JP6950729B2 - Liquid injection device and cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid injection device such as an inkjet printer and a cleaning device.

Conventionally, as a kind of liquid injection device, an inkjet printer that records an image by ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium from a nozzle formed on the nozzle surface of an inkjet recording head has been known. Some such printers are provided with a string-shaped wiping member for wiping the nozzle surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The wiping member is arranged in a state where a predetermined tension is applied so that a part thereof extends between the unwinding portion and the winding portion arranged on both sides of the inkjet recording head. That is, the wiping member is wound around the unwinding portion, is unwound from the unwinding portion, and is wound by the winding portion. Then, by moving the unwinding portion and the winding portion in the direction orthogonal to the winding direction of the wiping member while the wiping member is in contact with the nozzle surface, the ink or the like adhering to the nozzle surface is wiped off by the wiping member. It has become so.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-302562

By the way, in the printer as described above, the pressing force on the nozzle surface of the wiping member when wiping the nozzle surface with the wiping member is due to the tension applied to the wiping member, so that the pressure is not uniform. Therefore, there is a problem that the nozzle surface is not stably wiped by the wiping member, and the nozzle surface may be left unwiped by the wiping member.

Note that these problems are not limited to inkjet printers that eject ink droplets from nozzles to record images, but liquid injection that wipes the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface while pressing the wiping member against the nozzle surface on which the nozzles are placed. The devices are generally common.

The present invention has focused on such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid injection device and a cleaning device capable of stably wiping a nozzle surface on which a nozzle for ejecting a liquid is arranged.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above problems and their actions and effects will be described.
The liquid injection device for solving the above problems includes a liquid injection head that injects liquid from a nozzle arranged on the nozzle surface, a plate-shaped first wiping member having flexibility capable of wiping the nozzle surface, and the first wiping member. 1 A first wiping mechanism having a first wiping member moving mechanism capable of moving a wiping member, and a long second wiping member capable of absorbing the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface in contact with the nozzle surface. A second wiping mechanism including a take-up reel for winding the second wiping member holding the liquid and a second wiping mechanism having the liquid, and the first wiping member is moved in the wiping direction to wipe the nozzle surface. 1 maintenance operation, a third maintenance operation in which the second wiping member is brought into contact with the nozzle surface without urging the second wiping member by the first wiping member, and the first in the second wiping member. By bringing the wiping member into contact with the wiping member, it is possible to perform a first wiping member cleaning operation for cleaning the wiping member, and the first wiping member moving mechanism comes into contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation. The contact portion of the first wiping member can be moved to a wiping position in contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation and a cleaning position in contact with the second wiping member in the first wiping member cleaning operation. The cleaning position is a position that does not come into contact with the nozzle surface and is located below the wiping position.
In the liquid injection device, it is preferable that the second wiping member can be urged by the first wiping member to perform a second maintenance operation of bringing the second wiping member into contact with the nozzle surface. ..

According to this configuration, in particular, by selectively performing the second maintenance operation, the second wiping portion can be stably brought into contact with the nozzle surface. Therefore, the nozzle surface on which the nozzle on which the liquid is ejected is arranged can be stably wiped.

In the liquid injection device, it is preferable that the third maintenance operation of bringing the second wiping portion into contact with the nozzle surface can be performed without urging the second wiping portion by the first wiping portion. ..

According to this configuration, it is possible to wipe the nozzle surface while suppressing damage to the nozzle surface.
In the liquid injection device, it is preferable to clean the first wiping portion by bringing the second wiping portion into contact with the first wiping portion.

According to this configuration, the second wiping portion can also be used as a cleaner for the first wiping portion.
In the liquid injection device, it is preferable that the first wiping portion is composed of a flexible wiping member, and the second wiping portion is composed of a long absorbing member capable of absorbing the liquid. ..

According to this configuration, the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface can be scraped off by the wiping member or absorbed by the absorbing member.
In the liquid injection device, it is preferable to vibrate or rotate the second wiping portion in the maintenance operation of wiping the nozzle surface using the second wiping portion.

According to this configuration, the wiping property of the second wiping portion can be improved.
The cleaning device for solving the above problems includes a plate-shaped first wiping member having flexibility capable of wiping the nozzle surface of a liquid injection head that injects liquid from a nozzle arranged on the nozzle surface, and the first wiping member. A first wiping mechanism having a first wiping member moving mechanism capable of moving a member, and a long second wiping member capable of absorbing the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface in contact with the nozzle surface. A first maintenance that includes a take-up reel that winds up the second wiping member that holds the liquid, and a second wiping mechanism that has the second wiping member, and moves the first wiping member in the wiping direction to wipe the nozzle surface. The operation, the third maintenance operation of bringing the second wiping member into contact with the nozzle surface without urging the second wiping member by the first wiping member, and the first wiping member with the second wiping member. It is possible to perform a first wiping member cleaning operation for cleaning the wiping member, and the first wiping member moving mechanism comes into contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation. The contact portion of the first wiping member can be moved to a wiping position in contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation and a cleaning position in contact with the second wiping member in the first wiping member cleaning operation. The cleaning position is a position that does not come into contact with the nozzle surface and is located below the wiping position.

In the cleaning device, the take-up reel is preferably located on the downstream side in the wiping direction from the contact portion of the first wiping member at the wiping position.

The schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the inkjet printer of one Embodiment. Schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the support base and the maintenance mechanism. Perspective view of the head unit. Schematic diagram of the nozzle surface. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. Schematic diagram of the wiper unit. Front view of FIG. Enlarged view of the main part of the support mechanism. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state when the absorbing member is held in the holding groove of the wiping member. The sectional view which shows the 1st maintenance operation. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state when the wiping member is cleaned by the absorbing member. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state when the wiping member is being cleaned by the absorbing member. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a third maintenance operation. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 1st maintenance operation in the modification example. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a third maintenance operation in the modified example. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a third maintenance operation in the modified example. The cross-sectional enlarged schematic view of the wiping member in the modified example. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 1st maintenance operation in the modification example. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a third maintenance operation in the modified example. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example. The cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a third maintenance operation in the modified example. The schematic diagram which shows the state when flushing is performed on the absorption member in the modified example. The side schematic diagram which shows the 3rd maintenance operation in the modification example. The front schematic view of FIG. 30. The schematic diagram which shows the state at the time of performing the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example. The schematic diagram which shows the state at the time of performing the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example. The schematic diagram which shows the state at the time of performing the 2nd maintenance operation in the modification example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the liquid injection device will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, an inkjet printer 11 as an example of a liquid injection device is a transport unit that transports a recording medium 13 such as paper supported by a support base 12 in a transport direction Y along the surface of the support base 12. A printing unit 15 for printing by injecting ink as an example of a liquid onto a recording medium 13 to be conveyed is provided.

The support base 12, the transport unit 14, and the printing unit 15 are assembled to the printer main body 16 including a housing, a frame, and the like. In the inkjet printer 11, the support base 12 extends in the width direction of the recording medium 13 (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1). Further, a cover 17 is attached to the printer main body 16 so as to be openable and closable.

The transport unit 14 is arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the support base 12 in the transport direction Y, respectively, and the recording medium 13 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport roller pair 19 in the transport direction Y. It is provided with a guide plate 20 that guides while supporting. Then, the transport unit 14 rotates along the surface of the support base 12 and the surface of the guide plate 20 by rotating the transport roller pairs 18 and 19 while sandwiching the recording medium 13 by being driven by a transport motor (not shown). The recording medium 13 is conveyed in the transfer direction Y.

The printing unit 15 is attached to the guide shafts 22 and 23 extending along the scanning direction X which is the width direction of the recording medium 13 orthogonal (intersecting) with the transport direction Y of the recording medium 13 and the guide shafts 22 and 23. It includes a carriage 25 that is guided and can reciprocate in the scanning direction X. The carriage 25 reciprocates in the scanning direction X as the carriage motor 24 (see FIG. 2) is driven.

