JP5732828B2 - Ink jet recording apparatus and ink nozzle surface wiping method of ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink absorbing material on the inside and having a cap that covers an ink nozzle surface of the ink jet head when the ink jet head is in a standby position.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, in order to prevent clogging of the ink nozzles due to the thickening of the ink in the ink nozzles, the ink nozzle surface on which the ink nozzles are formed is capped while the ink jet head is in the standby position. And the evaporation of moisture from the ink nozzles is suppressed. Further, in order to suppress the occurrence of such clogging, a flushing operation is periodically performed in which the cap is opposed to the ink nozzle surface and ink is ejected from the ink nozzle toward the cap. Furthermore, when clogging occurs in the ink nozzle, the ink nozzle surface is covered with a cap, and a negative pressure is generated in the sealed space formed by the nozzle surface and the cap by a suction pump. A suction operation for forcibly ejecting ink to the cap is performed to eliminate the clogging. In the flushing operation and the suction operation, the ink ejected from the ink nozzle is absorbed by an ink absorbing material such as felt housed inside the cap.

  The ink ejected from the ink nozzle contains a moisture retention component such as glycerin, and when the flushing operation or the suction operation is performed, the moisture retention component is accumulated in the ink absorbing material. Here, since the cap does not cover the ink nozzle surface and remains open while printing by the ink jet head is performed, moisture evaporates from the ink absorbing material, and the amount of moisturizing component with respect to the moisture in the cap May be out of balance. When the balance of the moisture retention component amount with respect to moisture is lost, when the ink nozzle surface is covered by the cap, the moisture retention component takes away moisture in the sealed space formed by the cap and the ink nozzle surface, and evaporation of moisture from the ink nozzle is prevented. This promotes the increase in the viscosity of the ink, so that the ink nozzle is likely to be clogged. Patent Document 1 includes a cap sealing member having a liquid nozzle surface on which a liquid nozzle for discharging a moisturizing liquid is formed, and the cap is covered by the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member so that the moisturizing liquid is transferred from the liquid nozzle into the cap. An ink jet printer that supplies moisture into a cap by discharging the ink is described.

JP 2009-226719 A

  Here, when the printing operation by the inkjet head is completed immediately after the moisturizing liquid is discharged from the cap sealing member into the cap, the cap is covered with the cap sealing member as the inkjet head moves to the standby position. It moves from the position to a position that covers the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head. For this reason, the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member is exposed in a wet state, and the moisturizing liquid may drip from the exposed liquid nozzle surface. The moisturizing liquid dripping from the liquid nozzle surface wets the inside of the apparatus and the print medium.

  In view of these points, the problem of the present invention is that even when the cap moves immediately after the moisturizing liquid is discharged from the liquid nozzle and moisture is supplied into the cap, the liquid nozzle surface is formed with the liquid nozzle. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing the moisturizing liquid from dripping and getting wet in the apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to cause clogging of the ink nozzle when wiping the ink nozzle surface, focusing on the fact that the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member may be exposed in a wet state. An object of the present invention is to propose a method for wiping the ink nozzle surface of an ink jet recording apparatus that prevents the above.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes:
An inkjet head capable of moving between a printable position where printing on a print medium is possible and a standby position away from the printable position;
A cap that covers an ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head in which an ink nozzle is formed when the inkjet head is in the standby position;
An ink absorbing material that is housed inside the cap and absorbs ink discharged from the ink nozzle to the cap;
A cap sealing member that includes a liquid nozzle surface on which a liquid nozzle for discharging moisturizing liquid is formed, and that seals the cap with the liquid nozzle surface when the inkjet head is in the printable position;
A liquid supply mechanism that moisturizes the ink absorbing material by discharging the liquid from the liquid nozzle in a state where the cap sealing member seals the cap;
A wiper mechanism for wiping the ink nozzle surface and the liquid nozzle surface of the inkjet head by a wiper blade ;
A wiper that moves the wiper mechanism between a first position where the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member can be wiped and a second position where the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head can be wiped. A mechanism moving mechanism;
A cap moving mechanism that moves the cap between a capping position that covers the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head and a sealed position that is sealed by the cap sealing member;
A control unit that drives and controls the cap moving mechanism, the liquid supply mechanism, the wiper mechanism, and the wiper mechanism moving mechanism ,
The control unit moves the cap to the sealed position, discharges the moisturizing liquid from the liquid nozzle, moves the wiper mechanism to the first position, wipes the liquid nozzle surface by the wiper blade, The movement of the wiper mechanism to the second position and the wiping of the ink nozzle surface by the wiper blade are continuously performed in this order .

