JP5171430B2 - Liquid ejection device and head maintenance device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device and a head maintenance device, and more particularly to a maintenance technology for an inkjet head having a structure in which a plurality of head units are connected.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as general-purpose image recording apparatuses, ink jet recording apparatuses that perform image recording by discharging ink from an ink jet head provided with a large number of nozzles are known. Some ink jet recording apparatuses include a line head in which a large number of ink jet heads (head units) having a strip shape on the print surface side are arranged in a line with an inclination with respect to the arrangement direction. .

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, abnormal discharge occurs when nozzle clogging due to deteriorated ink or ink discharge surface of an ink jet head occurs, and in particular, when a discharge abnormality occurs in a line head, unevenness occurs in a recorded image. The quality is significantly reduced. In the ink jet recording apparatus, maintenance of the ink jet head such as preliminary discharge, wiping of the ink discharge surface, and nozzle suction is performed in order to prevent the occurrence of discharge abnormality and to quickly recover from the discharge abnormality.

  If a line head configured by connecting multiple inkjet heads is wiped along the longitudinal direction of the line heads, the ink clogged in the gaps between the inkjet heads cannot be cleaned. Ink will be pushed in.

Patent Document 1 describes an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a line head in which a large number of nozzle heads are arranged in an inclined direction. In Patent Document 1, when wiping the nozzle surface of a line head with a blade, the ink to be cleaned in the gap between the nozzle heads is moved by moving substantially parallel to the inclination direction of each nozzle head of the line head. It is disclosed that the ink can be prevented from being pushed in and ink that has entered the gap can be wiped off.
JP 2005-319653 A

  However, in the wiping method described in Patent Document 1, even if wiping is performed in parallel with the nozzle head, ink enters the gap and is held in the gap due to the capillary force acting on the minute gap between the nozzle heads. In addition, there is a problem that dripping occurs when the amount of ink held in the gap increases. Further, in order to wipe the line head in the short direction, a mechanism for moving the wiper is required in addition to the head moving mechanism. This mechanism for moving the wiper needs to move the wiper while maintaining the level with the head, and there is a problem that the configuration of the wiping device becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid discharge apparatus and a head maintenance apparatus that realize preferable maintenance in a line head configured by connecting a plurality of head units.

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes a line head in which a head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are arranged two-dimensionally is connected over a length corresponding to the entire width of a recording medium. And a head moving means for moving the line head along the arrangement direction of the head units, and when the line head is moved by the head moving means, the nozzle formation surface is contacted with the nozzle forming surface of the head unit. a wiping means for wiping in bulk plane in the arrangement direction of the head unit is provided in an downstream side in the movement direction of the line head of the wiping means are disposed such that the gap and the flat row between the head unit , and a liquid absorbing means for absorbing and removing the liquid in said gap in contact with the gap between the head unit, the wiping means, The wiping surface for wiping the nozzle forming surface is disposed so as to be parallel to the gap between the head units, and is provided integrally with the liquid absorbing means, and the head moving means is disposed between the head unit and the gap between the head units. The moving speed of the line head is decelerated or the line head is stopped in a state where the position of the liquid absorbing means is matched .

  According to the present invention, the liquid that has entered the fine gap between the head units by the wiping process by the wiping unit is absorbed and removed by the liquid absorbing unit provided on the downstream side of the wiping unit in the movement direction of the head. The liquid is not held in the gap, and the liquid that has accumulated in the gap is prevented from dripping.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Overall configuration of inkjet recording apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is an impression cylinder direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus that directly forms an image on a recording medium held on the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 12.

  The inkjet recording apparatus 10 applies color ink to a pressure drum 12 that holds and conveys a recording medium on a peripheral surface, a paper feed unit 16 that supplies the recording medium 14, and the recording medium 14 held by the pressure drum 12. A printing unit 18 that forms an image, a solvent drying unit 20 that dries the solvent of the ink, a fixing processing unit 22 that hardens the image, and a discharge unit that conveys and discharges the recording medium 14 on which the image is formed. 24 and a maintenance processing unit 26 that performs maintenance processing on the inkjet heads 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y of the printing unit 18.

  The paper supply unit 16 is provided with a paper supply tray 28 for supplying the recording medium 14 in the form of a sheet. The recording medium 14 delivered from the paper feed tray 28 by the paper feed roller 30 is sent to the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder 12 via the guide roller 32 and held on the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder 12.

  Instead of the cut sheet recording medium 14, a continuous sheet recording medium wound in a roll shape may be used. In the case of using a recording medium in the form of continuous paper, it is provided with means for holding a roll and a cutter for cutting a long recording medium into a predetermined size.

  Although not shown, a large number of suction holes are arranged on the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 12 according to a predetermined arrangement pattern, and the area where the plurality of suction holes are arranged functions as a recording medium holding area for sucking and holding the recording medium. To do. The suction hole communicates with a suction channel provided inside the impression cylinder 12 and is connected to an external suction device (pump) through the suction channel. Instead of the negative pressure suction method described above, an electrostatic adsorption method in which the recording medium 14 is held in the recording medium holding area of the pressure drum 12 by static electricity may be applied. Since the conveyance of the recording medium is stabilized, the conveyance failure can be reduced. In addition, other conveyance forms such as a suction belt may be applied to the means for conveying the recording medium.

  The printing unit 18 is an ink jet head (hereinafter referred to as “ink jet head”) that is provided at a position facing the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 12 and corresponds to four colors of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). In some cases, each color ink is ejected to a recording medium 14 having 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y and held on the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 12 according to image data. To record an image.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the heads 18 </ b> K, 18 </ b> C, 18 </ b> M, and 18 </ b> Y are disposed obliquely with respect to the horizontal plane along the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 12. In other words, the perpendicular direction of the ink ejection surface of each head 18K, 18C, 18M, 18Y and the normal direction of the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder 12 coincide, and the ink ejection surface and impression cylinder of each head 18K, 18C, 18M, 18Y match. The heads 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y are arranged so that the droplet ejection positions and distances on the head 12 (on the recording medium 14) are the same for the heads 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y. In particular, by arranging in an arc around the thick cylinder 12, the landing position accuracy resulting from the droplet ejection distance is ensured, and a high-quality image can be formed.

  FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of KCMY standard colors (four colors), but the combination of ink colors and the number of colors is not limited to this embodiment, and light ink, dark ink, and special color ink are used as necessary. May be added. For example, it is possible to add light-type inks such as light cyan and light magenta and ink heads that discharge red, blue, gold, and silver, and the arrangement order of the color heads is not particularly limited.

