JPH09150523A - Cleaner for ink jet recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a cleaner for removing the ink by wiping off the jet port surface of an ink jet recording head with a planar cleaning member in which the residual ink on the forward end face of cleaning member is prevented from readhering to the recording head. SOLUTION: A cleaning member 32 is provided with holes 35 opening to the forward end face 32c thereof and the holes 35 are connected with a suction unit 37. During or after cleaning work of recording head 1 with the cleaning member 32, the suction unit 37 is operated to suck an ink adhering to the forward end face 32c through the holes 35 thus removing the ink. This structure prevents the residual ink on the forward end face 32 of cleaning member 32 from readhering to the recording head at the time of next cleaning operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head cleaning device for cleaning an ink ejection port surface of an ink jet recording head used as a recording portion of a printer, a facsimile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording head, ink is ejected from its ejection port due to ink splattering, ink splashing from a recording medium during recording, ink leakage from the ejection port due to changes in weather conditions, etc. Due to dirt,
There is a problem in that the ink stain causes a printing failure such that the direction of the ejected ink is changed. In addition, there is a problem that dust such as paper powder adheres to the ink stain, and the printing direction such as clogging occurs when the ejection direction changes or is severe.

In order to solve this problem, it has been conventionally known to provide an ink jet recording head cleaning device. FIG. 9 shows a conventional inkjet recording head, a cleaning device therefor, etc., 1 is an inkjet recording head (hereinafter abbreviated as a recording head), 2 is an ejection port for ejecting the ink, 3 is an ejection port surface, and 4 is an ejection port. Recording head 1
Is a drive shaft for reciprocating the recording head 1 left and right along the guide shaft 4, and 6 is an inkjet recording head cleaning device. The inkjet recording head cleaning device 6 includes a plate-shaped cleaning member 7 made of an elastic material such as rubber, a receiving member 8 supporting the cleaning member 7, a cleaning member 7, and a tip of the cleaning member 7. The cleaning member 7 is provided with a driving device (not shown) that moves up and down so as to be in an operating position that abuts against the discharge port surface 3 and a standby position that is separated from the discharge port surface 3. As shown in FIGS. Is set to the raised operating position, and the recording head 1 is moved to the left in that state, whereby the tip of the cleaning member 7 relatively moves while being in contact with the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1, and the ejection The outlet surface 3 was wiped to remove the attached ink 9 and dust.

Here, in order to ensure good scraping property of the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1 by the cleaning member 7 and to maintain the strength thereof, and to facilitate the manufacturing, the tip of the cleaning member 7 has both sides. The side surface 7a, 7b has a front end surface 7c that is perpendicular to the side surface 7c, and the front end surface 7c and one side surface 7a form a right-angled scraping edge 7d. When cleaning the recording head 1, the cleaning member 7 is curved. Then, the scraping edge 7d is pressed against the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1,
The ink 9 adhering to the ejection port surface 3 was scraped off.

[0005]

However, it has been found that such a conventional cleaning device has a problem. That is,
As shown in FIG. 11A, when the cleaning member 7 scrapes off the ink 9 adhering to the ejection port surface 3, most of the scraped ink is as shown in FIG. Cleaning member 7
Adheres to the side surface 7a on the front side of the (side-adhesion ink 9a),
Although it falls downward due to its own weight, some of the ink is flat when the cleaning member 7 separates from the recording head 1.
In some cases, the ink may go around c and remain (ink 9b attached to the tip surface), and when the cleaning member 7 is used for the next wiping,
As shown in FIG. 12, the ink 9b remaining on the tip surface 7c of the cleaning member 7 adheres to the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1 (reattachment dirty ink 9c), and the ejection port 2 of the recording head 1 is removed. There is a problem that stains, clogging, and ejection failure occur, and print quality is impaired. In this specification, “front” and “rear” of the cleaning member 7 refer to a relative moving direction of the cleaning member 7 with respect to the recording head 1.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to prevent ink that has adhered to the cleaning member from adhering to the ejection port surface of the recording head again and causing trouble. An object is to provide a head cleaning device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is provided with means for guiding the ink adhering to the tip surface of the cleaning member to the inside or the side surface of the cleaning member. . With this configuration, the cleaning member comes into contact with the ejection port surface of the recording head and moves relatively, and even if ink is attached to the tip surface after scraping the ink, the ink attached to the tip surface is not removed. Since it is guided inside or on the side of the cleaning member and hardly remains on the tip surface,
At the next wiping operation, the ejection port surface of the recording head is not contaminated and the recording head can be cleaned satisfactorily.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present application has a plate having side surfaces parallel to each other, a front end surface perpendicular to the side surfaces, and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the front end surface. A hole is formed in the cleaning member in the shape of a hole so as to open to the tip surface behind the scraping edge, and a suction device is connected to the hole.

