Printer and recording head cleaning method

Abstract

To suppress an ink from adhering to head contact surfaces at both sides of a nozzle surface when cleaning the nozzle surface of a recording head by cleaning liquid.SOLUTION: A maintenance member 6 has a discharge flat surface 651 (discharge surface) adjacent to a cleaning flat surface 641 in a cleaning direction Yc, and disposed to be recessed downward from the cleaning flat surface 641. The discharge flat surface 651 is disposed between X directions of two extension surfaces 634 extending in the cleaning direction Yc from two contact flat surfaces 631. With the configuration, flow of cleaning liquid in the cleaning direction Yc, dropping from the cleaning flat surface 641 to the discharge flat surface 651 is formed. Therefore, an amount of cleaning liquid flowing in the X direction from the cleaning flat surface 641 can be suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3B

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for cleaning a print head that ejects ink from ink nozzles. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet recording heads have a nozzle surface where ink nozzles that eject ink are open. In such recording heads, some of the ink ejected from the ink nozzles adheres to the nozzle surface, contaminating the nozzle surface. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, ink is removed from the nozzle surface. Specifically, a suction member with suction holes sucks ink from the nozzle surface into the suction holes, thereby removing the ink from the nozzle surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7006705 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, cleaning liquid can be used to wash away ink adhering to the recording head. However, if the cleaning liquid spreads in an inappropriate direction, there is a risk that the ink contained in the cleaning liquid will contaminate the recording head. In other words, when cleaning the nozzle surface with cleaning liquid supplied from a maintenance member, it is necessary to avoid contact of the maintenance unit with the nozzle surface to prevent damage to the nozzle surface. To address this issue, it is conceivable to provide, for example, head contact surfaces on both sides of the nozzle surface in the width direction, and supply cleaning liquid from the maintenance member to the nozzle surface while the maintenance member is in contact with the head contact surfaces. However, there is a risk that the cleaning liquid containing the ink washed off the nozzle surface will spread in the width direction, contaminating the head contact surface with ink.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to make it possible to prevent ink from adhering to the head contact surfaces on both sides of the nozzle surface when the nozzle surface of a recording head is cleaned with cleaning liquid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The printing device according to the present invention includes a recording head having a nozzle surface in which ink nozzles that eject ink are open, and two head contact surfaces that are provided on both sides of the nozzle surface in the width direction and are located below the nozzle surface; a maintenance member having a cleaning surface in which cleaning liquid nozzles that eject cleaning liquid are open, and two maintenance contact surfaces that are provided on both sides of the cleaning surface in the width direction; and a maintenance member that faces the recording head from below, and moves the maintenance member relative to the recording head in a movement direction perpendicular to the width direction, with the two maintenance contact surfaces respectively in contact with the two head contact surfaces. The maintenance member is provided with a drive unit that performs a movement operation to move the cleaning member relative to the surface to be cleaned, and a cleaning liquid supply unit that performs a cleaning liquid supply operation to supply cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle by ejecting cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle onto the surface to be cleaned, and the cleaning liquid supply unit performs the cleaning liquid supply operation in parallel with the movement operation by the drive unit.The maintenance member has a discharge surface that is adjacent to the surface to be cleaned in the movement direction and is recessed downward from the surface to be cleaned, and two extension surfaces that extend from each of the two maintenance abutment surfaces toward the discharge surface from the surface to be cleaned in the movement direction, and the discharge surface is located between the two extension surfaces in the width direction.

[0007] A method for cleaning a recording head according to the present invention includes a step of performing a moving operation in which a maintenance member is brought into contact with the recording head from below and is moved relative to the recording head in a moving direction, and a step of performing a cleaning liquid supplying operation in which cleaning liquid is supplied between the maintenance member and the recording head, wherein the recording head has a nozzle surface on which ink nozzles that eject ink are opened, and two head contact surfaces that are provided on both sides of the nozzle surface in a width direction perpendicular to the moving direction and are located below the nozzle surface, and the maintenance member has a cleaning surface on which cleaning liquid nozzles that eject cleaning liquid are opened, and two maintenance nozzles that are provided on both sides of the cleaning surface in the width direction. In the movement operation, the maintenance member faces the recording head from below, and with the two maintenance contact surfaces in contact with the two head contact surfaces, the maintenance member moves relative to the recording head in the movement direction. In the cleaning liquid supply operation, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning surface from the cleaning liquid nozzle by ejecting cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle. The maintenance member has a discharge surface that is adjacent to the cleaning surface in the movement direction and recessed downward from the cleaning surface, and two extension surfaces that extend from each of the two maintenance contact surfaces toward the discharge surface from the cleaning surface in the movement direction, and the discharge surface is located between the two extension surfaces in the width direction.

[0008] In the present invention (printing apparatus and recording head cleaning method) configured as described above, the maintenance member has a cleaning surface on which cleaning liquid nozzles that eject cleaning liquid are open, and two maintenance contact surfaces provided on both sides of the cleaning surface in the width direction. Then, while the maintenance contact surfaces on both sides of the cleaning surface are in contact with the head contact surfaces on both sides of the nozzle surface, the maintenance member is moved relative to the recording head in the movement direction (movement operation), and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid nozzles to the cleaning surface (cleaning liquid supply operation). In contrast, the maintenance member has a discharge surface that is adjacent to the cleaning surface in the movement direction and recessed below the cleaning surface. This discharge surface is provided between two extension surfaces that extend in the movement direction from each of the two maintenance contact surfaces. With this configuration, a flow of cleaning liquid is formed in the movement direction as it drops from the cleaning surface onto the discharge surface. This reduces the amount of cleaning liquid that flows in the width direction from the cleaning surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent ink from adhering to the head contact surfaces on both sides of the nozzle surface when cleaning the nozzle surface of the recording head with cleaning liquid.