  According to the present invention, immediately after the moisturizing liquid is discharged into the cap from the liquid nozzle of the cap sealing member, the printing operation by the ink jet head is completed, and the ink nozzle of the ink jet head from the position where the cap is covered by the cap sealing member. When moving to a position covering the surface, the moisturizing liquid can be wiped off by wiping the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member by the wiper mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the moisturizing liquid from dripping from the surface of the liquid nozzle and getting wet in the apparatus.

If so this, the wiper mechanism for wiping the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head, since the wiper mechanism for wiping the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member can be shared, the size of the apparatus In addition, the manufacturing cost of the device can be reduced.

If so this, in the wiping operation for wiping the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head, first, from the liquid nozzle by ejecting moisturizer wetting liquid nozzle face, wiping the fluid nozzle faces of the wet state by the wiper blade It will be. As a result, even if the thickened ink adhered to the wiper blade by the wiping operation of the ink nozzle surface performed previously is adhered, the wiper blade is washed with the moisturizing liquid by wiping the liquid nozzle surface, and the thickened ink is Removed from wiper blade. Therefore, when the ink nozzle surface is wiped, the thickened ink adhering to the wiper blade is not pushed into the in-nozzle, and the ink nozzle is not clogged.

Next, the present invention provides an ink nozzle surface wiping method for the ink jet recording apparatus described above.
Sealing the cap by the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member;
Discharging the liquid from the liquid nozzle;
Wiping the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member with the wiper blade,
The ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head is wiped by the wiper blade.

  According to the present invention, in the wiping operation for wiping the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head, first, the moisturizing liquid is discharged from the liquid nozzle to wet the liquid nozzle surface, and the wet liquid nozzle surface is wiped by the wiper blade. As a result, even if the thickened ink adhered to the wiper blade by the wiping operation of the ink nozzle surface performed previously is adhered, the wiper blade is washed with the moisturizing liquid by wiping the liquid nozzle surface, and the thickened ink is Removed from wiper blade. Accordingly, when the ink nozzle surface is wiped, the thickened ink adhering to the wiper blade is not pushed into the ink nozzle, and the ink nozzle is not clogged.

  According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, immediately after the moisturizing liquid is discharged into the cap from the liquid nozzle of the cap sealing member, the printing operation by the ink jet head is finished, and the ink jet is performed from the position where the cap is covered by the cap sealing member. When moving to a position covering the ink nozzle surface of the head, the moisturizing liquid can be wiped off by wiping the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member by the wiper mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the moisturizing liquid from dripping from the surface of the liquid nozzle and getting wet in the apparatus.

  According to the ink nozzle surface wiping method of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, in the wiping operation for wiping the ink nozzle surface of the ink jet head, first, the moisturizing liquid is discharged from the liquid nozzle to wet the liquid nozzle surface. Wipe the liquid nozzle surface with a wiper blade. As a result, even if the thickened ink adhered to the wiper blade by the wiping operation of the ink nozzle surface performed previously is adhered, the wiper blade is washed with the moisturizing liquid by wiping the liquid nozzle surface, and the thickened ink is Removed from wiper blade. Accordingly, when the ink nozzle surface is wiped, the thickened ink adhering to the wiper blade is not pushed into the ink nozzle, and the ink nozzle is not clogged.

