JPH1095126A - Image forming device using ink jet system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device using an ink jet system that can restrain ink from being wasted when a nozzle is operated to be restored and which can perform a dummy jet operation within a short period of time. SOLUTION: An image forming device using an ink jet system comprising a plurality of nozzles 3f... for discharging ink wherein ink is flown from each of the nozzles 3f... so as to form an image in accordance with image information, the device being characterised by provision of a plurality of cap members 9c, 9d for covering said plurality of nozzles 3f... and pumping means 17, 13 connected to said plurality of cap members 9c, 9d for independently sucking each of said plurality of cap members.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a small printer, and more particularly to an ink jet type image forming apparatus which forms an image by causing ink to fly on a recording medium such as paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus of the ink jet type comprises, for example, a recording medium conveying member for conveying a sheet or the like in a fixed direction, And a recording head carriage that is provided so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium and that causes ink to fly from a nozzle portion toward a conveyance path of the recording medium. Note that the recording head carriage is generally a full-color carriage capable of flying yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink, and is provided for each color in the full-color carriage. In general, a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ink tanks for supplying ink to the nozzles are provided. In addition, while each of the nozzle portions has a large number of nozzles, each of the ink tanks is detachably mounted on the recording head carriage.

The ink jet type image forming apparatus conveys a recording medium by a recording medium conveying member, and causes ink to fly according to image information while the recording head carriage is reciprocated. Then, a predetermined image is formed on the recording medium.

[0004] By the way, the image forming apparatus of the ink jet system uses ink, and further forms an image by causing the ink to fly from the nozzle portion, thereby maintaining image quality. There are various problems in doing so.

More specifically, in the above-described ink jet type image forming apparatus, first, the ink contained in the nozzle portion easily dries during non-image formation, and when the state occurs, the viscosity of the ink changes. Do (for example, thicken)
There is a problem that the manner of the flight changes, and a desired image cannot be formed.

Second, in the above-mentioned ink jet type image forming apparatus, the ink is further dried and the thickened ink is clogged in the nozzle portion, or foreign matter or air is mixed in the nozzle portion. Then, there is a problem that the ink does not fly.

Third, in the above-described ink jet type image forming apparatus, since the surface of the ink is dry immediately after the start of the image formation, the flying of the ink is not stable, and the image is appropriately formed. May not be possible.

Therefore, conventionally, in the image forming apparatus of the ink jet type, a plurality of cap members are provided to cover the nozzle portions during non-image formation to prevent drying of the ink, and the ink is supplied from the plurality of cap members. A pump member for suction was provided. In the image forming apparatus, drying of the ink can be prevented by covering the nozzles with the cap members, and by sucking the ink with the cap members covering the nozzles. The thickened ink and the like can be removed from the nozzle section, and furthermore, by causing the ink to fly from each nozzle section immediately before the start of image formation, it is possible to prevent uneven flight of ink that occurs at the start of image formation. Hereinafter, the former is called a capping operation, the middle is called a recovery operation, and the latter is called a dummy jet operation.

Conventionally, in the above-mentioned ink jet type image forming apparatus, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-270006, a recovery operation capable of covering the nozzle portion and performing a recovery operation during non-image formation. Some include a cap member and a storage cap member that only covers the nozzle portion during non-image formation. Then, in the image forming apparatus, drying of the ink can be prevented by covering each of the nozzle portions with each of the cap members,
By coating and suctioning each of the nozzles with the recovery cap member, the ink or the like that has been increased in viscosity can be removed from the nozzles. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ink from flying unevenly at the start of image formation.

However, in the former image forming apparatus,
When removing the thickened ink etc. from the desired nozzle part,
Since all the other nozzles are sucked together with the nozzle, the ink is wasted, and the size of the waste ink tank that stores the ink must be increased.

On the other hand, in the latter image forming apparatus, at the time of a dummy jet operation, each nozzle portion must be sequentially positioned with respect to one recovery cap member so that ink is ejected from each nozzle portion. It takes a long time.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention can suppress waste of ink during a recovery operation, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet type image forming apparatus capable of performing a dummy jet operation in a short time.