[0009] The printing device may also be configured so that the maintenance member has two wall surfaces extending from both ends of the discharge surface to the two extension surfaces in the width direction, and the depression defined by the two wall surfaces and the discharge surface opens on the side opposite the cleaning surface in the movement direction. In this configuration, the wall surfaces can prevent the cleaning liquid that drops onto the discharge surface at the bottom of the depression from spreading in the width direction.

[0010] The printing device may be configured so that the ejection surface is located downstream of the cleaning surface in the direction of movement. In this configuration, the cleaning liquid can be prevented from spreading in the width direction downstream of the cleaning surface in the direction of movement.

[0011] The printing device may also be configured so that the maintenance member has two grooves provided in the width direction between the two maintenance contact surfaces and both ends of the cleaning surface, and each of the two grooves extends in the movement direction and opens toward the discharge surface. With this configuration, the cleaning liquid that has advanced in the width direction from the cleaning surface can be guided in the movement direction by the grooves, preventing the cleaning liquid from spreading further in the width direction.

[0012] The printing device may also be configured to further include a cleaning liquid removal unit that removes cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface, the maintenance member having a suction nozzle that opens at the cleaning surface, and the cleaning liquid removal unit removing cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface by sucking the cleaning liquid through the suction nozzle. With this configuration, by sucking the cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface into the suction nozzle, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from spreading in the width direction.

[0013] The printing device may also be configured so that the suction nozzle is located upstream of the cleaning liquid nozzle in the movement direction. In other words, the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning surface from the cleaning liquid nozzle flows upstream of the cleaning surface in the movement direction as the cleaning surface moves in the movement direction. Therefore, by locating the suction nozzle upstream of the cleaning liquid nozzle in the movement direction, the cleaning liquid can be efficiently removed from the cleaning surface and prevented from spreading in the width direction.

[0014] The printing device may also be configured so that the suction nozzle is located in a position that does not face the ink nozzles when the maintenance member faces the recording head from below. In this configuration, it is possible to prevent ink from being sucked out of the ink nozzles by the suction nozzle and contaminating the nozzle surface.

[0015] The printing device may also be configured so that the nozzle surface includes two nozzle regions each extending in the movement direction and a non-nozzle region located between the two nozzle regions in the width direction, with ink nozzles provided in each of the two nozzle regions and no ink nozzles provided in the non-nozzle region, and the suction nozzle faces the non-nozzle region with the maintenance member facing the recording head from below. In this configuration, the suction nozzle can be located close to the ink nozzles while being separated from them. As a result, ink adhering around the ink nozzles can be removed by the suction nozzle.

[0016] The printing device may also be configured so that the cleaning surface is located below each of the two maintenance contact surfaces. In this configuration, a wide gap is secured between the cleaning surface and the nozzle surface, allowing ink to flow easily through this gap. As a result, ink can be effectively washed away from the nozzle surface.

[0017] The printing device may also be configured so that the extension surface has a taper at the end on the opposite side of the maintenance contact surface in the movement direction, which tapers downward as it moves toward the opposite side of the maintenance contact surface. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the maintenance member and the recording head from colliding and getting caught in the movement direction.

[0018] The printing device may also be configured to further include a cleaning liquid discharge unit disposed below the maintenance member that receives and discharges cleaning liquid that has dropped from the discharge surface. In this configuration, the cleaning liquid that has dropped from the cleaning surface onto the discharge surface can be received and discharged by the cleaning liquid discharge unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] As described above, according to the present invention, when the nozzle surface of the recording head is cleaned with cleaning liquid, it is possible to prevent ink from adhering to the head contact surfaces on both sides of the nozzle surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a printing apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a bottom view schematically showing the bottom surface of the recording head provided in the head unit. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a maintenance unit. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing an example of a maintenance member included in the maintenance unit of FIG. 3A. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional relationship between the maintenance member and the recording head in FIG. 3B. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a recording head cleaning operation performed by a maintenance member. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration for performing the cleaning operation of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a bottom view schematically showing the positional relationship between the ink nozzles and the suction nozzles. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing modified examples of the positional relationship between the cleaning plane and the contact plane; [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing schematic diagrams illustrating modified examples of the arrangement of suction nozzles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a printing device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the horizontal X direction and the vertical Z direction are shown. Also shown are one side X1 and the other side X2 of the X direction, which face opposite each other. The printing device 3 includes a housing 31, a color printing unit 32 disposed within the housing 31, a white printing unit 33 disposed above the color printing unit 32 within the housing 31, and a transport unit 4 that transports a printing medium M using multiple rollers disposed within the housing 31.

[0022] The color printing unit 32 has a plurality of (six) head units 321 arranged above the printing medium M transported by the transport unit 4 in the direction of travel of the printing medium M (the direction from the other side X2 to the one side X1). Each of the plurality of head units 321 has nozzles facing from above onto the surface M1 of the printing medium M passing below, and ejects different color inks from the nozzles using an inkjet method. Here, color ink refers to ink other than white, and includes inks such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In this way, the plurality of head units 321 of the color printing unit 32 eject color inks from above onto the surface M1 of the printing medium M passing below, thereby printing a color image on the surface M1 of the printing medium M.

[0023] The white printing section 33 also has a single head unit 331 arranged above the printing medium M transported by the transport section 4. The head unit 331 has nozzles facing from above the surface M1 of the printing medium M passing below it, and ejects white ink from the nozzles using an inkjet method. In this way, the head unit 331 of the white printing section 33 prints a white image on the surface M1 of the printing medium M by ejecting white ink from above onto the surface M1 of the printing medium M passing below it.

[0024] An inlet 311 opens in the side wall on the other side X2 of the housing 31, while an outlet 312 opens in the side wall on the one side X1 of the housing 31. The transport unit 4 transports the printing medium M from the inlet 311 to the outlet 312, passing through the color printing unit 32 and the white printing unit 33.

