JP7059610B2 - Wiping device, wiping unit, head maintenance device, liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wiping device, a wiping unit, a head maintenance device, and a device for discharging a liquid.

For example, when a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid is used, a maintenance / recovery mechanism (maintenance device) including a cap for capping the nozzle surface, a wiping device for wiping and cleaning the nozzle surface, etc. is provided in order to maintain and recover the state of the nozzle. ..

Conventionally, a cleaning sheet is used as a wiping member for wiping the nozzle surface, and the first support portion that supports the cleaning sheet at a contact position that can contact the nozzle surface and the cleaning sheet are supported at a contact position that can contact the nozzle surface. It has a second support portion and a reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back of the cleaning sheet between the first support portion and the second support portion, and one surface of the cleaning sheet supported by the first support portion and a first surface. 2 It is known that the nozzle surface is wiped simultaneously with the other surface of the cleaning sheet supported by the support portion (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4940917

By the way, when a plurality of wiping targets are arranged side by side, for example, in a device in which a plurality of liquid discharge heads are arranged side by side, if a plurality of wiping targets are sequentially wiped using one roll, it takes time to wipe. There is a problem of this.

Further, if a wide wiping member straddling a plurality of wiping targets is used to wipe a plurality of wiping targets with one wiping operation, the portion between the wiping targets of the wiping member is not used, which is wasteful for the wiping member. There is a problem that the part that becomes becomes occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the wiping efficiency for a plurality of wiping targets.

In order to solve the above problems, the wiping device according to claim 1 of the present invention is
A wiping member that is unwound from the pay-out side roll and wound up on the take-up side roll,
A plurality of pressing members for pressing the wiping member against the plurality of wiping targets, respectively, are provided.
The plurality of pressing members are arranged at different positions in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction.
It has an odd number of reversing members that reverse the front and back of the wiping member between the pressing member on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the wiping member and the pressing member on the downstream side in the feeding direction .
The plurality of pressing members press one surface or the other surface of the wiping member against different wiping targets.
It was configured.

An object of the present invention is to improve the wiping efficiency for a plurality of wiping targets.

It is a plane explanatory view of the wiping cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side explanatory view of the wiping cartridge. It is a side side explanatory view of the wiping device which concerns on this invention. It is also a plan explanatory view. It is a side side explanatory view of the state before the start of wiping provided to the description of the example of the wiping operation by the wiping device. Similarly, it is a plan view of the state in the middle of wiping. Similarly, it is a side explanatory view of the state in the middle of wiping. It is a plane explanatory view provided for the explanation of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is also a side explanatory view. It is a plane explanatory view provided for the explanation of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is also a side explanatory view. It is a plane explanatory view provided for the explanation of the wiping operation in the same embodiment. It is also a side explanatory view. It is a plane explanatory view provided for the explanation of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a front explanatory view of the apparatus which discharges a liquid including the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a plane explanatory view provided for the explanation of the head arrangement in the carriage of this apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the wiping cartridge according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the wiping cartridge.

The wiping cartridge 100 is a wiping unit, and includes a web 2 which is a wiping member which is wound around a pay-out side roll 2A in a roll shape, is fed out from a pay-out side roll 2A, and is taken up as a take-up side roll 2B. The pay-out side roll 2A has a supply roller 3 as an axial center member, and the web 2 is wound around the take-up roller 6 as an axial center member to form a take-up side roll 2B.

Further, the first pressing roller 11A and the second pressing roller 11B as a plurality of pressing members for pressing the web 2 against a plurality of different wiping targets are provided. The wiping target on which the first pressing roller 11A presses the web 2 is the first wiping target, and the wiping target on which the second pressing roller 11B presses the web 2 is the second wiping target.

The first pressing roller 11A and the second pressing roller 11B are arranged at different positions in a direction orthogonal to the wiping direction (arrow Y1 direction, hereinafter also referred to as "wiping direction Y1"). The wiping cartridge 100 is reciprocated in the direction along the wiping direction.