At least one liquid injection head 27 (two in this embodiment) having a nozzle 26 for injecting ink is attached to the lower end portion of the carriage 25. That is, the liquid injection head 27 is attached to the carriage 25 in a posture in which its lower surface faces the support base 12 at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction Z, and together with the carriage 25 as the carriage motor 24 (see FIG. 2) is driven. It reciprocates in the scanning direction X. The liquid injection heads 27 are arranged so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the scanning direction X and deviated by a predetermined distance in the transport direction Y.

On the other hand, a part of the supply mechanism 31 that supplies ink from the ink cartridge 30 to the liquid injection head 27 is attached to the upper side of the carriage 25. The supply mechanism 31 causes the ink to flow along the supply direction A from the upstream side on the ink cartridge 30 side to the downstream side on the liquid injection head 27 side. At least one set (five sets in this embodiment) of the ink cartridge 30 and the supply mechanism 31 is provided for each type of ink.

The five ink cartridges 30 are detachably mounted on a plurality of (five in this embodiment) mounting portions 32, and each of the five ink cartridges 30 contains inks of different colors (types). As an example, inks of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), and white (W) are contained in each ink cartridge 30. By injecting the ink supplied from each ink cartridge 30 from the liquid injection head 27, color printing or the like on the recording medium 13 is performed. As an example, in the case of the dark color recording medium 13, white printing (base printing) is performed, and then color printing is performed on the white printing medium 13.

The supply mechanism 31 includes a supply path 33 for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 30 to the liquid injection head 27. In the supply path 33, the supply pump 34 that flows ink in the supply direction A, the filter unit 35 that captures air bubbles and foreign substances in the ink, and the ink flow that flows through the supply path 33 are changed in order from the upstream side to supply ink. A static mixer 36 for stirring, a liquid storage chamber 37 for storing ink, and a pressure adjusting unit 38 for adjusting the pressure of ink are provided.

The supply pump 34 includes a diaphragm pump 40 having a variable pump chamber volume, a suction valve 41 arranged on the upstream side of the diaphragm pump 40, and a discharge valve 42 arranged on the downstream side of the diaphragm pump 40. doing. The suction valve 41 and the discharge valve 42 are composed of a one-way valve that allows the flow of ink to the downstream side while obstructing the flow of ink to the upstream side.

Therefore, the supply pump 34 sucks ink from the ink cartridge 30 side through the suction valve 41 as the volume of the pump chamber of the diaphragm pump 40 increases, and as the volume of the pump chamber decreases. Ink is ejected to the liquid injection head 27 side via the ejection valve 42. Further, the filter unit 35 is arranged at a position corresponding to the cover 17 of the printer main body 16, and is detachably attached to the supply path 33. The filter unit 35 can be replaced by opening the cover 17.

The inkjet printer 11 controls drive of a transfer motor (not shown), a carriage motor 24 (see FIG. 2), a supply pump 34, etc. that drive the transfer roller pairs 18 and 19, and each nozzle of the liquid injection head 27. A control unit 39 that controls injection of ink from the 26 is provided. Then, the liquid injection head 27 ejects ink from each nozzle 26 onto the recording medium 13 conveyed on the support base 12 while reciprocating in the scanning direction X together with the carriage 25 as the carriage motor 24 is driven. Print.

As shown in FIG. 2, a maintenance mechanism 43 for performing maintenance of the liquid injection head 27 is provided at a position adjacent to one end of the support base 12 in the scanning direction X. In the present embodiment, the region where the liquid injection head 27 ejects ink to the recording medium 13 for printing and the region where the recording medium 13 may be conveyed is referred to as a transfer region PA. In this case, the maintenance mechanism 43 is arranged within the scanning range of the carriage 25 in the scanning direction X and outside the transport region PA (on the right side in FIG. 2).

The maintenance mechanism 43 has a flushing unit 45 having a liquid receiving unit 44 arranged in order from a position closest to the transport region PA in the scanning direction X, a wiper unit 46 as an example of a cleaning device, and an upper end opened. A cap unit 48 having two cap portions 47 having a bottomed square box shape is provided.

The carriage 25 and the liquid injection head 27 stand by at the home position HP where the cap unit 48 is arranged when printing is not performed or when the power is turned off. That is, the liquid injection head 27 can move between the transport region PA and the home position HP in the scanning direction X orthogonal (intersecting) with the transport direction Y.

When the two liquid injection heads 27 are moved to the home position HP, the two cap portions 47 face the two liquid injection heads 27 in the vertical direction. Each cap portion 47 is moved up and down between a position where it can come into contact with each liquid injection head 27 and a position away from each liquid injection head 27 by driving the capping motor 49.

Each cap portion 47 comes into contact with each liquid injection head 27 so as to surround the plurality of nozzles 26 to form a closed space with each liquid injection head 27, thereby drying the ink in each nozzle 26. Suppress. Each liquid injection head 27 is capped by each cap portion 47 at the home position HP, such as when printing is not performed.

The inside of each cap portion 47 can be sucked by a suction pump 50 via a suction tube (not shown) whose one end side is connected to each cap portion 47. Then, each liquid injection head 27 is capped by each cap portion 47 at the home position HP, and by driving the suction pump 50 to suck the inside of each cap portion 47 (closed space), each nozzle 26 The so-called head cleaning is performed in which the thickening ink and air bubbles in each liquid injection head 27 are discharged into each cap portion 47. The capping motor 49 and the suction pump 50 are driven and controlled by the control unit 39 (see FIG. 1).

The wiper unit 46 includes a first wiping mechanism 51 capable of wiping the ink adhering to the lower surface of the liquid injection head 27 and a second wiping mechanism capable of contacting the lower surface of the liquid injection head 27 and holding the ink adhering to the lower surface. 52, and a rectangular plate-shaped base member 53 that supports the first wiping mechanism 51 and the second wiping mechanism 52 are provided. The wiper unit 46 is guided by a pair of rail portions 54 so as to be reciprocally movable along the transport direction Y.

Further, the flushing unit 45 liquid-receives the flushing ink ejected at the time of so-called flushing, in which ink droplets are ejected from each nozzle 26 independently of printing for the purpose of preventing or eliminating clogging of each nozzle 26. Accept in part 44. The flushing unit 45 is arranged so that when the liquid injection head 27 on the right side in FIG. 2 is located above the wiper unit 46, the liquid receiving portion 44 is located below the liquid injection head 27 on the left side in FIG. Has been done.

As shown in FIG. 3, the head unit 55 is attached to the lower surface portion of the carriage 25, and includes a bracket portion 56 for attaching to the carriage 25 and a rectangular parallelepiped liquid injection head 27 projecting downward from the bracket portion 56. It has. The liquid injection head 27 includes a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped flow path forming portion 57 projecting downward from the bracket portion 56, and a rectangular plate-shaped head main body 58 fixed to the lower side of the flow path forming portion 57. A plurality of rows (10 rows as an example) of nozzle rows 59 are formed on the lower surface of the head main body 58 in FIG.

Further, on the lower surface side of the head main body 58, a plate-shaped cover member 60 having a plurality of (five as an example) through holes 60a is opened by each nozzle 26 (see FIG. 4) constituting the nozzle row 59. It is attached so as to cover a part of the opening surface 61 (lower surface in this example). The plurality of nozzle rows 59 are exposed in one through hole 60a by a predetermined number of rows (two rows as an example).

In this example, the region of the nozzle opening surface 61 exposed by the through hole 60a is the nozzle peripheral region 62. That is, the surface of the liquid injection head 27 having the nozzle 26 is covered with a cover member 60 having a through hole 60a that exposes the nozzle peripheral region 62 in a portion corresponding to the nozzle peripheral region 62. The nozzle peripheral region 62 includes an opening region of each nozzle 26 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover member 60 covers a portion of the nozzle opening surface 61 other than the nozzle peripheral region 62 exposed by the through hole 60a, and has a liquid injection head with a fixed structure such as locking. It is fixed at 27. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the entire bottom surface of the liquid injection head 27 is the nozzle surface 63 to be wiped by the wiper unit 46. The nozzle surface 63 is a non-nozzle peripheral region which is a region other than the nozzle peripheral region 62 (that is, the region in the through hole 60a) and the nozzle peripheral region 62, and the thickness of the cover member 60 is larger than that of the nozzle peripheral region 62. In the example, it is provided with a protruding surface 64 that protrudes by 0.1 mm).