It is a perspective view of the ink jet printer which removed the printer case. It is a perspective view of the principal part of a head unit and a maintenance unit. It is the perspective view and sectional drawing of a water discharge head. It is explanatory drawing of the position of the head unit and a maintenance unit in a printing state and a standby state. It is explanatory drawing of a movement of the head unit and maintenance unit during water supply operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing of a movement of the head unit and a maintenance unit in wiping operation | movement and flushing operation | movement.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet printer (inkjet recording apparatus) to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ink jet printer of the present embodiment, showing a state in which the printer case is removed. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the main parts of the head unit and the maintenance unit, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the cap. The ink jet printer 1 performs printing on a long recording paper 3 fed out from a roll paper 2 using a plurality of types of color inks. The ink jet printer 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and a recording paper discharge port 4 is formed on the front surface thereof. A roll paper loading unit 5 is provided at the rear portion of the ink jet printer 1, and the recording paper 3 drawn from the roll paper 2 loaded in the roll paper loading unit 5 passes through a printing position P by the ink jet head 6. The recording paper is transported along the recording paper transport path 7 toward the front of the printer. The printing position P is defined by the platen 8.

  A head unit 10 is disposed above the platen 8. The head unit 10 includes an inkjet head 6, a pump mechanism 11 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 6, and a water ejection head (cap sealing member) 12 that can eject water (moisturizing liquid). . The head unit 10 also includes a first carriage 13 on which the inkjet head 6 is mounted, and a second carriage 14 on which a pump mechanism 11 and a water discharge head 12 are mounted behind the first carriage 13. .

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the ink jet head 6 includes a first ink jet head 15 and a second ink jet head 16 located behind the first ink jet head 15 in the printer. The first inkjet head 15 and the second inkjet head 16 have the same configuration, and are mounted with the ink nozzle surface 18 on which the ink nozzles 17 are formed facing downward.

  On the second carriage 14, the water discharge head 12 is positioned below the pump mechanism 11. The water discharge head 12 is disposed on the second carriage 14 with a water nozzle surface (liquid nozzle surface) 21 on which a water nozzle (liquid nozzle) 20 (see FIG. 3) for discharging water is formed facing downward. It is installed. The water nozzle surface 21 includes a first water nozzle surface 22 and a second water nozzle surface 23 located behind the first water nozzle surface 22 in the printer. A water tank (liquid tank) 24 is connected to the water discharge head 12 via a water supply pipe 25. The water tank 24 is disposed above the water discharge head 12.

  The first carriage 13 is moved in the vertical direction by the first carriage moving mechanism 26. The second carriage 14 is moved in the vertical direction by the second carriage moving mechanism 27.

  The first carriage moving mechanism 26 moves the inkjet head 6 among a printable position 6A, an inkjet head standby position 6B, and an inkjet head wiping position 6C. The printable position 6 </ b> A is a position where the inkjet head 6 faces the recording paper 3 passing through the printing position P along the platen 8 with a predetermined gap and printing on the recording paper 3 is possible. The ink jet head standby position 6 </ b> B is a position where the ink jet head 6 waits when the ink jet printer 1 enters a standby state or a pause state for waiting for supply of print data from a host computer or the like. The inkjet head wiping position 6C is a position for wiping the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6 (see FIG. 4).

  The second carriage moving mechanism 27 moves the water discharge head 12 up and down between the water discharge head standby position 12A and the water discharge head wiping position 12B. The water discharge head 12 is normally disposed at the water discharge head standby position 12A. The water discharge head wiping position 12B is a position for wiping the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12 (see FIG. 5).

  A maintenance unit 30 is disposed in a space formed between the head unit 10 and the recording paper transport path 7 below the second carriage 14. As shown in FIG. 2A, the maintenance unit 30 includes a box-shaped cap 31 having an upper end opening, wiper mechanisms 32 arranged on both sides of the cap 31 in the front-rear direction of the printer, and as shown in FIG. A maintenance unit carriage 33 on which the cap 31 and the wiper mechanism 32 are mounted is provided.

  The cap 31 has a first cap 34 for covering the first ink jet head 15 at the ink jet head standby position 6B, and a second cap 35 for covering the second ink jet head 16, which have the same configuration. It has. As shown in FIG. 2B, each of the first cap 34 and the second cap 35 includes a frame-like lip 36 made of butyl rubber or the like at the opening edge. An ink absorber 37 made of felt or the like is accommodated inside the cap 31. A suction pump 38 is connected to the cap 31.