Then, the front and back sides of the web 2 are placed between the first pressing roller 11A on the upstream side of the feeding direction P (P1, P2) of the web 2 fed from the feeding side roll 2A and the second pressing roller 11B on the downstream side in the feeding direction. One reversing roller 7 which is a reversing member for reversing is arranged.

In this case, the feeding direction P of the web 2 from the feeding side roll 2A toward the reversing roller 7 is P1, and the feeding direction P from the reversing roller 7 toward the winding side roll 2B is P2.

The web 2 unwound from the pay-out side roll 2A is hung around the reversing roller 7 so that the front and back sides are reversed and the web 2 is taken up by the take-up side roll 2B.

Since one reversing roller 7 is arranged, one surface side (front surface side) of the web 2 is pressed against the first wiping target by the first pressing roller 11A, and the other surface side (back surface side) of the web 2 is the first. 2 The pressing roller 11B presses against the second wiping target.

That is, in the present embodiment, an odd number of reversing members (reversing rollers 7) are provided, and the plurality of pressing members (first and second pressing rollers 11A and 11B) are subject to different wiping of one surface or the other surface of the web 2. (1st wiping target, 2nd wiping target) are pressed against each other.

Next, the wiping device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 is a side explanatory view of a wiping device including a wiping cartridge, and FIG. 4 is a plan explanatory view.

The wiping device 1 targets the nozzle surface 20a of the two liquid discharging heads (hereinafter, also referred to as “heads”) 20 (20A, 20B) of the device for discharging the liquid as the wiping target, and the wiping cartridge 100 as the wiping unit is used. It is detachably mounted on the moving member 30.

Here, the heads 20A and 20B are mounted on the carriage or the like by shifting the positions at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the wiping direction (Y1 direction) and also shifting the positions in the direction along the wiping direction Y1 (Y direction). ing.

Then, the first wiping target to which the web 2 is pressed by the first pressing roller 11A is the head 20A, and the second wiping target to which the web 2 is pressed by the second pressing roller 11B is the head 20B. Note that FIG. 3 shows only one head 20.

Therefore, the first pressing roller 11A and the second pressing roller 11B are arranged so as to be offset in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction corresponding to the positions orthogonal to the wiping direction of the heads 20A and 20B.

The moving member 30 is provided with a take-up motor 38 that rotates the take-up roller 6 with the wiping cartridge 100 attached.

The moving member 30 is arranged so as to be reciprocally movable in a direction (Y direction, moving direction) along the wiping direction which is the nozzle arrangement direction of the heads 20A and 20B. The reciprocating movement of the moving member 30 in the Y direction is performed by, for example, a moving mechanism including a rack 31, a pinion 32, and a moving member moving motor 33 for rotating the pinion 32.

Further, the moving member 30 is arranged so as to be movable (up and down) in the direction in which the web 2 advances and retreats with respect to the nozzle surface 20a, in this case, in the vertical direction. The elevating and lowering of the moving member 30 is performed by, for example, an elevating mechanism including a cam 35 and a moving member elevating motor 36 for rotating the cam 35.

A chord wheel that rotates according to the feed of the web 2 is provided on the wiping cartridge 100 side, and an encoder sensor made of a transmissive photo sensor that detects a pattern formed on the chord wheel is provided on the moving member 30 side. There is. These code wheels and encoder sensors constitute an encoder that detects the moving distance (feed amount) of the web 2.

Further, although the example in which the wiping cartridge 100 is detachably attached to the wiping device 1 is described here, for example, a configuration in which only the feeding side roll 2A can be replaced can be adopted, and the wiping cartridge 100 can be used as the wiping cartridge 100. It does not have to be unitized.

Next, an example of the wiping operation by the wiping device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. 5 is a side view of the state before the start of wiping, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the state during wiping, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the state during wiping.

When the wiping operation by the wiping device 1 is performed, the heads 20A and 20B are moved to positions where the wiping device 1 can be wiped, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the moving member 30 of the wiping device 1 is raised to a position where the web 2 can be pressed against the nozzle surfaces 20a of the heads 20A and 20B by the first pressing roller 11A and the second pressing roller 11B. do.