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the scraping edge at the tip of the cleaning member is brought into contact with the ejection opening surface of the recording head and relatively moved, so that ink, dust or the like adhered to the ejection opening surface. The ink may adhere to the flat tip surface of the cleaning member at that time, but by operating the suction device, the ink can be sucked and removed through the hole opened in the tip surface. It is possible to satisfactorily clean the recording head without polluting the ejection port surface of the recording head during the wiping.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, side surfaces parallel to each other are included,
A plate-shaped cleaning member having a tip surface perpendicular to the side surface and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the tip surface is opened to the tip surface behind the scraping edge. Thus, the hole or groove is formed, and the ink absorber is filled in the hole or groove.

Also according to the present invention, the scraping edge at the tip of the cleaning member is brought into contact with the ejection opening surface of the recording head and relatively moved by the above-described structure, whereby ink, dust, etc. attached to the ejection opening surface. The ink may adhere to the flat tip surface of the cleaning member, but the adhered ink is immediately absorbed by the ink absorber in the hole or groove opened in the tip surface. The recording head is removed from the front end surface, and the ejection port surface of the recording head is not contaminated at the next wiping operation, and the recording head can be cleaned well.

According to the invention of claim 3, side surfaces parallel to each other,
A plate-like cleaning member having a tip surface perpendicular to the side surface and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the tip surface is a side surface opposite to the side provided with the scraping edge. A slit is formed to guide the ink so that the slit is located at the position and reaches the front end surface. Here, the slit has a width capable of absorbing ink by a capillary phenomenon (for example, 0.2 to 1.0 m).
m, preferably about 0.5 mm) is used.

According to the present invention as well, the scraping edge at the tip of the cleaning member is brought into contact with the ejection opening surface of the recording head and moved relatively to each other by the above-described structure, whereby ink, dust, etc. attached to the ejection opening surface. The ink may adhere to the flat tip surface of the cleaning member, but the adhered ink is immediately absorbed by the slit leading to the tip surface and removed from the tip surface. It is possible to satisfactorily clean the recording head without polluting the ejection port surface of the recording head during the wiping.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic construction of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet recording head cleaning apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. Attached. In FIG. 4, 11 is a detachable cassette that stores recording paper 12, 13 is a pickup roller that feeds the recording paper 12 in the cassette 11 one by one, and 14 is the fed recording paper 1.
A feed roller that reverses 2 and feeds it horizontally through the recording position, 15 is a motor that rotationally drives the feed roller 14, and 16 and 17 are first and second pinch rollers that press the recording paper against the feed roller 14, respectively. 1
Reference numerals 8 and 19 denote guides for supporting and guiding the lower surface of the recording paper to be sent out. It is a pressing roller that is pressed against the transport roller 20 and the second transport roller 21.

Above the feed roller 14, the feed roller 14
A guide shaft 4 is provided parallel to and holds the recording head 1 slidably. A drive belt 5 is arranged so as to be parallel to the guide shaft 4, is connected to the recording head 1, and is driven by a carriage motor 25 in both forward and reverse directions. The recording head 1 is provided at its lower end with an ejection port surface 3 having a plurality of ejection ports 2 for ejecting ink (see FIG. 1) and reciprocates along a guide shaft 4 by a carriage motor 25. Inkjet recording can be performed on the recording paper 12 located below the recording paper 12.

