Recording device

Abstract

To provide a recording device that can properly supply cleaning fluid to an absorber in a cap and suppress fixation of the absorber.SOLUTION: A recording device includes a cap mechanism for capping a recording head. The cap mechanism includes: an absorber; and elongated flow channel forming means coming into contact with the absorber and a cap. The flow channel forming means includes an absorber supply port for supplying liquid to the absorber. The absorber supply port is provided at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the flow channel forming means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In printing devices using printheads, evaporation of water from the ink inside the nozzles can cause the ink to thicken or become clogged, preventing stable ink ejection. To ensure stable ink ejection, a capping mechanism is used to cap the nozzle surface of the printhead during non-printing periods to prevent ink from thickening. By ejecting ink through this capping mechanism separately from printing, thickened ink near the nozzles can be removed, or by applying suction to the nozzles while capped, ink near the nozzles can be forcibly expelled. The capping mechanism is equipped with an absorber that absorbs the expelled ink. When the water in the ink absorbed by the absorber evaporates, colorant components such as dyes precipitate on the absorber, which then solidifies the absorber, impairing its ink absorption function.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for cleaning an absorbent body inside a cap. Patent Document 1 describes that a cleaning liquid is supplied into the cap from a supply flow path that is connected to the outside of the cap to clean the absorbent body, and the liquid inside the absorbent body is then discharged from a suction port. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-150722 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When trying to clean a cap for a full-line head that has a nozzle area equivalent to the width of paper, it may be difficult to ensure that the cleaning liquid reaches the entire absorbent body using a configuration that supplies cleaning liquid from one location, as in Patent Document 1.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present inventors is to provide a recording device that can appropriately supply cleaning liquid to the absorbent body in the cap and prevent the absorbent body from sticking. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above object is achieved by the present invention, which is described below. That is, a recording apparatus according to the present invention has a capping mechanism for capping a recording head, the capping mechanism having an absorbent body and a long flow path forming means in contact with the absorbent body and the cap, the flow path forming means having an absorbent body supply port for supplying liquid to the absorbent body, and the absorbent body supply port is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording device that can appropriately supply cleaning liquid to the absorbent body in the cap and prevent the absorbent body from sticking. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a recording head. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cap tray. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration including a print head and a cap mechanism according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cap mechanism in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a cap mechanism in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow path inside the cap mechanism in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating supply of cleaning liquid into the cap mechanism in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow path inside the cap mechanism in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the discharge of liquid from inside the cap mechanism in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cap mechanism in a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the entire configuration including a print head and a cap mechanism according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure, and not all combinations of features described in the following embodiments are necessarily essential to the solutions of the present disclosure. Note that the same components are given the same reference numerals. Furthermore, the relative positions, shapes, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure to those alone.

[0011] In the following description of the embodiments, "recording" not only refers to the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also broadly includes the formation of images, designs, and patterns on a sheet. In the following embodiments, cut paper is assumed as the sheet (recording medium), but rolled sheets, cloth, plastic films, and the like may also be used. Furthermore, "ink" should be broadly interpreted and refers to a liquid that can be applied to a sheet to form images, designs, patterns, etc., or to process the sheet, or to be used for ink processing.

[0012] <<First Embodiment>> <Overall configuration of the recording device> The overall configuration of the recording apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, arrows X and Y indicate horizontal directions that are orthogonal to each other, and arrow Z indicates the up-down direction. The X direction is the overall conveyance direction in which a sheet S, which is a recording medium, is conveyed within the recording apparatus 100, and in particular corresponds to the conveyance direction in which the sheet S is conveyed in the recording unit 2300. In addition, in FIG. 1, the top of the apparatus is defined as the top, right to left as the longitudinal direction of the apparatus, and the sheet width direction from the front to the back of the paper, which is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, is defined as the sheet width direction, with the front side of the paper being the front side of the apparatus and the back side of the paper being the rear side of the apparatus.

[0013] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a recording apparatus 100. The recording apparatus 100 is a sheet-fed recording apparatus that produces a recorded product by forming an ink image on a sheet S using two types of liquid, a reaction liquid and ink. The recording apparatus 100 of this embodiment has a paper feed module 1000, a print module 2000, a drying module 3000, a fixing module 4000, a cooling module 5000, an inverting module 6000, and a paper discharge stacking module 7000. A cut sheet S supplied from the paper feed module 1000 is transported along a transport path, processed in each module, and discharged to the paper discharge stacking module 7000.