After that, by moving the moving member 30 of the wiping device 1 in the wiping direction Y1, the web 2 is pressed against the nozzle surface 20a, and the liquid (referred to as waste liquid) remaining on the nozzle surface 20a is wiped or absorbed and removed. Will be done.

After that, or before the next wiping operation, the take-up side roll 2B is rotated to wind the web 2 onto the take-up side roll 2B, and the unused portion of the web 2 is placed on the nozzle surface 20a when the next wipe is performed. Make contact. It should be noted that the wiping can be performed while winding with the winding side roll 2B, that is, while feeding the web 2. It can also be wiped by reciprocating the web 2.

At this time, in the wiping device 1, the front surface (one surface) of the web 2 is pressed against the nozzle surface 20a of the head 20A by the first pressing roller 11A, and the back surface (other surface) of the web 2 inverted by the reversing roller 7 is the second surface. It is pressed against the nozzle surface 20a of the head 20B by the pressing roller 11B.

As a result, the nozzle surfaces 20a of the two heads 20A and 20B can be wiped by one wiping operation (movement of the moving member 30), respectively, as compared with the case where the heads 20A and 20B are sequentially wiped. The wiping time is shortened. Therefore, the wiping efficiency for a plurality of wiping targets is improved.

Further, the entire device can be downsized as compared with the configuration in which the wiping device 1 is arranged for each of the heads 20A and 20B. Further, as compared with the configuration in which the two heads 20A and 20B are wiped off by one wide web, the wasteful consumption of the web 2 is eliminated.

Further, the front and back sides of the web 2 are reversed, the head 20A which is the first wiping target is wiped on the one side (front surface) side of the web 2, and the head 20B which is the second wiping target is wiped on the other surface (back surface) side of the web 2. Since it is wiped off, the web 2 can be used efficiently. Further, by using the front and back surfaces of the web 2, the surface on which the head 20A is wiped does not come into contact with the head 20B, and the feed control of the web 2 becomes easy.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining the embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a side view.

In this embodiment, two (plurality) reversing rollers 7A and 7B are arranged. The reversing rollers 7A and 7B are arranged line-symmetrically with an inclination of 45 degrees with respect to the wiping direction Y1.

Then, the web 2 unwound from the pay-out side roll 2A passes through the first pressing roller 11A so that the one side (front surface) side comes into contact with the wiping target, and the front and back sides are reversed by the reversing roller 7A. Further, the web 2 is turned upside down again by the reversing roller 7B, passes through the second pressing roller 11B so that the one side (front surface) side comes into contact with the wiping target, and is wound up by the winding side roll 2B.

Since it is configured in this way, the feeding direction P1 of the web 2 fed from the feeding side roll 2A toward the first pressing roller 11A, and the feeding direction P2 of the web 2 wound from the second pushing roller 11B to the winding side roll 2B. Can be the same as the direction along the wiping direction Y1.

As a result, the width W2 in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction from the feeding side roll 2A to the winding side roll 2B is in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction from the feeding side roll 2A to the winding side roll 2B in the first embodiment. It can be made narrower than the width W1 and can be miniaturized.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13. FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining the embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a side view. FIG. 12 is a plan explanatory view for explaining the wiping operation in the same embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a side explanatory view.

In the present embodiment, the first pressing roller 11A and the second pressing roller 11B are arranged at different positions by shifting their positions even in the wiping direction.

The displacement amount La of the first pressing roller 11A and the second pressing roller 11B in the wiping direction is almost the same as the displacement amount Lb of the two wiping targets (here, the heads 20A and 20B) shown in FIG. 12 in the wiping direction. Including) or smaller than the deviation amount Lb.

With this configuration, the amount of movement in the wiping direction Y1 required to wipe the nozzle surfaces 20a of the heads 20A and 20B (the amount of movement of the wiping cartridge 100 and the amount of movement of the moving member 30) is It is shorter than the first embodiment.

That is, in the present embodiment, the nozzle surfaces 20a of the heads 20A and 20B can be wiped by moving the heads 20A and 20B by the length Ln in the nozzle arrangement direction.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment, since the first pressing roller 11A and the second pressing roller 11B are at the same position in the wiping direction, the nozzle arrangement direction from one end of the head 20A to the other end of the head 20B Wiping is not completed unless the length is moved.