Here, the guide shaft 4 and the drive belt 5 are set to a length such that the recording head 1 can be moved to a position outside the running position (width) of the recording paper 12 outside. And the initial position of the recording head 1
The running position of the recording paper 12 is set at a position deviated from it. The inkjet recording head cleaning device 31 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided at the initial position.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the ink jet recording head cleaning device 31 and the recording head 1, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the ink jet recording head cleaning device 31, FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). , (C) and (d) are schematic sectional views for explaining the operation of the inkjet recording head cleaning device 31. The inkjet recording head cleaning device 31 is a plate-shaped cleaning member 3 made of an elastic material such as rubber.
2, the receiving member 33 in which the lower end of the cleaning member 32 is fitted and supported, and the cleaning member 32 are separated from the ejection port surface 3 and the operating position where the tip of the cleaning member 32 abuts the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1. A drive device (not shown) for moving up and down to reach the standby position is provided. The cleaning member 32 used here also has the tip of the cleaning member 32 on both sides in order to secure good scraping property of the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1 and to maintain its strength, and to facilitate manufacturing. The side surface 32a,
The front end surface 32c is perpendicular to 32b, and the front end surface 32c and one side surface 32a form a scraping edge 32d at a right angle. Further, unlike the conventional case, the cleaning member 32 has a plurality of holes 35 formed behind the scraping edge 32d and opening to the tip surface 32c. The hole 35 is formed so as to penetrate to the side opposite to the tip surface 32c.

On the other hand, the receiving member 33 to which the cleaning member 32 is attached has a groove 36 communicating with the plurality of holes 35, and the groove 36 has a suction device 37 such as a rotary pump.
The tube 38 connected to is connected. Thus, the hole 35 can be sucked by the suction device 37. The joint between the cleaning member 32 and the receiving member 33 is sealed with an adhesive so that air leakage and ink leakage do not occur. Further, in FIG. 1, 39 is a waste liquid tank.

Next, the operation of the cleaning device 31 having the above structure will be described. Normally, the cleaning member 32 stands by at a standby position where it does not come into contact with the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1. When the recording operation is performed by the recording head 1 and the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1 is cleaned, the recording head 1 uses the cleaning device 31.
3A, the driving member (not shown) raises the receiving member 33 and the cleaning member 32 before returning to the cleaning member 32.
Is the operating position at which the recording head 1 can be contacted. afterwards,
The recording head 1 moves and passes above the cleaning member 32. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cleaning member 3
Since the tip end of 2 abuts against the ejection opening surface 3 of the recording head 1 and is bent, the scraping edge 32d is strongly pressed against the ejection opening surface 3 by the elasticity of the cleaning member 32 and adheres to the ejection opening surface 3. The removed ink 9 and dust are wiped off and removed. After that, when the recording head 1 passes over the cleaning member 32, the cleaning member 32 returns to the original upright state as shown in FIG. At this time, of the ink wiped off,
The ink 9a attached to the side surface 32a of the cleaning member 32 falls downward by its own weight, but the ink 9b attached to the tip surface 32c of the cleaning member 32 remains as it is. Therefore, the suction device 37
Is operated to suck the hole 35 for a predetermined time. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3D, the ink 9b attached to the tip surface 32c is sucked and removed through the hole 35. After that, the cleaning member 32 is returned to the original standby position to prepare for the next cleaning operation. The same operation is repeated thereafter, but the cleaning member 32
Ink is prevented from adhering and remaining on the front end surface 32c of the above, and even if it remains, it is a very small amount, so that the discharge port surface 1 is not polluted at the time of the next cleaning, and is always good. It can be wiped clean.

Needless to say, the suction device 37 is also effective if it is operated by the cleaning member 32 while the discharge port surface 3 is being cleaned.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the intervals, the hole diameters, etc. of the holes 35 formed in the cleaning member 32 may be appropriately determined so that the ink adhering to the upper end surface 32c can be sucked and removed. Further, the hole 35 is not limited to having a circular cross section, and may have an oval shape, an elongated shape, or the like.

An example of specific dimensions of the cleaning member 32 is as follows. Arrangement of ejection openings of recording head 1: 360 dpi pitch x 6
4 nozzles x 1 row (nozzle row length = about 4.5 mm) Cleaning member width L (wiping width) = 10 mm Thickness W = 2 mm Height H = 20 mm Number of holes 35 = 4 (equal arrangement in the wiping width direction) Pore diameter = 1 mm Good cleaning could be performed using the cleaning member 32 having this configuration.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an inkjet recording head cleaning device 41 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 6B is a schematic sectional view for explaining the operation of the inkjet recording head cleaning device 41. Like the inkjet recording head cleaning device 31 shown in FIG. 1, this inkjet recording head cleaning device 41 also has a plate-like cleaning member 42 made of an elastic material such as rubber and a lower end of the cleaning member 42 fitted therein. The supported receiving member 43 and the cleaning member 42
Is provided with a drive device (not shown) and the like for moving up and down so that its leading end comes into an operating position where it comes into contact with the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1 and a standby position away from the ejection port surface 3.
In addition, the cleaning member 42 also has the tip of the cleaning member 42 on both side surfaces 42a in order to secure good scraping property of the ejection port surface 3 of the recording head 1 and to maintain its strength, and to facilitate manufacturing. , 42b and a front end surface 42c that is perpendicular to each other, and the front end surface 42c and one side surface 42a form a scraping edge 42d that is at a right angle. Furthermore, this cleaning member 4
2 also has a plurality of holes 45 that are formed behind the scraping edge 42d and open to the front end surface 42c.

