JP6693467B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus including a unit that reciprocates in a horizontal direction and is removable in one horizontal direction.

  As a recording device such as a facsimile, a copying machine, and a printer, an inkjet recording device (image forming device) that ejects ink to form an image is widely used because it can form a high-definition image.

  Conventionally, in an inkjet recording apparatus, in order to prevent the ejection nozzles of the recording head from drying and clogging, the recording head is usually capped when printing is not performed for a long time. It is also common to perform a recovery process of forcibly extruding the ink thickened in the ejection nozzle from the ejection nozzle and wiping it off with a wiper. Therefore, an inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head that ejects ink onto a recording medium, a cap unit that caps an ink ejection surface of the recording head, a wipe unit that performs recovery processing of the recording head, a cap unit and a wipe unit. And a carriage that supports the carriage. The cap unit, the wipe unit and the carriage constitute a maintenance unit.

  The maintenance unit is configured to reciprocate between a position directly below the recording head and a retracted position horizontally retracted from the position directly below the recording head. Further, the maintenance unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body by further moving from the retracted position to the outside of the apparatus.

  The device body is provided with a detection sensor for detecting the position of the maintenance unit. As a result, the reciprocating movement of the maintenance unit is limited to the range from the position directly below the recording head to the retracted position. In addition, the device body is provided with a removal prevention member that prevents the maintenance unit from coming out when the detection sensor malfunctions. It is not necessary to remove the detection sensor from the apparatus body when the maintenance unit is attached to or detached from the apparatus body, but the removal prevention member needs to be removed from the apparatus body.

  An ink jet recording apparatus including a cap unit, a wipe unit, and a carriage that reciprocate between a position directly below the recording head and a retracted position is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-242242.

JP, 2017-1347, A

  However, in the above-described conventional inkjet recording apparatus, it is necessary to remove the removal prevention member from the apparatus body before removing the maintenance unit from the apparatus body when the maintenance unit is replaced. Then, after attaching the maintenance unit to the apparatus body, it is necessary to attach the pull-out prevention member to the apparatus body. At this time, if the removal prevention member is forgotten to be attached to the apparatus main body, there is a problem that the maintenance unit comes into contact with other members and is damaged when the detection sensor malfunctions.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing damage to a unit due to forgetting to attach a slip-out prevention member. It is to be.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is configured to reciprocate horizontally in an apparatus body and inside the apparatus body, and to be removed in a first direction which is one direction in the horizontal direction. And a detachable prevention member that is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus and that prevents the unit from coming out in the first direction when it comes into contact with the unit. And a control unit that controls a moving operation of the unit and that receives a detection signal from the detection sensor when the detection sensor detects the unit. The unit is attachable / detachable to / from the apparatus main body in a state in which the removal prevention member is removed from the apparatus main body. The control unit does not receive the detection signal and does not perform the movement operation of the unit when the detection sensor is detached from the apparatus main body.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the detection sensor for detecting the position of the unit is provided integrally with the pull-out prevention member, and the control unit is in a state where the detection sensor is removed from the apparatus main body. , It does not receive the detection signal and does not move the unit. As a result, when the unit is attached to the device body and the removal prevention member is forgotten to be attached to the device body, such as when the unit is replaced, the detection sensor is not attached to the device body. It does not receive and does not move the unit. For this reason, the replacement worker notices that the removal prevention member is not attached to the apparatus main body, so that it is possible to prevent the work from being finished in a state where the removal prevention member is forgotten to be attached. With this, even when the detection sensor malfunctions, it is possible to prevent the unit from coming into contact with other members and being damaged by the removal prevention member.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first transport unit and the recording unit of the image forming apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention from above. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the recording head of the image forming apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention from the ink ejection surface side. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure around a maintenance unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a state in which the maintenance unit is arranged at a first position. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure around a maintenance unit of the image forming apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a state in which the maintenance unit is arranged at a second position. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure around a slip-out prevention member and a detection sensor of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a slip-out prevention member and a detection sensor of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure around a slip-out prevention member and a detection sensor of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, an inkjet type image forming apparatus 100 (here, a color printer) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming apparatus 100, a paper feed cassette 2a, which is a paper accommodating portion, is arranged below the inside of an apparatus body (image forming apparatus body) 1. The paper S, which is an example of a recording medium, is housed inside the paper feed cassette 2a. A sheet feeding device 3a is arranged on the downstream side of the sheet feeding cassette 2a in the sheet conveying direction, that is, on the upper right side of the sheet feeding cassette 2a in FIG. By the paper feeding device 3a, the papers S are separated one by one and sent out toward the upper right of the paper feeding cassette 2a in FIG.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with the first paper transport path 4a inside thereof. The first paper feed path 4a is located at the upper right in the paper feed direction of the paper feed cassette 2a. The paper S sent out from the paper feed cassette 2a is conveyed vertically upward along the side surface of the apparatus main body 1 by the first paper conveyance path 4a.

