JPH09220813A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a non-image area from becoming contaminated by dust sticking to a cleaning blade by providing a cap for shutting the blade off the outside when a cleaning operation is not performed. SOLUTION: A semicylindrical cap 3 is arranged on a blade holder 2, for a cleaning device, which is installed in a non-image area B. The cap 3 has a supporting arm part provided on the end part in such a manner that the supporting arm part is pivotally supported, in freely rotatable manner, at a fulcrum 3b, and the free end part of the arm part is attached to the blade holder 2 in freely rotatable manner. In addition, a carriage 5 and an ink head 4 mounted on the carriage 5 come to an opposite position to the cleaning device 6 located in the non-image area B and perform the cleaning operation. At this point of time, the blade holder 2 and, in turn, a cleaning blade 1 juts out in such a manner that these constituents come into contact with an ink discharge face 4a. Further, the cleaning blade 1 sweeps over the ink discharge face 4a in its cleaning action. When not performing the cleaning action, the blade holder 2 is lowered to rotate the cap 3 and the cap 3 is set to a position for covering the cleaning blade 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a plotter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet-shaped recording material such as paper is conveyed in one direction, a carriage is reciprocated in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, and ink is ejected from an ink head mounted on the carriage according to an image signal. An image forming apparatus configured to form an image (including characters, symbols, etc.) on the recording material is widely used.

In the ink head in such an apparatus, a large number of very fine nozzle openings are made to face a portion facing a recording material, and ink is ejected from a predetermined nozzle according to an image signal to form an image. It is usually configured in.

In such an apparatus, since the nozzle for ejecting liquid ink is extremely thin, ink remaining after ejection adheres and solidifies or dust adheres to the opening at the tip of the nozzle to eject ink. The ejection surface of the ink head is configured to be swept and cleaned by a cleaning blade so as not to cause any trouble. Hereinafter, such cleaning means will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the main parts of the image forming apparatus showing the ink head at the position where it is cleaned by the cleaning blade. A carriage 5 is provided on a guide shaft c provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus so as to be movable in the left-right direction in the drawing, and the ink head 4 is placed on the carriage 5.

When the carriage 5 moves rightward in the figure along the guide axis c to reach the recording area A on the platen b, the ink head 4 is placed on the recording material (not shown) placed there. Ink is ejected onto the recording material from the ink ejection surface 4a to perform recording. When the recording for one line is completed, the carriage returns to the old position, the recording material is conveyed for one line, and then the recording for the next line is performed in the same manner as above. By repeating such a recording operation, recording for one page is completed.

In the apparatus as described above, the cleaning apparatus 6 is provided in the non-recording area B on one side of the moving area of the carriage as shown. In the cleaning device, a blade holder 2 having a cleaning blade 1 protrudingly arranged on the carriage side is arranged so as to be close to and away from the carriage 5 by a cam mechanism.

The cam mechanism of the holder 2 is interlocked with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 5, and the holder 2 approaches the carriage 5 only when the carriage 5 reaches the position facing the holder 2, and at this time, the blade 1 is moved. Contacts the ink ejection surface 4a of the ink head 4 to clean it. By providing such a cleaning means for the ink ejection surface, it is possible to obtain a certain effect in preventing deterioration of image quality due to defective ejection of ink.

Meanwhile, in such a cleaning means, since the removed ink and the like remain on the cleaning blade as they are, dust in the atmosphere is likely to adhere to such a blade. Continuing the cleaning with such a blade, on the contrary, causes a problem that dust or the like adheres to the ink ejection surface 4a to cause ejection failure and deterioration of image quality.

The present invention has been made to cope with such a situation, and in an image forming apparatus in which an ink ejection surface of an ink head is swept and cleaned by a cleaning blade, contamination of the cleaning blade by dust or the like is preferable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device capable of preventing and always performing good cleaning.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention discharges ink from an ink discharge port onto a recording material to form an image, and slides the ink discharge port during non-image formation. An image forming apparatus having a wiper blade for rubbing and cleaning, characterized in that the image forming apparatus (1) is provided with a cap for shielding the blade from the outside when cleaning is not performed, or
In the above (1), an image forming apparatus (2), wherein the cap is provided with a cleaning member for cleaning the wiper blade when the wiper blade is shielded from the outside by the cap, or
The image forming apparatus (3) according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the cap is detachably formed on the main body of the image forming apparatus, or any one of the above (1) to (3). A means for displacing the cap between the position where the wiper blade is shielded from the outside and the position which directly faces the ink ejection port in response to the displacement of the wiper blade between the cleaning position and the non-cleaning position. An image forming apparatus (4) comprising: a wiper blade for ejecting ink from an ink ejection port onto a recording material to form an image, and for cleaning the ink ejection port by rubbing and cleaning the ink ejection port during non-image formation. In the provided image forming apparatus, the blade holder that holds the wiper blade and the cap that shields the wiper blade from the outside are integrally formed. An image forming apparatus (5), characterized in that to are.

