Printing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention appropriately wipes ink on a nozzle surface. The wiper unit includes: a wiping portion that wipes a nozzle surface of an ejection head having the nozzle surface on which a nozzle that ejects ink is formed; and a drive unit that moves the wiping unit in a wiping direction along the nozzle surface, the wiping unit having two wiping members arranged side by side in the wiping direction and having different hardness, and a holding unit that integrally holds the two wiping members.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a printing device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a printing device having a jet head that jets ink from nozzles formed in a nozzle face, a wiper unit that wipes ink adhering to the nozzle face of the jet head is provided (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 5740431 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] In the wiper unit described above, in the case where the nozzle face is wiped using a wiping member that can be elastically deformed such as a rubber material, it can not be possible to sufficiently remove dried or solidified ink. On the other hand, in the case where the nozzle face is wiped using a wiping member having high hardness in order to remove dried or solidified ink, the ink can be removed, but it can not be possible to sufficiently remove fine mist or droplets of ink that has not dried or solidified.

[0008] The present application was completed in view of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a printing device that can appropriately remove ink from a nozzle face.

[0009] MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0010] The printing device of the present application includes a jet head having a nozzle face in which nozzles that jet ink are formed in a plurality of connection at a prescribed interval, a wiping section that wipes the nozzle face, and a driving section that moves the nozzle face in opposition to the wiping section, the jet head jets the ink to a print object placed on a print region while moving in a main scan direction that is set in advance, the wiping section has two wiping members of different hardness that are arranged in a direction in which the nozzle face moves in opposition to the wiping section when wiping the nozzle face, and a holding section that integrally holds the two wiping members.

[0011] EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0012] With the present application, the ink of the nozzle face can be appropriately wiped. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a printing device of the present embodiment.

[0014] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 is a view showing an example of a wiping portion of a wiper unit.

[0015] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 is a view showing an example of a wiping portion of a wiper unit.

[0016] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0017] [ Figure 5 ] Figure 5 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0018] [ Figure 6 ] Figure 6 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0019] [ Figure 7 ] Figure 7 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0020] [ Figure 8 ] Figure 8 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0021] [ Figure 9 ] Figure 9 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0022] [ Figure 10 ] Figure 10 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0023] [ Figure 11 ] Figure 11 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0024] [ Figure 12 ] Figure 12 is a view showing an example of a wiping action based on a wiper unit.

[0025] [ Figure 13 ] Figure 13 is a view showing another example of an ejection head.

[0026] [ Figure 14 ] Figure 14 is a view showing an example when wiping an ejection head shown in Figure 13 by using the wiper unit.

[0027] [ Figure 15 ] Figure 15 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head shown in Figure 13 by the wiper unit.

[0028] [ Figure 16 ] Figure 16 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head shown in Figure 13 by the wiper unit.

[0029] [ Figure 17 ] Figure 17 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head shown in Figure 13 by the wiper unit.

[0030] [ Figure 18 ] Figure 18 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head shown in Figure 13 by the wiper unit.

[0031] [ Figure 19 ] Figure 19 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head shown in Figure 13 by the wiper unit.

[0032] [ Figure 20 ] Figure 20 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head shown in Figure 13 by the wiper unit.

[0033] [ Figure 21 ] Figure 21 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head shown in Figure 13 by the wiper unit.

[0034] [ Figure 22 ] Figure 22 is a view showing an example of the printing device of another configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the printing device of the present application will be described based on the drawings. Furthermore, the present application is not limited by the embodiment. In addition, the constituent members in the following embodiment include those which can be substituted and easily substituted by those skilled in the art, or substantially the same constituent members.

[0036] In the present embodiment, directions in the drawing are explained using an XYZ coordinate system. In the XYZ coordinate system, a plane parallel to the floor on which an inkjet printer is placed is set as an XY plane. In the XY plane, a conveyance direction of a recording medium described later is expressed as an X direction, and a direction orthogonal to the X direction on the XY plane is expressed as a Y direction. In addition, a direction perpendicular to the XY plane is expressed as a Z direction. With respect to each of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, a direction of an arrow in the drawing is a + direction, and a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow is a - direction. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the +Z direction is sometimes expressed as an upward direction.

