JPH0563840U - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention relates to the structure of an ink jet printer cap, and aims to simplify the cap structure, improve the assembling property thereof, and improve the ability to remove excess ink. There is. According to the present invention, in a cap of an ink jet printer, a plate-shaped portion 2 is provided in a cap 1 made of an elastic member.
At a position in contact with the lower portion of the nozzle portion of the ink jet head, and the plate-shaped portion 2 is inclined downwardly with respect to the ink ejection direction so as to have an angle of 0 degree or more and 90 degrees or less. And a plurality of spaces 3 having a minute width are further provided in the plate-shaped portion 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a cap structure of an inkjet printer.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In an inkjet printer, if the nozzle portion of the ink jet head is clogged due to increased viscosity of ink or adhesion of foreign matter, printing defects such as missing dots occur. Usually, as a means to prevent this kind of printing failure and to recover from printing failure, the nozzle part of the ink jet head is covered with a cap, and the thickened ink and attached foreign matter are capped together with the ink in the ink jet head. The method of sucking in is practiced. At this time, if the excess ink adhering to the periphery of the nozzle portion after suction is left as it is and printing is started, the ink ejection path is bent by the excess ink, resulting in defective printing.

Therefore, there is a need for a technique for removing excess ink attached to the periphery of the nozzle portion.

A conventional technique will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a conventional cap. Reference numeral 101 is a cap made of an elastic member, 102 is an ink absorber made of a porous member, and 103 is an ink absorber made of a porous member having a better restorability than the ink absorber 102.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a suction state at the time of cleaning with a conventional cap. Reference numeral 104 is an ink jet head, 105 is a nozzle portion, 107 is an ink supply tank, 108 is a suction pump, 109 is a waste liquid tank, 106 is an open / close valve, and 110, 111, and 112 are connection tubes. First, after the cap 101 and the ink absorber 103 in the cap 101 are brought into pressure contact with the ink jet head 104, the opening / closing valve 106 is closed in the direction of arrow D by a driving means (not shown), and a suction pump connected to the cap 101 is provided. The ink 108 is sucked from the nozzle 105 through the cap 101, the ink absorber 102, and the ink absorber 103 by the nozzle 108 for a predetermined time, and the thickened ink in the nozzle 105 and the adhered foreign matter are removed from the head. Suction with the ink in 104. The sucked ink 113 passes through the suction pump 108 and is stored in the waste liquid tank 109 connected to the suction pump 108. Next, the on-off valve 106 is opened in the direction of arrow E to open the inside of the cap 101 to the atmosphere, and only the ink 113 accumulated in the cap 101 is sucked.

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the suction of the ink accumulated in the cap is completed. Even after the suction is completed, the excess ink is still around the nozzle portion 105 of the ink jet head 104. Although the ink 114 is attached, the excess ink 114 is completely absorbed by the ink absorber 103 and the ink absorber 102 due to the capillary action of the ink absorber 103 pressed under the nozzle portion 105 as shown in the figure. The excess ink 114 that causes defective printing is removed.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, since two types of ink absorbers in the cap are required, there is a problem that the number of components is increased and the assembling property is deteriorated.

Further, since the ink absorber of the porous member is brought into pressure contact with the head, the ink absorber undergoes plastic deformation, the holes are crushed, the absorbing ability is lowered, and excess ink can be removed. There was a problem that it would be difficult.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is possible to obtain a cap having a smaller number of parts and a better assembling structure than the conventional one, and at the same time, to make sure that excess ink can be removed. The purpose is to guide it to the absorber and remove it.

[0010]

A cap of an inkjet printer of the present invention covers an ink ejecting head at a predetermined position with a cap made of an elastic member, and ejects ink from the ink ejecting head to eject the ink from the ink ejecting head. In an ink jet printer for cleaning a nozzle portion, a plate-shaped portion in the cap is in contact with a lower portion of the nozzle portion, and the plate-shaped portion is 0 degrees or more and 90 degrees downward with respect to an ink ejection direction. It is characterized in that it is inclined so as to have the following angle and is provided integrally with the cap, and that a plurality of spaces of minute width are further provided in the plate-shaped portion.

[0011]

[Action]

 With the above configuration of the present invention, it is possible to remove excess ink adhering to the periphery of the nozzle portion after cleaning due to the capillarity phenomenon in a plurality of spaces having a minute width.