With such a configuration, in the image forming apparatus having the blade for rubbing and cleaning the ink ejection surface for forming an image, the time for which the cleaning blade is exposed to the outside air is shortened as much as possible. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the deterioration of the image quality due to the adhesion of dust, thickened ink, or the like.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS "FIG. 1" to "FIG. 3" show the configuration of each part of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, particularly at a position for cleaning an ink head. "FIG. 1" shows a state at the time of cleaning. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the same as above, and “FIG. 3” is a front view showing a state during non-cleaning. Portions corresponding to those shown in FIG. 11 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the blade holder 2 of the cleaning device 6 arranged in the non-image area B is
A semi-cylindrical cap 3 is provided. The cap 3
Has a support arm portion rotatably supported by a fulcrum 3b at its end, and the free end portion of the arm portion is rotatably attached to the blade holder 2. Therefore, as the blade holder 2 moves in and out between the cleaning position and the retracted position, the cap 3 has a position for exposing the blade 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and a position for covering the blade as shown in FIG. Rotate between.

With this structure, the carriage 5 and the ink heads 4 mounted on the carriage 5 are arranged in the image area A.
At the time when the cleaning is performed after passing through the position of the cleaning device 6 in the non-image area B, the holder 2,
Therefore, the blade 1 projects so as to come into contact with the ink ejection surface 4a of the ink head, and the blade 1 is ejected from the ink ejection surface 4a.
Sweep cleaning a. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state at this time.

When the cleaning is not carried out, the holder 2 descends as shown in FIG. 3, and the cap 3 rotates accordingly to take a position for covering the blade 1 to prevent adhesion of dust and the like. I shall.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the cleaning device 6. In this device, when the inner surface of the cap 3 is in a position where the cap 3 covers the blade 1, A blade cleaning member 7 such as a sponge is arranged so as to contact the tip edge of the blade 1.

With this configuration, when the cap is rotated, the cleaning member 7 rubs the leading edge of the blade 1 to remove foreign matter such as ink and dust adhering to the cleaning edge, thus ejecting ink. When cleaning the surface 4a, it is possible to always perform cleaning with a clean edge.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the cleaning device 6. In this case, the cleaning member 7 attached to the inner surface of the cab 3 is arranged near the tip end edge of the cap 3 in the rotation direction. With this configuration, the cleaning member 7 slides and cleans the tip edge of the blade during the process of rotating the cap 3 from the retracted position to the position for covering the blade, and at a predetermined position, as shown in FIG. Since the cleaning member 7 is separated from the leading edge of the blade 1, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the blade is stressed and fatigued early.

In the cleaning device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pin 3a attached to the cleaning device is mounted so that the cap 3 can be rotatably mounted on the cleaning device.
In addition, a slit formed in the mounting arm portion on the cap side is detachably engaged. Therefore, the cap 3 can be removed from the cleaning device 6 as needed, and when the cleaning member 7 is contaminated, it can be replaced with a new one, and the cleaning property for the blade 1 is improved.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a cleaning device showing another embodiment. In this device, a blade 1 is fixedly arranged at a proper position of the cleaning device, and a cap 3 is rotatably attached to a space below the cleaning device by a pin 3b. The cap 3 is attached to one end of a rod 15 which is attached to the cleaning device 6 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction in the drawing, and the other end of the rod 15 is attached to the energizing force of the solenoid 8. It is attached to a lever 11 that rotates by. Further, a spring 10 is arranged at the end of the lever 11 so that the lever 11 is always provided with a habit of clockwise rotation.

With such a configuration, the rod 15 is biased downward in the drawing by the action of the spring 10 during non-cleaning, whereby the cap 3 causes the blade 1 to move.
It is assumed that it has been rotated to a position to cover.

When the carriage 5 and the ink head 4 arrive at the cleaning position and perform cleaning, the solenoid 8 is urged by the signal and the lever 11 is rotated counterclockwise, and the rod 15 is moved upward in the drawing. Therefore, the cap 3 is rotated clockwise to take the position where the blade 1 is exposed.

"FIG. 7" and "FIG. 8" are cross-sectional views of a main part showing still another embodiment. In this apparatus, a holder 9a provided with a blade 1 and a cap 9b are integrally configured on a shaft arranged in a space formed in the cleaning device 6 so as to be rotatable, and the holder 9a and A pinion 16 is provided integrally.

The pinion 16 meshes with a rack 12 formed on an arm whose one end projects to the outside, and the outer projection end of the arm is pivotally attached to one end of the lever 11. Further, a spring 10 is arranged at the other end of the lever 11 to give the lever 11 a habit of clockwise rotation.

