Printer

Abstract

To facilitate cleaning a suction port that sucks mist.SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes a printing medium holding portion 4, a carriage 20, a first head 41 having a first nozzle array 41a for discharging a first liquid, and a suction unit 30 including a suction port 310a for sucking mist of the first liquid. The carriage 20 has a head holding plate 21 for holding the first head 41 and the suction unit 30 with the head holding plate facing the printing medium holding portion 4. The head holding plate 21 has a first opening 21a which exposes the first nozzle array 41a, and a second opening 21b which exposes the suction port 310a. The suction unit 30 has a suction nozzle 310 provided with the suction port 310a, and the suction nozzle 310 is attachable and detachable to / from the head holding plate 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various printing devices have been used that are equipped with a carriage on which a head for ejecting ink and a head for ejecting a reaction liquid are provided. Among these, there is a printing device that is equipped with a suction port for sucking in a mist of the reaction liquid to prevent the mist from adhering to the head for ejecting the ink. For example, Patent Document 1 describes providing a suction port for sucking in the mist between the reaction liquid head and the color ink head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-121277 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a conventional printing device in which a head for ejecting ink, a head for ejecting reaction liquid, and a suction port are mounted on a carriage, the suction port is fixed to the carriage, and therefore, in the conventional printing device, a worker must reach a cleaning tool into a narrow area to clean the suction port, which places a heavy burden on the worker. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the printing device of the present invention comprises a print medium holding section that holds a print medium, a carriage that moves back and forth in a scanning direction in an area facing the print medium holding section, a first head provided on the carriage and having a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject a first liquid are arranged in a cross direction that intersects the scanning direction, and a suction unit provided on the carriage and having a suction port that sucks in a mist of the first liquid generated when the first liquid is ejected from the first head, wherein the carriage has a head holding plate that holds the first head and the suction unit while facing the print medium holding section, the head holding plate has a first opening that exposes the first nozzle row and a second opening that exposes the suction port, the suction unit has a suction nozzle with the suction port provided, and the suction nozzle is detachable from the head holding plate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a top perspective view showing the periphery of a carriage of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the periphery of the carriage of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a side view showing the arrangement of a suction unit on a carriage of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 2 is a perspective view of the suction unit of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating a state in which a pressing portion is in a fixed position. [Figure 6] 6 is a perspective view of the suction unit of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, seen from a different direction than that of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 2 is a perspective view of the suction unit of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the pressing portion is in a detachable position. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view of the suction unit of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, seen from a different direction than that of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 2 is a perspective view showing a suction unit attachment / detachment section of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; [Figure 10]10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the filter has been removed from the detachable portion of FIG. 9 . [Figure 11] 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the attachment / detachment unit in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of FIG. 4. [Figure 13] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the suction unit of FIG. 4. [Figure 14] 2 is a perspective view of a part of the attachment / detachment section of the suction unit of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, as viewed from the bottom side. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a suction unit of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 . [Figure 16] 2 is a perspective view showing a locking portion of a pressing portion of a suction unit of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 17] 2 is a perspective view showing a positioning configuration of a suction unit on a carriage of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] First, the present invention will be briefly described. In order to solve the above problem, a printing device of a first aspect of the present invention comprises a printing medium holding unit that holds a printing medium, a carriage that moves back and forth in a scanning direction in an area facing the printing medium holding unit, a first head provided on the carriage and having a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject a first liquid are arranged in a cross direction that intersects the scanning direction, and a suction unit provided on the carriage and having a suction port that sucks in a mist of the first liquid generated when the first liquid is ejected from the first head, wherein the carriage has a head holding plate that holds the first head and the suction unit while facing the printing medium holding unit, the head holding plate has a first opening that exposes the first nozzle row and a second opening that exposes the suction port, the suction unit has a suction nozzle with the suction port, and the suction nozzle is detachable from the head holding plate.

