JP5976044B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium such as paper in a recording apparatus such as a facsimile, a copying machine, and a printer.

  Recording apparatuses such as facsimiles, copiers, and printers are configured to record images on recording media such as paper, cloth, and OHP sheets. However, depending on the recording method, inkjet, wire dot, thermal It can be classified into formulas and the like. These recording methods can be further classified into a serial type in which recording is performed while the recording head scans the recording medium, and a line head type in which recording is performed by a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body.

  For example, in a line head type ink jet recording apparatus, each of the line heads having a recording area equal to or larger than the width of the recording medium while conveying the recording medium such as paper at a high speed by a conveying means such as a conveying belt provided in the apparatus main body. An image is formed on the recording medium by ejecting ink from the ink ejection nozzle. This enables high-speed printing as compared with a serial type ink jet head in which the recording head reciprocates in the width direction of the recording medium.

  In such an ink jet printer, generally, the recording head is capped in order to prevent drying of the ink in the ink ejection nozzle provided with an opening on the ink ejection surface of the recording head and clogging of the nozzle. Sometimes. In addition, before the recording head is capped, after the ink is ejected, the ink adhering to the ink ejection surface may be wiped off to perform a recording head recovery process. Thus, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet recording apparatus in which the ink discharge surface is wiped off and the cap is attached to the recording head.

  For example, Patent Document 1 includes a maintenance mechanism unit that has a cap (cap unit) and a wipe blade (wiping unit), and performs maintenance by contacting or approaching a nozzle plate of an inkjet recording head (recording head) during non-image formation. A method is disclosed in which the recovery device) is stored under the ink supply path for supplying ink to the nozzles, thereby enabling downsizing. Patent Document 1 also discloses that the ink discharge surface of the recording head is wiped by the wipe blade moving in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction.

JP 2006-289648 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the recovery device is moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium (the longitudinal direction of the recording head) to wipe the ink discharge surface of the recording head, the moving distance of the wiping portion becomes long. The wiping time will be longer.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of shortening the wiping time.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording head that is arranged along a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium and that ejects ink onto the recording medium, a cap portion that covers the ink ejection surface of the recording head, and An ink jet recording apparatus having a wiping portion capable of wiping the ink discharge surface and capable of executing a recovery process of the recording head, wherein the recovery apparatus is arranged along a conveyance direction of the recording medium. It is movable, and when the recovery device moves along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, the wiping portion wipes the ink ejection surface while moving along the conveyance direction of the recording medium. .

  The present invention also provides an attachment / detachment position where the cap unit can be attached / detached to / from the recording head along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and a retraction position where the cap unit retracts when printing on the recording medium. And a drive unit that moves the recovery device in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, whereby the wiping unit wipes the ink ejection surface.

  In the invention, it is preferable that the wiping portion wipes the ink ejection surface when the recovery device moves between the attachment / detachment position and the retracted position.

  Further, the invention is characterized in that a plurality of the recording heads are provided, and the retracted position is provided at a position where the cap portion is disposed between the recording heads.

  According to the first configuration of the present invention, the recovery device is movable along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the wiping unit is conveyed along the conveyance direction of the recording medium by moving the recovery device along the conveyance direction of the recording medium. By wiping the ink discharge surface while moving along the direction, the moving distance required for wiping the recording head is shortened, so that the wiping time can be shortened. Further, by wiping the recording head along the recording medium conveyance direction, it is possible to suppress that the ink ejection direction of the recording head after wiping has a component in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction, and Since it becomes difficult for the streaks to appear, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality.

  Further, according to the second configuration of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the first configuration, the recovery device includes an attachment / detachment position where the cap portion can be attached to and detached from the recording head along the conveyance direction of the recording medium. A drive unit that moves the cap unit to a retracted position where the cap unit is retracted when printing on the recording medium, and the driving unit moves the recovery device in the conveyance direction of the recording medium so that the wiping unit wipes the ink ejection surface. Since it is not necessary to separately provide a drive source dedicated to the wiping operation, an increase in the number of members and a complicated configuration can be prevented.