  A registration roller pair 13 is provided at the downstream end of the first paper transport path 4a with respect to the paper transport direction. Further, the first transport unit 5 and the recording unit 9 are arranged immediately downstream of the registration roller pair 13 in the sheet transport direction. The paper S delivered from the paper feed cassette 2a reaches the registration roller pair 13 through the first paper transport path 4a. The registration roller pair 13 feeds the sheet S toward the first transport unit 5 by correcting the skew feeding of the sheet S and timing with the ink ejection operation performed by the recording unit 9.

  A second transport unit 12 is arranged on the downstream side (left side in FIG. 1) of the first transport unit 5 with respect to the sheet transport direction. The paper S on which the ink image is recorded by the recording unit 9 is sent to the second transport unit 12, and the water-based ink ejected onto the surface of the paper S is dried while passing through the second transport unit 12.

  A decurler unit 14 is provided on the downstream side of the second transport unit 12 with respect to the sheet transport direction and near the left side surface of the apparatus body 1. The sheet S whose ink has been dried by the second transport unit 12 is sent to the decurler unit 14 and the curl generated in the sheet S is corrected.

  A second sheet conveying path 4b is provided on the downstream side (upper side in FIG. 1) of the decurler unit 14 with respect to the sheet conveying direction. When the double-sided recording is not performed, the sheet S that has passed through the decurler unit 14 is discharged from the second sheet transport path 4b to a sheet discharge tray 15 provided outside the left side surface of the image forming apparatus 100.

  A reversing conveyance path 16 for performing double-sided recording is provided above the recording apparatus 9 and the second conveyance unit 12 above the apparatus main body 1. When performing double-sided recording, the sheet S that has finished recording on the first side and has passed through the second transport unit 12 and the decurler unit 14 is sent to the reverse transport path 16 through the second paper transport path 4b. The sheet S sent to the reversal transport path 16 is subsequently switched in the transport direction for recording on the second side, passes through the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1 and is transported to the right side, and the first sheet transport path 4a. , And the pair of registration rollers 13, and the sheet is again sent to the first transport unit 5 with the second surface facing upward.

  A wipe unit 19 and a cap unit 50 are arranged below the second transport unit 12. The wipe unit 19 horizontally moves below the recording unit 9 when performing a purge described below, wipes ink ejected from the ejection nozzles of the recording head of the recording unit 9, and collects the wiped ink. The cap unit 50 horizontally moves below the recording unit 9 when capping the ink ejection surface of the recording head of the recording unit 9, and further moves upward to be mounted on the lower surface of the recording head.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 9 includes a head housing 10 and line heads 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K held by the head housing 10. These line heads 11C to 11K are formed such that a predetermined space (for example, 1 mm) is formed with respect to the transport surface of the first transport belt 8 stretched around a plurality of rollers including the drive roller 6 and the driven roller 7. A plurality of (here, three) recording heads 17a to 17c are arranged in a zigzag manner along a paper width direction (arrow BB 'direction) that is supported by the height and is orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction (arrow A direction). ..