[0013]

That is, the present invention is directed to an ink-jet type image forming apparatus having a plurality of nozzles from which ink is ejected, and forming an image by causing ink to fly from each nozzle in accordance with image information. In the forming apparatus, an image of an ink jet system provided with a plurality of cap members covering the plurality of nozzle portions and a pumping means connected to the plurality of cap members and capable of independently suctioning each cap member. It is a forming device.

In the present invention, the above-mentioned nozzle portion is a portion for flying ink, and generally has a structure in which a large number of nozzles are formed. Further, even if all of the nozzles of the nozzle unit are configured to fly one type of ink, all the nozzles are configured to fly different colors of ink for each predetermined group. Is also good.

The cap member may be any member as long as it can cover the nozzle portion. For example, a rubber cap having a concave portion formed in a surface (hereinafter, referred to as a front surface) facing the nozzle portion, Even if the cap is configured by an ink holder such as a sponge disposed in the recess and a cap case in which the cap is housed, or in addition to the above configuration, the cap may be provided with a side surface from the recess. May be formed with a communication hole penetrating through. And
In the latter case, since the recess and the outside air are communicated with each other through the communication hole, the pressure in the ink tank and the pressure in the recess during coating the nozzle portion or during the coating of the nozzle portion. Can always be made to coincide with each other, and there is no possibility that ink leaks out of the nozzle portion or ink is pulled into the nozzle portion. It is not necessary that all of the plurality of cap members have the same configuration.

The term "covering" does not only mean a state in which the periphery of the nozzle portion is completely sealed and covered with the cap member, but also covers the nozzle portion to such an extent that drying of the ink in the nozzle portion can be appropriately prevented. Including the case where it is done.

In an ink jet type image forming apparatus having a plurality of nozzle portions, each nozzle portion may be covered with a cap member, or the plurality of nozzle portions may be covered with one cap member.

The pumping means may be connected to the plurality of cap members and may be capable of independently suctioning each cap member. For example, the same number of pumps as the plurality of cap members and each pump member may be used. It can be composed of a pump and a plurality of hoses connecting the cap members. In this configuration, by controlling the operations of the pumps independently of each other, all the cap members can be suctioned independently.

The pumping means includes a pump connected to a plurality of cap members provided with communication holes,
A cap member disposed opposite to the communication hole of one of the cap members and capable of appropriately sealing the communication hole; and a cap member provided with the cap communication hole sealing member May be configured to suck ink from all nozzles.

Further, in the ink jet type image forming apparatus of the present invention, since a plurality of cap members covering the plurality of nozzles are provided, it is possible to cover the plurality of nozzles and prevent drying of the ink. it can.

Further, in the image forming apparatus, since pumping means can be connected to a plurality of cap members and all the cap members can be sucked, a dummy jet (ink) can be provided with each nozzle portion facing each cap member. Is performed, and the discharged ink can be sucked by the pumping means.

Next, in the image forming apparatus, since the pumping means can independently suction each cap member, only the cap member covering the nozzle portion clogged with the thickened ink or the like is sucked. That is, only the nozzle portion can be sucked and recovered without sucking the ink of another nozzle portion.

Further, in the image forming apparatus, all the nozzles can be covered while ink is applied to all the cap members and the ink is held in all the cap members. Even in this case, drying of the ink in the nozzle portion can be suppressed.

In the present invention, when performing a recovery operation with each cap member, a plurality of nozzles are arranged on one recording head carriage, and the plurality of cap members are mounted on one cap carriage. Arrange,
Further, a nozzle portion-side positioning member disposed in a fixed positional relationship with respect to the nozzle portion, and a cap-side positioning member disposed in the same manner as the positional relationship with respect to the cap member are provided. By engaging, the cap member and the nozzle portion may be positioned.
At this time, if the cap carriage is disposed so as to be movable in the same direction as the moving direction of the recording head carriage, simply moving the cap carriage by the recording head carriage moves the nozzle portion side positioning member to the cap side. The cap member can be accurately positioned with respect to the nozzle portion by engaging with the positioning member.

