JP6604236B2 - inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer capable of sucking ink in a nozzle by sealing a nozzle surface of the ink jet head with a cap unit in order to prevent nozzle clogging and the like of the ink jet head.

  In an ink jet printer, each nozzle of an ink jet head may become clogged due to the thickening of ink remaining in the nozzle, which may lead to an ejection failure state in which a sufficient amount of ink cannot be ejected. Further, when printing is performed with an inkjet head including a nozzle that falls into such a state, there is a risk that dot dropout or the like will occur and the print quality will deteriorate. Therefore, in an inkjet printer, the carriage is moved to the home position outside the printing area periodically or at a predetermined timing, and the nozzle surface is sealed with a cap equipped with an ink absorbing material, and a negative pressure is applied to the cap. Ink suction operation is performed to eliminate clogging by sucking ink from the nozzles.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet printer of this type. The inkjet printer of Patent Literature 1 includes a plurality of inkjet heads that eject different inks. In addition, a plurality of caps capable of individually sealing the plurality of inkjet heads are provided. One of the plurality of caps is a suction cap, and the other cap is a cap having no suction function. In the ink jet printer of Patent Document 1, a carriage on which an ink jet head is mounted is relatively moved with respect to a plurality of caps, and a nozzle row to be sucked and a suction cap having a suction function are opposed to each other.

JP 2008-149510 A

  The ink jet printer of Patent Document 1 moves the ink jet head relative to the suction cap when sealing a nozzle row of a specific ink jet head among the plurality of ink jet heads. At this time, a cap other than the cap that seals the nozzle row may not face the nozzle surface. When the suction cap seals the nozzle row, the suction cap and the nozzle row are controlled to move in the approaching direction. In such a configuration including a cap that does not face the nozzle, the cap is a nozzle. There is a risk of contact with a member (for example, a carriage) around the surface. As a result, the cap may be deformed, and the ink remaining in the cap may adhere to members around the nozzle surface.

  In view of these points, an object of the present invention is to suppress problems caused by contact between a cap that seals the nozzle surface of an inkjet head and members around the nozzle surface.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet printer according to the present invention includes an ink jet head, a carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted, a first direction approaching a nozzle surface of the ink jet head, and a first direction spaced apart from the nozzle surface. A cap unit that moves in two directions, wherein the cap unit includes a cap that opens in the first direction and a holder that holds the cap, and the carriage is formed on the nozzle surface. A regulating member located at a position away from the nozzle row in the scanning direction of the carriage, and when the cap unit facing the nozzle row moves in the first direction, the cap abuts the nozzle surface, and When the cap unit facing the member moves in the first direction, the restriction Material between the holder and abuts and, wherein the predetermined gap is formed between the regulating member and the cap.

  According to the present invention, in an ink jet printer in which a cap unit holding a cap with a holder approaches and separates from a nozzle surface of an ink jet head, when the cap unit moves to a position not facing the nozzle row by scanning the carriage, The provided regulating member comes into contact with the holder and the movement of the cap unit is regulated, and a predetermined gap is formed between the cap and the regulating member. Therefore, there is little possibility that ink will adhere to the carriage due to the contact between the cap and the member on the carriage side. In addition, there is less risk of problems such as deformation of the cap.

  In the present invention, a holding member that holds the holder movably in the first direction and the second direction, and a biasing member that biases the holder in the first direction with respect to the holding member are provided. It is desirable. In this case, the opening edge of the cap can be brought into close contact with the nozzle surface by the urging force of the urging member. Further, it is not necessary to make the step between the regulating member and the nozzle surface coincide with the step between the holder and the cap.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the regulating member includes a facing surface facing a side facing the cap unit, and the facing surface is located on the first direction side with respect to the nozzle surface. If it does in this way, since a regulation member is located in the position retreated from the nozzle surface to recording paper, there is little possibility that a regulation member will be caught in recording paper.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the cap units are arranged in the scanning direction, and the dimension of the regulating member in the scanning direction is an integral multiple of the arrangement pitch of the cap units in the scanning direction. If it does in this way, when a cap unit and a control member contact | abut, there is little possibility that a cap unit will incline, and it can suppress that it does not intend to a cap unit, but takes. Further, when the carriage is scanned by unit dimensions that match the arrangement pitch of the cap units and the plurality of nozzle rows are sequentially sucked, there is little possibility that the cap unit facing the regulating member is inclined or an unintended force is applied.

