JP6673254B2 - Head cleaning mechanism and ink jet recording apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a head cleaning mechanism including a recording head having an ink ejection surface having an ink ejection opening for ejecting ink onto a recording medium such as paper, and an ink jet recording apparatus including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a recording apparatus such as a facsimile, a copying machine, and a printer, an ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image by discharging ink is widely used because it can form a high-definition image.

  In such an ink jet recording apparatus, a minute ink droplet (hereinafter, referred to as a mist) ejected together with an ink droplet for image recording, and a bounce mist generated when the ink droplet adheres to a recording medium are generated by a recording head. And solidifies on the ink ejection surface. When the mist on the ink ejection surface gradually increases and overlaps the ink ejection port, the rectilinearity of ink (flying curve), non-ejection, and the like occur, and the printing performance of the recording head deteriorates.

  Therefore, in order to clean the ink ejection surface of the recording head, a cleaning liquid supply port is provided on a portion of the ink ejection surface outside the ink ejection area where the plurality of ink ejection openings are opened (upstream in the wiping direction of the wiper). An ink jet recording apparatus provided with a plurality of is known. In this ink jet recording apparatus, after supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply port, the wiper is moved along the ink discharge surface from the outside of the cleaning liquid supply port, thereby holding the cleaning liquid with the wiper. Can be wiped. In this way, the recording head recovery process can be performed.

  An ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports are provided on an ink ejection surface of a recording head is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873.

JP 2007-83496 A

  By the way, it is conceivable that the recording head is constituted by an ink ejection head unit that ejects ink, and a cleaning liquid supply head unit that is disposed upstream of the ink ejection head unit in the wiping direction and supplies a cleaning liquid. Can be In this case, after the cleaning liquid is supplied to the lower surface of the cleaning liquid supply head, the wiper is moved from the cleaning liquid supply port toward the ink ejection surface from the upstream side in the wiping direction to hold the cleaning liquid with the wiper. The ink ejection surface can be wiped.

  However, when the recording head is configured by the ink discharge head and the cleaning liquid supply head, if the ink discharge head and the cleaning liquid supply head are displaced in the head width direction orthogonal to the wiping direction, One end of the ink discharge surface in the head width direction protrudes from the lower surface of the cleaning liquid supply head in the head width direction. In this case, since the cleaning liquid on the lower surface of the cleaning liquid supply head is not supplied near one end of the ink discharge surface in the head width direction, it is difficult to clean the ink discharge surface over the entire area in the head width direction. There is a point.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a head cleaning mechanism capable of cleaning an ink ejection surface over the entire area in a head width direction and a head cleaning mechanism including the same. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, a head cleaning mechanism according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an ink ejection surface having a plurality of ink ejection openings for ejecting ink on a recording medium, and a plurality of cleaning inks for supplying a cleaning liquid. A recording head including a cleaning liquid supply surface having an opening for the liquid supply port; and a wiper for wiping the ink discharge surface in a predetermined direction. The recording head is provided with an ink ejection head portion having an ink ejection surface, and a cleaning liquid supply arranged at an upstream side of a wiping direction in which a wiper wipes the ink ejection surface with respect to the ink ejection head portion, and having a cleaning liquid supply surface. And a head unit. The cleaning liquid supply surface includes a lower surface that is arranged in parallel with the ink ejection surface and that is arranged adjacent to the ink ejection surface on the upstream side in the wiping direction. The length of the lower surface in the head width direction orthogonal to the wiping direction is greater than the length of the ink ejection surface in the head width direction.

  According to the head cleaning mechanism of the first aspect of the present invention, the recording head includes an ink discharge head that discharges ink, and a cleaning liquid supply head that supplies cleaning liquid. Accordingly, the ink passage path and the cleaning liquid passage path in the recording head can be formed in separate members (ink ejection head section and cleaning liquid supply head section), so that the structure of the recording head is prevented from becoming complicated. can do.

