JP6056275B2 - Liquid ejecting head maintenance method and liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a maintenance method and a liquid ejecting apparatus for a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid.

  As a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto an ejected medium, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs printing on a recording medium (ejecting medium) such as paper or a recording sheet by ejecting ink as a liquid is known. .

  An ink jet recording head mounted on such an ink jet recording apparatus ejects ink droplets from a nozzle opening onto a medium to be ejected, so that ink adheres to the vicinity of the nozzle opening of a liquid ejecting surface that ejects the ink droplet. By doing so, there is a problem that, for example, the adhered ink is solidified, the ejection direction of the ink droplets is not stable, and the ejection failure such that the ink droplets are not ejected occurs.

  For this reason, a liquid ejecting apparatus that cleans ink, fluff, dust, paper dust, and the like adhering to the liquid ejecting surface by sliding a wiping blade such as a rubber plate on the liquid ejecting surface has been proposed (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  In addition, even when the liquid ejection surface is wiped with a wiping blade, ink, fluff, dust, paper dust, etc. adhere to the surface of the cover head that covers the end of the liquid ejection surface, and the ejected medium or the like comes into contact with the cover plate. There is a problem that the medium to be ejected is contaminated.

  In addition, if it is attempted to wipe off the dirt on the surface of the cover head manually, the operation is performed in a narrow space, which is cumbersome, and there is a risk that the liquid ejection surface may be damaged or damaged by mistake.

  Furthermore, when measuring the ink droplet ejection failure by charging the ejected ink droplet, landing the charged ink droplet at a predetermined location, and measuring the voltage change at the landing position, There is a problem that dust, fluff, etc. attached to the surface function as an antenna, and the change in voltage cannot be measured accurately, and the measurement accuracy of ink droplet ejection failure is reduced.

  For this reason, in Patent Document 1 or the like, a scraper made of a rigid material that moves together with the wiping blade is provided, and the surface of the cover head is cleaned by sliding the scraper against the surface of the cover head.

JP 2010-228151 A

  However, as in Patent Document 1, when a scraper made of a rigid material is used, the surface of the cover head, that is, the surface facing the medium to be ejected can be cleaned, but the scraper pushes foreign matter away from the surface of the cover head. The pushed foreign matter moves to the side surface, and the ejected medium becomes dirty due to the foreign matter adhering to the side surface, and the foreign matter functions as an antenna, making it impossible to measure ink droplet ejection defects with high accuracy. There was a problem.

  Although it is possible to provide a cloth such as a non-woven fabric in place of the scraper, the cloth absorbs ink just by placing the cloth in the apparatus, and the surface of the cover head is wiped off by the cloth. Conversely, there is a problem that the surface of the cover head may become dirty.

  Such a problem exists not only in the ink jet recording head unit but also in a liquid ejecting head unit that ejects liquid other than ink.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a liquid ejecting head maintenance method and a liquid ejecting apparatus in which cleaning of a cover head is performed easily and surely to suppress contamination of a medium to be ejected and damage to a liquid ejecting surface. For the purpose.