  According to the third configuration of the present invention, in the inkjet recording apparatus having the second configuration, the wiping unit wipes the ink ejection surface when the recovery device moves between the attachment / detachment position and the retracted position. Thus, the recovery device can also wipe the ink ejection surface only by performing the moving operation for attaching / detaching the cap and printing, so that the moving distance of the recovery device can be further shortened.

  According to the fourth configuration of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus having the second or third configuration, a plurality of recording heads are provided, and the retreat position is set to a position where the cap portion is disposed between the recording heads. By providing, the movement distance between the attachment / detachment position of the recovery device and the retracted position can be shortened, so that the working time can be further shortened.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view showing a schematic structure of an ink jet printer which is an example of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the vicinity of a recording unit and a conveyance unit of a printer when a cap is attached to the recording head, in which FIG. 2A is a schematic top view, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view. It is sectional drawing. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the periphery of a recording unit and a conveyance unit of a printer in a state in which the recording head can print, FIG. 3A is a schematic top view, and FIG. 3B is a schematic side cross-sectional view. It is. These are figures which show a cap unit and a horizontal drive device, Comprising: Fig.4 (a) is a schematic top view, FIG.4 (b) is a schematic side view. These are figures which show operation | movement of a cap unit, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional side view which shows a recording part and cap unit periphery when a cap is mounted | worn with the recording head in the attachment / detachment position. These are figures which show operation | movement of a cap unit, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional side view which shows a recording part and cap unit periphery when a cap unit moves below in an attachment / detachment position. These are figures which show operation | movement of a cap unit, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional side view which shows a recording part and cap unit periphery when a cap unit moves to a retracted position from an attachment / detachment position. These are figures which show operation | movement of a cap unit, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional side view which shows a recording part and cap unit periphery when a recording head can print.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view showing a schematic structure of an ink jet printer which is an example of an ink jet recording apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 3, which is a storage unit for paper (recording medium) P, is disposed below the inside of the main body 2 of the printer 1. The paper P is stacked and accommodated inside the paper feed cassette 3. A paper feeding device 4 is disposed above the downstream portion of the paper feeding cassette 3 in the paper feeding direction (recording medium feeding direction). The sheet feeding device 4 feeds the sheet P toward the upper right of the sheet feeding cassette 3 in FIG.

  A paper transport path 5, a registration roller 6, a recording unit 20, and a transport unit 30 are arranged downstream of the paper feed cassette 3 in the paper transport direction. The paper P sent out from the paper feed cassette 3 reaches the registration roller 6 through the paper transport path 5. Note that the paper transport path 5 includes members related to a series of paper transport from the paper feed cassette 3 to the paper discharge tray 10. As an example, the paper transport path 5 includes a pair of transport rollers for transporting the paper P. May be provided as necessary. The registration roller 6 temporarily stops the paper P, corrects the oblique feeding of the paper P, and feeds the paper P again. At a timing based on the detection of the leading edge of the paper P by the member, the recording unit 20 performs an ink discharge operation for discharging ink onto the paper P.

  The transport unit 30 includes an endless transport belt 31 wound around a driving roller 32, a driven roller 33, and a tension roller 34. The conveyor belt 31 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. The paper P sent out by the registration rollers 6 is placed on the upper surface of the transport belt 31 and is transported from right to left in FIG.

  For the conveyor belt 31, a belt in which both end portions are overlapped and joined to each other to form an endless shape, a seamless belt (seamless), or the like is preferably used. In addition, a roller 35 is disposed at a position where the conveyance belt 31 is in contact with the driven roller 33 so that the sheet P conveyed to the conveyance unit 30 can be suppressed from above with respect to the conveyance belt 31. It has become.

  An air suction unit 36 is provided in the transport unit 30 at a location facing the recording unit 20 (see FIG. 2). The air suction unit 36 includes a large number of air suction holes (not shown) on its upper surface. The transport unit 30 can suck air downward from the upper surface by the air suction unit 36. The conveyor belt 31 is also provided with a number of air suction holes (not shown). Thus, the transport unit 30 transports the paper P while adsorbing the paper P to the upper surface of the transport belt 31 using the transport belt 31 and the air suction unit 36.