[0014] The paper feed module 1000 is provided with three storage cabinets 1100a-c for storing sheets S. The storage cabinets 1100a-c are configured to be able to be pulled out toward the front of the device (the front side of the paper). The sheets S are fed one by one in each storage cabinet 1100a-c by a separation belt and a transport roller, and are transported to the print module 2000. The number of storage cabinets 1100a-c is not limited to three, and the configuration may include one, two, or four or more.

[0015] The print module 2000 has a pre-imaging registration correction unit (not shown), a print belt unit 2200, a recording unit 2300, and a maintenance unit 17. The pre-imaging registration correction unit corrects the skew and position of the sheet S transported from the paper feed module 1000, and the sheet is then transported to the print belt unit 2200. The recording unit 2300 is disposed opposite the print belt unit 2200 along the transport path of the sheet S. The recording unit 2300 performs a recording process (printing process) on the transported sheet S from above using a recording head 10 (see FIG. 2), forming an image on the sheet S. The sheet S is attracted and transported by the print belt unit 2200, ensuring clearance with the recording head 10. A plurality of recording heads 10 are arranged along the transport direction (X direction).

[0016] The recording unit 2300 of this embodiment has a total of five line-type recording heads 10, one for each of the four colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black), as well as P (reaction liquid). These recording heads have a nozzle area equivalent to the width of the paper, i.e., they are full-line heads. The number of colors and recording heads is not limited to five. As an inkjet method, a method using a heating element, a piezoelectric element, an electrostatic element, or a MEMS element can be used. Ink of each color is supplied to the recording heads 10 from an ink tank (not shown) via an ink tube.

[0017] The sheet S recorded by the recording unit 2300 is transported by the print belt unit 2200. An inline scanner (not shown) arranged downstream in the transport direction of the recording unit 2300 can detect misalignment and color density of the image formed on the sheet S and correct the printed image.

[0018] The drying module 3000 includes a decoupling unit 3200, a drying belt unit 3300, and a hot air blowing unit 3400. The drying module 3000 reduces the liquid components contained in the ink applied to the sheet S in the recording unit 2300, thereby improving the fixation of the ink to the sheet S. The sheet S, which has been recorded in the recording unit 2300 of the print module 2000, is transported to the decoupling unit 3200 located within the drying module 3000. The decoupling unit 3200 transports the sheet S using air pressure from above and belt friction. By loosely holding the sheet S on the belt, the sheet S is prevented from shifting on the print belt unit 2200 where the ink image is formed. The sheet S transported from the decoupling unit 3200 is adsorbed and transported by the drying belt unit 3300, and hot air is blown onto the sheet S from the hot air blowing unit 3400 located above the belt. This dries the ink-applied surface of the sheet S. The drying method may be a combination of a method of applying hot air, a method of irradiating the surface of the sheet S with electromagnetic waves (ultraviolet rays or infrared rays), or a conductive heat transfer method using contact with a heating element.

[0019] The fixing module 4000 has a fixing belt unit 4100. The fixing belt unit 4100 has an upper belt unit and a lower belt unit. By passing the sheet S conveyed from the drying module 3000 between the heated upper belt unit and lower belt unit, the ink can be fixed to the sheet S.

[0020] The cooling module 5000 has multiple cooling units 5001. The cooling units 5001 cool the high-temperature sheet S transported from the fixing module 4000. The cooling units 5001 cool the sheet S by drawing in outside air into the cooling box with a fan to increase the pressure inside the cooling box and blowing air from nozzles formed in the transport guide onto the sheet S. The cooling units 5001 are arranged on both sides of the transport path and can cool the sheet S from both sides. The cooling module 5000 also has a transport path switching unit that can switch the transport path of the sheet S depending on whether the sheet S is transported to the reversing module 6000 or to a duplex transport path used for duplex printing. During duplex printing, the sheet S is transported to the transport path below the cooling module 5000 and further transported along the duplex transport path of the fixing module 4000, the drying module 3000, the print module 2000, and the paper feed module 1000. In the print module 2000, the sheet S is transported along a double-sided transport path 2500. Then, the sheet S is transported again to the pre-imaging registration correction unit, print belt unit 2200, and recording unit 2300 of the print module 2000, where recording is performed. The double-sided transport unit of the fixing module 4000 is provided with a first reversing unit 4200 that reverses the sheet S from front to back.

[0021] The inversion module 6000 has a second inversion section 6400, which can be used to invert the front and back of the sheet S being transported, and the front and back orientation of the sheet S being discharged can be freely changed.

