Wiping device, liquid jet device

Abstract

This invention provides a wiping device and a liquid spraying device that can reduce the slack of a strip component after a winding operation is performed while the strip component is under tension. It comprises: an unwinding section having an unwinding shaft for holding the strip component in a wound, cylindrical state; a pressing section for contacting a contact portion of the strip component located in the contact area with a liquid spraying section; a winding section having a winding shaft for moving the contact portion in a moving direction by performing a winding operation of the strip component; a braking mechanism for braking rotation of the unwinding shaft in the direction of releasing the strip component from the unwinding shaft; and a contact portion that contacts the strip component released from the unwinding section in a moving area between the unwinding section and the winding section in the moving direction, applying tension to the strip component, and is movable between a position during the winding operation and a position when the winding operation is not performed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to wiping devices and liquid spraying devices equipped with wiping devices. Background Technology

[0002] For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a droplet ejection device as an example of a liquid jetting device. This liquid jetting device includes a wiping unit as an example of a wiping device. The wiping unit wipes the functional droplet ejection head as an example of a liquid jetting part using a wiping sheet as an example of a strip member. The wiping unit includes: a feed roll as an example of an unwinding roll for feeding out the wiping sheet as an example of a strip member; a winding roll as an example of a take-up roll for winding the wiping sheet; and a wiping roller as an example of a pressing part, disposed between the feed roll and the winding roll.

[0003] The wiping unit drives a winding motor to wind the wiping sheet onto a winding spool, and brakes the delivery of the spool and applies tension to the wiping sheet by a torque limiter, which serves as an example of a braking mechanism.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-307915

[0005] When a take-up shaft is rotated to wind a strip while tension is applied to the strip, if the rotation of the take-up shaft stops, slack may sometimes occur on the strip between the unwinding section and the take-up section. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The wiping device for solving the above-mentioned technical problems includes: an unwinding section having an unwinding shaft for holding a strip-shaped component in a wound-up state; a pressing section for winding the strip-shaped component released from the unwinding section around the pressing section, the pressing section enabling a contact portion of the strip-shaped component located in the contact area to contact a liquid spraying section, the liquid spraying section being capable of spraying liquid; a winding section having a winding shaft for moving the contact portion in a moving direction by performing a winding action of winding the strip-shaped component; a braking mechanism for braking the rotation of the unwinding shaft in the direction in which the strip-shaped component is released from the unwinding shaft; and a contact portion that contacts the strip-shaped component released from the unwinding section in a moving area between the unwinding section and the winding section in the moving direction and applies tension to the strip-shaped component, the contact portion being movable between a position during the winding action and a position when the winding action is not performed.

[0007] A liquid jetting apparatus for solving the above-mentioned technical problems includes: a liquid jetting section for jetting liquid; and a wiping device for wiping the liquid jetting section, the wiping device comprising: an unwinding section having an unwinding shaft for holding a strip-shaped component in a wound-up state; a pressing section for winding the strip-shaped component released from the unwinding section around the pressing section, the pressing section being able to contact a contact portion of the strip-shaped component located in the contact area with the liquid jetting section; a winding section having a winding shaft for moving the contact portion in a moving direction by performing a winding action of winding the strip-shaped component; a braking mechanism for braking the rotation of the unwinding shaft in the direction in which the strip-shaped component is released from the unwinding shaft; and a contact portion for contacting the strip-shaped component released from the unwinding section in a moving area between the unwinding section and the winding section in the moving direction and applying tension to the strip-shaped component, the contact portion being able to move between a position during the winding action and a position when the winding action is not performed. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of one embodiment of the liquid injection device.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a schematic bottom view of the liquid injection unit and carriage.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a schematic top view of the maintenance device.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a schematic side view of the wiping device.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a schematic side view of the wiping device.

[0013] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0014] 11…Liquid injection device; 12…Foot; 13…Housing; 14…Medium; 15…Discharge section; 16…Guide section; 17…Recovery section; 18…Tension application mechanism; 20…Liquid injection section; 21…Slide carriage; 22…Maintenance unit; 23…Liquid supply device; 24…Operation panel; 25…Liquid container; 26…Mounting section; 27…Supply path; 29…Control section; 31…Guide shaft; 32…Slide carriage motor; 34…Rectifier; 36…Nozzle; 37…Nozzle forming component; 38…Cover Components; 39…through hole; 40…nozzle face; 42…rinsing device; 43…wiping device; 44…suction device; 45…capping device; 47…liquid receiving part; 48…cap part; 49…cap motor; 51…suction cover; 52…suction retainer; 53…suction motor; 54…pressure reducing mechanism; 56…standby cover; 57…standby retainer; 58…standby motor; 60…wiping main body; 61…track part; 62…track; 63…rack; 65…strip part; 65a…connector Contact part; 65f…first side; 65s…second side; 66…outer shell; 66a…opening; 66b…guide; 67…power transmission mechanism; 68…wiping motor; 70…unwinding shaft; 71…unwinding section; 72…rewinding shaft; 73…rewinding section; 74…upstream roller; 75…contact part; 76…pressing part; 77…downstream roller; 79…brake mechanism; 80…rotation limiting mechanism; A1…unwinding area; A2…front adjacent area; A3…contact area; A4…rear adjacent area; A5…rewinding Area; CP…cleaning position; DM…movement direction; Dr…rewinding direction; Du…unwinding direction; DW…wiping direction; G1~G6…first nozzle group~sixth nozzle group; HP…starting position; L1~L12…first nozzle column~twelfth nozzle column; Md…downstream area in the movement direction; Mu…upstream area in the movement direction; RP…receiving position; Wd…downstream area in the wiping direction; WP…standby position; Wu…upstream area in the wiping direction; X…width direction; Y…depth direction; Z…gravity direction. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the wiping device and the liquid jetting device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The liquid jetting device is, for example, an inkjet printer that jets ink, which is a liquid, onto a medium such as paper.