  On the other hand, the printer 1 receives image data signals such as characters, graphics, and patterns from an external computer (not shown). The image data information is sent to the recording unit 20 disposed above the transport unit 30 so as to face the transport unit 30. The recording unit 20 is disposed with a minute gap (for example, 1 mm) between the bottom surface of the recording head 22 and the sheet conveyance surface that is the top surface of the conveyance belt 31.

  The recording unit 20 includes four recording heads 22 corresponding to the respective colors (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The recording heads 22 extend in the paper width direction (perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction) that is perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording heads corresponding to the four colors are arranged side by side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotational direction along the rotational direction of the transport belt 31.

  The recording heads 22 corresponding to the four colors are a black recording head 22K, a cyan recording head 22C, a magenta recording head 22M, and a yellow recording head 22Y in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction. Further, the number and arrangement of the recording heads constituting the recording heads 22K to 22Y for each color are not particularly limited. For example, the recording heads 22K to 22Y for each color are composed of three recording heads, and these are provided for each color. It can also be arranged in a staggered pattern.

  Corresponding to the recording heads 22 for the respective colors, four ink tanks 23 are provided below the transport unit 30. The ink of each color is supplied from the ink tank 23 to the recording head 22 by a supply tube (not shown). In the following description, the identification symbols “K”, “C”, “M”, and “Y” are omitted unless particularly limited.

  As the ink discharge method of the recording head 22, for example, a piezo method of pushing ink using a piezo element (not shown) or a bubble is generated in the ink by a heating element, and the ink is applied by applying pressure to the ink by the bubble. Various systems such as a thermal ink jet system for discharging can be applied.

  Each recording head 22 of the recording unit 20 discharges ink from the recording head 22 toward the paper P placed on the surface of the conveyance belt 31 in accordance with the image data information received from the external computer. The recording head 22 is supported by a substantially rectangular plate-shaped recording head support 21 and is fixed to the main body 2 together with the recording head support 21 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). As the transport belt 31 rotates, ink of each color is sequentially ejected from the recording heads 22 at the predetermined timing described above, so that the paper P on the surface of the transport belt 31 has four colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. A color ink image in which color inks are superimposed is formed and printed.

  A drying device 7 is disposed downstream of the transport unit 30 in the paper transport direction. The ink ejected from the recording device 20 onto the paper P is dried by the drying device 7.

  A discharge roller 8, a discharge port 9, and a discharge tray 10 are provided downstream of the drying device 7. The paper P on which the ink printed by the drying device 7 has been dried is sent to the left by the discharge roller 8, and discharged to the outside through the discharge port 9 in the discharge tray 10 provided outside the left side surface of the main body 2. Is done.

  Further, with respect to prevention of drying and clogging of the recording head 22, recording is performed from all the recording heads 22 at the start of printing after the recording unit 20 has been stopped for a long time, and during the printing operation, the ink discharge amount is less than a specified value. Purge for ejecting ink with increased viscosity in the nozzle from the nozzles of the head 22 is executed to prepare for the next printing operation. At this time, from the state where the transport unit 30 is lowered, the cap (cap portion) 51 is brought close to the recording head 22 with a minute distance, and the ink is ejected into the cap 51.

  On the other hand, a lifting device 40 for the transport unit 30 is provided below the transport unit 30. The elevating device 40 is equipped with a cap 51 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) on the recording head 22 in order to prevent drying of ink in the ink discharging nozzle (not shown) of the recording head 22 and clogging of the ink discharging nozzle. The conveyor unit 30 is moved up and down in order to perform the purge, to perform the purge, or to perform the jam processing generated on the conveyor belt 31. In the lifting device 40, the eccentric cam 41 on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction (right side in FIG. 1) rotates counterclockwise, and the eccentric cam 41 on the downstream side (left side in FIG. 1) rotates clockwise. It can be lowered (see FIG. 6).