On the other hand, when the recovery operation is performed by one cap member, a plurality of nozzle portions are arranged on one recording head carriage, and the plurality of cap members are mounted on one recording head carriage.
And a plurality of nozzle-portion-side positioning members disposed in a fixed positional relationship with respect to each of the nozzle portions, and a plurality of nozzle-portion-side positioning members disposed in a similar manner to the positional relationship with each of the cap members. The cap-side positioning member provided may be provided, and the cap member and the nozzle portion may be positioned by appropriately engaging them. At this time, if the cap carriage is movably disposed in the same direction as the moving direction of the recording head carriage, a predetermined nozzle portion side positioning member can be moved only by moving the cap carriage by the recording head carriage. The predetermined cap member can be accurately positioned with respect to the predetermined nozzle portion by engaging with the predetermined cap side positioning member.

At the time of the positioning, one or both of the recording head carriage and the cap carriage may be arranged so as to be movable in the contact and separation directions so as to form a gap between the recording head carriage and the cap carriage. Thus, when the recording head carriage is moved and positioned, friction is not generated between them, and the carriage can be moved smoothly. In the case of the configuration example, the nozzle-side positioning member and / or the cap-side positioning member may be disposed so as to be able to expand and contract in the moving direction. As a result, even if one of the positioning members comes into contact with the facing carriage by mistake, or even if any of the positioning members comes into contact with the facing carriage, especially when the power is turned on, they are damaged. Never do.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus of an ink jet system according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus includes a recording medium conveying member 1 that conveys a recording medium P in a certain direction, and extends in a direction opposite to a conveying path of the recording medium P and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium P. A set of guide members 2, a recording head carriage 3 supported by the guide members 2, and a maintenance station 4 disposed below the guide members 2 and at a position adjacent to the recording medium transport path.
And a housing for holding these together. Further, image information is sent to the recording head carriage 3 through a signal line formed on a flexible substrate, and a home position of the recording head carriage 3 is set at a position facing the maintenance station 4. The position is detected by the home position sensor 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head carriage 3 includes a head carriage frame 3a movably disposed on the pair of guide members 2, and a lower surface of the frame 3a (the recording medium transport path). , Two nozzle portions 3b arranged so as to be discharged below
3c, and two ink tanks 3d and 3e detachably mounted on the frame 3a and supplying ink to the nozzles 3b and 3c.

A large number of nozzles are formed in each of the nozzle portions 3b and 3c. Then, on one side 3b (right side in the figure) of the nozzle portion, the nozzle portion 3
Since the ink tank 3d connected to b supplies black ink, one type of ink flies according to image information,
On the other hand, at the other side 3c (left side in the figure) of the nozzle section, the ink tank 3e connected to the nozzle section 3c supplies yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink. Can fly. In the drawings according to the present embodiment, a plurality of nozzles for each color are shown as one nozzle for convenience (a plurality of nozzles (nozzle group) for black are 3f, and a plurality of nozzles for yellow are 3g). , The number of nozzles for magenta is 3h, and the number of nozzles for cyan is 3i).

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus conveys the recording medium P by the recording medium conveying member 1 and reciprocates the recording head carriage 3 according to the image information. A predetermined image is formed on the recording medium P by causing the ink to fly.

The maintenance station 4 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the station main body 4a and a discharged ink absorber 4b for absorbing and holding the ink discharged from the station main body 4a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the station main body 4a comprises a unit housing 8 and various members attached thereto.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 9a denotes an ink holder formed of sponge, and 9b denotes the ink holder 9a.
9c formed with a recess for accommodating therein, and a communication hole 9f penetrating from the recess to the side surface.
Is a cap case for accommodating the cap 9b, and the cap member 9 is formed by these. Also,
The station body 4a has two cap members 9c,
9d, which are held on the cap carriage 10.

The cap carriage 10 has a support bottom plate 10a for supporting the two cap members 9c and 9d.
And a pair of arm portions 10b disposed at both ends of one side thereof
And a guide portion 10 disposed below the support bottom plate 10a.
c and the guide portion 10 below the support bottom plate 10a and
c, the arm 10b and the guide 10c are engaged with the unit housing 8 and the fulcrum 10d is L-shaped as shown in FIG. The arm 11 is connected, and the L-shaped arm 11 can be moved up and down while maintaining a constant posture by swinging the L-shaped arm 11 by the cam 12a. Hereinafter, the member on which the cam 12a is formed is referred to as a cam drive transmission member 12.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cap carriage 10 is provided so as to be movable in the same direction as the recording head carriage 3 (hereinafter, also referred to as the left-right direction). Force is applied in the direction.