[0008] According to this aspect, the suction unit has a suction nozzle with a suction port, and the suction nozzle is detachable from the head holding plate, which makes it possible to avoid a situation where an operator has to reach a cleaning tool into a narrow area when cleaning the suction port, and makes it easier to clean the suction port.

[0009] A second aspect of the printing device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, characterized in that the suction unit has a detachable part in which the suction nozzle is provided, and a holding part that is fixable to the head holding plate and is displaceable between a fixed position where the detachable part is fixed to the head holding plate and a detachable position where the detachable part can be attached and detached to the head holding plate.

[0010] According to this aspect, the suction unit has a detachable part provided with a suction nozzle, and a holding part that can be fixed to the head holding plate and can be displaced between a fixed position and a detachable position. With this configuration, the suction nozzle can be easily fixed to the carriage and can be attached and detached to the carriage.

[0011] A printing device of a third aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the second aspect, and is characterized in that the holding unit has an airflow path that sucks in the mist, and an airflow generating unit that generates the airflow.

[0012] According to this aspect, the holding portion has an airflow passage and an airflow generating portion, so that the mist of the first liquid can be effectively sucked in.

[0013] A printing device of a fourth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the third aspect, characterized in that the suction unit has a filter that collects the mist sucked in from the suction port, the attachment / detachment part has a plate-shaped member whose short side direction is the scanning direction and whose long side direction is the intersecting direction, and a filter support part that is provided on the plate-shaped member and supports the filter so that the filter blocks the flow path of the airflow, the pressing part has a filter clamping part, and the filter is clamped by the filter support part and the filter clamping part when the pressing part is located at the fixed position.

[0014] According to this aspect, the device has a filter that collects the mist of the first liquid, and the filter is clamped by the filter support part and the filter clamping part when the pressing part is located at the fixed position. This allows the filter to be easily replaced, and the suction efficiency of the mist of the first liquid can be restored by the simple action of replacing the filter.

[0015] A printing device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the fourth aspect, and is characterized in that when the attachment / detachment part is in a position where it is held by the holding part located at the fixed position, the plate-shaped member has a first surface facing the head holding plate and a second surface opposite the first surface facing the filter, and has a recess extending in the longitudinal direction and recessed in a first direction from the second surface side toward the first surface side, and the recess functions as part of the airflow flow path and the suction nozzle.

[0016] According to this aspect, the nozzle has a recess recessed in the first direction, and the recess functions as a part of the airflow path and a suction nozzle. With this configuration, it is possible to easily configure a part of the airflow path and a suction nozzle.

[0017] A printing device of a sixth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the fifth aspect, and is characterized in that it comprises a second head provided on the carriage and having a second nozzle row in which nozzles for ejecting a second liquid are arranged in the intersecting direction, the head holding plate has a third opening exposing the second nozzle row, the suction unit is provided between the first head and the second head in the scanning direction, the suction nozzle has side walls provided from the second surface side toward the first surface side, a first side wall located on the first head side in the scanning direction and a second side wall located on the second head side in the scanning direction, the suction port is formed in the suction nozzle, a first end of the first side wall in the first direction forms part of the contour of the suction port, the first end does not protrude from the second opening toward the printing medium holding unit side, and a second end of the second side wall in the first direction protrudes from the second opening toward the printing medium holding unit side.

[0018] According to this aspect, the first end does not protrude from the second opening toward the print medium holding unit, and the second end protrudes from the second opening toward the print medium holding unit. In other words, the suction port increases the suction efficiency of the first liquid and decreases the suction efficiency of the second liquid to prevent the first liquid and the second liquid from mixing, making it possible to make the suction nozzle less likely to become clogged.

[0019] A printing device of a seventh aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the sixth aspect, and is characterized in that the second liquid is an ink containing a colorant, and the first liquid is a reactive liquid that reacts with the colorant.