  A total of four eccentric cams 41 are provided on the front side and the back side of the transport unit 30, and abuts on the outer bottom surface of the transport unit 30 from below on the peripheral surface thereof. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the eccentric cam 41 includes a shaft portion 42 that extends in the paper width direction, and is configured by a cam in which the rotational axis is unevenly distributed. The eccentric cam 41 is rotated by a motor (not shown) around the axis of the shaft portion 42. In addition, a bearing 43 that is a plurality of rotating members is provided on the peripheral edge of the eccentric cam 41 so that a part of the eccentric cam 41 protrudes outward.

  The bearings 43 are rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the eccentric cam 41, and are sequentially arranged from the tip side of the eccentric cam 41 toward the rotation axis. In a normal printing state, as shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 has a bearing 43 that is farthest from the shaft portion 42 abuts on the outer bottom surface of the transport unit 30 from below, and moves the transport unit 30 to the highest portion. Yes.

  From this state, when the eccentric cam 41 positioned on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the conveying unit 30 is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from the front, and the eccentric cam 41 positioned on the downstream side is rotated clockwise, the shaft portion 42 is From the separated bearing 43 to the bearing 43 closest to the shaft portion 42, the conveyance unit 30 can be lowered by abutting and supporting the bottom surface of the conveyance unit 30 in order. During such rotation, the two adjacent bearings 43 have a period of contact with the bottom surface of the transport unit 30 at the same time.

  As a result, the transport unit 30 is lowered, and the cap 51 can be detached from the recording head 22 as will be described later. On the other hand, in order to return the transport unit 30 to the normal printing position, the transport cam 30 is raised to the state shown in FIG. can do. Further, by raising the transport unit 30, a cap 51 can be attached to the recording head 22 as will be described later.

  Subsequently, the cap 51 and a wipe blade (wiping unit) 52 are provided. The cap 51 is attached to and detached from the recording head 22 and the ink ejection surface of the recording head 22 is wiped off to perform the recovery process of the recording head 22. The schematic configuration and operation of the unit (recovery device) 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 in addition to FIG.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic top view showing the periphery of the recording unit and the conveyance unit of the printer when a cap is attached to the recording head, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side sectional view. FIG. 3A is a schematic top view showing the periphery of the recording unit and the conveyance unit of the printer in a state where the recording head is capable of printing, and FIG. 3B is a schematic side sectional view. FIG. 4A is a schematic top view showing the cap unit and the horizontal drive device, and FIG. 4B is a schematic side view. Portions common to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by common reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cap unit 50 is provided below the recording unit 20. The cap unit 50 includes a cap base 53 in addition to the cap 51 and the wipe blade 52, and can be moved horizontally by a horizontal drive device (drive means) 60. The cap unit 50 is supported above the transport unit 30 and can be lifted and lowered together with the transport unit 30 by the lifting device 40. In addition, a predetermined gap is provided between the bottom surface of the cap base 53 and the paper transport surface that is the uppermost surface of the transport unit 30 so that the paper P can pass therethrough.

  The cap 51 is made of an elastic material, and is arranged corresponding to the heads 22 of the respective colors on a support member 53a, which will be described later, corresponding to the recording heads 22 arranged in the paper width direction. The cap 51 is a lid-like member that is large enough to cover the ink discharge surface provided on the bottom surface of the recording head 22 so that it does not come into contact with the outside air, has an open portion on the upper side, and has a concave portion directed downward.

  The cap 51 is attached to the bottom surface of the recording head 22 from below while covering the recording head 22. In addition, an ink discharge port (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface of the cap 51 so that ink discharged from the recording head 22 at the time of purging can be discharged out of the cap 51.

  The wipe blade 52 is made of an elastic material, and is disposed along the cap 51 on the support member 53a in the vicinity of the upstream side of the cap 51 in the paper conveyance direction (the right side in FIGS. 2 and 3). The wipe blade 52 is formed higher than the cap 51 with respect to the support member 53a, and the cap unit 50 moves in the paper transport direction as will be described later, so that the ink discharge surface of the recording head 22 can be wiped off. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cap base 53 is disposed along the longitudinal direction (paper width direction) of the cap 51, and is disposed along the support member 53a that supports the cap 51 and the sheet conveyance direction, and the support member 53a. And a connecting member 53b for holding and connecting the two from both ends in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, the cap 51 and the wipe blade 52 can move together.