  The wiper mechanism 32 includes a first wiper mechanism 40 for wiping the ink nozzle surface 18 of the first inkjet head 15 and the first water nozzle surface 22 of the water discharge head 12, and the ink nozzle surface of the second inkjet head 16. 18 and a second wiper mechanism 41 for wiping the second water nozzle surface 23 of the water discharge head 12. The first wiper mechanism 40 and the second wiper mechanism 41 have a symmetrical configuration with the cap 31 interposed therebetween.

  The wiper mechanism 32 includes a wiper blade 42 for wiping the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6 and the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12, a wiper blade carriage 43 on which the wiper blade 42 is mounted, and a wiper blade carriage 43. A guide shaft 44 and a guide groove 45 for guiding the movement of the wiper, and a wiper moving mechanism 46 for moving the wiper blade carriage 43 along the guide shaft 44 and the guide groove 45. The wiper blade 42 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The guide shaft 44 and the guide groove 45 extend in the printer width direction. The wiper moving mechanism 46 normally moves to a position deviated from the ink nozzle surface 18 and the water nozzle surface 21 in the printer width direction by moving the wiper blade carriage 43 along the guide shaft 44 and the guide groove 45. The wiper blade 42 is moved in the printer width direction.

  The maintenance unit carriage 33 is moved in the front-rear direction of the printer by a maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism (wiper mechanism moving mechanism, cap moving mechanism) 50. As a result, the maintenance unit 30 moves in the front-rear direction of the printer in the space formed between the head unit 10 and the recording paper transport path 7. More specifically, the maintenance unit 30 includes a first maintenance position (second position) 30A in which the second wiper mechanism 41 is disposed directly below the second inkjet head 16 from the front side of the printer, and the cap 31 is ink of the inkjet head 6. A second maintenance position 30B disposed at the capping position 31A directly below the nozzle surface 18, and a third maintenance position (second position) at which the first wiper mechanism 40 is disposed directly below the ink nozzle surface 18 of the first inkjet head 15. 30C, a fourth maintenance position (first position) 30D in which the second wiper mechanism 41 is disposed directly below the second water nozzle surface 23 of the water discharge head 12, and a cap 31 is directly below the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12. 5th maintenance position 30E arranged at sealed position 31B of the first wiper mechanism 0 is moved between the sixth maintenance position (first position) 30F disposed below the first water nozzle surface 22 of the water discharge head 12 (see FIGS. 4 to 6). Here, the capping position 31A is a position where the cap 31 covers the ink nozzle surface 18 when the inkjet head 6 is at the inkjet head standby position 6B. The sealed position 31B is a position where the cap 31 is sealed by the water discharge head 12 arranged at the water discharge head standby position 12A.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, an ink cartridge mounting portion 51 is provided below the platen 8. For example, an ink cartridge that stores ink of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is mounted on the ink cartridge mounting unit 51. When the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion 51, the pump mechanism 11 and the ink tank are connected via the ink supply pipe 52, and ink can be supplied to the inkjet head 6.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2A, the inkjet printer 1 includes a control unit 55 that performs printing on the recording paper 3 based on a print command from a host computer or the like. The control unit 55 transports the recording paper 3 fed out from the roll paper 2 along the recording paper transporting path 7 by the recording paper transporting mechanism including a transporting roller 56 (see FIG. 1) and the pump mechanism 11 and the inkjet head 6. Is controlled to perform printing on the recording paper 3 passing through the printing position P. The control unit 55 controls driving of the first carriage moving mechanism 26, the second carriage moving mechanism 27, the wiper moving mechanism 46, the suction pump 38, and the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 in synchronization.