Therefore, there is a step 65 between the nozzle peripheral region 62 and the protruding surface 64 (non-nozzle peripheral region). That is, the nozzle surface 63 is composed of an uneven surface that becomes a concave portion in the portion of the nozzle peripheral region 62 and a convex portion in the portion of the protruding surface 64. The cover member 60 is made of, for example, metal (for example, stainless steel or the like).

As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle row 59 includes a large number (for example, 180 or 360) of nozzles 26 arranged at a constant pitch along the transport direction Y. Each nozzle row 59 ejects one color of ink corresponding to the ink color of the ink cartridge 30 (see FIG. 1). Of course, inks of colors other than the four colors of CMYK and white (W) may be sprayed, and inks of colors such as light magenta, light cyan, light yellow, gray, and orange may be sprayed. The number of colors of the liquid injection head 27 may be CMYK 4 colors, CMY 3 colors, black 1 color, or the like. Further, there may be an unused nozzle row in which the ink is not ejected in the plurality of nozzle rows 59.

Further, the nozzle opening surface 61 is subjected to a liquid repellent treatment (ink repellent treatment) that easily repels ink, and a liquid repellent film 66 (ink repellent film) is formed on the surface thereof. The liquid-repellent film 66 may be composed of, for example, a thin film base layer mainly made of polyorganosiloxane containing an alkyl group and a liquid-repellent film layer made of a metal alkoxide having a long-chain polymer group containing fluorine. The ink used in this embodiment is, for example, a pigment ink. In pigment ink, a large number of pigment particles are dispersed in a liquid used as a dispersion medium. Cyan, magenta, and yellow pigments are organic pigments with an average particle size of about 100 nm, black pigments are carbon black (inorganic pigments) with an average particle size of about 120 nm, and white pigments are titanium oxide with an average particle size of about 320 nm. (Inorganic pigment) etc. are adopted.

The ink of this example is a water-based ink, and a large number of pigment particles are dispersed in water, which is a dispersion medium. Therefore, in this example, the liquid-repellent film 66 is a water-repellent film having a function of repelling water-based ink. The liquid-repellent film 66 may be composed of, for example, a thin film base layer mainly made of polyorganosiloxane containing an alkyl group and a liquid-repellent film layer made of a metal alkoxide having a long-chain polymer group containing fluorine. The liquid-repellent film 66 is gradually worn by repeatedly wiping the nozzle opening surface 61, and when the liquid-repellent film 66 is worn more than a certain amount, its liquid-repellent property is lowered. The liquid-repellent film 66 may be a liquid-repellent coating film or a liquid-repellent monomolecular film, and the film thickness and the liquid-repellent treatment method can be arbitrarily selected.

When the liquid repellent property of the liquid repellent film 66 is lowered, the wetting angle (contact angle) of a liquid such as ink mist with respect to the nozzle peripheral region 62 becomes small. Therefore, the plurality of ink mists adhering to the nozzle peripheral region 62 are wet and spread, and easily grow into one relatively wide ink droplet (adhered ink). Therefore, such adhered ink may be present in the vicinity of the nozzle 26, block the opening of a part of the nozzle 26, or may flow into the nozzle 26.

Further, when ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 26 in the state where the adhered ink is present in the vicinity of the nozzle 26, the ejected ink droplets come into contact with the adhered ink and induce flying bending of the ink droplets. Such flying and bending of the ink droplets causes the landing position of the ink droplets on the recording medium 13 (that is, the print dot formation position) to deviate from the assumed position, resulting in deterioration of the print image quality. For this reason, it is necessary to suppress the wear of the liquid repellent film 66 due to wiping as much as possible.

On the other hand, the cover member 60 is manufactured by processing a metal plate into a predetermined shape, and the surface of the cover member 60 is not subjected to a liquid repellent treatment. Therefore, the protruding surface 64 (non-nozzle peripheral region) has a lower liquid repellency than the nozzle peripheral region 62. That is, the wetting angle of the ink with respect to the protruding surface 64 is smaller than the wetting angle of the ink with respect to the nozzle peripheral region 62.

As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid injection head 27 has a plurality of (for example, five in this embodiment) recording heads 67 (unit heads) arranged in parallel at a constant pitch in the scanning direction X. The peripheral edge of the nozzle opening surface 61, which is the lower surface of the recording head 67, is covered with the cover member 60, and the nozzle peripheral region 62 including the nozzles 26 for two rows is exposed from the through hole 60a formed in the cover member 60. There is.

Each nozzle 26 communicates with each ink flow path 57a passing through the flow path forming portion 57, and each ink flow path 57a is a plurality of supply pipe portions protruding upward from the upper surface of the flow path forming portion 57 through a flow path (not shown). It communicates with 55a. Each supply pipe portion 55a communicates with the supply port of the pressure adjusting unit 38 (see FIG. 1) mounted on the carriage 25 via a flow path (not shown).

Therefore, from each pressure adjusting unit 38 (see FIG. 1), ink of each corresponding color is supplied to the nozzle 26 of the corresponding recording head 67 through each supply pipe portion 55a, each ink flow path 57a, and the like. The liquid injection head 27 may be configured to include one head having three or more rows of nozzles.

Next, the configuration of the wiper unit 46 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wiper unit 46 is guided along a pair of rail portions 54 via a guide portion 68 fixed to the lower surface of the base member 53, and can reciprocate along the transport direction Y. It has become. An electric motor 69 as a power source is provided on the printer main body 16 (see FIG. 1) side, and a pinion 71 is attached to the tip of the output shaft 70 of the electric motor 69.

Further, a rack 72 extending along the transport direction Y is provided on the side of the base member 53 of the wiper unit 46, and the rack 72 meshes with the pinion 71. Then, when the electric motor 69 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, the pinion 71 rotates in the forward direction, and the wiper unit 46 moves in the transport direction Y together with the rack 72. On the other hand, when the electric motor 69 is driven in the reverse direction, the pinion 71 is reversed, and the wiper unit 46 moves in the direction opposite to the transport direction Y together with the rack 72.

The first wiping mechanism 51 of the wiper unit 46 is arranged in the central portion on the base member 53, and has a flexible wiping member 73 as an example of the first wiping portion capable of wiping the ink adhering to the nozzle surface 63. And an actuator 74 that supports the wiping member 73 so as to be able to move up and down. A nut portion 75 is provided in the lower portion of the actuator 74, and the nut portion 75 extends in the transport direction Y and is screwed with a ball screw 77 that is rotationally driven by the motor 76.

Then, when the motor 76 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, the ball screw 77 rotates in the forward direction, and the wiping member 73 moves on the base member 53 in the transport direction Y together with the actuator 74. On the other hand, when the motor 76 is driven in the reverse direction, the ball screw 77 is reversed, and the wiping member 73 moves on the base member 53 together with the actuator 74 in the direction opposite to the transport direction Y. The wiping member 73 is composed of, for example, a rectangular plate-shaped rubber wiper, and the actuator 74 is composed of, for example, an air cylinder. Further, the electric motor 69, the motor 76, and the actuator 74 are driven and controlled by the control unit 39 (see FIG. 1).

The second wiping mechanism 52 of the wiper unit 46 has a long absorbing member 78 as an example of a second wiping portion capable of absorbing and holding ink adhering to the nozzle surface 63 in contact with the nozzle surface 63, and not yet. It includes a feeding reel 79 that supports the used absorbent member 78 in a wound state, and a take-up reel 80 that winds and supports the used absorbing member 78 that has been fed from the feeding reel 79.