  A solvent drying unit 20 is provided after the printing unit 18. The recording medium 14 on which image recording has been performed is sent to the solvent drying unit 20 via the guide roller 34 and subjected to a solvent drying process. In the solvent drying unit 20, hot air of 50 ° C. to 130 ° C. is blown onto the image recording surface of the recording medium 14 to evaporate a solvent such as water remaining on the image recording surface of the recording medium 14. As another aspect of the solvent drying unit 20, instead of or in combination with the hot air drying method, a radiation method heating by an infrared heater or a heat incorporating a heater from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the recording medium 14 is used. You may apply the contact drying system which contacts a roller. In other words, it is desirable to dry without contact with the image recording surface, and contact contamination inside the apparatus due to non-drying, back contamination due to stacking of the discharged recording medium, and the like are prevented.

  A fixing processing unit 22 that performs a fixing process on the recording medium 14 after the drying process is provided following the solvent drying unit 20. The fixing processing unit 22 shown in FIG. 1 includes a heat roller 38 with a built-in heater 36 and a support roller 40 arranged on the opposite side across the recording medium conveyance path of the heat roller 38. Yes.

  The recording medium 14 after the drying process is sandwiched between the heat roller 38 and the support roller 40 so that the image recording surface is on the heat roller 38 side, and the heat radiated from the heater 36 passes through the heat roller 38. While the image recording surface of the recording medium 14 is heated, the recording medium 14 is pressurized by the pressing of the heat roller 38 and the support roller 40. The abrasion resistance of the recording medium image portion is improved.

  The recording medium 14 subjected to the fixing process by the fixing processing unit 22 is discharged from the discharge unit 24 to the outside of the apparatus. It is preferable that the discharge unit 24 includes a sorter so as to be discharged separately for each image (for each order).

  The maintenance processing unit 26 has maintenance units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y corresponding to the heads 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the maintenance units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y are disposed obliquely with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be parallel to the heads 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y. Details of the maintenance processing unit 26 will be described later.

[Head structure]
Next, the heads 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y of the printing unit 18 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Since the heads 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y have the same structure, hereinafter, the head is represented by the reference numeral 50.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram of the head 50 viewed from the ink ejection surface (nozzle formation surface) side. As shown in the figure, the head 50 is a line head having a structure in which a plurality of head units 50A having a substantially parallelogram-like planar shape are arranged in a line, and the plurality of head units 50A are arranged in the width of the recording medium 14. It is connected along the direction to correspond to the full width of the recording medium 14 (see FIG. 1).

  The plurality of head units 50A are positioned so that their respective ink ejection surfaces are substantially in the same plane, and the head unit is held from the opposite side of the ink ejection surface with the nozzle alignment of each head unit 50A adjusted. It is held by the member 50B.

  Further, a head unit dummy portion 50C having a substantially triangular planar shape is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the head 50, and the head unit dummy portion 50C is also positioned at a predetermined position and held by the unit holding member 50B. . Note that a gap 50D is provided between the head units 50A to absorb manufacturing errors and mounting errors of the head units 50A.

  FIG. 3 is a side view of the head 50 (equivalent to a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1). The downward direction in the figure is the ink ejection direction of the head 50, and the impression cylinder 12 (not shown in FIG. 2) is disposed below the head 50.

  The head unit 50A (and the head unit dummy portion 50C) is supported by the head unit holding member 50B from the upper side and has a convex shape on the ink ejection surface side. In addition, an ink supply port 50E is provided for each head unit 50A on the upper side of the head unit holding member 50B (the back surface opposite to the head unit 50A), and from an ink supply system (not shown) via the tube and the ink supply port 50E. Ink is supplied to each head unit 50A.

  Further, on the back surface of each head unit 50A, a driving substrate (driving circuit) 50F, which is a supply source of driving signals, is disposed. The drive substrate 50F is connected to the main unit through a flexible substrate (not shown). FIG. 3 illustrates an aspect in which each head unit 50A includes two drive substrates 50F, and a common heat sink 50G is disposed between the two drive substrates 50F.

  FIG. 4A is a plan perspective view showing an arrangement example of nozzles in the head unit 50A, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of a part thereof. In order to increase the dot pitch printed on the recording medium 14, it is necessary to increase the nozzle pitch in each head unit 50A. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the head unit 50 </ b> A of this example includes a plurality of ink chamber units 53 including nozzles 51 that are ink discharge ports and pressure chambers 52 corresponding to the nozzles 51. Nozzles are arranged in a staggered matrix (two-dimensionally), and thereby, the substantial nozzles projected so as to be aligned along the longitudinal direction of the head 50 (the direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction) High density of the interval (projection nozzle pitch) is achieved.

  The configuration in which one or more nozzle rows are formed in the main scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction (paper feeding direction, sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium 14 over the length corresponding to the entire width of the image forming area is limited to the example shown in the drawing. Not. For example, instead of the configuration of FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. 4C, a head unit 50 ′ having a substantially rectangular planar shape in which a plurality of nozzles 51 are two-dimensionally arranged is staggered. A line head having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the entire width of the image forming area of the recording medium 14 as a whole may be configured by lengthening by arranging and connecting them.

  The pressure chamber 52 provided corresponding to each nozzle 51 has a substantially square planar shape, and an outlet to the nozzle 51 is provided at one of the diagonal corners, and the supply ink is provided at the other. Inflow port (supply port) 54 is provided. The shape of the pressure chamber 52 is not limited to this example, and the planar shape may have various forms such as a quadrangle (rhombus, rectangle, etc.), a pentagon, a hexagon and other polygons, a circle, and an ellipse.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIGS. 4A and 4B) showing the three-dimensional shape of the head unit 50A.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each pressure chamber 52 communicates with a common channel 55 through a supply port 54. The common channel 55 communicates with an ink tank (not shown) as an ink supply source, and ink supplied from the ink tank is supplied to each pressure chamber 52 via the common channel 55.

  A piezoelectric element 58 having an individual electrode 57 is joined to a pressure plate (vibrating plate also serving as a common electrode) 56 constituting a part of the pressure chamber 52 (the top surface in FIG. 5). By applying a driving voltage between the individual electrode 57 and the common electrode, the piezoelectric element 58 is deformed and the volume of the pressure chamber 52 is changed, and ink is ejected from the nozzle 51 due to the pressure change accompanying this. For the piezoelectric element 58, a piezoelectric element using a piezoelectric body such as lead zirconate titanate or barium titanate is preferably used. After the ink is ejected, when the displacement of the piezoelectric element 58 is restored, new ink is refilled into the pressure chamber 52 from the common channel 55 through the supply port 54.