[Application Example 1]
An application example of the present invention that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejecting surface in which a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid is opened, and the liquid ejecting surface that is provided on the liquid ejecting surface and covers the liquid ejecting surface with the nozzle opening exposed. A liquid ejecting head maintenance method comprising: a cover head; and holding a first member made of an elastic member so as to be slidable on the liquid ejecting surface and moving in a surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface A second member made of a liquid absorbent material is detachably held by a holding member provided in a removable manner, and the holding member is moved in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface, whereby the second member is moved to the cover head. The cover head is wiped by the second member, the first member is detachably held by the holding member, and the second member is replaced with the first member. In In maintenance method for a liquid jet head, characterized in that to hold the second member to the holding member.
In this application example, by using the second member made of the liquid absorbent material, foreign matters such as liquid, dust, fluff, and paper dust attached to the cover head can be entangled by the second member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress problems caused by liquid or foreign matter adhering to the cover head. In addition, by making the second member made of the liquid absorbent material detachable from the holding member, the second member can be removed when not in use. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cover head from being stained by wiping the cover head with the second member having the liquid or foreign matter adsorbed on the second member and adsorbing the liquid or foreign matter. In addition, by exchanging the first member and the second member, the second member can be moved by the holding member holding the first member, and a dedicated holding member for moving the second member becomes unnecessary.
[Application Example 2]
Another application example of the present invention that solves the above problems is a state in which a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid is opened, and a state in which the nozzle opening is exposed on the liquid ejection surface provided on the liquid ejection surface A liquid ejecting head maintenance method comprising: a cover head covered with a liquid ejecting head, wherein the liquid ejecting head has a first member made of an elastic member provided so as to be slidable on the liquid ejecting surface, and a surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface The second member made of a liquid absorbent material is detachably held by a holding member provided so as to be movable, and the holding member is moved in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface, whereby the second member is A plurality of liquid ejecting heads are provided by slidably contacting a cover head and wiping the cover head with the second member, and the second member is simultaneously provided with the cover heads of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads. In maintenance method for a liquid jet head, characterized in that provided in the sliding contact length.
In this application example, by using the second member made of the liquid absorbent material, foreign matters such as liquid, dust, fluff, and paper dust attached to the cover head can be entangled by the second member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress problems caused by liquid or foreign matter adhering to the cover head. In addition, by making the second member made of the liquid absorbent material detachable from the holding member, the second member can be removed when not in use. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cover head from being stained by wiping the cover head with the second member having the liquid or foreign matter adsorbed on the second member and adsorbing the liquid or foreign matter. Further, the number of times of moving the holding member can be reduced and maintenance can be performed in a short time.
[Application Example 3]
Another application example of the present invention that solves the above problems is a state in which a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid is opened, and a state in which the nozzle opening is exposed on the liquid ejection surface provided on the liquid ejection surface A liquid ejecting head maintenance method comprising: a cover head covered with a liquid ejecting head, wherein the liquid ejecting head has a first member made of an elastic member provided so as to be slidable on the liquid ejecting surface, and a surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface The second member made of a liquid absorbent material is detachably held by a holding member provided so as to be movable, and the holding member is moved in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface, whereby the second member is The cover head is slid in contact with the cover member, and the cover member is wiped with the second member. Cleaning using the first member is performed during printing, and cleaning using the second member is not performed during printing. Doo is in maintenance method for a liquid jet head according to claim.
In this application example, by using the second member made of the liquid absorbent material, foreign matters such as liquid, dust, fluff, and paper dust attached to the cover head can be entangled by the second member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress problems caused by liquid or foreign matter adhering to the cover head. In addition, by making the second member made of the liquid absorbent material detachable from the holding member, the second member can be removed when not in use. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cover head from being stained by wiping the cover head with the second member having the liquid or foreign matter adsorbed on the second member and adsorbing the liquid or foreign matter. Also, the second member need not always be held by the holding member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the fact that ink that has become mist is absorbed by the second member, and foreign matters such as dust, fluff, and paper dust are adsorbed by the second member.
[Application Example 4]
Here, it is preferable that the first member is detachably held by the holding member, and the second member is replaced with the first member to hold the second member on the holding member. .
According to this, by exchanging the first member and the second member, the second member can be moved by the holding member holding the first member, and a dedicated holding member for moving the second member is unnecessary. It becomes.
[Application Example 5]
Here, it is preferable that a plurality of the liquid ejecting heads are provided, and the second member is provided with a length that is in sliding contact with the cover heads of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads simultaneously.
According to this, the frequency | count of moving a holding member can be reduced and a maintenance can be performed in a short time.
[Application Example 6]
Here, it is preferable that the wiping of the cover head is performed by impregnating the second member with a cleaning liquid containing a liquid cleaning surfactant.
According to this, it is possible to relatively easily remove liquid, foreign matter, and the like that have adhered to the cover head and solidified.
[Application Example 7]
Here, it is preferable that the cleaning using the first member is performed during printing, and the cleaning using the second member is not performed during printing.
According to this, the second member need not always be held by the holding member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the fact that ink that has become mist is absorbed by the second member, and foreign matters such as dust, fluff, and paper dust are adsorbed by the second member.
[Application Example 8]
In another application example of the present invention that solves the above-described problem, a liquid ejection surface that is provided with a nozzle opening that ejects liquid and the liquid ejection surface that is provided on the liquid ejection surface are exposed. A liquid ejecting head including a covering head; a holding member provided to be movable in a surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head; and an elastic member that is held by the holding member and is in sliding contact with the liquid ejecting surface. A first member made of a member, and a second member made of a liquid absorbing material that is detachably held by the holding member and is in sliding contact with the cover head, and the first member is attached to and detached from the holding member. The liquid ejecting apparatus is characterized in that the second member is held by the holding member by being exchanged with the first member.
[Application Example 9]
In another application example of the present invention that solves the above-described problem, a liquid ejection surface that is provided with a nozzle opening that ejects liquid and the liquid ejection surface that is provided on the liquid ejection surface are exposed. A liquid ejecting head including a covering head; a holding member provided to be movable in a surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head; and an elastic member that is held by the holding member and is in sliding contact with the liquid ejecting surface. A first member made of a member, and a second member made of a liquid absorbing material that is detachably held by the holding member and is in sliding contact with the cover head, and a plurality of the liquid ejecting heads are provided. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the second member is provided with a length that is in sliding contact with the cover heads of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads at the same time.
[Application Example 10]
In another application example of the present invention that solves the above-described problem, a liquid ejection surface that is provided with a nozzle opening that ejects liquid and the liquid ejection surface that is provided on the liquid ejection surface are exposed. A liquid ejecting head including a covering head; a holding member provided to be movable in a surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head; and an elastic member that is held by the holding member and is in sliding contact with the liquid ejecting surface. A first member made of a member, and a second member made of a liquid absorbing material that is detachably held by the holding member and is in sliding contact with the cover head, and the first member is held by the holding member. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, printing is performed in a state where the second member is held and the second member is held by the holding member, and printing is not performed.
Alternatively, according to another aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, a liquid ejecting surface in which a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid is opened and the nozzle opening is exposed on the liquid ejecting surface provided on the liquid ejecting surface. A liquid ejecting head maintenance method comprising: a cover head that covers the liquid ejecting surface; and a first member made of an elastic member that is slidably contacted with the liquid ejecting surface. The holding member provided movably in the direction is detachably held by the second member made of the liquid absorbing material, and the holding member is moved in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface, thereby moving the second member. In the maintenance method of the liquid jet head, the cover head is wiped by the second member while being brought into sliding contact with the cover head.
In such an aspect, by using the second member made of the liquid absorbent material, foreign matters such as liquid, dust, fluff, and paper dust attached to the cover head can be entangled by the second member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress problems caused by liquid or foreign matter adhering to the cover head. In addition, by making the second member made of the liquid absorbent material detachable from the holding member, the second member can be removed when not in use. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cover head from being stained by wiping the cover head with the second member having the liquid or foreign matter adsorbed on the second member and adsorbing the liquid or foreign matter.