As the absorbing member 78, one formed in a string shape, a thread shape, or a cloth shape (strip shape) can be used, but in the present embodiment, one formed in a string shape is used. As the string-shaped absorbing member 78, it is preferable that ultrafine fibers (microfibers) having a single yarn fineness (fineness of one) of 10 μm or less are bundled into a string shape, and the material of the single yarn is polyester (Kaijima). Type ultrafine fibers (about 2 μm), nylon (polyamide), and a combination of polyester and nylon (separate type ultrafine fibers, about 5 μm) are preferable. Further, one type (for example, polyester) of the single yarns of the above materials may be bundled into a string shape, or a plurality of types (for example, polyester and nylon) of single yarns may be bundled into a string shape.

When the absorbing member 78 is formed in a thread shape, it is preferable to use polyester or nylon as the material. When the absorbent member 78 is formed into a cloth shape, it is preferable to use a knit or plain weave of ultrafine fibers (microfibers) having a single yarn fineness (fineness of one) of about 2 to 10 μm. As the material, it is preferable to use polyester (sea-island type ultrafine fiber, about 2 μm) or a combination of polyester and nylon (separate type ultrafine fiber, about 5 μm). Specific examples include Toray Industries, Inc.'s Toraysee (registered trademark), and Toraysee's product names include Toraysee PK and Toraysee PW.

The feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the scanning direction X so as to face each other with the ball screw 77 interposed therebetween. The feeding reel 79 is rotatably supported around an axis extending in the transport direction Y by a pair of feeding support columns 81 erected on the base member 53, and is attached to one of the pair of feeding support columns 81. It is rotationally driven by a motor 82. Similarly, the take-up reel 80 is rotatably supported by a pair of take-up support columns 83 erected on the base member 53 about an axis extending in the transport direction Y, and is out of the pair of take-up support columns 83. It is rotationally driven by a motor 84 attached to one side.

A predetermined interval is provided in the scanning direction X between the feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 on the base member 53 so that a pair of supporting mechanisms 85 for supporting the absorbing member 78 face each other with the ball screw 77 interposed therebetween. It is erected. In this case, the pair of support mechanisms 85 are arranged at intervals wider than the width of the nozzle surface 63 in the scanning direction X so as not to hinder the movement of the wiping member 73 along the transport direction Y.

The support mechanism 85 is composed of, for example, an air cylinder driven and controlled by a control unit 39 (see FIG. 1), and has a rod 86 that moves in the vertical direction. A support member 87 for supporting the absorption member 78 is provided at the tip of the rod 86. As shown in FIG. 8, the support member 87 has a concave receiving portion 87a that receives the absorbing member 78. Therefore, by moving the two rods 86 in the vertical direction, it is possible to change the height of the absorbing member 78 located between the two receiving portions 87a.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the absorbing member 78 can be held by engaging with the absorbing member 78 between the two supporting members 87 at the upper end portion of the wiping member 73 on the surface on the Y side in the transport direction. The holding groove 73a is formed so as to extend in the scanning direction X. In this case, the holding groove 73a can hold the absorbing member 78 in a state of accommodating about half of the absorbing member 78.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the motors 82 and 84 are composed of, for example, a servomotor, and have a torque detection unit (not shown) that detects rotational torque inside. The motors 82 and 84 are driven and controlled by the control unit 39 (see FIG. 1). Then, the control unit 39 (see FIG. 1) is extended between the pair of support mechanisms 85 by controlling the drive and the rotation direction of the motors 82 and 84 based on the detection signal from the torque detection unit (not shown). A predetermined tension is applied to the absorbed absorbing member 78.

Further, between the feeding reel 79 and the support mechanism 85 of the pair of supporting mechanisms 85 that is closer to the feeding reel 79, a cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the unused absorbing member 78 fed from the feeding reel 79 to apply the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid supply unit 88 is arranged. The cleaning liquid is applied to the absorbing member 78 in order to improve the wiping property of the absorbing member 78 against the nozzle surface 63, and is composed of, for example, water. Of course, instead of arranging the cleaning liquid supply unit 88, the absorbing member 78 wound around the feeding reel 79 may be impregnated with the cleaning liquid in advance.

Next, the operation of the inkjet printer 11 will be described.
In the inkjet printer 11, a printing operation of ejecting ink droplets from each nozzle 26 of the liquid injection head 27 while the carriage 25 is moving in the scanning direction X to record one scan on the recording medium 13 and a recording medium 13 The printing on the recording medium 13 is advanced by alternately repeating the transport operation of transporting the image to the next printing position. During this printing, the wiper unit 46 stands by at a retracted position retracted to the side opposite to the transport direction Y so as not to come into contact with the liquid injection head 27 moving in the scanning direction X.

Then, in the inkjet printer 11, the ink in the liquid injection head 27 is forced from the nozzle 26 at a predetermined timing (when the ink cartridge 30 is replaced, when the ink injection failure from the nozzle 26 occurs, before printing, etc.). Head cleaning is performed by sucking and discharging the ink. When performing this head cleaning, first, the carriage 25 and the liquid injection head 27 are moved to the home position HP where the cap unit 48 is arranged by driving the carriage motor 24, and then the capping motor 49 is driven to drive the cap portion. By raising 47, the liquid injection head 27 is capped by the cap portion 47.

Subsequently, when the inside of the cap portion 47 (closed space) is sucked by driving the suction pump 50, the thickening ink and air bubbles in the liquid injection head 27 are discharged from each nozzle 26 into the cap portion 47. At this time, since the inside of the cap portion 47 is filled with the ink discharged from each nozzle 26, the region corresponding to the inside of the cap portion 47 on the nozzle surface 63 is immersed in the ink.

Then, when a predetermined amount of ink is discharged from each nozzle 26, the suction pump 50 is stopped. Subsequently, the air release valve (not shown) provided in the cap portion 47 is opened, and the suction pump 50 is driven for a predetermined time while the inside of the cap portion 47 is open to the atmosphere to perform empty suction in the cap portion 47. By doing so, the ink remaining in the cap portion 47 is discharged. Subsequently, when the cap portion 47 is lowered by driving the capping motor 49, the cap portion 47 is separated from the liquid injection head 27.

This completes the head cleaning. After the head cleaning is completed, the area corresponding to the inside of the cap portion 47 on the nozzle surface 63 is in a wet state with ink, so it is necessary to wipe the nozzle surface 63 with the wiper unit 46 in order to remove this ink. be.

In this case, since the nozzle opening surface 61, that is, the nozzle peripheral region 62 is covered with the liquid repellent film 66, small ink droplets (ink droplets smaller than the 0.1 mm step 65) adhering to the nozzle peripheral region 62 can be removed. It flows when the cap portion 47 separates from the liquid injection head 27. Therefore, large ink droplets (large ink droplets having a step of 0.1 mm or more of 65 or more) remain attached to the nozzle peripheral region 62.

When the wiper unit 46 wipes the nozzle surface 63, the inkjet printer 11 of the present embodiment can perform three types of wiping operations: a first maintenance operation, a second maintenance operation, and a third maintenance operation. It is possible. Hereinafter, the first maintenance operation, the second maintenance operation, and the third maintenance operation will be sequentially described.

<1st maintenance operation>
The first maintenance operation is a wiping operation in which the nozzle surface 63 is wiped by the wiping member 73, and the nozzle surface 63 is wiped only by the wiping member 73 without using the absorbing member 78. When wiping the nozzle surface 63 by the first maintenance operation, first, the carriage 25 is moved to a position where the nozzle surface 63 of the liquid injection head 27 is wiped by the wiper unit 46 by driving the carriage motor 24. ..