  By controlling the driving of the piezoelectric element 58 corresponding to each nozzle 51 according to dot data generated by digital halftoning processing from the input image, ink droplets can be ejected from the nozzle 51. A desired image can be recorded on the recording medium 14 by controlling the ink ejection timing of each nozzle 51 in accordance with the conveying speed while conveying the recording medium 14 in the sub-scanning direction at a constant speed.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the ink chamber units 53 having the above-described structure are arranged in a row direction along the main scanning direction and in an oblique column direction having a constant angle θ that is not orthogonal to the main scanning direction. By arranging a large number of patterns in a lattice pattern, the high-density nozzle head of this example is realized.

That is, the pitch P of the nozzles projected (orthographically projected) so as to be aligned in the main scanning direction by a structure in which a plurality of ink chamber units 53 are arranged at a constant pitch d along a certain angle θ with respect to the main scanning direction. _N is d × cos θ, and in the main scanning direction, each nozzle 51 can be handled equivalently as a linear arrangement with a constant pitch P. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize a substantial increase in the density of nozzle rows projected so as to be aligned in the main scanning direction.

  In the present embodiment, a method of ejecting ink droplets by deformation of a piezoelectric actuator typified by a piezo element (piezoelectric element 58) is employed, but in the practice of the present invention, the method of ejecting ink is not particularly limited, Instead of the piezo jet method, various methods such as a thermal jet method in which ink is heated by a heating element such as a heater to generate bubbles and ink droplets are ejected by the pressure can be applied.

[Description of maintenance unit]
Next, the maintenance units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. Since the maintenance units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y shown in FIG. 1 have the same structure, hereinafter, the maintenance unit is represented by reference numeral 160 as a representative of them.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of the maintenance unit 160. As shown in the figure, the maintenance unit 160 is provided at a maintenance position away from the printing position where the impression cylinder 12 is disposed (the head 50 positioned at the printing position is indicated by a broken line). As shown in FIG. 6, the head 50 is moved horizontally as indicated by an arrow line so that it can be moved between the printing position immediately above the impression cylinder 12 and the maintenance position.

  The maintenance unit 160 includes a cleaning liquid application roller 161 that applies a cleaning liquid to the ink ejection surface (nozzle formation surface) of the head 50, and an elastic portion (blade) 162A that wipes the nozzle formation surface to which the cleaning liquid has been applied. And a porous portion (suction removal portion) 163 that absorbs and removes the liquid that has entered the gap 50D (see FIG. 2, hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “gap 50D”), and an elastic portion 162A. And a porous structure 163 integrally formed, a cap 164 that serves as an ink receiver during preliminary ejection and sucks ink from the nozzle forming surface side through a nozzle (see FIG. 5), and a porous structure A pump 165 that generates a negative pressure in the portion 163 and the cap 164, an on-off valve 166 that opens and closes a flow path communicating with the porous portion 163, It is configured to include a recovery tank 167 for storing the cleaning and ink recovered through the quality portion 163 and the cap 164, a.

  When the head 50 is moved from left to right in FIG. 6, first, the cleaning liquid application roller 161 is formed of a porous member, and a slit 161A having a shape corresponding to the gap 50D of the head unit shown in FIG. Thus, a cleaning liquid that dissolves the ink that has adhered to the nozzle forming surface and solidified is applied. Further, when a predetermined time elapses after the head 50 moves to the right and the cleaning liquid is applied, the elastic portion 162A simultaneously wipes the nozzle forming surface and absorbs the liquid in the gap 50D by the porous portion 163.

  That is, when the position of the gap 50D between the head units reaches just above the porous portion 163, the head 50 is temporarily stopped (or decelerated), and the absorption and removal of the liquid that has entered the gap 50D is performed. When the absorption removal processing of the gap 50D by the porous portion 163 is completed, the head 50 is moved again to the right in FIG.

  When the head 50 moves to the position of the cap 164, the head 50 is stopped and the maintenance unit 160 is moved upward to cap the nozzle formation surface of the head 50, and preliminary ejection is performed for all nozzles. Moreover, you may perform the suction process of a nozzle as needed. The structure of the maintenance unit 160 described above and details of the maintenance process will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[Explanation of control system]
FIG. 7 is a principal block diagram showing the system configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes a communication interface 70, a system controller 72, a memory 74, a motor driver 76, a heater driver 78, a maintenance control unit 79, a print control unit 80, an image buffer memory 82, a head driver 84, and the like.

  The communication interface 70 is an interface unit that receives image data sent from the host computer 86. As the communication interface 70, a serial interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, Ethernet (registered trademark), a wireless network, or a parallel interface such as Centronics can be applied. In this part, a buffer memory (not shown) for speeding up communication may be mounted. The image data sent from the host computer 86 is taken into the inkjet recording apparatus 10 via the communication interface 70 and temporarily stored in the memory 74.

  The memory 74 is a storage unit that temporarily stores an image input via the communication interface 70, and data is read and written through the system controller 72. The memory 74 is not limited to a memory made of a semiconductor element, and a magnetic medium such as a hard disk may be used.

  The system controller 72 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits, and functions as a control device that controls the entire inkjet recording apparatus 10 according to a predetermined program, and also functions as an arithmetic device that performs various calculations. . That is, the system controller 72 controls each part such as the communication interface 70, the memory 74, the motor driver 76, the heater driver 78, etc., performs communication control with the host computer 86, read / write control of the memory 74, etc. A control signal for controlling the motor 88 and the heater 89 is generated.

  The motor driver 76 is a driver that drives the motor 88 in accordance with instructions from the system controller 72. In FIG. 7, a motor 88 disposed in each part of the apparatus is represented by a reference numeral 88. The motor 88 includes a motor that drives the impression cylinder 12 described in FIG. 1, a motor that drives the paper feed roller 30, and the like.

  The heater driver 78 is a driver that drives the heater 89 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 72. In FIG. 7, a plurality of heaters provided in the ink jet recording apparatus 10 are represented by reference numeral 89. The heater 89 shown in FIG. 7 includes the heater of the solvent drying unit 20 and the heater 36 of the fixing processing unit 22 shown in FIG.

  The print control unit 80 has a signal processing function for performing various processing and correction processing for generating a print control signal from the image data in the memory 74 under the control of the system controller 72, and the generated print. It is a control unit that supplies data (dot data) to the head driver 84. Necessary signal processing is performed in the print controller 80, and the ejection amount and ejection timing of the ink droplets of the head 50 are controlled via the head driver 84 based on the image data. Thereby, a desired dot size and dot arrangement are realized.

  The print control unit 80 includes an image buffer memory 82, and image data, parameters, and other data are temporarily stored in the image buffer memory 82 when image data is processed in the print control unit 80. In FIG. 7, the image buffer memory 82 is shown in a form associated with the print control unit 80, but it can also be used as the memory 74. Also possible is an aspect in which the print controller 80 and the system controller 72 are integrated and configured with one processor.

  An overview of the flow of processing from image input to print output is as follows. Image data to be printed is input from the outside via the communication interface 70 and stored in the memory 74. At this stage, for example, RGB image data is stored in the memory 74.