[0025] The transport unit 4 has an inlet unit 41 provided below the color printing unit 32, an upward transport unit 42 provided on one side X1 of the color printing unit 32, an upward transport unit 43 provided above the color printing unit 32, and a downward transport unit 44 provided on the other side X2 of the color printing unit 32. The inlet unit 41 transports the printing medium M transported from the inlet 311 to the one side X1 using rollers 411, the upward transport unit 42 transports the printing medium M transported by the inlet unit 41 upward using rollers 421, the upward transport unit 43 transports the printing medium M transported by the upward transport unit 42 to the other side X2 using rollers 431, and the downward transport unit 44 transports the printing medium M transported by the upward transport unit 43 downward using rollers 441.

[0026] Furthermore, the transport unit 4 has a color transport unit 45 that supports the printing medium M facing the color printing unit 32 from below, and the printing medium M that has passed through the descending transport unit 44 enters the color transport unit 45. This color transport unit 45 has a plurality of rollers 451 arranged from the other side X2 to one side X1, and each roller 451 contacts the back surface M2 of the printing medium M from below. In this way, the front surface M1 of the printing medium M supported by the color transport unit 45 faces upward, and each head unit 321 of the color printing unit 32 ejects color ink while facing this front surface M1 from above.

[0027] The transport unit 4 also has rollers 461, 462, and 463 arranged between the color transport unit 45 and the downward transport unit 44 in the traveling direction of the printing medium M. The roller 461 is a drive roller that drives the printing medium M. The rollers 462 and 463 are driven rollers that rotate in response to the printing medium M.

[0028] Furthermore, the transport unit 4 has a reverse transport unit 47 that turns upside down twice the printing medium M transported from the color transport unit 45 to one side X1. This reverse transport unit 47 has multiple rollers 471 to 477, including a drive roller 471, and these rollers 471 to 477 turn the printing medium M upside down twice while contacting the back side M2 ​​of the printing medium M. That is, the reverse transport unit 47 transports the printing medium M transported from the color transport unit 45 downward using rollers 471 and 472, and then changes the traveling direction of the printing medium M to the other side X2 using roller 472 and transports it, thereby turning upside down the front side M1 and back side M2 ​​of the printing medium M. Next, the reverse transport unit 47 transports the printing medium M from one side X1 to the other side X2 using multiple rollers 473, and then transports the printing medium M upward using rollers 474 to 476. Furthermore, the reverse conveying section 47 changes the direction of travel of the printing medium M to one side X1 using roller 476, thereby again inverting the front surface M1 and back surface M2 of the printing medium M upside down, and conveys the printing medium M from the other side X2 toward one side X1 using roller 477.

[0029] The transport unit 4 also has a white transport unit 48 that supports the printing medium M facing the white printing unit 33 from below, and the printing medium M that has been turned upside down twice by the reversing transport unit 47 enters the white transport unit 48. This white transport unit 48 has a roller 481 that contacts the back surface M2 of the printing medium M from below. Thus, the front surface M1 of the printing medium M supported by the white transport unit 48 faces upward, and the head unit 331 of the white printing unit 33 ejects white ink while facing this front surface M1 from above.

[0030] The conveying unit 4 also has an output unit 49 located above the upper conveying unit 43. The output unit 49 has a plurality of rollers 491 arranged from the other side X2 to one side X1 in the X direction. The output unit 49 conveys the printing medium M conveyed by the white conveying unit 48 to the one side X1 using the plurality of rollers 491, thereby conveying the printing medium M from the output opening 312 of the housing 31.

[0031] As described above, the color printing unit 32 and the white printing unit 33 of the printing device 3 have head units 321 and 331. Next, the recording heads H of the head units 321 and 331 will be described. The basic configuration of the recording head H is common to both the head unit 321 that ejects white ink and the head unit 331 that ejects color inks. Therefore, the configuration related to the head unit 331 that ejects white ink will be described here.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view of the bottom surface of a print head included in a head unit. In addition to the X and Z directions, FIG. 2 also shows the Y direction, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the X direction. Multiple print heads H are arranged in a row in the Y direction on the bottom surface of the head unit 331. Each print head H has a parallelogram defined by two sides parallel to the Y direction and two sides tilted from the X direction. The shape of the print head H is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2 and may be, for example, rectangular. Each print head H has a nozzle orifice plane Hp facing downward in the Z direction and ink nozzles Hn opening downward in the nozzle orifice plane Hp. This nozzle orifice plane Hp is made of, for example, silicon. The nozzle orifice plane Hp has a nozzle-free region Rp located in the center in the X direction and two nozzle orifice regions Rn located on both sides of the nozzle-free region Rp in the X direction. The nozzle-free region Rp and the nozzle orifice region Rn are each arranged parallel to the Y direction. In the nozzle arrangement region Rn, multiple ink nozzles Hn are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the Y direction. On the other hand, no ink nozzles Hn are provided in the nozzle-free region Rp. The recording head H ejects ink downward using an inkjet method from the ink nozzles Hn that open in the nozzle arrangement region Rn.

[0033] Incidentally, ink ejected from the ink nozzles Hn adheres to the nozzle orifice plane Hp of the recording head H. Therefore, the printing device 3 is provided with a maintenance unit 5 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) that removes ink from the nozzle orifice plane Hp.

[0034] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an example of a maintenance unit, FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing an example of a maintenance member included in the maintenance unit of FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a partial cross-sectional view showing a schematic representation of the positional relationship between the maintenance member of FIG. 3B and the recording head. The maintenance unit 5 receives a driving force from a Y-axis driving unit My (FIG. 5), which will be described later, and is movable in a cleaning direction Yc parallel to the Y direction. Note that the maintenance unit 5 may be mounted with a slight tilt depending on the orientation of the corresponding head units 321, 331. However, in this case, the tilt of the maintenance unit 5 relative to the X, Y, and Z directions is assumed to be slight and will be ignored.