Subsequently, by driving the actuator 74, the height of the wiping member 73 is adjusted to a predetermined height at which the wiping member 73 can wipe the nozzle surface 63. Subsequently, by driving the pair of support mechanisms 85, the height of the absorption member 78 located between the support members 87 is set to a height that does not come into contact with the nozzle surface 63 or less. Subsequently, when the electric motor 69 is driven to move the wiper unit 46 from the retracted position in the transport direction Y, the wiping member 73 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 63 while elastically deforming, as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, when the wiper unit 46 is moved in the transport direction Y, the wiping member 73 slides on the nozzle surface 63 to wipe the entire nozzle surface 63, and the ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63 is removed by the wiping member 73. It is scraped off and removed. As a result, the first maintenance operation is completed. After that, by driving the actuator 74, the height of the wiper member 73 is set to be equal to or lower than the height at which the wiper member 73 does not contact the nozzle surface 63, and the electric motor 69 is driven to move the wiper unit 46 in the transport direction Y. Move it to the opposite side and return it to the retracted position.

Further, the ink I scraped from the nozzle surface 63 by the wiping member 73 adheres to the surface of the wiping member 73 on the transport direction Y side, as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is necessary to perform cleaning to remove the ink I adhering to the wiping member 73. Then, when cleaning to remove the ink I adhering to the wiping member 73, as shown in FIG. 14, first, the motor 76 and the pair of support mechanisms 85 are driven to convey the ink I in the wiping member 73. The absorption member 78 located between the support members 87 of the pair of support mechanisms 85 is brought into contact with the upper end of the side surface.

In this state, while stopping the wiping member 73, by driving the pair of support mechanisms 85, the absorbing member 78 in contact with the upper end of the surface of the wiping member 73 on the Y side in the transport direction is slid downward. As shown in FIG. 15, the ink I adhering to the surface of the wiping member 73 on the transport direction Y side is absorbed and removed by the absorbing member 78. At this time, since the amount of loosening of the absorbing member 78 by lowering the absorbing member 78 is taken up by the take-up reel 80 by the drive of the motor 84, the tension applied to the absorbing member 78 is maintained.

After that, the cleaning of the wiping member 73 is completed by sliding the absorbing member 78 to the lower end of the surface of the wiping member 73 on the Y side in the transport direction. Even if the ink I adhering to the wiping member 73 cannot be completely absorbed by the absorbing member 78, the ink I is scraped off from the wiping member 73 by the absorbing member 78. The portion of the absorbing member 78 that is contaminated with ink I is wound on the take-up reel 80, so that the portion of the pair of support mechanisms 85 that is closer to the take-up reel 80 is on the downstream side of the support mechanism 85. It is moved to (winding reel 80 side).

<Second maintenance operation>
The second maintenance operation is a wiping operation in which the absorbing member 78 is urged by the wiping member 73 to bring the absorbing member 78 into contact with the nozzle surface 63 and wipe the nozzle surface 63. The nozzle surface 63 is wiped using both. When wiping the nozzle surface 63 by the second maintenance operation, first, the carriage 25 is moved to a position where the nozzle surface 63 of the liquid injection head 27 is wiped by the wiper unit 46 by driving the carriage motor 24. ..

Subsequently, by driving the actuator 74, the height of the wiping member 73 is adjusted to a predetermined height at which the wiping member 73 can wipe the nozzle surface 63. Subsequently, by driving the pair of support mechanisms 85, the height of the absorption member 78 located between the support members 87 is set to the same height as the holding groove 73a of the wiping member 73. Subsequently, the wiping member 73 is moved by driving the motor 76 so that the absorbing member 78 is held in the holding groove 73a.

In this state, when the electric motor 69 is driven to move the wiper unit 46 from the retracted position in the transport direction Y, as shown in FIG. 11, the wiping member 73 elastically deforms before the absorbing member 78 and the nozzle surface. Contact 63.

Subsequently, when the wiper unit 46 is moved in the transport direction Y, the wiping member 73 slides on the nozzle surface 63 to wipe the nozzle surface 63, and as shown in FIG. 12, both the wiping member 73 and the absorbing member 78 Is in contact with the nozzle surface 63. In this state, the elastic restoring force of the wiping member 73 acts as a pressing force for pressing the absorbing member 78 against the nozzle surface 63. That is, the wiping member 73 urges the absorbing member 78, so that the absorbing member 78 is pressed against the nozzle surface 63.

Subsequently, when the wiper unit 46 is moved in the transport direction Y, both the wiping member 73 and the absorbing member 78 slide on the nozzle surface 63 while the wiping member 73 presses the absorbing member 78 against the nozzle surface 63. The ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63 is wiped off. When the wiper unit 46 is subsequently moved in the transport direction Y, as shown in FIG. 13, the wiping member 73 separates from the nozzle surface 63 and the wiping member 73 presses the absorbing member 78 against the nozzle surface 63.

Subsequently, when the wiper unit 46 is moved in the transport direction Y, the absorbing member 78 slides on the nozzle surface 63 to wipe the entire nozzle surface 63, and the ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63 is removed by the absorbing member 78. It is absorbed and removed. As a result, the second maintenance operation is completed.

As described above, in the second maintenance operation, the wiping member 73 urges the absorbing member 78, so that the nozzle surface 63 is wiped while the absorbing member 78 is pressed against the nozzle surface 63. That is, in the second maintenance operation, the contact state of the absorbing member 78 with the nozzle surface 63 is stable, so that the nozzle surface 63 is stably wiped off by the absorbing member 78.

After that, the height of the wiping member 73 is set to be equal to or lower than the height at which the wiping member 73 does not come into contact with the nozzle surface 63 by driving the actuator 74, and the absorption located between them is performed by driving the pair of support mechanisms 85. The member 78 is lowered by the same amount as the wiping member 73.

At this time, since the amount of loosening of the absorbing member 78 by lowering the absorbing member 78 is taken up by the take-up reel 80 by the drive of the motor 84, the tension applied to the absorbing member 78 is maintained. Therefore, the state in which the absorbing member 78 is held in the holding groove 73a of the wiping member 73 is maintained. Subsequently, the electric motor 69 is driven to move the wiper unit 46 to the side opposite to the transport direction Y and return it to the retracted position.

Further, by performing the second maintenance operation described above, the ink I adheres to the region of the wiping member 73 on the surface on the Y side in the transport direction below the holding groove 73a, as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is necessary to perform cleaning to remove the ink I adhering to the wiping member 73.

Then, when cleaning to remove the ink I adhering to the wiping member 73, the wiping member 73 is held by driving the pair of support mechanisms 85 while stopping the wiping member 73 in the state shown in FIG. When the absorbing member 78 held in the groove 73a is slid downward, the ink I adhering to the surface of the wiping member 73 on the transport direction Y side is absorbed and removed by the absorbing member 78, as shown in FIG. Will be done. At this time, since the amount of loosening of the absorbing member 78 by lowering the absorbing member 78 is taken up by the take-up reel 80 by the drive of the motor 84, the tension applied to the absorbing member 78 is maintained.

After that, the cleaning of the wiping member 73 is completed by sliding the absorbing member 78 to the lower end of the surface of the wiping member 73 on the Y side in the transport direction. Even if the ink I adhering to the wiping member 73 cannot be completely absorbed by the absorbing member 78, the ink I is scraped off from the wiping member 73 by the absorbing member 78. The portion of the absorbing member 78 that is contaminated with ink I is wound on the take-up reel 80, so that the portion of the pair of support mechanisms 85 that is closer to the take-up reel 80 is on the downstream side of the support mechanism 85. It is moved to (winding reel 80 side).

<Third maintenance operation>
The third maintenance operation is a wiping operation in which the nozzle surface 63 is wiped by the absorbing member 78, and the nozzle surface 63 is wiped only by the absorbing member 78 without urging the absorbing member 78 by the wiping member 73. When wiping the nozzle surface 63 by the third maintenance operation, first, the carriage 25 is moved to a position where the nozzle surface 63 of the liquid injection head 27 is wiped by the wiper unit 46 by driving the carriage motor 24. ..

