Inkjet recording apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a blade, and a cleaning liquid supply member. The recording head is provided with a nozzle surface in which ink ejection ports of the plurality of nozzles are open downward, and is supported so as to be capable of rising and falling. The scraper blade wipes the nozzle surface by contacting the nozzle surface and moving in a predetermined moving direction. The cleaning liquid supply member is movable between a separation position and a supply position. The cleaning liquid supply member includes a supply port, a sheet, and a holder. The supply port holds the supplied cleaning liquid. The sheet is provided in front of the supply port in the moving direction. The holder supports the sheet in a manner that the sheet can rotate from the inclined posture to the supply posture. When the recording head descends after the cleaning liquid supply member moves to the supply position, the tip of the sheet comes into contact with the nozzle surface, and thereafter, the tip of the sheet moves forward along the nozzle surface in the moving direction while the cleaning liquid supply member is rotated from the inclined attitude to the supply attitude, and the sheet is bridged between the supply port and the nozzle surface. Therefore, the cleaning liquid can be prevented from polluting the paper, and the surface of the nozzle can be reliably wiped.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus having a blade for wiping off ink attached to a nozzle surface of a recording head. Background Art

[0002] The inkjet recording device includes a wiper unit that moves a scraper along the nozzle surface of the recording head to wipe off the ink attached to the nozzle surface. When the scraper moves along the nozzle surface, a cleaning liquid is supplied to a position downstream of the start position of the scraper movement. The scraper moves along the nozzle surface while holding the supplied cleaning liquid.

[0003] Sometimes, a cleaning liquid supply port is provided between the nozzle surface and the movement start position of the scraper on the recording head. When the scraper moves, cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply port, and the scraper wipes off (scrapes off) the ink attached to the nozzle surface together with the cleaning liquid.

[0004] In the case where a cleaning liquid supplying member for supplying cleaning liquid to the supplying port is provided integrally with the recording head, the cleaning liquid supplied to the supplying port is in contact with the nozzle surface even during printing. Therefore, there is a problem that when a paper passing under the recording head bends upward during printing, the paper contacts the cleaning liquid supplying member, causing the cleaning liquid to contaminate the paper or the cleaning liquid supplying member to be damaged by the paper.

[0005] Therefore, sometimes the cleaning liquid supply component is not provided integrally with the recording head but is provided so as to be movable between a position adjacent to the nozzle surface and a position separated from the nozzle surface. In this case, in order to block the gap between the cleaning liquid supply component and the recording head, a sheet is provided on the cleaning liquid supply component. When the cleaning liquid supply component moves to a position adjacent to the nozzle surface, the sheet abuts against the nozzle surface from below, spanning between the nozzle surface and the supply port. Thereafter, when the scraper is moved from the moving start position, the scraper passes through the supply port and moves toward the nozzle surface along the sheet. Then, a wiping action is performed in which the scraper moves along the nozzle surface. Through this wiping action, the ink remaining on the nozzle surface is wiped off by the scraper together with the cleaning liquid supplied to the supply port.

[0006] However, when the sheet is provided in this way, the cleaning liquid may enter between the sheet and the nozzle surface, and the cleaning liquid may adhere to the nozzle surface, thereby causing problems such as poor ink ejection from the nozzle surface. Summary of the invention

[0007] Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus having a wiping unit that can prevent a cleaning liquid from contaminating a paper and can reliably wipe a nozzle surface.