[0035] 3A, the maintenance unit 5 has a base plate 51, a Z-axis drive unit Mz attached to the upper surface of the base plate 51, and a drainage tray 53 supported by the Z-axis drive unit Mz so that it can be raised and lowered, and the Z-axis drive unit Mz raises and lowers the drainage tray 53 relative to the base plate 51. The Z-axis drive unit Mz is, for example, an air cylinder.

[0036] The drainage tray 53 has a tray body 531, and the tray body 531 is provided with a recess 532 that opens upward. The tray body 531 and the recess 532 have a rectangular shape that extends in the Y direction when viewed from above in the Z direction. The drainage tray 53 receives the cleaning liquid that has dropped from the maintenance member 6 that faces the recess 532 of the drainage tray 53 from above, on a bottom surface 533 of the recess 532. A drainage outlet 534 is provided in the bottom surface 533 of the drainage tray 53, and the cleaning liquid received on the bottom surface 533 is discharged from the drainage outlet 534 to the outside.

[0037] A metal leaf spring component 54 extending in the Y direction is placed on the bottom surface 533 of the recess 532. The leaf spring component 54 has four legs 541 provided at each corner, and each leg 541 extends upward in the Z direction from the bottom surface 533 of the recess 532. Furthermore, each leaf spring component 54 has two frames 542 extending in the X direction. Of the two frames 542, the frame 542 on one side in the Y direction connects the upper ends of the two legs 541 located at one end in the Y direction, and the frame 542 on the other side in the Y direction connects the upper ends of the two legs 541 located at the other end in the Y direction. The frames 542 have a flat plate shape. Furthermore, each leaf spring component 54 has two frames 543 extending in the Y direction. Of the two frames 543, the frame 543 on one side in the X direction connects the upper ends of the two legs 541 located at one end in the X direction, and the frame 543 on the other side in the X direction connects the upper ends of the two legs 541 located at the other end in the X direction. The frame 543 has a flat plate shape and is longer than the frame 542. The central part of these frames 543 in the Y direction bends up and down, thereby functioning as a leaf spring.

[0038] The maintenance member 6 is disposed on the two frames 543 of the flat spring member 54. That is, the maintenance member 6 is suspended between the two frames 543 in the X direction and is located at the center of each frame 543 in the Y direction. In this way, the maintenance member 6 is supported by the flat spring member 54 so as to be able to move up and down in the Z direction.

[0039] The maintenance unit 5 also has a frame 55 attached to the upper surface of the tray body 531 of the drainage tray 53. This frame 55 surrounds the maintenance member 6 in the X and Y directions. In other words, the frame 55 has an opening 551 that penetrates in the Z direction, and the maintenance member 6 is located inside the opening 551.

[0040] The maintenance unit 5 also has a cleaning liquid supply port 56 for supplying cleaning liquid to the maintenance member 6, and a cleaning liquid suction port 57 for sucking cleaning liquid from the maintenance member 6. The cleaning liquid supply port 56 is connected by a pipe to a cleaning liquid nozzle Nc, which will be described later, and the cleaning liquid suction port 57 is connected by a pipe to a suction nozzle Ns, which will be described later.

[0041] The maintenance member 6 will be described using Figure 3B. Figure 3B shows the (+X) side and (-X) side in the X direction, which face in opposite directions, as well as the (+Y) side and (-Y) side in the Y direction, which face in opposite directions. The (+Y) side corresponds to the downstream side in the cleaning direction Yc, and the (-Y) side corresponds to the upstream side in the cleaning direction Yc.

[0042] The maintenance member 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 61 and a spring attachment portion 62 that protrudes downward from the base portion 61. The spring attachment portion 62 is fastened to each of the two frames 543 of the flat spring member 54 by, for example, screws.

[0043] The maintenance member 6 also has a pair of sidewalls 63 that protrude upward from the top surface of the base member 61 at both ends in the X direction. The sidewalls 63 have a rectangular shape defined by sides parallel to the X and Y directions in a plan view, and extend in the Y direction. The maintenance member 6 also has a stage member 64 that protrudes from the top surface of the base member 61 between the pair of sidewalls 63 in the Y direction. The stage member 64 has a rectangular shape defined by sides parallel to the X and Y directions in a plan view, and extends in the X direction. In the Y direction, the position of the (-Y) side end of the stage member 64 coincides with the position of the (-Y) side end of each sidewall member 63 (in other words, these ends are aligned in the X direction).

[0044] A cleaning plane 641 is provided on the upper surface of the stage unit 64. Cleaning liquid nozzles Nc and suction nozzles Ns open in the cleaning plane 641. Specifically, in the Y direction, multiple cleaning liquid nozzles Nc open on the (+Y) side of the center of the cleaning plane 641. The multiple cleaning liquid nozzles Nc are arranged in a line in the X direction. Furthermore, in the Y direction, multiple suction nozzles Ns open on the (-Y) side of the center of the cleaning plane 641. The multiple suction nozzles Ns are arranged in a line in the X direction. However, the suction nozzles Ns are provided at both ends of the cleaning plane 641 in the X direction, not in the center. This is because when the maintenance member 6 faces the recording head H from below, the suction nozzles Ns do not face the nozzle arrangement region Rn.

[0045] Furthermore, a tapered surface 642 is provided on the upper surface of the stage part 64. The tapered surface 642 is provided at the end of the (-Y) side of the stage part 64, and is adjacent to the cleaning plane 641 from the (-Y) side. The tapered surface 642 is an inclined surface that slopes downward as it approaches the (-Y) side.