  The length of the lower surface of the cleaning liquid supply head in the head width direction is larger than the length of the ink ejection surface in the head width direction. Accordingly, even if the ink discharge head and the cleaning liquid supply head are displaced in the head width direction, one end of the ink discharge surface in the head width direction is positioned with respect to the lower surface of the cleaning liquid supply head in the head width direction. Can be suppressed. Therefore, the cleaning liquid on the lower surface of the cleaning liquid supply head can be supplied over the entire area of the ink discharge surface in the head width direction, so that the ink discharge surface can be cleaned over the entire area in the head width direction.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an inkjet recording apparatus including a head cleaning mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view of the first transport unit and the recording unit of the inkjet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. Diagram of the recording head that constitutes the line head of the recording unit View of the print head viewed from the ink ejection surface side View of the print head area from diagonally below View of the cleaning liquid supply member of the recording head viewed from diagonally below FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a boundary portion between a head portion of a recording head and a cleaning liquid supply member. View of the cleaning liquid supply member of the recording head viewed from below View of the boundary between the head of the recording head and the cleaning liquid supply member viewed from below View of the recording head area from diagonally above FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a wipe unit is arranged below a recording unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a wiper is arranged below a recording head. FIG. 12 is a view showing a state where the wiper is raised from the state shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the wiper is moved in the direction of arrow A while the wiper is pressed against the cleaning liquid supply member from the state of FIG. The figure which shows the state which moved the wiper further in the direction of arrow A from the state of FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which the wiper is further moved in the direction of arrow A from the state of FIG. 15 and then the wiper is lowered to be separated from the ink ejection surface. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a boundary portion between a head portion of a recording head and a cleaning liquid supply member according to a modified example of the invention when viewed from below.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed tray 2 for storing paper S (recording medium) is provided on the left side of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The paper feed roller 3 for transporting and feeding the stored paper S one by one from the uppermost paper S one by one to a first transport unit 5 described later, and is pressed against the paper feed roller 3 and is driven to rotate. A driven roller 4 is provided.

  A first transport unit 5 and a recording unit 9 are arranged on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 1) of the paper feed roller 3 and the driven roller 4 with respect to the paper transport direction (the direction of the arrow X). The first transport unit 5 is configured to include a first drive roller 6, a first driven roller 7, a first transport belt 8 stretched over the first drive roller 6 and the first driven roller 7, and has an inkjet structure. When the first drive roller 6 is rotated clockwise by a control signal from the control unit 110 of the recording apparatus 100, the sheet S held on the first transport belt 8 is transported in the direction of the arrow X.

  The recording unit 9 includes a head housing 10 and line heads 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K held by the head housing 10. These line heads 11C to 11K are supported at a height such that a predetermined interval (for example, 1 mm) is formed with respect to the conveyance surface of the first conveyance belt 8, and as shown in FIG. A plurality (here, three) of recording heads 17a to 17c are arranged in a zigzag pattern along the orthogonal paper width direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an ink ejection area in which a large number of ink ejection ports 18a (see FIG. 2) are arranged on the ink ejection surface F1 of the head section (ink ejection head section) 18 of the recording heads 17a to 17c. R1 is provided. The opening diameter of the ink ejection port 18a is set to, for example, 20 μm. At least the ink ejection surface F1 of the head portion 18 is formed of, for example, SUS (stainless steel). The ink ejection surface F1 has been subjected to a water-repellent treatment by applying a fluorine-based or silicon-based water-repellent agent. Since the recording heads 17a to 17c have the same shape and configuration, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the recording heads 17a to 17c in one diagram.

  The recording heads 17a to 17c constituting the line heads 11C to 11K respectively receive four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) of ink stored in ink tanks (not shown) of the line heads 11C to 11K. Supplied for each color.

  Each of the recording heads 17a to 17c adsorbs and holds the sheet S to be conveyed while being sucked and held on the conveying surface of the first conveying belt 8 in accordance with image data received from an external computer according to a control signal from the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1). The ink is ejected from the ink ejection port 18a toward. As a result, a color image in which four inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are superimposed on the paper S on the first conveyor belt 8 is formed.

