JP4258616B2 - Wiping member - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wiping member, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and an ink jet recording apparatus.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects (discharges) a liquid such as ink from its head and attaches the liquid to an ejected medium (recording medium) (executes recording). The present invention relates to a wiping member that wipes a nozzle forming surface of a head, a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes the wiping member, and an ink jet recording apparatus that is an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus.
[0002]
The liquid ejecting apparatus uses an ink jet recording head, and is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine that discharges ink from the recording head to record on a recording medium. The apparatus includes a device for ejecting a liquid corresponding to the application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the recording head to an ejecting medium corresponding to a recording medium and attaching the liquid to the ejecting medium.
[0003]
In addition to the recording head as a liquid ejecting head, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED). Examples thereof include a head, a bio-organic matter ejecting head used for biochip production, and a sample ejecting head as a precision pipette.
[0004]
[Prior art]
One type of liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from nozzle openings is an ink jet recording apparatus. This ink jet recording apparatus is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the recording medium), and a recording head that ejects (discharges) ink toward the recording medium, and sub-scans the recording medium A recording medium conveying unit that precisely feeds the recording medium by a predetermined amount in the direction is provided, and recording (printing) is performed by moving the recording head in the main scanning direction while feeding the recording medium in the sub scanning direction.
[0005]
The recording head according to the ink jet recording apparatus having such a configuration has a pressure generation chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generation chamber. Ink pressurized to a predetermined pressure in the pressure generation chamber is transferred from the nozzle opening to the recording medium. It is designed to inject towards. For this reason, since the ink ejection characteristics at the nozzle openings of the recording head greatly affect the recording accuracy, the ink ejection characteristics must always be maintained constant.
[0006]
This ink ejection characteristic fluctuates due to ink viscosity increase and solidification due to evaporation of the ink solvent at the nozzle opening, clogging due to this, and dust adhesion and bubble intrusion into the ink flow path, etc. May cause problems.
[0007]
Therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus includes a capping unit, a negative pressure generating unit, and a wiping unit as characteristic maintaining units for maintaining the ink ejection characteristics constant (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0008]
The capping unit isolates the nozzle forming surface from the outside by sealing the nozzle forming surface with a capping member when the ink jet recording apparatus is not used, and avoids drying of ink and adhesion of dust at the nozzle opening.
[0009]
In addition, when a nozzle is clogged or bubbles enter the ink flow path, negative pressure generating means is provided for removing them. The negative pressure generating means is configured to apply a negative pressure to the nozzle in a state where the nozzle forming surface is sealed with the capping member, and forcibly sucks and discharges ink from the nozzle to cause clogging or bubble intrusion. Is solved. The negative pressure generating means can be normally executed by a predetermined operation when the ink jet recording apparatus is not used for a long period of time and then resumed or when the user recognizes a decrease in recording accuracy. .
[0010]
As described above, when the ink is forcibly sucked and discharged to eliminate clogging or bubble intrusion, the discharged ink may scatter and adhere to the nozzle formation surface. Due to this adhesion, the ink meniscus may be disturbed, and foreign matter such as dust may be adsorbed. In such a case, a wiping means that slides on the nozzle forming surface and wipes it is provided. The wiping means has a wiping member made of an elastic material such as an elastomer, and a base end portion of the wiping member is fixed by a holder. Then, the tip portion (free end portion) of the wiping member is moved relative to the nozzle forming surface while being in contact with the nozzle forming surface, so that foreign matters such as ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface are removed and cleaned. By driving the wiping means (so-called wiping operation), not only foreign matters such as ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface are removed, but also the meniscus is uniformly arranged and stable recording can be executed. ing.