(Water discharge head)
Next, the water discharge head 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the water discharge head 12 as viewed obliquely from above, FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the water discharge head 12 as viewed from diagonally below, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the water discharge head 12 in XX of 3 (a). The water discharge head 12 has a rectangular plate portion 60. A water channel 61 for supplying water to the water nozzle 20 is formed inside the plate portion 60. The water channel 61 includes a trunk line 62 extending in the apparatus width direction at a portion near the lower surface of the plate portion 60, a plurality of branch lines 63 extending in the apparatus front-rear direction at a portion close to the upper surface of the plate portion 60, and A groove 64 extending downward from the tip is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, an inflow pipe 65 to which the water supply pipe 25 from the water tank 24 is connected is formed on the upper surface of the plate portion 60, and the inflow pipe 65 is connected to the main line 62 of the water channel 61. Communicate. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, eight rectangular parallelepiped convex portions 66 are formed on the lower surface of the plate portion 60, and a plurality of water nozzles 20 are formed on the lower end surface of the convex portion 66. Water nozzle surface 21 is formed. The water nozzle 20 communicates with the branch line 63 through the groove 64.

  Here, of the eight convex portions 66, the water nozzle surfaces 21 of the four convex portions 66 located on the front side of the printer constitute a first nozzle surface 67, and the four convex portions 66 located on the rear side of the printer are arranged. The water nozzle surface 21 of the convex portion 66 constitutes a second nozzle surface 68. The arrangement of the first nozzle surface 67 corresponds to the arrangement of the four ink nozzle surfaces 18 provided in the first inkjet head 15, and the arrangement of the second nozzle surface 68 is provided in the second inkjet head 16. This corresponds to the arrangement of the four ink nozzle surfaces 18.

  A valve chamber 69 is formed between the trunk line 62 and the branch line 63 of the water channel 61 so as to extend in the vertical direction and communicate the trunk line 62 and the branch line 63. A parasol type valve element 70 made of an elastic material is disposed in the valve chamber 69. The valve body 70 closes the water channel 61 against the head pressure of water stored in the water tank 24 and is driven when a predetermined negative pressure is generated on the water nozzle 20 side of the valve body 70. Thus, the water channel 61 is opened and water is discharged from the water nozzle 20.

  Here, when water is discharged from the water nozzle 20, the suction pump 38 is driven with the cap 31 covering the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12, and the space between the cap 31 and the water nozzle surface 21 is driven. Generate negative pressure in the sealed space. That is, the liquid supply path including the water tank 24, the water supply pipe 25 and the water path 61, the valve body 70 and the suction pump 38 constitute a liquid supply mechanism for supplying water into the cap 31.

(Operations that shift to the print state and standby state)
Next, drive control of the first carriage movement mechanism 26, the second carriage movement mechanism 27, the wiper movement mechanism 46, the suction pump 38, and the maintenance unit carriage movement mechanism 50 by the control unit 55 for each operation of the inkjet printer 1 will be described. To do. First, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation | movement which the inkjet printer 1 transfers to a printing state and a standby state is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the positions of the head unit 10 and the maintenance unit 30 in the printing state and the standby state.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when a printing operation for printing on the recording paper 3 is performed, the control unit 55 drives the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 to move the maintenance unit 30 to the fifth maintenance position 30E. And the cap 31 is disposed at a sealed position 31B immediately below the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12. Further, the control unit 55 drives the first carriage moving mechanism 26 to place the inkjet head 6 at the printable position 6A. Further, the control unit 55 drives the second carriage moving mechanism 27 to place the water discharge head 12 at the water discharge head standby position 12A.

  Here, the sealed position 31B is a position where the cap 31 is sealed by the water ejection head 12 at the water ejection head standby position 12A. In the sealed position 31B, the water nozzle surface 21 of the water ejection head 12 is the cap 31. The upper end opening of the cap 31 is sealed. Accordingly, the cap 31 is sealed by the water discharge head 12 while the inkjet head 6 is at the printable position 6A, that is, while printing is being performed.

  When the printing is finished, as shown in FIG. 4B, the control unit 55 drives the first carriage moving mechanism 26 to place the ink jet head 6 at the ink jet head standby position 6B, and at the same time, the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50. Is driven to move the maintenance unit 30 to the second maintenance position 30 </ b> B, and the cap 31 is disposed at the capping position 31 </ b> A immediately below the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6.

  Here, when the cap 31 is disposed at the capping position 31A, the lip 36 of the cap 31 elastically contacts the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6 at the standby position, and the cap 31 causes the ink nozzle surface 18 to move. It will be in a state of covering. Therefore, the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head in the standby position is covered with the cap 31 while the inkjet printer 1 is waiting for supply of print data from a host computer or the like or in a pause state.

