Cleaning device and recording apparatus

Abstract

To suppress deterioration in cleaning performance by suppressing curling of a blade while suppressing damage to a cleaning object.SOLUTION: The cleaning device includes a plate-shaped blade 101 having a tip end part 13A abutting on an outer peripheral surface 101A of a cleaning object 13 traveling in a traveling direction B, and a support member 102 abutting on one surface 101B of the blade 101 and capable of supporting the blade 101, wherein the support member 102 is arranged to be shifted from one end on the tip end part 101A side of the blade 101 to the other end side with respect to the blade 101. The abutment surface 101B abutting on the one surface 102B includes a first abutment surface S1 disposed on the one end side and a second abutment surface S1 disposed closer to the other end side than the first abutment surface S2, the first abutment surface S1 does not fix the blade 101, and the second abutment surface S2 fixes the blade 101.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, cleaning devices with various configurations have been used. Among these, there is a cleaning device that cleans the outer peripheral surface by bringing a blade into contact with the outer peripheral surface of a cleaning object traveling in a traveling direction. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning device that cleans the outer peripheral surface of a rotating photosensitive drum by bringing a cleaning blade into contact with the photosensitive drum. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-233281 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional cleaning devices, such as the cleaning device of Patent Document 1, which clean the outer peripheral surface by contacting a blade with the outer peripheral surface of a cleaning object traveling in the travel direction, the blade may curl up downstream in the travel direction of the cleaning object as the cleaning object travels. When the blade curls up, the blade no longer properly contacts the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning object, which can result in reduced cleaning performance. On the other hand, if the blade is made of a highly rigid material to prevent blade curling, there is a risk of damaging the cleaning object, for example, when the cleaning object is moved in the opposite direction from the travel direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the cleaning device of the present invention comprises a plate-shaped blade having a tip that abuts against the outer peripheral surface of a cleaning object traveling in a traveling direction, and a support member that abuts against one side of the blade and is capable of supporting the blade, wherein the support member is positioned offset relative to the blade toward the other end opposite the one end of the blade on the tip side, and the abutment surface that abuts against the one side has a first abutment surface positioned on the one end side and a second abutment surface positioned on the other end side of the first abutment surface, and the first abutment surface does not fix the blade, while the second abutment surface fixes the blade. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a medium transport path of an inkjet printer equipped with the cleaning device of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram showing the area around the cleaning device of the inkjet printer in Figure 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a cleaning device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the cleaning device of the first embodiment is in contact with the conveyor belt during cleaning. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the blade of the cleaning device of the first embodiment is turned up. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the blade of the cleaning device of the first embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a blade of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cleaning device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention will be briefly described below. The cleaning device according to a first aspect comprises a plate-shaped blade having a tip that abuts against the outer peripheral surface of a cleaning object traveling in a traveling direction, and a support member that abuts against one side of the blade and can support the blade, wherein the support member is positioned offset relative to the blade from one end of the blade on the side opposite the tip end, and the abutment surface that abuts against the one side has a first abutment surface positioned on the one end side and a second abutment surface positioned on the other end side of the first abutment surface, and the first abutment surface does not fix the blade, while the second abutment surface fixes the blade.

[0008] According to this aspect, the cleaning device includes a plate-shaped blade and a support member. This configuration allows the support member to prevent the blade from curling up, thereby preventing a decrease in cleaning performance. The support member is offset from the blade, and the support member's contact surface with the blade includes a first contact surface to which the blade is not fixed and a second contact surface to which the blade is fixed. This configuration makes it easier to appropriately adjust the contact force of the blade with the cleaning object when moving the cleaning object in the travel direction, thereby preventing damage to the cleaning object. Furthermore, even when the cleaning object is moved in the opposite direction to the travel direction, the contact force of the blade with the cleaning object can be set weak, thereby preventing damage to the cleaning object.

[0009] A cleaning device according to a second aspect is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, characterized in that the support member is positioned downstream of the blade in the traveling direction of the object to be cleaned.