[0011]
With respect to problems such as wiping omission due to this wiping member and a decrease in wiping ability, a plurality of wiping parts (convex parts) are provided, and all the wiping parts abut on the nozzle forming surface during wiping operation. It has been reported that it can be resolved (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[0012]
By the way, in recent ink jet recording apparatuses, for example, in order to correspond to various recording media such as dedicated paper (photo paper, etc.), plain paper, cardboard, postcard, board paper, CD (CD-R, etc.) There is a configuration including gap adjusting means for adjusting a gap (so-called platen gap) between a nozzle forming surface of a recording head and a platen that is a recording medium mounting surface (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
[0013]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 11-334090 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-10-86393
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-356036 A
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In an ink jet recording apparatus provided with such a gap adjusting means, the distance (interval) between the wiping member and the nozzle forming surface of the recording head changes due to the gap adjustment, and accordingly, the wiping member forms the nozzle. The force that pressed the surface had changed. For this reason, when the platen gap is large, the pressing force by the wiping member is reduced, and the nozzle forming surface cannot be sufficiently wiped off, resulting in remaining wiping and foreign matter remaining. On the other hand, when the platen gap is small, the pressing force by the wiping member becomes larger than necessary, and the nozzle formation surface is defective (for example, peeling of the plating layer on the nozzle formation surface, reduction of water repellent treatment effect, etc.) Was caused.
[0015]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the problem is that a wiping member capable of wiping the nozzle formation surface corresponding to the gap between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejection head. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus including the wiping member, and an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention of the wiping member according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle opening toward an ejected medium, and an ejected object that is opposed to the liquid ejecting head. By moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, a medium adjusting surface, a gap adjusting unit that adjusts the gap between the ejected medium mounting surface and the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head in a stepwise manner, A wiping member that slides on a nozzle forming surface of a liquid ejecting head; and a wiping member that is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the wiping member is a stage between the ejected medium placement surface and the nozzle forming surface. It has a plurality of abutting portions that are provided in correspondence with typical gaps and abut against the nozzle forming surface.
[0017]
According to this feature, the wiping member is provided corresponding to a stepped gap between the ejection medium mounting surface and the nozzle formation surface, and has a plurality of contact portions that contact the nozzle formation surface. Even when the gap (interval) between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle formation surface is changed by the gap adjusting means, the contact portion of the wiping member corresponding to the gap reliably contacts the nozzle formation surface and slides. By doing so, the said nozzle formation surface can be wiped off reliably. Therefore, the nozzle forming surface can be wiped off accurately by the corresponding contact portion regardless of the gap, and problems such as unwiping are not caused.
[0018]
Further, the invention of the wiping member according to the second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect, wherein the plurality of abutting portions are in contact with the nozzle forming surface as being closer to a free end portion of the wiping member. It is characterized by having a small area.
[0019]
The wiping member is made of an elastic material, deforms moderately in a state of sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface, and uses the restoring force to make sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface. Is smaller toward the free end (tip end) side and larger toward the base end (fixed end) side. For this reason, if the wiping member is brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface on the free end side, the pressing force is too small, and wiping is not performed sufficiently, and unwiping may occur. On the other hand, if contact is made on the base end side, the pressing force is too large, and there is a risk of causing problems (for example, peeling of the plating layer on the nozzle forming surface, reduction of the water repellent effect).
[0020]
However, in the present invention, the contact portions on the free end side of the wiping member are configured to have a smaller contact area with the nozzle forming surface. Even if it comes into contact with the nozzle forming surface at the contact portion, it can be sufficiently wiped off. On the other hand, even when the gap is small, even if it comes into contact with the nozzle formation surface at the contact portion on the base end side, the above-mentioned problem due to the excessive pressing force due to the increased contact area with the nozzle formation surface can be avoided. Can do.
[0021]
That is, the pressing force on the nozzle forming surface by the contact portion of the wiping member is smaller on the free end side and larger on the base end side. The contact area with the nozzle forming surface is configured to be smaller for the free end side and larger for the base end side in the same manner as the pressing force, so that the pressing force per unit area at any abutment portion. Since the pressure (that is, the pressure) is substantially constant, the nozzle forming surface can be wiped uniformly regardless of the gap. Accordingly, the difference in the degree of sliding contact of the wiping member due to the gap can be avoided, and the nozzle forming surface can be wiped off under constant conditions at all times.
[0022]
Further, the invention of a wiping member according to a third aspect of the present invention is the wiping member according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein one contact portion of the plurality of contact portions contacts the nozzle forming surface. In the contact state, the other contact portion is configured to be in a non-contact state with the nozzle forming surface.
[0023]
According to this feature, only the contact portion most suitable for the gap between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejection head can be brought into contact with the nozzle formation surface, and this can be wiped off under optimum conditions. can do.