Further, the recording head carriage 3 has two projections 14a and 14b formed at positions adjacent to the two nozzles 3b and 3c, while the cap carriage 10 has the two projections 14a. , 14b is disposed at a position corresponding to the movement path of the moving member 14b, and a fixed pin 15 is disposed on the station body 8 near the engaging pin 14c and movably in the vertical direction. .
As shown in FIG. 8, the fixing pin 15 is urged upward by a spring 16 inserted between the fixing pin 15 and the unit housing 8 and engages with the gear groove of the cam drive transmission member 12. Then the height is set.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the station main body first raises the cap carriage 10 to a height at which the engaging pin 14c and the projection 14a can be engaged (see FIG. 7B). Next, the recording head carriage 3 is moved to the left to engage the engaging pin 14c with the right protrusion 14a, and the cap carriage 10 is further moved slightly to the left (see FIG. 3C). Further, the cap carriage 10 is raised to move the cap members 9c and 9d.
Is pressed against the nozzle portions 3b and 3c (see FIG. 4D), so that the capping can be surely performed. Further, in the station body 4a, when the cap members 9c, 9d are pressed against the nozzle portions 3b, 3c, the fixing pins 15 are raised to engage the left convex portions 14b, whereby the two convex portions are engaged. The recording head carriage 3 can be fixed by inserting the engaging pin 14c and the fixing pin 15 between the portions 14a and 14b.

In FIGS. 5 and 9, reference numeral 17a
Is a pump, and 17b is two hoses connecting the pump 17a and the cap members 9c and 9d. The pump member 17 is formed by these, and the ink in the cap members 9c and 9d is formed by the one pump 17a. It is designed to suck. Also, the outlet 23 of the pump 17a
Is connected to a drain ink conductor 18, and the drain ink conductor 1
8, the ink is discharged to the discharged ink absorber 4b.

As shown in FIG. 10, since the pump 17a and the discharged ink absorber 4b are disposed at substantially horizontal positions, the discharged ink conductor
In order to prevent dripping of the discharged ink when replacing b,
A sponge 18b is provided at the discharge port of the discharge ink conductor.

In the above pump, as shown in FIG. 11, two ink suction ports 21 and 22 are formed in an upper portion of a cylinder 20, and an ink discharge port 23 is formed in a lower center portion thereof so as to easily discharge ink. Have been. In the following:
The ink suction port 21 connected to the right cap member 9c is called a right ink suction port, and the ink suction port 22 connected to the left cap member 9d is called a left ink suction port. Further, in the cylinder 20, FIG.
As shown in the figure, a piston head 37 formed to have a size in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 20 and having a through hole 26 formed at the center thereof has a smaller diameter d ₂ (< ₂ ) than the through hole 26. A piston composed of a piston rod 24 formed at d ₁ ≒ d ₁ ′) is provided.

More specifically, the piston head 37 has a pair of rubber piston rings 25 at both ends of its peripheral surface.
Are provided, and the through hole 2 is formed on a side face between them.
6, an ink outlet 27 is formed.

More specifically, the piston rod 24
It is formed in a size to close the through hole 26 of the piston head.
And a pair of sealing members 28, and the two sealing portions
The material 28 has a length l of the through hole 26 of the piston head.₁Yo
A little longer interval l_Two(> L ₁)
You. The piston rod 24 is connected to the drive transmission arm 1.
9 to the cam of the cam drive transmission member 12
ing.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the pump 17a is pulled by the piston rod 24,
The ink is sucked from the ink suction port 21 on the right side, and the discharged ink contained in the left side 29 of the piston is discharged through the ink discharge port 23 through the through hole 26 and the ink outlet 27.
Discharged from Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the pump sucks ink from the left ink suction port 22 by pushing back the piston rod 24 and penetrates the discharged ink stored in the right side 30 of the piston. Hole 26
Then, the ink is discharged from the ink outlet 23 through the ink outlet 27.