[0010] According to this aspect, the support member is disposed downstream of the blade in the travel direction of the object to be cleaned. With this configuration, when the object to be cleaned moves in the travel direction, the entire support member can prevent the blade from turning over.

[0011] A cleaning device according to a third aspect is an aspect dependent on the first or second aspect, characterized in that the support member has higher rigidity than the blade.

[0012] According to this aspect, the support member has a higher rigidity than the blade. This configuration allows the support member to firmly support the blade. Furthermore, curling of the tip of the blade can be particularly effectively suppressed.

[0013] A cleaning device according to a fourth aspect is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to third aspects, and is characterized in that the length of the second contact surface in the extension direction from the one end side to the other end side of the end region in the width direction intersecting the running direction is longer than the length of the central region in the extension direction in the width direction.

[0014] According to this aspect, the length of the second abutment surface in the extension direction of the end region in the width direction is longer than the length of the extension direction of the central region in the width direction. If the end region in the width direction of the blade is more likely to curl up than the central region, this configuration makes it possible to increase the fixed region in the portion corresponding to the end region in the width direction, and the support member can particularly effectively suppress curling of the blade.

[0015] A cleaning device according to a fifth aspect is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to third aspects, and is characterized in that the length of the second contact surface in the extension direction from the one end side to the other end side of the end region in the width direction intersecting the running direction is shorter than the length of the central region in the extension direction in the width direction.

[0016] According to this aspect, the length of the second abutment surface in the extension direction of the end region in the width direction is shorter than the length of the center region in the extension direction in the width direction. If the center region in the width direction of the blade is more likely to curl up than the end regions, this configuration makes it possible to increase the fixed area of ​​the portion corresponding to the center region in the width direction, and the support member can particularly effectively suppress curling of the blade.

[0017] A cleaning device according to a sixth aspect is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to fifth aspects, and is provided with a first support member as the support member, and a second support member that abuts against the other side of the blade opposite the one side and is capable of supporting the blade, wherein the second support member is positioned offset relative to the blade, closer to the other end than the one end of the blade, so that the amount of offset is greater than that of the first support member, and the portion of the abutment surface that abuts against the blade that faces the second abutment surface of the first support member fixes the blade.

[0018] According to this aspect, the cleaning device further includes a second support member capable of supporting the blade from the other side of the blade. This configuration effectively prevents the blade from curling up, even when the cleaning object is moved in the opposite direction from the travel direction. The second support member is positioned offset from the blade, closer to the other end of the blade than the one end, so that the offset is greater than that of the first support member. The blade is secured by a portion of the contact surface that contacts the blade and faces the second contact surface of the first support member. This configuration effectively prevents the blade from curling up, thereby effectively preventing a decrease in cleaning performance and effectively preventing damage to the cleaning object.

[0019] The recording device according to the seventh aspect is characterized by comprising a conveying belt as the object to be cleaned, which is capable of traveling in the traveling direction and transporting a medium, a recording unit capable of recording on the transported medium, and a cleaning device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, which is arranged opposite the outer peripheral surface of the conveying belt.

[0020] According to this aspect, the recording device includes a conveyor belt as a cleaning target, a recording unit capable of recording on the conveyed medium, and the cleaning device disposed opposite the outer circumferential surface of the conveyor belt, thereby suppressing blade curling and deterioration of cleaning performance, and particularly effectively suppressing damage to the cleaning target.