[0016] The accompanying drawings show the liquid injection device 11 positioned on a horizontal plane, with the direction of gravity indicated by the Z-axis and the directions along the horizontal plane indicated by the X and Y axes. The X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal to each other. In the following description, the direction along the X-axis will also be referred to as the width direction X, the direction along the Y-axis will also be referred to as the depth direction Y, and the direction along the Z-axis will also be referred to as the gravity direction Z.

[0017] like Figure 1 As shown, the liquid injection device 11 may also include a pair of feet 12 and a housing 13 mounted on the feet 12. The liquid injection device 11 may also include: a delivery section 15 for releasing and delivering a medium 14 wound into a cylindrical shape; a guide section 16 for guiding the medium 14 discharged from the housing 13; and a recovery section 17 for winding and recovering the medium 14. The liquid injection device 11 may also include a tension applying mechanism 18 for applying tension to the medium 14 recovered by the recovery section 17.

[0018] The liquid jetting device 11 includes: a liquid jetting section 20 capable of jetting liquid, a carriage 21 for moving the liquid jetting section 20, and a maintenance unit 22 for maintaining the liquid jetting section 20. The liquid jetting device 11 may also include a liquid supply device 23 for supplying liquid to the liquid jetting section 20, and an operation panel 24 operated by a user. The carriage 21 causes the liquid jetting section 20 to reciprocate along the X-axis. The liquid jetting section 20 jets the liquid supplied by the liquid supply device 23 while moving, and prints it onto a medium 14.

[0019] The liquid supply device 23 may also include: a mounting section 26 on which a plurality of liquid containers 25 for containing liquid are mounted in a detachable manner; and a supply flow path 27 for supplying liquid from the liquid containers 25 mounted on the mounting section 26 to the liquid injection section 20.

[0020] The liquid injection device 11 includes a control unit 29 for controlling the operation of the liquid injection device 11. The control unit 29 is configured to include, for example, a CPU and a memory. The control unit 29 executes a program stored in the memory via the CPU, thereby controlling the liquid injection unit 20, the liquid supply device 23, and the maintenance unit 22, etc.

[0021] like Figure 2 As shown, the liquid injection device 11 may also include a guide shaft 31 supporting the carriage 21 and a carriage motor 32 for moving the carriage 21. The guide shaft 31 extends in the width direction X. The control unit 29 controls the drive of the carriage motor 32 to cause the carriage 21 and the liquid injection unit 20 to reciprocate along the guide shaft 31.

[0022] The liquid injection device 11 may also include a rectifier 34 held at the lower part of the carriage 21. When the rectifier 34 is provided on both sides of the liquid injection section 20 in the width direction X, the airflow around the liquid injection section 20, which moves back and forth along the X-axis, can be easily adjusted.

[0023] The liquid injection unit 20 may also include a nozzle forming member 37 having a plurality of nozzles 36, and a cover member 38 covering a portion of the nozzle forming member 37. The cover member 38 is made of a metal such as stainless steel. A plurality of through holes 39 are formed in the cover member 38 extending through the cover member 38 in the gravity direction Z. The cover member 38 covers the side of the nozzle forming member 37 where the nozzles 36 are formed, such that the nozzles 36 protrude from the through holes 39. The nozzle surface 40 is formed including the nozzle forming member 37 and the cover member 38. Specifically, the nozzle surface 40 is composed of the nozzle forming member 37 protruding from the through holes 39 and the cover member 38. The liquid injection unit 20 is capable of injecting liquid from the nozzles 36 disposed on the nozzle surface 40.

[0024] In the liquid injection section 20, the openings of a plurality of nozzles 36 for spraying liquid are arranged at certain intervals in one direction. The plurality of nozzles 36 constitute a nozzle array. In this embodiment, the openings of the nozzles 36 are arranged in the depth direction Y, forming a first nozzle array L1 to a twelfth nozzle array L12. The nozzles 36 constituting a nozzle array spray the same type of liquid. In the nozzles 36 constituting a nozzle array, the inner nozzle 36 in the depth direction Y and the front nozzle 36 in the depth direction Y are offset in the width direction X.

[0025] In the first nozzle array L1 to the twelfth nozzle array L12, every two arrays are arranged close together in the width direction X. In this embodiment, two nozzle arrays arranged close together are referred to as nozzle groups. In the liquid injection section 20, the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 are arranged at a certain interval in the width direction X.

