Nozzle protection cap, head unit, and attachment method of nozzle protection cap

Abstract

To provide a technology that enables a nozzle protection cap to be firmly fixed to a head unit and also enables the nozzle protection cap to be easily attached to and detached from the head unit.SOLUTION: A nozzle protection cap 1 includes: a base part 10 including a facing surface 11 capable of facing a nozzle surface 121 of a recording head 120; a seal member 20 provided in the facing surface 11 and formed by an elastic body capable of pressing the nozzle surface 121; female parts 40A1, 40B1 of a pair of ball catches 40A, 40B for pressing the seal member 20 against the nozzle surface 121 and engaging with the recording head 120 for integration; and a pair of bolts 50A, 50B for pressing the seal member 20 against the nozzle surface 121 and more strongly engaging with the recording head 120 than the female parts 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B for integration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to a nozzle protection cap that protects the nozzle surface of a recording head that includes a nozzle array capable of ejecting droplets, a head unit on which the nozzle protection cap is attached, and a method for attaching the nozzle protection cap. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a recording head cap for sealing the ink ejection ports of an inkjet recording head, which is detachable from the device main body. The recording head cap described in Patent Document 1 is attached to the device main body using an engagement claw provided on the recording head cap, but there is also known a recording head cap that is attached to the device main body using a screw. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-320897 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with conventional caps that use screws to attach the recording head cap to the device body, if the cap needs to be frequently attached and detached from the device body, the user must tighten and loosen the screws each time, which is troublesome.On the other hand, when the cap is attached using engaging claws, the cap may come off accidentally when initially installing ink or transporting the recording head, which could damage the ink ejection ports or cause ink leakage and soil the surrounding area.

[0005] The present application aims to provide a technology that enables a nozzle protection cap to be firmly fixed to a head unit when ink is initially introduced or when the head unit is transported, and also enables the nozzle protection cap to be easily attached and detached when it is necessary to frequently attach and detach the nozzle protection cap to and from the head unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the nozzle protection cap of the present application is characterized by comprising: a base having an opposing surface that can face the nozzle face of a recording head having a nozzle row that can eject droplets; a sealing member provided on the opposing surface and made of an elastic body that can press against the nozzle face while surrounding the nozzle row; a first engagement portion that presses the sealing member against the nozzle face and engages with the recording head to integrate them; and a second engagement portion that presses the sealing member against the nozzle face and engages with the recording head more strongly than the first engagement portion to integrate them.

[0007] In addition, in order to achieve the above object, the head unit of the present application is a head unit to which the nozzle protection cap can be attached and detached freely, and is characterized by comprising a recording head having a nozzle surface, a nozzle guide having a contact surface that can abut against the opposing surface of the nozzle protection cap and surrounding the nozzle surface of the recording head, and a first engaged portion arranged to be able to engage with the first engaging portion.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the method of attaching a nozzle protection cap of the present application comprises: a base having an opposing surface that can face the nozzle face of a recording head including a nozzle row capable of ejecting droplets; a sealing member provided on the opposing surface and made of an elastic material that can press the nozzle face while surrounding the nozzle row; a first engagement portion for pressing the sealing member against the nozzle face and engaging with the recording head to integrate it; and a second engagement portion for pressing the sealing member against the nozzle face and engaging with the recording head more strongly than the first engagement portion to integrate it; and the nozzle protection cap is detachably attached to a head unit that comprises a recording head having a nozzle face, a nozzle guide that has an abutting surface that can abut against the opposing surface of the nozzle protection cap and surrounds the nozzle face of the recording head, and a first engaged portion arranged to be engageable with the first engaging portion, wherein the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are held together by a force of 40 N or more that attracts each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present application, when initially introducing ink or transporting the head unit, the nozzle protection cap can be firmly fixed to the head unit by using the second engagement portion, and when the nozzle protection cap needs to be frequently attached and detached to the head unit, the first engagement portion can be used to easily attach and detach it. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a head unit to which a nozzle protection cap according to an embodiment of the present application is attached. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the nozzle protection cap of FIG. 1 is removed from the head unit. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 2 as seen from the right rear of the head unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following description, some basic components may be omitted, and the dimensional ratios of the depicted components may not be accurate. In each drawing, the front-to-rear direction D1, the up-down direction D2, and the left-to-right direction D3 are as shown in each drawing.