  The recording heads 17a to 17c are provided with a cleaning liquid supply member (cleaning liquid supply head unit) 60 for supplying a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid supply member 60 is disposed adjacent to the head section 18 on the upstream side (the right side in FIG. 3) of the wipers 35a to 35c described later in the wiping direction. The cleaning liquid supply member 60 has a lower surface (cleaning liquid supply surface) F2 including a cleaning liquid supply region R2 in which a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a (see FIG. 6) for supplying the cleaning liquid are arranged. The lower surface F2 is arranged in parallel with the ink ejection surface F1. The opening diameter of the cleaning liquid supply port 60a is set to be larger than the opening diameter of the ink discharge port 18a, for example, 0.1 mm. The cleaning liquid supply member 60 is formed of a resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, an inclined surface 62 is formed at a portion on the upstream side (the right side in FIG. 3) in the wiping direction with respect to the lower surface F2 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60. A thin plate portion 65 having a thin plate shape is formed on the downstream side (left side in FIG. 3) of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 in the wiping direction. The thin plate portion 65 is located at the end of the ink ejection surface F1 of the head portion 18. It is arranged to overlap below. As a result, a step U is formed at the boundary between the lower surface F2 and the ink ejection surface F1, as shown in FIG. Further, the thin plate portion 65 is formed to have a thickness of, for example, 0.1 mm. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 described later, only some of the recording heads 17a to 17c are illustrated for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a head width direction (arrow BB 'direction) orthogonal to the wiping direction (arrow A direction). Although only one row of a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports 60a arranged along the head width direction is illustrated in the figure, a plurality of rows are provided adjacent to the wiping direction (arrow A direction). It may be.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the length L60 of the lower surface F2 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 in the head width direction (the direction of the arrow BB ') is equal to the length L18 of the ink ejection surface F1 of the head portion 18 in the head width direction. It is formed about 1 mm larger than that. For this reason, the lower surface F2 protrudes from the ink ejection surface F1 by the protrusion amount W65a (= about 0.5 mm) in the head width direction.

  The length L60 of the lower surface F2 in the head width direction is formed to be about 1 mm smaller than the length L35 of the wipers 35a to 35c in the head width direction. Therefore, the wipers 35a to 35c protrude from the lower surface F2 by about 0.5 mm in the head width direction.

  The end of the lower surface F2 on the downstream side in the wiping direction (left side in FIG. 9) is formed so as to have an R shape in plan view, and has no angular portion. Specifically, the two corners 65a at the downstream end of the lower surface F2 in the wiping direction are formed so as to have an R shape (a fan shape with a central angle of 90 °) in plan view. The radius of curvature of the corner 65a is equal to or greater than the protrusion amount W65a (= about 0.5 mm) in the head width direction of the lower surface F2 with respect to the ink ejection surface F1.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the downstream end of a supply path 70 composed of a tube through which the cleaning liquid passes is connected to the cleaning liquid supply member 60. The upstream end of the supply path 70 is connected to a cleaning liquid supply mechanism (not shown). The cleaning liquid supply mechanism includes a tank (not shown) for storing the cleaning liquid, and a pump (not shown) for pumping the cleaning liquid from the tank to the supply path 70.

  The supply path 70 is configured by one path at the upstream end, but is repeatedly branched toward the downstream side, and is branched into 12 paths. The twelve paths are connected to the cleaning liquid supply members 60 of the recording heads 17a to 17c, respectively. The recording heads 17a to 17c, the wipers 35a to 35c, the supply path 70, the cleaning liquid supply mechanism, and the like constitute a head cleaning mechanism.

  In this ink jet recording apparatus 100, in order to clean the ink ejection surfaces F1 of the recording heads 17a to 17c, at the start of printing after a long term stoppage and between printing operations, the ink ejection of all the recording heads 17a to 17c is performed. The ink is forcibly discharged from the outlet 18a, and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the lower surface F2 from the cleaning liquid supply ports 60a (see FIG. 6) of all the recording heads 17a to 17c in parallel. The ejection surface F1 is wiped to prepare for the next printing operation.

  Returning to FIG. 1, a second transport unit 12 is disposed downstream of the first transport unit 5 in the paper transport direction (right side in FIG. 1). The second transport unit 12 includes a second drive roller 13, a second driven roller 14, and a second transport belt 15 wrapped around the second drive roller 13 and the second driven roller 14. The paper S held on the second transport belt 15 is transported in the direction of arrow X by rotating the second drive roller 13 clockwise.