[0026] Specifically, the first nozzle group G1 includes a first nozzle column L1 for spraying magenta ink and a second nozzle column L2 for spraying yellow ink. The second nozzle group G2 includes a third nozzle column L3 for spraying cyan ink and a fourth nozzle column L4 for spraying black ink. The third nozzle group G3 includes a fifth nozzle column L5 for spraying light cyan ink and a sixth nozzle column L6 for spraying light magenta ink. The fourth nozzle group G4 includes a seventh nozzle column L7 and an eighth nozzle column L8 for spraying treatment liquid. The fifth nozzle group G5 includes a ninth nozzle column L9 for spraying black ink and a tenth nozzle column L10 for spraying cyan ink. The sixth nozzle group G6 includes an eleventh nozzle column L11 for spraying yellow ink and a twelfth nozzle column L12 for spraying magenta ink.

[0027] The maintenance unit 22 will now be described.

[0028] like Figure 3As shown, the maintenance unit 22 has a rinsing device 42, a wiping device 43, a suction device 44, and a capping device 45 arranged in the width direction X. Above the capping device 45 is the starting position HP of the liquid jet section 20. The starting position HP is the starting point for the movement of the liquid jet section 20. Above the wiping device 43 is the cleaning position CP of the liquid jet section 20. Figure 3 In the diagram, the liquid jet section 20 located at the cleaning position CP is shown by a double-dotted line. The wiping device 43 is configured to wipe the nozzle surface 40 of the liquid jet section 20 located at the cleaning position CP.

[0029] The flushing device 42 receives the liquid ejected from the liquid injection unit 20 through flushing. Flushing refers to the maintenance of spraying liquid as waste liquid for the purpose of preventing and eliminating clogging of the nozzle 36.

[0030] The rinsing apparatus 42 includes: a liquid receiving section 47 for receiving liquid sprayed from the liquid spraying section 20 for rinsing; a cover member 48 for covering the opening of the liquid receiving section 47; and a cover motor 49 for moving the cover member 48. The rinsing apparatus 42 may also include multiple liquid receiving sections 47 and multiple cover members 48. The control unit 29 may also select the liquid receiving section 47 according to the type of liquid. The rinsing apparatus 42 of this embodiment includes two liquid receiving sections 47: one receives various colored inks sprayed from the liquid spraying section 20 during rinsing, and the other receives a processing liquid sprayed from the liquid spraying section 20 during rinsing. The liquid receiving section 47 may also contain a moisturizing liquid.

[0031] The cover component 48, driven by the cover motor 49, is positioned at a (not shown) covering position relative to the opening of the liquid receiving section 47, and at a position where the opening of the liquid receiving section 47 is exposed. Figure 3 The device moves between the exposed positions shown. When not rinsing, it moves to the covered position via the cover member 48 to prevent the contained moisturizing liquid or the received liquid from drying out.

[0032] The suction device 44 includes a suction cover 51, a suction holder 52 for holding the suction cover 51, a suction motor 53 for reciprocating the suction holder 52 along the Z-axis, and a pressure reduction mechanism 54 for reducing pressure inside the suction cover 51. As the suction holder 52 moves due to the suction motor 53, the suction cover 51 moves between a contact position and a retracted position. The contact position is where the suction cover 51 contacts the liquid jet section 20 and surrounds the nozzle 36. The retracted position is where the suction cover 51 separates from the liquid jet section 20.

[0033] The suction cover 51 can be configured to completely surround all the nozzles 36, or to surround at least one group of nozzles, or to surround a portion of the nozzles 36 that constitute a group of nozzles. In the suction device 44 of this embodiment, one of the nozzle groups from the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 is surrounded by two suction covers 51.

[0034] In the liquid jetting device 11, the liquid jetting section 20 may be positioned above the suction device 44, and the suction shroud 51 may be positioned in the contact position and surround a nozzle assembly. Pressure may be applied within the suction shroud 51 to perform suction cleaning of the liquid discharged from the nozzle 36. That is, the suction device 44 may also receive the liquid discharged through suction cleaning.

[0035] The sealing device 45 includes a standby cover 56, a standby holder 57 for holding the standby cover 56, and a standby motor 58 for reciprocating the standby holder 57 along the Z-axis. As the standby holder 57 moves due to the standby motor 58, the standby cover 56 moves upward or downward. The standby cover 56 moves from a separated position (lower position) to a sealed position (upper position) and contacts the liquid jet section 20, which is stopped at the initial position HP.

[0036] A standby cover 56, located in the sealing position, surrounds the openings of nozzles 36 that constitute the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6. This maintenance of surrounding the openings of nozzles 36 with the standby cover 56 is called a standby cover. A standby cover is a type of seal. By using a standby cover, drying of the nozzles 36 is suppressed.

[0037] The standby cover 56 can be configured to completely surround all the nozzles 36, or to surround at least one nozzle group, or to surround a portion of the nozzles 36 that constitute a nozzle group.

[0038] The wiping device 43 will now be described.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the wiping device 43 may also include a wiping main body 60 and a track 61 that supports the wiping main body 60 so that it can move. The track 61 includes a pair of tracks 62 extending along the Y-axis and a rack 63 extending along the Y-axis.