[0021] [Example 1] The present invention will be described in detail below. In the following, an inkjet printer 1 equipped with a cleaning device 100A according to a first embodiment, which is an example of a cleaning device 100 according to the present invention, and which performs recording by ejecting ink, an example of a liquid, onto a medium P, typically recording paper, will be described as an example of a recording device. Hereinafter, the inkjet printer 1 will be abbreviated as printer 1. The XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure is a Cartesian coordinate system, with the Y axis representing the width direction intersecting the transport direction D3 of the medium P shown in FIG. 2, corresponding to the depth direction of the device and the direction of the rotation axes of each transport roller pair described below. The X axis represents the width direction of the device, with the +X direction representing the left side and the -X direction representing the right side as seen by the operator of the printer 1. The Z axis represents the vertical direction, i.e., the height direction of the device, with the +Z direction representing the upward direction and the -Z direction representing the downward direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the medium P is transported will be referred to as "downstream," and the opposite direction as "upstream." In FIG. 1, the transport path of the medium P is indicated by a dashed line. In the printer 1, the medium P is transported through the transport path indicated by the dashed line.

[0022] First, an overall overview of the printer 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the printer 1 has multiple media cassettes arranged vertically at the bottom of the device main body 2. In this embodiment, the media cassettes are arranged in order from the top, the first media cassette 3, downward, as follows: the second media cassette 4, the third media cassette 5, and the fourth media cassette 6. Each media cassette is an example of a loading section on which media P can be placed and stored.

[0023] A pick roller is provided for each medium cassette to feed the stored medium P in the -X direction. Pick roller 21 is provided for first medium cassette 3, pick roller 22 is provided for second medium cassette 4, pick roller 23 is provided for third medium cassette 5, and pick roller 24 is provided for fourth medium cassette 6.

[0024] Furthermore, each medium cassette is provided with a pair of feed rollers that feeds the medium P sent out in the -X direction in an obliquely upward direction that includes a -X direction component and a +Z direction component. A pair of feed rollers 25 is provided for the first medium cassette 3, a pair of feed rollers 26 is provided for the second medium cassette 4, a pair of feed rollers 27 is provided for the third medium cassette 5, and a pair of feed rollers 28 is provided for the fourth medium cassette 6. Note that, hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, a "roller pair" is defined as consisting of a drive roller driven by a motor (not shown) and a driven roller that contacts the drive roller and rotates in response to the drive roller.

[0025] The medium P, which is fed from the first medium cassette 3 and sent diagonally upward by the feed roller pair 25, receives a feeding force from the transport roller pair 29 and is sent diagonally upward, including a +X direction component and a +Z direction component. The medium P, which is fed from the second medium cassette 4 and sent diagonally upward by the feed roller pair 26, receives a feeding force from the transport roller pair 130 and is sent upward, reaching the transport roller pair 29. The medium P, which is fed from the third medium cassette 5 and sent diagonally upward by the feed roller pair 27, is sent upward by the transport roller pair 131 and the transport roller pair 130, and reaches the transport roller pair 29. The medium P, which is fed from the fourth medium cassette 6 and sent diagonally upward by the feed roller pair 28, is sent upward by the transport roller pair 132, the transport roller pair 131, and the transport roller pair 130, and reaches the transport roller pair 29. As described above, the transport roller pair 29 sends the medium P diagonally upward, including a +X direction component and a +Z direction component.

[0026] The transport path downstream from the transport roller pair 29 is curved so as to be convex upward, and the medium P reaches the transport roller pair 30 through this curved path portion. A transport roller pair 31 is also provided downstream of the transport roller pair 30. Hereinafter, the transport path from the media P fed from each media cassette to the transport roller pair 31 will be referred to as the "supply path T1." The portion of the supply path T1 that is curved so as to be convex upward between the transport roller pair 29 and the transport roller pair 30 will be referred to as the "first curved path R1." The supply path T1 reverses the media P fed from each media cassette to a transport direction D3 that includes a component in the +X direction, which is the opposite direction to the media feeding direction from each media cassette, i.e., the -X direction. The supply path T1 then merges with a reversing path T4 (described later) upstream of the transport roller pair 30.

[0027] The external transport roller pair 18 shown near the transport roller pair 29 and outside the device main body 2 is a roller pair provided in an add-on unit (not shown). This add-on unit is configured to be able to accommodate the medium P, and is configured so that the medium P sent out from a feed roller (not shown) can be supplied into the printer 1 by the external transport roller pair 18.