[0008] The inkjet recording device of the present invention comprises a recording head, a scraper and a cleaning liquid supply component. The recording head is provided with a nozzle surface in which the ink ejection outlets of a plurality of nozzles are open downward, and is supported in a manner that can be raised and lowered. The scraper contacts the nozzle surface and moves along a specified moving direction to wipe the nozzle surface. The cleaning liquid supply component can move between a separation position and a supply position, wherein the separation position refers to a position where the cleaning liquid is separated from the nozzle surface and supplied from a cleaning liquid supply source; and the supply position refers to a position where the cleaning liquid can be supplied between the nozzle surface and the moving start position of the scraper. The cleaning liquid supply component comprises a supply port, a sheet and a retainer. The supply port retains the supplied cleaning liquid. The sheet is provided at a position that is closer to the front of the moving direction than the supply port. The retainer supports the sheet in a manner that the sheet can rotate from an inclined posture to a supply posture, wherein the inclined posture refers to a posture that is inclined upward toward the front of the moving direction; and the supply posture is a posture that extends toward the front of the moving direction. When the recording head descends after the cleaning liquid supply component moves to the supply position, the top end of the sheet contacts the nozzle surface, after which the top end of the sheet moves forward along the nozzle surface in the moving direction, and at the same time, the cleaning liquid supply component rotates from the inclined posture to the supply posture, and the sheet is erected between the supply port and the nozzle surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 It is a front view schematically showing the internal structure of the inkjet recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2A It is a plan view schematically showing a head unit and a maintenance device of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2B It is a front view schematically showing a head unit and a maintenance device of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3A It is a side view showing a recording head of an inkjet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3B It is a bottom view showing a recording head of the ink jet recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing an end cap unit of the inkjet recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a wiping unit and a cleaning liquid supply mechanism of an inkjet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 6A This is a cross-sectional view showing a carriage and a cleaning liquid supply member (a state in which the cleaning liquid storage member is rotated to an inclined posture) of a wiping unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 6B This is a side view showing a carriage and a cleaning liquid supply member (a state in which the cleaning liquid storage member is rotated to a supply posture) of a wiping unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a perspective view showing a carriage and a cleaning liquid supply member of a wiping unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 8A This is a perspective view showing a carriage moved to a movement start position in a wiping unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 8B This is a perspective view showing a carriage moved to a movement end position in a wiping unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Fig. 9 This is a perspective view showing a cleaning liquid supply portion that is lowered to an insertion position in a wiping unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Fig.10 This is a block diagram showing a control unit of an inkjet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Fig.11A This is a side view showing a cleaning liquid storage member of a wiping unit in an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (a state in which the leading end of a sheet is in contact with the nozzle surface of a recording head).

[0024] Fig. 11B This is a side view showing a cleaning liquid storage member of a wiping unit in an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (a state in which the leading end of a sheet moves along the nozzle surface of a recording head).

[0025] Fig. 11CThis is a side view showing a cleaning liquid containing member (in a state rotated to a supplying posture) of a wiping unit in an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Next, refer to the attached Figure 1 An inkjet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0027] First, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2A and Figure 2B The overall structure of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 will be described. Figure 1 It is a front view schematically showing the interior of the inkjet recording device 1 . Figure 2A is a top view schematically showing the head unit 11 and the maintenance unit 13, Figure 2B FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the head unit 11 and the maintenance unit 13. Figure 1 The front side of the paper in the figure is the front side (front side) of the inkjet recording device 1. In each figure, U, Lo, L, R, Fr, and Rr represent up, down, left, right, front, and back, respectively.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the inkjet recording device 1 is an image forming device of an inkjet method that forms an image by discharging ink. The inkjet recording device 1 has a main body housing 3 in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. A paper supply box 5 and a paper supply roller 7 are provided at the lower part of the interior of the main body housing 3, wherein the paper supply box 5 is used to store paper; and the paper supply roller 7 is used to feed paper from the paper supply box 5. A conveying unit 9 for conveying paper is provided above the paper supply box 5. Four head units 11M, 11C, 11Bk, and 11Y (collectively referred to as head units 11) and four maintenance units 13 (also referred to as maintenance units 13) are provided above the conveying unit 9. Figure 2A and Figure 2B A discharge roller pair 15 and a discharge tray 17 are provided at the upper left portion of the main body housing 3. The discharge roller pair 15 is used to discharge the paper with the image formed thereon; and the discharge tray 17 is used to stack the discharged paper.

[0029] A conveyance path 19 is provided inside the main body casing 3, which leads from the paper feed cassette 5 to the discharge roller pair 15 via the conveyance unit 9. The conveyance path 19 is provided with a plurality of conveyance roller pairs 21 for conveying paper.

[0030] Next, refer to Figure 1The conveying unit 9 is described below. The conveying unit 9 includes an endless conveying belt 25. The conveying belt 25 is provided with a plurality of through holes penetrating in the thickness direction. The conveying belt 25 is wound around a driving roller 27A and a driven roller 27B that are arranged separately on the left and right sides. The driving roller 27A is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The conveying belt 25 is rotated by the driving roller 27A. Figure 1 The conveyor belt 25 running along the upper track forms a belt running from Figure 1 A conveying path 19 for conveying paper in a conveying direction from right to left.