  In the inkjet recording apparatus 10, a pseudo continuous tone image is formed by human eyes by changing the droplet ejection density and dot size of fine dots by ink (coloring material). It is necessary to convert to a dot pattern that reproduces the gradation (shading of the image) as faithfully as possible. Therefore, the original image (RGB) data stored in the memory 74 is sent to the print control unit 80 via the system controller 72, and the print control unit 80 performs halftoning processing using a threshold matrix, an error diffusion method, or the like. Is converted into dot data for each ink color.

  That is, the print control unit 80 performs processing for converting the input RGB image data into dot data of four colors K, C, M, and Y. Thus, the dot data generated by the print control unit 80 is stored in the image buffer memory 82.

  The head driver 84 drives the piezoelectric element 58 corresponding to each nozzle 51 of the head 50 based on print data (that is, dot data stored in the image buffer memory 82) given from the print control unit 80. Is output. The head driver 84 may include a feedback control system for keeping the head driving conditions constant.

  When a drive signal output from the head driver 84 is applied to the head 50, ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzle 51. An image is formed on the recording medium 14 by controlling the ink ejection from the head 50 while conveying the recording medium 14 at a predetermined speed.

  Further, the system controller 72 functions as a means for controlling the negative pressure adsorption of the recording medium 14 by the impression cylinder 12 of FIG. 1, and is provided on the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder 12 when the recording medium 14 is transferred to the impression cylinder 12. A command signal is sent to the suction device so as to generate a negative pressure at the suction port.

  Further, the system controller 72 also functions as a means for controlling the nip pressure of the fixing processing unit 22. When the type information of the recording medium 14 is acquired, the clearance between the heat roller 38 and the support roller 40 of the fixing processing unit 22 is controlled so that the nip pressure corresponding to the recording medium 14 to be processed is obtained.

  The maintenance control unit 79 functions as means for controlling the maintenance process of the head 50 by the maintenance processing unit 26 (maintenance unit 160 shown in FIG. 6) shown in FIG. That is, the maintenance control unit 79 shown in FIG. 7 moves the head 50, moves the maintenance unit 160, drives the cleaning liquid application roller 161, drives the pump 165, and opens / closes the opening / closing valve 166 based on a command signal sent from the system controller 72. Control etc.

  The system controller 72 sends a command signal to each part of the apparatus based on the detection signal obtained from the sensor 92. The sensor 92 in FIG. 7 includes a paper feed sensor provided in the delivery portion of the recording medium 14 of the impression cylinder 12 in FIG. 1, a temperature sensor that detects the surface temperature of the impression cylinder 12, and a temperature sensor provided in the solvent drying unit 20. In addition, a temperature sensor provided in the fixing processing unit 22, a sensor for detecting the position of the gap 50D between the head units during the maintenance of the head 50, and the like are included.

  The print control unit 80 receives data of the result of capturing a recorded image from a print detection unit (inline sensor) 94 disposed in the discharge unit 24 of FIG. The print detection unit 94 includes an image sensor for imaging the droplet ejection result of the print unit 18, and functions as a means for checking nozzle clogging and other ejection abnormalities from the droplet ejection image read by the image sensor.

  That is, the print detection unit 94 reads an image (test pattern) printed on the recording medium 14, performs necessary signal processing, etc., and detects the printing status (e.g., whether ejection is present, variation in droplet ejection), and the detection. The result is provided to the print control unit 80.

  The print control unit 80 controls each unit to perform various corrections for the head 50 and maintenance of the head 50 based on information obtained from the print detection unit 94 as necessary.

  As an example of the configuration of the print detection unit 94, there is an aspect in which the print detection unit 94 includes a line sensor having a light receiving element array wider than at least the ink discharge width (image recording width) by the head 50. This line sensor includes an R light receiving element array in which photoelectric conversion elements (pixels) provided with a red (R) color filter are arranged in a line, and a G light receiving element array provided with a green (G) color filter. And a color separation line CCD sensor comprising a blue light receiving element array provided with a blue (B) color filter. Instead of the line sensor, an area sensor in which the light receiving elements are two-dimensionally arranged can be used.

  Various control programs are stored in the program storage unit 90, and the control programs are read and executed in accordance with instructions from the system controller 72. The program storage unit 90 may use a semiconductor memory such as a ROM or an EEPROM, or may use a magnetic disk or the like. An external interface may be provided and a memory card or PC card may be used. Of course, you may provide several recording media among these recording media. The program storage unit 90 may also be used as a recording means (not shown) for operating parameters.

[Detailed description of maintenance unit]
Next, the maintenance unit 160 shown in FIG. 6 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the maintenance unit 160 as viewed from the upper side (the head 50 side). As described above, the maintenance unit 160 includes the cleaning liquid application roller 161 provided with the slit 161A on the surface, and the elastic portion 162A for wiping the head 50 nozzle formation surface, and is formed of a porous member. The blade structure 162 including the porous portion 163 that contacts the gap 50D between the head units using the tip portion and absorbs the liquid in the gap 50D, and the nozzle formation surface of the head 50 are in close contact with each other at the time of preliminary discharge. And a cap 164 that functions as an ink receiver and has a function of sucking ink in the head 50 through the nozzle, and includes a moving direction of the head 50 during the maintenance process (hereinafter simply referred to as “head moving direction”). Or “the longitudinal direction of the head”).

  The blade structure 162 shown in FIG. 8 has a structure in which a porous portion 163 is provided on the downstream side in the moving direction of the head of the elastic portion 162A, and the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 are joined.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the blade structure 162 in which the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 are integrally formed has a wiping surface of the elastic portion 162A substantially parallel to the gap 50D between the head units. The head is arranged obliquely with respect to the moving direction of the head. Reference numeral 163B shown in FIG. 8 is a suction port for sucking the liquid absorbed by the porous portion 163, and is connected to the pump 165 via the on-off valve 166 as shown in FIG.

  Note that the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 may be disposed separately. In this case, the elastic portion 162A may be disposed such that the wiping surface is inclined with respect to the gap 50D between the head units. With this structure, the nozzle forming surface of the head 50 is wiped from an oblique direction with respect to the gap 50D between the head units, whereby the elasticity due to the collision between the edge of the gap 50D (the edge of the head unit 50A) and the elastic portion 162A. Deterioration of the wiping surface of the portion 162A can be prevented.

  FIG. 9A shows an enlarged view of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 viewed from the side surface. FIG. 9B shows an enlarged plan view of the peripheral surface of the cleaning liquid application roller 161.

  The surface of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 is formed of a porous member, and the cleaning liquid supplied from a cleaning liquid supply unit (not shown) is held on the surface. As shown in FIG. 9B, the cleaning liquid application roller 161 has a cylindrical shape, and the surface thereof has a joint pitch between the head units 50A and is inclined in the direction corresponding to the gap 50D between the head units. A slit 161A is formed.