  The paper S on which the ink image has been recorded by the recording unit 9 is sent to the second transport unit 12, and the ink discharged to the surface of the paper S while passing through the second transport unit 12 is dried. Further, a wipe unit 19 and a cap unit 90 are arranged below the second transport unit 12. The wipe unit 19 moves below the recording unit 9 when performing the above-described wiping operation by the wipers 35a to 35c, and the ink and the cleaning liquid forcibly discharged from the ink discharge ports 18a of the recording heads 17a to 17c. The cleaning liquid supplied from the supply port 60a is wiped, and the wiped ink and cleaning liquid are collected. Further, the wipe unit 19 is configured to be able to move up and down by a drive mechanism (not shown) including a drive source such as a stepping motor. When the wipe unit 19 moves up and down, the wipers 35a to 35c also move up and down. The cap unit 90 moves horizontally below the recording unit 9 when capping the ink ejection surfaces F1 (see FIG. 3) of the recording heads 17a to 17c, and moves further upward to be mounted on the lower surfaces of the recording heads 17a to 17c. Is done.

  On the downstream side of the second transport unit 12 with respect to the paper transport direction, a discharge roller pair 16 for discharging the paper S on which the image is recorded to the outside of the apparatus main body is provided. Is provided with a discharge tray (not shown) on which sheets S discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body are stacked.

  The wipe unit 19 includes a plurality of wipers 35a to 35c (see FIGS. 9 and 12) movable along the ink ejection surface F1, and a substantially rectangular carriage (not shown) to which the plurality of wipers 35a to 35c are fixed. ) And a support frame (not shown) for supporting the carriage. A carriage (not shown) is slidably supported by a support frame (not shown) in the direction of arrow AA '.

  The wipers 35a to 35c are elastic members (for example, from EPDM) for wiping the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply port 60a (see FIG. 6) of each of the recording heads 17a to 17c and the ink ejected from the ink discharge port 18a. Rubber member). The wipers 35 a to 35 c are pressed against a portion (here, the inclined surface 62) of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 on the upstream side in the wiping direction with respect to the cleaning liquid supply region R <b> 2 (see FIG. 4), and By moving, the lower surface F2 and the ink ejection surface F1 are wiped in a predetermined direction (the direction of arrow A).

  Next, a recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c using the wipe unit 19 in the inkjet recording apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described. The recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c described below is performed by controlling the operations of the recording heads 17a to 17c, the wipe unit 19, and the like based on a control signal from the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1). You.

  When performing the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c, first, as shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1) lowers the first transport unit 5 located below the recording unit 9. Then, the control unit 110 horizontally moves the wipe unit 19 disposed below the second transport unit 12 and places the wipe unit 19 between the recording unit 9 and the first transport unit 5. In this state, the wipers 35a to 35c (see FIG. 12) of the wipe unit 19 are disposed below the ink ejection surfaces F1 and the lower surface F2 (see FIG. 12) of the recording heads 17a to 17c.

(Cleaning liquid supply operation)
Prior to the wiping operation (wiping operation described later), the cleaning liquid 23 is supplied to the recording heads 17a to 17c by the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. The supplied cleaning liquid 23 is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply port 60a (see FIG. 6) to the lower surface F2 by a predetermined amount. In the figure, the cleaning liquid 23 is hatched for easy understanding.

(Ink extrusion operation)
In addition, prior to the wiping operation (wiping operation described later), as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 110 (see FIG. 1) supplies the ink 22 to the recording heads 17a to 17c. The supplied ink 22 is forcibly extruded (purged) from the ink discharge port 18a. By this purging operation, the thickened ink, foreign matter, and bubbles in the ink discharge port 18a are discharged from the ink discharge port 18a. At this time, the purge ink 22 is pushed out to the ink ejection surface F1 along the shape of the ink ejection region R1 where the ink ejection port 18a exists. In the drawing, the ink (purge ink) 22 is hatched for easy understanding.

(Wiping operation)
As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 110 moves the wipers 35 a to 35 c to positions just below the inclined surface 62 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 of the recording heads 17 a to 17 c (upstream of the cleaning liquid supply region R2 in the wiping direction (see FIG. 13). 13 (right side) at position P1. At this time, the wipers 35a to 35c are raised so that the upper surfaces of the wipers 35a to 35c are higher than the lower surface F2. At the time when the wipers 35a to 35c are raised, the wipers 35a to 35c may or may not be in pressure contact with the inclined surface 62.