[0022] The discharged sheet stacking module 7000 has a top tray 7200 and a stacking section 7500, and aligns and stacks the sheets S conveyed from the reversing module 6000.

[0023] The maintenance unit 17 is a unit equipped with a mechanism for restoring the ejection performance of the print head. Examples of such mechanisms include a capping mechanism that protects the ink ejection surface of the print head 10, a wiper mechanism that wipes the ink ejection surface, and a suction mechanism that negatively pressure-sucks ink from the ink ejection surface inside the print head. The maintenance unit 17 also includes a drive mechanism and rails (not shown). The maintenance unit 17 is horizontally reciprocating along the rails, moving directly below the print head 10 during maintenance and retracting from the print head when maintenance is not being performed. The maintenance unit 17 includes a cap tray 18 including a capping mechanism and a cleaning tray 19 including a wiper mechanism and a suction mechanism. The cap tray 18 and cleaning tray 19 are configured to reciprocate horizontally independently via a drive mechanism and rails (not shown). When the print head 10 is capped by the capping mechanism, only the cap tray 18 may move, or the entire maintenance unit 17, including the cleaning tray 19, may move.

[0024] 1 shows an example in which the sheet S is cut paper, but the recording device 100 may be configured to load continuous paper (roll paper), and the sheet S may be roll paper. Also, the recording device 100 does not have to have the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and any recording device can be used as long as it has a configuration in which the recording head 10 is capped.

[0025] <Recording head configuration> FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording head 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 10 has a nozzle plate 11 with a plurality of nozzles that eject ink aligned in the longitudinal direction of the recording head (the sheet width direction, Y direction). Positioning portions 221 are provided on both ends of the recording head 10. Specifically, a first contact portion 221a formed by a recess with a conical slope is provided on the front side of the head in the longitudinal direction (-Y direction side). Furthermore, a second contact portion 221b formed by a groove with two V-shaped flat surfaces and a third contact portion 221c formed by a flat surface are provided on the rear side of the head in the longitudinal direction (+Y direction side).

[0026] <Maintenance unit configuration> 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cap tray 18. The configuration of the maintenance unit 17 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0027] In this embodiment, the maintenance unit 17 includes a cap tray 18 on which a cap mechanism 20 is disposed, and a cleaning tray 19 on which a cleaning mechanism (not shown) is disposed (see FIG. 1). The cap tray 18 and cleaning tray 19 are configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the device (X direction) by a drive motor (not shown) and rails provided on the housing. In this embodiment, a total of five recording heads 10 are provided, and therefore a total of five cap mechanisms 20 and five cleaning mechanisms (not shown) are provided corresponding to the recording heads 10.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, each cap mechanism 20 in the cap tray 18 has a plurality of spherical recording head positioning members 182 for positioning the recording head 10. The recording head positioning members 182 are arranged at the front and rear of the cap mechanism 20 in the sheet width direction (Y direction). There are three recording head positioning members 182 used to position one recording head 10 relative to the cap mechanism 20: one on the front side (-Y direction side) of the cap mechanism 20 and two on the rear side (+Y direction side). The recording head 10 and the cap mechanism 20 are positioned when the positioning portions 221 provided on both ends of the recording head 10 abut against the recording head positioning members 182 of the cap mechanism 20. By being positioned relative to the recording head 10, the cap mechanism 20 can protect the nozzle plate 11 of the recording head 10 and perform negative pressure suction using a negative pressure suction mechanism, which will be described later.

[0029] <Overall configuration of the recording head and cap> FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the present embodiment, including a recording head 10 and a capping mechanism 20. The elongated recording head 10 has a nozzle plate 11 in which ejection ports are formed. The nozzle plate 11 is provided with a plurality of ejection ports. A recording element for ejecting liquid is provided corresponding to each ejection port. In this embodiment, the ejection ports are arranged in a row in the width direction (Y direction) of the recording medium. In FIG. 4, the ejection ports are arranged toward the back of the paper (Y direction). The Y direction is also referred to as the ejection port arrangement direction. The ejection ports are also arranged in a direction (X direction) that intersects (is perpendicular to) the ejection port arrangement direction. As such, the recording head 10 has a longitudinal direction that is the Y direction, i.e., a direction perpendicular to the recording medium transport direction. Therefore, the longitudinal direction of the capping mechanism 20 that caps the recording head 10 is also the Y direction, just like the recording head 10. The width of the capping mechanism 20 that caps a full-line recording head spans the entire paper width. Hereinafter, the Y direction will be referred to as the cap longitudinal direction, and the X direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the Y direction will also be referred to as the cap lateral direction.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6 (described later), the capping mechanism 20 includes a cap 22, an absorber 21, a first member 33 and a second member 23 that form a flow path within the capping mechanism 20, and a partition wall 24 that separates the supply side from the discharge side. The first member 33 is provided with a first supply port (cap supply port) 25 and a first discharge port (cap discharge port) 28. The second member 23 is provided with a second supply port (absorber supply port) 26 and a second discharge port (absorber discharge port) 27. Details of each component of the capping mechanism 20 will be described later. The first supply port 25 will also be referred to as a first communication path, and the first discharge port 28 will also be referred to as a second communication path. The first member 33 and the second member 23 will also be referred to as flow path forming members (flow path forming means).