[0040] The wiping main body 60 may also include: a strip-shaped member 65 capable of absorbing the liquid sprayed by the liquid spraying unit 20; a housing 66 accommodating the strip-shaped member 65; and a power transmission mechanism 67 and a wiping motor 68 disposed within the housing 66. The wiping main body 60 is mounted on the track 61. Figure 4 The standby position WP shown is Figure 3 The receiving positions (RP) shown are moved between.

[0041] The housing 66 has an opening 66a that exposes a portion of the strip member 65. The size of the strip member 65 in the width direction X can also be larger than the size of the nozzle face 40. In this case, the liquid injection section 20 can be effectively maintained.

[0042] When the wiping body 60 is in the receiving position RP and the liquid jetting part 20 is in the cleaning position CP, the first surface 65f of the strip member 65 faces the nozzle surface 40. In this state, the liquid jetting device 11 can also perform pressurized cleaning by discharging pressurized liquid from the nozzle 36. That is, the wiping device 43 can also receive the liquid discharged by pressurized cleaning.

[0043] When the wiping motor 68 is driven in reverse, the wiping main body 60, located in the standby position WP, moves toward the receiving position RP in the depth direction Y. When the wiping motor 68 is driven in forward, the wiping main body 60, located in the receiving position RP, moves toward the standby position WP in the wiping direction Dw, which is opposite to the depth direction Y.

[0044] The wiping direction Dw is the direction in which the contact portion 65a of the strip member 65 moves relative to the liquid jet section 20 while in contact with it. Figure 3 In the diagram, the contact portion 65a is shown in shaded area. In the wiping device 43 of this embodiment, with the liquid spraying unit 20 stopped at the cleaning position CP, a wiping action is performed by moving the wiping main body 60 in the wiping direction Dw. During the wiping action, the first surface 65f of the contact portion 65a in the strip member 65 contacts the nozzle surface 40 and wipes the nozzle surface 40. The strip member 65 collects the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface 40 through the wiping action.

[0045] like Figure 4 As shown, the wiping device 43 includes an unwinding section 71 with an unwinding shaft 70 and a winding section 73 with a winding shaft 72. The unwinding section 71 holds the strip member 65 in a state where it is wound into a roll. The wiping device 43 may also include an upstream roller 74, a contact section 75, a pressing section 76, and a downstream roller 77 arranged sequentially from upstream along the moving area of ​​the strip member 65. The upstream roller 74, the contact section 75, the pressing section 76, and the downstream roller 77 are arranged sequentially from upstream in the wiping direction Dw.

[0046] The strip member 65, released from the unwinding section 71, is sequentially wound around the upstream roller 74, the contact section 75, the pressing section 76, and the downstream roller 77, and is then wound by the take-up section 73. The housing 66 supports the unwinding shaft 70, the upstream roller 74, the contact section 75, the pressing section 76, the downstream roller 77, and the take-up shaft 72 so that they can rotate about the X-axis. The contact section 75 contacts the first surface 65f of the strip member 65. The upstream roller 74, the pressing section 76, and the downstream roller 77 contact the second surface 65s, which is opposite to the first surface 65f of the strip member 65.

[0047] With the housing 66 in the standby position WP or the receiving position RP, the wiping motor 68 is driven, causing the take-up shaft 72 to rotate in the take-up direction Dr, winding the strip member 65 into a roll shape. In this embodiment, the action of the take-up section 73 winding the strip member 65 onto the take-up shaft 72 is called the take-up action, and the area between the unwinding section 71 and the take-up section 73 is called the moving area. The take-up section 73 pulls the strip member 65 by performing the take-up action, thereby causing the unwinding shaft 70 to rotate in the unwinding direction Du. The take-up section 73 moves the pulled-out portion of the strip member 65 along the moving area in the moving direction Dm. By performing the take-up action of winding the strip member 65, the take-up section 73 enables the contact portion 65a to move in the moving direction Dm. The moving direction Dm refers to the direction along the moving area, and is the direction from the upstream unwinding section 71 to the downstream take-up section 73.

[0048] The wiping device 43 includes a braking mechanism 79 that brakes rotation of the unwinding shaft 70 in the unwinding direction Du from which the strip 65 is released from the unwinding shaft 70. The braking mechanism 79 can brake the rotation of the unwinding shaft 70, for example, by applying frictional force to the unwinding shaft 70, or it can employ a torque damper. The winding section 73 and the braking mechanism 79 apply tension to the strip 65 in the direction of movement Dm through the winding action. The winding section 73 winds the strip 65, which is tensioned by the winding action.

[0049] The wiping device 43 may also include a rotation limiting mechanism 80, which limits rotation in the direction opposite to the winding direction Dr of the take-up shaft 72. The rotation limiting mechanism 80 allows rotation of the take-up shaft 72 in the winding direction Dr during the winding operation, and limits the rotation of the take-up shaft 72 when no winding operation is being performed.