  As shown in FIG. 3, a nozzle region R in which a large number of ejection nozzles 18 (see FIG. 2) are arranged is provided on the ink ejection surface F of the recording heads 17a to 17c. Since the recording heads 17a to 17c have the same shape and configuration, the recording heads 17a to 17c are shown in one view in FIG.

  In the recording heads 17a to 17c forming the line heads 11C to 11K, four color inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) stored in ink tanks (not shown) are stored in the line heads 11C to 11K. Supplied for each color.

  Each of the recording heads 17a to 17c receives a control signal from a control unit 110 (see FIG. 1) that controls the image forming apparatus 100 as a whole, and in accordance with image data received from an external computer or the like, a conveyance surface of the first conveyance belt 8 Ink is ejected from the ejection nozzles 18 toward the sheet S that is adsorbed and held by and is conveyed. As a result, a color image in which four color inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are superposed is formed on the paper S on the first conveyor belt 8.

  In addition, in order to prevent defective ejection of ink due to drying or clogging of the recording heads 17a to 17c, at the start of printing after long-term stop, the ejection nozzles 18 of all the recording heads 17a to 17c and the interval between the printing operations. In order to prepare for the next printing operation, purging is performed by pushing out the ink whose viscosity has increased in the nozzles 18 whose ejection amount is equal to or less than the specified value.

  Next, the cap unit 50, the wipe unit 19, and the peripheral structure will be described in detail.

  The first transport unit 5 (see FIG. 1) is configured to be vertically movable by a transport lifting mechanism (not shown) including a lifting drive source and a gear train. The first transport unit 5 is arranged at the raised position (position in FIG. 1) during the printing operation and is close to the ink ejection surface F of the recording heads 17a to 17c. Further, the first transport unit 5 is arranged at the lowered position (position lower than that in FIG. 1) at the time of a recovery operation and a capping operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cap unit 50 and the wipe unit 19 are housed in a carriage 60 having a U-shaped cross section. The cap unit 50, the wipe unit 19, and the carriage 60 constitute a maintenance unit (unit) 70.

  The maintenance unit 70 includes a first position (position in FIG. 4) directly below the recording unit 9 and a second position (retraction position, position in FIG. 5) retracted in the horizontal direction (direction of arrow A) from the first position. It is configured to be able to reciprocate between. When the maintenance unit 70 is located at the first position, the first transport unit 5 is located at the lowered position. Further, the cap unit 50 and the wipe unit 19 are configured to be vertically movable up and down with respect to the carriage 60 at the first position.

  Specifically, the carriage 60 is erected on a carriage bottom plate (not shown) made of sheet metal on which the wipe unit 19 is placed and at both ends of the carriage bottom plate (not shown) in the paper width direction (arrow BB 'direction). And a pair of carriage side plates 62 and 63 that are formed. The carriage side plates 62 and 63 are configured to be slidable with respect to the carriage support rails 1a and 1b extending in the arrow AA 'direction of the apparatus body 1.

  Rack portions 62a and 63a having rack teeth are formed on the upper surfaces of the carriage side plates 62 and 63, respectively. Gears 82 and 83 fixed to both ends of a rotary shaft 81 are engaged with the rack portions 62a and 63a, respectively, and the rotary shaft 81 is connected to a carriage drive source 84 composed of a motor. When the carriage drive source 84 rotates forward and backward, the gears 82 and 83 rotate forward and backward, and the carriage 60 reciprocates in the direction of arrow AA ′ (horizontal direction). The rotary shaft 81, the gears 82 and 83, and the carriage drive source 84 constitute a unit horizontal movement mechanism that horizontally moves the maintenance unit 70.

  Further, the carriage support rails 1a and 1b are provided with a cap cover 85 made of a metal plate that covers the upper portion of the cap unit 50 at the second position (position in FIG. 5).

  During the printing operation, the cap unit 50 and the wipe unit 19 are arranged at the second position (the position in FIG. 5) together with the carriage 60.