  In the present invention, a plurality of the inkjet heads are arranged in the scanning direction, the cap unit is located at a position away from the platen unit in the scanning direction, and the cap unit is configured to perform collective suction for sucking all caps. It is preferable that individual suction for sucking only one cap is controlled, and the cap unit that is the object of the individual suction control is located at the end on the platen unit side among the plurality of cap units. In this way, the nozzle surfaces of the plurality of inkjet heads can be individually suctioned by sequentially facing the individual suction cap units by scanning the carriage.

  In the present invention, the inkjet head includes a guide portion that limits a movement range of the cap unit in a direction intersecting the first direction, and the holder includes a guided portion guided by the guide portion. Is desirable. If it does in this way, since a cap unit and a nozzle row can be positioned correctly, a nozzle row can be sealed reliably.

  In the present invention, the holder includes a protruding portion that protrudes in the first direction, the guided portion is provided in the protruding portion, and the leading end of the protruding portion in the first direction and the regulating member abut on each other. It is desirable. If it does in this way, since the guided part can be provided using the part which contacts a regulation member, the composition of a holder can be simplified.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. It is a front view which shows typically the printing mechanism part of an inkjet printer. It is explanatory drawing of the ink supply system of an inkjet printer. It is a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of a carriage and a head unit. It is a partial top view of a raising / lowering unit. It is the side view, front view, and perspective view which show the state which sealed all the nozzle rows with the cap unit. It is a side view, a front view, and a perspective view showing a state where the first cap unit faces the regulating member. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which a 5th cap unit opposes a control member. FIG. 10 is a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of a carriage and a head unit that include a regulating member according to a modification. It is a side view, a front view, and a perspective view showing a state in which the third, fourth, and fifth cap units face a regulating member of a modified example.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. The ink jet printer 1 (hereinafter referred to as the printer 1) prints on the recording paper 3 using a plurality of types of ink. In this specification, three directions of XYZ are directions orthogonal to each other. One side of the X direction is the + X direction, the other side is the -X direction, one side of the Y direction is the + Y direction, the other side is the -Y direction, one side of the Z direction is the + Z direction, and the other side is the -Z direction To do.

  The printer 1 is provided with a roll paper storage unit 2. The recording paper 3 drawn from the roll paper set in the roll paper storage unit 2 is hung on the feed roller 4 and drawn in the + Y direction, and is passed between the transport roller pair 5. When the transport roller pair 5 is rotated by the driving force of the transport motor 6, the recording paper 3 is transported in the + Y direction. A platen unit 7 is disposed on the + Y direction side of the transport roller pair 5, and a paper discharge roller pair 8 is disposed on the + Y direction side of the platen unit 7. The platen unit 7 includes a platen surface 9 facing the + Z direction. The recording paper 3 is supported by the platen surface 9 and conveyed, and is discharged to the outside of the printer 1 via the paper discharge roller pair 8.

  FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a printing mechanism portion of the inkjet printer 1. The printer 1 includes a printing mechanism unit 1A that performs printing on the recording paper 3. The printing mechanism 1A includes a platen unit 7, a head unit 10 that ejects ink onto the recording paper 3 on the platen surface 9, a head moving mechanism 20 (see FIG. 1) that moves the head unit 10 in the X direction, A maintenance unit 30 that performs maintenance of the head unit 10 is provided. The maintenance unit 30 is disposed on the + X direction side of the platen unit 7.