[0031] The cleaning liquid tank 30 stores the cleaning liquid to be supplied into the capping mechanism. The cleaning liquid pump 31 supplies the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 30 to the first supply port 25 of the capping mechanism 20 via a supply flow path 51. The cleaning liquid valve 32 is configured to open when the cleaning liquid pump 31 is driven and close when the cleaning liquid pump 31 is not driven. A three-way joint 52 provided in the supply flow path 51 can selectively connect the first supply port 25 of the capping mechanism 20 to the cleaning liquid tank 30 or connect the first supply port 25 to the atmosphere.

[0032] The waste liquid tank 40 stores the liquid (including cleaning liquid and ink) discharged from the capping mechanism 20. The discharge pump 41 is driven while the inside of the cap is open to the atmosphere by the three-way joint 52 and the atmospheric valve 53, thereby sucking the liquid from the capping mechanism 20. In this way, the discharge pump 41 is a negative pressure suction mechanism. The sucked liquid is discharged from the absorber 21 through the second discharge port 27, the first discharge port 28, and the discharge flow path 61 into the waste liquid tank 40.

[0033] The control of cleaning using a cleaning liquid will now be described. First, with the three-way joint 52 connecting the cleaning liquid tank 30 and the first supply port 25 of the capping mechanism 20, the cleaning liquid valve 32 is opened and the cleaning liquid pump 31 is driven. This causes the cleaning liquid to be pressure-fed from the cleaning liquid tank 30 into the capping mechanism 20. In this embodiment, the amount of cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid tank 30 is controlled so that the cleaning liquid does not overflow from the capping mechanism 20. Once a predetermined amount of cleaning liquid has been supplied, the cleaning liquid pump 31 is stopped and the cleaning liquid valve 32 is closed. Thereafter, the three-way joint 52 is switched to open the atmosphere valve 53, thereby opening the first supply port 25 to the atmosphere. Then, the discharge pump 41 is driven to discharge the liquid from the capping mechanism 20 into the waste liquid tank 40. In this manner, in this embodiment, the supply control of the cleaning liquid is performed, and then the discharge control of the cleaning liquid is performed. That is, the supply control and the discharge control are performed alternately. However, this is not limited to this example, and the supply control and the discharge control may be performed simultaneously. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a configuration has been shown in which an atmosphere communication flow path is connected midway through the cleaning liquid supply flow path 51, but a configuration may also be used in which an atmosphere communication flow path and an atmosphere valve are directly connected to the cap mechanism 20. Note that the driving of various pumps, the opening and closing of valves, and the switching of the three-way joint 52 are performed by a control unit (not shown).

[0034] The ink used in the recording head 10 of this embodiment has a tendency to harden. Therefore, the ink absorbed in the absorber 21 also tends to harden. Therefore, in this embodiment, the absorber 21 is cleaned using a cleaning liquid. In addition to cleaning the absorber 21, the cleaning liquid also serves to clean the inner walls, spaces, and flow paths within the cap mechanism 20.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the capping mechanism 20. FIG. 5(a) is a perspective view of the capping mechanism 20, showing an absorber 21 disposed opposite the nozzle plate 11 of the recording head 10. The absorber 21 is made of a porous material such as urethane foam, a sintered body, or a fiber mesh. In this embodiment, two absorbers 21 are arranged without a partition along the longitudinal direction of the cap. The two absorbers 21 are in contact at the longitudinal center of the cap to facilitate the distribution of cleaning liquid to the absorbers. Here, the longitudinal center of the cap refers to an area within 15% of the longitudinal length of the cap from the longitudinal center of the cap. The absorber 21 is capable of retaining liquid, thereby maintaining high humidity inside the capping mechanism 20 and suppressing evaporation of water from the ink inside the recording head 10, thereby minimizing ink viscosity increase. The liquid retained by the absorber 21 is ink and cleaning liquid discharged from the recording head 10.