Further, the lever 11 has a solenoid 8
Plunger is attached. When the solenoid 8 is in the deenergized state, the respective parts are assumed to have the positions shown in FIG. 7, and at this time, the cap 9b is on the side of the carriage 5, the ink head 4, etc. and the space of the cleaning device. The blade 1 is located on the side of the void and is protected from the outside.

When the carriage 5 or the like arrives at a position facing the cleaning device 6 and a cleaning signal is issued, the solenoid 8 is energized and the lever 11 rotates as shown by arrow E in FIG. Rack 12 and pinion 16
By this, the positions of the cap 9b and the blade 1 are reversed to be in the state shown in FIG. 8, and at this position, the blade 1 comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 4a of the ink head and the sliding cleaning is performed.

Further, in the illustrated apparatus, as shown by reference numeral 7, a cleaning member is arranged at an appropriate position on the locus of rotation of the blade 1. With this, when the blade 1 and the cap 9b rotate, the ink and the like attached to the blade 1 are removed and cleaned.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are sectional views of a portion near the cleaning device showing still another embodiment. In this apparatus, a blade 1 is fixed to a cleaning apparatus, a cap 3 attached to a movable member 13 made of a shape memory alloy is arranged on one side of a recess formed in the apparatus, and a heater 14 is provided as described above. It is arranged so as to abut the movable member 13.

In the non-heated standby state, the movable member 13
Maintains the shape shown in FIG. 9, and at this time, the cap 3 is in a position to cover the blade 1. In addition, reference numeral 7
Is a cleaning member for blade cleaning, and has the same operation as that described above.

When the heater 14 is energized and heated at the time of cleaning, the movable member 13 is transformed into a memorized shape as shown in FIG. 10, and the cap 3 is moved as shown in FIG. When rotated, the blade 1 is exposed to face the ink ejection surface 4a of the ink head 4, and cleaning is performed. During non-cleaning, if the heater 14 is turned off, the cap 3 returns to the position shown in FIG. 9 by natural cooling.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus for performing image formation by ejecting ink from an ink head onto a recording material and for cleaning the ink ejection surface of the ink head with a cleaning blade when the ink head reaches a cleaning portion during non-image formation, Since the cleaning blade is configured to be covered with the cap during non-cleaning, it is possible to preferably prevent dust and the like from adhering to the blade, so that the blade can be kept clean and deterioration of image quality due to defective ejection of ink can be prevented. it can.

Further, a cleaning member for removing ink and foreign matters attached to the blade is formed on the cap covering the blade, and / or the cap is made detachable with respect to the cleaning device. It is effective for improving the cleaning property, and further, by integrally forming the member for holding the blade and the cap, it is possible to maintain the cleanliness of the blade with a simple structure without increasing the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention when cleaning a portion of an ink ejection surface cleaning device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same as above.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the same as above when not cleaning.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning device portion according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a cleaning device portion showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view of a cleaning device portion according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of a cleaning device portion of another embodiment during standby.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of the same when cleaning.

FIG. 9 is a front cross-sectional view of a cleaning device portion of still another embodiment during standby.

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of the same as above when cleaning.

FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view of a main part showing a cleaning unit of an ink ejection surface of an ink head of a known image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cleaning Blade 2, 9a Holder 3, 9b Cap 4 Ink Head 5 Carriage 6 Cleaning Device 7 Cleaning Member 8 Solenoid 10 Spring 13 Movable Member 14 Heater

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kunitoshi Hayashi 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo Copier Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomohiro Ishizu 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo Copier Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasushi Sawada 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Copier Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigehiko Ito 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Copia shares In-house (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Kawamoto 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Copier Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeo Sasaki 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Copier Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yutaka Kawamata 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo Copier Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fumitaka Aoki 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo Copier Stock In the company

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus equipped with a wiper blade for ejecting ink from an ink ejection port onto a recording material to form an image, and for cleaning the ink ejection port by rubbing the ink ejection port when no image is formed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cap that shields the blade from the outside. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided with a cleaning member for cleaning the wiper blade when the wiper blade is shielded from the outside by the cap. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap is detachably formed on the main body of the image forming apparatus. 4. A means for displacing a cap between a position for shutting off the wiper blade from the outside and a position directly facing the ink ejection port in response to the displacement of the wiper blade between the cleaning position and the non-cleaning position. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: 5. An image forming apparatus equipped with a wiper blade for ejecting ink from an ink ejection port onto a recording material to form an image and slidingly cleaning the ink ejection port during non-image formation. An image forming apparatus, wherein a blade holder and a cap that shields the wiper blade from the outside are integrally formed.