink absorbing material having high ink wettability have the same area and are arranged in two steps in the vertical direction with respect to the nozzle plate surface. is there.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described problems, achieves both liquid discharge and liquid moisture retention, prevents a decrease in suction force when sucking liquid from the nozzle surface, and keeps the nozzle surface moisturized when left for a long time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid suction device and a liquid ejecting apparatus for a liquid ejecting head that can ensure the performance.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the first invention, the nozzle is applied to the nozzle surface of a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, and the liquid from the nozzle surface is sucked and discharged to the outside, or the nozzle is applied to the nozzle surface. A liquid suction device for a liquid jet head that moisturizes a surface, the liquid suction device having an opening at a position facing a nozzle opening formed on the nozzle surface, and the opening facing the nozzle opening. A main body capable of sealing the nozzle surface; a first absorbent material disposed within the main body for absorbing the liquid on the nozzle surface; and the first absorbent material disposed within the main body for containing the liquid. A second absorbent material having higher liquid moisture retention than the moisture retention property, and the first absorbent material and the second absorbent material are arranged in a plane direction facing the nozzle surface. The first absorbent material is in front of the main body. In a position corresponding to the nozzle opening through the opening, the second absorber by the liquid suction device of a liquid ejecting head is characterized in that is covered by the body, is achieved.

According to the configuration of the first invention, the main body has an opening at a position facing the nozzle opening formed on the nozzle surface, and the nozzle surface can be sealed in a state where the opening faces the nozzle opening. is there. The first absorbent material is disposed in the main body and absorbs the liquid on the nozzle surface. The second absorbent material is disposed in the main body, and has a higher liquid moisturizing property than the moisturizing property of the first absorbent material for retaining the liquid.
The first absorbent material and the second absorbent material are arranged in a plane direction facing the nozzle surface. The first absorbent material is in a position corresponding to the nozzle opening through the opening of the main body, but the second absorbent material is covered by the main body.

Thus, when the main body is applied to the nozzle surface and the liquid from the nozzle surface is sucked, the first absorbent material having a lower moisture retention than the second absorbent material absorbs the liquid from the nozzle surface, 2 Can be discharged outside without passing through the absorbent.
Thereby, since the 1st absorber with low moisture retention can attract | suck and discharge the liquid from a nozzle surface, the discharge property of the liquid at the time of suction is ensured, and the clogging of the liquid in a 1st absorber is carried out. It can suppress and the fall of suction power can be prevented.
In addition, when the main body is placed on the nozzle surface to keep the nozzle surface moist, the liquid held by the second absorbent material, which has higher moisture retention than the first absorbent material, moisturizes the nozzle surface through the first absorbent material. can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the nozzle surface from drying when left for a long time or the like, and to ensure the moisture retention of the nozzle surface.
Thus, it is possible to ensure both the liquid discharge property when sucking the liquid and the moisture retention property when the nozzle surface is moisturized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the first absorbent material and the opening of the main body are formed along a nozzle opening row composed of a plurality of the nozzle openings on the nozzle surface, The opening of the main body is surrounded by a wall that is in close contact with the nozzle surface.
According to the structure of 2nd invention, the 1st absorber and the opening part of a main body are formed along the nozzle opening row | line | column which consists of a some nozzle opening in a nozzle surface. The opening of the main body is surrounded by a wall that is in close contact with the nozzle surface.
As a result, the wall portion of the main body is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface, so that the nozzle opening row of the nozzle surface can be reliably sealed, and the liquid discharge property when sucking the liquid and when the nozzle surface is moisturized. Both moisture retention can be ensured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second aspect, the nozzle surface has a plurality of the nozzle opening rows, and the second absorbent material is disposed at a position corresponding to the nozzle opening rows in the main body. Is arranged.
According to the configuration of the third invention, the nozzle surface has a plurality of nozzle opening rows. The 2nd absorber is arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to between nozzle opening rows in a main body. Thereby, since the 2nd absorber for moisturizing a liquid exists in the position corresponding between nozzle opening rows, the 2nd absorber can hold | maintain more moisturizing liquid.

According to a fourth invention, in the configuration of the third invention, the wall portion of the main body and the opening portion of the main body are provided in the main body so as to correspond to each nozzle opening row. To do.
According to the configuration of the fourth invention, the wall of the main body and the opening of the main body are provided in the main body so as to correspond to each nozzle opening row.
Thereby, each nozzle opening row | line | column can be reliably sealed by a wall part.

According to a fifth invention, in the configuration of the third invention, the wall portion of the main body and the opening portion of the main body are provided in the main body so as to correspond to each of the plurality of nozzle opening rows. Features.
According to the configuration of the fifth invention, the wall of the main body and the opening of the main body are provided in the main body so as to correspond to each of the plurality of nozzle opening rows. Thereby, the plurality of nozzle opening rows can be reliably sealed by the wall portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fifth aspects, the discharge portion for discharging the liquid sucked into the main body from the main body is the opening of the main body. It is formed in the position of the said main body on the opposite side to.
According to the configuration of the sixth invention, the discharge part discharges the liquid sucked into the main body from the main body. The discharge part is formed at the position of the main body opposite to the opening of the main body.
Thereby, the liquid from the nozzle surface absorbed by the first absorbent material can be reliably discharged to the outside through the discharge portion. Since the discharge part is located on the side opposite to the opening part, the liquid sucked from the nozzle surface can be discharged to the outside through the first absorbent material, and the liquid discharge performance can be further improved.

  In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the nozzle is applied to a nozzle surface of a liquid jet head that ejects liquid to suck the liquid from the nozzle surface and discharge it to the outside, or is applied to the nozzle surface and the nozzle. A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid sucking device of a liquid ejecting head that moisturizes a surface, wherein the liquid sucking device has an opening at a position facing a nozzle opening formed on the nozzle surface, and the opening A main body capable of sealing the nozzle surface in a state of facing the nozzle opening, a first absorbent material disposed in the main body for absorbing the liquid on the nozzle surface, and disposed in the main body And the first absorbent material has a second absorbent material having a higher moisture retention property than the moisturizing property of retaining the liquid, and the first absorbent material and the second absorbent material are , Arranged in the plane direction facing the nozzle surface The first absorbent material is in a position corresponding to the nozzle opening through the opening of the main body, and the second absorbent material is covered by the main body. Achieved.

Thus, when the main body is applied to the nozzle surface and the liquid from the nozzle surface is sucked, the first absorbent material having a lower moisture retention than the second absorbent material absorbs the liquid from the nozzle surface, 2 Can be discharged outside without passing through the absorbent.
Thereby, since the 1st absorber with low moisture retention can attract | suck and discharge the liquid from a nozzle surface, the discharge property of the liquid at the time of suction is ensured, and the clogging of the liquid in a 1st absorber is carried out. It can suppress and the fall of suction power can be prevented.
In addition, when the main body is placed on the nozzle surface to keep the nozzle surface moist, the liquid held by the second absorbent material, which has higher moisture retention than the first absorbent material, moisturizes the nozzle surface through the first absorbent material. can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the nozzle surface from drying when left for a long time or the like, and to ensure the moisture retention of the nozzle surface.
Thus, it is possible to ensure both the liquid discharge property when sucking the liquid and the moisture retention property when the nozzle surface is moisturized.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the seventh aspect, the first absorbent material and the opening of the main body are formed along a nozzle opening row composed of a plurality of the nozzle openings on the nozzle surface, The opening of the main body is surrounded by a wall that is in close contact with the nozzle surface.
As a result, the wall portion of the main body is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface, so that the nozzle opening row of the nozzle surface can be reliably sealed, and the liquid discharge property when sucking the liquid and when the nozzle surface is moisturized. Both moisture retention can be ensured.

According to a ninth aspect, in the configuration according to the eighth aspect, the nozzle surface has a plurality of nozzle opening rows, and the second absorption is located at a position corresponding to the row of nozzle openings in the main body. The material is arranged.
Thereby, since the 2nd absorber for moisturizing a liquid exists in the position corresponding between nozzle opening rows, the 2nd absorber can hold | maintain more moisturizing liquid.

  A tenth invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the ninth invention, the wall portion of the main body and the opening portion of the main body are provided in the main body so as to correspond to each nozzle opening row. To do. Thereby, each nozzle opening row | line | column can be reliably sealed by a wall part.

  In an eleventh aspect of the invention according to the ninth aspect, the wall portion of the main body and the opening portion of the main body are provided in the main body so as to correspond to each of the plurality of nozzle opening rows. Features. Thereby, the plurality of nozzle opening rows can be reliably sealed by the wall portion.

In a twelfth aspect according to any one of the eighth aspect to the eleventh aspect, the discharge part for discharging the liquid sucked into the main body from the main body is the opening of the main body. It is formed in the position of the said main body on the opposite side.
Thereby, the liquid from the nozzle surface absorbed by the first absorbent material can be reliably discharged to the outside through the discharge portion. Since the discharge part is located on the side opposite to the opening part, the liquid sucked from the nozzle surface can be discharged to the outside through the first absorbent material, and the liquid discharge performance can be further improved.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus that is an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of electrical connection of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure example of a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a shape example of a nozzle plate surface of a recording head. FIG. 4 is a view showing the vicinity of a piezoelectric vibrator of a recording head. The figure which shows the ink suction device and the recording head, and shows the standby state where the main body is separated from the nozzle plate surface. The figure which shows the state which the main body has sealed the nozzle plate surface. The perspective view which shows the main body etc. of an ink suction device. The top view which shows the main body of an ink suction device. The perspective view which shows the absorber assembly of an ink suction device. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an ink suction method in the liquid suction device of the present invention. The figure which shows another embodiment of the liquid suction apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows the main body in embodiment of FIG. The figure which shows another embodiment of the liquid suction apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows another embodiment of the liquid suction apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows another embodiment of the liquid suction apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a shape of the main body and absorber assembly in embodiment shown in FIG.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an ink jet recording apparatus 10 that is an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention.
The ink jet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is also called an ink jet printer. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 has a main body 1. The main body 1 includes a guide rail 17, a platen 12, a carriage 14, an ink suction device 20, and a recording head 30. The recording head 30 is also called a print head.