  Thus, according to this example, the cap 31 can be sealed by the cap 31 sealing member while printing by the inkjet head 6 is performed. Further, when the ink jet is in the standby position, the cap 31 can be kept sealed by covering the ink nozzle surface 18 with the cap 31. As a result, the cap 31 can be prevented from being opened for a long time, so that evaporation of moisture from the ink absorbing material 37 can be suppressed.

(Ink suction operation)
Next, an ink suction operation for forcibly ejecting ink from the ink nozzle 17 when the ink nozzle 17 is clogged will be described. When performing the ink suction operation, the controller 55 drives the first carriage moving mechanism 26 to place the ink jet head 6 at the ink jet head standby position 6B and drives the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 to perform maintenance. The unit 30 is moved to the second maintenance position 30B, and the cap 31 is disposed at the capping position 31A, so that the cap 31 covers the ink nozzle surface 18. Thereafter, the suction pump 38 is driven to generate a negative pressure in the sealed space formed by the ink nozzle surface 18 and the cap 31, and the ink is forcibly discharged from the ink nozzle 17 toward the cap 31. Here, the positions of the head unit 10 and the maintenance unit 30 when performing this ink suction operation are the same as in the standby state shown in FIG.

(Water supply operation)
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a water supply operation for supplying water into the cap 31 in order to cause the ink absorbing material 37 accommodated in the cap 31 to contain moisture will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the positions of the head unit 10 and the maintenance unit 30 in the water supply operation.

  When performing the water supply operation, as shown in FIG. 5A, the control unit 55 drives the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 to move the maintenance unit 30 to the fifth maintenance position 30E, and the cap 31. Is disposed at a sealed position 31 </ b> B directly below the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12. Further, the control unit 55 drives the second carriage moving mechanism 27 to place the water discharge head 12 at the water discharge head standby position 12A. Thereby, the cap 31 is sealed by the water nozzle surface 21. Thereafter, the suction pump 38 is driven to generate a negative pressure in the sealed space formed by the water nozzle surface 21 and the cap 31, and water is discharged from the water nozzle 20 toward the cap 31. Since the state in which the water nozzle surface 21 seals the upper end opening of the cap 31 is the same as the state during printing shown in FIG. 4A, this water supply operation is mainly performed during printing. Further, in this water supply operation, the moisturizing component deposited on the ink absorbing material 37 is discharged from the cap 31 by suction by the suction pump 38.

  Here, when the printing is completed immediately after the water supply operation is performed, the maintenance unit 30 moves from the fifth maintenance position 30E to the second maintenance position 30B shown in FIG. 4B, and the cap 31 is sealed. From the water nozzle surface 21, the water remaining inside the water nozzle 20 drops down from the water nozzle surface 21, and the recording paper 3 on the recording paper conveyance path 7 is moved. There is a risk of getting wet. Accordingly, when printing is completed before a predetermined time has elapsed after performing the water supply operation, a wiping operation for wiping the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12 with the wiper mechanism 32 is performed, and the water nozzle surface Wipe water from 21.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, the control unit 55 drives the first carriage moving mechanism 26 after the printing is finished, and arranges the inkjet head 6 at the inkjet head standby position 6B. Further, the control unit 55 drives the second carriage moving mechanism 27 to place the water discharge head 12 at the water discharge head wiping position 12B. In parallel with this, the control unit 55 drives the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 to move the maintenance unit 30 to the sixth maintenance position 30F, so that the first wiper mechanism 40 is moved to the first water nozzle of the water discharge head 12. Arranged just below the surface 22.

  Here, when the water discharge head 12 is disposed at the water discharge head wiping position 12B, the height position of the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12 is moved to the sixth maintenance position 30F, and the wiper blade 42 of the first wiper mechanism 40 is moved. The front end of the water discharge head 12 is at a height position where it can contact the ink nozzle surface 18 of the water discharge head 12. Therefore, the control unit 55 drives the wiper moving mechanism 46 to wipe the first water nozzle surface 22 with the wiper blade 42. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, the control unit 55 drives the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 to move the maintenance unit 30 to the fourth maintenance position 30D, and discharges the second wiper mechanism 41 with water. The head 12 is disposed directly below the second water nozzle surface 23. After that, the second wiper mechanism 41 is driven and the second water nozzle surface 23 is wiped by the wiper blade 42.