[0028] Additionally, a supply tray 7 is provided near the first curved path R1, protruding from the side of the device body 2 to the outside of the device. The supply tray 7 is a tray for manually feeding the medium P, and the medium P is supplied from the supply tray 7 into the printer 1 by a supply roller 19 and a separation roller 20. The medium P sent into the device via the supply tray 7 enters the supply path T1.

[0029] The medium P receiving the feeding force from the transport roller pair 29 passes through a curved path that is curved downwardly and convex, and reaches the transport roller pair 31. Note that, hereinafter, the region of the curved path that is curved downwardly and convex between the transport roller pair 34 and the transport roller pair 31, which will be described later, from the transport roller pair 30 to the transport roller pair 31, is referred to as the "second curved path R2."

[0030] The medium P, receiving a feeding force from the transport roller pair 31, is sent between the line head 12, which is an example of a recording unit, and the transport belt 13, i.e., to a recording position opposite the line head 12. Note that hereinafter, the transport path from the transport roller pair 31 to the transport roller pair 32 is referred to as the "transport path T2 during recording." The line head 12 performs recording by ejecting ink, an example of a liquid, onto the surface of the medium P. The line head 12 is an ink ejection head configured so that the nozzles that eject ink cover the entire area in the medium width direction, and is configured as an ink ejection head that can record across the entire medium width without moving in the medium width direction. However, the ink ejection head is not limited to this, and may be a type that is mounted on a carriage and ejects ink while moving in the medium width direction.

[0031] Ink ejected from the line head 12 is supplied to the line head 12 from the ink storage unit 10 via a tube (not shown). The ink storage unit 10 is composed of multiple ink tanks arranged along the X-axis direction. Ink ejected as waste liquid from the line head 12 toward a flushing cap (not shown) for maintenance is stored in the waste liquid storage unit 11.

[0032] The conveyor belt 13 is an endless belt that is wound around pulleys 14 and 15, and rotates when at least one of the pulleys 14 and 15 is driven by a motor (not shown). The medium P is conveyed to a position facing the line head 12 while being attracted to the belt surface of the conveyor belt 13. The medium P can be attracted to the conveyor belt 13 by a known attraction method such as an air suction method or an electrostatic attraction method.

[0033] Here, a cleaning device 100 is provided at a position where it comes into contact with the conveyor belt 13. The cleaning device 100 includes a plate-shaped blade 101 having a tip 101A that comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface 13A of the conveyor belt 13, which is an object to be cleaned and travels in the travel direction. Details of the cleaning device 100 will be described later.

[0034] Here, the transport path T2 during recording, which passes through a position opposite the line head 12, is configured to transport the medium P obliquely upward, forming an angle with respect to the horizontal and vertical directions. This obliquely upward transport direction D3 is a direction that includes a -X direction component and a +Z direction component in FIG. 1, and this configuration makes it possible to reduce the horizontal dimension of the printer 1. Note that in this embodiment, the transport path T2 during recording is set at an inclination angle in the range of 50° to 70° with respect to the horizontal direction, and more specifically, is set at an inclination angle of approximately 60°.

[0035] The medium P, on whose first surface has been recorded by the line head 12, is further transported diagonally upward, including a negative X-direction component and a positive Z-direction component, by a transport roller pair 32 located downstream of the transport belt 13. A flap 41 is provided downstream of the transport roller pair 32, and the flap 41 switches the transport direction D3 of the medium P. When the medium P is to be discharged as is, the flap 41 switches the transport path of the medium P toward the upper transport roller pair 37. A flap 42 is further provided downstream of the transport roller pair 37, and the flap 42 switches the transport path between discharge from discharge position A1 and transport to a transport roller pair 38 located further vertically above. When the medium P is sent toward the transport roller pair 38, it is discharged from discharge position A2. The medium P discharged from discharge position A1 is received by a discharge tray 8, which is inclined diagonally upward, including a positive X-direction component and a positive Z-direction component. The medium P discharged from discharge position A2 is received by an optional tray (not shown).