[0031] A conveyor plate 29 and a suction device 31 are provided in the hollow portion of the conveyor belt 25. The conveyor plate 29 is provided with a plurality of through holes penetrating in the thickness direction. The conveyor plate 29 contacts the inner surface of the conveyor belt 25 running along the upper track. The suction device 31 is provided below the conveyor plate 29, and sucks air through the through holes of the conveyor belt 25 and the through holes of the conveyor plate 29, thereby adsorbing the paper to the conveyor belt 25.

[0032] Next, the head unit 11 is described. The four head units 11Y, 11Bk, 11C, and 11M correspond to yellow, black, cyan, and magenta inks, respectively, and are arranged above the conveying unit 9 at predetermined intervals along the conveying direction. The four head units 11 are connected to ink cartridges 33Y, 33Bk, 33C, and 33M filled with yellow, black, cyan, and magenta inks, respectively. Figure 2A and Figure 2B As shown, each head unit 11 includes three recording heads 37 and a plate member 39 for supporting the three recording heads 37 .

[0033] Reference Figure 3A and Figure 3B The recording head 37 will be described. Figure 3A is a side view showing the recording head 37, Figure 3B : is a bottom view showing the recording head 37. The recording head 37 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the width direction (front-back direction) that intersects the conveying direction. The recording head 37 has a plurality of nozzles (not shown) for supplying ink and a piezoelectric element (not shown) arranged for each nozzle. The nozzles of the plurality of nozzles are provided on the lower surface of the recording head 37. By driving the piezoelectric element, the ink in the nozzle is ejected downward from the nozzle. Figure 3B As shown in FIG. 1 , a surface including a region N where a nozzle outlet is opened is referred to as a nozzle surface N. FIG.

[0034] like Figure 2A As shown in FIG. 1 , the three recording heads 37 are arranged in a staggered manner along the width direction (front-rear direction). Specifically, two recording heads 37 are arranged in a row along the width direction, and one recording head 37 is arranged adjacent to the two recording heads 37 in the conveying direction (left-right direction). Figure 3A As shown, the recording head 37 is supported in such a manner that the lower end portion thereof projects from the plate member 39 .

[0035] The four head units 11 are respectively moved by the head unit lifting mechanism 41 (see Fig.10 The printing position refers to a position where the nozzle surface N of the recording head 37 of the head unit 11 faces the conveyor belt 25 running along the upper track at a predetermined interval (e.g., 1 mm) (see Figure 1 The retracted position refers to a position where the nozzle surface N of the recording head 37 of the head unit 11 is separated upward from the conveyor belt 25 relative to the printing position, and a space capable of accommodating the end cap unit 51 and the wiping unit 53 of the maintenance unit 13 described later is formed above the conveyor unit 9. The head unit lifting mechanism 41 and the control unit 201 (see Fig.10 )Electrical connection.

[0036] Next, the maintenance unit 13 will be described. The four maintenance units 13 have the same structure and are provided for each of the four head units 11. The maintenance units 13 are arranged adjacent to the corresponding head units 11 in the conveying direction. In this example, the maintenance units 13 are arranged on the downstream side (left side) of the corresponding head units 11.

[0037] like Figure 2B As shown, the maintenance unit 13 includes: an end cover unit 51, which covers the nozzle surface N of the three recording heads 37 of the head unit 11; a wiping unit 53, which cleans the nozzle surface N of the three recording heads 37 of the head unit 11; and a cleaning liquid supply unit 55, which supplies cleaning liquid to the wiping unit 53.

[0038] The end cap unit 51, the wiping unit 53, and the cleaning liquid supply unit 55 are supported by a housing 57. The housing is arranged on the downstream side (left side) of the corresponding head unit 11. The housing 57 has a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the width direction, and the surface (right side surface) facing the corresponding head unit 11 is open.

[0039] First, refer to Figure 4 The end cap unit 51 will be described. Figure 4 1 is a perspective view showing the end cap unit 51. The end cap unit 51 has three end caps 61 covering the nozzle surfaces N of the three recording heads 37. The three end caps 61 are arranged alternately in the width direction (front-rear direction) in a manner corresponding to the three recording heads 37 of the head unit 11, and are supported by a support plate 63. Each end cap 61 has a recessed portion 61a with an opening on the upper surface and a discharge port (not shown) provided at the bottom of the recessed portion 61a.