  When the wiping operation for wiping the water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12 by the wiper mechanism 32 is completed, the control unit 55 moves the maintenance unit 30 to the second maintenance position 30B as shown in FIG. The cap 31 is disposed at the capping position 31A. As a result, the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6 is covered with the cap 31.

(Ink nozzle surface wiping operation and flushing operation)
Next, the wiping operation and flushing operation of the ink nozzle surface 18 by the wiper mechanism 32 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the positions of the head unit 10 and the maintenance unit 30 in the wiping operation and the flushing operation.

  When wiping of the ink nozzle surface 18 by the wiper mechanism 32 is required, first, the water supply operation of FIG. 5A and the wiping operation of the water nozzle 20 of FIGS. 5B and 5C are continuously performed. Do it. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6A, the control unit 55 drives the first carriage moving mechanism 26 to place the inkjet head 6 at the inkjet head wiping position 6C. Further, the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 is driven to move the maintenance unit 30 to the first maintenance position 30 </ b> A, and the second wiper mechanism 41 is disposed directly below the second inkjet head 16. Here, the height position of the inkjet head wiping position 6C of the inkjet head 6 is such that the tip of the wiper blade 42 of the second wiper mechanism 41 is located at the second inkjet head 16 when the maintenance unit 30 is moved to the first maintenance position 30A. Therefore, the control unit 55 drives the wiper moving mechanism 46 and wipes the ink nozzle surface 18 with the wiper blade 42. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the control unit 55 drives the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 to move the maintenance unit 30 to the third maintenance position 30C, and moves the first wiper mechanism 40 to the first inkjet. The ink nozzle face 18 of the first inkjet head 15 is wiped by the wiper blade 42 by driving the wiper moving mechanism 46 after the ink nozzle face 18 is disposed directly below the ink nozzle face 18 of the head 15. In the wiping operation, the ink nozzle surface 18 of the second inkjet head 16 may be wiped after the ink nozzle surface 18 of the first inkjet head 15 is wiped.

  Here, in order to suppress occurrence of clogging of the ink nozzles 17, when performing a flushing operation in which ink is ejected from the ink nozzles 17 toward the cap 31, as shown in FIG. 55, the first carriage moving mechanism 26 is driven to place the inkjet head 6 at the inkjet head wiping position 6C, and the maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism 50 is driven to move the maintenance unit 30 to the second maintenance position 30B. Then, the cap 31 is disposed at the capping position 31A immediately below the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6. As a result, a state in which the inkjet head 6 and the cap 31 are opposed to each other is formed, and the control unit 55 ejects ink from the inkjet head 6.

(Function and effect)
In this example, immediately after discharging water from the water nozzle 20 of the water discharge head 12 into the cap 31, if the cap 31 moves from the position covered by the water discharge head 12, the wiper mechanism 32 The water nozzle surface 21 of the water discharge head 12 is wiped off, and the water on the water nozzle surface 21 is wiped off. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent water from dripping from the water nozzle surface 21 and getting wet in the apparatus.

  Further, in this example, the wiper mechanism 32 for wiping the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6 is shared as the wiper mechanism 32 for wiping the water nozzle surface 21 of the water ejection head 12. Can be reduced in size and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, in this example, when the wiping operation of the ink nozzle surface 18 of the inkjet head 6 is performed, water is first discharged from the water nozzle 20 prior to wiping the ink nozzle surface 18 by the wiper mechanism 32. The water nozzle surface 21 of the head 12 is wetted, and the wet water nozzle surface 21 is wiped by the wiper blade 42. Therefore, even when the thickened ink that has been thickened on the wiper blade 42 due to the previous wiping of the ink nozzle surface 18 is adhered, the wiper blade 42 is washed with water by the wiping of the water nozzle surface 21, and the wiper The thickened ink is removed from the blade 42. As a result, when the ink nozzle surface 18 is wiped, the thickened ink adhering to the wiper blade 42 is not pushed into the ink nozzle, so that clogging does not occur.