[0046] Furthermore, a discharge plane 651 is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 61, adjacent to the cleaning plane 641 from the (+Y) side in plan view. The discharge plane 651 is parallel to the cleaning plane 641 and located below the cleaning plane 641. An erected surface 652 is provided, erected from the (-Y) side end of the discharge plane 651 to the (+Y) side end of the cleaning plane 641. This erected surface 652 is erected at a right angle to the discharge plane 651. In addition, in the Y direction, the position of the (+Y) side end of the discharge plane 651 coincides with the position of the (+Y) side end of the base portion 61. In other words, in plan view, the discharge plane 651 is adjacent to the cleaning plane 641 in the cleaning direction Yc and is recessed downward from the cleaning plane 641.

[0047] An abutment plane 631 that overlaps with the range Rc of the cleaning plane 641 in the Y direction is provided on the upper surface of the side wall 63. That is, in the Y direction, the position of the (+Y) side end of the cleaning plane 641 coincides with the position of the (+Y) side end of the abutment plane 631, and the position of the (-Y) side end of the cleaning plane 641 coincides with the position of the (-Y) side end of the abutment plane 631. The abutment plane 631 is parallel to the cleaning plane 641 and is located at the same height as the cleaning plane 641.

[0048] Furthermore, a tapered surface 632 is provided on the upper surface of side wall portion 63. Tapered surface 632 is provided at the (-Y) side end of the upper surface of side wall portion 63, and is adjacent to contact plane 631 from the (-Y) side. Tapered surface 632 is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the (-Y) side. Tapered surface 632 has the same length in the Y direction as tapered surface 642, and is inclined at the same angle.

[0049] Furthermore, an extended surface 634 is provided on the upper surface of the side wall portion 63, extending in the Y direction from the abutment plane 631 toward the discharge plane 651 side (i.e., the (+Y) side) of the cleaning plane 641. In other words, the extended surface 634 protrudes toward the (+Y) side in the Y direction relative to the cleaning plane 641. This extended surface 634 overlaps with the existence range Re of the discharge plane 651 in the Y direction. That is, in the Y direction, the position of the (+Y) side end of the discharge plane 651 and the position of the (+Y) side end of the extended surface 634 coincide, and the position of the (-Y) side end of the discharge plane 651 and the position of the (-Y) side end of the extended surface 634 coincide. The extended surface 634 has an abutment extended plane 635 adjacent to the abutment plane 631 from the (+Y) side, and a tapered extended surface 636 adjacent to the abutment extended plane 635 from the (+Y) side. The abutment extension surface 635 is parallel to the abutment plane 631 and is located at the same height as the abutment plane 631. In other words, the abutment extension surface 635 and the abutment plane 631 are flush with each other. The tapered extension surface 636 is an inclined surface that slopes downward as it approaches the (+Y) side.

[0050] In this maintenance member 6, the discharge plane 651 is located between a pair of extended surfaces 634 located at both ends in the X direction. That is, in a plan view, the extended surface 634 is adjacent to the discharge plane 651 in the X direction. Furthermore, the side wall portion 63 has an erected surface 637 that stands from the end of the discharge plane 651 to the end of the extended surface 634 in the Y direction. The erected surface 637 stands perpendicular to the discharge plane 651. In this way, the maintenance member 6 has a recess C that is defined by the discharge plane 651, the pair of erected surfaces 637 that stand from both ends of the discharge plane 651 in the X direction, and the erected surface 652 that stands from the end of the discharge plane 651 on the (-Y) side, and the recess C is open to the (+Y) side (in other words, the cleaning direction Yc).

[0051] The maintenance member 6 also has a pair of grooves 66 provided on both sides of the stage portion 64 in the X direction. The grooves 66 are provided between the stage portion 64 and the side wall portion 63 in the X direction and are recessed downward from both the stage portion 64 and the side wall portion 63. The grooves 66 extend over the entire length of the stage portion 64 in the Y direction. The grooves 66 are open at both ends in the Y direction, and in particular, the end on the (+Y) side is open to the recess C. In other words, the pair of grooves 66 are open to both ends of the recess C in the X direction (in other words, both ends of the discharge plane 651). The bottoms of the grooves 66 are located above the discharge plane 651. However, the bottoms of the grooves 66 and the discharge plane 651 may be at the same height.

[0052] When cleaning the recording head H with the maintenance member 6, the maintenance member 6 contacts the recording head H while facing the recording head H from below ( FIG. 3C ). As shown in FIG. 3C , the recording head H has a pair of contact planes Hf located on both sides of the nozzle orifice plane Hp in the X direction. The contact plane Hf protrudes downward from the nozzle orifice plane Hp; that is, the nozzle orifice plane Hp is located above the contact plane Hf. The nozzle orifice plane Hp and the contact plane Hf face downward. Meanwhile, the cleaning plane 641, the discharge plane 651, and the contact plane 631 of the maintenance member 6 disposed below the recording head H face upward. The pair of contact planes 631 contact the pair of contact planes Hf from below, respectively. The pair of grooves 66 face the pair of contact planes Hf from below, respectively. Furthermore, the cleaning plane 641 faces the nozzle opening plane Hp from below, and the discharge plane 651 faces the nozzle opening plane Hp from below.

[0053] In contrast, the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc and suction nozzle Ns are open on the cleaning plane 641. The cleaning liquid nozzle Nc ejects cleaning liquid upward to supply cleaning liquid to the space S between the cleaning plane 641 and the nozzle opening plane Hp. The suction nozzle Ns removes the cleaning liquid from the space S by sucking it out. In this way, ink adhering to the nozzle opening plane Hp is washed away by the cleaning liquid. The nozzle opening plane Hp is cleaned while the maintenance member 6 is moved in the cleaning direction Yc relative to the recording head H.