[0024]
Moreover, invention of the wiping member which concerns on the 4th aspect of this invention is one of the contact parts provided in the said wiping member in any one of the said 1st aspect to the said 3rd aspect. Two or more contact portions are configured as convex portions.
[0025]
According to this feature, one or more of the plurality of contact portions provided on the wiping member are configured as convex portions, so that the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head can be reliably contacted during the wiping operation. The nozzle forming surface can be wiped off reliably.
[0026]
Further, the invention of a wiping member according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the wiping member according to the fourth aspect, wherein the convex portion is closer to the base end portion side of the wiping member, and the vertex position thereof is the same as that of the liquid ejecting head. It is comprised so that it may be located in the slidable contact direction side.
[0027]
According to this feature, when one convex portion is in contact with the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head among the plurality of convex portions constituting the contact portion, the other convex portion is set as a non-contact state. Can be maintained. That is, only the convex portion most suitable for the gap between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejection head can be brought into contact with the nozzle formation surface.
[0028]
An invention of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes the wiping member according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.
[0029]
According to this feature, in the liquid ejecting apparatus including the gap adjusting unit that adjusts the gap between the ejected medium placement surface and the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, the nozzle forming surface is wiped under favorable conditions. It is possible to always eject the liquid under certain conditions.
[0030]
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the sixth aspect, in the vicinity of the liquid ejecting head, along the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head and the wiping member. A wiping member introducing portion whose surface position gradually changes toward the nozzle forming surface is configured.
[0031]
According to this feature, the wiping member introducing portion is configured in the vicinity of the liquid ejecting head, the surface position of which gradually changes toward the nozzle forming surface along the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head and the wiping member. In the wiping operation, the wiping member is introduced to the nozzle formation surface along the wiping member introduction portion, so that only the contact portion corresponding to the gap at that time can be reliably brought into sliding contact with the nozzle formation surface. Further, since the wiping member is gradually deformed (curved) along the surface position of the wiping member introducing portion and introduced into the nozzle forming surface, unnecessary force (for example, the wiping member is liquid) by the wiping operation. The collision force when colliding with the side wall of the ejection head, the deformation force accompanying rapid deformation, etc.) do not work.
[0032]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the sixth aspect or the seventh aspect is an ink jet recording apparatus.
[0033]
Further, the invention of the wiping member according to the ninth aspect of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle opening toward the ejected medium, and an ejected medium mounting surface that faces the liquid ejecting head. A wiping member that slides on a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head by moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, and is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the wiping member is A plurality of abutting portions that are provided corresponding to a gap between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle forming surface and abut against the nozzle forming surface; Only the portion is configured to abut against the nozzle forming surface.
[0034]
According to this feature, in various types of liquid ejecting apparatuses in which the gaps between the ejected medium placement surface and the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head are different from each other, they slide on the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus. It can be used as a wiping member that moves and wipes it. That is, it can be used as a general-purpose product compatible with various types of liquid ejecting apparatuses.
[0035]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a wiping member of the present invention and an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus including the wiping member will be described with reference to the drawings.
Here, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the outer cover is removed to show the internal configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part of the ink jet recording apparatus, showing the periphery of the capping device, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the main part in FIG.
[0036]
A carriage denoted by reference numeral 2 is supported by a carriage guide shaft 3 extending in the main scanning direction, and a part of a timing belt 6 composed of an endless belt connected to a drive motor 5 is attached to the carriage 2. Yes. The timing belt 6 is driven to reciprocate in the main scanning direction along the carriage guide shaft 3. A recording head 9 is mounted on the lower bottom portion of the carriage 2, that is, the surface facing the recording medium P which is an example of the “jetting medium”, and ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 4 mounted on the carriage 2. Ink droplets can be ejected toward the recording medium P. The recording head 9 has a pressure generating chamber (not shown) and a nozzle opening (not shown) connected to the pressure generating chamber (not shown). Ink pressurized to a predetermined pressure in the pressure generating chamber is recorded from the nozzle opening to the recording medium P. It is comprised so that it may discharge toward. The carriage 2 is configured such that a plurality of ink cartridges 4 such as black, cyan, magenta, and yellow can be detachably mounted, and color printing can be executed.