[0037] Figure 1 Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a printing apparatus of the present embodiment. Figure 1 The printing apparatus 100 shown is an inkjet printer that prints a medium M in an inkjet manner. The printing apparatus 100 includes a carriage 10, a guide mechanism 20, and a wiper unit 30.

[0038] The carriage 10 is guided by the guide mechanism 20 and is capable of reciprocating movement in the Y direction (main scanning direction). The carriage 10 is provided with an ejection head 11 and a light irradiation apparatus 12.

[0039] The ejection head 11 ejects ink toward the medium M in a printing region PA. Furthermore, in the printing region PA, the medium M is arranged on a platen 16. The ejection head 11 has a nozzle face 13. The nozzle face 13 is, for example, planar and is formed with nozzles 14 that eject ink. The nozzle face 13 is subjected to waterproof processing in order to secure a meniscus of ink in the nozzles 14. The nozzles 14 are provided, for example, in a state in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a prescribed direction. As the ink, for example, ultraviolet-curable ink can be cited. As the kind of ultraviolet-curable ink, for example, colored ink such as white ink, cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, yellow (Y) ink, and black (K) ink, transparent ink, and the like can be appropriately used depending on the color of an image formed on the medium M and the like. Even in the case of ink other than ultraviolet-curable ink, ink such as latex ink, in which solid matter is easily attached to the nozzle face due to drying and hardening of the ink, can be appropriately used. For example, if the longest time required for the ejection head 11 to lastly eject ink in the main scanning direction (Y direction) until reaching a position facing the wiper portion 31 is set as a longest non-ejection time, as the ink, for example, ink in which droplets of ink attached to the nozzle face 13 are solidified at least for the longest non-ejection time can be used.

[0040] The light irradiation apparatus 12 irradiates ultraviolet rays to the ultraviolet-curable ink ejected to the medium M. The light irradiation apparatus 12 is constituted by, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module or the like capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays. The light irradiation apparatus 12 is integrally moved with the ejection head 11 in the main scanning direction by the movement of the carriage 10.

[0041] The guide mechanism 20 guides the carriage 10 in the Y direction. The guide mechanism 20 has a guide rail 21. The guide rail 21 extends in the Y direction. The guide mechanism 20 has a first drive mechanism 22 that moves the carriage 10 in the Y direction. The first drive mechanism 22 is configured to include, for example, a drive source such as a motor, and a transmission mechanism. The carriage 10 is moved in the Y direction along the guide rail 21 by a driving force generated by the drive source of the first drive mechanism 22. The first drive mechanism 22 constitutes a drive section 40 together with a second drive mechanism 32 described later. The drive section 40 moves the nozzle surface 13 in opposition to the wiping section 31.

[0042] The wiper unit 30 is provided in a maintenance area MA of the printing device 100. The maintenance area MA is disposed on the outer side in the Y direction with respect to the printing area PA. The wiper unit 30 wipes the nozzle surface 13 of the ejection head 11. The wiper unit 30 has a wiping section 31 and a second drive mechanism 32. The wiping section 31 is disposed so as to face the nozzle surface 13 of the ejection head 11 at at least one point on the extension line of the Y direction as the main scanning direction, for example, at a prescribed position on the +Y side of the platen 16 in this embodiment.

[0043] Figure 2 and Figure 3 is a view that shows an example of the wiping section 31 of the wiper unit 30. Figure 2 represents a perspective view, Figure 3 (A) represents a view of the wiper unit 30 as viewed from the X direction, Figure 3 (B) represents a view of the wiper unit 30 as viewed from the Y direction. Further, in Figure 2 , an exploded perspective view of the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 is shown together. As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the wiping section 31 has the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 as two wiping members that differ in hardness, and a holding section 35 that holds the two wiping members.