[0040] The end cap unit 51 can be moved in a standby position (see FIG. Figure 1 , Figure 2A and Figure 2B ) and the end cap position, and moves in the conveying direction or the opposite direction (left-right direction) opposite to the conveying direction. The standby position is a position where the end cap unit 51 is accommodated in the lower space of the housing 57. The end cap position refers to a position accommodated in the space below the head unit 11 that has risen to the retracted position. By moving the end cap unit 51 to the end cap position, the head unit 11 descends to a specified height, and the nozzle surfaces N of the three recording heads 37 are covered by the three end caps 61. The end cap unit 51 can move between the end cap position and the standby position through the right opening of the housing 57.

[0041] Next, refer to Figure 5 The wiping unit 53 will be described. The wiping unit 53 includes three carriages 71 , three cleaning liquid supply members 73 , and a waste liquid tray 75 for supporting the three carriages 71 and the three cleaning liquid supply members 73 .

[0042] First, the waste liquid tray 75 will be described. The waste liquid tray 75 is a tray with an open top surface and has a size corresponding to the head unit 11. The waste liquid tray 75 is provided with three guide rails 79 along the width direction (front-back direction). The three guide rails 79 are staggered along the width direction like the three recording heads 37 of the head unit 11.

[0043] Next, refer to Fig. 6A and Figure 6B , Figure 7 The carriage 71 and the cleaning liquid supply member 73 will be described. Fig. 6A and Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view showing the carriage 71 and the cleaning liquid supply member 73, Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing the carriage 71 and the cleaning liquid supply member 73 . Figure 7 The cleaning liquid containing member 91 is shown in a state where it is rotated to an inclined posture.

[0044] First, the carriage 71 is described. The carriage 71 includes a moving body 81, a scraper 83, and a holder 85. The holder 85 supports the scraper 83 and is supported by the moving body 81. The moving body 81 is engaged with a guide rail 79 provided on the waste liquid tray 75, and can be moved by a carriage moving mechanism 87 (in Fig. 6A and Figure 6B , Figure 7 The diagram is omitted, see Fig.10) moves along the guide rail 79 between the movement start position and the movement end position. In this example, the movement start position is a position corresponding to a position behind the nozzle surface N, and the movement end position is a position corresponding to a position in front of the nozzle surface N. The direction from the movement start position to the movement end position (in this example, the direction from the back to the front) is defined as the movement direction X1 of the carriage 71. The carriage moving mechanism 87 and the control unit 201 (see Fig.10 )Electrical connection.

[0045] The scraper 83 is a plate-like member having a width wider than the width of the nozzle surface N, and is made of a flexible resin or the like. The scraper 83 is supported at its lower end by a holder 85 in a posture that it is inclined toward the upstream side in the moving direction X1 and in the scraper width direction X2 (left-right direction) that intersects the moving direction X1. The lower end of the holder 85 is located at a position upstream of the scraper 83 in the moving direction X1 so that it can be rotated by a rotation shaft 89 (see Fig. 6A and Figure 6B ) is supported by the moving body 81 in a manner of rotating around the rotation axis 89. Accordingly, the scraper 83 can rotate with the retainer 85 toward the upstream and downstream sides of the moving direction X1 around the rotation axis 89. In addition, the retainer 85 has a pair of arms 85a extending upward from both sides in the scraper width direction X2.

[0046] Next, the cleaning liquid supply member 73 will be described. The cleaning liquid supply member 73 is provided separately from the carriage 71 and includes a cleaning liquid containing member 91 and a pair of holders 93 that support the cleaning liquid containing member 91 and are supported by the guide rails 79 .

[0047] The cleaning liquid storage component 91 is a rectangular plate-shaped component, and the upper surface is formed flat. On the lower surface of the cleaning liquid storage component 91, a recess 91a is formed along the scraper width direction X2. The side surface of the recess 91a on the downstream side of the moving direction X1 is inclined toward the downstream side of the moving direction X1. The cleaning liquid storage component 91 has a top end 91b on the downstream side of the moving direction X1 and a base end 91c on the upstream side. The top end 91b is formed to be thinner than the base end 91c. In addition, the lower surface of the top end 91b is formed in a plane shape that is slightly inclined upward toward the downstream side of the moving direction X1.

[0048] A supplied port 95 is formed on the upper surface of the tip portion 91b. A plurality of supply ports 97 are formed on the lower surface of the tip portion 91b. The tip portion 91b is provided with a hollow portion (not shown) for accommodating the cleaning liquid. The supplied port 95 and the supply port 97 are communicated with each other.