[0020] According to this aspect, the second liquid is ink containing a coloring material, and the first liquid is a reaction liquid that reacts with the coloring material. In such a configuration, the suction nozzle is prone to clogging when the first liquid and the second liquid mix, but by increasing the suction efficiency of the suction port for the first liquid and decreasing the suction efficiency of the second liquid to prevent the first liquid and the second liquid from mixing, the suction nozzle can be made less likely to become clogged.

[0021] An eighth aspect of the printing device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the sixth aspect, characterized in that the suction nozzle has a bottom portion that is continuous with the second end portion and extends toward the first head side, the length of the bottom portion in the scanning direction is shorter than the length in the scanning direction between the first side wall and the second side wall, and the end of the bottom portion on the first head side in the scanning direction forms part of the contour of the suction port.

[0022] According to this aspect, the length of the bottom of the suction nozzle in the scanning direction is shorter than the length between the first side wall and the second side wall in the scanning direction, and the end of the bottom on the first head side in the scanning direction forms part of the outline of the suction port. With this configuration, the mist of the first liquid can be selectively sucked in.

[0023] A ninth aspect of the printing device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the eighth aspect, and is characterized in that the distance from the printing medium holding portion to the bottom is longer than the distance from the printing medium holding portion to a nozzle forming surface on which the nozzles of the first head are formed.

[0024] According to this aspect, the distance from the print medium holding unit to the bottom is longer than the distance from the print medium holding unit to the nozzle surface of the first head. With this configuration, the mist of the first liquid can be particularly effectively sucked in, and contact of the bottom with the print medium can be reduced.

[0025] A printing device of a 10th aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the 4th to 9th aspects, characterized in that the head holding plate has an engagement portion on a plate-shaped member facing surface that faces the plate-shaped member, and the plate-shaped member is provided with an engaged portion with which the engagement portion engages when the attachment / detachment portion is in a position where it is held down by the holding portion located at the fixed position.

[0026] According to this aspect, the head holding plate has an engaging portion on a surface facing the plate-like member that faces the plate-like member, and the plate-like member is provided with an engaged portion with which the engaging portion engages when the detachable portion is in a position where it is held down by the holding portion that is in the fixed position. Therefore, the engaged portion of the plate-like member can be engaged with the engaging portion of the head holding plate, thereby making it possible to suitably position the suction unit with respect to the carriage.

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of an example of a printing device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 of this embodiment includes a setting unit 2 for setting a roll-shaped printing medium P, a winding unit 5 for winding up the printing medium P transported from the setting unit 2, and a printing unit 3 for ejecting ink containing a coloring material onto a printing surface P1 of the printing medium P transported in a transport direction A on a transport path from the setting unit 2 to the winding unit 5 to form an image. The printing unit 3 will be described in detail later, but the printing unit 3 of this embodiment is configured to be capable of ejecting a reaction liquid that reacts with the coloring material of the ink.

[0028] The printing device 1 of this embodiment further includes a platen 4 as a printing medium holding unit that holds the printing medium P in an image formation area where an image is formed by the printing unit 3, and a plurality of rollers 6 provided on a transport path for the printing medium P. The printing device 1 of this embodiment includes, as the rollers 6, a drive roller that applies a transport force to the printing medium P as a transport unit, and a driven roller that rotates in accordance with the transport of the printing medium P.

[0029] The printing unit 3 is provided on the side facing the printing surface P1 of the printing medium P transported in the transport direction A, and ejects ink onto the printing surface P1 to form an image while the back surface P2 of the printing medium P opposite the printing surface P1 is supported by the platen 4. In more detail, the printing device 1 of this embodiment prints by moving the printing unit 3 back and forth in a scanning direction C along the transport direction A. In even more detail, the printing device 1 of this embodiment intermittently drives (intermittently transports) the printing medium P in the transport direction A, and moves the printing unit 3 back and forth in the scanning direction C, ejecting ink from the printing unit 3 to print.