[0044] The second wiping member 34 has a lower hardness than the first wiping member 33. In other words, the first wiping member 33 has a higher hardness than the second wiping member 34. Here, the hardness can be understood as, for example, the degree of resistance to deformation with respect to the wiping direction. The first wiping member 33 is formed, for example, to have a Young's modulus in the range of 400 MPa to 800 MPa. The second wiping member 34 is formed, for example, to have a Young's modulus in the range of 0.5 MPa to 100 MPa. In this embodiment, the first wiping member 33 is formed, for example, using a plastic material such as polypropylene. The second wiping member 34 is formed, for example, using a rubber material such as ethylene propylene rubber.

[0045] The first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 are arranged in the wiping direction. The first wiping member 33 is arranged on the +X side in the wiping direction. The second wiping member 34 is arranged on the -X side in the wiping direction.

[0046] The thickness (dimension in the wiping direction) of the first wiping member 33 is, for example, about 0.35 mm. The upper surface 33f of the first wiping member 33 is planar. The first wiping member 33 is configured to have a corner portion 33p and a corner portion 33q on both sides of the upper surface 33f in the wiping direction. By having the corner portion 33p and the corner portion 33q, the first wiping member 33 is able to wipe the nozzle face 13 in an edge-effective state when the wiping portion 31 moves in the wiping direction. Further, the first wiping member 33 can also be formed such that the height of the corner portion 33q in the Z direction is higher than the height of the corner portion 33p in the Z direction. In this case, the upper surface 33f is configured to be inclined upward from the corner portion 33p to the corner portion 33q.

[0047] The thickness of the second wiping member 34 is, for example, about 2 mm. The upper surface 34f of the second wiping member 34 is planar. The second wiping member 34 is configured to have a corner portion 34p and a corner portion 34q on both sides of the upper surface 34f in the wiping direction. By having the corner portion 34p and the corner portion 34q, the second wiping member 34 is able to wipe the nozzle face 13 in an edge-effective state when the wiping portion 31 moves in the wiping direction. Further, the second wiping member 34 can also be formed such that the height of the corner portion 34q in the Z direction is higher than the height of the corner portion 34p in the Z direction. In this case, the upper surface 34f is configured to be inclined upward from the corner portion 34p to the corner portion 34q.

[0048] The dimension of the first wiping member 33 in the Y direction is the same as or larger than the dimension of the head 11 in the Y direction. Also, the dimension of the second wiping member 34 in the Y direction is the same as or larger than the dimension of the nozzle face 13 of the head 11 in the Y direction. Therefore, by the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34, the entire area of the nozzle face 13 of the head 11 in the Y direction can be wiped.

[0049] The second wiping member 34 protrudes from the holding portion 35 toward the nozzle face 13 compared to the first wiping member 33. Therefore, in a case where the wiping portion 31 is raised toward the nozzle face 13, the second wiping member 34 comes into contact with the nozzle face 13 first. Also, in a case where the wiping portion 31 is raised to a state where the first wiping member 33 comes into contact with the nozzle face 13, the second wiping member 34 is in a state of being elastically deformed in the up-down direction.

[0050] The holding portion 35 integrally holds the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34. The holding portion 35 detachably holds the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34.

[0051] The second driving mechanism 32 reciprocally moves the wiping portion 31 in the X direction (sub-scanning direction). The X direction (sub-scanning direction) as the moving direction of the wiping portion 31 becomes the wiping direction of the wiping portion 31 of the present embodiment. The wiping direction can be a reciprocating direction of the X direction, or can be a one-way direction.

[0052] In addition, the second driving mechanism 32 reciprocally moves the wiping portion 31 in the Z direction (vertical direction). By moving the wiping portion 31 in the Z direction by the second driving mechanism 32, the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 can be brought into contact with or out of contact with the nozzle face 13. The second driving mechanism 32 moves the wiping portion 31 in the X direction in a state where the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 are in contact with the nozzle face 13, whereby wiping of the nozzle face 13 by the wiping portion 31 can be performed.