[0054] Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the cleaning operation of the recording head performed by the maintenance member, and Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration that performs the cleaning operation of Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the printing device 3 includes a control unit 9. The control unit 9 is a processor. The printing device 3 also includes a Y-axis drive unit My, a Z-axis drive unit Mz, a cleaning liquid supply unit 91, a cleaning liquid suction unit 92, and a drainage unit 93. The Y-axis drive unit My, the Z-axis drive unit Mz, the cleaning liquid supply unit 91, the cleaning liquid suction unit 92, and the drainage unit 93 operate under the control of the control unit 9.

[0055] The Y-axis drive unit My is a single-axis robot, such as a ball screw or linear motor, that drives the maintenance unit 5 in the Y direction. Specifically, the base plate 51 of the maintenance unit 5 is fastened to a slider of the single-axis robot, and the Y-axis drive unit My moves the slider in the Y direction, thereby driving the maintenance unit 5 in the Y direction. The Z-axis drive unit Mz is, for example, an air cylinder that raises and lowers the maintenance member 6. The cleaning liquid supply unit 91 has a liquid feed pipe connected to the cleaning liquid supply port 56 and a liquid feed pump provided in the liquid feed pipe. The liquid feed pump of the cleaning liquid supply unit 91 feeds the cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid supply port 56 via the liquid feed pipe, thereby discharging the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc. The cleaning liquid suction unit 92 has a suction pipe connected to the cleaning liquid suction port 57 and a suction pump provided in the suction pipe. The suction pump of the cleaning liquid suction unit 92 suctions the cleaning liquid suction port 57 via the suction pipe, thereby sucking the cleaning liquid from the suction nozzle Ns. The drainage unit 93 has a drainage pipe connected to the drainage port 534 and a drainage pump provided in the drainage pipe. The drainage pump of the drainage unit 93 sucks the drainage port 534 through the drainage pipe, thereby discharging the cleaning liquid from the drainage tray 53.

[0056] In step S101, the control unit 9 controls the position of the maintenance member 6 in the Y direction using the Y-axis drive unit My, thereby causing the maintenance member 6 to face from below the recording head H that is most upstream in the cleaning direction Yc among the multiple recording heads H. At this time, the control unit 9 controls the height of the maintenance member 6 using the Z-axis drive unit Mz, thereby moving the maintenance member 6 downward away from the recording head H.

[0057] In step S102, the control unit 9 controls the height of the maintenance member 6 using the Z-axis drive unit Mz, thereby bringing the maintenance member 6 into contact with the recording head H from below. This results in the state shown in FIG. 3C. Next, the control unit 9 controls the cleaning liquid supply unit 91 to start supplying cleaning liquid. This causes the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc to eject cleaning liquid into the space S between the discharge plane 651 and the nozzle opening plane Hp (cleaning liquid supply operation). Furthermore, the control unit 9 controls the cleaning liquid suction unit 92 to start suctioning the cleaning liquid. This causes the suction nozzle Ns to suck the cleaning liquid from the space S (cleaning liquid suction operation).

[0058] In step S103, the control unit 9 controls the Y-axis drive unit My to start driving the maintenance member 6. This causes the maintenance member 6 to move in the cleaning direction Yc (movement operation). In this way, the maintenance member 6 performs a cleaning liquid supply operation and a cleaning liquid suction operation while moving relative to the recording head H, cleaning the nozzle orifice plane Hp of the recording head H. If there is a step between adjacent recording heads H in the cleaning direction Yc, the maintenance member 6 descends while the tapered extension surface 636 of the maintenance member 6 comes into contact with the step. This reduces the impact that occurs between the maintenance member 6 and the step. Then, when cleaning of all recording heads H is completed (step S104), the control unit 9 stops the supply of cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc, the suction of cleaning liquid from the suction nozzle Ns, and the movement of the maintenance member 6 in the cleaning direction Yc.

[0059] In the embodiment described above, the maintenance member 6 has a cleaning plane 641 (cleaning surface) on which a cleaning liquid nozzle Nc that ejects cleaning liquid opens, and two contact planes 631 (maintenance contact planes) provided on both sides of the cleaning plane 641 in the X direction (width direction). Then, while the maintenance member 6 is moved in the cleaning direction Yc (movement direction) relative to the recording head H (movement operation) with the contact planes 631 on both sides of the cleaning plane 641 abutting against contact planes Hf (head contact planes) on both sides of the nozzle opening plane Hp (nozzle surface), the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc ejects cleaning liquid, thereby supplying cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc to the cleaning plane 641 (cleaning liquid supply operation). In contrast, the maintenance member 6 has a discharge plane 651 (discharge surface) provided adjacent to the cleaning plane 641 in the cleaning direction Yc and recessed downward from the cleaning plane 641. The discharge plane 651 is provided between the two extension planes 634 in the X direction, which extend in the cleaning direction Yc from the two contact planes 631, respectively. With this configuration, a flow of cleaning liquid in the cleaning direction Yc is formed as the cleaning liquid drops from the cleaning plane 641 onto the discharge plane 651. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of cleaning liquid flowing in the X direction from the cleaning plane 641. As a result, when the nozzle orifice plane Hp of the print head H is cleaned with cleaning liquid, it is possible to prevent ink from adhering to the contact planes Hf on both sides of the nozzle orifice plane Hp.

[0060] The maintenance member 6 also has two upright surfaces 637 (wall surfaces) that extend parallel to the Z direction from both ends of the discharge plane 651 in the X direction to the two extension surfaces 634. A recess C defined by the two upright surfaces 637 and the discharge plane 651 opens to the opposite side (+Y side) from the cleaning plane 641 in the cleaning direction Yc. With this configuration, the cleaning liquid that drops onto the discharge plane 651, which corresponds to the bottom of the recess C, is discharged to the +Y side, and the upright surfaces 637 can prevent the cleaning liquid from spreading in the X direction.