  Here, it is preferable that the first member is detachably held by the holding member, and the second member is replaced with the first member to hold the second member on the holding member. . According to this, by exchanging the first member and the second member, the second member can be moved by the holding member holding the first member, and a dedicated holding member for moving the second member is unnecessary. It becomes.

  In addition, it is preferable that a plurality of the liquid ejecting heads are provided, and the second member is provided so as to be in sliding contact with the cover heads of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads simultaneously. According to this, the frequency | count of moving a holding member can be reduced and a maintenance can be performed in a short time.

  Further, it is preferable that the wiping of the cover head is performed by soaking the second member in a cleaning liquid containing a liquid cleaning surfactant. According to this, it is possible to relatively easily remove liquid, foreign matter, and the like that have adhered to the cover head and solidified.

Et al is, another aspect of the present invention, the cover for covering in a state in which the nozzle opening for ejecting liquid is provided on the liquid ejecting surface and the liquid ejection face opening the liquid ejecting surface to expose the nozzle opening A liquid ejecting head including the head, a holding member provided to be movable in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head, and an elastic member that is held by the holding member and slidably contacts the liquid ejecting surface. And a second member made of a liquid absorbing material that is detachably held by the holding member and is in sliding contact with the cover head.
In such an aspect, by using the second member made of the liquid absorbent material, foreign matters such as liquid, dust, fluff, and paper dust attached to the cover head can be entangled by the second member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress problems caused by liquid or foreign matter adhering to the cover head. In addition, by making the second member made of the liquid absorbent material detachable from the holding member, the second member can be removed when not in use. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cover head from being stained by wiping the cover head with the second member having the liquid or foreign matter adsorbed on the second member and adsorbing the liquid or foreign matter .