[0036] 5(b) and 5(c) are views of the flow path forming member removed from the capping mechanism 20. Specifically, FIG. 5(b) is a perspective view of the second member 23 disposed below the absorber 21. In this embodiment, the second member 23 is provided with a second supply port 26 and a second discharge port 27. One second supply port 26 is provided at each end of the capping mechanism 20 in the longitudinal direction, and multiple second discharge ports 27 are provided at approximately equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the second member 23. The opening of the second supply port 26 is larger than the opening of the second discharge port, and the center position of the second supply port 26 is located outside the center positions of the second discharge ports 27 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the second member 23. In this embodiment, at the contact surface between the absorber 21 and a first member 33, which is part of the flow path forming member, the long and short sides of the first member 33 are shorter than the long and short sides of the absorber 21, respectively. Here, providing one second supply port 26 at each end (end on both sides) in the longitudinal direction of the capping mechanism 20 means that one second supply port 26 is provided at a location within 15% of the length in the longitudinal direction of the cap from each end on both sides of the capping mechanism 20. In this embodiment, a plurality of second supply ports 26 may be provided at the ends in the longitudinal direction and in the lateral direction.

[0037] 5(c) is a perspective view of the first member 33 disposed below the second member 23 within the capping mechanism 20. The first member 33 has a first supply port 25 provided in the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the cap. The capping mechanism 20 also has a plurality of first discharge ports 28 provided in the longitudinal direction of the cap, and a partition wall 24 extending substantially in the center in the lateral direction of the first member 33. The partition wall 24 is a wall for dividing the first member 33 into a supply side and a discharge side. In other words, the partition wall 24 allows the flow path forming member to have a first flow path to which liquid is supplied and a second flow path from which liquid is discharged.

[0038] 5(d) is a perspective view of the assembled parts of the first member 33 and the second member 23. The first member 33 and the second member 23 are arranged in an assembled state inside the cap mechanism 20. By assembling these members, a supply flow path and a discharge flow path are formed inside.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cap mechanism 20 in the short direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the second member 23 is a member that contacts the bottom surface (lower surface) of the absorber 21. Between the first member 33 and the second member 23, a partition wall 24 extends in the cap longitudinal direction, forming a space 29 through which the cleaning liquid flows and a space 60 from which the ink and cleaning liquid are discharged. The liquid supplied to the first supply port 25 via the supply flow path 51 passes through the space 29 and flows out into the absorber 21 from the second supply ports 26 provided at both ends. Meanwhile, the liquid discharged from the absorber passes through the second discharge port 27, is sucked into the space 60, and is then discharged from the first discharge port 28 to the outside of the cap mechanism 20 through the discharge flow path 61.

[0040] The inside of the cap mechanism 20 may be filled with liquid due to ink ejected from the recording head 10 or cleaning liquid supplied into the cap mechanism 20 to clean the inside of the cap mechanism 20. In such a case, the gaps between the cap 22 and the first member 33 and the second member 23 are also filled with liquid, but the area from which liquid can be discharged from the inside of the cap mechanism 20 is the area in contact with the absorber 21, and it is not possible to discharge all of the liquid from the inside of the cap mechanism.

[0041] In order to collect the liquid that has overflowed from the absorber 21 and flowed into the gap in the capping mechanism 20, the absorber needs to be provided so as to cover the gap, and therefore it is preferable that the absorber 21 be set smaller than the inner wall of the cap 22 and larger than the outer shape of the second member 23. While Fig. 6 shows a state in which the absorber 21 is larger than the second member 23 in the short direction of the capping mechanism 20, the same is true in the long direction of the capping mechanism 20.

[0042] Here, if the gap between the cap 22 and the first member 33 is narrow, when the cleaning liquid is discharged from the capping mechanism 20, the liquid that has entered between the cap 22 and the first member 33 is held by capillary force, and the liquid discharge operation ends with the remaining liquid remaining close to the absorbent body 21. As a result, the absorbent body 21 is sufficiently cleaned immediately after the liquid is discharged from the capping mechanism 20, but as time passes after cleaning, the liquid remaining in the gap between the cap 22 and the first member 33 is sucked out by the capillary force of the absorbent body 21, and this liquid may cause the absorbent body to stick.