[0050] The moving area comprises, starting from the upstream of the moving direction Dm, an unwinding area A1, a front adjacent area A2, a contact area A3, a rear adjacent area A4, and a rewinding area A5. The unwinding area A1 and the front adjacent area A2 are upstream areas (Mu) in the moving direction Dm, which are located further upstream than the pressing part 76, and also upstream areas (Wu) in the wiping direction Dw, which are located further upstream than the pressing part 76. The rear adjacent area A4 and the rewinding area A5 are downstream areas (Md) in the moving direction Dm, which are located further downstream than the pressing part 76, and also downstream areas (Wd) in the wiping direction Dw, which are located further downstream than the pressing part 76.

[0051] The unwinding area A1 is the area from the unwinding section 71 to the upstream roller 74. The adjacent area A2 is the area from the upstream roller 74 to the pressing section 76. The adjacent area A2 is adjacent to the unwinding area A1 and the contact area A3 in the movement direction Dm.

[0052] Contact area A3 is the area where the strip member 65 is wound around the pressing part 76, and the pressing part 76 presses the strip member 65 from above. The portion of the strip member 65 located in contact area A3 is the contact portion 65a. The pressing part 76 presses the contact portion 65a of the strip member 65 located in contact area A3 so that it can come into contact with the liquid injection part 20.

[0053] The rear adjacent area A4 is the area from the pressing part 76 to the downstream roller 77. When the wiping body part 60 is in the receiving position RP, the rear adjacent area A4 is opposite to the liquid spraying part 20 in the cleaning position CP. The rear adjacent area A4 is adjacent to the contact area A3 and the winding area A5 in the movement direction Dm. The winding area A5 is the area from the downstream roller 77 to the winding part 73.

[0054] In the moving region between the unwinding section 71 and the winding section 73 in the moving direction Dm, the contact section 75 contacts the strip member 65 released from the unwinding section 71 and applies tension to the strip member 65. In this embodiment, the contact section 75 is configured to contact the strip member 65 in the immediate frontal region A2. In other words, the contact section 75 contacts the strip member 65 in the upstream region Wu in the wiping direction and in the upstream region Mu in the moving direction. The contact section 75 contacts the strip member 65 from above and applies tension to the strip member 65 by pressing it with its own weight.

[0055] The housing 66 may also have a guide 66b for guiding the contact portion 75. The housing 66 supports the contact portion 75 so that it is movable. The contact portion 75 is capable of moving during the winding operation. Figure 4 The solid line indicates the position during the action and the position when no winding action is performed. Figure 4The movement is between the positions indicated by the double-dotted line at the stop point.

[0056] The function of this embodiment will be explained.

[0057] like Figure 4 As shown, during the winding action, the tension applied to the strip member 65 in the moving area is greater than the force exerted by the contact portion 75 pressing against the strip member 65 by its own weight. Therefore, the contact portion 75 is pushed upward by the strip member 65, reaching an operating position higher than its stop position.

[0058] If a winding operation is performed while the strip member 65 is under tension, slack may sometimes occur on the strip member 65 after the winding operation. Therefore, when the winding operation ends, the contact portion 75 moves under its own weight to a stopping position that is lower than the position during the operation, absorbing the slack in the strip member 65.

[0059] The slack of the strip member 65 includes, for example, the slack produced by rotating the take-up shaft 72 only by a gap angle in the direction opposite to the take-up direction Dr from the end of the winding operation until the rotation limiting mechanism 80 functions. Therefore, the amount of slack of the strip member 65 varies depending on the amount of strip member 65 wound on the take-up shaft 72.

[0060] like Figure 4 As shown, when the amount of the strip member 65 wound on the take-up shaft 72 is small, the diameter of the strip member 65 is small. Therefore, when the take-up shaft 72 only rotates the gap angle, the amount of the strip member 65 returning from the take-up section 73 to the moving area is small, and the slack is also small. Therefore, relative to Figure 4 The position during the action is indicated by the solid line. Figure 4 The stop position indicated by the double-dotted line is the closest position.

[0061] like Figure 5 As shown, when the amount of the strip member 65 wound on the take-up shaft 72 is large, the diameter of the strip member 65 is large. Therefore, when the take-up shaft 72 only rotates by the gap angle, the amount of the strip member 65 returning from the take-up section 73 to the moving area is large, and the slack is also large. Therefore, relative to Figure 5 The position during the action is indicated by the solid line. Figure 5 The stop position indicated by the double-dotted line is a relatively far position.

[0062] That is, the take-up shaft 72 winds the strip member 65. The larger the diameter of the strip member 65 wound on the take-up section 73, the smaller the diameter of the strip member 65 on the unwinding section 71. After the winding operation, the amount of slack in the strip member 65 increases. Therefore, the smaller the diameter of the strip member 65 wound on the unwinding shaft 70, the lower the stopping position. Therefore, by placing the contact portion 75 above the unwinding section 71 and using the space for accommodating the strip member 65 wound on the unwinding shaft 70 to overlap with the range of movement of the contact portion 75, the wiping device 43 can be miniaturized.

[0063] The effects of this implementation method will be explained.

[0064] (1) The contact portion 75 is located in the operating position during the winding operation and in the stopping position when the winding operation is not performed. That is, if the winding operation ends, the contact portion 75 moves from the operating position to the stopping position. Therefore, by taking the direction of moving from the operating position to the stopping position as the direction of reducing the slack of the strip member 65, it is possible to reduce the slack of the strip member 65 that occurs after the winding operation is performed while the braking mechanism 79 applies tension to the strip member 65.