If the deviation amount La is smaller than the deviation amount Lb, the movement amount is smaller than that in the first embodiment.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a plan explanatory view for explaining the embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the three first pressing rollers 11A, the second pressing rollers 11B, and the third pressing rollers 11C are arranged at different positions in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction Y1. Further, two (even number) reversing rollers 7A and 7B are arranged so as to sandwich the second pressing roller 11B in the wiping direction Y1.

The reversing roller 7A inverts the web 2 that has passed through the first pressing roller 11A on the upstream side in the feeding direction, and guides the web 2 toward the second pressing roller 11B on the downstream side in the feeding direction. The reversing roller 7B reverses the web 2 that has passed through the second pressing roller 11B on the upstream side in the feeding direction, and guides the web 2 toward the third pressing roller 11C on the downstream side in the feeding direction. The web 2 that has passed through the third pressing roller 11C is taken up by the take-up side roll 2A.

With this configuration, the three wiping targets can be wiped with a single wiping operation, and even if the number of wiping targets increases, the wiping operation can be suppressed at one time.

Next, the outline of the device for discharging the liquid including the head maintenance device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a front explanatory view of the device for discharging the liquid, and FIG. 16 is a plan explanatory view for explaining the head arrangement in the carriage of the device.

The device for discharging this liquid is a serial type device, in which one or a plurality of liquid discharge heads 20 (20A to 20C) are mounted on the carriage 21, and the medium 23 is intermittently transported by the transport means 22. Then, the carriage 21 is moved in the direction of the arrow, and the required liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge head 20 to form an image.

Further, on the home position side of the carriage 21, a cap 52 for capping the nozzle surface 20a of the liquid discharge head 20 and a head cleaning device 51 composed of a wiping device 1 as described in the first to fifth embodiments are provided. A head maintenance device 50 for performing maintenance (head maintenance) of the head 20 including the above is arranged.

As described above, by providing the maintenance device including the wiping device according to the present invention, the head surface can be cleaned and stable liquid discharge can be performed, and the device can be miniaturized.

In the present application, the liquid to be discharged may have a viscosity and surface tension that can be discharged from the head, and is not particularly limited, but the viscosity becomes 30 mPa · s or less at room temperature, under normal pressure, or by heating or cooling. It is preferable that it is a thing. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, polymerizable compounds, resins, functionalizing materials such as surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids and proteins, and calcium. , Solvents, suspensions, emulsions, etc. containing edible materials such as natural pigments, such as inks for inkjets, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic and light emitting elements, and formation of electronic circuit resist patterns. It can be used in applications such as liquids and material liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

Piezoelectric actuators (laminated piezoelectric elements and thin-film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators that use electric heat conversion elements such as heat-generating resistors, and electrostatic actuators that consist of a vibrating plate and counter electrodes are used as energy sources for discharging liquid. Includes what to do.

The "liquid discharge unit" is a liquid discharge head integrated with functional parts and a mechanism, and includes a collection of parts related to liquid discharge. For example, the "liquid discharge unit" includes a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism in which at least one of the configurations is combined with a liquid discharge head, and the like.

Here, the term "integration" means, for example, a liquid discharge head and a functional component, a mechanism in which the mechanism is fixed to each other by fastening, bonding, engagement, etc., or one in which one is movably held with respect to the other. include. Further, the liquid discharge head, the functional component, and the mechanism may be configured to be detachable from each other.

For example, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated. In some cases, the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated by being connected to each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the head tank of these liquid discharge units and the liquid discharge head.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a carriage are integrated.

Further, there is a liquid discharge unit in which the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated by holding the liquid discharge head movably by a guide member constituting a part of the scanning movement mechanism. In some cases, the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main scanning movement mechanism are integrated.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a carriage to which a liquid discharge head is attached, in which a cap member which is a part of the maintenance / recovery mechanism is fixed, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism are integrated. ..