  The planar shape of the slit 161A corresponds to the planar shape of the gap 50D between the head units, and the length of the outer periphery of the slit 161A is the length of the head unit 50A in the moving direction of the head 50 during the maintenance process and the gap between the head units. The length in the circumferential direction of the slit 161A is equal to or slightly longer than the length of the gap 50D in the head moving direction.

  The angle of the slit 161A with respect to the circumferential direction corresponds to the angle of the gap 50D with respect to the head moving direction. That is, when the cleaning liquid application roller 161 rotates, the slit 161A covers the gap 50D. For example, the length ratio of the slit 161A in the circumferential direction to the length of the gap 50D in the head moving direction is 1.0 or more and 1.2. The following is recommended. The gap 50D can be reliably covered with the slit 161A, and the alignment becomes easy.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the cleaning liquid application roller 161 is supported by the rotating shaft 161B and is configured to be rotatable, and rotates at a constant speed corresponding to the moving speed of the head 50 at the time of maintenance. The cleaning liquid is applied to the nozzle formation surface, and when the gap 50D between the head units is moved directly above the cleaning liquid application roller 161, the cleaning liquid application roller 161 is moved so that the slit 161A is moved to a position immediately above. Is controlled. When the rotation control of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 is performed as described above, the cleaning liquid is not applied to the gap 50D between the head units.

  That is, the movement of the head 50 and the rotation of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 are controlled so that the gap 50D between the head units and the slit 161A are aligned. For example, a detection unit that detects the position of the gap 50D between the head units on the movement path of the head 50 is provided, and the rotation speed and on / off of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 are controlled according to the position of the gap 50D detected by the detection unit. An embodiment is mentioned. The detection unit for the gap 50D has a configuration in which an encoder is attached to the motor of the moving mechanism of the head 50 to indirectly grasp the position of the gap 50D from the output signal of the encoder, or a position detection provided on the movement path of the head 50 A configuration in which the position of the gap 50D is directly detected by a sensor is applicable.

  Two or more slits are provided on the surface of the cleaning liquid application roller 161, and the rotation of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 is controlled so that any one of the gap 50D between the head units and the slit on the surface of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 is synchronized. You may comprise as follows.

  The elastic portion 162A in FIG. 8 has a length that makes contact with the nozzle forming surface of the head 50 while being bent (see FIG. 11), the wiping surface is substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the head, and the gap 50D between the head units. Are arranged so as to be in contact with each other during wiping. An elastic member is preferably used for the elastic portion 162A.

  If the arrangement pitch between the cleaning liquid application roller 161 and the porous portion 163 is the arrangement pitch of the head unit 50A (the arrangement pitch of the gap 50D), the position of the gap 50D on the upstream side in the head moving direction in the adjacent gap 50D. And the position of the slit 161A of the cleaning liquid application roller 161 coincide with each other, the position of the gap 50D on the downstream side and the position of the porous portion 163 can be matched, and the process and the clearance to avoid the gap 50D when applying the cleaning liquid Two processes of the 50D absorption process can be performed simultaneously.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the head unit dummy portion 50C is provided with an inclined surface 50H that increases in thickness from the end toward the inside where the head unit 50A is disposed, and is provided at the edge of the end of the head unit 50A. If the elastic portion 162A is configured to be in line contact, the deterioration of the wiping surface of the elastic portion 162A due to the contact between the edge of the end of the head unit 50A and the elastic portion 162A is prevented.

  The cap 164 has an opening shape that covers the nozzle formation surface of the head 50. Further, the portion that contacts the nozzle forming surface of the head 50 is constituted by a seal member, and the adhesion between the cap 164 and the nozzle forming surface of the head 50 is ensured. In addition, a connection port 164 </ b> A for a negative pressure flow path communicating with the pump 165 is provided on the bottom surface of the cap 164.

  By performing preliminary discharge from the nozzle after the wiping process toward the cap 164, the cleaning liquid entering the nozzle at the time of wiping and the ink dissolved in the cleaning liquid are discharged. At the same time, the deteriorated ink in the nozzles is also discharged, and a state of a nozzle that performs preferable ink discharge can be obtained.

  In summary, the maintenance process of the head 50 using the above-described maintenance unit 160 includes a moving step of moving the head 50 to the maintenance position, a cleaning liquid is applied to the nozzle formation surface (ink ejection surface) of the head 50, and the head A cleaning liquid application process for avoiding application of the cleaning liquid so that the cleaning liquid does not enter the gap 50D between the units, a wiping process for wiping the nozzle forming surface, and a liquid removal for absorbing and removing the liquid that has entered the gap 50D between the head units. The process includes a preliminary ejection process in which preliminary ejection is performed from all the nozzles of the head 50.

  FIG. 11A illustrates a planar shape (a shape viewed from the moving direction of the head) of the blade structure 162 in which the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 are integrally formed, and FIG. The shape seen from (the shape seen from the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the head) is illustrated.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the planar shape of the blade structure 162 is a rectangular shape, and its width (length in the left-right direction in FIG. 11A) is the same as the width in the short direction of the head unit 50A. Or it is longer than that.

  Further, the length (height) of the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 is determined so that the tip portion of the blade structure 162 is in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the head 50 in a deformed state. Furthermore, the porous portion 163 has a shape protruding above the elastic portion 162A, and the protruding tip portion can enter the gap 50D between the head units, and can absorb the liquid that has entered the gap 50D. The length of the protruding tip (the length of the portion entering the gap 50D) is preferably about 3% to 20% of the depth of the gap 50D.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the side surfaces of the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 are rectangular. The blade structure 162 has a structure in which members constituting the short porous portion 163 are integrally attached along the elastic portion 162A.

  12A to 12C schematically show a state where the nozzle formation surface of the head 50 is wiped by the blade structure 162. FIG. The moving direction of the head 50 during maintenance in FIGS. 12A to 12C is from left to right as in the other drawings.

  FIG. 12A shows a state in which the nozzle forming surface of the downstream head unit 50A-1 in the head moving direction is wiped. When wiping the nozzle formation surface of each head unit 50A, both the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 are deformed and are in contact with the nozzle formation surface. In this state, the wiping of the nozzle forming surface is performed by the elastic portion 162A, and the remaining liquid is absorbed and removed by the porous portion 163.

  FIG. 12B shows a state in which a gap 50D between the downstream head unit 50A-1 and the upstream head unit 50A-2 has reached the position of the porous portion 163 of the blade structure 162. When the head 50 is stopped in this state, the distal end portion of the porous portion 163 that has been bent and deformed enters the gap 50D by a restoring force.