[0065] (2) In the strip member 65, if the contact portion 65a located in the contact area A3 is slack, there is a risk that the contact portion 65a may not be able to make good contact with the liquid injection portion 20. In this regard, the contact portion 75 contacts the front adjacent area A2 of the strip member 65 and applies tension to the strip member 65. The front adjacent area A2 is adjacent to the contact area A3, therefore, the slack of the contact portion 65a can be reduced.

[0066] (3) The contact portion 75 moves from the position during operation to the position when it stops by its own weight. Therefore, the tension corresponding to the weight of the contact portion 75 can be stably applied to the strip member 65.

[0067] (4) When the contact portion 65a performs a wiping action relative to the liquid spray portion 20 in the wiping direction Dw, the liquid adhering to the liquid spray portion 20 is more likely to adhere to the strip member 65 in the downstream region of the wiping direction Dw, which is further downstream than the pressing portion 76. In this respect, the contact portion 75 contacts the strip member 65 in the upstream region of the wiping direction Dw, which is further upstream than the pressing portion 76. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for the liquid collected by the strip member 65 through the wiping action to adhere to the contact portion 75.

[0068] (5) The contact portion 65a that contacts the liquid injection portion 20 moves downstream in the movement direction Dm by a winding action. In this respect, the contact portion 75 contacts the upstream region Mu in the movement direction Dm, which is upstream of the pressing portion 76. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for the liquid collected by the strip member 65 to adhere to the contact portion 75.

[0069] This embodiment can be modified as described below. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical inconsistency.

[0070] The wiping device 43 may also have two pressing parts 76 arranged in the moving direction Dm, and the area between the two pressing parts 76 is used as the contact area A3.

[0071] The wiping device 43 may also be configured without the rotation limiting mechanism 80. For example, the control unit 29 controls the drive of the wiping motor 68, and torque can be applied to the take-up shaft 72 even when no winding operation is being performed. The control unit 29 may also perform the winding operation by increasing the torque applied to the take-up shaft 72 to rotate the take-up shaft 72.

[0072] The wiping device 43 may also have multiple contact parts 75.

[0073] The contact portion 75 may also contact the strip member 65 in the downstream region Wd of the wiping direction. The contact portion 75 may also contact the strip member 65 in the downstream region Md of the moving direction. For example, the contact portion 75 may also be configured to contact the strip member 65 in the rear adjacent region A4, which is adjacent to the contact region A3 in the moving direction Dm. If the contact portion 75 contacts the strip member 65 in the rear adjacent region A4 and imparts tension to the strip member 65, then since the rear adjacent region A4 is adjacent to the contact region A3, the slack of the contact portion 65a can be easily reduced.

[0074] The wiping device 43 can also receive liquid sprayed from the liquid spraying unit 20 by rinsing. For example, the strip member 65 can also receive liquid in the rear adjacent area A4. The contact part 75 can also contact the strip member 65 in the moving direction Dm, between the pressing part 76 and the position where the liquid from rinsing is received.

[0075] The contact portion 75 can also be configured to contact the strip member 65 in the unwinding area A1. In this case, the contact portion 75 can also contact the second surface 65s, which is the opposite surface to the first surface 65f that contacts the contact portion 65a with the liquid injection portion 20. By having the contact portion 75 contact the second surface 65s, the risk of contamination of the first surface 65f of the contact portion 65a when the part contacted by the contact portion 75 moves in the moving direction Dm and becomes the contact portion 65a can be reduced.

[0076] The contact portion 75 can also be configured to contact the strip member 65 in the winding region A5. Alternatively, the contact portion 75 can be configured to contact the second surface 65s of the strip member 65 in the downstream region Md of the movement direction. Therefore, even if the portion of liquid collected by the wiping action moves in the movement direction Dm, the contact portion 75 will still contact the second surface 65s of the strip member 65, which is the opposite surface to the first surface 65f that contacts the liquid spray portion 20. This reduces variations in sliding load and other factors between the contact portion 75 and the strip member 65.

[0077] The wiping body 60 can also move in the depth direction Y to wipe the liquid spraying part 20. In this case, the depth direction Y becomes the wiping direction Dw, and the unwinding area A1 and the front adjacent area A2 become the downstream area Wd in the wiping direction, while the rear adjacent area A4 and the winding area A5 become the upstream area Wu in the wiping direction.

[0078] The wiping device 43 may also include a pressing component such as a spring or a weight that presses the contact portion 75 against the strip member 65. When the pressing component is a spring, the stopped position may be located further vertically upward than the active position. The contact portion 75 may also move in the horizontal direction.

[0079] The wiping action can also be performed by moving the liquid jet section 20 toward the stationary contact section 65a. Alternatively, the wiping action can be performed by moving both the contact section 65a and the liquid jet section 20.