[0043] In view of the above, in this embodiment, the size of the first member 33 is specified so that the absorber 21 does not suck out residual liquid even after time has passed since cleaning the inside of the cap mechanism 20. Specifically, in this embodiment, the gap between the cap 22 and the first member 33 is set to 2 mm. The preferred size of this gap varies depending on the liquid used, the material of the member, and the like, but can be, for example, 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

[0044] FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing only the second member 23 and the first member 33 in the capping mechanism 20, illustrating the state in which the second member 23 and the first member 33 are assembled. FIG. 7(b) is a diagram showing the state in which the internal flow path is visible through the second member 23 in FIG. 7(a). The arrows indicate the direction in which the cleaning liquid flows when the cleaning liquid is supplied. The cleaning liquid is supplied into the capping mechanism 20 from the outside through the supply flow path 51, enters the space 29 between the first member 33 and the second member 23 from the first supply port 25, and is pushed toward both ends of the capping mechanism 20 in the longitudinal direction. The cleaning liquid pushed out from the second supply port 26 is absorbed by the absorber 21 in contact with the second member 23.

[0045] In this embodiment, the second supply ports 26 have a diameter substantially equal to the width of the space 29 in the lateral direction and are disposed only at both longitudinal ends of the second member 23. The cross-sectional area of ​​the second supply ports 26 is larger than the cross-sectional areas of the first discharge port 28 and the second discharge port 27. This configuration enables the cleaning liquid to be supplied to the absorber 21 in a balanced manner from the second supply ports 26 at both ends. Specifically, the diameter is preferably 0.7 to 1.0 times the width of the space 29 in the lateral direction. However, if the diameter of the second supply ports 26 is small, for example, approximately the same as or smaller than the second discharge port 27, the amount of cleaning liquid supplied to the absorber 21 from the two longitudinal supply ports 26 may be uneven. For example, if the capping mechanism 20 is disposed at an angle in the longitudinal direction, bubbles mixed into the space 29 together with the cleaning liquid may gather on the upper side in the direction of gravity, preventing the cleaning liquid from being supplied from the supply ports 26 on the upper side in the direction of gravity. As a result, a large amount of cleaning liquid is supplied from the supply port 26 on the lower side in the direction of gravity, and the cleaning liquid may not be supplied to the absorber 21 in a balanced manner.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the two second supply ports 26 are provided at positions that are approximately symmetrical with respect to the center of the second member 23. If three or more second supply ports 26 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the space 29, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the absorbent body 21 in a concentrated manner from the second supply port 26 closest to the first supply port 25, making it difficult to control the supply position and supply amount of the cleaning liquid to the absorbent body 21. As a result, it may be impossible to control the flow of the cleaning liquid within the absorbent body 21, and the absorbent body 21 may not be sufficiently cleaned. This becomes even more difficult to control when one second supply port is provided at each end of the cap in the longitudinal direction, and another second supply port is provided in the center of the cap in the longitudinal direction.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how cleaning liquid is filled into the capping mechanism 20. As described above, the cleaning liquid supplied from the supply flow path 51 is supplied to the absorbent body 21 from both ends of the capping mechanism 20 in the longitudinal direction through the path shown in FIG. 7. The supplied cleaning liquid moves inside the absorbent body 21 and is eventually supplied to the entire area of ​​the absorbent body 21. The two absorbent bodies 21 are in contact with each other without a partition or the like. In this embodiment, a configuration in which cleaning liquid is supplied from a supply flow path near the center is shown, but a configuration in which supply flow paths are provided at both ends and the supplied cleaning liquid is directly connected to a second supply port may also be used. Details will be described later. Furthermore, a single absorbent body 21 may be provided, or multiple absorbent bodies 21 may be provided as long as no partitions are provided between them.

[0048] This embodiment does not require multiple flow paths for supplying cleaning liquid within the cap mechanism 20, and is therefore effective as a configuration that satisfies functionality while reducing the size of the cap mechanism 20 when there is limited space to connect flow paths to the cap mechanism 20.

[0049] FIG. 9(a) is a diagram of the second member 23 and the first member 33 removed from the capping mechanism 20, showing the second member 23 and the first member 33 assembled in the Z direction. FIG. 9(b) is a diagram showing the same components as FIG. 9(a), but with the second member 23 seen through to reveal the internal flow path. In FIG. 9(b), arrows indicate the flow of cleaning fluid and ink discharged into the capping mechanism 20 as they are discharged to the outside of the capping mechanism 20. Multiple second outlets 27 provided along the longitudinal direction of the capping mechanism 20 are in contact with the absorber 21. The ink and cleaning fluid retained in the absorber 21 enter the space 60 formed between the first member 33 and the second member 23 through the second outlets 27. The ink and cleaning fluid are then discharged to the outside of the capping mechanism 20 through two first outlets 28 and a discharge flow path 61 provided along the longitudinal direction of the capping mechanism 20. In this embodiment, the discharge flow path 61 is configured to connect two flow paths to the cap mechanism 20, but the discharge flow path 61 may be configured to connect one flow path, or three or more flow paths.