  During the capping operation, the cap unit 50 and the wipe unit 19 are arranged at the first position (position in FIG. 4) together with the carriage 60. Then, the cap unit 50 moves upward and performs capping by bringing the plurality of cap portions 53 provided in the cap unit 50 into close contact with the ink ejection surfaces F of the recording heads 17a to 17c, respectively.

  During the recovery operation, the wipe unit 19 is arranged at the first position (position in FIG. 4) together with the carriage 60 with the cap unit 50 left in the second position. Then, the wipe unit 19 moves upward and performs the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c. Specifically, ink is forcibly ejected (purged) from the ejection nozzles 18 of the recording heads 17a to 17c. By this purging operation, the thickened ink, foreign matter and bubbles in the ejection nozzle 18 are discharged. Then, the ink (purge ink) extruded onto the ink ejection surface F is wiped off by a plurality of wipers (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the wipe unit 19.

  Here, the image forming apparatus 100 prevents the maintenance unit 70 from moving too far in the direction of arrow A from the second position when moving from the first position (position of FIG. 4) to the second position (position of FIG. 5). Is configured to.

  Specifically, a detection sensor 95 for detecting the position of the maintenance unit 70 is provided near the end of the carriage support rail 1a of the apparatus body 1 in the arrow A direction. The detection sensor 95 is provided integrally with a slip-out prevention member 90 described later. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the detection sensor 95 is arranged in the arrow B direction with respect to the moving area of the maintenance unit 70. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the detection sensor 95 has a light emitting portion 95a and a light receiving portion 95b that are vertically opposed to each other. On the carriage side plate 62 of the carriage 60, a light shielding piece (detected portion) 62a that can pass between the light emitting portion 95a and the light receiving portion 95b is formed by bending so as to project in the arrow B direction (second direction). ing.

  When the carriage 60 is arranged at a position other than the second position, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 95a is not blocked by the light blocking piece 62a and is received by the light receiving portion 95b. Then, the detection sensor 95 transmits, for example, a 0V Low signal (non-detection signal) to the control unit 110. As a result, the control unit 110 receives the Low signal and detects that the carriage 60 is arranged at a position other than the second position. At this time, the control unit 110 drives the carriage driving source 84 to move the carriage 60 from the first position (position of FIG. 4) to the second position (position of FIG. 5), if the carriage driving source is under control. The drive of 84 is continued. It should be noted that when the detection sensor 95 is removed from the apparatus body 1, the control unit 110 receives, for example, a 0V Low signal (non-detection signal).

  On the other hand, when the carriage 60 is located at the second position (the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), the light emitted from the light emitting section 95a is blocked by the light blocking piece 62a and is not received by the light receiving section 95b. Then, the detection sensor 95 transmits, for example, a 5V High signal (detection signal) to the control unit 110. As a result, the control unit 110 receives the High signal and detects that the carriage 60 is located at the second position. At this time, the control unit 110 drives the carriage driving source 84 to move the carriage 60 from the first position (position of FIG. 4) to the second position (position of FIG. 5), if the carriage driving source is under control. The drive of 84 is stopped. Therefore, the maintenance unit 70 stops at the second position without moving too far in the direction of arrow A from the second position.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 100, even when the detection sensor 95 malfunctions, the maintenance unit 70 goes too far in the direction of the arrow A from the second position, and the maintenance unit 70 slips out of the apparatus main body 1 or other parts (should contact). It is configured so as to prevent damage by abutting against other parts).

  Specifically, near the end of the carriage support rail 1a of the apparatus main body 1 in the direction of arrow A, a sheet metal stopper for preventing the maintenance unit 70 from slipping out in the direction of arrow A by contacting the maintenance unit 70 is prevented. A member 90 is provided. The removal prevention member 90 is arranged in the arrow B direction with respect to the moving region of the maintenance unit 70. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the detachment prevention member 90 is arranged parallel to the arrow AA ′ direction and the first side surface portion 91 to which the detection sensor 95 is fixed, and the detachment prevention member 90 arranged perpendicular to the arrow AA ′ direction for maintenance. The second side surface portion 92 with which the unit 70 abuts.