[0080] • The liquid jetting device 11 can also be a liquid jetting device that jets or sprays liquids other than ink. The state of the liquid jetted from the liquid jetting device in the form of tiny droplets includes granular, tear-like, and filamentous states. The liquid described here can be any material that can be jetted from the liquid jetting device. For example, the liquid can be any liquid in its liquid phase state, including liquids with high or low viscosity, sols, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, molten metals, and other fluids. Liquids include not only liquids as a state of matter, but also states formed by dissolving, dispersing, or mixing functional material particles composed of solids such as pigments and metal particles in a solvent. Representative examples of liquids include inks and liquid crystals described in the above embodiments. Here, inks include general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot-melt inks. Specific examples of liquid jetting devices include devices that jet liquids containing materials such as electrode materials and pigments used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, electroluminescent displays, surface-emitting displays, and color filters, in a dispersed or dissolved manner. Liquid jetting devices can also be used to spray organic biological materials for manufacturing biochips, as precision pipettes, to spray liquids as samples, as printing and dyeing devices, and as micro-dispensers. Liquid jetting devices can also be used to precisely spray lubricating oil into precision equipment such as watches and cameras, or to spray transparent resin liquids such as UV-curable resins onto substrates to form micro-hemispherical lenses and optical lenses for use in optical communication components. Liquid jetting devices can also be used to spray etching solutions such as acids or alkalis to etch substrates.

[0081] The technical solutions and their effects based on the above-described embodiments and modifications are described below.

[0082] (A) The wiping device comprises: an unwinding section having an unwinding shaft for holding a strip member in a wound-up state; a pressing section having the strip member released from the unwinding section wound around it and capable of contacting a contact portion of the strip member located in a contact area with a liquid spraying section capable of spraying liquid; a winding section having a winding shaft capable of moving the contact portion in a moving direction by performing a winding action of winding the strip member; a braking mechanism for braking the rotation of the unwinding shaft toward the direction of releasing the strip member from the unwinding shaft; and a contact portion having contact with the strip member released from the unwinding section in a moving area between the unwinding section and the winding section in the moving direction and applying tension to the strip member, and the contact portion being movable between an active position during the winding action and a stop position when the winding action is not performed.

[0083] According to this configuration, the contact portion is located in the operating position during the winding operation and in the stopping position when the winding operation is not performed. That is, when the winding operation ends, the contact portion moves from the operating position to the stopping position. Therefore, by using the direction of moving from the operating position to the stopping position as the direction to reduce the slack of the strip member, the slack of the strip member that occurs after the winding operation is performed while the braking mechanism has applied tension to the strip member can be reduced.

[0084] (B) Alternatively, in the wiping device, the contact portion is configured to contact the strip member in either the front adjacent region or the rear adjacent region adjacent to the contact area in the direction of movement.

[0085] In a strip-shaped component, if the contact portion located in the contact area is slack, there is a risk that the contact portion will not make good contact with the liquid jet. To address this, according to this configuration, the contact portion contacts the strip-shaped component in either the immediate front region or the immediate rear region, applying tension to the strip-shaped component. Since the immediate front region and the immediate rear region are adjacent to the contact area, slackness of the contact portion can be easily reduced.

[0086] (C) Alternatively, in the wiping device, the contact portion is configured to be able to move by its own weight from the position during the action to the position at the stop, which is lower than the position during the action.

[0087] According to this configuration, the contact portion moves from its active position to its stationary position by its own weight. Therefore, it is possible to stably apply tension corresponding to the weight of the contact portion to the strip member.

[0088] (D) Alternatively, in the wiping device, when the direction in which the contact portion moves relative to the liquid jet portion is taken as the wiping direction while the contact portion is in contact with the liquid jet portion, the contact portion contacts the strip member in the upstream region of the wiping direction in the moving region, which is upstream of the pressing portion.

[0089] When a wiping action is performed where the contact portion moves relative to the liquid jet portion in the wiping direction, the liquid adhering to the liquid jet portion tends to adhere to the downstream region of the strip member in the wiping direction, which is further downstream than the pressing portion. In this respect, according to this configuration, the contact portion contacts the strip member in the upstream region of the wiping direction, which is further upstream than the pressing portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid collected by the strip member during the wiping action from adhering to the contact portion.

[0090] (E) Alternatively, in the wiping device, the contact portion contacts the strip member in the upstream region of the moving direction in the moving area, which is further upstream of the pressing portion.

[0091] The contact portion that contacts the liquid jet section moves downstream in the movement direction through a winding action. In this respect, according to this configuration, the contact portion contacts an upstream region in the movement direction that is further upstream than the pressing portion, thus making it difficult for the liquid collected by the strip member to adhere to the contact portion.

[0092] (F) A liquid spraying device includes: a liquid spraying section for spraying liquid; and a wiping device for wiping the liquid spraying section. The wiping device includes: an unwinding section having an unwinding shaft for holding a strip-shaped component in a wound-up state; a pressing section having the strip-shaped component released from the unwinding section wound around it and capable of contacting a contact portion of the strip-shaped component located in the contact area with the liquid spraying section; a winding section having a winding shaft capable of moving the contact portion in a moving direction by performing a winding action of winding the strip-shaped component; a braking mechanism for braking the rotation of the unwinding shaft in the direction in which the strip-shaped component is released from the unwinding shaft; and a contact portion having contact with the strip-shaped component released from the unwinding section in a moving area between the unwinding section and the winding section in the moving direction and applying tension to the strip-shaped component, and the contact portion being movable between a position during the winding action and a position when the winding action is not performed. With this configuration, the same effect as the wiping device described above can be achieved.