[0012] Fig. 1 shows the appearance of a head unit 100 equipped with a nozzle protection cap 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. The head unit 100 ejects ink from a recording head 120 (see Fig. 2) and records (prints) characters, figures, and the like on a recording medium located opposite the recording head 120. As shown in Fig. 1, the head unit 100 includes a rectangular parallelepiped head unit housing 110, and the recording head 120 is arranged from the center to the bottom of a front surface 110A of the head unit housing 110.

[0013] The nozzle protection cap 1 covers the entire print head 120 and protects the print head 120, particularly the nozzle array 130 (see FIG. 2) formed in the print head 120, from external impacts, dust adhesion, and the like. The nozzle protection cap 1 is basically attached to the print head 120 when the print head 120 is not performing a printing operation. The reason for this is as follows: In addition to protecting the nozzle array 130, attaching the nozzle protection cap 1 during maintenance operations of the print head 120 prevents the surrounding area from being soiled with ink due to accidental ink ejection to the outside, for example, during initial ink introduction or purging operations. In this embodiment, UV ink, which is an ultraviolet-curable ink, is used as the ink ejected from the print head 120. Therefore, the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to cover the periphery of the nozzle array 130 when printing operations are not being performed to prevent the UV ink from being exposed to external light, including ultraviolet light, through the nozzle array 130. Furthermore, UV ink has the property that gases such as oxygen in the air tend to dissolve in the ink if it is left exposed to air for a long period of time. The more dissolved gases there are in the ink, the more the print quality deteriorates. Therefore, when printing is not being performed, it is necessary to prevent the ink accumulated in the nozzle array 130 from coming into contact with the air as much as possible. For this reason, when printing is not being performed, the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the recording head 120 to prevent the ink in the nozzle array 130 from coming into contact with the air as much as possible. In this way, the nozzle protection cap 1 not only serves to protect the nozzle array 130 from external impacts and the like, but also serves to prevent contamination of the surrounding area due to ink leakage, prevent unintended solidification of the ink, and suppress dissolved gases in the ink.

[0014] Next, the attachment structure when attaching the nozzle protection cap 1 to the recording head 120 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows the state in which the nozzle protection cap 1 has been removed from the head unit 100 in Figure 1, and shows the attachment structure on the recording head 120 side. Figure 3 shows the state in which the nozzle protection cap 1 in Figure 2 has been removed from the head unit 100, viewed from the right rear of the head unit 100, and shows the attachment structure on the nozzle protection cap 1 side.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, the recording head 120 has a substantially rectangular nozzle surface 121, and a nozzle row 130 consisting of a plurality of nozzles is formed in the vertical direction at the center of the nozzle surface 121. A nozzle guide 122 is formed surrounding the nozzle surface 121. The nozzle guide 122 has abutment surfaces 122A and 122B formed on both left and right sides of the nozzle surface 121, in the direction in which the nozzle row 130 extends, i.e., in the vertical direction. As will be described later with reference to Fig. 3, the abutment surfaces 122A and 122B are surfaces that abut against the opposing surface 11 of the nozzle protection cap 1, particularly its convex portions 11A and 11B, when the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the recording head 120.

[0016] A notch 122A1 is formed at the left end of the left contact surface 122A, extending vertically from the center, and a notch 122B1 is formed at the right end of the right contact surface 122B, extending vertically from the center. A male part 40A2 constituting the left ball catch 40A of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B is screwed into a portion of the front surface 110A of the head unit housing 110 exposed by the notch 122A1. Meanwhile, a male part 40B2 constituting the right ball catch 40B of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B is screwed into a portion of the front surface 110A of the head unit housing 110 exposed by the notch 122B1. The tips of the male parts 40A2, 40B2 protrude from the contact surfaces 122A, 122B in the direction in which ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 120, i.e., the forward direction in FIG. 2 . The male portions 40A2 and 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B are an example of a "first engaged portion."

[0017] Furthermore, a nut 150A is embedded in the center of the left contact surface 122A for fastening the left bolt 50A of the pair of bolts 50A, 50B provided in the nozzle protection cap 1. Meanwhile, a nut 150B is embedded in the center of the right contact surface 122B for fastening the right bolt 50B of the pair of bolts 50A, 50B provided in the nozzle protection cap 1. The pair of bolts 50A, 50B is an example of a "second engaging portion," and the pair of nuts 150A, 150B is an example of a "second engaged portion."