1 is a schematic perspective view of a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a head unit according to the first embodiment of the invention. It is a top view of the head unit concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the cleaning means concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the cleaning means which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the cleaning means which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the 2nd member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the cleaning means which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus I which is a liquid ejecting apparatus of the present embodiment includes an ink jet recording head unit 1 (hereinafter also referred to as a head unit 1) having a plurality of ink jet recording heads. The head unit 1 is detachably provided with an ink cartridge 2 that constitutes an ink supply means, and a carriage 3 on which the head unit 1 is mounted is provided on a carriage shaft 5 attached to the apparatus body 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction. ing. The head unit 1 ejects a black ink composition and a color ink composition.

  A drive motor 6 is provided near one end of the carriage shaft 5, and a first pulley 6 a having a groove on the outer periphery is provided at the tip of the shaft of the drive motor 6. Further, a second pulley 6b corresponding to the first pulley 6a of the drive motor 6 is rotatably provided in the vicinity of the other end of the carriage shaft 5, and the first pulley 6a and the second pulley are provided. A timing belt 7 made of an elastic member such as rubber is hung between the belt 6b.

  Then, the driving force of the driving motor 6 is transmitted to the carriage 3 via the timing belt 7, so that the carriage 3 on which the head unit 1 is mounted is moved along the carriage shaft 5. On the other hand, the apparatus body 4 is provided with a platen 8 along the carriage 3. The platen 8 can be rotated by a driving force of a paper feed motor (not shown), and a recording sheet S which is an ejected medium (recording medium) such as paper fed by a paper feed roller or the like is wound around the platen 8. It is hung and transported.

  A cleaning unit 30 for cleaning a liquid ejecting surface of an ink jet recording head, which will be described in detail later, is provided on the side of the platen 8 that is an end in the moving direction of the carriage 3.

  Here, an ink jet recording head unit mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the ink jet recording head unit, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the liquid ejecting surface side of the ink jet recording head unit.

  As illustrated, the ink jet recording head unit 1 includes a plurality of ink jet recording heads 10 and a holding member 20 that holds the plurality of ink jet recording heads 10.

  The ink jet recording head 10 is provided with a liquid ejecting surface 12 having a nozzle opening 11 for ejecting ink droplets as liquid on one surface. In the present embodiment, two nozzle rows in which the nozzle openings 11 are arranged in parallel in the first direction X are provided in the second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X.

  Further, inside the ink jet recording head 10 (not shown), a flow path communicating with the nozzle opening 11 and a pressure generating means for causing a pressure change in the ink in the flow path are provided. As such a pressure generating means, for example, the volume of the liquid flow path is changed by deformation of a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric material exhibiting an electromechanical conversion function, thereby causing a pressure change in the ink in the liquid flow path, and the ink from the nozzle opening. A device that discharges droplets, a heater element placed in the flow path, and a device that discharges ink droplets from the nozzle opening by bubbles generated by the heat generated by the heater element, or generates electrostatic force between the diaphragm and the electrode Thus, a so-called electrostatic actuator that discharges ink droplets from the nozzle openings by deforming the diaphragm by electrostatic force can be used.

  A cover head 13 that covers the liquid ejecting surface 12 with the nozzle opening 11 exposed is provided on the liquid ejecting surface 12 side where the nozzle opening 11 of the ink jet recording head 10 opens.

  The cover head 13 is provided with an exposed opening 14 that penetrates the nozzle opening 11 of the liquid ejection surface 12.

  The exposure openings 14 have an area where two rows of the nozzle openings 11 of the ink jet recording head 10 can be exposed. Further, the cover head 13 is provided so as to cover the four sides of the end portion of the liquid ejection surface 12 and bend to the side surface side.

  Such an ink jet recording head 10 is provided with a pair of flange portions 15 protruding outward from both end portions in the first direction X.

  The holding member 20 is composed of a plurality of ink jet recording heads 10, and in the present embodiment, a plate-like member such as metal or resin provided with holding holes 21 into which four ink jet recording heads 10 are inserted.

  The holding hole 21 of the holding member 20 has a width in the first direction X that is wider than the tip portion on the liquid ejection surface 12 side of the ink jet recording head 10 and slightly smaller than the flange portion 15. Further, the width of the holding hole 21 in the second direction Y has an opening that is slightly larger than the total width of the four ink jet recording heads 10 in the second direction Y in this embodiment. Thereby, the liquid ejecting surface 12 side of the four ink jet recording heads 10 is inserted into one holding hole 21 of the holding member 20. Further, in the ink jet recording head 10 in which the nozzle opening 11 side is inserted into the holding hole 21, the flange portion 15 is brought into contact with the peripheral portion of the holding hole 21 and is fixed by fixing means 22 such as a screw.