  The head unit 10 includes a plurality of inkjet heads 11. Hereinafter, the plurality of inkjet heads 11 are referred to as a first head 11A, a second head 11B, a third head 11C, a fourth head 11D, a fifth head 11E, and a sixth head 11F. The first head 11A to the sixth head 11F are arranged in the X direction in this order. The head unit 10 is arranged with the nozzle surface 13 on which nozzle rows 12A to 12F (see FIG. 4) for discharging ink are formed facing the −Z direction. The first head 11A includes a nozzle row 12A, the second head 11B includes a nozzle row 12B, the third head 11C includes a nozzle row 12C, the fourth head 11D includes a nozzle row 12D, and the fifth head 11E includes a nozzle. The sixth head 11 </ b> F includes a nozzle row 12 </ b> F.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the head moving mechanism 20 includes a carriage 21 on which the head unit 10 is mounted, a carriage guide shaft 22 that supports the carriage 21 so as to be movable in the X direction, a carriage motor 23, and a carriage motor 23. A carriage driving mechanism 24 driven by a driving force is provided. The carriage 21 is moved in the X direction along the carriage guide shaft 22 by the carriage drive mechanism 24. That is, the X direction is the scanning direction of the carriage 21. The carriage 21 has a home position HP (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2) deviated from the printing position facing the platen surface 9 toward the + X direction side, and an away position AP (in FIG. 2 is deviated from the printing position to the −X direction side). (Position indicated by a broken line).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the maintenance unit 30 includes an elevating unit 31 that moves in a direction approaching and separating from the nozzle surface 13 of the head unit 10. When the direction in which the elevating unit 31 approaches the nozzle surface 13 is the first direction, and the direction in which the elevating unit 31 is separated from the nozzle surface 13 is the second direction, the first direction is the + Z direction and the second direction is -Z. Direction. The elevating unit 31 includes a plurality of cap units 35 that can form a sealed space with the nozzle surface 13. The maintenance unit 30 includes a lifting mechanism 32 that moves the lifting unit 31 in the + Z direction and the −Z direction, and a suction pump 33 that sucks a sealed space formed between the cap unit 35 and the nozzle surface 13 (see FIG. 3). And an individual suction switching mechanism 34 (see FIG. 3) such as a suction flow path and a valve for connecting the suction pump 33 and the lifting unit 31.

  The elevating unit 31 includes a holding member 36 that holds the plurality of cap units 35 in a state movable in the + Z direction and the −Z direction, and a biasing member such as a spring that biases each of the plurality of cap units 35 in the + Z direction. 37. In this embodiment, the number of the cap units 35 is 6, and these are the first cap unit 35A, the second cap unit 35B, the third cap unit 35C, the fourth cap unit 35D, the fifth cap unit 35E, and the sixth cap unit. 35F. The first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F are arranged in this order in the X direction (that is, the scanning direction of the carriage 21). The number of cap units 35 and inkjet heads 11 may be other than six.

  The 6th cap unit 35F located in the end by the side of the platen unit 7 (-X direction side) among a plurality of cap units 35 is a cap unit for individual suction. The other first cap unit 35A to fifth cap unit 35E are collective suction cap units. The individual suction switching mechanism 34 has an individual suction state in which only the sixth cap unit 35F is connected to the suction pump 33, and a collective suction state in which all of the first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F are connected to the suction pump 33. Switch.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply system of the inkjet printer 1. The head unit 10 is mounted with a diaphragm pump unit 16 including sub tanks 15A to 15F that store six types of ink. Each of the sub tanks 15A to 15F is connected to a corresponding one of the flexible ink tubes 17A to 17F. Each of the flexible ink tubes 17A to 17F is connected to a corresponding one of the planar flow paths 18A to 18F arranged in an ink cartridge mounting portion (not shown). Each of the planar flow paths 18A to 18F communicates with a corresponding one of the ink cartridges 19A to 19F mounted on the ink cartridge mounting portion.

  When the diaphragms of the sub tanks 15A to 15F are moved by a suction lever or the like (not shown), the sub tanks 15A to 15F are in a negative pressure state, and ink is sucked into the sub tanks 15A to 15F from the flexible ink tubes 17A to 17F. The ink sucked into the sub tanks 15A to 15F is supplied to the in-head flow paths of the first head 11A to the sixth head 11F.