(Other embodiments)
In the above example, water is supplied from the water discharge head 12 to the cap 31, but the inside of the cap 31 can be moisturized using a liquid other than water.

1. Inkjet printer (inkjet recording device), 3. Recording paper, 4. Recording paper discharge port, 5. Roll paper loading section, 6. Inkjet head, 6A, printable position, 6B, inkjet head standby position, 6C, inkjet Head wiping position, 7 · Recording paper transport path, 8 · Platen, 10 · Head unit, 11 · Pump mechanism, 12 · Water discharge head, 12A · Water discharge head standby position, 12B · Water discharge head wiping position, 13 · No. 1 carriage, 14 second carriage, 15 first inkjet head, 16 second inkjet head, 17 ink nozzle, 18 ink nozzle surface, 20 water nozzle (liquid nozzle), 21 water nozzle surface (liquid Nozzle surface), 22, first water nozzle surface, 23, second water nozzle surface, 24, water tank (liquid Tank), 25 · water supply pipe, 26 · first carriage movement mechanism, 27 · second carriage movement mechanism, 30 · maintenance unit, 30A · first maintenance position (second position), 30B · second maintenance position, 30C・ 3rd maintenance position (2nd position), 30D ・ 4th maintenance position (1st position), 30E ・ 5th maintenance position, 30F ・ 6th maintenance position (1st position), 31 ・ Cap, 31A ・ Capping position 31B, sealed position, 32, wiper mechanism, 33, maintenance unit carriage, 34, first cap, 35, second cap, 36, lip, 37, ink absorber, 38, suction pump, 40, first wiper Mechanism, 41 second wiper mechanism, 42 wiper blade, 43 wiper blade carriage, 44 Guide shaft 45, guide groove 46, wiper moving mechanism 50 maintenance unit carriage moving mechanism (wiper mechanism moving mechanism, cap moving mechanism) 51 ink cartridge mounting section 52 ink supply pipe 55 control section 56, conveying roller, 60, plate, 61, waterway, 62, trunk, 63, branch, 64, groove, 65, inflow pipe, 66, convex, 67, first nozzle surface, 68, second nozzle surface, 69 / valve chamber, 70 / valve, P / printing position

Claims (2)

An inkjet head capable of moving between a printable position where printing on a print medium is possible and a standby position away from the printable position;
A cap that covers an ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head in which an ink nozzle is formed when the inkjet head is in the standby position;
An ink absorbing material that is housed inside the cap and absorbs ink discharged from the ink nozzle to the cap;
A cap sealing member that includes a liquid nozzle surface on which a liquid nozzle for discharging moisturizing liquid is formed, and that seals the cap with the liquid nozzle surface when the inkjet head is in the printable position;
A liquid supply mechanism that moisturizes the ink absorbing material by discharging the liquid from the liquid nozzle in a state where the cap sealing member seals the cap;
A wiper mechanism for wiping the ink nozzle surface and the liquid nozzle surface of the inkjet head by a wiper blade ;
A wiper that moves the wiper mechanism between a first position where the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member can be wiped and a second position where the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head can be wiped. A mechanism moving mechanism;
A cap moving mechanism that moves the cap between a capping position that covers the ink nozzle surface of the inkjet head and a sealed position that is sealed by the cap sealing member;
A control unit that drives and controls the cap moving mechanism, the liquid supply mechanism, the wiper mechanism, and the wiper mechanism moving mechanism ,
The control unit moves the cap to the sealed position, discharges the moisturizing liquid from the liquid nozzle, moves the wiper mechanism to the first position, wipes the liquid nozzle surface by the wiper blade, An ink jet recording apparatus , wherein the movement of the wiper mechanism to the second position and the wiping of the ink nozzle surface by the wiper blade are continuously performed in this order . The ink nozzle surface wiping method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 ,
Sealing the cap by the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member;
Discharging the liquid from the liquid nozzle;
Wiping the liquid nozzle surface of the cap sealing member with the wiper blade,
An ink nozzle surface wiping method for an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink nozzle surface of the ink jet head is wiped by the wiper blade.

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