  Thus, the four inkjet recording heads 10 fixed to one holding member 20 are fixed to the holding member 20 in a state where the relative positions of the nozzle openings 11 are positioned relative to each other.

  Here, a cleaning means for cleaning such an ink jet recording head unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the ink jet recording head unit and the cleaning means according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the first direction showing the cleaning means. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the second direction showing the cleaning state.

  As shown in the figure, the cleaning means 30 includes a cleaning device main body 31 having a box shape with an upper portion (inkjet recording head 10 side) opened, a holding member 32 movably provided on the cleaning device main body 31, and a holding member. A liquid ejecting surface cleaning member 40 and a cover head cleaning member 50 that are detachably held by 32.

  The holding member 32 is provided in the opening of the cleaning device main body 31 so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 3, that is, in the first direction X. Specifically, the holding member 32 includes a plate-like holding portion 33 and two leg portions 34 provided by bending both end portions of the holding portion 33, and the two leg portions 34 are cleaned. The holding portion 33 is provided across the opening of the cleaning device main body 31 by being disposed outside the two opposite side surfaces of the device main body 31.

  Further, the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 is detachably held on the holding portion 33 (on the side opposite to the cleaning device main body 31).

  The liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 includes a first member 41 and a first base portion 42 that holds the first member 41.

  The first member 41 is a plate-like member made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, and the base end portion thereof is fixed to the first base portion 42 so that the front end of the first member 41 is a free end. .

  The first member 41 is fixed to the first base portion 42 in a state of being curved with respect to a straight line in the second direction Y so that one surface side of the first member 41 is concave. As shown in FIG. 6A, the first member 41 has a width in the second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X, which is the moving direction of the holding member 32, in the second direction of the cover head 13. It is provided wider than the width in the direction Y.

  Furthermore, the front end that is the free end of the first member 41 is provided so as to gradually protrude from both end portions toward the central portion in the surface direction.

  By forming the first member 41 in such a shape, the first member 41 is moved in the first direction X by the holding member 32, so that the protruding region at the center thereof is in sliding contact with the liquid ejection surface 12. Thus, the liquid ejection surface 12 is cleaned. That is, the first member 41 is provided so as to hardly contact the surface of the cover head 13.

  The 1st base part 42 consists of plate-shaped members, such as a metal and resin, and the base end part of the 1st member 41 is being fixed to one surface. Further, the first base portion 42 is provided with fixing holes 43 on both sides of the first member 41 in the second direction Y.

  The liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 is detachably held by the holding member 32 by screwing a screw member 60 made of an external thread inserted through a fixing hole 43 provided in the first base portion 42 into the holding member 32. ing.

  Further, the cover head cleaning member 50 is detachably held by the holding member 32. The cover head cleaning member 50 includes a second member 51 and a second base portion 52 that holds the second member 51.

  The second member 51 is made of a liquid absorbent material that can absorb ink, which is a liquid. Examples of the liquid absorbent material used as the second member 51 include a porous material formed of a resin material such as polyurethane, and a fibrous material such as pulp, synthetic fiber, or dry pulp nonwoven fabric. In the present embodiment, a synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric is used as the second member 51.

  6B, the second member 51 is provided so that the width in the second direction Y is wider than the width in the second direction Y of the cover head 13. As shown in FIG. . The second member 51 may be provided with a width that contacts the cover head 13 of the ink jet recording head 10 adjacent in the second direction Y.

  The 2nd base part 52 consists of plate-shaped members, such as a metal and resin, and the 2nd member 51 is hold | maintained on one surface. Further, the second base portion 52 is provided with fixing holes 53 on both sides of the second member 51 in the second direction Y.

  The cover head cleaning member 50 is detachably held by the holding member 32 by screwing a screw member 60 made of an external thread inserted through a fixing hole 53 provided in the second base portion 52 into the holding member 32. Yes.

  That is, the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 and the cover head cleaning member 50 are detachably held by the holding member 32, and the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 and the cover head cleaning member 50 are exchangeable.