[0093] (G) Alternatively, in the liquid spraying device, the contact portion is configured to contact the strip member in either the immediate front region or the immediate rear region adjacent to the contact area in the direction of movement. With this configuration, the same effect as the wiping device described above can be achieved.

[0094] (H) Alternatively, in the liquid spraying device, the contact portion is configured to move by its own weight from the position during operation to the position at rest, which is lower than the position during operation. With this configuration, the same effect as the wiping device described above can be achieved.

[0095] (I) Alternatively, in a liquid jetting device, when the direction in which the contact portion moves relative to the liquid jetting part is taken as the wiping direction while the contact portion is in contact with the liquid jetting part, the contact portion contacts the strip member in the upstream region of the wiping direction in the moving region, which is further upstream of the pressing part. With this configuration, the same effect as the wiping device described above can be achieved.

[0096] (J) Alternatively, in the liquid spraying device, the contact portion contacts the strip member in the upstream region of the moving direction in the moving area, which is further upstream than the pressing portion. With this configuration, the same effect as the wiping device described above can be achieved.

Claims

1. A wiping device, characterized in that, Possessing: a pay-off section having a pay-off shaft that holds a belt member in a state of being wound into a roll shape; a press section on which the belt member that is paid out from the pay-off section is wound, the press section being capable of bringing a contact portion of the belt member that is located in a contact region into contact with a liquid ejection section that is capable of ejecting liquid; a take-up section having a take-up shaft that is capable of moving the contact portion in a moving direction by performing a take-up operation of winding the belt member; a brake mechanism that brakes rotation of the pay-off shaft in a direction in which the belt member is paid out from the pay-off shaft; and a contact section that comes into contact with the belt member that is paid out from the pay-off section in a moving region between the pay-off section and the take-up section in the moving direction and imparts tension to the belt member, the contact section being capable of moving between a position at the time of the operation in the take-up operation and a stop position at the time of not performing the take-up operation, the contact section being in contact with the belt member in a moving direction upstream region of the moving region in the moving direction that is more upstream than the press section, a moving range of the contact section overlapping with a space for accommodating the belt member that is wound on the pay-off shaft.

2. The wiping device according to claim 1, wherein the contact section is provided to come into contact with the belt member in any one of a front immediate region and a rear immediate region that are adjacent to the contact region in the moving direction.

3. The wiping device according to claim 1, wherein the contact section is provided to be capable of moving from the position at the time of the operation to the stop position that is more downward than the position at the time of the operation by self weight.

4. The wiping device according to claim 1, wherein when a direction in which the contact portion is relatively moved with respect to the liquid ejection section in a state in which the contact portion is in contact with the liquid ejection section is a wiping direction, the contact section is in contact with the belt member in a wiping direction upstream region of the moving region in the wiping direction that is more upstream than the press section. Possessing:

5. A liquid ejecting apparatus characterized by comprising: a liquid ejection section that ejects liquid; and a wiping device that is capable of wiping the liquid ejection section, the wiping device having: a pay-off section having a pay-off shaft that holds a belt member in a state of being wound into a roll shape; a press section on which the belt member that is paid out from the pay-off section is wound, the press section being capable of bringing a contact portion of the belt member that is located in a contact region into contact with the liquid ejection section; a take-up section having a take-up shaft that is capable of moving the contact portion in a moving direction by performing a take-up operation of winding the belt member; a brake mechanism that brakes rotation of the pay-off shaft in a direction in which the belt member is paid out from the pay-off shaft; and a contact section that comes into contact with the belt member that is paid out from the pay-off section in a moving region between the pay-off section and the take-up section in the moving direction and imparts tension to the belt member, the contact section being capable of moving between a position at the time of the operation in the take-up operation and a stop position at the time of not performing the take-up operation, ​ a contact portion that contacts the belt-like member being paid out from the pay-out portion in a movement region between the pay-out portion and the take-up portion in the movement direction and imparts tension to the belt-like member, the contact portion being movable between a position at the time of operation in the take-up operation and a position at the time of stop when the take-up operation is not performed, the contact portion contacts the belt-like member in an upstream region in the movement direction that is more upstream than the press portion in the movement direction in the movement region, a range of movement of the contact portion overlaps with a space for accommodating the belt-like member wound around the pay-out shaft.

6. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 5, wherein the contact portion is disposed to contact the belt-like member in any one of a front immediately adjacent region and a rear immediately adjacent region to the contact region in the movement direction.

7. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 5, wherein the contact portion is disposed to be able to move from the position at the time of operation to the position at the time of stop that is more downward than the position at the time of operation by self-weight.

8. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 5, wherein when a direction in which the contact portion is relatively moved with respect to the liquid ejecting portion in a state in which the contact portion contacts the liquid ejecting portion is a wiping direction, the contact portion contacts the belt-like member in a wiping direction upstream region in the wiping direction that is more upstream than the press portion in the wiping direction in the movement region.

Images