  FIG. 4 is a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of the carriage 21 and the head unit 10. 4A is a side view seen from the + X direction side, FIG. 4B is a front view seen from the + Y direction side, and FIG. 4C is a bottom view seen from the −Z direction side. is there. As shown in FIG. 4C, nozzle rows 12A to 12F of the first head 11A to the sixth head 11F are formed on the nozzle surface 13 of the head unit 10. The nozzle rows 12A to 12F extend in the Y direction and are arranged at a constant pitch in the X direction. The arrangement pitch of the nozzle rows 12A to 12F and the arrangement pitch of the first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F are the same. Hereinafter, the arrangement pitch of the first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F is defined as a unit dimension d (see FIG. 7). Each of the first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F can seal the region of the nozzle surface 13 on which any one of the nozzle rows 12A to 12F is formed.

  The carriage 21 includes a carriage main body 25 that holds the head unit 10 and a regulating member 26 that protrudes from the carriage main body 25 in the −Z direction. The restricting member 26 is located at a position deviated from the nozzle rows 12A to 12F formed on the nozzle surface 13 of the head unit 10 in the + X direction (that is, the scanning direction of the carriage 21). The width of the restricting member 26 in the X direction is substantially the same as the unit dimension d that is the arrangement pitch of the first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F. Further, a facing surface 27 is provided at the tip of the regulating member 26 in the −Z direction. The facing surface 27 is a rectangular surface provided at two locations, that is, an end portion in the + Y direction of the regulating member 26 and an end portion in the −Y direction. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the facing surface 27 is located on the + Z direction side (that is, the first direction side) with respect to the nozzle surface 13. Further, the facing surface 27 faces the side facing the first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F (that is, the −Z direction side and the second direction side).

  FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the lifting unit 31. FIG. 6 is a side view, a front view, and a perspective view showing a state in which the nozzle rows 12A to 12F of all the inkjet heads 11 are sealed with the cap unit 35. 6A is a side view seen from the + X direction side, FIG. 6B is a front view seen from the + Y direction side, and FIG. 6C is a perspective view. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the holding member 36 includes a bottom plate 36a and side plates 36b and 36c that rise in the + Z direction from the edges of the bottom plate 36a in the + Y direction and the −Y direction. The plurality of cap units 35 (first cap unit 35A to sixth cap unit 35F) are arranged in a row between the side plates 36b and 36c. A biasing member 37 is disposed between each of the plurality of cap units 35 and the bottom plate 36a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each of the plurality of cap units 35 includes a cap 41 that opens in the + Z direction (that is, the first direction), and a holder 42 that holds the cap 41. The planar shape of the cap 41 is a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the Y direction, and is a dimension that covers any one of the nozzle rows 12A to 12F. The cap 41 includes a lip portion 41a that rises in the + Z direction along the outer periphery thereof. The inside of the lip portion 41a is a recessed space, and an ink absorbing material is disposed in the recessed space. Further, this recessed space is sucked by the suction pump 33 via the suction flow path.

  The holder 42 includes protrusions 43 and 44 located on both sides of the cap 41 in the Y direction. The protrusions 43 and 44 protrude toward the + Z direction side from the tip of the lip part 41a. The protrusions 43 and 44 are provided with opposing surfaces 43a and 44a facing each other in the Y direction, and guide grooves 45 are formed in the opposing surfaces 43a and 44a, respectively. Further, the protrusion 43 includes an outer surface 43b facing the opposite side to the facing surface 43a, and the protrusion 44 includes an outer surface 44b facing the opposite side of the facing surface 44a. Engaging protrusions 48 are formed on the outer side surfaces 43b and 44b, respectively. The engagement protrusions 48 pass through engagement grooves 46 (see FIGS. 6B and 6C) formed in the side plates 36b and 36c of the holding member 36, and the + Y direction side and the −Y direction of the holding member 36. Protrudes to the side.