  Such a holding member 32 is driven by a motor 35 provided inside the cleaning device main body 31. Specifically, the motor 35 provided in the cleaning device main body 31 is fixed to one side surface of the cleaning device main body 31. A rotating shaft 35a of the motor 35 is provided so as to protrude outward from one side surface of the cleaning device main body 31, and a small gear 36 that is a circular gear is provided on the rotating shaft 35a that protrudes from one side surface. A large gear 37 that is a circular gear that meshes with the small gear 36 is rotatably provided on one side surface of the cleaning device body 31 on which the small gear 36 is provided. The leg 34 of the holding member 32 is provided with a rack which is a linear gear meshing with the large gear 37, and the rotation of the motor 35 is caused by the leg provided with the rack via the small gear 36 and the large gear 37. The holding member 32 is moved horizontally along the opening of the cleaning device main body 31.

  In such a cleaning unit 30, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6B, the first member of the liquid ejecting surface cleaning member 40 before starting printing, during printing, after printing, and at regular timing. 41 is brought into sliding contact with the liquid ejecting surface 12 to remove ink, fluff, dust, paper dust and the like adhering to the liquid ejecting surface 12. As a result, it is possible to suppress problems such as the ink droplet ejection direction being unstable and the ink droplets not being ejected due to ink or foreign matter adhering to the liquid ejection surface 12.

  Further, the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 fixed to the holding member 32 is removed and the cover head cleaning member 50 is attached to the holding member 32 at regular timing, for example, every predetermined number of printed sheets. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B, the cover member cleaning is performed by moving the holding member 32 in the first direction X in the same manner as the cleaning by the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40. The second member 51 of the member 50 is brought into sliding contact with the surface of the cover head 13 facing the recording sheet S. As a result, the second member 51 of the cover head cleaning member 50 removes ink, fluff, dust, paper dust and the like adhering to the surface of the cover head 13 facing the recording sheet S. Since the second member 51 is formed of a liquid absorbent material, the ink adhering to the cover head 13 is not pushed away by the second member 51 but is absorbed. In addition, since the second member 51 of the present embodiment is formed of a liquid absorbent material of a porous material or a fibrous material, it can entangle foreign matters such as dust, fluff, and paper dust attached to the cover head 13. it can. By the way, if a scraper or the like formed of a rigid material or an elastic material is used as the second member 51, the ink adhering to the cover head 13 or only foreign matter such as dust, fluff, and paper dust is pushed away. And foreign matter adhere to the side surface of the cover head 13 and remain. In the present embodiment, since the second member 51 can entangle ink and foreign matter, it is possible to suppress the ink and foreign matter adhering to the cover head 13 from being pushed away to the side surface of the cover head 13.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the 2nd member 51 consists of a liquid absorbent material of a porous material or a fibrous material, it can be elastically deformed. Therefore, when the second member 51 is pressed against the surface of the cover head 13 that faces the recording sheet S, the second member 51 can be elastically deformed and go around the side surface of the cover head 13. Therefore, by moving the second member 51, it is possible to remove not only the surface of the cover head 13 (the surface opposite to the recording sheet S) but also ink and foreign matter attached to the side surface of the cover head 13.

  Incidentally, it is conceivable to always hold the second member 51 together with the first member 41 on the holding member 32. However, if the second member 51 is always arranged in the ink jet recording apparatus I, the second member 51 is Since it is formed of a liquid absorbent material, it absorbs mist ink and absorbs foreign matters such as dust, fluff and paper dust. When the second member 51 that has adsorbed ink or foreign matter is slidably contacted with the cover head 13, the ink or foreign matter adsorbed by the second member 51 is attached to the cover head 13 and the cover head 13 is soiled. In the present embodiment, the second member 51 is detachably held on the holding member 32, so that the second member 51 is not always disposed in the ink jet recording apparatus I, and the second member 51 is ink-jetted only during maintenance. Since it can be placed in the recording apparatus I, it is possible to suppress the cover head 13 from being soiled by the second member 51.

  When the cover head 13 is cleaned by the second member 51 (cover head cleaning member 50) in this way, the cover head cleaning member 50 is removed from the holding member 32, and the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 is attached to the holding member 32. Install.

  In other words, the cover head cleaning member 50 is attached to the holding member 32 only during maintenance such as cleaning of the cover head 13, and the liquid is not contained in the holding member 32 during normal use (during printing or printing standby). An ejection surface cleaning member 40 is attached.