[0049] A rectangular sheet 99 protruding toward the downstream side of the moving direction X1 is attached to the lower surface of the top end 91b. The sheet 99 extends toward the downstream side (front) of the moving direction X1 along a plane substantially identical to the lower surface of the top end 91b. The sheet 99 is provided with a plurality of through holes 101 connected to the plurality of supply ports 97 of the top end 91b.

[0050] The pair of retainers 93 are plate-like members that are L-shaped when viewed from the side. A support shaft 103 is provided at one end of the retainer 93. The support shaft 103 is received in a recess 79a provided in the guide rail 79 at a position that is closer to the upstream side of the moving direction X1 than the moving start position of the carriage 71. At the other end of the retainer 93, the base end 91c of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 is supported rotatably around the rotation shaft 105. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 can be tilted in an inclined posture (see FIG. 1 ) with the upper surface tilted upward toward the downstream side (front) of the moving direction X1. Fig. 6A ) and the feeding posture of the upper surface along the horizontal direction (refer to Figure 6B , Figure 7 ) are rotated around the rotation axis 105. By rotating the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 in this way, the sheet 99 is also tilted upward toward the downstream side of the moving direction X1 (see Fig. 6A ) and the downstream feeding posture along the moving direction X1 (refer to Figure 6B , Figure 7 A torsion coil spring (not shown) is sleeved on the rotation shaft 105. The torsion coil spring urges the cleaning liquid containing member 91 to an inclined posture.

[0051] Next, refer to Fig. 8A and Figure 8B The movement of the carriage 71 will be described. Fig. 8A Indicates that the carriage 71 has moved to the movement start position, Figure 8B The carriage 71 is shown moved to the movement end position. Fig. 8A and Figure 8B The figure shows a state where the cleaning liquid containing member 91 is rotated to the supplying posture.

[0052] When the carriage 71 moves to the movement start position (refer to Fig. 8A ), the top end of the scraper 83 is received in the concave portion 91a of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 (see Fig. 6A and Figure 6B , Figure 7 The carriage 71 is moved by the carriage moving mechanism 87 (see Fig.10 ) from the moving start position (refer to Fig. 8A ) to the end position of the movement (refer to Figure 8BHere, the cleaning liquid supply member 73 is supported by the guide rail 79 of the waste liquid tray 75 in an immovable manner as described above, so even if the carriage 71 moves, the cleaning liquid supply member 73 does not move.

[0053] Next, the movement of the wiping unit 53 will be described. The wiping unit 53 (carriage 71, cleaning liquid supply member 73, waste liquid tray 75) is moved by the wiping unit moving mechanism 109 (see Fig.10 ), capable of being in the standby position (refer to Figure 2B ) and the wiping position in the conveying direction and the opposite direction (left and right direction). The standby position is a position where the wiping unit 53 is accommodated in the upper space of the shell 57. The wiping position is a position accommodated in the space below the head unit 11 that has risen to the retracted position. After the head unit 11 moves to the retracted position, the wiping unit 53 moves to the wiping position, and the head unit 11 descends to a specified height, thereby allowing the scraper 83 to contact the nozzle surface N of the recording head 37. The wiping unit 53 can move between the standby position and the wiping position through the right opening of the shell 57. The wiping unit moving mechanism 109 and the control unit 201 (see Fig.10 )Electrical connection.

[0054] Next, refer to Figure 5 and Fig. 9 The cleaning liquid supply unit 55 will be described. Fig. 9 It is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the cleaning liquid supply unit 55 lowered to the insertion position.

[0055] The cleaning liquid supply unit 55 is provided in the housing 57 (see Figure 2B ), supplying cleaning liquid to the three cleaning liquid supply components 73 of the wiping unit 53. Figure 5 As shown, the cleaning liquid supply unit 55 includes three supply pipes 111 , a cleaning liquid tank 113 , and a pump 115 .

[0056] First, the three supply pipes 111 are described. The three supply pipes 111 are supported in the vertical direction by the support plate 121 supported by the housing 57. The three supply pipes 111 are arranged to correspond to the supplied ports 95 of the three cleaning liquid supply members 73 of the wiping unit 53 moved to the standby position.

[0057] like Fig. 9 As shown, a pair of positioning pins 131 are formed on the lower surface of the support plate 121 on both sides of each supply pipe 111 in the scraper width direction X2. In addition, a pair of rectangular parallelepiped protrusions 133 separated in the scraper width direction X2 are formed on the lower surface of the support plate 121 at a position upstream of each supply pipe 111 in the moving direction X1.