Subsequently, by driving the pair of support mechanisms 85, the height of the absorption member 78 located between the support members 87 is adjusted to a predetermined height at which the absorption member 78 can wipe the nozzle surface 63. Subsequently, by driving the actuator 74, the height of the wiping member 73 is set to be equal to or lower than the height at which the wiping member 73 does not come into contact with the nozzle surface 63. Subsequently, when the electric motor 69 is driven to move the wiper unit 46 from the retracted position in the transport direction Y, the absorbing member 78 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 63 as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, when the wiper unit 46 is moved in the transport direction Y, the absorbing member 78 slides on the nozzle surface 63 to wipe the entire nozzle surface 63, and the ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63 is removed by the absorbing member 78. It is absorbed and removed. As a result, the third maintenance operation is completed. After that, by driving the pair of support mechanisms 85, the height of the absorption member 78 located between the support members 87 is set to the height at which the absorption member 78 does not contact the nozzle surface 63 or less, and the electric motor is used. The wiper unit 46 is driven to move the wiper unit 46 to the side opposite to the transport direction Y and returned to the retracted position.

At this time, since the amount of loosening of the absorbing member 78 by lowering the absorbing member 78 is taken up by the take-up reel 80 by the drive of the motor 84, the tension applied to the absorbing member 78 is maintained. The portion of the absorbing member 78 that is contaminated with ink I is wound on the take-up reel 80, so that the portion of the pair of support mechanisms 85 that is closer to the take-up reel 80 is on the downstream side of the support mechanism 85. It is moved to (winding reel 80 side).

The first maintenance operation, the second maintenance operation, and the third maintenance operation have been described above, but which of these is selected can be determined by the amount and viscosity of the ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63. preferable. For example, when the amount of ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63 is large or the viscosity of the ink I is high, it is necessary to wipe the nozzle surface 63 firmly, so the second maintenance operation is selected.

Further, for example, when the amount of ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63 is small or the viscosity of the ink I is low, the nozzle surface 63 does not need to be wiped at the second maintenance operation level. Since the attached ink I can be removed, the first maintenance operation or the third maintenance operation is selected.

Further, particularly when the nozzle surface 63 is wiped by the second maintenance operation, the absorbing member 78 may not come into contact with the nozzle peripheral region 62 at all, but the size of the ink I adhering to the nozzle peripheral region 62 is a step 65. Since it is (0.1 mm) or more, even in such a case, the absorbing member 78 surely contacts the ink I adhering to the nozzle peripheral region 62. Therefore, the ink I adhering to the nozzle peripheral region 62 is surely absorbed and removed by the absorbing member 78.

Since ink mist generated during printing adheres to the nozzle surface 63, any of the first maintenance operation, the second maintenance operation, and the third maintenance operation is performed not only after head cleaning but also during printing. The nozzle surface 63 is wiped at a predetermined timing.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The inkjet printer 11 has a first maintenance operation in which the nozzle surface 63 is wiped by the wiping member 73, and a first maintenance operation in which the absorbing member 78 is urged by the wiping member 73 to bring the absorbing member 78 into contact with the nozzle surface 63. It is possible to perform two maintenance operations. Therefore, in particular, by selectively performing the second maintenance operation, the absorbing member 78 can be stably brought into contact with the nozzle surface 63. Therefore, the nozzle surface 63 on which the nozzle 26 on which the ink is ejected is arranged can be stably wiped.

(2) The inkjet printer 11 can perform a third maintenance operation of bringing the absorbing member 78 into contact with the nozzle surface 63 without urging the absorbing member 78 by the wiping member 73. Therefore, by performing the third maintenance operation, it is possible to wipe the nozzle surface 63 while suppressing damage to the nozzle surface 63.

(3) The inkjet printer 11 cleans the wiping member 73 by bringing the absorbing member 78 into contact with the wiping member 73. Therefore, the absorbing member 78 can also be used as a cleaner for the wiping member 73.

(4) In the inkjet printer 11, the first wiping portion is composed of a flexible wiping member 73, and the second wiping portion is composed of a long absorbing member 78 capable of absorbing ink I. .. Therefore, the ink I adhering to the nozzle surface 63 can be scraped off by the wiping member 73 or absorbed by the absorbing member 78.

(Change example)
The above embodiment may be changed as follows.
As shown in FIG. 17, instead of the wiping member 73, as the first wiping portion, a substantially block-shaped flexible one having a holding groove 90a extending in the scanning direction X capable of holding the absorbing member 78 at the upper end. A wiping member 90 may be used. In this case, when wiping the nozzle surface 63 by the second maintenance operation, the wiping member 90 urges the absorbing member 78, so that only the absorbing member 78 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 63 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, both the wiping member 90 and the absorbing member 78 may come into contact with the nozzle surface 63. Further, in this case, when wiping the nozzle surface 63 by the first maintenance operation, as shown in FIG. 19, two points sandwiching the holding groove 90a at the tip of the wiping member 90 come into contact with the nozzle surface 63.

In the maintenance operation using the absorbing member 78, that is, in the third maintenance operation, the absorbing member 78 may be vibrated as shown in FIG. 20, or the absorbing member 78 may be rotated as shown in FIG. good. In this way, the wiping property of the nozzle surface 63 by the absorbing member 78 can be improved. Since the absorbing member 78 is also used in the second maintenance operation, the absorbing member 78 may be vibrated or the absorbing member 78 may be rotated.

As shown in FIG. 22, the wiping member 73 may be changed to a flexible wiping member 91 having a sickle-shaped shape in cross-sectional view. That is, the wiping member 91 is formed so as to be adjacent to the apex 91a, which is projected in a triangular shape in a cross-sectional view from the tip of the surface on the side where the nozzle surface 63 is to be wiped, and the absorbing member 78. It has a holding groove 91b that can be held, and has a substantially rectangular plate shape as a whole. In this case, the wiper unit 46 is arranged so that the absorbing member 78 extends in the transport direction Y and is located closer to the support base 12 than the wiping member 91. Further, in this case, when performing the first to third maintenance operations, the nozzle surface 63 side is moved in the scanning direction X with the wiper unit 46 stopped. When the first maintenance operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 23, the tip 91a of the wiping member 91 penetrates into the nozzle peripheral region 62, so that not only the ink adhering to the protruding surface 64 but also the nozzle peripheral region 62. Adhering ink can also be reliably wiped off. Further, when performing the second maintenance operation, as shown in FIG. 24, the tip 91a of the wiping member 91 and the absorbing member 78 penetrate into the nozzle peripheral region 62, so that not only the ink adhering to the protruding surface 64 but also the nozzle The ink adhering to the peripheral region 62 can also be reliably absorbed and removed. Further, when the third maintenance operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 25, the ink adhering to the nozzle surface 63 can be suitably absorbed and removed by the absorbing member 78, as in the above embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 26, a flexible rectangular plate-shaped wiping member 92 is used as the first wiping portion instead of the wiping member 73, and a long shape is used as the second wiping portion instead of the absorbing member 78. The absorbing member 93 having a rectangular plate shape may be used. The absorbing member 93 is formed in a cloth shape to absorb ink. A holding portion 92a for holding the absorbing member 93 is recessed at the tip of the surface of the wiping member 92 on the side where the nozzle surface 63 is wiped. Then, when the second maintenance operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 26, the absorbing member 93 enters the nozzle peripheral region 62 and the sharp corner of the absorbing member 93 comes into contact with the nozzle peripheral region 62, so that the protruding surface 64 Not only the ink adhering to the nozzle but also the ink adhering to the nozzle peripheral region 62 can be reliably absorbed and removed. In this case, the wiper unit 46 is arranged so that the absorbing member 93 extends in the transport direction Y and is located closer to the support base 12 than the wiping member 92, and the wiper unit 46 is stopped on the nozzle surface 63 side. Is moved in the scanning direction X.