[0053] Next, the wiping operation of the printing device 100 configured as described above will be described. Figures 4 to 12 is a view showing an example of the wiping operation based on the wiper unit 30. In the case of performing the wiping operation, the inkjet head 11 is moved upward of the wiper unit 30. From this state, as shown in Figure 4 , the second driving mechanism 32 raises the wiping portion 31 toward the nozzle face 13 of the inkjet head 11. By raising the wiping portion 31, first the second wiping member 34 comes into contact with the nozzle face 13. By further raising the wiping portion 31, the first wiping member 33 comes into contact with the nozzle face 13 and the second wiping member 34 becomes in an elastically deformed state.

[0054] From the state where the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 are in contact with the nozzle face 13, as shown in Figure 5 , the second driving mechanism 32 moves the wiping portion 31 in the wiping direction. The wiping portion 31 wipes the nozzle face 13 in a state where the first wiping member 33 is positioned on the front side in the wiping direction and the second wiping member 34 is positioned on the rear side in the wiping direction. By moving the wiping portion 31 in the wiping direction, the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 respectively become in a state where the upper end side is flexed toward the rear side and the corner portion 33p and the corner portion 34p come into contact with the nozzle face 13. Therefore, the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 can wipe the nozzle face 13 in an edge effective state. Further, since the second wiping member 34 has a lower hardness than the first wiping member 33, the flexing toward the rear side is larger.

[0055] As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, by moving the wiping section 31, the first wiping member 33 formed of a plastic material can scrape off the ink Ql adhering to the nozzle face 13 after drying or solidification.

[0056] As shown, by moving the wiping section 31, the second wiping member 34 formed of a rubber material can scrape off the ink Q2 adhering to the nozzle face 13 in a droplet or fine mist state. Here, as shown, the first wiping member 33 is capable of removing the ink Ql after drying or solidification, but sometimes cannot sufficiently remove the ink Q2 in a droplet or fine mist state that has not dried or solidified. In this case, a part of the ink Q2 becomes a state of remaining on the nozzle face 13. Figures 8 to 10 Figure 9 As shown, by moving the wiping section 31, the second wiping member 34 formed of a rubber material can scrape off the ink Q2 adhering to the nozzle face 13 in a droplet or fine mist state. Here, as shown, the first wiping member 33 is capable of removing the ink Ql after drying or solidification, but sometimes cannot sufficiently remove the ink Q2 in a droplet or fine mist state that has not dried or solidified. In this case, a part of the ink Q2 becomes a state of remaining on the nozzle face 13.

[0057] In view of this, in the present embodiment, since the second wiping member 34 having a lower hardness than the first wiping member 33 is provided, as shown, the ink Q2 remaining on the nozzle face 13 can be removed by the second wiping member 34. Therefore, by one movement of the wiping section 31 to the wiping direction, both the ink Ql after drying or solidification and the ink Q2 in a droplet or fine mist state can be appropriately removed. Figure 10

[0058] Further, in a case where the ink adhering to the nozzle face 13 is the ink Q2 in a droplet or fine mist state, as shown, the wiping section 31 can be moved so that the second wiping member 34 becomes ahead of the wiping direction. In this case, the ink Q2 can be appropriately removed by the second wiping member 34. Figure 11 Figure 12

[0059] As described above, the printing device 100 of the present embodiment includes: the ejection head 11 having the nozzle face 13 formed with the nozzles 14 ejecting ink in a plurality of connection at a prescribed interval; the wiping section 31 wiping the nozzle face 13; and the driving section 40 relatively moving the nozzle face 13 and the wiping section 31, the ejection head 11 ejecting ink to the medium M placed on a printing region while moving in a main scanning direction set in advance, the wiping section 31 having the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 of different hardnesses arranged in a direction in which the nozzle face 13 relatively moves with the wiping section 31 when wiping the nozzle face 13, and the holding section 35 integrally holding the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34.