  The engagement groove 46 extends linearly in the X direction, and the width in the Z direction is constant. A hook 48 a is formed at the tip of the engagement protrusion 48. Since the engaging protrusion 48 can move in the Z direction within the engaging groove 46, the cap unit 35 is held so as to be movable relative to the holder 42 in the + Z direction and the −Z direction. Since the cap unit 35 is urged in the + Z direction by the urging member 37, the engagement protrusion 48 abuts on the + Z direction edge of the engagement groove 46 when the nozzle surface 13 is not sealed. The hook 48a is engaged. When the nozzle surface 13 is sealed by the cap unit 35, the lip portion 41a contacts the nozzle surface 13, and the cap unit 35 is pressed and moved in the -Z direction against the urging force of the urging member 37. In the present embodiment, the shape of the engagement groove 46 extends in the X direction. However, in order to restrict movement in the Z direction, the engagement holes extending in the Z direction have a predetermined interval in the X direction. The shape which has two or more may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, on the side surface in the + Y direction of the head unit 10, a plurality of guide portions 47 extending in the Z direction are formed at a constant pitch in the X direction. . The guide portion 47 is a rib-shaped protrusion, and one guide portion 47 is provided at the center in the X direction of each of the first head 11A to the sixth head 11F. Similarly, on the side surface of the head unit 10 in the −Y direction, a plurality of guide portions 47 extending in the Z direction are formed at a constant pitch in the X direction. The guide portion 47 is inserted into a guide groove 45 provided in the holder 42 of the cap unit 35. In a state where the guide portion 47 is inserted into the guide groove 45, the movement of the guide portion 47 and the guide groove 45 in the X direction and the movement in the Y direction are limited within a predetermined range. That is, the guide groove 45 is a guided portion guided by the guide portion 47. In a state where any one of the cap 41 and the nozzle rows 12A to 12F is opposed, the guide groove 45 and the guide portion 47 position the cap 41 with respect to the opposed nozzle row 12 in the X direction and the Y direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the carriage 21 moves to the home position HP, each of the plurality of cap units 35 (first cap unit 35A to sixth cap unit 35F) includes a plurality of inkjet heads 11 (first heads 11A to 11A). It faces the corresponding one of the sixth heads 11F). Therefore, when the elevating unit 31 is moved in the + Z direction in this state, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the nozzle rows 12A to 12F of the first head 11A to the sixth head 11F are moved to the first direction. The first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F are sealed.

  As described above, among the plurality of cap units 35 arranged in the X direction, the sixth cap unit 35F located at the end on the platen unit 7 side is a cap unit that can also be used for individual suction. When the individual suction switching mechanism 34 switches to the individual suction state and the suction pump 33 is driven, suction by the sixth cap unit 35F alone is executed. At this time, the caps of the other cap units 35 are not sucked. On the other hand, the other five cap units 35 (first cap unit 35A to fifth cap unit 35E) are cap units used for collective suction, and any one of the first cap unit 35A to fifth cap unit 35E is used. When the inside of the cap is sucked, the caps of all of the first cap unit 35A to the sixth cap unit 35F are sucked. Accordingly, in a state where the carriage 21 is located at the home position HP, only the nozzle row 12F of the sixth head 11F facing the sixth cap unit 35F is the target of individual suction. In a state where the carriage 21 is located at the home position HP, the nozzle rows 12A to 12E provided in the other five ink jet heads 11 (the first head 11A to the fifth head 11E) are not targeted for individual suction. When the nozzle rows 12A to 12E are to be individually suctioned, the carriage 21 is scanned from the home position HP to the away position AP by an integral multiple of the unit dimension d. As a result, the nozzle row 12 to be individually suctioned faces the sixth cap unit 35F, which is a cap unit for individual suction, and individual suction is executed.

  FIG. 7 is a side view, a front view, and a perspective view showing a state in which the first cap unit 35A faces the restricting member 26, and shows a state in which the carriage 21 is moved by the unit dimension d from the home position HP to the away position AP side. Show. FIG. 7A is a side view seen from the + X direction side, FIG. 7B is a front view seen from the + Y direction side, and FIG. 7C is a perspective view. When the carriage 21 is moved by the unit dimension d from the home position HP to the away position AP side, the sixth cap unit 35F faces the fifth head 11E. Therefore, the nozzle row 12E of the fifth head 11E can be individually sucked.

  At this time, the first cap unit 35 </ b> A moves to a position deviated in the X direction from the nozzle rows 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> F and faces the regulating member 26. When the elevating unit 31 is moved in the + Z direction in this state, the regulating member 26 becomes the holder 42 of the first cap unit 35A before the caps 41 of the second cap unit 35B to the sixth cap unit 35F abut on the nozzle surface. And the movement of the first cap unit 35A in the + Z direction is restricted.