[0058] The support plate 121 can be moved by the lifting mechanism 135 (see Fig.10 ) is supported by lifting and lowering between a plurality of positions including a separation position and an insertion position. In the separation position, the support plate 121 is separated from the wiping unit 53 moved to the standby position at the top. In the supply position, as Fig. 9 As shown, the distal ends of the three supply tubes 111 are inserted into the supplied ports 95 of the three cleaning liquid supply members 73 of the wiping unit 53 moved to the standby position.

[0059] To explain in detail, when the support plate 121 is lowered from the separation position, the lower surface of the support plate 121 abuts against the top of the sheet 99 of the cleaning liquid receiving part 91. When the support plate 121 is further lowered, the sheet 99 and the cleaning liquid receiving part 91 are pressed downward by the lower surface of the support plate 121 and begin to rotate from the inclined posture to the supply posture. Then, when the support plate 121 is lowered to the supply position, as shown in FIG. Fig. 9 As shown, a pair of positioning pins 131 abut against the upper surface of the top end portion 91b of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91. Accordingly, the top ends of the three supply pipes 111 are inserted into the three supplied ports 95 of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91, and the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 rotates to the supply posture. In addition, a pair of protrusions 133 press a pair of arms 85a of the retainer 85 of the carriage 71. Accordingly, the retainer 85 rotates relative to the moving body 81, and the scraper 83 tilts toward the upstream side of the moving direction X1.

[0060] Next, refer to Figure 5 The cleaning liquid storage tank 113 is described. Cleaning liquid is stored in the cleaning liquid storage tank 113. The cleaning liquid is, for example, a liquid obtained by removing color materials from ink and having solvents and water as main components. In addition, surfactants, preservatives, etc. may be added as needed. A pipe 141 is connected to the outlet of the cleaning liquid storage tank 113. The pipe 141 is branched into three branch pipes 143 through a joint. The three branch pipes 143 are connected to the three supply pipes 111. The cleaning liquid storage tank 113 is an example of a cleaning liquid supply source in the present invention.

[0061] Next, refer to Figure 5 The pump 115 will be described. The pump 115 is provided in the pipe 141 and pumps the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 113 into the pipe 141 .

[0062] Next, refer to Fig.10 The control unit 201 will be described. Fig.10: is a block diagram of the control unit 201. The control unit 201 operates the head unit lifting mechanism 41 to lift the head unit 11 to a plurality of positions including a printing position and a retreat position, and a cleaning position between the printing position and the retreat position. The control unit 201 operates the carriage moving mechanism 87 to move the carriage 71 between a movement start position and a movement end position. The control unit 201 operates the wiping unit moving mechanism 109 to move the wiping unit 53 between a wiping position and a separation position. The control unit 201 operates the support plate lifting mechanism 135 to lift the support plate 121 between a separation position and an insertion position. Furthermore, the control unit 201 operates the pump 115 to start pumping cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid storage tank 113 to the pipe 141 or to stop pumping cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid storage tank 113 to the pipe 141.

[0063] Next, refer to Figure 1 The printing operation and head cleaning operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described.

[0064] First, refer to Figure 1 The printing operation is described. During the printing operation, the head unit 11 is lowered to the printing position, and the end cap unit 51 and the wiping unit 53 are moved to the standby position. In addition, the support plate 121 is lowered to the insertion position, and the three supply pipes 111 of the cleaning liquid supply unit 55 are inserted into the three supply ports 95 of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91. In addition, the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 is rotated to the supply posture.

[0065] First, paper is supplied from the paper supply cassette 5 by the paper supply roller 7. The supplied paper is transported to the transport unit 9 along the transport path 19 by the transport roller pair 21. The paper is transported along the track on the upper side of the transport belt 25 of the transport unit 9. At this time, ink is ejected from the recording head 37 of the head unit 11 corresponding to the image data to the paper, and an image is formed on the paper. Thereafter, the paper is transported along the transport path 19 by the transport roller pair 21, and is discharged to the discharge tray 17 by the discharge roller pair 15.

[0066] Thus, during the printing operation, the head unit 11 moves to the printing position. Each recording head 37 of the head unit 11 does not have a structure for supplying the cleaning liquid. Therefore, the cleaning liquid does not accidentally contact the paper.