  By maintaining this state for a predetermined period, the liquid in the gap 50 </ b> D is absorbed and removed by the porous portion 163. The stop period of the head 50 is determined by the absorption capacity of the porous portion 163, the shape of the gap 50D, the type (physical properties) of the cleaning liquid, and the like.

  In addition, it is preferable to chamfer the edge of the tip of the porous portion 163 so that the porous portion 163 easily enters the gap 50D between the head units.

  FIG. 12C illustrates a state in which the wiping of the nozzle formation surface has been completed for all the head units 50 </ b> A of the head 50, and the blade structure 162 has come out from directly below the head 50.

  The elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 are consumable parts, and are attached to the maintenance unit 160 so as to be removable from the maintenance unit 160. Further, when performing suction by the cap 164, the on-off valve 166 is closed to control the on-off valve 166 so that the suction force during use of the cap 164 does not decrease. Therefore, effective use of negative pressure can be achieved. it can.

  In the inkjet recording apparatus 10 configured as described above, in the maintenance process of the head 50, the cleaning liquid application roller 161 that applies the cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface is provided with the slit 161A corresponding to the gap 50D between the head units. Since the cleaning liquid is applied in synchronization with 161A, the cleaning liquid is prevented from entering the gap 50D.

  The blade structure 162 includes a porous portion 163 corresponding to the shape of the gap 50D between the head units. The blade structure 162 including the elastic portion 162A and the porous portion 163 forms a nozzle forming surface of the head 50. By wiping, the cleaning of the nozzle formation surface of the head 50 and the clearance 50D between the head units can be performed integrally.

[Modification]
Next, a modified example of the above-described blade structure will be described. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a blade structure 262 according to this modification.

  The blade structure 262 shown in FIG. 13 is provided with an end porous portion 263A having a structure that protrudes from the elastic portion 262A on the lower side in the tilt direction and protrudes from the porous portion 263 in the upward direction. Yes. The planar shape of the end porous portion 263A is a vertically elongated rectangle, and the shape viewed from the side surface of the end porous portion 263A is an inverted L shape obtained by rotating the L shape by 180 °. Further, the inverted L-shaped horizontal portion of the end porous portion 263A has a shape slightly protruding forward from the elastic portion 262A.

  The end porous portion 263A having the above-described structure (shape) is disposed on the side surface of the head 50 in the gap 50D between the head units at the lower end of the tilt direction of the head 50 arranged to be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. It functions as a means for absorbing and removing the liquid that comes into contact with the side and enters the gap 50D. FIG. 14 schematically shows a state in which the liquid in the gap 50D between the head units is removed from the side surface side end portion of the head 50 (the end portion in the short direction of the head 50) by the end porous portion 263A. Illustrated. 14 is a maintenance unit that supports the blade structure 262. In FIG.

  FIGS. 15A to 15C schematically show a state in which the nozzle formation surface of the head 50 is wiped by the blade structure 262. The moving direction of the head 50 during maintenance in FIGS. 15A to 15C is from left to right as in the other drawings.

  FIG. 15A shows a state in which the nozzle forming surface of the downstream head unit 50A-1 in the head moving direction is wiped. When wiping the nozzle formation surface of each head unit 50A, both the elastic portion 262A and the porous portion 263 are deformed and are in contact with the nozzle formation surface. Further, the end porous portion 263 </ b> A is in contact (contact) with the side surface of the head 50. In this state, the wiping of the nozzle forming surface is performed by the elastic portion 262A, and the remaining liquid is absorbed and removed by the porous portion 263.

  FIG. 15B shows a state in which the gap 50D between the downstream head unit 50A-1 and the upstream head unit 50A-2 has reached the position of the elastic portion 262A of the blade structure 262. When the head 50 is stopped in this state, the distal end portion of the porous portion 263 that has been bent and deformed enters the gap 50D by a restoring force. Further, since the end porous portion 263A closely contacts the gap 50D from the side surface side of the head, the liquid accumulated on the lower side in the inclination direction of the gap 50D contacts the end porous portion 263A.

  By maintaining this state for a predetermined period, the liquid in the gap 50D is absorbed and removed by the porous portion 163 and the end porous portion 263A. The stop period of the head 50 is determined by the absorption capacity of the porous portion 163 and the end porous portion 263A, the shape of the gap 50D, the type (physical properties) of the cleaning liquid, and the like. Note that the porous portion 263 and the end porous portion 263A may use the same material or different materials.

  Further, the shape and size of the end porous portion 263A (particularly the size of the horizontal portion) are determined so that the end porous portion 263A covers the gap 50D between the head units from the side surface side of the head 50.

  FIG. 15C illustrates a state in which the wiping of the nozzle formation surfaces of all the head units 50 </ b> A of the head 50 has been completed and the blade structure 262 has come out from directly below the head 50.

  According to such a modification, in the ink jet recording apparatus using the impression cylinder transporting unit, in the head that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane along the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder, the gap 50D between the head units is below the inclination direction. Remove liquid accumulated on the side to prevent dripping.

  The present invention is also applicable to an apparatus configuration in which an image is formed by reacting a treatment liquid having a function of aggregating (or insolubilizing) a colorant contained in ink with ink.

  As mentioned above, the ink jet recording apparatus and the head maintenance apparatus of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course it is also good.

<Appendix>
As will be understood from the description of the embodiments of the invention described in detail above, the present specification includes disclosure of various technical ideas including at least the invention described below.

  (Invention 1): A line head in which a head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are two-dimensionally arranged is connected over a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium, and the line head is arranged in the arrangement direction of the head unit And a head moving means that moves along the line, and when the line head moves by the head moving means, the nozzle forming surface is contacted with the nozzle forming surface of the head unit and wiped in a lump in the arrangement direction of the head units. And a wiping unit that is disposed downstream of the wiping unit in the moving direction of the line head, and is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to a gap between the head units, and is in contact with the gap between the head units. And a liquid absorbing means for absorbing and removing the liquid in the gap.

  According to the present invention, the liquid that has entered the fine gap between the head units by the wiping process by the wiping means is configured to be removed by the liquid removing means. Dripping of the accumulated liquid is prevented.

  The head units may be connected in a line, or may be connected according to a staggered arrangement.

  (Invention 2): In the liquid ejection head according to Invention 1, the wiping means is disposed so that a wiping surface for wiping the nozzle forming surface is substantially parallel to a gap between the head units, and A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is provided integrally with a liquid absorbing means.

  According to this aspect, the wiping process by the wiping unit and the liquid absorption process by the liquid absorbing unit can be performed integrally.

  (Invention 3): The liquid ejection apparatus according to the invention 1 or 2, wherein the wiping means is an elastic member, and the liquid absorbing means is a porous member.