However, unlike the above-mentioned embodiment, the suction device is not connected to the hole 45, and instead, the ink absorber 46 is filled in the hole 45. The ink absorber 46 used here is capable of absorbing ink well, is made of a material having excellent wetting characteristics with respect to ink, and is a porous body having a large number of fine communication spaces so as to generate absorbing power by a capillary phenomenon. Examples of the material include sponges, felts, non-woven fabrics composed of synthetic fibers and natural fibers, and mat-like materials.

Also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the scraping edge 42d at the tip of the cleaning member 42 is used.
The cleaning member 42 relatively moves with respect to the ejection port surface 3 in a state in which the ink is strongly pressed against the ejection port surface 3, and the ink 9 and dust adhering to the ejection port surface 3 are wiped and removed. At this time, even if ink adheres to the tip surface 42c of the cleaning member 42, as shown in FIG. 6B, the ink absorber 46 filled in the hole 45 opened in the tip surface 42c. The ink 9b is absorbed by the ink. Therefore, it is prevented that ink adheres to and remains on the front end surface 42c of the cleaning member 42. Even if the ink remains, the amount is extremely small, so that the ejection port surface is not contaminated at the next cleaning. Good wiping and cleaning can always be performed.

Also in the above-mentioned embodiment, the intervals and the hole diameters of the holes 45 formed in the cleaning member 42 may be appropriately determined so that the ink adhering to the tip surface 42c can be absorbed and removed. Further, the hole 45 is not limited to having a circular cross section, and may have an elliptical shape, an elongated shape, or the like. As an example of specific dimensions of the cleaning member 42, the same ones as those described above for the cleaning member 32 can be cited.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the hole 45 is used to fill the ink absorber 46, but the present invention is not limited to this structure, and instead of the hole 45, one side surface 42b is formed.
It is also possible to use a groove having an opening. FIG.
(A) and (b) respectively show an embodiment in that case, and the cleaning member 42A shown in (a) has a tip surface 42.
c and the side surface 42b opposite to the scraping edge 42d
Is provided with a plurality of grooves 47A that are open in the
The inside is filled with the ink absorber 48A. FIG.
Similarly, the cleaning member 42B shown in (b) is provided with one wide groove 47B which is opened to the tip surface 42c and the side surface 42b, and the ink absorber 48B is filled in the groove 47B. The depth of these grooves 47A and 47B is the same as the depth of the tip surface 4.
It is preferable that the thickness of the cleaning members 42A and 42B at the position of 2c is approximately half. Any cleaning member 42A,
Also in 42B, the ink adhering to the front end surface 42c is absorbed and removed by the ink absorbers 48A and 48B. Therefore, it is prevented that the ink adheres to and remains on the front end surface 42c of the cleaning member 42, and the next cleaning is performed. Sometimes, the discharge port surface 1 is not soiled, and good wiping and cleaning can always be performed.

In this embodiment, the ink absorbers 48A, 4A
By configuring 8B to fill the grooves 47A and 47B, it is possible to increase the capacity of the ink absorber as compared with the case of filling the holes 45 as shown in FIG. The effect that it can be lengthened is obtained. Further, by disposing the grooves 47A and 47B for filling the ink absorbers 48A and 48B on the side surface 42b on the side opposite to the scraping edge 42d, the scraping edge 42d scrapes off the side surface 42a on the front surface side. The ink that flows down is not absorbed by the ink absorbers 48A and 48B, and therefore the ink absorbers 48A and 48B are not absorbed.
Need only absorb a small amount of ink adhering to the front end surface 42c, and from this point as well, the effect of long life can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 7B, the groove 47B having a wide width is used.
In the case where the cleaning member 42B is used, a large restoring force is generated when the cleaning member 42B is bent, and the scraping edge 42d is moved to the ejection port surface of the recording head 1 even when the cleaning member 42B is used. 3 (see FIG. 6) can be secured to have an elastic force.