[0067] After the printing operation is completed, the wiping operation is performed at a predetermined time (the end cap operation is not described). As described above, the wiping unit 53 moves to the standby position. The three supply tubes 111 are inserted into the supply ports 95 of the three cleaning liquid supply members 73 of the wiping unit 53.

[0068] First, the control unit 201 controls the head unit lifting mechanism 41 to raise the head unit 11 to the retracted position.

[0069] After that, the control unit 201 controls the pump 115 to draw the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid storage tank 113 to the pipe 141. The cleaning liquid is transported to the three supply pipes 111 through the pipe 141 and the three branch pipes 143. Then, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the three supply pipes 111 to the hollow portion through the supplied ports 95 of the three cleaning liquid supply components 73 and stored. The control unit 201 drives the pump 115 to draw the cleaning liquid until the supplied cleaning liquid is maintained in a state of protruding in a hemispherical shape from the supply port 97 (the through hole 101 of the sheet 99), and then stops driving the pump 115. In addition, the cleaning liquid forms a concave meniscus inside the supply port 97 in actions other than the head cleaning action and is maintained inside.

[0070] After that, the control unit 201 controls the support plate lifting mechanism 135 to raise the support plate 121 from the insertion position to the separation position. Then, the support plate 121 is separated from the cleaning liquid receiving member 91, and the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 is biased by the torsion coil spring and rotates from the supply posture to the inclined posture. In addition, the biasing force of the torsion coil spring is set to a degree that the cleaning liquid held by the supply port 97 does not fall.

[0071] After that, the control unit 201 controls the wiping unit moving mechanism 109 to move the wiping unit 53 (slide 71, cleaning liquid supply component 73, waste liquid tray 75) from the standby position to the wiping position. At this time, the cleaning liquid supply component 73 moves in a state where the cleaning liquid protrudes in a hemispherical shape from the supply port 97. After that, the control unit 201 controls the head unit lifting mechanism 41 to lower the head unit 11 to the cleaning position.

[0072] Reference Figures 11A to 11C The operation of the cleaning liquid containing member 91 when the head unit 11 is lowered will be described. Figures 11A to 11C is a side view showing the cleaning liquid receiving part 91. First, as Fig.11A As shown in FIG. 1 , the tip of the sheet 99 of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 abuts against the nozzle surface N of the recording head 37. Fig. 11B As shown, as the recording head 37 descends, the tip of the sheet 99 moves forward along the nozzle surface N in the moving direction X1 (see FIG. Fig. 11B At the same time, the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 starts to rotate from the inclined posture to the supply posture. By the action of the sheet 99, the nozzle surface N is wiped by the sheet 99. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid or ink attached to the nozzle surface N is scraped off by the sheet 99.

[0073] When the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 is rotated to the supplying posture, the control unit 201 stops the descent of the wiping unit 53. Fig. 11CAs shown, the lower surface of the top end 91b of the cleaning liquid containing component 91 and the nozzle surface N of the recording head 37 are arranged on approximately the same plane, and the gap between the lower surface of the top end 91b of the cleaning liquid containing component 91 and the nozzle surface N of the recording head 37 is blocked by the sheet 99.

[0074] After that, the control unit 201 controls the carriage moving mechanism 87 to move the carriage 71 from the movement start position to the movement end position. Accordingly, the scraper 83 moves on the nozzle surface N along the sheet 99 through the supply port 97 of the cleaning liquid storage member 91. Then, a wiping action is performed along the nozzle surface N. Through this wiping action, the ink remaining on the nozzle surface N is wiped off by the scraper 83 together with the cleaning liquid held by the supply port 97. The wiped ink and cleaning liquid fall from the lower edge or side edge of the scraper 83 into the waste liquid tray 75 below.

[0075] After that, the control unit 201 controls the head unit lifting mechanism 41 to raise the head unit 11 to the standby position. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid containing component 91 rotates from the supply posture to the inclined posture. After that, the control unit 201 controls the slide moving mechanism 87 to move the slide 71 to the movement start position. After that, the control unit 201 controls the wiping unit moving mechanism 109 to move the wiping unit 53 from the wiping position to the standby position. In addition, the control unit 201 controls the support plate lifting mechanism 135 to lower the support plate 121 from the separation position to the supply position. Accordingly, the three supply pipes 111 are inserted into the supplied ports 95 of the three cleaning liquid supply components 73 of the wiping unit 53.