[0037]
Reference numeral 18 denotes a platen that is long in the main scanning direction at a position facing the recording head 9 in the printing region, and functions as a recording medium mounting surface that supports the non-recording surface of the recording medium P. And the recording medium P are defined. The recording medium P is precisely fed by a predetermined amount in a sub-scanning direction (arrow direction in FIG. 1) which is a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the carriage 2 by a recording medium transport unit (not shown). ing.
[0038]
Further, the carriage guide shaft 3 is configured to be separated / approachable by being displaced up and down with respect to the platen 18 by a known adjusting mechanism (platen gap adjusting mechanism) as a gap adjusting means. And the platen 18 can be adjusted. In other words, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 can use various recording media such as dedicated paper (photo paper, etc.), plain paper, cardboard, postcard, board paper, CD (CD-R, etc.) as the recording medium P. The height position of the carriage 2 [that is, the distance between the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 and the platen 18 (so-called platen gap; hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “PG”)] is configured. By displacing in stages, the interval between the nozzle forming surface 19 and the recording surface of the recording medium is configured to be substantially the same for the various recording media described above.
[0039]
The ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the following four positions can be set in stages.
First position: A position where PG is the maximum, which is set when the recording medium is a CD or the like.
Second position: A position where PG is smaller than the first position, which is set when the recording medium is relatively thick, such as thick paper.
Third position: a position set when the recording medium is plain paper or the like, and PG is smaller than the second position.
Fourth position: a position where PG is the minimum, which is set when the recording medium is a dedicated paper such as a photographic paper.
[0040]
The specific PG value at each position can be set as appropriate depending on other components such as the print head 9 and ink characteristics. In this embodiment, the PG value is 5 mm at the first position and 2.35 mm at the second position. The third position is 1.45 mm, and the fourth position is 1.2 mm.
[0041]
A capping device 10 that seals the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 is disposed as a means for maintaining ink ejection characteristics at the home position of the carriage 2 that is a non-printing area (the right corner of the apparatus in FIG. 1). . The capping device 10 includes a cap member 11 that seals the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9. Note that the size of the cap member 11 is substantially equal to the nozzle formation surface 19 of the recording head 9.
[0042]
Further, in the vicinity of the capping device 10, a suction pump 12 is provided as a negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure with the cap member 11 sealing the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9.
[0043]
When the drive motor 5 is driven and the carriage 2 moves to the non-printing area on the home position side, the engaging portion 82 of the carriage 2 is engaged with the protrusion 87 of the slide member 80. With this engagement, the slide member 80 rises via the arm 81 against the tension spring 89. Then, the guide 84 of the slide member 80 moves from the low part of the guide groove 85 to the high part through the inclined part. By this operation, the cap member 11 moves upward toward the recording head 9 so that the nozzle forming surface 8 of the recording head 9 can be sealed by the cap member 11.
[0044]
On the other hand, when the carriage 2 moves to the printing area side by driving the drive motor 5, the engaging portion 82 of the carriage 2 is separated from the protrusion 87 of the slide member 80. Accordingly, the slide member 80 is lowered via the arm 81 by the action of the tension spring 89. As a result, the guide 84 of the slide member 80 moves from the high place to the low place through the inclined portion, and the sealing by the cap member 11 of the recording head 9 is released.
[0045]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, with the cap member 11 sealing the nozzle forming surface 19, a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle by the suction pump 12 as necessary, so that the nozzle is clogged or inside the ink flow path. It is now possible to eliminate air bubbles. That is, in a state where the cap member 11 seals the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9, the negative pressure is applied by the suction pump 12 through the suction port 13 to forcibly suck out and discharge the ink. Cleaning is performed.
[0046]
By sealing the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 with the capping device 10 in this way, it is possible to prevent the nozzle from drying and adhere to dust when the ink jet recording device 1 is not used, and suction as described above. By applying a negative pressure from the pump 12 to the nozzle, the ink can be forcibly sucked and discharged.
[0047]
A wiping device 20 for wiping the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 as the carriage 2 moves is disposed on the printing area side in the vicinity of the capping device 10.
[0048]
The wiping device 20 includes a wiping member 21 that is in sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 and a holder 29 that fixes one end of the wiping member 21. The width of the wiping member 21 (W in FIG. 4) is configured to be equal to or larger than the width of the recording head 9. With such a configuration, the entire nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 is brought into contact with and can slide uniformly.
[0049]
The holder 29 to which the wiping member 21 is fixed maintains a horizontal state (that is, a height position) in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction in which the carriage 2 reciprocates (the vertical direction in FIG. 2, so-called sub-scanning direction). And a wiping movement mechanism (not shown) that moves the wiping member 21 when the wiping operation is performed. The wiping member 21 is advanced to a predetermined position in the movement path of the recording head 9, and the wiping operation is completed. In such a case, it is configured so that it can be evacuated. The advance / retreat operation of the wiping device 20 is performed by a known wiping movement mechanism, and a drive source such as a suction motor (not shown) or a suction pump 12 can be used as the power source. Then, the wiping member 21 advances into the moving path of the recording head 9, and the carriage 2 moves in the main scanning direction in this state so that the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 is wiped.
[0050]
Next, a wiping member that is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0051]
Here, FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a wiping member according to an embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the wiping member. The wiping member 21 is made of an elastic material such as an elastomer, and is formed in a plate shape as a whole as shown in the figure. Then, a base 22 having one end fixed by a holder 29, and four protrusions (31, 32, 33, 34) formed on the base 22 and functioning as contact portions corresponding to the four PG positions described above. It has. Then, it deforms moderately and comes into sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9.
[0052]
That is, the first convex portion indicated by reference numeral 31 is provided on the most free end portion (tip end portion) 23 side of the base portion 22 and slidably contacts the nozzle forming surface 19 when the recording head 9 is located at the first position. It is a contact part. The second convex portion indicated by the reference numeral 32 is provided closer to the base end portion 24 than the first convex portion 31, and comes into sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 19 when the recording head 9 is located at the second position. It is. The third convex portion indicated by the reference numeral 33 is provided on the base end portion 24 side with respect to the second convex portion 32, and comes into contact with the nozzle forming surface 19 when the recording head 9 is located at the third position. It is. And the 4th convex part shown with the code | symbol 34 is provided in the most base end part (fixed end part) 24 side of the base 22, and when the recording head 9 is located in a 4th position, it is in the nozzle formation surface 19. It is the contact part which contacts.
[0053]
In this embodiment, each convex part (31, 32, 33, 34) is arrange | positioned so as to correspond to the four PG positions mentioned above. Therefore, the interval between the respective convex portions is about 1.7 mm between the first convex portion 31 and the second convex portion 32, and about 0.9 mm between the second convex portion 32 and the third convex portion 33, It is comprised so that between the 3rd convex part 33 and the 4th convex part 34 may be about 0.2 mm.
[0054]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the shape of the convex portion slidably contacting the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 is changed so that the free end 23 side is sharpened (cornered), and the base end 24 side is provided. It is preferable to make it so that it is rounded (the corners are eliminated).
[0055]
With such a configuration, in the wiping member 21 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the contact area between the convex portions (31, 32, 33, 34) and the nozzle formation surface 19 of the recording head 9 is the free end portion 23 side. The smaller the one, the larger the one on the base end 24 side.
[0056]
That is, the pressing force on the nozzle forming surface 19 by the convex portions (31, 32, 33, 34) of the wiping member 21 is smaller as that on the free end 23 side due to the elastic action of the elastic material constituting the wiping member 21. The one on the base end 24 side becomes larger. Then, the contact area with respect to the nozzle forming surface 19 is configured to be smaller for the free end 23 side and larger for the base end 24 side in the same manner as the pressing force, so that any convex portion (31, 32, 33) is formed. 34), the pressing force (pressure) per unit area can be made substantially constant. For this reason, the nozzle forming surface 19 can be uniformly wiped regardless of the PG position of the recording head 9, that is, regardless of the projecting portions (31, 32, 33, 34) which are in sliding contact. Therefore, the difference in the wiping level due to the difference in the sliding contact level of the wiping member 21 due to the PG is avoided, and the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 can always be wiped under a constant condition.
