JPH11240164A - Ink jet printer and head cleaning method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an ink jet printer for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a nozzle in which unnecessary ink is prevented surely from adhering to the recording face of the recording medium by removing ink drops standing at the lower end part of nozzle face previously through ink purge for cleaning nozzle, or the like, employing a simple arrangement. SOLUTION: The ink jet printer comprises a web means for arranging a head 7 closely to or in contact with the lower end part of a nozzle face 7b at a position not facing a recording medium and absorbing/removing ink standing at the lower end part of the nozzle face 7b by purge, or the like. The web means comprises a continuous web 13, a roll section including rolls 14 for feeding the web 13, and a winding section including rolls 15 for winding the web 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly to an ink jet printer which can effectively treat ink that flows from a nozzle surface of a head to a lower end portion of the nozzle surface by purging or the like. The present invention relates to an inkjet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink-jet printer called an on-demand system used for a serial printer or the like has a head on which a plurality of nozzles are arranged on an end face, and a recording medium in which the head is set on a platen. The required recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets from necessary nozzles while moving in the left-right direction on the medium. This type of inkjet printer has advantages such as high-speed recording, low noise, easy colorization, a simple configuration and low cost.

As described above, all of these ink jet printers are excellent ink jet printers. However, ink residue and dust are likely to adhere near the nozzles on the nozzle surface of the head, and air and the like easily accumulate in the ink flow path of the head. Often, the nozzle was clogged, adversely affecting the recording quality. Therefore, the head is retracted to a position that does not face the recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as a maintenance position), and at this position, a purge process for forcibly ejecting ink from nozzles is performed periodically or as necessary. Maintenance was performed to clean the head and maintain the performance of the head.

As one of the maintenance methods, as shown in FIG. 5, a replaceable cleaning paper 17 is attached to the nozzle surface 7b of the head, and the nozzle surface 7b is brought into contact with the head with a constant force. A cleaning method is used.

[0005]

However, in this system, the cleaning paper 17 rubs the nozzle surface 7b, thereby deteriorating the water-repellent treatment function applied to the nozzle surface, thereby making ink ejection unstable. There were drawbacks.

In order to reduce the time for the cleaning paper to rub the nozzle surface, as shown in FIG.
There is also a method in which the cleaning paper 17 installed at a position away from the b is pressed from the back surface by a pressing member. However, when the ink is removed, the nozzle surface is still rubbed, and the configuration is complicated because the pressing member is movable. There's a problem.

Further, there is also used a method of cleaning the nozzles and the edges of the nozzles by using only ink purging and strong water repellent treatment of the nozzle surface without using cleaning paper. However, in the maintenance method that does not use the cleaning paper, as shown in FIG.
This causes the ink to accumulate in the form of droplets due to surface tension. In this state, when the head 7 moves from a position where the head does not face the recording medium to a recording area facing the recording medium (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7), the liquid accumulated in the lower end portion 7c of the nozzle surface There is a problem that the droplet-like ink droplet 7d comes into contact with the recording surface of the recording medium and becomes dirty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and uses a simple structure to remove ink droplets accumulated at the lower end portion of a nozzle surface in advance, thereby reducing the recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer capable of reliably preventing unnecessary ink from adhering to a recording surface.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, an ink jet printer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a head having a head for discharging ink from nozzles to record an image on a recording medium. In particular, at a position (maintenance position) where the head does not face the recording medium (maintenance position), the head is disposed close to or in contact with the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head, and the lower end of the nozzle surface is purged or the like. A web means for absorbing and removing the accumulated ink flowing down to the section.

Therefore, even if the ink ejected from the nozzle surface of the head is transmitted to the lower end of the nozzle surface and accumulates by purging at a position where the head is not opposed to the recording medium, When the web unit comes into contact with the accumulated ink, the ink is quickly absorbed and removed, so that the recording medium and the like are not contaminated by the accumulated ink. Further, since the web means does not contact the entire nozzle surface of the head or a surface other than the lower end portion, the nozzle surface of the head is not rubbed and damaged.

Further, in the ink jet printer according to the present invention, the web means includes a continuous web, a supply roll for supplying the web, and a winding roll for winding the web.

Therefore, the surface of the web on which the ink has not been absorbed can be easily supplied, and the ink accumulated at the lower end of the nozzle surface can be easily and quickly absorbed and removed. No recontamination of the nozzle surface.

The ink jet printer according to a third aspect of the present invention further comprises a head moving means for reciprocating the head in parallel with the recording medium, and moving the web means outside a recording area of the head (when the head is covered). (A position that does not face the recording medium), and at least when the head moves out of the recording area, the distance between the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head and the web means is made larger than at the time of ink absorption removal.