As shown in FIG. 27, the wiping member 92 of FIG. 26 described above is used as the first wiping portion instead of the wiping member 73, and the second wiping portion has an L-shaped cross-sectional view instead of the absorbing member 78. A long absorbing member 94 may be used. The absorbing member 94 is formed in a cloth shape to absorb ink. Then, when the second maintenance operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 27, the absorbing member 94 enters the nozzle peripheral region 62 and the corner portion of the absorbing member 94 comes into contact with the nozzle peripheral region 62, so that the protruding surface 64 is formed. Not only the adhered ink but also the ink adhering to the nozzle peripheral region 62 can be reliably absorbed and removed. In this case, the wiper unit 46 is arranged so that the absorbing member 94 extends in the transport direction Y and is located closer to the support base 12 than the wiping member 92, and the wiper unit 46 is stopped on the nozzle surface 63 side. Is moved in the scanning direction X.

As shown in FIG. 28, a long strip-shaped absorbing member 95 may be used as the second wiping portion instead of the absorbing member 78. The absorbing member 95 is formed in a cloth shape so as to absorb ink. Then, when performing the third maintenance operation, as shown in FIG. 28, the absorbing member 95 is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 63 in a tilted state with a predetermined amount of interference with the nozzle surface 63. May be good. In this case, the wiper unit 46 is arranged so that the absorbing member 93 extends in the transport direction Y and is located closer to the support base 12 than the wiping member 73, and the wiper unit 46 is stopped on the nozzle surface 63 side. Is moved in the scanning direction X. In this way, the ink adhering to the nozzle surface 63 can be suitably absorbed and removed by the absorbing member 95, as in the above embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 31, the feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 may be rotatably supported by a pair of L-shaped arms 96 on the carriage 25. The feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 are arranged so as to face each other with the carriage 25 interposed therebetween, and can be rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) about an axis extending in the vertical direction Z. Further, the pair of arms 96 are guided by a guide groove 97 provided on the side surface of the carriage 25, and are reciprocated together with the feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 in the vertical direction Z and the scanning direction X by driving a motor (not shown). It is possible. In this way, as shown in FIG. 29, the absorption member 78 between the feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 can be cleared of clogging of the nozzle 26 from the nozzle 26 of the liquid injection head 27 regardless of printing. Flushing that ejects ink can be performed as an object. Further, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the feeding reel is in a state where the height of the absorbing member 78 between the feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 is adjusted to the height at which the absorbing member 78 can contact the nozzle surface 63. By moving the 79 and the take-up reel 80 in the scanning direction X, the nozzle surface 63 can be wiped by the third maintenance operation. When wiping the nozzle surface 63 by the second maintenance operation, as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the absorbing member 78 between the feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 is placed in the holding groove 73a of the wiping member 73. In the held state, the wiping member 73 may be moved along the scanning direction X to pull out the absorbing member 78 from the feeding reel 79. In this case, as shown in FIG. 34, the feeding reel 79 and the take-up reel 80 may be moved together with the wiping member 73 so that the absorbing member 78 is not pulled out from the feeding reel 79.

-For wiping the nozzle surface 63, the second maintenance operation may be performed after the first maintenance operation is performed. In this way, the ink remaining on the nozzle surface 63 in the first maintenance operation can be effectively removed in the second maintenance operation. In this case, since the first maintenance operation is performed in a state where the nozzle peripheral area 62 is moistened with ink, the damage given to the nozzle peripheral area 62 by the first maintenance operation can be reduced, and in the subsequent second maintenance operation. The ink (including foreign matter) remaining in the nozzle peripheral region 62 can be absorbed and removed.

-The absorbing member 78 may have a large number of fine fluffs on its surface. In this case, the fluff is preferably thin enough to enter the nozzle 26.
-A cloth wiper (a band-shaped cloth capable of absorbing ink) may be used as the second wiping part, and a flexible roller capable of pressing the cloth wiper may be used as the first wiping part.

-The first wiping portion does not necessarily have to have flexibility. That is, the first wiping portion may be made of, for example, a metal having good slidability.
-The second wiping part does not necessarily have to be able to absorb ink. That is, the second wiping portion may be formed of a rope in which a plurality of wires are twisted, as long as it can hold ink. In this case, the ink wiped from the nozzle surface 63 is held by the unevenness of the surface of the rope due to its surface tension.

-The wiping member 73 does not necessarily have to be cleaned by the absorbing member 78.
-The inkjet printer 11 may not be able to perform the third maintenance operation.

-For cleaning the wiping member 73 by the absorbing member 78, the wiping member 73 may be moved upward while the absorbing member 78 is stopped in a state where the absorbing member 78 and the wiping member 73 are in contact with each other, or the absorbing member 78 may be moved upward. The wiping member 73 may be moved upward while the member 78 is moved downward.

The protruding surface 64 may be formed so as to be integrally formed with the liquid injection head 27 without using the cover member 60. In this case, the nozzle opening surface 61 is composed of an uneven surface.
-The liquid injection head 27 may be capped for each nozzle row 59 to perform head cleaning. In this way, the cap portion can be made smaller than in the case where all the nozzle rows 59 are capped by the cap portion 47 and the head cleaning is performed, so that the amount of ink consumed during the head cleaning can be reduced.

-Ink is applied from the nozzle 26 of the liquid injection head 27 to the used area (the area where the nozzle surface 63 is wiped off) of the absorbing member 78 in the wiper unit 46 for the purpose of eliminating clogging of the nozzle 26 regardless of printing. Flushing to discharge may be performed.

The wiper unit 46 may wipe the nozzle surface 63 by moving the nozzle surface 63 while the wiper unit 46 is stopped, or by moving both the wiper unit 46 and the nozzle surface 63. May be good.

When a plurality of liquid injection heads 27 are provided, for example, two as in the embodiment, wiping the nozzle surface 63 of one liquid injection head 27 with the wiper unit 46 and flushing unit from the nozzle 26 of the other liquid injection head 27. Flushing of the liquid receiving portion 44 of 45 may be performed in parallel.

The inkjet printer 11 may be a line head type printer that does not include a carriage 25 that supports the liquid injection head 27 and has a line head whose printing range covers the entire width of the recording medium 13. In this case, since the line head is fixed and does not move, the nozzle surface is wiped by moving the wiper unit.

-In the above embodiment, the liquid injection device may be a liquid injection device that injects or ejects a liquid other than ink. The state of the liquid discharged as a minute amount of droplets from the liquid injection device includes those having a granular, tear-like, or thread-like tail. Further, the liquid referred to here may be any material that can be injected from a liquid injection device. For example, the substance may be in a liquid phase, and may be a highly viscous or low-viscosity liquid, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts). ) Shall include a flowing body. Further, it includes not only a liquid as a state of a substance but also a particle of a functional material made of a solid substance such as a pigment or a metal particle dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include ink, liquid crystal, and the like as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks, oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. Specific examples of the liquid injection device include liquids containing materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, surface emitting displays, color filters, etc. in the form of dispersion or dissolution. There is a liquid injection device that injects. Further, a liquid injection device for injecting a bioorganic substance used for producing a biochip, a liquid injection device for injecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a printing device, a microdispenser, or the like may be used. Furthermore, a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin is used to form a liquid injection device that injects lubricating oil pinpointly into precision machinery such as watches and cameras, and a microhemispherical lens (optical lens) used for optical communication elements. May be a liquid injection device that injects light onto a substrate. Further, it may be a liquid injection device that injects an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali to etch a substrate or the like.