When the holes 45 or the grooves 47A, 47B are filled with the ink absorbers 46, 48A, 48B and the like, the upper end position is naturally a position where the ink adhering to the tip surface 42c of the cleaning member can be absorbed. When cleaning the ejection port surface of the recording head with the cleaning member, it is desirable that the ink absorber should not come into direct contact with the ejection port 2 (see FIG. 1) of the recording head 1. Therefore, when the ink absorber 48B having a wide width is used as shown in FIG. 7B, the upper end of the ink absorber 48B is likely to come into contact with the ejection port 2 of the recording head 1, so that the ink absorber 48B is in contact. It is preferable that the upper end of the cleaning member 42B is set to a position slightly lower than the tip end surface 42c of the cleaning member 42B.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an inkjet recording head cleaning device 51 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Like the inkjet recording head cleaning device 31 shown in FIG. 1, this inkjet recording head cleaning device 51 also has a plate-shaped cleaning member 52 made of an elastic material such as rubber and a lower end of the cleaning member 52 fitted therein. A receiving member 53 that is supported,
The cleaning member 52 is provided with a drive device (not shown) for moving the cleaning member 52 up and down so as to be in an operating position where the tip of the cleaning member 52 comes into contact with the ejection port surface of the recording head and a standby position away from the ejection port surface. Further, the cleaning member 52 also secures good scraping property of the ejection port surface of the recording head and maintains strength,
In addition, in order to facilitate manufacturing, the tip of the cleaning member 52 is
A tip surface 52c perpendicular to the side surfaces 52a and 52b on both sides,
The tip surface 52c and one side surface 52a form a right-angled scraping edge 52d. This cleaning member 52
Unlike the cleaning members of the other embodiments, the narrow slit 55 is formed on the side surface 52b opposite to the scraping edge 52d.
Are formed so as to reach the front end surface 52c. The slit 55 has a width capable of absorbing ink by a capillary phenomenon, and is selected to be about 0.5 mm, for example. The depth of the slit 55 is preferably approximately half the thickness of the cleaning member 52 at the position of the tip surface 52c, and it is preferable that the slit 55 becomes shallower toward the lower side of the cleaning member 52.

In this embodiment, when the scraping edge 52d at the tip of the cleaning member 52 is pressed against the ejection port surface of the recording head to wipe off ink, dust, etc. adhering to the ejection port surface 3, Even if the ink adheres to the tip surface 52c of the cleaning member 52, when a part of the ink contacts the slit 55, it is guided to the side surface 52b opposite to the scraping edge 52d through the slit 55 by a capillary phenomenon. It moves downward due to gravity. As a result, the ink does not remain on the tip surface 52c of the cleaning member 52, and even if it remains, the amount is very small, so that the ejection port surface of the recording head is not polluted at the time of the next cleaning, Good wiping and cleaning can be performed.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, the invention of claim 1 of the present application is such that the side surfaces parallel to each other, the tip surface perpendicular to the side surfaces, and the one side surface and the tip surface are formed. In the plate-shaped cleaning member having a taking edge, a hole is formed so as to open to the tip surface behind the scraping edge, and by connecting a suction device to the hole,
A flat tip beyond the scraping edge of the cleaning member when the scraping edge comes into contact with the discharge port surface of the recording head and scrapes off ink, dust, etc. adhering to the discharge port surface. Even if the ink adheres to the surface, the ink can be sucked and removed through the hole opened in the tip surface by operating the suction device, and the ink is not adhered to the tip surface at all times or even if the ink adheres to the surface. Can be trace amount,
There is an effect that the ejection port surface of the recording head is not contaminated with the residual ink at the time of the next wiping, and the recording head can be satisfactorily cleaned.