Therefore, when the head moves out of the recording area, the ink accumulated at the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head or the lower end of the nozzle surface does not come into contact with the web means, and the head moves and moves with the web means. The problem is that the head and the web means are damaged by rubbing or the head and the web means collide with each other, and the ink is absorbed and absorbed only in the portion of the web where the ink first comes into contact. The problem of re-contamination of the head by the missing ink does not occur.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a head of an ink jet printer, comprising: a continuous web; a supply roll for supplying the web; and a winding roll for winding the web. A web is installed in a tension state between the supply roll section and the take-up roll section, and a head that discharges ink from a nozzle to perform image recording on a recording medium is located at a position where the head does not face the recording medium. Then, the web is arranged so as to approach or contact the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head, and the ink that has flowed to the lower end of the nozzle surface and accumulated and absorbed by purge or the like is absorbed and removed.

Therefore, even if the ink ejected from the nozzle surface of the head flows to the lower end of the nozzle surface and accumulates by purging at a position where the head does not face the recording medium, When the web comes into contact with the accumulated ink, the ink is quickly absorbed and removed, so that the recording medium and the like are not contaminated by the accumulated ink. In addition, since the web is placed in a tension state between the supply roll section and the take-up roll section, even if the web is arranged so as to approach or contact the lower end of the nozzle face of the head, the nozzle face of the nozzle face is not affected. Contact with the lower end portion or the accumulated ink droplets is minimized, so that the head is not re-contaminated by contacting unnecessary portions.

Further, since the web surface does not contact the entire nozzle surface of the head or a surface other than the lower end portion, the nozzle surface of the head is not rubbed and damaged.

Furthermore, the surface of the web on which the ink has not been absorbed can be easily supplied, and the ink accumulated at the lower end of the nozzle surface can be easily and quickly absorbed and removed. No recontamination of the nozzle surface.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a head of an ink jet printer, wherein a head for discharging an ink from a nozzle to record an image on a recording medium is provided at a position where the head does not face the recording medium. A web, a supply roll for supplying the web, and a take-up roll for winding the web, and when the head is at a position facing the recording medium, the web is moved to the supply roll with the supply roll. When the head is at a position not facing the recording medium, the web is supplied so that the web approaches or touches the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head when the head is at a position not facing the recording medium. The web is taken up by the web to absorb the accumulated ink flowing to the lower end of the nozzle surface due to purging or the like. To.

Therefore, in addition to the above operation, when the head moves from a position facing the recording medium to a position not facing the recording medium, the ink and the web accumulated at the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head or the lower end of the nozzle surface. And the head rubs and damages the web means due to movement, or the head and the web means collide and damages the head and the web means, and only the part of the web where ink first contacts The problem of re-contamination of the head due to ink that is absorbed in a concentrated manner and cannot be completely absorbed does not occur.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings to clarify the embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples at all, and can be implemented in various modes as long as they conform to the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an ink jet printer according to the present embodiment. A plate-shaped platen 2 for receiving a sheet 1 as a recording medium is provided in the ink jet printer main body. A main roller 3 and a press roller 4 for feeding the paper are provided above the platen 2, and a discharge roller 5 and a press roller 6 for discharging the paper are provided below the platen 2. The main roller 3 and the paper discharge roller 5 are rotated by a drive mechanism including a motor and a gear train (not shown), and sequentially move the paper 1 sandwiched between the press rollers 4 and 6 in the direction of the arrow. Thus, the main roller 3, the pressing roller 4, the paper discharging roller 5, the pressing roller 6, and the driving mechanism constitute a paper feeding device.

At a position facing the platen 2, hot melt ink (solid at room temperature,
An ink jet head (hereinafter, simply referred to as a head) 7 having a nozzle row (7a in FIG. 2) for performing recording by discharging by heating is melted and arranged. 10 mounted. The carriage 10 is supported by two guide bars 11 and 12 parallel to the platen 2 so as to be slidable in the left and right directions, and moves parallel to the sheet 1 by a carriage driving device (not shown). Guide bar 11, 1
Reference numeral 2 is provided to extend rightward of the platen 2 to a position where the head 7 does not face the paper 1.

In the present embodiment, a control device (not shown) for controlling the head 7, the paper feeding device, the carriage driving device and the like is provided. As a result, the head 7 moves in parallel with the platen 2 by the carriage driving device while discharging ink from the selected nozzle, and records an image on the sheet 1 set on the platen 2. When one scan is completed, the paper 1 is fed by the paper feeding device, and the next row of the recording surface corresponds to the recording position.