[0076] As described above, according to the present invention, the wiping unit 53 includes the carriage 71 and the cleaning liquid supply component 73, and moves to the separated position during the printing operation. That is, there is no mechanism for supplying cleaning liquid to the head unit 11, so even if the paper is bent upward by mistake during the printing operation, the cleaning liquid will not adhere to the paper or the paper will not contact the mechanism for supplying cleaning liquid. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from contaminating the paper or the paper from damaging the mechanism for supplying cleaning liquid.

[0077] When the recording head 37 descends to the printing position, the cleaning liquid container 91 rotates from the inclined position to the supply position, and the tip of the sheet 99 wipes the nozzle surface N. Thus, even if cleaning liquid remains on the nozzle surface N, the cleaning liquid or ink can be wiped off by the sheet 99 .

[0078] Furthermore, when the cleaning liquid containing member 91 is rotated to the supply posture, the lower surface of the top end portion 91b of the cleaning liquid containing member 91 and the nozzle surface N of the recording head 37 are blocked by the sheet 99, so that the cleaning liquid can be reliably delivered from the supply port 97 to the nozzle surface N by the scraper 83. In addition, since the cleaning liquid containing member 91 is biased toward the inclined posture by the torsion coil spring, the sheet 99 contacts the nozzle surface N with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, the sheet 99 can reliably contact the nozzle surface N. In addition, the cleaning liquid containing member 91 can also be configured to rotate to the inclined posture by its own weight.

[0079] In addition, the supply pipe 111 of the cleaning liquid supply unit 55 that supplies the cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid storage member 91 moves only in the up-down direction together with the support plate 121, and does not move in the left-right direction. In this way, the moving distance of the supply pipe 111 is relatively short, so it is possible to prevent the pipe 141 or the branch pipe 143 connected to the supply pipe 111 from bending and causing poor supply. In addition, the pipe 141 and the branch pipe 143 can be laid out in a narrow space.

[0080] In addition, the present invention includes the following case as in the present embodiment: the sheet 99 is attached to the lower surface of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 in a manner overlapping with the supply port 97, and the through hole 101 communicating with the supply port 97 is formed in the sheet 99. That is, in a state where the cleaning liquid supply member 73 is moved to the supply position, a part of the sheet 99 may be disposed at a position forward of the supply port 97 in the moving direction X1. Alternatively, the sheet 99 may be attached at a position forward of the supply port 97 of the cleaning liquid receiving member 91 in the moving direction X1.

[0081] In this embodiment, an example is described in which four head units 11 are provided for each ink color and the maintenance unit 13 is provided for each head unit 11. However, it is also possible to configure the four head units 11 to be provided integrally and the four end cap units 51 and the four wiping units 53 of the maintenance unit 13 to be provided integrally.

[0082] Although the present invention describes specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can modify the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An inkjet recording device, characterized in that It has a recording head, a scraper and a cleaning liquid supply component, wherein: The recording head is provided with a nozzle surface in which the ink ejection outlets of a plurality of nozzles are opened downward, and is supported in a manner that allows lifting and lowering; The scraper wipes the nozzle surface by contacting the nozzle surface and moving along a specified moving direction; The cleaning liquid supply component can move between a separation position and a supply position, wherein the separation position refers to a position separated from the nozzle surface and supplying cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid supply source; the supply position refers to a position capable of supplying cleaning liquid between the nozzle surface and a movement start position of the scraper, The cleaning liquid supply component comprises a supply port, a sheet and a retainer, wherein: The supply port holds the supplied cleaning liquid; The sheet is disposed at a position forward of the supply port in the moving direction; The retainer supports the sheet in a manner that enables the sheet to rotate from an inclined posture to a feeding posture, wherein the inclined posture is a posture that is inclined upward toward the front of the moving direction; and the feeding posture is a posture that extends toward the front of the moving direction. When the recording head descends after the cleaning liquid supply component moves to the supply position, the top end of the sheet contacts the nozzle surface, after which the top end of the sheet moves forward along the nozzle surface in the moving direction, and at the same time, the cleaning liquid supply component rotates from the inclined posture to the supply posture, and the sheet is erected between the supply port and the nozzle surface.

2. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein A wiping unit is provided, which includes the scraper and the cleaning liquid supply component.

3. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein: The cleaning liquid supply member is rotated to the inclined posture by a force applying member or its own weight.

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