  The first side surface portion 91 is provided with a sensor mounting hole 91a into which the engagement claw 96 having the snap-fit shape of the detection sensor 95 is engaged. Further, a perfect circular positioning hole 91b into which a positioning pin (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 is inserted and a screw hole 91c screwed to the apparatus main body 1 are provided above the first side surface portion 91. It is provided. In addition, in the lower part of the first side surface portion 91, a positioning hole 91d having a vertically long hole into which a positioning pin (not shown) of the device body 1 is inserted, and a screw hole 91e screwed to the device body 1 And are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6, on the carriage side plate 62 of the carriage 60, an abutting piece (abutting portion) 62b capable of passing below the light receiving portion 95b is formed by bending so as to project in the arrow B direction. ..

  When the detection sensor 95 malfunctions, the carriage 60 moving from the upstream side to the downstream side in the arrow A direction passes through the second position and further moves in the arrow A direction. At this time, the contact piece 62b contacts the second side surface portion 92 of the removal prevention member 90. As a result, it is possible to prevent the maintenance unit 70 from coming out of the apparatus body 1 and coming into contact with other parts (parts that should not come into contact).

  Here, the maintenance unit 70 is configured to be removable in the arrow A direction (first direction) with respect to the apparatus body 1. When the maintenance unit 70 is removed from the apparatus main body 1, the outer cover of the apparatus main body 1 is opened, so the control unit 110 receives an open signal from the cover open / close detection unit (not shown), and the maintenance unit 70 is released. It is determined that the attachment / detachment work will be performed.

  When removing the maintenance unit 70 from the apparatus body 1 when replacing the maintenance unit 70 or the like, after removing the removal prevention member 90 integrally provided with the detection sensor 95 from the apparatus body 1, the maintenance unit 70 is removed from the apparatus body 1. Remove.

  When the maintenance unit 70 is attached to the apparatus main body 1, after the maintenance unit 70 is attached to the apparatus main body 1, the detachment prevention member 90 integrally provided with the detection sensor 95 is attached to the apparatus main body 1. At this time, since the maintenance unit 70 is arranged at the second position (positions in FIGS. 5 and 6), the control unit 110 receives the High signal (detection signal). Accordingly, the control unit 110 detects that the maintenance unit 70 is arranged at the second position and that the detection sensor 95 and the removal prevention member 90 are attached to the apparatus body 1. Then, the image forming apparatus 100 is in a state where it is possible to perform a printing operation, a reciprocating movement operation of the maintenance unit 70, and the like.

  When the removal prevention member 90 is not attached to the apparatus body 1 after the maintenance unit 70 is attached to the apparatus body 1, the control unit 110 receives a Low signal (non-detection signal). As a result, the control unit 110 detects that the detection sensor 95 and the removal prevention member 90 are not attached to the apparatus body 1. Then, the image forming apparatus 100 maintains the stopped state in which the printing operation and the reciprocating movement of the maintenance unit 70 are not performed. In this state, the image forming apparatus 100 does not operate even if the replacement worker or the like inputs an instruction such as a printing operation, so that the replacement worker or the like notices that the removal preventing member 90 is not attached. At this time, the control unit 110 may display an error message regarding forgetting to attach the pull-out prevention member 90 on a display panel (notification unit) (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the detection sensor 95 for detecting the position of the maintenance unit 70 is provided integrally with the removal prevention member 90, and the control unit 110 removes the detection sensor 95 from the apparatus body 1. In this state, the High signal (detection signal) is not received, and the maintenance unit 70 is not moved. Accordingly, when the maintenance unit 70 is attached to the apparatus body 1 and the removal prevention member 90 is forgotten to be attached to the apparatus body 1 when the maintenance unit 70 is replaced, the detection sensor 95 is also attached to the apparatus body 1. Therefore, the control unit 110 does not receive the High signal and does not perform the reciprocating movement operation or the printing operation of the maintenance unit 70. For this reason, the replacement worker notices that the removal prevention member 90 is not attached to the apparatus main body 1, so that it is possible to prevent the work from being finished without forgetting to attach the removal prevention member 90. Thus, even if the detection sensor 95 malfunctions, the removal prevention member 90 can prevent the maintenance unit 70 from coming into contact with other members and being damaged.