In this embodiment, the ink suction port 21 on the right side is formed near the center of the cylinder 20 and is configured to communicate with the inside of the cylinder 20 only when the piston head 37 moves to some extent. So Figure 1
Very high pressures act instantaneously, as indicated by line (a) in 5. On the other hand, since the left ink suction port 22 is arranged near the end of the cylinder 20 and is configured to always communicate with the inside of the cylinder 20, the line (b) in FIG.
The lower pressure acts for a relatively long time as shown in FIG. Therefore, the ink suction port 21 on the right side is suitable for sucking thickened ink or the like clogged in the nozzle portion, and the ink suction port 22 on the left side sucks ink accumulated in the cap member 9. Suitable for

Next, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 31 denotes a cap communication hole sealing member for sealing the communication hole 9f of the right cap member 9c, and is provided on the cap carriage 10. Then, the cap communication hole sealing member 31
As shown in FIG. 16, the cap carriage 10 is pushed by the recording head carriage 3 and moves to the left to seal the communication hole 9f.

Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the station main body 4a and the right protrusion 14a are
4c to cover the black nozzle portion 3b with the right-side cap member 9c (see FIGS. 7A to 7D), and move the recording head carriage 3 to the left side to move the recording head carriage 3 to the right side. The through-hole 9f of the cap member 9c is sealed with the cap communication hole sealing member 31 (see FIG. 9E), and the pump 17a is operated in this state, so that the inside of the nozzle portion 3b for black is formed. Foreign matter such as thickened ink can be sucked.

Further, the station main body 4a is arranged as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the left protrusion 14b and the engagement pin 14
c and engage the color nozzle portion 3c with the right-side cap member 9c (see FIGS. 7A to 7D).
At the same time, the recording head carriage 3 is moved to the left, and the through hole 9f of the right cap member 9c is sealed with the cap communication hole sealing member 31 (see FIG. 9E). By operating, foreign substances such as thickened ink in the color nozzle portion 3c can be sucked.

Further, the station main body 4a positions the recording head carriage 3 so that the nozzles 3b and 3c face the cap members 9c and 9d (see FIG. 17A). The pump 17a
By operating the nozzles, the ink jetted from the nozzles 3b and 3c can be received by the cap members 9c and 9d, and the ink can be sucked by the pump 17a.

Further, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 32 denotes a wiper member having a rubber blade.
a, and the cam 33 is pressed down by the cam drive transmission member 12 to set its height. In FIG. 19B, reference numerals 3j and 3k denote ink absorbers made of sponge.

As shown in FIG. 19, the station body 4a moves the wiper member 32 so that the blade tip thereof is located on the movement path of the nozzle portions 3b and 3c, and the recording head carriage. By moving the nozzle 3 from the home position to the right, the blade can be brought into contact with the tips of the nozzles 3b and 3c. In addition, the blade is cleaned by contacting the ink absorbers 3j and 3k after contacting the tip of each nozzle, so that black ink does not mix with each color ink.

Finally, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 34 denotes a pulse motor, 12 denotes a cam drive transmitting member, 35 denotes a gear train for transmitting rotation of the pulse motor 34 to the cam drive transmitting member 12, and 36 denotes a cam drive transmitting member 12. These sensors constitute the driving means.

As described above, the cam drive transmission member 12 includes a capping cam 12a for vertically moving the cap members 9c and 9d and the like, and the fixed pin 1
5 for vertically moving gear 5 and pump 1
The cam includes a pumping cam for driving 7a, a wiping cam for vertically moving the wiper member 32, and a cam member for the sensor.

Each of these cams and grooves is formed so as to move (drive) each member with respect to a predetermined rotation phase of the cam drive transmission member 12, as shown in FIG. More specifically, referring to FIG.
All members 9c, 9d, 14c, 15, 3
2 is assigned to an image forming mode in the retracted position, a cap positioning mode for raising the cap carriage 10 to the half position is assigned to 30 to 50 °, and cap members 9c and the like 9c to 70 to 120 ° are assigned.
A carriage stop mode for raising the 9d, 14c and the fixing pin 15 is assigned, and a vacuum mode for driving the pump 17a with the cap member 9c, 9d, 14c and the fixing pin 15 raised is assigned from 120 to 200 °. A vacuum mode inside the cap for driving the pump 17a with the cap members 9c, 9d, 14c and the fixing pins 15 retracted is assigned to 280 to 350 °, and a wiper member is set to 320 to 330 °. 32 is assigned. In addition, the above-mentioned vacuum mode inside the cap is used for sucking the ink ejected by the dummy jet.