  13, the control unit 110 horizontally moves the wipers 35a to 35c in the direction of the ink ejection region R1 (the direction of the arrow A) along the lower surface F2 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the wipers 35a to 35c move the lower surface F2 in the direction of the ink ejection region R1 while wiping and holding the cleaning liquid 23.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15, the wipers 35a to 35c move the ink ejection surface F1 to the left (in the direction of arrow A) while maintaining the state where the cleaning liquid 23 is held. At this time, the cleaning liquid 23 and the ink (purge ink) 22 dissolve ink droplets (waste ink) adhered to the ink ejection surface F1 and solidified, and are wiped off by the wipers 35a to 35c. Then, the wipers 35a to 35c further move leftward (in the direction of arrow A) and stop moving leftward when they reach a position P2 opposite to the cleaning liquid supply region R2 with respect to the ink discharge region R1. Is done. The cleaning liquid 23 and the waste ink wiped by the wipers 35a to 35c are collected on a collection tray (not shown) provided in the wipe unit 19.

(Separation operation)
After the execution of the wiping operation, as shown in FIG. 16, the control unit 110 lowers the wipers 35a to 35c to separate them from the ink ejection surface F1.

  Lastly, the control unit 110 horizontally moves the wipe unit 19 disposed between the recording unit 9 and the first transport unit 5 and arranges the wipe unit 19 below the second transport unit 12, and moves the first transport unit 5 to a predetermined position. To the position. Thus, the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c ends.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the recording heads 17a to 17c include the head unit 18 that discharges the ink 22 and the cleaning liquid supply member 60 that supplies the cleaning liquid 23. Accordingly, the ink passage path and the cleaning liquid passage path in the recording heads 17a to 17c can be formed in separate members (the head unit 18 and the cleaning liquid supply member 60), so that the structure of the recording heads 17a to 17c is complicated. Can be suppressed.

  The length L60 of the lower surface F2 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 in the head width direction is larger than the length L18 of the ink ejection surface F1 in the head width direction. Accordingly, even if the head section 18 and the cleaning liquid supply member 60 are displaced from each other in the head width direction, one end of the ink ejection surface F1 in the head width direction has a head width relative to the lower surface F2 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60. Projection in the direction can be suppressed. Therefore, the cleaning liquid 23 on the lower surface F2 can be supplied over the entire area of the ink discharge surface F1 in the head width direction, so that the ink discharge surface F1 can be cleaned over the entire area in the head width direction.

  Further, as described above, the thin plate portion 65 that overlaps below the end of the ink ejection surface F1 is formed at the downstream side of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 in the wiping direction. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the cleaning liquid 23 from entering the gap between the head section 18 and the cleaning liquid supply member 60.

  Further, as described above, the length L35 of the wipers 35a to 35c in the head width direction is larger than the length L60 of the lower surface F2 in the head width direction, and the two corners at the downstream end of the lower surface F2 in the wiping direction. The portion 65a is formed to have an R shape in plan view. This can prevent the wipers 35a to 35c from being damaged at the corners 65a of the lower surface F2 when the wipers 35a to 35c move from the lower surface F2 to the ink ejection surface F1. If the corner 65a is formed at a right angle in a plan view, the corner 65a damages the wipers 35a to 35c, and the ends of the wipers 35a to 35c in the head width direction are cut along the wiping direction.

  Further, when the thin plate portion 65 of the cleaning liquid supply member 60 is arranged to overlap below the end of the ink ejection surface F1, that is, when the lower surface F2 is arranged below the ink ejection surface F1, the wiper 35a The pressing force of the wipers 35a to 35c on the ink ejection surface F1 is greater than the pressing force of the wipers 35a to 35c on the lower surface F2. Therefore, when the wipers 35a to 35c move from the lower surface F2 to the ink ejection surface F1, the wipers 35a to 35c are easily damaged at the corners 65a of the lower surface F2. Therefore, in a configuration in which the lower surface F2 is disposed below the ink ejection surface F1, it is particularly effective to form the end of the lower surface F2 on the downstream side in the wiping direction in an R shape.