  As described above, the holder 42 includes the protrusions 43 and 44 located on both sides of the cap 41 in the Y direction, and the + Z direction front end surface of the protrusions 43 and 44 and the opposing surface 27 of the regulating member 26 come into contact with each other. . The front end surfaces of the protruding portions 43 and 44 protrude in the + Z direction from the lip portion 41 a of the cap 41. Further, the facing surface 27 is a portion located in the −Z direction most in the regulating member 26. Accordingly, a predetermined gap is formed between the cap 41 and the regulating member 26 when the regulating member 26 and the holder 42 come into contact with each other.

  The facing surface 27 is a surface perpendicular to the Z direction that is the moving direction of the elevating unit 31. Moreover, the front end surfaces of the protrusions 43 and 44 are also surfaces perpendicular to the Z direction. And the protrusion parts 43 and 44 are arrange | positioned at two places of the both sides of the Y direction of the cap 41. As shown in FIG. Further, the width in the X direction of the facing surface 27 and the protrusions 43 and 44 is substantially equal to the unit dimension d that is the arrangement pitch of the cap units 35. Therefore, the holder 42 does not tilt when the facing surface 27 and the tip surfaces of the protrusions 43 and 44 come into contact with each other, and the posture of the cap unit 35 is stabilized.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fifth cap unit 35E faces the regulating member 26. FIG. When the carriage 21 is moved from the home position HP to the away position AP by 5 times the unit dimension d, the sixth cap unit 35F faces the first head 11A. By this control, the nozzle row 12A of the first head 11A can be individually sucked. At this time, the first cap unit 35A to the fourth cap unit 35D move to positions displaced from the nozzle rows 12A to 12F in the X direction, and the fifth cap unit 35E faces the restriction member 26. Accordingly, the holder 42 of the fifth cap unit 35E and the facing surface 27 of the restricting member 26 come into contact with each other, and a predetermined gap is formed between the cap 41 and the restricting member 26. At this time, the first cap unit 35 </ b> A to the fourth cap unit 35 </ b> D are located at positions away from the restricting member 26 in the X direction. A member that interferes with the first cap unit 35A to the fourth cap unit 35D is not provided on the + X direction side of the regulating member 26. Therefore, there is little possibility that the first cap unit 35A to the fourth cap unit 35D may be inclined and deformed, and that ink may adhere to the components on the carriage 21 side.

(Main effects of this embodiment)
As described above, the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment includes the inkjet head 11, the carriage 21 on which the inkjet head 11 is mounted, the first direction (+ Z direction) approaching the nozzle surface 13 of the inkjet head 11, and the nozzle surface 13. The cap unit 35 is movable in a second direction (−Z direction) and is separated from the cap unit 35. The cap unit 35 has a cap 41 that opens in the first direction (+ Z direction), and a holder 42 that holds the cap 41. The carriage 21 includes a regulating member 26 positioned at a position deviating from the nozzle rows 12A to 12F formed on the nozzle surface 13 in the scanning direction (X direction) of the carriage 21, and includes the nozzle rows 12A to 12F. When the opposing cap unit 35 moves in the first direction (+ Z direction), the cap 41 is When the cap unit 35 that contacts the surface 13 and faces the regulating member 26 moves in the first direction (+ Z direction), the regulating member 26 and the holder 42 come into contact with each other, and the cap 41 and the regulating member 26 A predetermined gap is formed between them.

  In this embodiment, as described above, when the cap unit 35 is moved to a position not facing the nozzle rows 12A to 12F by scanning the carriage, the regulating member 26 provided on the carriage 21 contacts the holder 42. Thereby, the movement of the cap unit 35 that does not face the nozzle rows 12A to 12F is restricted, and a predetermined gap is formed between the cap 41 and the restricting member 26. Therefore, there is little possibility that ink adheres to the carriage 21 due to contact between the cap 41 and the member on the carriage 21 side. Moreover, since there is little possibility that the cap 41 inclines, the deformation | transformation and damage of the cap 41 can be suppressed.