[0050] 10 is a diagram showing how liquid held within the capping mechanism 20 is discharged to the outside of the capping mechanism 20. When negative pressure is applied to the capping mechanism 20 via the discharge flow path 61, the liquid held in the absorber 21 is discharged to the outside of the capping mechanism 20 through the path shown in FIG. 9, as described above. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, multiple second discharge ports 27 are provided approximately evenly in the longitudinal direction of the capping mechanism 20. This makes it possible to discharge liquid from the absorber 21 evenly.

[0051] 7 to 10, by repeatedly supplying cleaning liquid to the inside of the capping mechanism 20 and discharging cleaning liquid from the inside of the capping mechanism 20, it is possible to maintain the ink suction and ink discharge operations of the capping mechanism 20 in a normal state for a long period of time. As a result, it is possible to prevent the absorber from sticking over the entire area of ​​the capping mechanism 20.

[0052] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the first member 33 and the second member 23 are separate members, but the first member 33 and the second member 23 may be the same member. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the first member 33 includes the partition wall 24, but the second member 23 may include the partition wall 24. The partition wall 24 may be formed as a member separate from the first member 33 and the second member 23, or a form in which no partition wall is provided may be used.

[0053] <<Second embodiment>> In the first embodiment, a configuration has been described in which cleaning liquid is supplied into the capping mechanism 20 from one first supply port 25, and cleaning liquid is supplied to the absorber 21 from two second supply ports 26. Here, as described above, the first supply ports 25 may be provided at two locations in the longitudinal direction of the capping mechanism 20, and cleaning liquid may be supplied from each of the first supply ports 25 to the second supply port 26.

[0054] FIG. 11 illustrates the configuration of a capping mechanism 200 according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11(a) shows the second member 230 and the first member 330 in the capping mechanism 20, assembled in the Z direction. FIG. 11(b) shows the same components as in FIG. 11(a), but with the second member 230 seen through, revealing the internal flow path. In this embodiment, the space 290 for supplying cleaning liquid, formed by the assembly of the second member 230 and the first member 330, can be made narrower than the space 29 in the first embodiment. This allows for a wider space 600 for discharging the liquid, reducing flow path pressure loss in the space 600 and the amount of residual liquid after liquid discharge. As a result, the occurrence of adhesion of the absorbent can be suppressed. Furthermore, the number of areas prone to stagnation in the cleaning liquid supply flow path is reduced, suppressing the occurrence of flow path blockage when bubbles are mixed into the flow path.

[0055] <<Other embodiments>> In the first and second embodiments, a configuration has been described in which a member combining the first member 33 and the second member 23 is used as a configuration for forming a flow path inside the capping mechanism 20. However, even in a configuration in which the cap, the first member, and the partition wall are one member, the above-described function of the capping mechanism 20 can be ensured.

[0056] 12 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration including the recording head and cap mechanism of this embodiment. As described above, the cap, first member, and partition wall are integrated into a single member 34. A convex partition wall is provided on the bottom surface of member 34, and by connecting second member 23 to the bottom surface of member 34, a space 29 for supplying cleaning liquid and a space 60 for discharging liquid can be formed.

[0057] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0058] (Configuration 1) A recording device having a capping mechanism for capping a recording head, the cap mechanism has an absorbent body and an elongated flow path forming means that contacts the absorbent body and the cap, the flow path forming means has an absorbent body supply port for supplying liquid to the absorbent body, A recording apparatus characterized in that the absorber supply ports are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

[0059] (Configuration 2) The flow path forming means has a cap outlet for discharging the liquid to the outside of the cap mechanism, 2. The recording device according to configuration 1, wherein the absorber supply port has a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the cap discharge port.

[0060] (Configuration 3) The flow path forming means has an absorbent body outlet for discharging the liquid from the absorbent body, The recording device according to Configuration 2, wherein the cap outlet discharges the liquid discharged from the absorber outlet to the outside of the cap mechanism.

[0061] (Configuration 4) The recording device according to Configuration 3, wherein the absorber discharge port is provided so as to come into contact with the absorber.