  As described above, the radius of curvature of the corner portion 65a is equal to or greater than the protrusion amount W65a in the head width direction of the lower surface F2 with respect to the ink ejection surface F1. Accordingly, the round shape of the corner portion 65a can be increased, so that the wipers 35a to 35c can be further prevented from being damaged at the corner portion 65a.

  It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the example in which the step U is provided between the lower surface F2 and the ink ejection surface F1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the lower surface F2 and the ink ejection surface F1 may be formed flush.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the cleaning liquid supply region R2 in which the cleaning liquid supply port 60a is opened is provided on the lower surface F2, but may be provided on the inclined surface 62. In this case, since the cleaning liquid 23 supplied to the inclined surface 62 flows along the inclined surface 62 to the lower surface F2, the cleaning liquid 23 can be wiped by the wipers 35a to 35c. The cleaning liquid supply surface is constituted by the inclined surface 62 and the lower surface F2.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example has been described in which the two corner portions 65a at the ends on the downstream side in the wiping direction of the lower surface F2 are formed to have an R shape in plan view, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, like the recording heads 17a to 17c according to the modified example of the invention shown in FIG. 17, the downstream end of the lower surface F2 in the wiping direction may be formed in a semicircular shape in plan view. With such a configuration, the R shape of the end of the lower surface F2 on the downstream side in the wiping direction can be further increased, so that damage to the wipers 35a to 35c can be further suppressed. Further, the wipers 35a to 35c gradually come into contact with (land on) the ink discharge surface F1 until the center portion in the head width direction passes through the step U. Therefore, when the wipers 35a to 35c land on the ink discharge surface F1. It is possible to suppress bouncing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the cleaning liquid 23 from remaining on the step U.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c is performed using the cleaning liquid 23 and the ink (purge ink) 22. However, the recovery operation of the recording heads 17a to 17c is performed using only the cleaning liquid 23. Operation may be performed. That is, the ink pushing operation need not be performed.

17a to 17c Recording head 18 Head unit (ink ejection head unit)
18a Ink ejection port 22 Ink 23 Cleaning liquid 35a to 35c Wiper 60 Cleaning liquid supply member (cleaning liquid supply head)
60a Cleaning liquid supply port 65 Thin plate part 65a Corner part 100 Inkjet recording device F1 Ink ejection surface F2 Lower surface (cleaning liquid supply surface)
L18, L35, L60 Length S paper (recording medium)
U Step W65a Projection amount

Claims (6)

A recording head including: an ink ejection surface on which a plurality of ink ejection ports for ejecting ink on a recording medium are opened; and a cleaning liquid supply surface on which a plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports for supplying a cleaning liquid are opened.
A wiper for wiping the ink ejection surface in a predetermined direction,
With
The recording head is disposed at an upstream side of a wiping direction in which the wiper wipes the ink discharge surface with respect to the ink discharge head portion, the cleaning liquid supply section including the ink discharge head section having the ink discharge surface. A cleaning liquid supply head having a surface,
The cleaning liquid supply surface includes a lower surface that is arranged in parallel with the ink ejection surface and that is arranged adjacent to an upstream side of the ink ejection surface in the wiping direction.
In parallel head width direction on the lower surface and the ink ejection surface with orthogonal to the previous SL wiping direction, the lower side length of the cleaning liquid supply head portion is greater than the lower length of the ink jet head unit And a head cleaning mechanism. In a portion of the cleaning liquid supply head portion on the downstream side in the wiping direction, a thin plate portion overlapping below an end of the ink ejection surface is formed,
2. The head cleaning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a step corresponding to the thickness of the thin plate portion is formed at a boundary between the lower surface and the ink ejection surface. The length of the wiper in the head width direction is greater than the length of the lower surface in the head width direction,
3. The head cleaning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein two lower end portions of the lower surface on the downstream side in the wiping direction are formed to have an R shape in plan view. 4.   4. The head cleaning mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a radius of curvature of the corner portion is equal to or greater than a protrusion amount of the lower surface with respect to the ink ejection surface in the head width direction. The length of the wiper in the head width direction is greater than the length of the lower surface in the head width direction,
The head cleaning mechanism according to claim 2, wherein an end of the lower surface on the downstream side in the wiping direction is formed in a semicircular shape in plan view.   An ink jet recording apparatus comprising the head cleaning mechanism according to claim 1.

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