  The horizontal driving device 60 for horizontally moving the cap unit 50 along the paper conveyance direction sandwiches the cap base 53 in the paper width direction (up and down direction in FIG. 4) and is in the paper conveyance direction (in FIG. 4). (Left and right direction) A pair of driving pulleys 61 arranged on the upstream side, a pair of driven pulleys 62 arranged on the downstream side, and stretched around the driving pulley 61 and the driven pulley 62 and arranged along the paper conveying direction. A pair of driving belts 63 and a driving motor 64 that rotationally drives the driving pulley 61 are provided.

  The two drive pulleys 61 are pivotally supported by a drive shaft 65 disposed in the paper width direction and connected to the drive motor 64, and the two driven pulleys are pivoted on a driven shaft 66 disposed in the paper width direction. It is supported. The drive motor 64 can be rotated forward and reverse. The both ends of the connecting member 53 b of the cap base 53 that is closest to each driving belt 63 are fixed to the driving belt 63 via fixing members 67.

  Thus, the cap unit 50 is supported by the horizontal driving device 60. The driving shaft 65 and the driven shaft 66 are rotatably supported by outer frames (not shown) provided at both ends of the transport unit 30 in the paper transport direction. More specifically, the outer frame extends to the upper side of the paper conveyance surface of the conveyance unit 30, and the driving shaft 65 and the driven shaft 66 rotate at appropriate positions above the paper conveyance surface of the outer frame. It is supported freely. That is, the horizontal driving device 60 is supported by the transport unit 30. In this way, the cap unit 50 is also supported by the transport unit 30 by being supported by the horizontal driving device 60.

  As a result, when the drive motor 64 rotates clockwise in FIG. 4B, the drive belt 63 rotates clockwise, whereby the cap base 53 is placed horizontally downstream (left side in the figure) in the sheet conveyance direction. Can move. On the other hand, when the drive motor 64 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4B, the drive belt 63 rotates counterclockwise, whereby the cap unit 53 moves upstream in the sheet conveyance direction (right side in the figure). Can move horizontally.

  When the cap 51 is attached to the recording head 22, the cap unit 50 moves horizontally to a detachable position where the cap 51 is disposed below the recording head 22 and the cap 51 can be attached and detached (FIGS. 2, 5, and 5). 6). On the other hand, during printing in which ink is ejected from the recording head 22 onto the paper P, the cap unit 50 moves horizontally to a retracted position where the cap 51 and the wipe blade 52 do not interfere with ink ejection of the recording head 22 onto the paper P (see FIG. 3, see FIGS. 7 and 8).

  Here, the retracted position is provided at a position where the cap 51 is disposed between the corresponding recording head 22 and the recording head 22 closest to the downstream side of the recording head 22 in the sheet conveyance direction. That is, in the retracted position, the cap 51 corresponding to the recording head 22K is between the recording head 22K and the recording head 22C, and the cap 51 corresponding to the recording head 22C is between the recording head 22C and the recording head 22M, and to the recording head 22M. The corresponding cap 51 is disposed between the recording head 22M and the recording head 22Y (see FIG. 3).

  Further, the cap 51 corresponding to the most downstream recording head 22Y in the paper conveyance direction is disposed on the downstream side of the recording head 22Y in correspondence with the movement of the cap unit 50 (see FIG. 3). Thus, by setting the retracted position of the cap unit 50 to a position where the cap 51 is disposed between the recording heads 22, the moving distance between the retracted position and the attaching / detaching position can be shortened, and the working time can be reduced. Can be shortened.

  Further, at the time of purging, the cap unit 50 is lowered by the lifting device 40 at the retracted position and then moved to the attaching / detaching position by the horizontal driving device 60, or the cap unit 50 is lowered by the lifting device 40 at the attaching / detaching position. Thus, the purge can be executed (see FIG. 6). Further, when the recovery process of the recording head 22 is performed, the cap unit 50 is moved by the horizontal driving device 60 between the attach / detach position and the retracted position from the state where the cap unit 50 is lowered by the elevating device 40 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). ), The ink ejection surface of the corresponding recording head 22 can be wiped off while the wipe blade 52 moves in the paper conveyance direction.