[0060] According to the structure, the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 of different hardnesses are integrally held in the wiping section 31, so that in a case where the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 are brought into contact with the nozzle face 13 and the wiping section 31 is moved to the wiping direction, both the ink after drying or solidification and the ink in a fine mist or droplet state can be appropriately removed by one movement.​​​​

[0061] In the printing device 100 of the present embodiment, the driving section 40 has the first driving mechanism 22 that moves the jet head 11 in the main scanning direction set in advance, and the second driving mechanism 32 that relatively moves the wiping section 31 with respect to the nozzle face 13. According to the configuration, the driving section 40 has the first driving mechanism 22 and the second driving mechanism 32, and thus the jet head 11 and the wiping section 31 can be moved individually.

[0062] In the printing device 100 of the present embodiment, the first wiping member 33 is disposed on one side in the direction in which the nozzle face 13 relatively moves with respect to the wiping section 31 when wiping the nozzle face 13, by the driving section 40. Also, the second wiping member 34 is disposed on the other side in the direction, and has a lower hardness than the first wiping member 33. According to the configuration, the ink in a dried or solidified state adhering to the nozzle face 13 can be appropriately removed by the first wiping member 33 on the front side of the wiping direction. Also, the ink in a mist or droplet state adhering to the nozzle face 13 can be appropriately removed by the second wiping member 34 on the rear side of the wiping direction. In this case, the second wiping member 34 can also appropriately remove the ink in a mist or droplet state that is not completely removed by the first wiping member 33.

[0063] In the printing device 100 of the present embodiment, the second wiping member 34 protrudes from the holding section toward the nozzle face 13, compared to the first wiping member 33. According to the configuration, the second wiping member 34 can be elastically deformed in a state in which the first wiping member 33 is in contact with the nozzle face 13.

[0064] In the printing device 100 of the present embodiment, the second driving mechanism 32 can move the wiping section 31 in the lifting direction orthogonal to the nozzle face 13. According to the configuration, the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 can be appropriately brought into contact with the nozzle face 13 by driving of the second driving mechanism 32.

[0065] In the printing device 100 of the present embodiment, the second driving mechanism 32 can move the wiping section 31 in the lifting direction, and the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 are disposed in positions in contact with the nozzle face 13 in a state in which the second wiping member 34 is elastically deformed. According to the configuration, the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 can wipe the nozzle face 13 in a state in which they are appropriately in contact with the nozzle face 13, by driving of the second driving mechanism 32.

[0066] In the printing device 100 of this embodiment, the wiping portion 31 is arranged to face the nozzle face 13 of the ejection head 11 at at least one predetermined position along an extension of the main scanning direction. With this configuration, the nozzle face 13 and the wiping portion 31 can be brought into facing relationship by moving the ejection head 11 in a direction extending from the main scanning direction.

[0067] In the printing device 100 of this embodiment, if the maximum time required for the ejection head 11 to reach a position facing the wiping unit 31 after the last ejection of ink in the main scanning direction (Y direction) is defined as the maximum non-ejection time, then, for example, ink in which the ink droplets adhering to the nozzle face 13 solidify during at least the maximum non-ejection time can be used. This allows the wiping unit 31 to appropriately wipe away the ink if the ink solidifies during movement in the main scanning direction after ejection.

[0068] In the printing device 100 of this embodiment, the first wiping member 33 is formed from a non-water-absorbent material, and the second wiping member 34 is formed from a water-absorbent elastic material. This structure allows the first and second wiping members 33, 34 to be formed to a hardness sufficient to adequately remove ink. For example, the first wiping member 33 can be used to wipe solid ink, while the second wiping member 34 can be used to wipe liquid ink.