[0062] (Configuration 5) The recording device according to configuration 3 or 4, wherein a plurality of the absorber outlets are provided in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

[0063] (Configuration 6) The recording device according to any one of Configurations 3 to 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the absorber supply port is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the absorber discharge port.

[0064] (Configuration 7) The recording device according to any one of Configurations 3 to 6, wherein the absorber supply port is disposed outside the absorber discharge port in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

[0065] (Configuration 8) The recording device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 7, wherein the flow path formed by the flow path forming means includes a first flow path to which the liquid is supplied and a second flow path from which the liquid is discharged.

[0066] (Configuration 9) The recording device according to Configuration 8, wherein the flow path forming means has a partition wall that separates the first flow path from the second flow path.

[0067] (Configuration 10) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, wherein a plurality of the absorber supply ports are provided at the longitudinal end of the flow path forming means.

[0068] (Configuration 11) The flow path forming means has a cap supply port that supplies the liquid to the inside of the cap mechanism, 11. The recording apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, wherein the cap supply port is provided in a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

[0069] (Configuration 12) The recording apparatus according to Configuration 11, wherein the cap supply port is provided on a bottom surface of the cap mechanism.

[0070] (Configuration 13) The recording device according to any one of configurations 2 to 7, wherein the cap discharge outlet is provided at two locations in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

[0071] (Configuration 14) The recording device according to any one of configurations 2 to 7, wherein the cap ejection port is provided on a bottom surface of the cap mechanism.

[0072] (Configuration 15) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 14, wherein a plurality of the absorbers are provided in the longitudinal direction of the cap mechanism.

[0073] (Configuration 16) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 14, wherein one absorber is provided in the longitudinal direction of the cap mechanism.

[0074] (Configuration 17) The recording device according to any one of Configurations 3 to 7, wherein the absorber discharge ports are provided at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

[0075] (Configuration 18) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 17, wherein the cap and the flow path forming means are the same member.

[0076] (Configuration 19) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 18, wherein the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means is opposite to the direction in which the recording medium is transported in the recording device.

[0077] (Configuration 20) A recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 19, wherein the long and short sides of the flow path forming means are shorter than the long and short sides of the absorbent body at the contact surface between the flow path forming means and the absorbent body, respectively. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 10. Recording head 20, 200 cap mechanism 21 Absorbent 22 Cap 23, 230 Second member 25 1st supply port 26 2nd supply port 27 2nd outlet 28 1st outlet 33, 330 First member 51 supply channel 61 Discharge flow path

Claims

1. In a recording apparatus having a capping mechanism for capping a recording head, the cap mechanism has an absorbent body and an elongated flow path forming means that contacts the absorbent body and the cap, the flow path forming means has an absorbent body supply port for supplying liquid to the absorbent body, A recording apparatus characterized in that the absorber supply ports are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

2. the flow path forming means has a cap outlet for discharging the liquid to the outside of the cap mechanism, 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the absorber supply port is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the cap discharge port.

3. the flow path forming means has an absorbent body outlet for discharging the liquid from the absorbent body, 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cap outlet discharges the liquid discharged from the absorber outlet to the outside of the cap mechanism.

4. 4. The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the absorber outlet is provided so as to come into contact with the absorber.

5. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the absorber outlets are provided in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

6. 4. The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the absorber supply port is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the absorber discharge port.

7. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the absorber supply port is disposed outside the absorber discharge port in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

8. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow paths formed by the flow path forming means include a first flow path to which the liquid is supplied and a second flow path to which the liquid is discharged.

9. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the flow path forming means has a partition wall that separates the first flow path and the second flow path.

10. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the absorber supply ports are provided at the longitudinal end portions of the flow path forming means.

11. the flow path forming means has a cap supply port that supplies the liquid to the inside of the cap mechanism, 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap supply port is provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

12. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cap supply port is provided on a bottom surface of the cap mechanism.

13. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cap outlet is provided at two locations in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

14. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cap ejection port is provided on a bottom surface of the cap mechanism.

15. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the absorbers are provided in the longitudinal direction of the cap mechanism.

16. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorber is a single piece provided in the longitudinal direction of the cap mechanism.

17. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the absorber outlets are provided at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the flow path forming means.

18. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap and the flow path forming means are the same member.

19. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal direction of said flow path forming means is opposite to the direction in which the recording medium is transported in said recording apparatus.

20. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the long and short sides of the flow path forming means are shorter than the long and short sides of the absorbent body at the contact surface between the flow path forming means and the absorbent body.

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