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle protection cap 1 includes a base 10 having a facing surface 11 that can face the nozzle surface 121 of the recording head 120. The base 10 is generally rectangular and is sized to cover the entire nozzle guide 122, i.e., the entire recording head 120. A sealing member 20 made of an elastic material that can press against the nozzle surface 121 while surrounding the nozzle row 130 is attached to the facing surface 11. The sealing member 20 can be, for example, a generally rectangular piece of silicone rubber with both ends connected. However, the sealing member 20 is not limited to silicone rubber as long as it is an elastic material, and other materials may be used, as long as it is capable of surrounding the nozzle row 130. Furthermore, the shape is not limited to a generally rectangular shape, and may be an elliptical shape or other shape, as long as it can surround the nozzle row 130.

[0019] A pair of plate-shaped protrusions 11A, 11B are formed on both left and right ends of the opposing surface 11. In other words, the pair of protrusions 11A, 11B are arranged at positions sandwiching the seal member 20 in a direction parallel to the opposing surface 11. Furthermore, the shafts of the bolts 50A, 50B are arranged to be exposed from the central portions of the protrusions 11A, 11B in the up-down direction.

[0020] A female portion 40A1 constituting the left ball catch 40A of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B is screwed onto the outer base 10 at the left end of the opposing surface 11. Meanwhile, a female portion 40B1 constituting the right ball catch 40B of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B is screwed onto the outer base 10 at the right end of the opposing surface 11. The female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B are an example of a "first engaging portion."

[0021] Because the female portions 40A1 and 40B1 have the same configuration, the configuration of the left female portion 40A1 will be described below. The female portion 40A1 has a pair of housings 41 and 42 spaced apart in the vertical direction. The upper housing 41 of the pair of housings 41 and 42 houses a ball 43 partially exposed from its underside and a spring (not shown) that biases the ball 43 downward, while the lower housing 42 houses a ball 44 partially exposed from its top side and a spring (not shown) that biases the ball 44 upward. The engagement using the left ball catch 40A is completed by inserting the left male portion 40A2 between the upper ball 43 and lower ball 44 of the left female portion 40A1. Similarly, engagement using the right ball catch 40B is completed by inserting the right male part 40B2 between the upper ball 43 and the lower ball 44 of the right female part 40B1. The diameter of each of the balls 43, 44 is, for example, 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less. Using ball catches 40A, 40B having balls 43, 44 of this size allows the nozzle protection cap 1 and the recording head 120 to be kept in close contact with each other with an appropriate force, and the overall size of the ball catches 40A, 40B can be limited, allowing the nozzle protection cap 1 to be manufactured compactly.

[0022] After the nozzle protection cap 1 has been engaged with the recording head 120 using the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B in this manner, if it is desired to engage the nozzle protection cap 1 with the recording head 120 with even greater force, the pair of bolts 50A, 50B can be rotated to tighten the bolts 50A, 50B to the nuts 150A, 150B. Here, an attachment mode in which the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the recording head 120 using only the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B is referred to as a first attachment mode, and an attachment mode in which an additional pair of bolts 50A, 50B is used after attachment using the first attachment mode is referred to as a second attachment mode. In the first attachment mode, the female portions 40A1, 40B1 and the male portions 40A2, 40B2 constituting the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B are maintained in an attached state by, for example, a mutually attracting force of 40 N or more. In contrast, in the second mounting mode, the holding force of the pair of bolts 50A, 50B and nuts 150A, 150B is added to the holding force of 40N or more provided by the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B, so that the nozzle protection cap 1 and the recording head 120 are held in an attached state with even greater force.

[0023] The user can freely select either the first attachment mode or the second attachment mode. When not continuing to print using the recording head 120, the user selects the first attachment mode and attaches the nozzle protection cap 1 to the recording head 120. When the first attachment mode is selected, the nozzle protection cap 1 can be easily attached by simply pushing it onto the recording head 120, and the nozzle protection cap 1 can be easily removed from the recording head 120 by simply pulling it out from the recording head 120. By selecting the first attachment mode in this way, the user can easily attach and detach the nozzle protection cap 1 to and from the recording head 120.

[0024] On the other hand, when the head unit 100 needs to be transported, for example, if there is a risk of external impact being applied to the nozzle array 130 of the recording head 120, or when it is desired to improve the sealing performance of the nozzle array 130 by the sealing member 20 to prevent air from being drawn in from the outside, for example, when initially introducing ink, the user selects the second attachment mode and attaches the nozzle protection cap 1 to the recording head 120. This attaches the nozzle protection cap 1 to the recording head 120 with stronger force than in the first attachment mode, and the nozzle protection cap 1 does not easily come off the recording head 120, so the nozzle array 130 of the recording head 120 is protected from external impacts by the nozzle protection cap 1.