  Since the second member 51 is made of a liquid absorbent material, the cover head 13 may be cleaned in a state where the second member 51 is soaked with the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a cleaning liquid that does not cause a problem even if it adheres to the liquid ejection surface 12 or the flow path of the ink jet recording head 10. For example, when the inkjet recording head 10 is manufactured, a cleaning liquid containing a surfactant is circulated in the flow path to clean the flow path. The cleaning liquid used for cleaning the flow path is soaked into the second member 51. You can do it. As described above, the cleaning liquid is soaked into the second member 51 and the cover head 13 is cleaned, so that ink and foreign matters adhered to the cover head 13 and solidified can be easily removed, and ink jet recording is performed. By using the cleaning liquid that cleans the flow path of the head 10, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems such as the inkjet recording head 10 being destroyed by the cleaning liquid even if the cleaning liquid adheres to the liquid ejection surface 12 or the flow path. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the second member 51 is provided with a width in the second direction Y slightly larger than the cover head 13 of each ink jet recording head 10, and the second member 51 is provided with each ink jet recording. Although the sliding contact is individually made with the cover head 13 of the head 10, it is not particularly limited to this. Here, another example of the second member is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of the second member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cover head cleaning member 50A includes a second member 51A and a second base portion 52A. The second member 51 </ b> A is provided in such a width that the width in the second direction Y is in sliding contact with all the cover heads 13 of the plurality of ink jet recording heads 10 provided in the head unit 1. In such a second member 51A, since the cover heads 13 of all the ink jet recording heads 10 can be cleaned at the same time, it is shorter than the case where the cover heads 13 of the ink jet recording heads 10 are cleaned one by one. Can be cleaned in time.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 and the cover head cleaning member 50 can be exchanged, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. Here, another example of the cleaning means is shown in FIG. In addition, FIG. 8 is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the cleaning means which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8B, the cover head cleaning member 50 </ b> B includes a second member 51 and a second base portion 52 </ b> B that holds the second member 51.

  The second base portion 52B has a box shape that opens on the side opposite to the surface on which the second member 51 is fixed. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second base portion 52 </ b> B of the cover head cleaning member 50 </ b> B is fitted to the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 held by the holding member 32.

  That is, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the cover head cleaning member 50 </ b> B can be attached to the holding member 32 without removing the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 having the first member 41 fixed to the holding member 32. For this reason, the process which removes the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 becomes unnecessary, and a maintenance can be performed easily and in a short time.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, the basic composition of this invention is not limited to what was mentioned above. For example, in the first embodiment described above, when the cover head cleaning members 50 and 50A are fixed to the holding member 32, the liquid ejecting surface cleaning member 40 is prevented from coming into contact with the liquid ejecting surface 12, but this is particularly limited thereto. For example, the cover head cleaning members 50 and 50 </ b> A may be detachably fixed to a place different from the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40 of the holding member 32. That is, when the cover head 13 is cleaned by the cover head cleaning members 50 and 50A, the liquid ejection surface 12 may be simultaneously cleaned by the liquid ejection surface cleaning member 40.

  In the first embodiment described above, the ink jet recording head unit holds four ink jet recording heads 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there is one ink jet recording head 10. Alternatively, two or three ink jet recording heads 10 may be held. Incidentally, when there is one ink jet recording head 10, the ink jet recording head 10 substantially becomes an ink jet recording head unit.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the ink jet recording apparatus I in which the ink jet recording head 10 (head unit 1) is mounted on the carriage 3 and moves in the main scanning direction is illustrated, but the invention is not particularly limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called line recording apparatus in which the ink jet recording head 10 is fixed and printing is performed simply by moving the recording sheet S such as paper in the sub-scanning direction. In the case of a line type recording apparatus, the cleaning unit 30 may be moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet S.

  In the above embodiment, an ink jet recording head has been described as an example of a liquid ejecting head, and an ink jet recording apparatus has been described as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus. The present invention is intended for the entire apparatus, and can of course be applied to a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus that eject liquid other than ink. Other liquid ejecting heads include, for example, various recording heads used in image recording apparatuses such as printers, color material ejecting heads used in the manufacture of color filters such as liquid crystal displays, organic EL displays, and FEDs (field emission displays). Examples thereof include an electrode material ejection head used for electrode formation, a bio-organic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and the like, and can also be applied to a liquid ejection apparatus provided with such a liquid ejection head.