[0061] Furthermore, the discharge plane 651 is provided downstream in the cleaning direction Yc of the cleaning plane 641. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from spreading in the X direction downstream in the cleaning direction Yc.

[0062] The maintenance member 6 also has two grooves 66 provided between the two contact planes 631 and both ends of the cleaning plane 641 in the X direction. Each of the two grooves 66 extends in the cleaning direction Yc and opens toward the discharge plane 651 (+Y side). With this configuration, the cleaning liquid that has traveled from the cleaning plane 641 in the Y direction is guided in the cleaning direction Yc by the grooves 66, preventing the cleaning liquid from spreading further in the X direction.

[0063] The cleaning member 6 is also provided with a cleaning liquid suction unit 92 (cleaning liquid removal unit) that removes the cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface 641. Meanwhile, the maintenance member 6 has a suction nozzle Ns that opens at the cleaning surface 641. The cleaning liquid suction unit 92 removes the cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface 641 by sucking the cleaning liquid from the suction nozzle Ns. With this configuration, by sucking the cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface 641 to the suction nozzle Ns, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from spreading in the X direction.

[0064] Furthermore, the suction nozzle Ns is provided upstream (on the -Y side) of the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc in the cleaning direction Yc. That is, the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc to the cleaning plane 641 flows upstream in the cleaning direction Yc relative to the cleaning plane 641 as the cleaning plane 641 moves in the cleaning direction Yc. Therefore, by providing the suction nozzle Ns upstream of the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc in the cleaning direction Yc, the cleaning liquid can be efficiently removed from the cleaning plane 641 and prevented from spreading in the X direction.

[0065] Furthermore, the suction nozzles Ns are positioned so as not to face the ink nozzles Hn when the maintenance member 6 faces the recording head H from below (FIG. 6). FIG. 6 is a bottom view schematically illustrating the positional relationship between the ink nozzles Hn and the suction nozzles Ns. In particular, FIG. 6 illustrates the positional relationship when the maintenance member 6 abuts against the recording head H from below, as shown in FIG. 3C. That is, in the X direction, the positions of the suction nozzles Ns and the ink nozzles Hn are offset from each other. In other words, in the X direction, the suction region Rs in which the suction nozzles Ns are disposed and the nozzle arrangement region Rn are offset from each other and do not overlap. This configuration can prevent ink from being sucked out of the ink nozzles Hn by the suction nozzles Ns, thereby preventing contamination of the nozzle orifice plane Hp.

[0066] The extension surface 634 also has a tapered extension surface 636 (taper) that slopes downward toward the opposite side (+Y side) of the contact plane 631 in the cleaning direction Yc, at the end on the opposite side (+Y side) of the contact plane 631. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the maintenance member 6 and the recording head H from colliding and getting caught in the cleaning direction Yc.

[0067] Also provided is a drainage tray 53 (cleaning liquid discharge unit) that is disposed below the maintenance member 6 and receives and discharges the cleaning liquid that has dropped from the discharge plane 651. With this configuration, the cleaning liquid that has dropped from the cleaning plane 641 onto the discharge plane 651 can be received and discharged by the drainage tray 53.

[0068] As described above, in this embodiment, the ink nozzle Hn corresponds to an example of an "ink nozzle" of the present invention, the nozzle opening plane Hp corresponds to an example of a "nozzle surface" of the present invention, the X direction corresponds to an example of a "width direction" of the present invention, the abutment plane Hf corresponds to an example of a "head abutment surface" of the present invention, the recording head H corresponds to an example of a "recording head" of the present invention, the cleaning liquid nozzle Nc corresponds to an example of a "cleaning liquid nozzle" of the present invention, the cleaning plane 641 corresponds to an example of a "cleaning surface" of the present invention, the abutment plane 631 corresponds to an example of a "maintenance abutment surface" of the present invention, the maintenance member 6 corresponds to an example of a "maintenance member" of the present invention, the cleaning direction Yc corresponds to an example of a "movement direction" of the present invention, and the Y-axis drive unit My corresponds to an example of a "drive unit" of the present invention, the cleaning liquid supply unit 91 corresponds to an example of a "cleaning liquid supply unit" of the present invention, the discharge plane 651 corresponds to an example of a "discharge surface" of the present invention, the extended surface 634 corresponds to an example of an "extended surface" of the present invention, the printing device 3 corresponds to an example of a "printing device" of the present invention, the standing surface 637 corresponds to an example of a "wall surface" of the present invention, the recess C corresponds to an example of a "recess" of the present invention, the groove portion 66 corresponds to an example of a "groove portion" of the present invention, the cleaning liquid suction unit 92 corresponds to an example of a "cleaning liquid removal unit" of the present invention, the suction nozzle Ns corresponds to an example of a "suction nozzle" of the present invention, the tapered extended surface 636 corresponds to an example of a "taper" of the present invention, and the drainage tray 53 corresponds to an example of a "cleaning liquid discharge unit" of the present invention.

[0069] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning plane 641 and the contact plane 631 are located at the same height. However, their positional relationship can be modified ( FIG. 7 ). FIG. 7 shows a modified example of the positional relationship between the cleaning plane and the contact plane. In the modified example of FIG. 7 , the cleaning plane 641 (cleaning surface) is located below each of the two contact planes 631 (maintenance contact surfaces). In this configuration, a wide space S (gap) is ensured between the cleaning plane 641 and the nozzle orifice plane Hp, making it easier for ink to flow through this space S. As a result, ink can be effectively washed away from the nozzle orifice plane Hp.

[0070] The arrangement of the suction nozzles Ns may also be modified as appropriate (FIG. 8). FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a modified example of the arrangement of the suction nozzles. In particular, FIG. 8 illustrates the positional relationship in a situation where the maintenance member 6 abuts against the recording head H from below, as shown in FIG. 3C. The difference from the example in FIG. 6 is that a suction nozzle Ns has been added that faces a no-nozzle region Rp that is provided between two nozzle regions Rn in the X direction.