[0069] The printing device 100 of this embodiment includes an ejection head 11 having a nozzle face 13 formed with nozzles 14 for ejecting ink; and a wiper unit for wiping the nozzle face 13 of the ejection head 11. The wiper unit 30 is used as the wiper unit. By including the wiper unit 30, which can appropriately remove both dried or solidified ink and fine mist or droplet ink in a single movement, it is possible to prevent the nozzle face 13 from being wiped more than necessary by the high-hardness wiping member, thereby preventing degradation of the waterproofing of the nozzle face 13. This can extend the life of the ejection head 11.

[0070] The ink used in the printing device 100 of this embodiment is UV-curable ink. In the ejection head 11 that ejects UV-curable ink, a mixture of dried or hardened ink and fine mist or droplet ink easily exists on the nozzle surface 13. According to this embodiment, a single movement of the wiping unit 31 can appropriately remove both dried or hardened ink and fine mist or droplet ink.

[0071] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Figure 13 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing another example of an injection head. Figure 13As shown, the ejection head 11A is configured to have the nozzle plate 15 arranged on the nozzle face 13. The nozzle plate 15 is formed in a manner to surround the nozzle region 13R in which the plurality of nozzles 14 are formed in the nozzle face 13. Thus, in the nozzle face 13, a step is formed between the nozzle region 13R and the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. As for the step, for example, an amount corresponding to the thickness of the nozzle plate 15 is formed.

[0072] Figures 14 to 16 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head 11A with the wiper unit 30. Figure 13 As shown, the ejection head 11A is configured to have the nozzle plate 15 arranged on the nozzle face 13. The nozzle plate 15 is formed in a manner to surround the nozzle region 13R in which the plurality of nozzles 14 are formed in the nozzle face 13. Thus, in the nozzle face 13, a step is formed between the nozzle region 13R and the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. As for the step, for example, an amount corresponding to the thickness of the nozzle plate 15 is formed. Figure 14 As shown, in the case where the step is formed in the nozzle face 13, also similarly, the second driving mechanism 32 raises the wiper 31. By the wiper 31 being raised, as shown, Figure 14 As shown, first, the second wiper member 34 comes into contact with the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15.

[0073] From this state, the second driving mechanism 32 further raises the wiper 31, whereby as shown, Figure 15 As shown, the first wiper member 33 comes into contact with the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. Also, a part of the second wiper member 34 elastically deforms to enter the step portion, and comes into contact with the nozzle region 13R of the nozzle face 13.

[0074] From this state, the second driving mechanism 32 moves the wiper 31 in the wiping direction, whereby as shown, Figure 16 As shown, the first wiper member 33 wipes the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15, and a part of the second wiper member 34 that entered the step portion wipes the nozzle region 13R. Thus, for the ejection head 11A having the step in the nozzle face 13, the ink adhered to the nozzle region 13R of the nozzle face 13 and the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15 can be appropriately removed.

[0075] Figure 17 and Figure 18 is a view showing an example of wiping the ejection head 11A with the wiper unit 30A of other structure. As shown, Figure 13 As shown, in the case where the step is formed in the nozzle face 13, also similarly, the second driving mechanism 32 raises the wiper 31. By the wiper 31 being raised, as shown, Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown, the wiper unit of this example is configured such that the size in the Y direction (width direction) of the second wiper member 34A provided to the wiper 31A is substantially the same as the size in the Y direction of the nozzle region 13R. Also, as for the first wiper member 33A, the same structure as the first wiper member 33 of the wiper 31 is employed.

[0076] In the case of wiping with this wiper unit 30A, the second driving mechanism 32 raises the wiper 31A. By the wiper 31A being raised, as shown, Figure 17As shown, first the second wiping member 34A enters the step portion of the nozzle face 13 and comes into contact with the nozzle area 13R of the nozzle face 13. From this state, the second driving mechanism 32 further raises the wiping section 31, whereby as shown in FIG. 6A, the first wiping member 33A comes into contact with the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15, and the second wiping member 34A elastically deforms in a state of entering the step portion and coming into contact with the nozzle area 13R. Figure 18 As shown, the first wiping member 33 comes into contact with the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. Further, the second wiping member 34 elastically deforms in a state of entering the step portion and coming into contact with the nozzle area 13R.