In the present embodiment, the recording head carriage 3 is set to the home position and the carriage is stopped in the non-image forming mode, and the dummy jet and the wiping mode are executed when the image forming is started. To enter image forming mode before
After the image formation, the cap positioning mode was executed, and then the carriage stop mode was set. Further, the vacuum mode was set to be executed based on a command of the user, and an experiment was performed.

As a result, in the above-described ink jet type image forming apparatus, no clogging of the nozzles 3b and 3c or poor image formation does not occur for a long period of time. It was possible to recover immediately after the occurrence.

In the ink jet type image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the cap members 9c and 9d, the wiper member 32, the carriage position fixing member 15 and the cap communication hole sealing member 31 are formed by one pulse motor. Since the pump 17a is operated while being moved forward and backward with respect to the movement path of the recording head carriage, it is not necessary to provide a drive unit individually for each member, and the apparatus can be made very small. did it.

[0058]

As described above, in the ink-jet type image forming apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of cap members covering the plurality of nozzle portions, and the plurality of cap members are connected to each other, and each cap member is independently provided. Pumping means capable of sucking and discharging the ink, the plurality of nozzles can be covered with the plurality of cap members, and the plurality of cap members pump the discharged ink after receiving the discharged ink at the time of the dummy jet. Means, and the pumping means can suction only the nozzle portion clogged with the thickened ink or the like by using the cap member capable of independent suction. The dummy jet operation can be performed in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an inkjet type image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an image sectional view of the recording head carriage of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming operation image of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the maintenance station shown in FIG. 1;

5 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the maintenance station shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a capping operation (part 1).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a capping operation (part 2).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a lock operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ink discharge path.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are configuration views of the ink discharge conductor (FIG. 10A is a partially cutaway perspective view, and FIG.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the pump.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the pump.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the pump (part 1).

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining the operation of the pump (part 2).

FIG. 15 shows the suction pressure of the pump.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a sealing operation of a communication hole of a cap member.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a vacuum operation of a right nozzle portion.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a vacuum operation of a left nozzle unit.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a wiping operation.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of assignment of each operation to a rotation phase of a cam drive transmission unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: recording medium conveying member, 3: recording head carriage, 3
b, 3c: nozzle part, 9c, 9d: cap member, 9
f: communication hole, 17: pump member, 31: cap communication hole sealing member, 32: wiper member, 15: carriage position fixing member, 10: cap carriage, 14: engagement member, 34: pulse motor (forward / reverse rotation) Possible drive motor), 12: cam drive transmission member.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet type image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of nozzles from which ink is ejected; and an image is formed by causing ink to fly from each nozzle in accordance with image information. An ink-jet type image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of cap members to be covered; and pumping means connected to the plurality of cap members and capable of independently suctioning each of the cap members. 2. The ink-jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap member is provided with a communication hole for communicating an internal space formed when the nozzle portion is covered with the outside world. 3. The pumping means is arranged to face a pump connected to a plurality of cap members provided with communication holes and a communication hole of one cap member, and to appropriately seal the communication holes. The image according to claim 1, further comprising one cap communication hole sealing member capable of sucking ink from all nozzles by the cap member provided with the cap communication hole sealing member. Forming equipment. 4. A plurality of nozzle portions are provided on one print head carriage, the plurality of cap members are provided on one cap carriage, and a fixed position is provided for each of the nozzle portions. By providing a plurality of nozzle-side positioning members disposed in a relationship and a cap-side positioning member disposed in the same manner as the above-described positional relationship with respect to each cap member, by appropriately engaging them, the cap The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the member and the nozzle are positioned. 5. The ink jet printer according to claim 4, wherein a cap carriage is movably disposed in the same direction as the recording head carriage, and the cap carriage is moved by the recording head carriage. Type image forming apparatus. 6. The recording head carriage and / or the cap carriage are movably disposed in a direction in which they are brought into contact with and separated from each other, and the nozzle-side positioning member and / or the cap-side positioning member are extendable and contractable in the moving direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided.