JP5776292B2 - Liquid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method for liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a maintenance method for the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  As a liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer (liquid ejecting apparatus) that ejects ink (liquid) onto a recording medium from a nozzle (ejection port) of a recording head (ejection head) is known. In a printer, there is a case where an ink ejection speed and an ejection amount are reduced due to thickening of the ink, resulting in ejection failure. Therefore, in order to maintain the ink ejection characteristics, a print head maintenance process has been conventionally performed. Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for forcibly discharging ink from a nozzle by a suction operation using a cap member as a maintenance process.

JP 2010-052381 A

  In the suction operation using the cap member, the fluid between the nozzle formation surface and the cap member is sucked while the cap member is in contact with the nozzle formation surface (ejection surface) of the recording head on which the nozzles are formed. , Make the space negative pressure. When the suction operation is finished, an operation of separating the cap member from the nozzle forming surface is executed. In that case, if the cap member is abruptly separated from the nozzle forming surface, a rapid pressure fluctuation occurs in the space. That is, the pressure in the negative pressure space suddenly changes to atmospheric pressure. In that case, the ink remaining in the cap may scatter and adhere to the nozzle forming surface, or may enter the nozzle. As a result, there is a possibility that the performance of the printer is deteriorated, such as an ejection failure.

  An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can suppress a decrease in performance and a maintenance method for the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an ejection head having an ejection surface in which a nozzle for ejecting liquid and a recess are formed, an opening on the ejection head side, and the liquid discharged from the ejection head A cap member having a liquid receiving portion to receive, a tip portion in contact with the ejection surface, a driving device for moving the cap member, and the ejection surface and the ejection surface in a state where the tip portion and the ejection surface are in contact with each other; A suction device that sucks fluid in a space formed between the cap member and the drive device after the suction by the suction device, the tip portion and the ejection surface in contact with each other A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided in which the cap member is moved so that the concave portion and the tip end portion face each other.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid from the nozzle is sucked by sucking the fluid in the space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member in a state where the tip portion of the cap member and the ejection surface are in contact with each other. As a result, the nozzle can be cleaned well. After the suction, the cap member is moved in a state where the tip portion and the ejection surface are in contact with each other, and the concave portion formed on the ejection surface and the tip portion are opposed to each other, thereby opening the space to the atmosphere. Thereby, it can suppress that the pressure of space changes rapidly. That is, it can suppress that the pressure of the space of a negative pressure state changes to atmospheric pressure rapidly. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem that the liquid adheres to the ejection surface or enters the nozzle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ejection failure, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  The width of the tip in the moving direction of the cap member may be shorter than the distance between the opposing inner walls in the recess in the moving direction of the cap member. As a result, the atmosphere is smoothly opened to the atmosphere.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, an ejection head having an ejection surface on which a nozzle for ejecting liquid is formed, and a liquid receiver having an opening on the ejection head side and receiving the liquid discharged from the ejection head. And a cap member having a tip portion that contacts the jet surface, a drive device that moves the cap member, and the jet surface and the cap member in a state where the tip portion and the jet surface are in contact with each other. A suction device for sucking a fluid in a space formed between the cap member and the drive member in a state where the tip and the ejection surface are in contact with each other after the suction by the suction device. A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided in which at least a part of the opening is disposed outside the ejecting surface by rotating the lens around an axis substantially parallel to the normal line of the ejecting surface.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the liquid from the nozzle is sucked by sucking the fluid in the space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member in a state where the tip portion of the cap member and the ejection surface are in contact with each other. As a result, the nozzle can be cleaned well. After the suction, by rotating the cap member around an axis substantially parallel to the normal of the injection surface in a state where the tip and the injection surface are in contact with each other, by disposing at least a part of the opening outside the injection surface, The space is opened to the atmosphere. Thereby, it can suppress that the pressure of space changes rapidly. That is, it can suppress that the pressure of the space of a negative pressure state changes to atmospheric pressure rapidly. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem that the liquid adheres to the ejection surface or enters the nozzle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ejection failure, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a maintenance method for a liquid ejecting apparatus including an ejecting head having an ejecting surface on which a nozzle for ejecting liquid is formed, the tip of the opening of the cap member, the ejecting surface, In a state in which the tip portion and the ejection surface are brought into contact with each other after the suction step, and a suction step of sucking a fluid in a space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member And a moving step of moving the cap member to make the concave portion formed on the ejection surface and the tip end face each other.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the liquid from the nozzle is sucked by sucking the fluid in the space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member in a state where the tip portion of the cap member and the ejection surface are in contact with each other. As a result, the nozzle can be cleaned well. After the suction step, the cap member is moved in a state where the tip portion and the ejection surface are in contact with each other, and the concave portion formed on the ejection surface and the tip portion are opposed to each other, thereby opening the space to the atmosphere. Thereby, it can suppress that the pressure of space changes rapidly. That is, it can suppress that the pressure of the space of a negative pressure state changes to atmospheric pressure rapidly. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem that the liquid adheres to the ejection surface or enters the nozzle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ejection failure, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  A configuration including a separation step of separating the tip portion and the ejection surface after the movement step may be employed. As a result, the cap member and the ejection head can be smoothly separated after being released to the atmosphere.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a maintenance method for a liquid ejecting apparatus including an ejecting head having an ejecting surface on which a nozzle for ejecting liquid is formed, the tip of an opening of a cap member, the ejecting surface, In a state in which the tip portion and the ejection surface are brought into contact with each other after the suction step, and a suction step of sucking a fluid in a space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member And a rotating step of rotating the cap member around an axis substantially parallel to a normal line of the ejection surface and disposing at least a part of the opening outside the ejection surface.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the liquid from the nozzle is sucked by sucking the fluid in the space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member in a state where the tip portion of the cap member and the ejection surface are in contact with each other. As a result, the nozzle can be cleaned well. After the suction step, the cap member is rotated around an axis substantially parallel to the normal of the injection surface while the tip and the injection surface are in contact with each other, and at least a part of the opening is disposed outside the injection surface. , The space is opened to the atmosphere. Thereby, it can suppress that the pressure of space changes rapidly. That is, it can suppress that the pressure of the space of a negative pressure state changes to atmospheric pressure rapidly. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem that the liquid adheres to the ejection surface or enters the nozzle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ejection failure, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

It is a figure which shows an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of the ejection head which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the ejection head which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the ejection head which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a mimetic diagram showing an example of a capping device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the front-end | tip part and recessed part which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the maintenance method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the maintenance method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the maintenance method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the maintenance method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the drive device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the ejection head which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the recessed part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the recessed part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the capping apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the maintenance method which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the maintenance method which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following description, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set, and the positional relationship of each part will be described with reference to this XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. A predetermined direction in the horizontal plane is defined as an X-axis direction, a direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the horizontal plane is defined as a Y-axis direction, and a direction orthogonal to each of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (that is, a vertical direction) is defined as a Z-axis direction. Further, the rotation (inclination) directions around the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis are the θX, θY, and θZ directions, respectively.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a case where the liquid ejecting apparatus is an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 includes a recording head (ejection head) 2 that is a type of liquid ejection head, and a carriage 4 that detachably mounts an ink cartridge 3 that is a type of a liquid storage member, A platen 5 that is disposed below the head 2 and transports the recording paper 6, a carriage moving mechanism 7 that moves the carriage 4 in the paper width direction of the recording paper 6, and a paper feeding mechanism that transports the recording paper 6 in the paper feeding direction. 8 and a control device 58 for controlling the operation of the printer 1. The paper width direction is the main scanning direction (head scanning direction; X direction in the figure). The paper feeding direction is the sub-scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction; Y direction in the figure).

  In the present embodiment, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 3 to the recording head 2. The ink cartridge 3 is not limited to the cartridge that is mounted on the carriage 4 as in the present embodiment, but is a cartridge that is mounted on the housing side of the printer 1 and is supplied to the recording head 2 via the ink supply tube. It may be adopted.

  The guide rod 9 is a support member installed in the main scanning direction. The carriage 4 is attached while being supported by the guide rod 9. The carriage 4 is moved in the main scanning direction along the guide rod 9 by a carriage moving mechanism 7. The linear encoder 10 detects the position of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction. This detection signal is transmitted as position information to a control unit (not shown). The control device 58 recognizes the scanning position of the recording head 2 based on the position information from the linear encoder 10 and controls the recording operation (jetting operation, ejection operation) and the like by the recording head 2.

  A home position serving as a scanning start point of the recording head 2 is set in an area outside the platen 5 in the moving range of the recording head 2. A capping device 11 is provided at this home position. The capping device 11 seals the nozzle forming surface 23 of the recording head 2 with the cap member 100 and suppresses evaporation of the ink solvent. The capping device 11 is also used for a cleaning operation for applying a negative pressure to the sealed nozzle forming surface 23 to forcibly suck and discharge ink.

  At the home position, a wiping device 12 for wiping the nozzle forming surface 23 of the recording head 2 is provided. The wiping device 12 is for performing a so-called wiping operation in which ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface 23 of the recording head 2 by the above-described cleaning operation is wiped by the wiping member 200.

  The wiping member 200 has at least one of length, material, and thickness set according to the nozzle formation surface 23. As a result, the wiping member 200 has followability (soft waist) with respect to the wiping surface (nozzle formation surface 23) of the recording head 2, as will be described later.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, the wiping member 200 is made of an elastic material. The wiping member 200 has a rubber hardness of about 40 to 55 ° and an amount of interference during wiping of about 1 to 1.5 mm.

  As described above, since the wiping member 200 has the followability, the wiping operation can be performed satisfactorily in a state in which the ink tailing and the meniscus are prevented from being broken, and the wiper load is reduced. The durability of itself can be improved.

  Moreover, the wiping member 200 according to the present embodiment is made of a hydrophilic material. As a specific material of the wiping member 200, it is preferable to use urethane, nylon, EVOH, and EVA materials. Further, the wiping member 200 only needs to have at least a surface that is hydrophilic to the ink. For example, the wiping member 200 may be made of hydrophilic silicon or hydrophilic polyolefin subjected to hydrophilic treatment. Thereby, the wiping member 200 can attract the water | moisture content in an ink.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the recording head 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 2 includes a head main body 48 and a flow path forming unit 42 including a vibration plate 19, a flow path substrate 20, and a nozzle substrate 21. The nozzle 24 is formed on the nozzle substrate 21.

  The flow path forming unit 42 is a unit in which the diaphragm 19, the flow path substrate 20, and the nozzle substrate 21 are laminated and joined together with an adhesive or the like. In addition, the recording head 2 according to the present embodiment is used as a so-called line head in which a number of nozzles 24 are arranged over a length equal to or greater than the width (maximum recording paper width) of the maximum size printing paper targeted by the printer 1. You may do it.

  The recording head 2 includes an accommodation space 63 formed in the head main body 48 and a drive unit 44 disposed in the accommodation space 63. The drive unit 44 includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements 65, a fixing member that supports the upper end of the piezoelectric element 65, and a flexible cable that supplies a drive signal to the piezoelectric element 65. The piezoelectric element 65 is provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of nozzles 24.

  In addition, the recording head 2 is formed inside the head main body 48, and an internal flow path 68 through which ink supplied from an ink cartridge via an ink supply tube flows, a vibration plate 19, a flow path substrate 20, and a nozzle substrate 21. A common ink chamber 29 formed by the flow path forming unit 42 and connected to the internal flow path 68, an ink supply port 40 formed by the flow path forming unit 42 and connected to the common ink chamber 29, and a flow path. A pressure chamber formed by the forming unit 42 and connected to the ink supply port 40 is provided. A plurality of pressure chambers are provided so as to correspond to the plurality of nozzles 24. Each of the plurality of nozzles 24 is connected to each of the plurality of pressure chambers.

  The head body 48 is made of synthetic resin. The diaphragm 19 is obtained by laminating an elastic film on a metal support plate such as stainless steel. An island portion joined to the lower end of the piezoelectric element 65 is formed at a portion corresponding to the pressure chamber of the diaphragm 19. At least a part of the diaphragm 19 is elastically deformed according to the driving of the piezoelectric element 65. A compliance portion 43 is formed between the diaphragm 19 and the vicinity of the lower end of the internal flow path 68.

  The flow path substrate 20 has a common ink chamber 29 that connects the lower end of the internal flow path 68 and the nozzle 24, an ink supply port 40, and a recess for forming a space for each pressure chamber. In the present embodiment, the flow path substrate 20 is formed by anisotropic etching of silicon.

  The nozzle substrate 21 has a plurality of nozzles 24 formed at a predetermined interval (pitch) in a predetermined direction. The nozzle substrate 21 of the present embodiment is a plate-like member made of a metal such as stainless steel. The lower surface of the nozzle substrate 21 constitutes a nozzle forming surface (ejection surface) 23 formed by a plurality of nozzles 24 as will be described later.

  The printer 1 configured as described above has an ink cartridge (not shown) as an ink storage part (liquid storage part) for storing ink, and the ink supplied from the ink cartridge via the ink supply tube is shown in FIG. It is comprised so that it may flow into the upper end of the internal flow path 68 shown. The lower end of the internal flow path 68 is connected to the common ink chamber 29, and the ink that has flowed from the ink cartridge into the upper end of the internal flow path 68 via the ink supply tube (not shown) flows through the internal flow path 68. Thereafter, the ink is supplied to the common ink chamber 29. The ink supplied to the common ink chamber 29 is supplied so as to be distributed to each of the plurality of pressure chambers via the ink supply port 40.

  When a drive signal is input to the piezoelectric element 65 via the cable, the piezoelectric element 65 expands and contracts. As a result, the diaphragm 19 is deformed (moved) in a direction toward and away from the pressure chamber. As a result, the volume of the pressure chamber changes and the pressure of the pressure chamber containing ink fluctuates. Ink is ejected (discharged) from the nozzles 24 due to this pressure fluctuation.

  As described above, the piezoelectric element 65 of the present embodiment varies the pressure of the pressure chamber connected to the nozzle 24 based on the input drive signal in order to eject ink from the nozzle 24.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the recording head 2 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 4 is a diagram of the recording head 2 viewed from the nozzle forming surface 23 side (−Z side), and FIG. 5 illustrates the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the capping apparatus 11 which concerns.

  In the present embodiment, the recording head 2 is arranged such that the nozzle formation surface 23 and the XY plane are substantially parallel. Here, “parallel” means that the nozzle forming surface 23 and the XY plane do not intersect no matter how much they extend. Here, “substantially parallel” includes the case where the angle formed by the nozzle forming surface 23 and the XY plane is 0 to 5 degrees. In the present embodiment, the nozzle formation surface 23 includes a nozzle formation region 23A where a plurality of nozzles 24 for ejecting ink are formed, and a peripheral region 23B outside the nozzle formation region 23A and where the nozzles 24 are not formed. Including. A recess 25 is formed in at least a part of the peripheral region 23B.

  In this embodiment, the cap member 100 has an opening 101 on the recording head 2 side, a liquid receiving portion 120 that receives ink discharged from the recording head 2, and a tip portion 102 that contacts the nozzle forming surface 23. . The tip 102 defines the opening 101. In the present embodiment, the opening 101 faces the + Z side. In the XY plane, the tip portion 102 is annular. The tip portion 102 is disposed around the opening 101. The opening 101 is smaller than the entire nozzle formation surface 23 and larger than the nozzle formation region 23A.

  The capping device 11 includes a suction device 104 that is connected to the cap member 100 and includes a pump that can suck fluid, and a driving device 103 that moves the cap member 100.

  The suction device 104 sucks the fluid in the space formed between the nozzle forming surface 23 and the cap member 100 in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other.

  The driving device 103 can move the cap member 100 in the Z-axis direction. The driving device 103 can move the cap member 100 in the X-axis direction. The driving device 103 may be capable of moving the cap member 100 in the Y-axis direction. Further, the driving device 103 may be able to move the cap member 100 in the θX, θY, and θZ directions.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the concave portion 25 and the tip portion 102. As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the width Wa of the distal end portion 25 in the X-axis direction is shorter than the distance Wb between the opposing inner walls in the recess 25. As will be described later, the X-axis direction is the moving direction of the cap member 100 during maintenance.

  In the present embodiment, the distance Wb between the opposing inner walls in the recess 25 includes the dimension of the opening 25K of the recess 25 in the X-axis direction. The dimension of the opening 25K in the X-axis direction includes the distance between the opening end 25Ka on the + X side and the opening end 25Kb on the −X side in the opening 25K. The opening end 25Ka and the opening end 25Kb are opposed to each other. That is, the distance Wb between the inner walls of the recess 25 refers to the distance between the regions of the inner walls facing each other that are located closest to the opening 25K.

  Since the width Wa is smaller than the distance Wb, a gap Ga is formed between the inner wall of the recess 25 and the tip portion 102 in a state where the recess 25 and the tip portion 102 face each other. That is, the gap Ga is formed between the opening 25K and the tip portion 102 in a state where the tip portion 102 is disposed inside the opening 25K.

  Next, an example of a maintenance method for the printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The maintenance method of the present embodiment includes a capping process for capping the recording head 2 using the cap member 100 and a suction process for sucking ink using the cap member 100.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a suction process. As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 58 is formed between the nozzle forming surface 23 and the cap member 100 in a state where the tip portion 102 of the opening 25K of the cap member 100 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other. The fluid in the space S1 is sucked using the suction device 104. Thereby, ink is sucked from the nozzle 24. Thus, the suction process is completed.

  After the suction step, the control device 58 moves the cap member 100 using the driving device 103 in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other, and the concave portion 25 formed on the nozzle forming surface 23 The tip portion 102 is opposed. In the present embodiment, the control device 58 moves the cap member 100 in the X-axis direction with the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 in contact with each other so as to change from the state shown in FIG. 7 to the state shown in FIG. Move in (-X direction). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the recessed part 25 and the front-end | tip part 102 oppose.

  In the following description, the step of moving the cap member 100 in the X-axis direction (−X direction) after the suction step is appropriately referred to as a moving step.

  By moving the cap member 100 in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other so that the concave portion 25 and the tip portion 102 face each other, the tip portion 102 is brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface 23. The state changes to the state facing the recess 25 (the state arranged inside the opening 25K). As a result, the state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other is changed to a state where the gap Ga is formed between the tip portion 102 and the recess 25. The space S1 is opened to the atmosphere via the gap Ga.

  The control device 58 further moves the cap member 100 in the −X direction so as to change from the state shown in FIG. 6 to the state shown in FIG. The control device 58 moves the cap member 100 in the −X direction so as to change from the state shown in FIG. 6 to the state shown in FIG. 8 in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8, the recess 25 for opening to the atmosphere is arranged inside the opening 101 of the cap member 100.

  After the moving process is executed and the space S1 is opened to the atmosphere by the recess 25, the control device 58 separates the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 from each other. In the following description, the step of separating the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 after the moving step will be appropriately referred to as a separation step.

  In the separation step, the control device 58 includes a cap member so that the tip portion 102 and the nozzle formation surface 23 are separated from a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle formation surface 23 are in contact (the state shown in FIG. 8). 100 is moved in the -Z direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the control device 58 moves (lowers) the cap member 100 in the −Z direction with the cap member 100 (tip portion 102) tilted. By performing the separation step, the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are separated as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the driving device 103 includes a guide mechanism 105 that guides the movement of the cap member 100. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the guide mechanism 105. As shown in FIG. 11, the guide mechanism 105 includes a cam member 106 disposed on the cap member 100 and a guide groove 107 in which the cam member 106 can move. In the present embodiment, in the suction step shown in FIG. 7, the cam member 106 is disposed at the first position PJ1 in FIG. In the moving process shown in FIG. 8, the cam member 106 is disposed at the second position PJ2 in FIG. In addition, when the cam member 106 is arrange | positioned in the 3rd position PJ3 in FIG. 11, it will be in the state shown in FIG. When the cam member 106 is disposed at the fourth position PJ4 in FIG. 11, the state shown in FIG. 10 is obtained.

  The first position PJ1 is on the + Z side with respect to the second position PJ2. When the cam member 106 is positioned at the first position PJ1, the cap member 100 (tip portion 102) is pressed against the nozzle forming surface 23 with a first force (first pressing force). As a result, in the suction process, the space S1 is sufficiently sealed, so that the suction operation is performed well.

  The second position PJ2 is on the −Z side with respect to the first position PJ1. When the cam member 106 is positioned at the second position PJ2, the cap member 100 (tip portion 102) is pressed against the nozzle forming surface 23 with a second force (second pressing force). The second force (second pressing force) is smaller than the first force (first pressing force). In the present embodiment, the driving device 103 reduces the pressing force of the cap member 100 against the ejection surface 23 in the moving process to be smaller than the pressing force of the cap member 100 against the ejection surface 23 in the suction process. Thereby, in the moving process, the cap member 100 can move smoothly while being in contact with the nozzle forming surface 23.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cap member 100 is formed between the nozzle forming surface 23 and the cap member 100 in a state where the tip 102 of the opening 101 of the cap member 100 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other. By sucking the fluid in the space S <b> 1, ink is sucked from the nozzle 24, and the nozzle 24 can be maintained well. In addition, after the suction step, the cap member 100 is moved in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other, and the concave portion 25 and the tip portion 102 are opposed to each other, so that the space S1 is opened to the atmosphere by the concave portion 25. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a sudden change in the pressure of the space S1. That is, it is possible to suppress the pressure in the space S1 that has become a negative pressure state in the suction process from rapidly changing to atmospheric pressure. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems that ink scatters and adheres to the nozzle forming surface 23 or enters the nozzle 24. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ejection failure and to suppress the deterioration of the performance of the printer 1.

  In the present embodiment, in the moving step, the width Wa of the distal end portion 102 in the moving direction (X-axis direction) of the cap member 100 is between the opposing inner walls in the recess 25 in the moving direction (X-axis direction) of the cap member 100. Since the cap member 100 is moved in the X-axis direction in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other, the tip portion 102 and the recess 25 are made to face each other. A gap Ga for opening to the atmosphere can be formed between 102 and the recess 25. Thereby, in the movement process, the air release of the space S1 is smoothly executed.

  Since the separation step is executed after the air is released, the separation step is also executed smoothly.

  In this embodiment, since the pressing force of the cap member 100 against the nozzle forming surface 23 is reduced in the moving step, the cap member 100 is held in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other. Even in the case of movement, the movement can be executed smoothly.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the recess 25 in the XY plane is substantially circular. However, as shown in FIG. 12, it may be a groove that is long in the Y-axis direction.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, the inner wall (inner wall surface) of the recessed part 25 may be a curved surface. Also in this case, the width Wa of the distal end portion 102 in the movement direction (X-axis direction) of the cap member 100 is between the opposing inner walls (inner wall surfaces) in the recess 25 in the movement direction (X-axis direction) of the cap member 100. By making the distance shorter than the distance Wb, the air release is executed smoothly.

  In the recess 25 shown in FIG. 13 as well, the distance Wb between the opposing inner walls in the recess 25 includes the dimension of the opening 25K of the recess 25 in the X-axis direction. The dimension of the opening 25K in the X-axis direction includes the distance between the opening end 25Ka on the + X side and the opening end 25Kb on the −X side in the opening 25K.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the opposing inner wall (inner wall surface) of the recessed part 25 may incline. Also in this case, the width Wa of the distal end portion 102 in the movement direction (X-axis direction) of the cap member 100 is between the opposing inner walls (inner wall surfaces) in the recess 25 in the movement direction (X-axis direction) of the cap member 100. By making the distance shorter than the distance Wb, the air release is executed smoothly.

  In the recess 25 shown in FIG. 14 as well, the distance Wb between the opposing inner walls in the recess 25 includes the dimension of the opening 25K of the recess 25 in the X-axis direction. The dimension of the opening 25K in the X-axis direction includes the distance between the opening end 25Ka on the + X side and the opening end 25Kb on the −X side in the opening 25K.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted.