[0012]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present proposal.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an inkjet printer using a cap of the present invention, where 1 is a cap, 2 is a plate-like portion in the cap 1, 4 is an ink absorber made of a porous member, 5 is an ink jet head, 7 is an on-off valve, 8 is a suction pump, 9 is a waste tank, 10 is an ink supply tank, 11, 12 and 13 are connection tubes, 14 is a carriage, 15 is a guide shaft, 16 is a main body. The frame 17 is a cap holder.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the cap of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the cap. As shown in FIG. 2, in the cap 1 made of an elastic member, the plate-like portion 2 is in contact with the lower portion of the nozzle portion 6 of the ink jet head 5, and the surface of the plate-like portion 2 discharges ink. It is provided integrally with the cap 1 by inclining downwardly with respect to the direction of the arrow A, which is an angle of 0 degree or more and 90 degrees or less. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of grooves 3 having a minute width are provided in the ink ejection direction as spaces having a minute width on the surface of the plate portion 2.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a suction state during cleaning by the cap of the present invention. First, after the cap 1 and the tip of the plate-shaped portion 2 in the cap 1 are brought into pressure contact with the ink jet head 5, the opening / closing valve 7 is closed in the direction of arrow B by a driving means (not shown), and the suction pump connected to the cap 1 is connected. 8 sucks the ink 18 from the nozzle 6 through the cap 1 and the ink absorber 4 for a predetermined time, and sucks the thickened ink in the nozzle 6 and the adhered foreign matter together with the ink in the ink jet head 5. Suru The sucked ink 18 passes through the suction pump 8 and is stored in the waste liquid tank 9 connected to the suction pump 8. Next, the opening / closing valve 7 is opened in the direction of arrow C to open the inside of the cap 1 to the atmosphere, and only the ink 18 accumulated in the cap 1 is sucked.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a state in which suction of the ink accumulated in the cap has been completed. Excess ink 19 adhering to the periphery of the nozzle portion 6 of the ink jet head 5 after the suction of the ink is formed by a plurality of minute grooves formed in the plate-like portion 2 of the cap 1 pressed against the nozzle portion 6 as shown in the figure. 3 is absorbed by the ink absorber 4 in the cap 1 through the groove 3.

6 and 7 are views showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing the structure of the cap of the present invention. Instead of the groove 3 of the plate-like portion 2 in the above-described embodiment, the plate-like portion 2a has a plurality of slits 3a having a minute width. Is provided.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which suction of the ink accumulated in the cap has been completed. Excess ink 19a adhering to the periphery of the nozzle portion 6a after completion of suction is pressed under the nozzle portion 6a. It is guided into the cap 1a by the capillarity in the plurality of slits 3a having a minute width provided in the plate-shaped portion 2a, and is absorbed by the ink absorber 4a in the cap 1a.

[0020]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the plate-shaped portion integrally formed with the cap made of the elastic member is pressed to the lower portion of the nozzle portion, and the capillaries in the plurality of micro-width spaces provided in the plate-shaped portion. Due to the phenomenon, excess ink attached to the periphery of the nozzle of the ink jet head after suction is guided to the ink absorber inside the cap and removed from the periphery of the nozzle. Therefore, the ink absorber which has been conventionally required for guiding the excess ink adhering to the periphery of the nozzle portion is not required, the number of parts is reduced, and the assembling property is improved. Further, since the porous member is not used as a means for guiding the excess ink adhering to the periphery of the nozzle portion to the ink absorber, it is possible to reliably guide the excess ink.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a suction state of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the end of suction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing the structure of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention at the end of suction.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the prior art.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a suction state according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing the end of suction in the conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1a Cap 2, 2a Plate portion 3 Groove 3a Slit 4, 4a Ink absorber 5, 5a Ink jet head 6, 6a Nozzle portion 7, 7a Open / close valve 8 Suction pump 9 Waste liquid tank 10 Ink supply tank

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ink jet printer in which an ink jet head is covered with a cap made of an elastic member at a predetermined position and ink is ejected from the ink jet head to clean a nozzle portion of the ink jet head. Integral with the cap by inclining the plate-shaped portion so as to contact with the lower side of the nozzle portion and inclining the plate-shaped portion downwardly with respect to the ink ejection direction at an angle of 0 degree or more and 90 degrees or less. An inkjet printer, characterized in that a plurality of spaces having a minute width are provided in the plate-shaped portion.