  I ink jet recording apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus), 1 ink jet recording head unit (liquid ejecting head unit), 10 ink jet recording head (liquid ejecting head), 11 nozzle opening, 12 liquid ejecting surface, 13 cover head, 30 cleaning Means, 32 holding member, 40 liquid ejection surface cleaning member, 41 first member, 50, 50A, 50B cover head cleaning member, 51, 51A second member

Claims (10)

Maintenance of a liquid ejecting head comprising: a liquid ejecting surface having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; and a cover head provided on the liquid ejecting surface and covering the liquid ejecting surface with the nozzle opening exposed. A method,
A first member made of an elastic member is provided so as to be slidable in contact with the liquid ejecting surface, and a second member made of a liquid absorbing material is provided on a holding member provided to be movable in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface. Is held detachably, and the holding member is moved in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface to bring the second member into sliding contact with the cover head, and the cover member is wiped by the second member. ,
The first member is detachably held by the holding member, and the second member exchanges the first member to hold the second member on the holding member. Maintenance method of the ejection head. Maintenance of a liquid ejecting head comprising: a liquid ejecting surface having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; and a cover head provided on the liquid ejecting surface and covering the liquid ejecting surface with the nozzle opening exposed. A method,
A first member made of an elastic member is provided so as to be slidable in contact with the liquid ejecting surface, and a second member made of a liquid absorbing material is provided on a holding member provided to be movable in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface. Is held detachably, and the holding member is moved in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface to bring the second member into sliding contact with the cover head, and the cover member is wiped by the second member. ,
A maintenance method for a liquid ejecting head, comprising: a plurality of the liquid ejecting heads; and the second member having a length that simultaneously slides on the cover heads of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads. Maintenance of a liquid ejecting head comprising: a liquid ejecting surface having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; and a cover head provided on the liquid ejecting surface and covering the liquid ejecting surface with the nozzle opening exposed. A method,
A first member made of an elastic member is provided so as to be slidable in contact with the liquid ejecting surface, and a second member made of a liquid absorbing material is provided on a holding member provided to be movable in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface. Is held detachably, and the holding member is moved in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface to bring the second member into sliding contact with the cover head, and the cover member is wiped by the second member. ,
The cleaning using the first member is performed at the time of printing,
A maintenance method for a liquid jet head, wherein the cleaning using the second member is not performed during printing. The first member is detachably held by the holding member, and the second member is replaced with the first member to hold the second member on the holding member. The maintenance method of the liquid jet head according to claim 2 or claim 3 . Wherein and the liquid ejecting head provided with a plurality, in claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the second member is provided simultaneously sliding contact length into a plurality of the cover head of the liquid ejecting head The maintenance method of the liquid ejecting head according to claim 4, wherein the liquid jet head is described. Wiping of the cover head maintenance of the liquid ejecting head according to any one of claim 1 to 5, characterized in that impregnated a cleaning liquid containing a surfactant for liquid cleaning said second member Method. The cleaning using the first member is performed at the time of printing,
The cleaning using the second member is not performed at the time of printing , or according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the third member is not cited. Maintenance method for liquid jet head. A liquid ejecting head comprising: a liquid ejecting surface having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; and a cover head provided on the liquid ejecting surface and covering the liquid ejecting surface with the nozzle opening exposed.
A holding member provided movably in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head;
A first member made of an elastic member held by the holding member and in sliding contact with the liquid ejection surface;
A second member made of a liquid absorbent material detachably held by the holding member and in sliding contact with the cover head ,
The first member is detachably held on the holding member,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second member is held by the holding member by being replaced with the first member . A liquid ejecting head comprising: a liquid ejecting surface having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; and a cover head provided on the liquid ejecting surface and covering the liquid ejecting surface with the nozzle opening exposed.
A holding member provided movably in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head;
A first member made of an elastic member held by the holding member and in sliding contact with the liquid ejection surface;
A second member made of a liquid absorbent material detachably held by the holding member and in sliding contact with the cover head,
A plurality of the liquid jet heads are provided,
The second member is provided with a length that is in sliding contact with the cover heads of the plurality of liquid jet heads simultaneously.
A liquid ejecting apparatus. A liquid ejecting head comprising: a liquid ejecting surface having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; and a cover head provided on the liquid ejecting surface and covering the liquid ejecting surface with the nozzle opening exposed.
A holding member provided movably in the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head;
A first member made of an elastic member held by the holding member and in sliding contact with the liquid ejection surface;
A second member made of a liquid absorbent material detachably held by the holding member and in sliding contact with the cover head,
Printing is performed with the first member held by the holding member;
Printing is not performed with the second member held by the holding member.
A liquid ejecting apparatus.

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