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a tube is connected to a head tank or a liquid discharge head to which a flow path component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated. The liquid of the liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid discharge head through this tube.

The main scanning movement mechanism shall include a single guide member. Further, the supply mechanism includes a single tube and a single loading unit.

The "device for discharging a liquid" includes a device provided with a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and driving the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The device for discharging a liquid includes not only a device capable of discharging a liquid to a device to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for discharging the liquid into the air or into the liquid.

The "device for discharging the liquid" may include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging paper to which the liquid can adhere, as well as a pretreatment device, a posttreatment device, and the like.

For example, as a "device that ejects a liquid", an image forming device that is a device that ejects ink to form an image on paper, and a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) are formed in layers in order to form a three-dimensional object. There is a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges the modeling liquid into the powder layer.

Further, the "device for discharging a liquid" is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as characters and figures is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, those that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and those that form a three-dimensional image are also included.

The above-mentioned "thing to which a liquid can adhere" means a material to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as a material to which the liquid adheres and adheres, and a material to which the liquid adheres and permeates. Specific examples include paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, recorded media such as cloth, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and media such as inspection cells. Yes, and includes everything to which the liquid adheres, unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which a liquid can adhere" may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like as long as the liquid can adhere even temporarily.

Further, the "device for discharging the liquid" includes, but is not limited to, a device in which the liquid discharge head and the device to which the liquid can adhere move relatively. Specific examples include a serial type device that moves the liquid discharge head, a line type device that does not move the liquid discharge head, and the like.

In addition, as a "device for ejecting a liquid", a treatment liquid coating device for ejecting a treatment liquid to the paper in order to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, etc. There is an injection granulator that granulates fine particles of the raw material by injecting a composition liquid in which the raw material is dispersed in the solution through a nozzle.

In addition, in the term of this application, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. are all synonymous.

1 Wiping device 2 Web 2A Unwinding side roll 2B Winding side roll 3 Unwinding roller 6 Winding roller 7, 7A, 7B Reversing roller (reversing member)
11A-11C Pushing roller (pressing member)
20 Liquid discharge head 20A, 20B Head 21 Carriage 50 Maintenance device 51 Head cleaning device 100 Wiping cartridge (wiping unit)

Claims (7)

A wiping member that is unwound from the pay-out side roll and wound up on the take-up side roll,
A plurality of pressing members for pressing the wiping member against the plurality of wiping targets, respectively, are provided.
The plurality of pressing members are arranged at different positions in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction.
It has an odd number of reversing members that reverse the front and back of the wiping member between the pressing member on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the wiping member and the pressing member on the downstream side in the feeding direction .
The plurality of pressing members press one surface or the other surface of the wiping member against different wiping targets.
A wiping device characterized by that. A wiping member that is unwound from the pay-out side roll and wound up on the take-up side roll,
A plurality of pressing members for pressing the wiping member against the plurality of wiping targets, respectively, are provided.
The plurality of pressing members are arranged at different positions in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction.
It has an even number of reversing members that reverse the front and back of the wiping member between the pressing member on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the wiping member and the pressing member on the downstream side in the feeding direction .
The wiping device, wherein at least two of the pressing members press the same surface of the wiping member against different wiping targets. The plurality of pressing members are arranged at the same position in the wiping direction.
The wiping device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wiping device is characterized by the above. A wiping member that is unwound from the pay-out side roll and wound up on the take-up side roll,
A plurality of pressing members for pressing the wiping member against the plurality of wiping targets, respectively, are provided.
The plurality of pressing members are arranged at different positions in the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction.
A reversing member that reverses the front and back of the wiping member is provided between the pressing member on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the wiping member and the pressing member on the downstream side in the feeding direction.
The wiping device, wherein the plurality of pressing members are arranged at the same position in the wiping direction. The wiping device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein at least two of the pressing members are arranged at different positions in the wiping direction. A head maintenance device that maintains the liquid discharge head.
The head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a wiping device for wiping the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head. A liquid discharge head that discharges liquid and
The liquid is discharged, which comprises the wiping device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for wiping the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, or the head maintenance device according to claim 6 . Equipment to do.

Images