Next, components related to maintenance of the head 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. At a position on the right side of the ink jet printer main body where the head does not face the recording medium, a web 13 made of continuous paper of about 8 cm in width capable of absorbing molten hot melt ink and serving as a web means, Supply roll 1 for supplying
4 and a winding roll 15 for winding the web. When the head 13 has moved to a position where the head 7 does not face the recording medium (the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1),
As shown in FIG. 2, a tension is generated between the supply roll 14 and the take-up roll 15, and the nozzle when recording is performed while the web surface 13 a is inclined with respect to the nozzle surface 7 b of the head. A distance X (in the present embodiment, the distance X is set to about 5 mm) within a range smaller than the distance between the lower end portion 7c of the surface and the recording surface of the sheet 1, and a small gap is provided therebetween. Is installed as follows. The distance X is set such that the web surface 13a in the tensioned state comes in contact with the droplets dripping and accumulating from the nozzle surface. This gap causes the lower end portion 7c of the nozzle surface of the head to move to the web surface 1
3a is not directly contacted, and damage due to rubbing or the like is eliminated.

The supply roll 14 and the take-up roll 15 in the web means are respectively connected to the shaft 1 held by the apparatus.
4 'and 15', which are rotated by a drive mechanism including a motor and a gear train, not shown, to move the web 13 in the direction of the arrow. That is, while the take-up roll 15 takes up the portion of the web 13 that has absorbed the ink, the supply roll 14 supplies the portion that has not absorbed the ink.

The web 13 can be brought into a tensioned state or a non-tensioned state by adjusting the rotation amount of the supply roll 14 and the winding roll 15 between the two rolls. In the present invention, the "tension state" is a state where tension is applied between the rolls so that the web is not loosened. Supply roll 14
The adjustment of the rotation amount of the take-up roll 15 is performed by a control device (not shown).

Next, the maintenance operation of the head 7 will be described.

In this embodiment, when the power of the ink jet printer is turned on, a purge process for forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzles is performed. When the power is turned on by turning on a power switch (not shown) of the ink jet printer main body, the motor of the carriage driving device is energized by the control device, and the head 7 moves to a position not facing the paper 1 (a broken line position in FIG. 1). Is done.

When the head 7 arrives at the predetermined position, the ink ejection operation (purge) is forcibly performed from the nozzle row 7a, and dust and air in the head 7 are ejected together with the ink. Since the ejection speed at this time is not as fast as that at the time of image recording, the ink flows downward along the nozzle surface without jumping into the air, reaches the lower end portion 7c of the nozzle surface, and forms a droplet there due to surface tension. Try to accumulate. However, since the web surface 13a is installed so as to be close to the lower end 7c of the nozzle surface with a small gap of a distance X opposed to the nozzle surface 7b of the head in an inclined state, the nozzle surface Ink drop 7d at the lower end of
Is quickly absorbed and removed by the web 13. Not only the ink ejected by the purge but also ink droplets and the like adhering to the nozzle surface during the printing operation that accumulate at the lower end of the nozzle surface can be similarly removed at the above-described position. Therefore, a large amount of ink does not accumulate in the lower end 7c of the nozzle surface, and the paper 1 does not adhere to the recording surface of the paper 1 during scanning of the carriage 10 and contaminate the paper 1.

The head 7 is moved from a recording area (a position facing the paper 1) to a position outside the recording area (a position not facing the paper 1) by scanning the carriage 10 to perform a purge operation. The web 13 is moved from the outside of the recording area to the recording area.
A non-tension state (a state shown by a two-dot chain line of the web 13 in FIG. 2) is set between the rolls 4 and the take-up roll 15. That is, after the ink is absorbed and removed, the supply roll 14 is removed.
And the take-up roll 15 are separately rotated, and by adjusting the difference between the respective amounts of rotation (the amount of rotation of the supply roll 14> the amount of rotation of the take-up roll 15), the web 13 is in a non-tension state between the two rolls. After the head 7 moves out of the recording area, the supply roll 14 and the take-up roll 1 are further moved.
5 (rotation of the supply roll 14 <rotation of the take-up roll 15) to bring the web 13 into a tensioned state (a state shown by the solid line of the web 13 in FIG. 2) between the two rolls.
Absorb and remove ink. At this time, ink absorption and removal may be performed while moving the web 13 so as to take up the web 13.