[0057]
Next, the wiping operation by the wiping device will be described. Here, FIG. 7 is a schematic side view for explaining the wiping operation. Here, for convenience of explanation, the description will be given focusing on the case where the PG shown in FIG. 7A is the first position and the case where the PG shown in FIG. 7B is the fourth position. Therefore, also in the wiping member 21, only the first convex portion 31 corresponding to the first position and the fourth convex portion 34 corresponding to the fourth position are shown, and the other convex portions are omitted. The wiping operation is performed when the recording head 9 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A.
[0058]
FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a wiping operation in the case where PG is in the first position. When the recording head 9 moves in the direction of arrow A toward the wiping member 21, the wiping member 21 is moderately moved. The first convex portion 31 is deformed (curved) and abuts on the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9. The nozzle forming surface 19 is pressed by the restoring force of the wiping member 21.
[0059]
When the recording head 9 further moves in the same direction, the first convex portion 31 wipes the nozzle forming surface 19 while sliding on the nozzle forming surface 19, and removes foreign matters such as attached ink and dust and cleans them. When the first convex portion 31 is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 19, the other convex portion (34) is not in contact with the nozzle forming surface 19.
[0060]
In this way, when the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 is wiped by the first convex portion 31 provided on the most free end portion 23 side of the base portion 22, the restoring force of the wiping member 21 is relatively small. Although the pressing force to the forming surface 19 is reduced, as described above, the first convex portion 31 is formed so as to have a small contact area with the nozzle forming surface 19, that is, sharply, so that the nozzle is reliably The forming surface 19 can be wiped off.
[0061]
Next, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a wiping operation in the case where PG is in the fourth position. When the recording head 9 moves in the direction of arrow A toward the wiping member 21, FIG. Is appropriately deformed (curved), and the fourth protrusion 34 comes into contact with the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9. The nozzle forming surface 19 is pressed by the restoring force of the wiping member 21.
[0062]
As the recording head 9 further moves in the same direction, the fourth convex portion 34 wipes the nozzle forming surface 19 while sliding on the nozzle forming surface 19, and removes adhered foreign matters such as ink and dust for cleaning. When the fourth convex portion 34 is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 19, the other convex portion (31) is configured not to contact the nozzle forming surface 19.
[0063]
As described above, when the nozzle forming surface 19 of the recording head 9 is wiped by the fourth convex portion 34 provided on the most base end portion 24 side of the base portion 22, the restoring force of the wiping member 21 is relatively large. Although the pressing force to the forming surface 19 is increased, as described above, the fourth convex portion 34 is formed so as to have a large contact area with the nozzle forming surface 19, that is, rounded. This can be surely wiped off without causing problems on the surface 19.
[0064]
That is, the contact area of the convex portions (31, 32, 33, 34) with respect to the nozzle forming surface 19 is configured so as to decrease as the free end portion 23 side decreases, and as the base end portion 24 side increases. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact state of the convex portion with the nozzle forming surface 19 becomes point contact as the free end portion 23 side, and as the base end portion 24 side surface contact. Therefore, even if the convex portions (31, 32, 33, 34) that are in sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 19 are different, the pressing force (pressure) per unit area is substantially constant, so that the nozzle formation of the recording head 9 is performed regardless of the PG. The surface 19 can be wiped uniformly.
[0065]
In order to prevent the other convex portion from coming into contact when one convex portion is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 19, for example, the side on which the wiping member 21 is deformed (that is, the convex portion is provided). It can be implemented by providing a groove or the like on the non-side) and adjusting the degree of deformation of the wiping member 21 (fold angle or the like).
[0066]
Further, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable that the height from the base portion 22 to the apex position of the convex portion (that is, the position in contact with the nozzle forming surface 19) is made higher toward the base end portion 24 side. . With this configuration, for example, even when the fourth convex portion 34 is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 19, other convex portions provided on the free end 23 side from the fourth convex portion 34. Contact of the portions (31, 32, 33) to the nozzle forming surface 19 can be avoided. That is, it is possible to prevent unnecessary protrusions from contacting the nozzle forming surface 19.
[0067]
Further, in the vicinity of the recording head 9, a wiping member introducing portion 40 is formed in which the surface position gradually changes toward the nozzle forming surface 19 along the moving direction (arrow A direction) of the recording head 9. Here, FIG. 9 is a side view for explaining the wiping member introducing portion 40.