[0036] When recording is to be performed on the second side of medium P in addition to the first side, medium P is sent by flap 41 in a diagonally upward direction including a -X direction component and a +Z direction component, passes through branch position K1, and enters switchback path T3. In this embodiment, switchback path T3 is the transport path above branch position K1. A transport roller pair 39 is provided on switchback path T3. Medium P that has entered switchback path T3 is transported upward by transport roller pair 39, and when the rear end of medium P passes branch position K1, the rotation direction of transport roller pair 39 is switched, causing medium P to be transported downward.

[0037] A reversing path T4 is connected to the switchback path T3. In this embodiment, the reversing path T4 is a transport path that runs from the branching position K1 through the transport roller pair 33, the transport roller pair 34, and the transport roller pair 30 in this order, and then reaches the transport roller pair 30. The reversing path T4 includes the second curved path R2 described above. The medium P transported downward by the transport roller pair 33 receives a feed force from the transport roller pair 33 and the transport roller pair 34, reaches the transport roller pair 30, and is sent by the transport roller pair 30 to a position facing the line head 12 again. In other words, the reversing path T4 is a path that transports the medium P in a transport direction D3 that includes a vertically downward component, and then reverses the medium P to the transport direction D3 that includes a vertically upward component via the second curved path R2 that is convex downward.

[0038] The medium P is sent again to a position facing the line head 12, and its second side, opposite the first side on which recording has already been performed, faces the line head 12. This makes it possible for the line head 12 to record on the second side of the medium P. The medium P after recording on its second side is discharged from the above-mentioned discharge position A1 or discharge position A2.

[0039] 2 to 6, the detailed configuration of the cleaning device 100, which is a main part of the printer 1 of this embodiment, will be described below. The cleaning device 100A of this embodiment includes a plate-shaped blade 101 having a tip 101A that abuts against the outer peripheral surface 13A of a conveyor belt 13, which serves as an object to be cleaned and travels in a travel direction B, and a support member 102 that abuts against one surface 101B of the blade 101 and is capable of supporting the blade 101. The cleaning device 100A of this embodiment is disposed so that the pulley 15 and the tip 101A of the blade 101 face each other across the conveyor belt 13. The support member 102 is disposed offset relative to the blade 101 from one end of the blade 101 on the side of the tip 101A toward the other end opposite the one end. 3 and other figures, the contact surface 102B that contacts one surface 101B of the support member 102 has a first contact surface S1 disposed on one end side (generally on the +X direction side) and a second contact surface S2 disposed on the other end side (generally on the -X direction side) of the first contact surface S1. Here, as shown in Fig. 4, for example, the first contact surface S1 does not fix the blade 101, but the second contact surface S2 fixes the blade 101. Here, the method for fixing the blade 101 to the second contact surface S2 of the support member 102 is double-sided tape.

[0040] As described above, the cleaning device 100A of this embodiment includes a plate-shaped blade 101 and a support member 102. With this configuration, the support member 102 can prevent the blade 101 from turning over, thereby preventing a decrease in cleaning performance. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the blade 101 has turned over. As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyor belt 13 rotates in a rotation direction C when conveying the medium P, but since the starting point 101b when the blade 101 turns over is close to the outer peripheral surface 13A of the conveyor belt 13, which is the object to be cleaned, such turning over of the blade 101 is unlikely to occur.