[0025] Note that when the second attachment mode is selected and the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the recording head 120, the seal member 20 may be pressed against the nozzle surface 121 with excessive force, resulting in excessive elastic deformation of the seal member 20. For this reason, the pair of protrusions 11A, 11B are provided to prevent excessive elastic deformation of the seal member 20. Each of the pair of protrusions 11A, 11B has a predetermined height from the opposing surface 11. The seal member 20 also has a predetermined height from the opposing surface 11. The height of the apex of the seal member 20 is set to be higher than the height of the pair of protrusions 11A, 11B. Therefore, even if the seal member 20 is pressed against the nozzle surface 121 with excessive force, the seal member 20 elastically deforms only by a maximum amount equal to the difference between the height of the apex of the seal member 20 and the height of the pair of protrusions 11A, 11B, thereby preventing excessive elastic deformation of the seal member 20. Furthermore, by changing the height of the pair of protrusions 11A and 11B, the maximum value of the elastic deformation of the seal member 20 can be changed.

[0026] As described above, the nozzle protection cap 1 of this embodiment is characterized by comprising: a base 10 having an opposing surface 11 that can face the nozzle surface 121 of a recording head 120 having a nozzle row 130 that can eject droplets; a sealing member 20 that is provided on the opposing surface 11 and is made of an elastic material that can press the nozzle surface 121 while surrounding the nozzle row 130; female portions 40A1, 40B1 of a pair of ball catches 40A, 40B for pressing the sealing member 20 against the nozzle surface 121 and engaging with and integrating the recording head 120; and a pair of bolts 50A, 50B for pressing the sealing member 20 against the nozzle surface 121 and engaging more strongly with the recording head 120 than the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B for integrating the sealing member 20.

[0027] In this way, with the nozzle protection cap 1 of this embodiment, the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B engage with the male portions 40A2, 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B provided on the head unit 100 side, thereby attaching the nozzle protection cap 1 to the head unit 100. This makes it possible to easily attach and detach the nozzle protection cap 1 even when it is necessary to frequently attach and detach the nozzle protection cap 1 to and from the head unit 100. Furthermore, by fastening the pair of bolts 50A, 50B to a pair of nuts 150A, 150B provided on the head unit 100 side, the nozzle protection cap 1 can be more firmly engaged with the head unit 100.

[0028] Furthermore, the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B are characterized in that their tips protrude from the opposing surfaces 11 in the direction in which the opposing surfaces 11 face each other. This allows the user to attach the nozzle protection cap 1 to the head unit 100 while looking at the tips.

[0029] Also, the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B are disposed at positions sandwiching the sealing member 20 in a direction parallel to the opposing surface 11. As a result, when the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the head unit 100, the sealing member 20 uniformly presses the nozzle surface 121 of the recording head 120 with the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B located on both sides thereof, thereby enabling the nozzle row 130 to be properly sealed.

[0030] Furthermore, each of the pair of bolts 50A, 50B is disposed between the seal member 20 and the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B, respectively, in a direction parallel to the opposing surface 11. Since each of the pair of bolts 50A, 50B is disposed closer to the seal member 20 than the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B, respectively, when the nozzle protection cap 1 is more firmly engaged with the head unit 100 using the pair of bolts 50A, 50B, the seal member 20 presses the nozzle surface 121 of the recording head 120 with a stronger, uniform force via the pair of bolts 50A, 50B located on both sides of the seal member 20. This allows the nozzle row 130 to be sealed more appropriately.

[0031] Further, a pair of protrusions 11A, 11B are formed on the opposing surface 11, and each of the pair of protrusions 11A, 11B is disposed at a position sandwiching the seal member 20 in a direction parallel to the opposing surface 11, and each of the pair of bolts 50A, 50B is disposed so as to be exposed from the protrusions 11A, 11B. When the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the head unit 100 and further engaged tightly using the pair of bolts 50A, 50B, the pair of protrusions 11A, 11B, which have a predetermined height from the opposing surface 11, can suppress excessive elastic deformation of the seal member 20 due to that height.

[0032] Furthermore, the size of the balls 43, 44 of the ball catches 40A, 40B is between 3 mm and 10 mm, which limits the size of the ball catches 40A, 40B, allowing the nozzle protection cap 1 to be manufactured compactly.