[0068]
During the wiping operation, the wiping member introducing portion 40 gradually deforms (curves) the wiping member 21 along the surface thereof, and the convex portion corresponding to the platen gap during the wiping operation forms the nozzle of the recording head 9. It is guided so as to be in sliding contact with the surface 19 reliably. Therefore, only the convex portion corresponding to the PG position during the wiping operation can be reliably brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface 19.
[0069]
Further, since the wiping member 21 is guided to the nozzle forming surface 19 along the wiping member introducing portion 40, the wiping member 21 has a problem such as a collision with the side wall of the recording head 9 or a sudden deformation of the wiping member 21. Can be avoided.
[0070]
In this embodiment, the case where there are four stages of PG positions has been described. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and those having two, three or five or more PG positions are also included in each PG position. The same effect as that of the present invention can be obtained by the wiping member having the corresponding contact portion (convex portion).
[0071]
In addition, the wiping member of the present invention is mounted on various types of liquid ejecting apparatuses such as an ink jet recording apparatus, and can be used as a wiping member for wiping a nozzle forming surface of a liquid ejecting head corresponding to a recording head. That is, since the wiping member of the present invention has a plurality of contact portions, the distance between the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and the ejected medium placement surface (corresponding to the platen gap in the present specification). However, as described above, the displacement is not stepwise in one device, but can be adapted even in the case of displacement between a plurality of devices (that is, differences between devices). That is, even if the interval is different for each apparatus, one of the plurality of abutting portions is brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface in correspondence with the interval, thereby sliding on the nozzle forming surface. This can be wiped out.
[0072]
Therefore, the wiping member of the present invention can be used as a general-purpose product that can be used not only in the ink jet recording apparatus but also in other liquid ejecting apparatuses.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus used to explain the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part of the ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a wiping member.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the wiping member of the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing another embodiment of the wiping member.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a wiping operation.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing another embodiment of the wiping member.
FIG. 9 is a drawing for explaining a wiping member introducing portion.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device, 2 Carriage, 3 Carriage guide shaft, 4 Ink cartridge, 5 Drive motor, 6 Timing belt, 9 Recording head, 10 Capping device, 11 Cap member, 12 Suction pump, 18 Platen, 19 Nozzle formation surface, 20 Wiping device, 21 Wiping member, 22 Base part, 23 Free end part (tip part), 24 Base end part (fixed end part), 29 Holder, 31 First convex part, 32 Second convex part, 33 Third convex part , 34 Fourth convex part, 40 Wiping member introducing part, 80 slide member, 81 arm, 82 engaging part, 84 guide, 85 guide groove, 87 protrusion, 89 tension spring, P recording medium

Claims (3)

A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle opening toward a medium to be ejected;
An ejection medium placement surface facing the liquid ejection head;
A gap adjusting means for adjusting the gap between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head in a stepwise manner;
A wiping member that slides on a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head by moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, and is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus,
The wiping member is provided corresponding to a stepped gap between the ejected medium placement surface and the nozzle forming surface, and has a plurality of contact portions that contact the nozzle forming surface ,
The wiping member, wherein the plurality of contact portions are configured such that a contact area with the nozzle forming surface is smaller toward a free end portion of the wiping member. A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle opening toward a medium to be ejected;
An ejection medium placement surface facing the liquid ejection head;
A gap adjusting means for adjusting the gap between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head in a stepwise manner;
A wiping member that slides on a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head by moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, and is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus,
The wiping member is provided corresponding to a stepped gap between the ejected medium placement surface and the nozzle forming surface, and has a plurality of contact portions that contact the nozzle forming surface ,
When one of the plurality of contact portions is in contact with the nozzle forming surface, the other contact portion is configured to be in non-contact with the nozzle forming surface. A wiping member characterized by comprising: A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle opening toward a medium to be ejected;
An ejection medium placement surface facing the liquid ejection head;
A wiping member that slides on a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head by moving relative to the liquid ejecting head, and is used in a liquid ejecting apparatus,
The wiping member is provided corresponding to a gap between the ejection medium placement surface and the nozzle formation surface, and has a plurality of contact portions that contact the nozzle formation surface. A wiping member characterized in that only one of the contact portions is in contact with the nozzle forming surface.

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