  In this embodiment, the holding member 36 that holds the holder 42 of the cap unit 35 so as to be movable in the first direction (+ Z direction) and the second direction (−Z direction), and the holder 42 are attached in the first direction (+ Z direction). And a biasing member 37 for biasing. For this reason, the opening edge of the cap 41 can be brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 13 by the biasing force of the biasing member 37. Further, since the step between the regulating member 26 and the nozzle surface 13 does not need to coincide with the step between the holder 42 and the cap 41, it is not necessary to increase the dimensional accuracy of the member.

  In this embodiment, the restricting member 26 includes a facing surface 27 facing the side facing the cap unit 35, and the facing surface 27 is located on the first direction side (+ Z direction side) with respect to the nozzle surface 13. In this case, since the regulating member 26 is disposed at a position retracted from the nozzle surface 13 with respect to the recording paper 3, there is little possibility that the regulating member 26 is caught on the recording paper 3 and causes a paper jam.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of cap units 35 are arranged in the scanning direction (X direction) of the carriage 21, and the dimension of the regulating member 26 in the scanning direction (X direction) is the arrangement pitch of the cap units 35 in the scanning direction (X direction). It is desirable that it is an integral multiple of the unit dimension d. If it does in this way, the inclination of the cap unit 35 when contacting with the regulating member 26 can be suppressed, and an unintended force can be prevented from being applied to the cap unit 35. Further, when the carriage 21 is scanned by the unit dimension d and the plurality of nozzle rows 12A to 12F are sequentially sucked, the cap unit 35 facing the regulating member 26 may be inclined, or an unintended force may be applied to the cap unit 35. Less is.

  In this embodiment, one of the plurality of cap units 35 is an individual suction cap unit that is individually sucked, the other is a batch suction cap unit that is collectively sucked, and is a sixth unit that is an individual suction cap unit. The cap unit 35F is located at the end on the platen unit 7 side among the plurality of cap units 35. As a result, the nozzle surfaces 13 of the plurality of inkjet heads 11 can be individually sucked by facing the sixth cap unit 35F, which is a cap unit for individual suction, by scanning the carriage 21.

  The inkjet head 11 of this embodiment includes a guide portion 47 that positions the cap unit 35 in a direction (X direction, Y direction) orthogonal to the first direction (+ Z direction), and the holder 42 is guided by the guide portion 47. A guide groove 45 is provided. Thereby, since the cap unit 35 and the nozzle rows 12A to 12F can be accurately positioned, the nozzle rows 12A to 12F can be reliably sealed.

  In this embodiment, the holder 42 is provided with projecting portions 43 and 44 projecting in the first direction, the projecting portions 43 and 44 are provided with guide grooves 45, and the projecting portions 43 and 44 in the first direction (+ Z direction). The front end and the regulating member 26 are configured to contact each other. As described above, if the guide groove 45 is provided by using the portion in contact with the regulating member 26, the configuration of the holder 42 can be simplified.

(Modification)
FIG. 9 is a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of the carriage 121 and the head unit 10 including the modified regulating member 126. 9A is a side view seen from the + X direction side, FIG. 9B is a front view seen from the + Y direction side, and FIG. 9C is a bottom view seen from the −Z direction side. is there. Hereinafter, only different parts from the above embodiment will be described with different reference numerals, and the same parts as the above embodiments will be given the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In the above embodiment, the width in the X direction of the regulating member 26 is substantially the same as the unit dimension d (that is, the arrangement pitch of the cap units 35), but the width in the X direction of the regulating member 26 is an integral multiple of the unit dimension d. It may be. In the modification, the width of the regulating member 126 in the X direction is set to 3 times the unit dimension d. A facing surface 127 is provided at the tip of the regulating member 126 in the −Z direction.