[0033] As described above, the head unit 100 of this embodiment is a head unit 100 to which the nozzle protection cap 1 can be attached and detached freely, and is characterized by comprising a recording head 120 having a nozzle surface 121, a nozzle guide 122 having abutment surfaces 122A, 122B that can abut against the opposing surface 11 of the nozzle protection cap 1 and surrounding the nozzle surface 121 of the recording head 120, and male portions 40A2, 40B2 of a pair of ball catches 40A, 40B that are arranged to be engageable with the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B.

[0034] As described above, in the head unit 100 of this embodiment, the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the head unit 100 by engaging the male portions 40A2, 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B, which are arranged to be engageable with the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B, with the female portions 40A1, 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B provided on the nozzle protection cap 1 side, so that the nozzle protection cap 1 can be easily attached and detached even when it is necessary to frequently attach and detach the nozzle protection cap 1 to and from the head unit 100. Furthermore, the nozzle protection cap 1 can be more firmly engaged with the head unit 100 by fastening the pair of bolts 50A, 50B to a pair of nuts 150A, 150B provided on the head unit 100 side.

[0035] Also, the abutment surfaces 122A and 122B are characterized in that they are provided on either side of the nozzle row 130 in the direction in which the nozzle row 130 included in the nozzle surface 121 of the recording head 120 extends in the nozzle guide 122. As a result, the opposing surface 11 of the nozzle protection cap 1 abuts against the abutment surfaces 122A and 122B, but does not abut directly against the nozzle row 130, thereby preventing damage to the nozzle row 130.

[0036] Furthermore, the male portions 40A2, 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A, 40B are characterized in that their tips protrude from the contact surfaces 122A, 122B in the direction in which droplets are ejected from the recording head 120. This allows the user to attach the nozzle protection cap 1 to the head unit 100 while looking at the tips.

[0037] Furthermore, the nozzle guide 122 is characterized in that it has a pair of nuts 150A, 150B that engage with the pair of bolts 50A, 50B at locations facing the pair of bolts 50A, 50B of the nozzle protection cap 1 when the nozzle protection cap 1 is attached to the head unit 100. This allows the nozzle protection cap 1 to be more firmly engaged with the head unit 100 by fastening the pair of bolts 50A, 50B provided on the nozzle protection cap 1 side to the pair of nuts 150A, 150B.

[0038] Further, the male portions 40A2 and 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B are disposed at positions on either side of the nozzle surface 121 in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface 121, and the pair of nuts 150A and 150B are disposed between the nozzle surface 121 and the male portions 40A2 and 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B, respectively, in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface 121. In this way, the pair of nuts 150A and 150B are disposed at positions closer to the nozzle surface 121 than the male portions 40A2 and 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B, respectively. Therefore, when the nozzle protection cap 1 is firmly engaged with the head unit 100 using the pair of nuts 150A and 150B, the nozzle surface 121 is pressed uniformly with a strong force by the seal member 20 provided on the opposing surface 11 of the nozzle protection cap 1, by the pair of nuts 150A and 150B located on both sides of the nozzle surface 121. This allows the nozzle row 130 to be sealed more appropriately.

[0039] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0040] (1) In the above embodiment, the female portions 40A1 and 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B are exemplified as the first engaging portions, and the male portions 40A2 and 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B are exemplified as the first engaged portions. However, this is not limited thereto. The male portions 40A2 and 40B2 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B may be employed as the first engaging portions, and the female portions 40A1 and 40B1 of the pair of ball catches 40A and 40B may be employed as the first engaged portions. Furthermore, the number of ball catches may be three or more, rather than two. However, using only one ball catch is not preferable because it may result in incomplete sealing of the nozzle surface 121 by the seal member 20. Furthermore, catches other than ball catches, such as roller catches or magnetic catches, may also be employed. Furthermore, the material of the ball catches is not limited, and may be a metal ball, a resin ball, or the like.

[0041] (2) In the above embodiment, a pair of bolts 50A, 50B is exemplified as the second engaging portion, and a pair of nuts 150A, 150B is exemplified as the second engaged portion. However, this is not limiting, and a male thread other than a bolt, such as a screw, may be used as the second engaging portion, and a female thread other than a nut, such as a threaded screw hole, may be used as the second engaged portion. Furthermore, the number of bolts may be three or more, instead of two. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1...nozzle protection cap, 10...base, 11...opposing surface, 20...sealing member, 40A, 40B...ball catch, 40A1, 40B1...female part (first engaging part), 40A2, 40B2...male part (first engaged part), 41, 42...housing, 43, 44...ball, 50A, 50B...bolt (second engaging part), 100...head unit, 120...recording head, 121...nozzle surface, 122...nozzle guide, 122A, 122B...contact surface, 130...nozzle row, 150A, 150B...nut (second engaged part).