11 ... Ink printer as an example of a liquid injection device, 12 ... Support stand, 13 ... Recording medium, 14 ... Conveying unit, 15 ... Printing unit, 16 ... Printer body, 17 ... Cover, 18 ... Conveying roller pair, 19 ... Conveyor roller pair, 20 ... guide plate, 22 ... guide shaft, 23 ... guide shaft, 24 ... carriage motor, 25 ... carriage, 26 ... nozzle, 27 ... liquid injection head, 30 ... ink cartridge, 31 ... supply mechanism, 32 ... Mounting part, 33 ... Supply path, 34 ... Supply pump, 35 ... Filter unit, 36 ... Static mixer, 37 ... Liquid storage chamber, 38 ... Pressure adjustment unit, 39 ... Control unit, 40 ... Diaphragm pump, 41 ... Suction valve, 42 ... Discharge valve, 43 ... Maintenance mechanism, 44 ... Liquid receiving part, 45 ... Flushing unit, 46 ... Wiper unit as an example of cleaning device, 47 ... Cap part, 48 ... Cap unit, 49 ... Capping motor, 50 ... Suction Pump, 51 ... 1st wiping mechanism, 52 ... 2nd wiping mechanism, 53 ... base member, 54 ... rail part, 55 ... head unit, 55a ... supply pipe part, 56 ... bracket part, 57 ... flow path forming part, 57a ... Ink flow path, 58 ... Head body, 59 ... Nozzle row, 60 ... Cover member, 60a ... Through hole, 61 ... Nozzle opening surface, 62 ... Nozzle peripheral area, 63 ... Nozzle surface, 64 ... Protruding surface, 65 ... Step , 66 ... Liquid repellent film, 67 ... Recording head, 68 ... Guide section, 69 ... Electric motor, 70 ... Output shaft, 71 ... Pinion, 72 ... Rack, 73, 90, 91, 92 ... As an example of the first wiping section Wiping member, 73a ... Holding groove, 74 ... Actuator, 75 ... Nut part, 76 ... Motor, 77 ... Ball screw, 78, 93, 94, 95 ... Absorbing member as an example of the second wiping part, 79 ... Feeding reel, 80 ... Winding reel, 81 ... Feeding support pillar, 82 ... Motor, 83 ... Winding support pillar, 84 ... Motor, 85 ... Support mechanism, 86 ... Rod, 87 ... Support member, 87a ... Receiving part, 88 ... Cleaning liquid Supply unit, 90a ... Holding groove, 91a ... Pointed portion, 91b ... Holding groove, 92a ... Holding unit, 96 ... Arm, 97 ... Guide groove, A ... Supply direction, I ... Ink, X ... Scanning direction, Y ... Transport direction , Z ... Vertical direction, HP ... Home position, PA ... Transport area.

Claims (10)

A liquid injection head that injects liquid from a nozzle arranged on the nozzle surface,
A first wiping mechanism having a flexible plate-shaped first wiping member capable of wiping the nozzle surface and a first wiping member moving mechanism capable of moving the first wiping member.
A second wiping mechanism having a long second wiping member capable of absorbing the liquid that comes into contact with the nozzle surface and adheres to the nozzle surface.
A base member provided with the first wiping mechanism and the second wiping mechanism and movable in the wiping direction and in a direction opposite to the wiping direction.
With
The first maintenance operation of moving the first wiping member in the wiping direction to wipe the nozzle surface, and
A third maintenance operation in which the second wiping member is brought into contact with the nozzle surface without pressing the second wiping member toward the nozzle surface by the first wiping member.
The first wiping member cleaning operation for cleaning the first wiping member and
Is possible to do
In the first maintenance operation, the base member has the nose of the first wiping member.
After moving to the wiping direction while in the wiping position in contact with the Le surface, moves in the opposite direction to the said wiping direction in a state in which the first wiping member is moved to a position that is not in contact with the nozzle surface,
The second wiping mechanism includes a feeding reel that supports the second wiping member in a wound state, and the second wiping member that holds the liquid removed from the first wiping member by the first wiping member cleaning operation. Has a take-up reel capable of winding the second wiping member and a support member for supporting the second wiping member at a position between the feeding reel and the take-up reel in the winding direction of the second wiping member. ,
Moving said first wiping member moving mechanism, the contact portion of the first wiping member in contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation, and the wiping position, in a cleaning position in the first wiping member cleaning operation It is possible and
A liquid injection device characterized in that the cleaning position is a position that does not come into contact with the nozzle surface and is located below the wiping position. A liquid injection head that injects liquid from a nozzle arranged on the nozzle surface,
A first wiping mechanism having a flexible plate-shaped first wiping member capable of wiping the nozzle surface and a first wiping member moving mechanism capable of moving the first wiping member.
A second wiping mechanism having a long second wiping member capable of absorbing the liquid that comes into contact with the nozzle surface and adheres to the nozzle surface.
With
The first maintenance operation of moving the first wiping member in the wiping direction to wipe the nozzle surface, and
A second maintenance operation in which the first wiping member is pressed against the second wiping member to bring the second wiping member into contact with the nozzle surface.
A third maintenance operation in which the second wiping member is brought into contact with the nozzle surface without pressing the first wiping member against the second wiping member.
The first wiping member cleaning operation for cleaning the first wiping member and
Is possible to do
The second wiping mechanism includes a feeding reel that supports the second wiping member in a wound state, and the second wiping member that holds the liquid removed from the first wiping member by the first wiping member cleaning operation. Has a take-up reel capable of winding the second wiping member and a support member for supporting the second wiping member at a position between the feeding reel and the take-up reel in the winding direction of the second wiping member. ,
The first wiping member moving mechanism has a wiping position where the contact portion of the first wiping member that comes into contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation comes into contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation, and the first. and a cleaning position in the wiping member cleaning operation, is movable in,
A liquid injection device characterized in that the cleaning position is a position that does not come into contact with the nozzle surface and is located below the wiping position. The first wiping mechanism and the second wiping mechanism are provided, and a base member that can move in the wiping direction and in a direction opposite to the wiping direction is provided.
In the first maintenance operation, the base member moves in the wiping direction with the first wiping member in the wiping position, and then moves to a position where the first wiping member does not come into contact with the nozzle surface. The liquid injection device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid injection device moves in a direction opposite to the wiping direction. The liquid injection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning position is located on the downstream side in the wiping direction from the wiping position. The liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the take-up reel is located on the downstream side in the wiping direction from the contact portion of the first wiping member at the wiping position. Injection device. Any one of claims 1 to 5, which is provided at a position closer to the first wiping member than the take-up reel and includes a cleaning liquid supply unit for supplying the cleaning liquid to the second wiping member. The liquid injection device according to the section. The second wiping mechanism has a pair of the support members.
The first wiping member according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first wiping member is located between a pair of the supporting members in a winding direction orthogonal to the wiping direction and the vertical direction. Liquid injection device. A carriage is provided so that the plurality of liquid injection heads are arranged so as to be displaced in the wiping direction.
The liquid is ejected from the nozzle of the liquid injection head while the carriage is moving in the direction intersecting the wiping direction to the medium conveyed from the upstream side in the wiping direction to the downstream side in the wiping direction. The liquid injection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A plate-shaped first wiping member having flexibility that can wipe the nozzle surface of a liquid injection head that injects liquid from a nozzle arranged on the nozzle surface, and a first wiping member that can move the first wiping member. A first wiping mechanism having a moving mechanism, and
A second wiping mechanism having a long second wiping member capable of absorbing the liquid that comes into contact with the nozzle surface and adheres to the nozzle surface.
With
The first maintenance operation of moving the first wiping member in the wiping direction to wipe the nozzle surface, and
A second maintenance operation in which the first wiping member is pressed against the second wiping member to bring the second wiping member into contact with the nozzle surface.
A third maintenance operation in which the second wiping member is brought into contact with the nozzle surface without pressing the first wiping member against the second wiping member.
The first wiping member cleaning operation for cleaning the first wiping member and
Is possible to do
The second wiping mechanism includes a feeding reel that supports the second wiping member in a wound state, and the second wiping member that holds the liquid removed from the first wiping member by the first wiping member cleaning operation. Has a take-up reel capable of winding the second wiping member and a support member for supporting the second wiping member at a position between the feeding reel and the take-up reel in the winding direction of the second wiping member. ,
The first wiping member moving mechanism has a wiping position where the contact portion of the first wiping member that comes into contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation comes into contact with the nozzle surface in the first maintenance operation, and the first. and a cleaning position in the wiping member cleaning operation, is movable in,
The cleaning device is characterized in that the cleaning position is a position that does not come into contact with the nozzle surface and is located below the wiping position. The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein the take-up reel is located on the downstream side in the wiping direction from the contact portion of the first wiping member at the wiping position.

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