[0077] From this state, the second driving mechanism 32 moves the wiping section 31A in the wiping direction, whereby the first wiping member 33A wipes the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15, and the second wiping member 34A that has entered the step portion wipes the nozzle area 13R. Thus, for the jet head 11A in which the nozzle face 13 has a step, the ink adhered to the nozzle area 13R of the nozzle face 13 and the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15 can be appropriately removed.

[0078] Figures 19 to 21 is a view showing an example of wiping the jet head 11A shown in FIG. 5 using the wiping unit 30B of another structure. Figure 13 As shown in FIG. 6A, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. Figure 19 As shown in FIG. 6A, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. Figure 20 As shown in FIG. 6A, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A.

[0079] In the case of wiping using such a wiping unit, the second driving mechanism 32 raises the wiping section 31B. By the wiping section 31B being raised, as shown in FIG. 6A, the first wiping member 33B enters the step portion of the nozzle face 13. From this state, the second driving mechanism further raises the wiping section 31B, whereby as shown in FIG. 6B, the second wiping member 34B comes into contact with the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. Further, by further raising the wiping section 31B, as shown in FIG. 6C, the first wiping member 33B comes into contact with the nozzle area 13R of the nozzle face 13. Further, the second wiping member 34B elastically deforms in a state of coming into contact with the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. Figure 20 As shown in FIG. 6A, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. Figure 20 As shown in FIG. 6A, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the wiping unit 30B is configured to wipe the jet head 11A.

[0080] From this state, the second driving mechanism moves the wiping section 31B in the wiping direction, whereby as shown in FIG. 6D, the first wiping member 33B wipes the nozzle area 13R of the nozzle face 13, and the second wiping member 34B that has entered the step portion wipes the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. Thus, for the jet head 11A in which the nozzle face 13 has a step, the ink adhered to the nozzle area 13R of the nozzle face 13 and the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15 can be appropriately removed. Figure 21As shown, the first wiping member 33B wipes the nozzle area 13R of the nozzle face 13 at the stepped portion, and the second wiping member 34B wipes the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15. Thus, for the print head 11A in which the nozzle face 13 has a step, the ink adhering to the nozzle area 13R of the nozzle face 13 and the surface 15R of the nozzle plate 15 can be appropriately removed.

[0081] Further, in the embodiment, a case in which a plastic material is used as the first wiping member and a rubber material is used as the second wiping member is exemplified and described, but the structure is not limited to this. For example, as the second wiping member, a porous material such as a sponge can be used instead of a rubber material.

[0082] Further, on the basis of the structure of the embodiment, in order to improve the cleaning efficiency based on wiping by the wiper unit, the structure can be such that the first wiping member and the second wiping member are appropriately supplied with cleaning liquid.

[0083] Further, in the embodiment, a case in which the wiping section 31 is moved in the vertical direction by elevating the wiping section 31 by the second drive mechanism 32 as the drive section 40 is exemplified and described, but the structure is not limited to this. For example, the first drive mechanism 22 as the drive section 40 can be such that the print head 11 is moved in the vertical direction orthogonal to the nozzle face 13. In this case, the first drive mechanism 22 can be configured to position the nozzle face 13 at a position at which the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 are in contact, in a state in which the second wiping member 34 is elastically deformed, by moving the print head 11 in the vertical direction. Thus, by driving the first drive mechanism 22, the first wiping member 33 and the second wiping member 34 can be appropriately brought into contact with the nozzle face 13.