[0030] The printing unit 3 of this embodiment can complete image formation on the entire image formation area supported by the platen 4 on the printing surface P1 in one scan (one pass), and can also complete image formation by scanning the entire image formation area multiple times (multiple passes). Naturally, when image formation is completed in multiple passes, the transport stop time of the printing medium P due to the intermittent transport is longer than when image formation is completed in one pass.

[0031] The printing unit 3 in this embodiment is configured to print by moving back and forth in a scanning direction C along the transport direction A. However, there are no particular limitations on the configuration of the printing unit 3. Instead of the printing unit 3 that prints by moving back and forth in the scanning direction C along the transport direction A, a printing unit 3 that prints by moving back and forth in a width direction B that intersects with the transport direction A may be provided, or a so-called line head in which nozzles that eject ink over the entire width direction B of the printing medium P are arranged along the width direction B and printing is performed while the printing unit 3 is stopped may be provided.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, downstream of the printing unit 3 in the transport direction A in the transport path of the printing medium P, a drying unit 10 that dries the ink ejected onto the printing medium P is provided. A plurality of rollers 6 are provided on the transport path of the printing medium P from the printing unit 3 to the drying unit 10, and on the transport path of the printing medium P from the drying unit 10 to the winding unit 5. The printing device 1 of this embodiment includes, as the drying unit 10, a first drying unit 10A where the printing medium P first arrives from the printing unit 3, and a second drying unit 10B that can further dry the printing medium P after the printing medium P is dried in the first drying unit 10A. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the first drying unit 10A and the second drying unit 10B are provided above and below. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

[0033] The printing unit 3 of the printing device 1 of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the printing unit 3 includes a carriage 20 that reciprocates in the scanning direction C along the rail 24 in an area facing the platen 4. The carriage 20 includes a head holding plate 21. The head holding plate 21 is provided with a first head 41 having a first nozzle row 41a in which nozzles for ejecting a reaction liquid as a first liquid are arranged in a width direction B that is a cross direction intersecting the scanning direction C, a suction unit 30 having a suction port 310a for sucking a mist of the reaction liquid generated when the reaction liquid is ejected from the first head 41, and a second head 42 having a second nozzle row 42a in which nozzles for ejecting ink as a second liquid are arranged in a width direction B. In this embodiment, one first head 41, one suction unit 30, and four second heads 42 are attached to the head holding plate 21, but there is no particular limit to the number of these.

[0034] The head holding plate 21 holds the first head 41, the suction unit 30, and the second head 42 in a state facing the platen 4. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the head holding plate 21 is provided with a first opening 21a that exposes the first nozzle row 41a, a second opening 21b that exposes the suction port 310a, and a third opening 21c that exposes the second nozzle row 42a.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the suction unit 30 has a suction nozzle 310 provided with a suction port 310a. The suction nozzle 310 is detachable from the head holding plate 21, as will be described in detail later. Therefore, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, when cleaning the airflow passage such as the suction port 310a, the suction nozzle 310 can be removed from the carriage 20 and the airflow passage such as the suction port 310a can be cleaned using a cotton swab or the like. In other words, the printing device 1 of this embodiment can avoid the need for an operator to reach a cleaning tool into a narrow area, making it easier to clean the suction port 310a.

[0036] The suction unit 30, which is a main part of the printing device 1 of this embodiment, will be described in more detail below with reference to Figs. 5 to 17. As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the suction unit 30 has a removable part 31 and a holding part 32. As shown in Fig. 12 and other figures, the suction nozzle 310 is provided on the removable part 31. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the holding part 32 can be fixed to the head holding plate 21 and can be displaced between a fixed position where the removable part 31 is fixed to the head holding plate 21, and a removable position where the removable part 31 can be attached to and detached from the head holding plate 21, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The printing device 1 of this embodiment has such a configuration, so that the suction nozzle 310 can be easily fixed to the carriage 20 and can be easily attached to and detached from the carriage 20.