Claims

1. a base having an opposing surface that can face a nozzle surface of a recording head having a nozzle array capable of ejecting droplets; a sealing member provided on the opposing surface and made of an elastic material that can press against the nozzle surface while surrounding the nozzle row; a first engaging portion for pressing the seal member against the nozzle face and engaging with the recording head to integrate the seal member; a second engaging portion for pressing the seal member against the nozzle surface and for engaging the seal member with the recording head more strongly than the first engaging portion to integrate the seal member with the recording head; Equipped with A nozzle protection cap.

2. The first engaging portion is composed of either a male portion or a female portion that constitutes a catch.

2. The nozzle protection cap according to claim 1.

3. The second engagement portion is formed of a male screw.

3. The nozzle protection cap according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a tip of the first engaging portion protruding from the opposing surface in a direction in which the opposing surfaces face each other; 3. The nozzle protection cap according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the first engaging portion is composed of a pair of engaging portions, The pair of engaging portions are disposed at positions sandwiching the seal member in a direction parallel to the opposing surface.

5. The nozzle protection cap according to claim 4.

6. the second engaging portion is composed of a pair of engaging portions, Each of the pair of engaging portions of the second engaging portion is disposed between the seal member and each of the pair of engaging portions of the first engaging portion in a direction parallel to the opposing surface.

6. The nozzle protection cap according to claim 5.

7. A pair of protrusions is formed on the opposing surface, the pair of protrusions are disposed at positions sandwiching the sealing member in a direction parallel to the opposing surface, each of the pair of engaging portions of the second engaging portion is arranged so as to be exposed from the protruding portion; 7. The nozzle protection cap according to claim 6.

8. the catch is a ball catch, The size of the ball of the ball catch is 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

3. The nozzle protection cap according to claim 2.

9. A head unit to which the nozzle protection cap according to any one of claims 1 to 8 can be detachably attached, a recording head having the nozzle surface; a nozzle guide having a contact surface that can contact the opposing surface of the nozzle protection cap and that surrounds the nozzle surface of the recording head; a first engaged portion disposed so as to be engageable with the first engaging portion; Equipped with A head unit characterized by:

10. the abutment surfaces are provided on the nozzle guide in a direction in which the nozzle array included in the nozzle surface of the recording head extends, on either side of the nozzle array; 10. The head unit according to claim 9.

11. a tip of the first engaged portion protruding from the contact surface in a direction in which the droplets are ejected from the recording head; The head unit according to claim 10 .

12. the nozzle guide has a second engaged portion at a portion facing the second engaging portion of the nozzle protection cap when the nozzle protection cap is attached to the head unit, the second engaged portion being engaged with the second engaging portion; 10. The head unit according to claim 9.

13. the first engaged portion is made up of a pair of engaged portions, the pair of engaging portions of the first engaged portion are disposed at positions sandwiching the nozzle surface in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface, the second engaged portion is made up of a pair of engaged portions, each of the pair of engaging portions of the second engaged portion is disposed between the nozzle surface and each of the pair of engaged portions of the first engaged portion in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface; 13. The head unit according to claim 12.

14. a nozzle protection cap comprising: a base having an opposing surface capable of facing a nozzle surface of a recording head including a nozzle row capable of ejecting droplets; a sealing member provided on the opposing surface and made of an elastic body capable of pressing against the nozzle surface while surrounding the nozzle row; a first engaging portion for pressing the sealing member against the nozzle surface and engaging with the recording head to integrate the sealing member; and a second engaging portion for pressing the sealing member against the nozzle surface and engaging with the recording head more strongly than the first engaging portion to integrate the sealing member, a nozzle protection cap that is detachably attached to a head unit including: a recording head having the nozzle surface; a nozzle guide that has an abutting surface that can abut against the opposing surface of the nozzle protection cap and surrounds the nozzle surface of the recording head; and a first engaged portion that is disposed so as to be engageable with the first engaging portion, The first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are held together by a mutually attracting force of 40 N or more. A method for attaching a nozzle protection cap.

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