  Next, the movement operation of the cap unit 50 will be described. 5 to 8 are schematic side cross-sectional views showing the recording unit and the periphery of the cap unit showing the operation of the cap unit, and FIG. 5 is a view when the cap is attached to the recording head at the attachment / detachment position. 6 is a diagram when the cap unit is moved downward at the attaching / detaching position, FIG. 7 is a diagram when the cap unit is moved from the attaching / detaching position to the retracted position, and FIG. It is a figure when possible. Portions common to those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by common reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cap unit 50 is lowered together with the transport unit 30 as shown in FIG. 6 by the lifting device 40 (see FIG. 1) from the state where the cap 51 is attached to the recording head 22 at the attachment / detachment position. 51 is moved below the recording head 22 to execute purging. At this position, the wipe blade 52 is disposed on the upstream side of the corresponding recording head 22 in the sheet conveyance direction, and the tip of the wipe blade 52 is positioned slightly above the ink ejection surface which is the bottom surface of the recording head 22. Yes.

  After purging, the horizontal driving device 60 (see FIG. 4) moves the cap unit 50 from the attachment / detachment position shown in FIG. 6 to the retracted position downstream in the paper conveyance direction (arrow direction in the figure) as shown in FIG. . At this time, the ink ejection surface of the recording head 22 can be wiped off while the wipe blade 52 moves downstream in the paper conveyance direction as the cap unit 50 moves. As described above, since the tip of the wipe blade 52 is located slightly above the ink discharge surface on the bottom surface of the recording head 22, the wipe blade 52 comes into contact with the ink discharge surface in a bent state. .

  Then, when the cap unit 50 is lifted together with the transport unit 30 as shown in FIG. 8 by the lifting device 40 (see FIG. 1) in a state where the cap unit 50 is disposed at the retracted position, the recording head 22 is moved to the transport unit 30. It is possible to perform printing by ejecting ink onto the transported paper P (see FIG. 1).

  On the other hand, after the printing is completed, contrary to the above, the cap unit 50 is lowered together with the transport unit 30 by the elevating device 40 at the retracted position shown in FIG. 8 (see FIG. 7). When the cap unit 50 is moved from the retracted position to the attachment / detachment position on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction (see FIG. 6), the wipe blade 52 moves the ink ejection surface of each recording head 22 from the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction to the upstream side. Can be wiped off. When the cap unit 50 is lifted together with the transport unit 30 by the elevating device 40 at the attachment / detachment position shown in FIG. 6, the cap 51 can be attached to the recording head 22 (see FIG. 5).

  As described above, since the cap unit 50 moves in the paper transport direction, the wipe distance is shortened by wiping the ink discharge surface of the recording head 22 while the wipe blade 52 moves in the paper transport direction. Time can be shortened. Further, since the wipe blade 52 wipes the recording head 22 in the paper transport direction, the ink ejection direction of the recording head 22 after wiping is inclined with respect to the paper transport direction, and the direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. It can suppress having a component. This makes it difficult for vertical stripes due to ink not landing on the image to appear in the formed image, thereby preventing image quality deterioration due to wiping of the recording head 22.