[0037] 5 to 8, the holding unit 32 has a main body 321, a fixed portion 322, and a fitting portion 324. The fixed portion 322 is fixed to the head holding plate 21, and is capable of rotating the main body 321 at a hinge 322a having a rotation axis in a direction along the scanning direction C. The fitting portion 324 is fixed to the head holding plate 21, and as shown in FIG. 16, the locking portion of the holding unit 32 can lock the main body 321 of the holding unit 32 at a fixed position by fitting a fixing screw 324a attached to the fixing screw forming portion 321a of the main body 321 and fitting and fixing the fixing screw forming portion 321a together with the fitting portion 324 by the fixing screw 324a.

[0038] In the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the pressing unit 32 is configured to rotate in this manner, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, instead of the pressing unit 32 being configured to rotate, the pressing unit 32 may be configured to slide along the width direction B, or the pressing unit 32 may be configured to be removable.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 15, the inside 321c of the main body 321 of the pressing unit 32 serves as an airflow passage for sucking in the mist of the reaction liquid. As shown in Figs. 5 to 8 and 15, the main body 321 has an airflow generating unit 323 which is a fan that generates an airflow. With this configuration, the printing device 1 of this embodiment can effectively suck in the mist of the reaction liquid.

[0040] 7 to 9 and 11 to 13, the suction unit 30 has a filter 312 that collects mist of the reaction liquid sucked from the suction port 310a. As shown in Fig. 10 and other figures, the detachable part 31 has a plate-like member 311 whose short side direction is the scanning direction C and whose long side direction is the width direction B, and a filter support part 311a that is provided on the plate-like member 311 and supports the filter 312 so that the filter 312 blocks the flow path of the airflow. The suction nozzle 310 is also provided on the plate-like member 311.

[0041] The pressing unit 32 has a filter clamping unit 321b as shown in Figures 8, 12, and 13. The filter 312 is clamped by the filter support unit 311a and the filter clamping unit 321b when the pressing unit 32 is located at the fixed position as shown in Figures 12 and 13. Due to this configuration, the printing device 1 of this embodiment allows the filter 312 to be easily replaced, and the suction efficiency of the reaction liquid mist can be restored by the simple action of replacing the filter 312.

[0042] In other words, the printer 1 of this embodiment is configured to easily replace the filter 312 by making the attachment / detachment unit 31 having the suction nozzle 310 a separate member from the pressing unit 32. Furthermore, the printer 1 of this embodiment is configured to particularly easily replace the filter 312 by providing the plate-like member 311 with a gripping unit 311b that can be gripped by an operator when removing the suction nozzle 310 from the carriage 20.

[0043] When the removable part 31 is in a position where it is held by the holding part 32 in the fixed position as shown in FIG. 12, the first surface 311e of the plate-like member 311 faces the head holding plate 21, and the second surface 311f opposite the first surface 311e faces the filter 312. The plate-like member 311 extends in the longitudinal direction (width direction B) as shown in FIG. 11, and has a recess 313 recessed in a first direction (downward) from the second surface 311f side toward the first surface 311e side as shown in FIG. 12. The recess 313 functions as a part of the airflow path and the suction nozzle 310. The printing device 1 of this embodiment is configured in this way, so that the part of the airflow path and the suction nozzle 310 can be easily configured.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 4 etc., the suction unit 30 is provided between the first head 41 and the second head 42 in the scanning direction C, but as shown in Fig. 13, the suction nozzle 310 has, as side walls provided from the second surface 311f side toward the first surface 311e side, a first side wall 310d located on the first head 41 side in the scanning direction C and a second side wall 310b located on the second head 42 side in the scanning direction C. As shown in Fig. 13, the suction port 310a is formed in the suction nozzle 310, and a first end 310e in the first direction (downward direction) of the first side wall 310d forms part of the contour of the suction port 310a.