[0084] Figure 22 Fig. 10 is a view showing an example of a printing device 100C in which other structures are provided. In Figure 22 In the printing device 100C shown, a case in which the wiper unit 30 is disposed on the +Y side of the platen 16 is exemplified and described, but the structure is not limited to this. As shown in Fig. 11, the wiper unit 30 can be disposed on both the +Y side and the -Y side of the platen 16. Figure 22 As shown, the wiper unit 30 can be disposed on both the +Y side and the -Y side of the platen 16. In this case, the wiping section 31 is disposed so as to face the nozzle face 13 of the print head 11 at two prescribed positions on the extension line of the Y direction as the main scanning direction, i.e., on both the +Y side and the -Y side of the platen 16.

[0085] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0086] M: Medium

[0087] Q1, Q2: Ink

[0088] 2: Recording Medium

[0089] 10: carriage

[0090] 11, 11A: spray head

[0091] 12: light irradiation device

[0092] 13: nozzle face

[0093] 13R: nozzle region

[0094] 14: nozzle

[0095] 15: nozzle plate

[0096] 15R: surface

[0097] 16: platen

[0098] 20: guide mechanism

[0099] 21: guide rail

[0100] 22: first drive mechanism

[0101] 30: wiper unit

[0102] 31, 31A, 31B: wiping portion

[0103] 32: second drive mechanism

[0104] 33, 33A, 33B: first wiping member

[0105] 33f, 34f: upper surface

[0106] 33p, 33q, 34p, 34q: corner portion

[0107] 34, 34A, 34B: second wiping member

[0108] 35: holding portion

[0109] 40: drive portion

[0110] 100: printing device

Claims

1. A printing device comprising: The ejection head has a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed in a continuous manner at predetermined intervals; a wiping portion for wiping the nozzle surface; as well as a driving unit for moving the nozzle surface and the wiping unit relative to each other; The inkjet head ejects the ink onto the printing object placed in the printing area while moving in a preset main scanning direction. The wiping portion includes two wiping members having different hardnesses arranged side by side in a direction in which the nozzle surface and the wiping portion move relative to each other when wiping the nozzle surface, and a holding portion that integrally holds the two wiping members.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein The driving unit has: a first driving mechanism, for moving the ejection head along the preset main scanning direction; and The second driving mechanism moves the wiping portion relative to the nozzle surface.

3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein The two wiping members include: a first wiping member arranged on one side of the nozzle surface by the driving unit in the direction in which the nozzle surface and the wiping portion move relative to each other when wiping the nozzle surface; and a second wiping member arranged on the other side in the direction and having a lower hardness than the first wiping member.

4. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein The second wiping member protrudes from the holding portion toward the nozzle surface side more than the first wiping member.

5. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein The driving unit is capable of moving the wiping unit in a vertical direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface. The printing device according to claim 3 , wherein: The driving unit can move the ejection head in a vertical direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface. By moving the ejection head in the vertical direction, the nozzle surface can be positioned in contact with the first and second wiping members while the second wiping member is elastically deformed.

7. The printing device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: The driving unit can move the wiping unit in the lifting direction and arrange the first and second wiping members at positions in contact with the nozzle surface while elastically deforming the second wiping member.

8. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein The wiping portion is arranged to face the nozzle surface of the ejection head at at least one predetermined position on an extension line of the main scanning direction.

9. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein The longest time required for the ink jet head to reach the position facing the wiping portion after the ink jet head has last ejected the ink in the main scanning direction is defined as the longest non-ejection time. The ink is an ink in which droplets of the ink attached to the nozzle surface are solidified at least during the longest non-ejection time.

10. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein The first wiping member is formed of a plastic or resin material having a Young's modulus of 400 MPa to 800 MPa. The second wiping member is formed of an elastic material having a Young's modulus of 0.5 MPa to 100 MPa.

11. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein The first wiping member is formed of a non-water-absorbent material. The second wiping member is formed of a water-absorbing elastic material.

12. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein The ejection head further includes a nozzle plate arranged so as to surround a nozzle region where the nozzles are formed in the nozzle surface. When the nozzle surface faces downward, a step corresponding to the thickness of the nozzle plate is formed between the nozzle surface and the lower surface of the nozzle plate.

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