  According to this aspect, a preferable wiping process and a liquid absorption process are performed by using an elastic member excellent in wiping performance as the wiping means and using a porous member excellent in absorption performance as the liquid absorbing means.

  (Invention 4): The liquid ejection device according to any one of the inventions 1 to 3, wherein the liquid absorbing means has a shape protruding upward from the wiping means.

  According to this aspect, the liquid absorbing means can be reliably brought into contact with the gap between the head units, and the liquid absorbing means can be brought into contact with the liquid in the gap.

  (Invention 5): The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of Inventions 1 to 4, wherein the liquid absorbing means is chamfered at a portion in contact with the gap.

  According to this aspect, it becomes easier for the liquid absorbing means to enter the gap.

  (Invention 6): In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of Inventions 1 to 5, the head moving means adjusts the moving speed of the line head in a state in which the gap of the head unit is aligned with the position of the liquid absorbing means. A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by decelerating or stopping the line head.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to secure a time for the liquid absorbing means to absorb the liquid in the gap, and it is possible to more preferably absorb and remove the liquid in the gap.

  (Invention 7): In the liquid ejection device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 6, head dummy portions are provided at both ends of the line head in the arrangement direction of the head units, and the head dummy portion is the line A liquid ejecting apparatus having an inclined surface whose height increases from an end portion of a head toward an inner side on the head unit side.

  According to this aspect, since the wiping means and the nozzle formation surface at the both ends of the head are in line contact, breakage and deterioration of the wiping means can be prevented.

  (Invention 8): In the liquid ejection device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 7, the nozzle forming surface of the head unit has a substantially parallelogram-shaped planar shape, and the liquid absorbing means is provided between the head units. A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the moving direction of the head corresponding to the gap.

  According to this aspect, the liquid absorbing means can easily enter the gap, and the liquid in the gap can be efficiently absorbed.

  A mode in which the liquid absorbing means is arranged substantially parallel to the direction of the gap (the direction of the hypotenuse of the parallelogram) is more preferable.

  (Invention 9): In the liquid ejection device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 8, a rotating drum that holds the recording medium disposed in a liquid ejection area facing the liquid ejection surface of the line head on a circumferential surface. The line head is disposed obliquely with respect to a horizontal plane so that a normal of the nozzle forming surface and a normal of the peripheral surface of the rotary drum are substantially parallel to each other, between the head units. A liquid discharge device comprising: an end liquid absorbing means that contacts an end portion on the lower side in the inclination direction of the gap and absorbs and removes the liquid accumulated at the lower end portion in the inclination direction of the gap between the head units. apparatus.

  According to this aspect, the liquid accumulated on the lower side in the inclination direction of the gap can be surely removed, and liquid dripping on the lower side in the inclination direction of the gap is prevented.

  (Invention 10): The liquid ejection apparatus according to invention 9, wherein the end liquid absorbing means is a porous member.

  According to this aspect, by using a porous member having excellent liquid absorbability, liquid absorption at the lower end of the gap in the tilt direction can be performed reliably and efficiently.

  (Invention 11): The liquid discharge apparatus according to the invention 9 or 10, wherein the end liquid absorption means and the liquid absorption means are integrated.

  According to this aspect, liquid absorption in the gap and liquid absorption at the lower end portion in the inclination direction of the gap can be integrally performed.

  (Invention 12): The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of Inventions 1 to 11, further comprising a cleaning liquid application unit including an application roller that applies a cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface.

  According to this aspect, by applying the cleaning liquid before wiping the nozzle forming surface, wear between the nozzle forming surface and the wiping means due to wiping is suppressed.

  (Invention 13): The liquid discharge apparatus according to the invention 12, wherein the coating roller is provided with a slit having a shape corresponding to a gap between the head units on a peripheral surface.

  According to this aspect, the cleaning liquid does not enter the gap between the head units. When the gap between the head units is inclined with respect to the moving direction of the head as in the invention 8, the slit of the cleaning liquid application roller is also inclined.

  (Invention 14): In the liquid discharge apparatus according to Invention 12 or 13, the slit of the application roller is aligned with the gap between the application roller driving means for rotating the application roller and the head unit. A liquid ejection apparatus comprising: an application roller drive control unit that controls the application roller drive unit.

  According to this aspect, by aligning the gap between the head units and the cleaning liquid application roller, it is possible to reliably prevent the cleaning liquid from entering the gap during the application of the cleaning liquid.

  (Invention 15): The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the application roller drive control means is configured to align the gap between the head units and the slit of the application roller. The liquid discharge apparatus, wherein the application roller driving means is controlled to stop the operation.

  In such an embodiment, it is preferable to control the rotation of the cleaning liquid application roller to be resumed at the timing when the gap passes through the slit position.

  (Invention 16): The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of Inventions 1 to 15, wherein the liquid ejection device is provided on the downstream side of the liquid head in the movement direction of the line head, and capping the nozzle formation surface of the line head. A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the wiping means, the liquid removing means, and the capping means are integrally arranged along a moving direction of the line head.

  According to this aspect, the wiping and preliminary discharge (or suction) of the nozzle forming surface of the line head can be executed as a series of operations by the maintenance unit in which the wiping unit, the liquid removing unit, and the capping unit are integrally configured. it can.

  (Invention 17): The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of Inventions 1 to 16, further comprising an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects ink from a head to form an image on a recording medium.

  In such an aspect, when a line head is provided for each color corresponding to color image recording, an aspect in which a wiping means and a liquid removing means are provided for each head is preferable.

  (Invention 18): A head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging a liquid are arranged in a two-dimensional manner is brought into contact with a nozzle forming surface of a line head joined over a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium, and the head unit The nozzle forming surfaces of the line heads moving along the alignment direction of the head units are wiped all at once along the alignment direction of the head units so that the nozzle formation surfaces are substantially parallel to the gaps between the head units. The wiping means is provided on the downstream side of the wiping means in the movement direction of the line head, and is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the wiping surface of the wiping means, and is in contact with the gap between the head units. And a liquid absorbing means for absorbing and removing the liquid in the gap.

  As a method for performing maintenance on the nozzle formation surface of a line head in which a head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are arranged in a two-dimensional manner is connected over a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium, A wiping process that wipes the nozzle forming surface in a lump along the alignment direction of the head units while moving along the alignment direction, and a liquid that enters the clearance by contacting the gap between the head units after the wiping process is absorbed. And a liquid absorbing process to be removed.