[0045] 12, the first end 310e does not protrude from the second opening 21b towards the platen 4, and the second end 310c in the first direction of the second side wall 310b protrudes from the second opening 21b towards the platen 4 (downward). If the reaction liquid and the ink mix in the suction nozzle 310, the nozzle is likely to become clogged, but the printing device 1 of this embodiment is configured as described above, so that the suction port 310a increases the suction efficiency of the reaction liquid and decreases the suction efficiency of the ink to prevent the reaction liquid and the ink from mixing, thereby making the suction nozzle 310 less likely to become clogged.

[0046] From another perspective, as shown in Figures 12 to 14, the suction nozzle 310 has a bottom 310f that is continuous with the second end 310c and extends toward the first head 41. As shown in Figure 13, the length L1 of the bottom 310f in the scanning direction C is shorter than the length L2 in the scanning direction C between the first side wall 310d and the second side wall 310b, and the end 310g of the bottom 310f on the first head 41 side in the scanning direction C forms part of the contour of the suction port 310a. By configuring the suction port 310a to face the first head 41 side in this way, it is possible to selectively suck in the mist of the reaction liquid.

[0047] 12, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the distance G2 from the platen 4 to the bottom 310f is longer than the distance G1 from the platen 4 to the nozzle forming surface 41b on which the nozzles of the first head 41 are formed. With this configuration, the mist of the reaction liquid can be sucked in particularly effectively, and contact of the bottom 310f with the printing medium P can be reduced.

[0048] 17, the head holding plate 21 has engaging portions 21d and 21e on a plate-shaped member facing surface 21f that faces the plate-shaped member 311. As shown in FIG. 17, the plate-shaped member 311 is provided with an engaged portion 311c with which the engaging portion 21d engages, and an engaged portion 311d with which the engaging portion 21e engages, when the attachment / detachment portion 31 is in a position where it is pressed by the pressing portion 32 that is in the fixed position. Since the printing device 1 of this embodiment has such a configuration, the suction unit 30 can be suitably positioned with respect to the carriage 20 by engaging the engaged portions 311c and 311d of the plate-shaped member 311 with the engaging portions 21d and 21e of the head holding plate 21.

[0049] In the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the engaging portion 21d is a circular convex portion in a plan view, and the engaging portion 21e is a bale-shaped convex portion in a plan view. The engaged portion 311c is a circular hole portion in a plan view into which the engaging portion 21d can be fitted, and the engaged portion 311d is a groove-shaped cutout portion in a plan view into which the engaging portion 21e can be fitted. However, this is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, the engaged portion may be a convex portion and the engaging portion may be a concave portion into which the convex portion can be fitted.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1...printing device, 2...setting section, 3...printing section, 4...platen (printing medium holding section), 5...winding section, 6...roller (transport section), 7...control section, 10...drying section, 10A...first drying section, 10B...second drying section, 20...carriage, 21...head holding plate, 21a...first opening, 21b...second opening, 21c...third opening, 21d...engagement section, 21e...engagement section, 21f...plate-shaped member facing surface, 24...rail, 30...suction unit, 31...attachment / detachment section, 32...holding section, 41...first head, 41a...first nozzle row, 41b...nozzle forming surface, 42...second head, 42a...second nozzle row, 310...suction nozzle, 310a...suction Mouth, 310b...second side wall, 310c...second end, 310d...first sidewall, 310e...first end, 310f...bottom, 310g...end, 311...plate-shaped member , 311a...filter support part, 311b...grip part, 311c...engaged part, 311d...engaged part, 311e...first surface, 311f...second surface, 312... Filter, 313...recess, 321...main body, 321a...fixing screw forming part, 321b...filter holding part, 321c...interior, 322...fixing part, 322a...hinge, 323...airflow generation part, 324...fitting part, 324a...fixing screw, G1...distance, G2...distance, P...printing medium, P1...printing surface, P2...back side