[0041] Furthermore, by disposing the support member 102 offset from the blade 101 and configuring the abutment surface 102B of the support member 102 that contacts the blade 101 to have a first abutment surface S1 to which the blade 101 is not fixed and a second abutment surface S2 to which the blade 101 is fixed, it is possible to dispose the deflection starting point 101a of the blade 101 at a position far from the outer peripheral surface 13A of the conveyor belt 13, as shown in Fig. 4. This makes it easier to suitably adjust the abutment force of the blade 101 against the conveyor belt 13 when moving the conveyor belt 13 in the running direction B, thereby suppressing damage to the conveyor belt 13. Furthermore, the cleaning device 100A of this embodiment can move the conveyor belt 13 in the opposite direction to the running direction B, i.e., can rotate the conveyor belt 13 in the opposite direction to the rotation direction C. In the cleaning device 100A of this embodiment, even if the conveying belt 13 is moved in the opposite direction to the running direction B, the state is as shown in Figure 4, and the contact force of the blade 101 against the conveying belt 13 can be set weakly, thereby suppressing damage to the conveying belt 13.

[0042] That is, different bending stiffnesses can be set for the bending direction of the tip 101A of the blade 101 when the conveyor belt 13 is rotated in the rotation direction C and when the conveyor belt 13 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction C. Therefore, appropriate cleaning can be performed according to the cleaning status of the conveyor belt 13, which is the object to be cleaned.

[0043] To put the above another way, the blade 101 is supported by the entire first contact surface S1 and second contact surface S2 of the support member 102. The first contact surface S1 does not fix the blade 101, and serves as a non-constraint area where the blade 101 can be displaced away from the support member 102. The second contact surface S2 fixes the blade 101, and serves as a constrained area where the blade 101 cannot be displaced away from the support member 102. Therefore, the bending rigidity of the tip portion 101A of the blade 101 differs between the case where the tip portion 101A of the blade 101 bends toward the support member 102 (when turned up) as shown in FIG. 5 and the case where the tip portion 101A of the blade 101 bends away from the support member 102 as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, for example, when stress acts on the tip 101A of the blade 101 toward the support member 102, the blade 101 is supported by the entire support member 102, so the bending rigidity of the tip 101A of the blade 101 is high and the tip 101A of the blade 101 is prevented from curling up toward the support member 102. On the other hand, the area where the blade 101 can be bent toward the opposite side from the support member 102 is large, so the bending rigidity in this case is lower than that on the support member 102 side. Therefore, the tendency for the blade 101 to curl up against the conveyor belt 13 is suppressed, and cleaning performance can be improved while suppressing the contact pressure against the conveyor belt 13.

[0044] However, there is no particular limitation on the positional relationship between the blade 101 and the support member 102 with respect to the travel direction B of the object to be cleaned. For example, in a printer or the like configured to frequently move the object to be cleaned in the opposite direction to the travel direction B, the configuration of this embodiment may be reversed. Also, in this embodiment, the object to be cleaned is the conveyor belt 13, but there is no particular limitation. For example, the object to be cleaned may be an electrophotographic photosensitive drum or the like.

[0045] 2, in the cleaning device 100A of this embodiment, the support member 102 is disposed downstream of the blade 101 in the running direction B of the conveyor belt 13, which is the object to be cleaned. With this configuration, when the conveyor belt 13 moves in the running direction B, the entire support member 102 can prevent the blade 101 from turning over.

[0046] Furthermore, in the cleaning device 100A of this embodiment, the bending rigidity is reduced by widening the allowable bending range of the blade 101 toward the opposite side to the turning-up side (upstream side in the traveling direction B) by utilizing the first contact surface S1, which is a non-constrained area where the blade 101 and the support member 102 are not fixed. With this configuration, the aggressiveness of the blade 101 toward the conveyor belt 13 is reduced, and damage to the conveyor belt 13 can be suppressed.

[0047] Here, it is preferable that the support member 102 has a higher bending rigidity than the blade 101. This is because the support member 102 can firmly support the blade 101 and can particularly effectively prevent the tip portion 101A of the blade 101 from curling up. To make the support member 102 have a higher bending rigidity than the blade 101, the support member 102 can be made of a material with a higher Young's modulus than the blade 101, or the support member 102 can be shaped to have a larger moment of area by being thicker than the blade 101 or by being reinforced with ribs or the like. When the support member 102 is made of a material with a higher Young's modulus than the blade 101, for example, the blade 101 can be made of polyethylene or rubber, and the support member 102 can be made of a resin or metal with a higher Young's modulus than polyethylene or rubber. To improve the bending rigidity of the support member 102, both the material and shape of the support member 102 may be different from those of the blade 101.