  Further, as described above, the maintenance unit 70 is provided with the light shielding piece 62a protruding in the arrow B direction. As a result, the detection sensor 95 can be arranged in the direction of the arrow B with respect to the moving area of the maintenance unit 70, so that the maintenance unit 70 does not come into contact with the detection sensor 95 even if the detection sensor 95 malfunctions. It can be easily prevented.

  Further, as described above, the maintenance unit 70 is provided with the contact piece 62b protruding in the arrow B direction. Accordingly, the contact piece 62b can be easily brought into contact with the slip-out preventing member 90 arranged in the arrow B direction with respect to the moving area of the maintenance unit 70.

  Further, as described above, the removal prevention member 90 is arranged in parallel to the arrow AA ′ direction and the first side surface portion 91 to which the detection sensor 95 is fixed, and the removal prevention member 90 is arranged in parallel to the arrow BB ′ direction for maintenance. The second side surface portion 92 with which the unit 70 abuts. Accordingly, when the detection sensor 95 malfunctions, it is possible to more easily prevent the maintenance unit 70 from coming into contact with the detection sensor 95, and more easily bring the maintenance unit 70 into contact with the removal prevention member 90. be able to.

  It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplifications in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and includes meanings equivalent to the scope of claims for patent and all modifications within the scope.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an inkjet type image forming apparatus is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an image forming apparatus other than the inkjet type (for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is used. ) Is also applicable.

  Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the light shielding piece (detected portion) 62a and the contact piece (contact portion) 62b are provided on the carriage 60 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the wipe unit 19 may be provided with a detected portion or a contact portion.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the maintenance unit 70 is used as the unit of the present invention has been described, but a unit other than the maintenance unit 70 may be used. In this case, the carriage need not be provided.

1 Device Main Body 17a to 17c Recording Head 19 Wiping Unit 50 Cap Unit 60 Carriage 62a Light Shielding Piece (Detected Part)
62b Contact piece (contact part)
70 Maintenance unit (unit)
90 slipping prevention member 91 first side surface portion 92 second side surface portion 95 detection sensor 100 image forming apparatus 110 control unit F ink ejection surface

Claims (5)

The device body,
A unit that reciprocates in the horizontal direction inside the apparatus main body and is removable in a first direction that is one of the horizontal directions;
A detachment prevention member that is detachably attached to the apparatus body and that prevents the unit from coming out in the first direction by contacting the unit;
A detection sensor that is provided integrally with the pull-out prevention member and that detects the position of the unit,
A control unit that controls a moving operation of the unit and that receives a detection signal from the detection sensor in a state where the detection sensor detects the unit,
Equipped with
The unit is attachable / detachable to / from the device body in a state where the slip-off preventing member is removed from the device body,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit does not receive the detection signal and does not move the unit in a state where the detection sensor is detached from the apparatus main body.   The image forming according to claim 1, wherein the unit is provided with a detected portion which is projected in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and which is detected by the detection sensor. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the unit is provided with an abutting portion that projects in the second direction and abuts against the slip-out preventing member.   The pull-out prevention member is arranged in parallel to the first direction and has a first side surface portion to which the detection sensor is fixed, and a second side surface portion that is arranged perpendicularly to the first direction and is in contact with the unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a side surface portion. The unit is
At least one of a cap unit that caps an ink ejection surface of a recording head that ejects ink, and a wipe unit that performs recovery processing of the recording head,
A carriage that supports at least one of the cap unit and the wipe unit and that reciprocates in the horizontal direction;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a maintenance unit including the following.

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