  15 to 17 are schematic views illustrating an example of a maintenance method according to the second embodiment. 15A to 17A are schematic views of the recording head 2 and the cap member 100 as viewed from above (+ Z side), and FIG. 15B is a side view of the recording head 2 and the capping device 11. It is the schematic diagram seen from (-Y side). Note that the recording head 2 according to the second embodiment does not have the recess 25 as described in the first embodiment, but may have it.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a suction process. As shown in FIG. 15, the control device 58 is a space formed between the nozzle forming surface 23 and the cap member 100 in a state where the tip 102 of the opening 101 of the cap member 100 is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 23. The fluid of S1 is sucked using the suction device 104. Thereby, ink is sucked from the nozzle 24. Thus, the suction process is completed.

  After the suction step, as shown in FIG. 16, the control device 58 rotates the cap member 100 around the Z axis (θZ direction) with the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 in contact with each other, thereby opening the opening 101. At least a part of is disposed outside the nozzle forming surface 23. In the present embodiment, the Z axis is substantially parallel (substantially parallel) to the normal line of the nozzle forming surface 23. Here, the term “substantially parallel” includes the case where the nozzle is inclined by 0 to 5 degrees with respect to the normal line of the nozzle forming surface 23.

  The cap member 100 moves (rotates) in the θZ direction in a state where the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other, and a part of the opening 101 is disposed outside the nozzle forming surface 23. A minute gap Gb is formed between the nozzle forming surface 23 and the nozzle forming surface 23. Thereby, the space S1 is opened to the atmosphere via the gap Gb.

  After the space S1 is opened to the atmosphere by the gap Gb, the control device 58 moves the cap member 100 in the −Z direction so that the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are separated from each other. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 17, the cap member 100 and the nozzle formation surface 23 are separated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cap member 100 is formed between the nozzle forming surface 23 and the cap member 100 in a state where the tip 102 of the opening 101 of the cap member 100 and the nozzle forming surface 23 are in contact with each other. By sucking the fluid in the space S <b> 1, ink is sucked from the nozzle 24, and the nozzle 24 can be maintained well. Further, after the suction step, the cap member 100 is rotated in the θZ direction with the tip portion 102 and the nozzle forming surface 23 being in contact with each other, and at least a part of the opening 101 is disposed outside the nozzle forming surface 23. Since the space S1 is opened to the atmosphere, it is possible to suppress the pressure in the space S1 from changing rapidly. That is, it can suppress that the pressure of the space S1 made into the negative pressure state by the suction process suddenly changes to atmospheric pressure. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems that ink scatters and adheres to the nozzle forming surface 23 or enters the nozzle 24. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ejection failure and to suppress the deterioration of the performance of the printer 1.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 2 ... Recording head, 23 ... Nozzle formation surface, 23A ... Nozzle formation area, 23B ... Peripheral area | region, 24 ... Nozzle, 58 ... Control apparatus, 100 ... Cap member, 101 ... Opening, 102 ... Tip part, 103 ... Driver, S1 ... Space

Claims (3)

An ejection head having an ejection surface on which nozzles for ejecting liquid are formed;
A cap member having an opening on the ejection head side and having a liquid receiving portion for receiving the liquid discharged from the ejection head, and a tip portion in contact with the ejection surface;
A driving device for moving the cap member;
A suction device that sucks fluid in a space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member in a state where the tip portion and the ejection surface are in contact with each other;
After the suction by the suction device, the driving device rotates the cap member around an axis substantially parallel to the normal of the ejection surface in a state where the tip portion and the ejection surface are in contact with each other, and the opening A liquid ejecting apparatus in which at least a part of the liquid ejecting apparatus is disposed outside the ejection surface. A maintenance method of a liquid ejecting apparatus including an ejecting head having an ejecting surface on which a nozzle for ejecting liquid is formed,
A suction step of sucking a fluid in a space formed between the ejection surface and the cap member in a state where the tip of the opening of the cap member and the ejection surface are in contact with each other;
After the suction step, the cap member is rotated around an axis substantially parallel to a normal line of the ejection surface in a state where the tip end portion and the ejection surface are in contact with each other, and at least a part of the opening is formed on the ejection surface. And a rotation step arranged outside the maintenance method. The maintenance method according to claim 2, further comprising a separation step of separating the tip portion and the ejection surface after the rotation step.

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