Claims

1. A printing medium holding unit that holds the printing medium, In the region facing the printing medium holding section, a carriage that moves back and forth in the scanning direction, A first head provided on the carriage, having a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging a first liquid are arranged in an intersecting direction that intersects the scanning direction, A suction unit provided on the carriage, which has a suction port for sucking up mist of the first liquid generated when the first liquid is discharged from the first head, Equipped with, The carriage has a head holding plate that holds the first head and the suction unit in a position facing the printing medium holding section. The head holding plate has a first opening that exposes the first nozzle row and a second opening that exposes the suction port. The suction unit has a suction nozzle provided with the suction port, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the suction nozzle is detachable from the head holding plate.

2. In the printing apparatus described in claim 1, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the suction unit comprises a detachable part provided with the suction nozzle, and a pressing part that can be fixed to the head holding plate and is displaceable between a fixed position for fixing the detachable part to the head holding plate and a detachable position for attaching and detaching the detachable part to the head holding plate.

3. In the printing apparatus described in claim 2, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the pressing part has a flow path for an airflow that sucks in the mist and an airflow generating part that generates the airflow.

4. In the printing apparatus described in claim 3, The suction unit has a filter that collects the mist sucked in from the suction port. The attachment / detachment portion comprises a plate-shaped member with the scanning direction as the short direction and the intersecting direction as the long direction, and a filter support portion provided on the plate-shaped member that supports the filter so as to block the airflow path with the filter. The aforementioned pressing portion has a filter clamping portion, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the filter is held between the filter support portion and the filter clamping portion when the pressing portion is in the fixed position.

5. In the printing apparatus described in claim 4, The plate-shaped member has a first surface that faces the head holding plate when the detachable portion is in a position where it is held down by the pressing portion located in the fixed position, and a second surface opposite to the first surface that faces the filter, and has a recess that extends in the longitudinal direction and is recessed in a first direction from the second surface side toward the first surface side. The printing apparatus is characterized in that the recess functions as part of the airflow path and as the suction nozzle.

6. In the printing apparatus described in claim 5, The carriage is provided with a second head having a second nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging a second liquid are arranged in the intersecting direction, The head holding plate has a third opening that exposes the second nozzle row, The suction unit is provided between the first head and the second head in the scanning direction, The suction nozzle has a side wall provided from the second surface side toward the first surface side, which is a first side wall located toward the first head side in the scanning direction, and a second side wall located toward the second head side in the scanning direction. The suction port is formed in the suction nozzle, and the first end of the first side wall in the first direction forms part of the contour of the suction port. A printing apparatus characterized in that the first end does not protrude from the second opening toward the printing medium holding portion, and the second end of the second side wall in the first direction protrudes from the second opening toward the printing medium holding portion.

7. In the printing apparatus described in claim 6, The second liquid is an ink containing a colorant, A printing apparatus characterized in that the first liquid is a reaction solution that reacts with the colorant.

8. In the printing apparatus described in claim 6, The suction nozzle has a bottom portion that is continuous with the second end and extends toward the first head side. The length of the bottom in the scanning direction is shorter than the length between the first side wall and the second side wall in the scanning direction. A printing apparatus characterized in that the end of the bottom portion on the first head side in the scanning direction forms part of the contour of the suction port.

9. In the printing apparatus described in claim 8, A printing apparatus characterized in that the distance from the printing medium holding portion to the bottom portion is longer than the distance from the printing medium holding portion to the nozzle forming surface on which the nozzle of the first head is formed.

10. In a printing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 9, The head holding plate has an engaging portion on the surface facing the plate-shaped member that is opposite to the plate-shaped member, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the plate-shaped member is provided with an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion when the detachable portion is in a position where it is pressed down by the pressing portion located in the fixed position.

11. In a printing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 9, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the plate-shaped member has a gripping portion which is gripped when the attachment / detachment portion is attached to or detached from the head holding plate.

Images