  In the present embodiment, a horizontal driving device 60 is provided for moving the cap unit 50 to the attachment / detachment position and the retracted position along the paper conveyance direction, and the horizontal driving device 60 moves the cap unit 50 in the paper conveyance direction. Thus, since the wipe blade 52 wipes the ink discharge surface of the recording head 22, it is not necessary to separately provide a drive source dedicated to the wiping operation, so that an increase in the number of members and a complicated configuration can be prevented. However, for the wiping operation of the wipe blade 52, a driving source may be provided separately from the driving source for the moving operation to the attachment / detachment position and the retracted position.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the wipe unit 52 wipes the ink discharge surface of the recording head 22 by moving the cap unit 50 between the attachment / detachment position and the retracted position, the cap unit 50 attaches / detaches the cap 51. The ink discharge surface of the recording head 22 can be wiped off simply by performing a moving operation for printing. Thereby, the moving distance of the cap unit 50 can be made shorter.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of recording heads 22 are provided, and the retreat position of the cap unit 50 is provided at a position where the cap 51 is disposed between the recording heads 22. The travel distance between them can be shortened, and the working time can be further shortened. However, the retracted position is not particularly limited to the present embodiment, and for example, it can be on the upstream side or the downstream side in the paper transport direction with respect to the recording head support 21.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the number of nozzles and the nozzle interval of the recording head 22 can be appropriately set according to the specifications of the apparatus. Further, the number of the recording heads 22 is not particularly limited, and for example, one can be arranged.

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus, wherein the recovery device is movable along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and when the recovery device moves along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, the wiping portion is moved in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The ink ejection surface is wiped off while moving along.

  As a result, the wiping time can be shortened and the image quality can be prevented from being lowered, so that it is possible to execute printing with a shortened and simplified operation. Further, drive means for moving the recovery device to an attachment / detachment position where the cap unit can be attached to and detached from the recording head along a recording medium conveyance direction and a retreat position where the cap unit retracts when printing on the recording medium is provided. The drive means moves the recovery device in the recording medium conveyance direction so that the wiping unit wipes the ink ejection surface of the recording head, thereby preventing an increase in the number of members and complication of the configuration. It is possible to execute printing that is shortened and simplified.

  In addition, since the recovery device moves between the attachment / detachment position and the retracted position, the wiping unit wipes the ink ejection surface, so that the movement distance of the recovery device can be shortened. You can plan. Further, by providing a plurality of recording heads and providing the retracted position at a position where the cap portion is disposed between the recording heads, the working time can be further shortened, and the drive means and the apparatus main body can be increased in size. Can also be prevented.

1 Printer (inkjet recording device)
2 Main body 20 Recording unit 22 Recording head 30 Conveying unit 31 Conveying belt 40 Lifting device 50 Cap unit (recovery device)
51 Cap (cap part)
52 Wipe blade (wiping part)
53 Cap base 60 Horizontal drive (drive means)
61 Drive pulley 62 Driven pulley 63 Drive belt 64 Drive motor

Claims (1)

A transport unit that transports a recording medium; a recording head that is disposed above the transport unit and that is disposed along a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium; and that ejects ink onto the recording medium; In an inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a cap unit that covers an ink ejection surface of a recording head; and a wiping unit that can wipe the ink ejection surface, and a recovery device that can perform a recovery process of the recording head.
An attachment / detachment position where the cap unit can be attached / detached to / from the recording head along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and a retraction position where the cap unit retracts when the recording head prints on the recording medium. , Driving means for moving to are provided,
An elevating device for elevating the transport unit is provided,
The drive means includes a pair of drive belts that support both ends of the recovery device in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and a drive for rotating the pair of drive belts. A shaft and a driven shaft,
The driving shaft and the driven shaft are rotatably supported by the transport unit;
The recovery device is supported by the transport unit via the drive means;
The cap part and the wiping part are provided on a support member,
The support member is fixed to the driving belt via a fixing member,
A plurality of the recording heads are provided, and the retracted position is provided at a position where the cap portion is disposed between the recording heads.
The recording head is fixed to the apparatus main body,
From the state in which the cap portion is mounted on the recording head at the attachment / detachment position, the lifting device lowers the transport unit and moves the cap portion below the recording head to perform purging. Later, by driving the driving means, the recovery device is moved to the retracted position along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, whereby the ink discharge surface of the recording head is wiped by the wiping unit, and the retracted position is In this state, the recording unit is in a state in which image formation is possible by raising the transport unit by the lifting device.
When printing is completed, the transport unit is lowered by the lifting device at the retracted position, and the drive unit moves the recovery device from the retracted position to the attachment / detachment position in the transport direction of the recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink discharge surface of the recording head is wiped while being moved in the transport direction of the recording medium.

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