[0071] That is, the nozzle opening plane Hp (nozzle surface) includes two nozzle regions Rn each extending in the cleaning direction Yc and a nozzle-free region Rp located between the two nozzle regions Rn in the X direction. An ink nozzle Hn is provided in each of the two nozzle regions Rn, while no ink nozzle Hn is provided in the nozzle-free region Rp. The multiple suction nozzles Ns include a suction nozzle Ns facing the nozzle-free region Rp. That is, this suction nozzle Ns faces the nozzle-free region Rp when the maintenance member 6 faces the recording head H from below. With this configuration, the suction nozzle Ns can be located close to the ink nozzles Hn while being separated from them. As a result, ink adhering to the periphery of the ink nozzles Hn can be removed by the suction nozzle Ns.

[0072] Furthermore, the discharge plane 651 may be provided on the (-Y) side of the cleaning plane 641 instead of the (+Y) side. [Industrial Applicability]

[0073] The present invention is applicable to all techniques for cleaning print heads that eject ink from ink nozzles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 3...Printing device 53...Drainage tray 6...Maintenance parts 631…Abutting plane 634…Extension surface 636...Tapered extension surface 637…Erection surface 641...cleaning surface 651…Discharge plane 66...Groove 91...Cleaning liquid supply unit 92... Cleaning fluid suction part H... Recording head Hf…Contact plane Hn...ink nozzle Hp...Nozzle opening plane My…Y-axis drive unit Nc...Cleaning liquid nozzle Ns...Suction nozzle Yc...Cleaning direction

Claims

1. a recording head having a nozzle surface in which ink nozzles for ejecting ink are opened, and two head contact surfaces provided on both sides of the nozzle surface in the width direction and positioned below the nozzle surface; a maintenance member having a cleaning surface on which a cleaning liquid nozzle for discharging a cleaning liquid opens, and two maintenance contact surfaces provided on both sides of the cleaning surface in the width direction; a drive unit that performs a moving operation of moving the maintenance member relative to the recording head in a moving direction perpendicular to the width direction, with the maintenance member facing the recording head from below and the two maintenance contact surfaces respectively abutting against the two head contact surfaces; a cleaning liquid supply unit that performs a cleaning liquid supply operation of supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle to the cleaning surface by discharging the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle; Equipped with the cleaning liquid supply unit performs the cleaning liquid supply operation in parallel with the execution of the moving operation by the drive unit; the maintenance member has a discharge surface adjacent to the cleaning surface in the movement direction and recessed downward from the cleaning surface, and two extension surfaces extending from the two maintenance contact surfaces, respectively, toward the discharge surface from the cleaning surface in the movement direction, A printing device in which the discharge surface is located between the two extension surfaces in the width direction.

2. the maintenance member has two wall surfaces extending from both ends of the discharge surface to the two extended surfaces in the width direction, The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a recess defined by the two wall surfaces and the discharge surface opens on a side opposite to the cleaning surface in the movement direction.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ejection surface is provided downstream of the cleaning surface in the direction of movement.

4. the maintenance member has two grooves respectively provided between the two maintenance contact surfaces and both ends of the cleaning surface in the width direction, The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two grooves extends in the movement direction and opens toward the ejection surface.

5. a cleaning liquid removal unit that removes the cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface; the maintenance member has a suction nozzle that opens on the cleaning surface, The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning liquid removal unit removes the cleaning liquid from the cleaning surface by sucking the cleaning liquid from the suction nozzle.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the suction nozzle is provided upstream of the cleaning liquid nozzle in the movement direction.

7. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the suction nozzle is provided at a position that does not face the ink nozzle when the maintenance member faces the recording head from below.

8. the nozzle surface includes two nozzle arrangement regions each extending in the movement direction, and a nozzle non-arrangement region provided between the two nozzle arrangement regions in the width direction, the ink nozzles are provided in the two nozzle arrangement regions, The ink nozzles are not provided in the non-nozzle area, 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the suction nozzle faces the nozzle-free region in a state where the maintenance member faces the recording head from below.

9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning surface is located below each of the two maintenance contact surfaces.

10. The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the extension surface has a taper at an end on the opposite side of the maintenance contact surface that tapers downward in the movement direction toward the opposite side of the maintenance contact surface.

11. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning liquid discharge unit disposed below the maintenance member, for receiving and discharging the cleaning liquid that has dropped from the discharge surface.

12. a step of performing a moving operation in which a maintenance member is brought into contact with the recording head from below and the maintenance member is moved relative to the recording head in a moving direction; a step of performing a cleaning liquid supplying operation of supplying cleaning liquid between the maintenance member and the recording head; Equipped with the recording head has a nozzle surface in which ink nozzles that eject ink are opened, and two head contact surfaces that are provided on both sides of the nozzle surface in a width direction perpendicular to the movement direction and positioned below the nozzle surface, the maintenance member has a cleaning surface on which a cleaning liquid nozzle for discharging the cleaning liquid opens, and two maintenance contact surfaces provided on both sides of the cleaning surface in the width direction, In the moving operation, the maintenance member faces the recording head from below, and the two maintenance contact surfaces are in contact with the two head contact surfaces, respectively, and the maintenance member moves relative to the recording head in the moving direction; In the cleaning liquid supplying operation, the cleaning liquid nozzle discharges the cleaning liquid, thereby supplying the cleaning liquid to the cleaning surface from the cleaning liquid nozzle; the maintenance member has a discharge surface recessed downward from the cleaning surface and adjacent to the cleaning surface in the movement direction, and two extension surfaces extending from the two maintenance contact surfaces toward the discharge surface from the cleaning surface in the movement direction, respectively; The recording head cleaning method, wherein the discharge surface is located between the two extension surfaces in the width direction.

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