When the head 13 is moved so that the web 13 is not tensioned between the two rolls, the distance Y between the web surface 13a and the lower end 7c of the nozzle surface of the head is reduced as shown in FIG. The distance X is larger than the distance X when the head is in the state, and the ink droplet 7d accumulated at the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head does not contact the web means. Not only does the problem that the head and the web means are damaged by the collision of the web means does not occur, but also the ink is absorbed only in the portion where the ink of the web first comes into contact, and the ink that cannot be absorbed completely The problem of re-contamination of the head due to the above-mentioned problem does not occur. In the case of the present embodiment, the distance Y is set to be about 20 mm.

In the above embodiment, a web made of continuous paper, a supply roll for supplying the web, and a winding roll for winding the web are used as the web means. As in the embodiment, the sheet-like web 13 ′ can be arranged close to or in contact with the lower end 7 c of the nozzle surface. When a sheet-shaped web is used, the web supporting member 16 is made movable, and the head 7 is moved.
The distance between the web 13 'and the lower end portion 7c of the nozzle surface may be larger at the time of movement than at the time of ink absorption. Also in this case, it can be made to function similarly to the above-mentioned embodiment.
The material of the web in any form is not particularly limited as long as it has a desired ink absorbing power.

In the above-described embodiment, the web surface is provided with a small gap of a distance X within a range smaller than the distance between the lower end of the nozzle surface during recording and the paper recording surface. Although installed near the lower end of the surface, it can also be installed so as to contact the lower end of the nozzle surface as in the other embodiment shown in FIG. Such a configuration is different from the non-contact configuration in that the lower end portion 7c of the nozzle surface is not provided.
Although the durability is poor, the ink dripping from the nozzle surface 7b can be more reliably absorbed and removed. Further, in the case of this embodiment, the effect of preventing damage to the lower end portion of the nozzle surface of the head due to the configuration in which the web 13 is not tensioned between the supply roll 14 and the take-up roll 15 when the head moves is more pronounced.

In the above embodiment, when the head is moved, the web 13 is moved by the supply roll 14 and the take-up roll 15.
Although the web 13 is configured to be in a non-tension state between the two rolls, the web 13 may always be configured to be in a tension state between the two rolls. In this case, it is not necessary to make both the supply roll 14 and the take-up roll 15 drivable, and only the take-up roll 15 can be driven and the supply roll 14 can be freely rotated. That is, the take-up roll 15 is driven to drive the web 1
When the web 3 is wound, the web 13 is taken up by the winding roll 1
The feed roll 14 can also be rotated by the force to cause a new web surface to appear.

Further, the ink jet printer of the present invention may be a leaf spring or the like which assists the web 13 in tension between the supply roll 14 and the take-up roll 15 without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. May be provided.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet printer of the first aspect of the present invention,
Since the head is provided so as to approach or contact the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head at a position where the head does not face the recording medium, ink ejected from the nozzle surface of the head due to purging, etc. Even if the ink flows down to the lower end of the recording medium, the ink can be quickly absorbed and removed by the web means, and the recording medium is not contaminated by the accumulated ink. In addition, since the ink does not contact the entire nozzle surface of the head or a surface other than the lower end portion of the head, the nozzle surface of the head is not rubbed and damaged.

Further, in the ink jet printer according to the present invention, the web means includes a continuous web, a supply roll for supplying the web, and a winding roll for winding the web. By doing so, it is possible to easily supply the surface of the web where the ink has not been absorbed, to easily and quickly absorb and remove the ink accumulated at the lower end of the nozzle surface, and to use the absorbed ink for the nozzle. No recontamination of the surface.

Further, the ink jet printer according to a third aspect of the present invention is provided with a head moving means for reciprocating the head in parallel with the recording medium, and moving the web means out of a recording area of the head. When the head moves out of the recording area by increasing the distance between the lower end portion of the nozzle surface of the head and the web means at least when the head moves out of the recording area as compared with the time of ink absorption removal. The ink accumulated at the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head or the lower end of the nozzle surface does not come into contact with the web means, and the head is moved and rubbed with the web means to be damaged, or the head and the web means collide. The problem of damage to the head and the web means, and the ink is absorbed and absorbed only in the part of the web where the ink contacts first. It does not arise a problem that the re-contamination of the head due to have ink occurs.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a head of an ink jet printer, comprising: a continuous web; a supply roll for supplying the web; and a winding roll for winding the web. Is installed in a tension state between the supply roll unit and the take-up roll unit, and at a position where a head that ejects ink from a nozzle and performs image recording on a recording medium does not face the recording medium. By arranging the web so as to approach or contact the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head, even if ink ejected from the nozzle surface of the head due to purging or the like flows down to the lower end of the nozzle surface and accumulates, Since the web quickly absorbs and removes the ink, the recording medium and the like are not contaminated by the accumulated ink. In addition, since the web is placed in a tension state between the supply roll section and the take-up roll section, even if the web is arranged so as to approach or contact the lower end of the nozzle face of the head, the nozzle face of the nozzle face is not affected. Contact with the lower end portion or the accumulated ink droplets is minimized, so that the head is not re-contaminated by contacting unnecessary portions.