A plurality of ink cartridges 2, 3, 4, and 5 can be detachably mounted on the top of the carriage 14. A recording head 30 is provided below the carriage 14. The carriage 14 is connected to a motor 16 via a belt 15. When the motor 16 operates, the carriage 14 reciprocates along the guide rail 17 in the main scanning direction T that is the axial direction of the platen 12.
The home position 18 of the main body 1 is located at one end of the guide rail 17. The home position 18 is a non-printing area at the end of the travel route of the carriage 14. An ink suction device 20 is disposed on the main body 1 at the home position 18. The ink suction device 20 is an example of a liquid suction device, and is also called a capping system or capping means.

  The ink suction device 20 has the following two functions. In other words, the ink suction device 20 has a moisture retention function that prevents the ink at the nozzle openings of the recording head 30 from drying when left for a long time, and a negative pressure from the suction pump 19 acts on the nozzle openings to cause ink to be discharged from the nozzle openings. A suction function that forcibly sucks and discharges is provided. The suction pump 19 is a component constituting the ink suction device 20. Each ink in each of the ink cartridges 2, 3, 4, and 5 is one type of liquid.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of electrical connection of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. The control device 7 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is connected to a printer driver 41 of the host computer 40 via a local printer cable or a communication network. The printer driver 41 is equipped with software that sends a command for executing printing, cleaning operation, or ink suction operation to each component of the ink jet recording apparatus 10.

In addition to the control device 7, the ink jet recording device 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes a sensor 8, an ink suction device 20, ink cartridges 2, 3, 4, and 5, a recording head 30, a carriage 14, and a paper transport mechanism 15A. Yes.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the plurality of ink cartridges 2 to 5 are mounted directly on the carriage 14, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink cartridges 2 to 5 may of course be mounted at a position different from the carriage. I do not care.
The paper transport mechanism 15A shown in FIG. 2 is configured to transport the paper 29 shown in FIG. The paper 29 is a kind of recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a structural example of the recording head 30 shown in FIG.
In particular, when the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is used as a color printer, the recording head 30 has an independent ink path 50 for each ink type in order to eject a plurality of different types of ink. ing.
Ink from each of the ink cartridges 2 to 5 flows into the ink path 50 via the ink supply needle 50A. Ink paths 50 independent for each type of ink are connected to a plurality of pressure chambers 51, respectively. Each nozzle chamber 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D is connected to each pressure chamber 51.
The nozzle plate 62 has a nozzle plate surface 61, and the nozzle plate surface 61 is provided with a plurality of nozzle opening rows 54. Ink droplets pushed out from the pressure chamber 51 are ejected from the nozzle openings 55A to 55D of the nozzle opening rows 54A to 54D.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement example of the nozzle opening rows 54 </ b> A to 54 </ b> D on the nozzle plate surface 61. Different ink types mean not only the apparent color difference, but also the types and ratios of the ink components. Each nozzle opening row | line | column 54A-54D is comprised from several 10 to several 1000 nozzle opening 55A-55D, for example.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal structure of the recording head 30 of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. The ink supplied from the ink cartridge described above is supplied to the pressure chamber 51 through the ink path 50. At the time of printing, the piezoelectric vibrator 39 as a pressure generating element expands and contracts, thereby changing the volume of the pressure chamber 51 and causing pressure fluctuation in the ink in the pressure chamber 51. Thereby, ink droplets can be ejected from the nozzle openings 55A to 55D.
If air bubbles are mixed in the ink in the recording head 30 or there is thickened ink in the ink path 50 or the pressure chamber 51, the normal flow of the ink is inhibited and normal ink cannot be ejected. There is. In this case, the ink suction device 20 shown in FIG. 2 is used, and it is necessary to forcibly discharge ink by the ink suction device 20.

  Further, when the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is first used or when the ink cartridge is replaced with another type of ink cartridge, ink is filled into the ink path 50 in the recording head 30 in FIG. There is a need to. In such initial ink filling, the ink suction device 20 is also used. By using this ink suction device 20, air and ink are forced from the nozzle openings 55A to 55D of the recording head 30 in FIG. It is sucked and discharged from the nozzle openings 55A to 55D.