Further, the invention of claim 2 of the present application is a plate shape having side surfaces parallel to each other, a front end surface perpendicular to the side surfaces, and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the front end surface. A hole or groove is formed in the cleaning member so as to open to the tip surface behind the scraping edge, and the scraping edge is recorded by filling the hole or groove with an ink absorber. When the ink or dust adhered to the ejection port surface of the head is scraped off by contacting the ejection port surface of the head, the ink adheres to the flat tip surface beyond the scraping edge of the cleaning member. However, the attached ink is immediately
The ink is absorbed by the ink absorber in the hole or groove opened in the tip surface and removed from the tip surface, and it is possible that the ink is not adhered to the tip surface at all, or even if the ink adheres to the tip surface, it is very small. There is an effect that the ejection port surface of the recording head is not contaminated with the residual ink at the time of the next wiping, and the recording head can be satisfactorily cleaned. Further, according to the present invention, since the suction device is not required, the structure is simplified and the cost of the device can be reduced.

Further, the invention of claim 3 of the present application is a plate-like member having side surfaces parallel to each other, a tip surface perpendicular to the side surfaces, and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the tip surface. By forming a slit on the cleaning member so as to be located on the side surface opposite to the side on which the scraping edge is provided and to guide the ink so as to reach the tip surface, the scraping edge is recorded on the recording head. When the ink, dust, or the like adhered to the ejection port surface of the cleaning member is scraped off, even if the ink adheres to the flat tip surface beyond the scraping edge of the cleaning member. , The ink that has adhered is immediately absorbed by the slit and removed from the tip surface, and it is always possible to keep the ink on the tip surface in a state where it does not adhere or even if it adheres to the tip surface. Heh Without that contaminate the discharge port surface with residual ink, has the effect that it is possible to perform good cleaning of the recording head. Further, in this invention,
Since it is only necessary to form the slits on the side surface of the cleaning member, it is possible to further reduce the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an inkjet recording head cleaning device 31 and a recording head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the inkjet recording head cleaning device 31 shown in FIG.

3 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are respectively,
A schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the inkjet recording head cleaning device 31 of the embodiment shown in FIG.

4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus including the inkjet recording head cleaning device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an inkjet recording head cleaning device 41 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the inkjet recording head cleaning device 41 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, respectively.

7A and 7B are schematic perspective views showing modifications of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing an inkjet recording head cleaning device 51 according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional inkjet recording head cleaning device and a recording head in a state before a cleaning operation.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a conventional inkjet recording head cleaning device and a recording head during a cleaning operation.

11A and 11B are schematic side views for explaining the operation of the inkjet recording head cleaning device shown in FIG. 9, respectively.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of an inkjet recording head cleaning device for explaining problems of the conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Recording Head 2 Discharge Port 3 Discharge Port Surface 4 Guide Shaft 5 Drive Belt 31, 41, 51 Inkjet Recording Head Cleaning Device 32, 42, 42A, 42B, 52 Cleaning Member 32a, 32b, 42a, 42b, 52a, 52b Side Surface 32c , 42c, 52c Tip surface 32d, 42d, 52d Edge for scraping 35 Hole 37 Suction device 45 Hole 46 Ink absorber 47A, 47B Groove 48A, 48B Ink absorber 55 Slit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plate-like and elastic cleaning member having side surfaces parallel to each other, a tip surface perpendicular to the side surfaces, and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the tip surface. And a cleaning member for wiping off the ink on the ink ejection port surface by bringing the scraping edge into contact with the ink ejection port surface of the ink jet recording head and moving it relative to the ink ejection port surface. An ink jet recording head cleaning device comprising a hole formed so as to open to the tip surface behind the collecting edge, and further comprising a suction device connected to the hole. 2. A plate-like and elastic cleaning member having side surfaces parallel to each other, a tip surface perpendicular to the side surfaces, and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the tip surface. And a cleaning member for wiping off the ink on the ink ejection port surface by bringing the scraping edge into contact with the ink ejection port surface of the ink jet recording head and moving it relative to the ink ejection port surface. An ink jet recording head cleaning device comprising: a hole or groove formed so as to open to the front end surface behind the picking edge, and an ink absorber filled in the hole or groove. 3. A plate-like and elastic cleaning member having side surfaces parallel to each other, a tip surface perpendicular to the side surfaces, and a scraping edge formed by one side surface and the tip surface. And a cleaning member for wiping off the ink on the ink ejection port surface by bringing the scraping edge into contact with the ink ejection port surface of the ink jet recording head and moving it relative to the ink ejection port surface. An inkjet recording head cleaning device, characterized in that it has a slit on the side opposite to the side on which the picking edge is provided, which guides the ink formed until it reaches the tip surface.