  FIG. 10 is a side view, a front view, and a perspective view showing a state in which the third, fourth, and fifth cap units 35C, 35D, and 35E face the restricting member 126 of the modified example, and the away position AP side from the home position HP. A state in which the carriage 21 is moved five times the unit dimension d is shown. At this time, as in FIG. 8, the sixth cap unit 35F faces the first head 11A. In addition, the first cap unit 35A to the fifth cap unit 35E move to positions displaced from the nozzle rows 12A to 12F in the X direction, and among them, the third cap unit 35C to the fifth cap unit 35E face the regulating member 126. . As described above, when the width in the X direction of the regulating member 126 is an integral multiple of the unit dimension d, the inclination of the cap unit 35 when contacting the regulating member 126 can be suppressed, and an unintended force is applied to the cap unit 35. This can be suppressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer (printer), 1A ... Printing mechanism part, 2 ... Roll paper storage part, 3 ... Recording paper, 4 ... Feeding roller, 5 ... Conveyance roller pair, 6 ... Conveyance motor, 7 ... Platen unit, 8 ... Exhaust Paper roller pair, 9 ... Platen surface, 10 ... Head unit, 11 ... Inkjet head, 11A ... First head, 11B ... Second head, 11C ... Third head, 11D ... Fourth head, 11E ... Fifth head, 11F ... 6th head, 12A-12F ... Nozzle row, 13 ... Nozzle surface, 15A-15F ... Sub tank, 16 ... Diaphragm pump unit, 17A-17F ... Flexible ink tube, 18A-18F ... Flat flow path, 19A-19F ... ink cartridge, 20 ... head moving mechanism, 21 ... carriage, 22 ... carriage guide shaft, 23 ... carry Motor 24, carriage drive mechanism 25, carriage main body 26, regulating member 27 27 facing surface 30 maintenance unit 31 lift unit 32 lift mechanism 33 suction pump 34 individual suction switching mechanism 35 ... Cap unit, 35A ... First cap unit, 35B ... Second cap unit, 35C ... Third cap unit, 35D ... Fourth cap unit, 35E ... Fifth cap unit, 35F ... Sixth cap unit, 36 ... Holding member, 36b, 36c ... side plate, 36a ... bottom plate, 36 ... holding member, 37 ... urging member, 41 ... cap, 41a ... lip portion, 42 ... holder, 43, 44 ... projecting portion, 43a, 44a ... facing surface 43b, 44b ... outer surface, 45 ... guide groove, 46 ... engagement groove, 47 ... guide portion, 48 ... engagement projection, 8a ... hook, 121 ... carriage, 126 ... restricting member, 127 ... facing surface, AP ... away position, HP ... home position, d ... unit dimensions.

Claims (7)

An inkjet head, a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted, and a cap unit that moves in a first direction approaching the nozzle surface of the inkjet head and in a second direction separated from the nozzle surface,
The cap unit includes a cap that opens in the first direction, and a holder that holds the cap.
The carriage includes a regulating member located at a position deviated from a nozzle row formed on the nozzle surface in the scanning direction of the carriage,
When the cap unit facing the nozzle row moves in the first direction, the cap contacts the nozzle surface,
When the cap unit facing the regulating member moves in the first direction, the regulating member and the holder come into contact with each other, and a predetermined gap is formed between the cap and the regulating member. Inkjet printer featuring. A holding member that holds the holder movably in the first direction and the second direction;
The inkjet printer according to claim 1, further comprising: an urging member that urges the holder in the first direction with respect to the holding member. The regulating member includes a facing surface facing a side facing the cap unit,
The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the facing surface is positioned on the first direction side with respect to the nozzle surface. A plurality of the cap units are arranged in the scanning direction,
4. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of the restricting member in the scanning direction is an integral multiple of an arrangement pitch of the cap units in the scanning direction. 5. A plurality of the inkjet heads are arranged in the scanning direction,
The cap unit is located at a position away from the platen unit in the scanning direction,
The cap unit is controlled by collective suction for sucking all caps and individual suction for sucking only one cap,
The ink jet printer according to claim 4, wherein the cap unit that is a target of the individual suction control is located at an end on the platen unit side among the plurality of cap units. The inkjet head includes a guide unit that limits a movement range of the cap unit in a direction intersecting the first direction.
The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the holder includes a guided portion guided by the guide portion. The holder includes a protruding portion protruding in the first direction,
The guided portion is provided in the protruding portion,
The inkjet printer according to claim 6, wherein a tip of the projecting portion in the first direction is in contact with the regulating member.

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