6 and 7 show the ink suction device 20, the recording head 30, and the ink cartridges 2 to 5 of the ink jet recording apparatus. In FIG. 6, the ink suction device 20 is in a state separated from the nozzle plate surface 61. In FIG. 7, the ink suction device 20 is in close contact with or pressure bonded to the nozzle plate surface 61 to seal the nozzle plate surface 61.
6 and 7, the recording head 30 and the ink cartridges 2 to 5 are positioned at the home position 18, and the recording head 30 is positioned above the ink suction device 20.

The carriage 14 shown in FIG. 1 can reciprocate along the main scanning direction T along the guide rail 17 together with the recording head 30. By moving the recording head 30 together with the carriage 14 in the head movement direction T1, the recording head 30 can be positioned at the home position 18 shown in FIGS.
The recording head 30 is a kind of liquid ejecting head, and the recording head 30 is provided on the lower surface side of the carriage 14. The lower surface of the recording head 30 is a nozzle plate surface 61. This nozzle plate surface 61 is an example of a nozzle surface, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples of the shape of the nozzle plate surface 61. The nozzle plate surface 61 is the lower surface of the nozzle plate 62.
The nozzle plate 62 has a plurality of nozzle opening rows as described above, and four nozzle opening rows 54A to 54D in the illustrated examples of FIGS. Each of the nozzle opening rows 54A to 54D is formed along the U direction orthogonal to the T direction shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, the recording head 30 is positioned at the home position 18 as described above, but the ink suction device 20 and the nozzle plate surface 61 are separated from each other.
In FIG. 7, the ink suction device 20 seals the nozzle plate surface 61, and an example of the ink suction state from the nozzle plate surface 61 or the moisture retention state of the nozzle plate surface 61 is shown. In this case, the ink suction device 20 is pushed up in the Z2 direction as shown in FIG. 7 from the standby state of FIG.

Next, the structure of the ink suction device 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The ink suction device 20 is disposed at the home position 18, and the ink suction device 20 includes a main body 80, an absorbent material assembly 90, and a suction pump 19.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a part of the main body 80 and the absorbent assembly, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the main body 80 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the shape of an absorbent assembly (also referred to as an absorbent assembly) 90 accommodated in the main body 80 of FIG.

The main body 80 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is also called a cap main body. The main body 80 includes an upper portion 91, a bottom portion 92, and four side portions 93, 94, 95, and 96 as shown in FIGS. It is a box-shaped member. In FIG. 6, an upper portion 91 and a bottom portion 92 of the main body 80 and two side surface portions 93 and 95 are illustrated. The main body 80 is made of, for example, plastic or metal.
The upper portion 91, the bottom portion 92, and the four side portions 93 to 96 in FIG. 8 are containers for accommodating the absorbent assembly 90 shown in FIG. The upper portion 91 and the bottom portion 92 face each other and are parallel to each other. In this embodiment, the upper portion 91 and the bottom portion 92 are parallel to the nozzle plate surface 61 as shown in FIG. The four side portions 93 to 96 are portions that continuously form the four corners of the upper portion 91 and the bottom portion 92, and are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the nozzle plate surface 61.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the upper portion 91 is formed with two openings 210 and 211 having the same size in parallel. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the opening 210 opens corresponding to a region including adjacent nozzle opening rows 54 </ b> A and 54 </ b> B. Similarly, the opening 211 opens corresponding to a region including the nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D. The openings 210 and 211 each open to face a region including two nozzle opening rows.

The opening 210 is formed so as to be surrounded by the wall 220. Similarly, the opening 211 is formed so as to be surrounded by another wall 221. The walls 220 and 221 are formed, for example, so as to stand vertically from the upper portion 91 along the direction toward the nozzle plate surface 61 side.
The wall part 220 has four side parts 220A, 220B, 220C, and 220D. Similarly, the wall portion 221 has four side portions 221A, 221B, 221C, and 221D. These side portions 220A to 220D are formed so as to surround the four corners of the opening 210. Similarly, the four side portions 221 </ b> A to 221 </ b> D of the wall portion 221 are formed so as to surround the four corners of the opening 211.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom portion 92 of the main body 80 has, for example, two discharge portions 240 and 241. The discharge portion 240 is formed at a position corresponding to the opening 210, and the other discharge portion 241 is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening 211. That is, the opening part 210 and the discharge part 240 are formed on the opposite side of the absorbent material assembly 90 of FIG. 10 via the first absorbent material 300, and the opening part 211 and the discharge part 241 are formed of the absorbent material assembly 90 of FIG. The first absorbent material 301 is formed on the opposite side. For example, the discharge portions 240 and 241 may have a cylindrical shape, but may instead have an elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, or other various shapes.
The discharge parts 240 and 241 are detachably connected to the tube 19A of the suction pump 19, respectively. The suction pump 19 is connected to the waste ink tank 100. The waste ink tank 100 is a tank for discarding ink sucked from the ink suction device 20.

The upper end portions of the wall portions 220 and 221 described above can seal the nozzle plate surface 61 by being in close contact with or pressure-bonded to the nozzle plate surface 61 as shown in FIG. One wall 220 can seal the region of the nozzle plate surface 61 including the two nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B. Similarly, the other wall portion 221 can seal a region of the nozzle plate surface 61 including another set of nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D.
Therefore, when the wall portions 220 and 221 are in close contact with or pressure-bonded to the nozzle plate surface 61, the wall portions 220 and 221 can be more closely contacted to the nozzle plate surface 61 by elastically deforming with some flexibility. It is desirable to be made of a flexible material.

  FIG. 9 shows that the wall 220 and the opening 210 thereof correspond to the region R1 of the nozzle plate surface 61 including the two adjacent nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B. Similarly, it is shown that the wall 221 and the opening 211 correspond to the region R2 of the nozzle plate surface 61 including the two adjacent nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D.

Next, a structural example of the absorbent assembly 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 10.
The absorbent material assembly 90 is a flat assembly absorbent material composed of two first absorbent materials 300 and 301 and a second absorbent material 303.
Each of the first absorbent materials 300 and 301 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example. The first absorbent material 300 has a front surface 300A and a back surface 300B. The first absorbent material 301 has a front surface 301A and a back surface 301B. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 6, the surface 300 </ b> A of the first absorbent material 300 is exposed to the opening 210. The area of the surface 300A is substantially the same as the opening area of the opening 210. Similarly, the surface 301A of the first absorbent 301 shown in FIG. 10 is exposed to the opening 211 as shown in FIGS. The area of the surface 301A is substantially the same as the area of the opening 211.
The second absorbent 303 is covered with the upper portion 91, the bottom portion 92, and the side surface portions 93 to 96 of the main body 80, and is not exposed to the outside of the main body 80.

As shown in FIG. 6, at least a part of the back surface 300 </ b> B is exposed to the discharge portion 240 of the main body 80. Similarly, at least a part of the back surface 301 </ b> B is exposed to the discharge portion 241 of the main body 80.
The second absorbent 303 is disposed along a plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction in FIG. 10 with respect to the first absorbent 300 and 301. That is, the second absorbent material 303 and the first absorbent materials 300 and 301 are arranged side by side in the lateral direction (planar direction) formed in the X and Y directions. The X direction and the Y direction are orthogonal to each other, but the plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction is a plane parallel to the nozzle plate surface 61 shown in FIG.
The first absorbent member 300 is provided in the hole 303P of the second absorbent member 303. Another first absorbent material 301 is fitted and disposed in another hole 303R of the second absorbent material 303.

In FIG. 10, the thickness of the second absorbent material 303 in the Z direction is preferably set to be the same as the thickness of the first absorbent materials 300 and 301 in the Z direction.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, when viewed from the nozzle plate surface 61, the first absorbent material 300, 301 and the second absorbent material 303 are arranged along a plane formed in the lateral direction, that is, the X direction and the Y direction. It is characteristic that it is arranged.
Moreover, the moisture retention of the first absorbents 300 and 301 with respect to the ink is set to be smaller than the moisture retention of the second absorbent 303 with respect to the ink. That is, since the moisture retention of the second absorbent 303 is higher than that of the first absorbent 300 and 301, the second absorbent 303 has a high ability to hold ink, and the first absorbent 300. , 301 is set to have a lower ability to retain ink than the second absorbent 303. In other words, the first absorbent material 303 is an absorbent material with good ink brush (also referred to as ink discharge performance), and the second absorbent material 303 is an absorbent material with good ink moisture retention.

As the material of the first absorbent material 300, 301, for example, a synthetic resin material such as a non-woven fabric having good ink discharging properties can be used. This nonwoven fabric is made of, for example, polyester. The second absorbent 303 is made of, for example, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) having good moisture retention.
However, the materials of the first absorbent material and the second absorbent material are not limited to these materials, and various materials can be adopted.

Next, an operation example of the ink suction device 20 in the above-described ink jet recording apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 6, and 7.
(Ink suction operation)
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an ink suction method performed using the ink suction device 20.
When the first use of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is started or when the ink cartridge is replaced with another ink cartridge, it is necessary to fill the ink path 50 of the recording head 30 with ink. At the time of filling, air and ink are forcibly sucked and discharged from the nozzle openings 55 </ b> A to 55 </ b> D of the recording head 30 by the ink suction device 20.
If bubbles are mixed in the ink of the recording head 30 or ink having increased viscosity is present in the ink path 50, the normal flow of the ink may be hindered. Even in such a case, the ink suction device 20 needs to forcibly discharge the ink.

In step ST1 of FIG. 11, as shown in FIG. 1, the recording head 30 and the carriage 14 are located in a printing area away from the ink suction device 20 during printing.
However, when the recording head 30 needs to be cleaned as described above, the carriage 14 and the recording head 30 move in the head movement direction T1 and are positioned at the home position 18 shown in FIG. When the recording head 30 is moved to the home position 18, the recording head 30 is positioned above the ink suction device 20 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the upper end portions of the wall portions 220 and 221 of the main body 80 are respectively opposed to one set of nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B and another set of nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D on the nozzle plate surface 61. It is in.

Next, in step ST <b> 2 of FIG. 11, the control device 7 of FIG. 2 issues a cleaning execution command by the ink suction operation to the ink suction device 20. And it moves to contact | adherence step ST3 of an absorber.
In step ST3, the ink suction device 20 rises from the standby position in FIG. 6 to the ink suction state in FIG.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper end portions of the wall portions 220 and 221 of the main body 80 of the ink suction device 20 are in close contact with or pressed against the nozzle plate surface 61.
In this state, the set of nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B is sealed to the first absorbent material 300 side by the wall portion 220 on the opening 210 side, and the other set of nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D is the opening portion. The wall portion 221 on the 211 side is sealed to the second absorbent material 301 side.

Next, in the absorption step ST4 of FIG. 11, when the suction pump 19 is activated, ink clogged in each ink path 50 is absorbed by the first absorbents 300 and 301 from the nozzle openings 55A to 55D, and the nozzle plate. The ink adhering to the surface 61 is also absorbed by the first absorbent materials 300 and 301. As a result, the ink absorbed by the first absorbers 300 and 301 is discharged to the waste ink tank 100 side through the discharge portions 240 and 241 shown in FIG.
Thus, the ink sucked from the nozzle opening rows 54A to 54D of the nozzle plate surface 61 passes through only the first absorbents 300 and 301 having a relatively low moisture retention property from the discharge portions 240 and 241 to the waste ink tank 100. Discharged to the side. Therefore, when the ink is discharged, the second absorbent material 303 having a relatively high moisture retention is not relevant, so that the ink discharging property, that is, the ink brushing property can be ensured. The phenomenon that ink droplets remain in the vicinity of the nozzle opening row on the nozzle plate surface 61 is eliminated, and the phenomenon in which the colors of the nozzle opening rows are mixed is reduced.
Thereafter, as shown in step ST5 of FIG. 11, the ink suction device 20 of FIG. 7 returns to the standby position of FIG.

(Moisturizing operation on the nozzle plate surface)
Next, the moisturizing operation of the nozzle plate surface 61 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the nozzle plate surface 61 is left for a long time when the power of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is turned off, the nozzle plate surface 61 is moisturized as follows.
As shown in FIG. 7, the main body 80 is raised by the elevating means 250, and the wall portions 220 and 221 of the main body 80 are in close contact with or pressure-bonded to the nozzle plate surface 61. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the wall 220 seals the region R1 of the nozzle plate surface 61 including the pair of nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B. The wall portion 221 seals the region R2 of the nozzle plate surface 61 including the corresponding two nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D.
In this state, the suction pump 19 is not operating. The second absorbent 303 already holds ink, and the ink held in the second absorbent 303 passes through the first absorbent 300 and the openings 210 and 211 through the nozzle openings 54A and 54B, respectively. It is possible to perform moisture retention of the nozzle openings 55C and 55D of 55B and the nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D. By performing this moisturizing, the ink meniscus at each nozzle opening can be held well, and drying at the nozzle opening can be prevented.

As described above, the ink suction device 20 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 can ensure the ink discharge performance during ink suction, and also ensure the moisture retention performance of the nozzle opening during the moisture retention operation of the nozzle plate surface. can do. That is, since the first absorbents 300 and 301 are made of a material having low moisture retention and good ink brushing compared to the second absorbent 303, the clogging phenomenon of the absorbent is suppressed and the ink suction force is maintained. can do.
Further, when the ink jet recording apparatus is left for a long time, it is possible to ensure the moisture retention of the nozzle plate surface 61 and the nozzle opening row.

  As already described with reference to FIG. 10, the first absorbent members 300 and 301 and the second absorbent member 303 of the absorbent assembly 90 are disposed laterally along a plane formed in the X direction and the Y direction. Yes. For this reason, the height in the Z direction of the main body 80 shown in FIG. Therefore, not only the height of the main body 80 of the ink suction device 20 but also the volume can be reduced. Even when the height of the absorbent assembly 90 shown in FIG. 10 is reduced, the area of the absorbent assembly 90 on the plane in the X direction and the Y direction can be secured.

The openings 210 and 211 and the walls 220 and 221 shown in FIG. 8 separately accommodate the areas including the nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B and the nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D on the nozzle plate surface 61 of FIG. Therefore, when ink is sucked, the ink hardly adheres to the portion between the nozzle opening rows 54A to 54D of the nozzle plate surface 61. For this reason, improvement of the cleaning property of the nozzle plate surface 61 and reduction of ink contamination to the surroundings can be expected.
As shown in FIG. 8, the area of the main body 80 in the plane viewed from the E direction is set larger than the opening area of the openings 210 and 211. In the example of FIGS. 8 and 9, the volume of the absorbent assembly 90 shown in FIG. 10 is approximately the product of the area of the upper portion 91 of the main body 80 and the thickness of the absorbent in the Z direction.
On the other hand, in the conventional absorbent material, the volume of the absorbent material is obtained by multiplying the opening area of the cap member by the thickness of the absorbent material.

  The conventional cap member accommodates not only the nozzle opening row on the nozzle plate surface but also the portion between the nozzle opening rows, and capping, but the main body 80 of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. The portion of the nozzle plate surface between the nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B and the nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D is not sealed. In order to realize this, wall portions (also referred to as partition walls) 220 and 221 are provided in the main body 80 at portions corresponding to the two adjacent nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B and the nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the first absorbent members 300 and 301 are disposed in portions corresponding to the openings 220 and 221. As described above, the first absorbents 300 and 301 have lower ink moisture retention than the second absorbent 303. That is, the first absorbent materials 300 and 301 and the second absorbent material 303 are different types of absorbent materials, and are different in material and have different moisture retention properties. The first absorbents 300 and 301 are of low moisture retention with good ink brushing, and the second absorbent 303 is a highly moisturizing material with high ink retention and poor ink brushing.

The second absorbent 303 is covered with each part of the main body 80 that is a container, whereas the surface portions of the first absorbent 300 and 301 are exposed to the openings 220 and 221. And the discharge parts 240 and 241 are provided in the position corresponding to the back surface part of this 1st absorber 300,301.
Since the opening 210 and the discharge part 240 are in a position facing each other and the opening 211 and the discharge part 241 are in a position facing each other, at the time of ink suction, the sucked ink passes through the first absorbent members 300 and 301 and the second absorbent member 303. There is an advantage that it can be discharged smoothly and reliably without passing through.

(Other embodiments)
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
12 and 13 show another embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in that two ink cartridges 3 and 4 are set in the recording head 30. The recording head 30 has two ink paths 50 and two nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B.

The main body 680 of the ink suction device 20 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 has a configuration corresponding to two adjacent nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B. The body 680 has an absorbent assembly 690. The absorbent assembly 690 includes a first absorbent material 300 and a second absorbent material 303. The main body 680 has one opening 610, and the opening 610 is surrounded by a wall 620. The main body 680 has one discharge portion 240 at a position opposite to the opening 610, that is, on the bottom 92 side of the main body 680.
The discharge part 240 is connected to the suction pump 19 through the tube 19A. The main body 680 is raised by the elevating means 250, so that the wall portion 620 can be in close contact with or pressed on the nozzle plate surface 61. As a result, the wall 620 can seal the region of the nozzle plate surface 61 including the adjacent nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B.
Also in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, as in FIG. 6, the front surface 300 </ b> A of the first absorbent material 300 is exposed in the opening 610, and at least a part of the back surface of the first absorbent material 300 is in the discharge portion 240. Exposed. The second absorbent 303 is covered with the main body 680.

FIG. 14 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention.
In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the recording head 30 has a total of six ink cartridges 2A, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5A attached. The recording head 30 has six ink paths 50 and six nozzle opening rows 54A to 54F. Each nozzle opening row 54A to 54F is configured by nozzle openings 55A to 55F.
The ink suction device 20 has a main body 780, and an absorbent material assembly 790 is accommodated in the main body 780. The main body 780 has three openings 710, 711 and 712. First absorbent materials 300, 301, and 302 are disposed at positions corresponding to the openings 710, 711, and 712, respectively. The second absorbent material 303 is in a position covered with the main body 780. The surfaces 300A to 302A of the first absorbent materials 300 to 302 are at positions corresponding to the openings 710 to 712, respectively. The rear surfaces 300B to 302B are at positions corresponding to the discharge portions 240 to 242.
By using the main body 780 of this embodiment, the adjacent nozzle opening rows 54A and 54B can be sealed by the wall portion 720, the adjacent nozzle opening rows 54C and 54D can be sealed by the wall portion 721, and the adjacent nozzles The opening rows 54E and 54F can be sealed by the wall portion 722.

FIG. 15 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 15, the recording head 30 has eight ink cartridges 2A, 2B, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5A, 5B. The recording head 30 has eight ink paths 50 and nozzle opening rows 54A to 54H. The nozzle opening rows 54A to 54H are configured by nozzle openings 55A to 55H, respectively.
The ink suction device 20 in the embodiment of FIG. 15 has a main body 880. The main body 880 has four openings 810 to 813. These openings 810 to 813 are surrounded by four walls 820 to 823. The first absorbent material 300, 301, 302, 302E of the absorbent material assembly 890 is in a position corresponding to each of the openings 810 to 813. The surfaces 300A to 303A of the first absorbent materials 300 to 302E are located in the openings 810 to 813, respectively. At least a part of the back surfaces 300B to 303B is exposed to the discharge portions 240 to 243, respectively. The second absorbent 303 is covered with the main body 880.

  As described above, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the number of nozzle opening rows increases according to the number of cartridges. The shape of the ink suction device can be changed according to the number of nozzle opening rows. The ink suction operation and moisturizing operation in the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 15 are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG.

16 and 17 show still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6, but the main body 80 of the ink suction device 20 shown in FIG. 16 has four openings 210, 210G, 211, 211G. Each opening 210, 210G, 211, 211G is formed corresponding to each nozzle opening row.
That is, each of the openings 210 to 211G is formed one by one corresponding to the nozzle opening row 54A to 54D. The openings 210, 210G, 211, 211G are formed so as to be surrounded by the walls 220, 220G, 221, 221G, respectively. The surfaces of the first absorbent members 300, 300G, 301, and 301G are exposed at the openings 210, 210G, 211, and 211G, respectively. The second absorbent 303 is covered with the main body 80.

FIG. 17A shows the main body 80 and the openings 210, 210G, 211, 211G. FIG. 17B is a plan view of the main body 80 of FIG. 17A viewed from the E direction. FIG. 17B shows that the openings 210, 210G, 211, and 211G correspond to the nozzle opening rows 54A, 54B, 54C, and 54D. By doing so, there is a great merit that the color mixing phenomenon of different colors in adjacent nozzle opening rows does not occur on the nozzle plate surface 61 during ink suction. In addition, it becomes difficult for ink to adhere to the portion between the nozzle opening rows on the nozzle plate surface 61 during ink suction, and it can be expected to improve the cleaning property and reduce the contamination of the ink around.
In this way, the structure in which one opening is formed corresponding to each nozzle opening row as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 can also be adopted in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. Of course.

  As described above, in each embodiment of the present invention, the first absorbent member of the absorbent assembly 90 is a part for discharging ink in the main body 80, which is also called the cap body, and the second absorbent member is the ink. This is a part that ensures the moisture retention. The first absorbent material and the second absorbent material are characterized in that they are arranged in a lateral direction parallel to the nozzle plate surface 61, rather than being stacked in two stages, as in the prior art.

In the illustrated embodiment, for example, four ink cartridges using black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink can be mounted on the carriage. This ink cartridge is not limited to this, but includes only an ink cartridge for black ink, or two ink cartridges as described above, or three for three color inks excluding black ink. An ink cartridge may be provided, or an odd number of five or more ink cartridges may be mounted on the carriage.
The shapes of the main body, the first absorbent material, and the second absorbent material of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated examples, and various shapes can be adopted.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as an ink jet recording apparatus, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other. Further, the present invention is not limited to an ink jet recording apparatus, but a recording head used in an image recording apparatus such as a printer, a color material ejection head used in manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and an FED (surface emitting). Electrode material ejecting heads used for electrode formation such as displays), liquid ejecting apparatuses using liquid ejecting heads for ejecting liquids such as bioorganic ejecting heads used for biochip manufacturing, sample ejecting apparatuses as precision pipettes, etc. Applicable.

  2, 3, 4, 5 ... ink cartridge, 10 ... ink jet recording apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus), 19 ... suction pump, 20 ... ink suction apparatus (an example of liquid suction apparatus), 30 ... Recording head (an example of a liquid ejecting head), 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D ... Nozzle opening row, 55A, 55B, 55C, 55D ... Nozzle opening, 61 ... Nozzle plate surface (nozzle surface) Example), 80... Body, 90... Absorbent assembly, 210, 211... Opening, 220, 221... Wall, 240, 241 ... discharge part, 300, 301. -1st absorber, 303 ... 2nd absorber.

Claims (2)

A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a liquid suction device that is in close contact with a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle and sucks the liquid from the nozzle and discharges it to the outside, or that is in close contact with the liquid ejecting head and moisturizes the nozzle. There,
The liquid suction device has a box shape having an opening on an upper surface, and includes a main body that is in close contact with the liquid jet head, and an absorbent material accommodated in the main body,
The opening in the main body is formed so as to be surrounded by a wall portion, and the wall portion has four sides and is in close contact with the liquid ejecting head,
Area of the opening formed of the four sides when seen in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface, rather smaller than the area of the absorber when viewed from a direction perpendicular to said top surface,
4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the four side portions have no protrusions . The absorbent material has a first absorbent material and a second absorbent material arranged along a plane parallel to the upper surface,
The upper surface of the first absorbent material is exposed to the opening, and the upper surface of the second absorbent material is covered by the main body and is not exposed to the opening. the liquid ejecting apparatus according to 1.

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