Further, the web covers the entire nozzle surface of the head,
Alternatively, since the surface other than the lower end portion does not contact, the nozzle surface of the head is not rubbed and damaged, and the surface of the web where the ink is not absorbed can be easily supplied. The accumulated ink can be easily and quickly absorbed and removed, and the absorbed ink does not recontaminate the nozzle surface.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a head of an ink jet printer, wherein a head for ejecting ink from a nozzle and recording an image on a recording medium is provided at a position where the head does not face the recording medium. A web, a supply roll for supplying the web, and a take-up roll for winding the web, and when the head is at a position facing the recording medium, the web is moved to the supply roll with the supply roll. When the head is at a position not facing the recording medium, the web is supplied so that the web approaches or touches the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head when the head is at a position not facing the recording medium. In addition to the above-described operation, the head is placed in a tensioned state between the recording medium and the take-up roll so that the head does not face the recording medium. When moving to the head, the ink collected at the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head or the lower end of the nozzle surface does not come into contact with the web, and the head rubs against the web means due to the movement, or the head and the web means are damaged. Collision causes damage to the head and the web means, and also causes ink to be concentrated only in the part of the web where the ink first comes in contact, and causes recontamination of the head by ink that cannot be absorbed. Absent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view at a position where the inkjet head of FIG. 1 does not face a recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view at a position where an inkjet head according to another embodiment of the present invention does not face a recording medium.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view at a position where an inkjet head according to another embodiment of the present invention does not face a recording medium.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view at a position where a conventional inkjet head does not face a recording medium.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view at a position where a conventional inkjet head does not face a recording medium.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which ink is accumulated at a lower end portion of a nozzle surface after purging.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper (recording medium) 2 Platen 3 Main roller 4 Press roller 5 Discharge roller 6 Press roller 7 Inkjet head 7a Nozzle row 7b Nozzle surface 7c Lower end of nozzle surface 7d Ink droplet 8 Ink tank 9 Heater 10 Carriage 11 Guide bar 12 guide bar 13 web 13 'web 13a web surface 13a' web surface 14 supply roll 14 'shaft 15 take-up roll 15' shaft 16 support member 17 cleaning paper 18 pressing member 19 cleaning paper feed roller 20 pressing roller 21 cleaning paper Discharge roller 22 Pressing roller

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hirohiro Kondo 15-1, Nashiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. Inside the corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet printer comprising a head for ejecting ink from a nozzle to record an image on a recording medium, wherein the head is located at a position where the head does not face the recording medium.
An ink jet printer comprising a web means disposed close to or in contact with a lower end portion of a nozzle surface of a head, and a web means for absorbing and removing accumulated ink flowing to the lower end portion of the nozzle surface by purging or the like. Printer. 2. The web means comprises: a continuous web;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supply roll for supplying the web, and a winding roll for winding the web.
The ink-jet printer as described. 3. A head moving means for reciprocating the head in parallel to the recording medium, wherein the web means is arranged outside a recording area of the head, and at least when the head moves outside the recording area. 3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head and the web means is larger than that at the time of ink absorption removal. 4. A continuous web, a supply roll for supplying the web, and a winding roll for winding the web, wherein the web is moved between the supply roll and the winding roll. The web approaches or contacts the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head at a position where the head, which is installed in a tensioned state and discharges ink from the nozzles to perform image recording on the recording medium, does not face the recording medium. A method of cleaning a head of an ink jet printer, wherein the ink is transferred to the lower end of the nozzle surface by a purge or the like to absorb and remove accumulated ink. 5. A continuous web, a supply roll unit for supplying the web, and a web, at a position where a head that ejects ink from a nozzle to perform image recording on the recording medium does not face the recording medium. A take-up roll unit for taking up the web, wherein when the head is at a position facing the recording medium, the web is brought into a non-tension state between the supply roll unit and the take-up roll unit. When the head is at a position not facing the recording medium, the web is tensioned between the supply roll and the take-up roll so that the web approaches or contacts the lower end of the nozzle surface of the head, and purge is performed. A method of cleaning a head of an ink-jet printer, wherein ink collected by flowing to a lower end portion of a nozzle surface by a web or the like is absorbed and removed by the web.