  In such a head maintenance method, an embodiment including a cleaning liquid application step of applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface while avoiding a gap between the head units is preferable.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Plan view showing the structure of the head Sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. Plane perspective view showing a structural example of the head of FIG. Sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. Diagram explaining the configuration of the maintenance unit 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. Schematic plan view of the maintenance unit shown in FIG. The figure which shows the structural example of the washing | cleaning liquid application roller of FIG. Enlarged view of the head unit dummy section shown in FIG. The figure explaining the structure of a blade structure The figure explaining the wiping by the maintenance unit shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the modification of the blade structure shown in FIG. Diagram explaining the diagonal arrangement of the head The figure explaining the wiping by the maintenance unit shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet recording device, 12 ... Impression cylinder, 18 ... Printing part, 18K, 18C, 18M, 18Y, 50 ... Head, 26 ... Maintenance unit, 50A ... Head unit, 50C ... Head unit dummy part, 50D ... Gap, 50H ... inclined surfaces, 161, 261 ... cleaning liquid application rollers, 161A, 261A ... slits, 162, 262 ... blade structures, 162A, 262A ... elastic parts, 163, 263 ... porous parts, 164, 264 ... caps, 263A ... end Porous part

Claims (19)

A line head in which a head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are arranged in a two-dimensional manner is connected over a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium;
Head moving means for moving the line head along the alignment direction of the head units;
When the line head moves by the head moving means, wiping means that contacts the nozzle forming surface of the head unit and wipes the nozzle forming surface in a lump in the arrangement direction of the head units;
Together provided downstream side in the movement direction of the line head of the wiping means, the disposed such that the gap and the flat row between the head unit, the liquid in the gap in contact with the gap between the head unit Liquid absorbing means for absorbing and removing;
Equipped with a,
The wiping means is disposed so that a wiping surface for wiping the nozzle forming surface is parallel to the gap between the head units, and is provided integrally with the liquid absorbing means,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head moving unit decelerates the moving speed of the line head or stops the line head in a state where the gap of the head unit and the position of the liquid absorbing unit are aligned . The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1,
An elastic member is used for the wiping means, and a porous member is used for the liquid absorbing means. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The liquid ejection device, wherein the liquid absorbing means has a shape protruding upward from the wiping means. The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing means has a chamfered portion in contact with the gap. The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
Head dummy portions are provided at both ends of the line head in the direction of arrangement of the head units,
The liquid ejection apparatus, wherein the head dummy portion has an inclined surface whose height increases from an end portion of the line head toward an inner side of the head unit side. The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The nozzle forming surface of the head unit has a planar shape of a flat row quadrilateral,
The liquid ejecting apparatus is characterized in that the liquid absorbing means is disposed obliquely with respect to the moving direction of the line head corresponding to the gap between the head units. The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
A recording medium conveying means including a rotating drum that holds the recording medium disposed in a liquid ejection area facing the liquid ejection surface of the line head on a circumferential surface;
It said line head is normal to the peripheral surface of the rotary drum and the perpendicular of the nozzle surface is arranged obliquely relative to a horizontal plane so that the flat line,
An end liquid absorbing means for contacting and removing the liquid accumulated in the lower end of the gap between the head units in the inclination direction is provided. A liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejection device according to claim 7 , wherein
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a porous member is used as the end liquid absorbing means. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 7 or 8 ,
The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end liquid absorbing means and the liquid absorbing means are integrated. The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a cleaning liquid application unit including an application roller for applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface. A line head in which a head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are arranged in a two-dimensional manner is connected over a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium;
Head moving means for moving the line head along the alignment direction of the head units;
When the line head moves by the head moving means, wiping means that contacts the nozzle forming surface of the head unit and wipes the nozzle forming surface in a lump in the arrangement direction of the head units;
Provided downstream of the wiping means in the direction of movement of the line head and disposed so as to be parallel to the gap between the head units, absorbs liquid in the gap by contacting the gap between the head units. Liquid absorbing means to be removed;
Cleaning liquid application means including an application roller for applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface;
With
The wiping means is disposed so that a wiping surface for wiping the nozzle forming surface is parallel to the gap between the head units, and is provided integrally with the liquid absorbing means,
The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating roller is provided with a slit having a shape corresponding to a gap between the head units on a peripheral surface. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
Application roller driving means for rotationally driving the application roller;
A liquid ejection apparatus comprising: an application roller driving control unit that controls the application roller driving unit so as to align a slit of the application roller with respect to a gap between the head units. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
The application roller drive control means controls the application roller drive means to stop the application roller in a state where the gap between the head units and the slit of the application roller are aligned. Liquid ejection device. An apparatus according to Izu Re one of claims 1 to 13,
Provided downstream side in the movement direction of the line head of the liquid absorbing unit comprises a capping means for capping the nozzle surface of the line head,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping unit, the liquid absorbing unit, and the capping unit are integrally arranged along a moving direction of the line head. The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 ,
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink from a head to form an image on a recording medium. A head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are arranged in a two-dimensional manner is brought into contact with a nozzle forming surface of a line head joined over a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium, and the head unit is arranged along the arrangement direction wherein the nozzle formation surface of the line head, along said arrangement direction of the head unit wiped at once, the nozzle forming surface between the head unit gap and the flat row become so disposed a wiping means for moving Te When,
Together provided downstream side in the movement direction of the line head of the wiping means are disposed such that the wiping surface and the flat line of the wiping means, the liquid in the gap in contact with the gap between the head unit Liquid absorbing means for absorbing and removing;
Equipped with a,
The wiping means is disposed so that a wiping surface for wiping the nozzle forming surface is parallel to the gap between the head units, and is provided integrally with the liquid absorbing means,
When moving the line head, the moving speed of the line head is reduced or the line head is stopped in a state where the gap of the head unit and the position of the liquid absorbing means are aligned. Maintenance device. A head unit in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are arranged in a two-dimensional manner is brought into contact with a nozzle forming surface of a line head joined over a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium, and the head unit is arranged along the arrangement direction Wiping means disposed so that the nozzle forming surface of the line head moving in a lump is wiped in a lump along the arrangement direction of the head units, and the nozzle forming surface is parallel to the gap between the head units; ,
Provided downstream of the wiping means in the direction of movement of the line head and disposed so as to be parallel to the wiping surface of the wiping means, contact the gap between the head units and absorb the liquid in the gap. Liquid absorbing means to be removed;
Cleaning liquid application means including an application roller for applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface;
With
The wiping means is disposed so that a wiping surface for wiping the nozzle forming surface is parallel to the gap between the head units, and is provided integrally with the liquid absorbing means,
The application roller is provided with a slit having a shape corresponding to a gap between the head units on a peripheral surface. The head maintenance device according to claim 17,
Application roller driving means for rotationally driving the application roller;
A head maintenance device comprising: an application roller drive control unit that controls the application roller drive unit so as to align a slit of the application roller with respect to a gap between the head units . The head maintenance device according to claim 18,
The application roller drive control means controls the application roller drive means to stop the application roller in a state where the gap between the head units and the slit of the application roller are aligned. Head maintenance device.

Images