[0048] 6, in the cleaning device 100A of this embodiment, the second contact surface S2 is configured so that a length L1 in an extension direction D2 from one end side to the other end side of the end region S2a in the width direction D1 (Y-axis direction) intersecting the traveling direction B is longer than a length L2 in the extension direction D2 of the central region S2b in the width direction. If the end region S2a of the blade 101 in the width direction D1 is more likely to roll up than the central region S2b, this configuration can increase the fixed region of the portion corresponding to the end region S2a in the width direction, and the support member 102 can particularly effectively suppress rolling up of the blade 101.

[0049] It is preferable that the length L3 of the support member 102 in the extension direction D2 from one end side to the other end side is, for example, 55% to 95% of the length L4 in the extension direction D2 of the blade 101. With this configuration, the support member 102 can effectively prevent the blade 101 from turning over, thereby particularly effectively preventing a decrease in cleaning performance and particularly effectively preventing damage to the object to be cleaned.

[0050] Furthermore, the length of the second contact surface S2 in the extension direction D2 from one end side to the other end side, for example, the length L1 of the end region S2a and the length L2 of the central region S2b, are both preferably 50% to 80% of the length L4 in the extension direction D2 of the blade 101. This configuration makes it possible to suitably prevent the support member 102 from curling up the blade 101, thereby particularly suitably preventing a decrease in cleaning performance and particularly suitably preventing damage to the object to be cleaned.

[0051] Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the angle at which blade 101 contacts the object to be cleaned, i.e., the angle formed by extension direction D2 with respect to outer circumferential surface 13A of the object to be cleaned. Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the shape of tip 101A, and it may have corners or may be chamfered.

[0052] Now, from the perspective of a recording device, the printer 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a conveyor belt 13 as an object to be cleaned that travels in a travel direction B and can transport a medium P, a line head 12 as a recording unit that can record on the transported medium P, and a cleaning device 100A that is disposed opposite the outer circumferential surface 13A of the conveyor belt 13. Therefore, the printer 1 of this embodiment is a recording device that prevents the blade 101 from curling up, thereby preventing a decrease in cleaning performance, and particularly effectively prevents damage to the conveyor belt 13 as an object to be cleaned.

[0053] [Example 2] Next, a cleaning device 100B of a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, components common to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6 showing the cleaning device 100A of the first embodiment. The cleaning device 100B of this embodiment has the same configuration as the cleaning device 100A of the first embodiment, except for the configuration of the support member 102. Therefore, the cleaning device 100B of this embodiment has the same features as the cleaning device 100A of the first embodiment, except for the parts described below.

[0054] 7, in the cleaning device 100B of this embodiment, the second abutment surface S2 of the support member 102 has a length L1 in the extension direction D2 of the end region S2a that is shorter than a length L2 in the extension direction D2 of the central region S2b. If the central region S2b of the blade 101 is more likely to curl up than the end region S2a, this configuration can increase the fixing area of ​​the portion corresponding to the central region S2b in the width direction D1, and the support member 102 can particularly effectively prevent the blade 101 from curling up.

[0055] [Example 3] Next, a cleaning device 100C of a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, components common to the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 3 showing the cleaning device 100A of the first embodiment. The cleaning device 100C of this embodiment has the same configuration as the cleaning device 100A of the first embodiment, except for the configuration of the support member 102 and the method of fixing the blade 101 by the support member 102. Therefore, except for the parts described below, the cleaning device 100C of this embodiment has the same features as the cleaning device 100A of the first and second embodiments.

[0056] 8, the cleaning device 100C of this embodiment includes, as the support member 102, a first support member 1021 having a configuration similar to that of the support member 102 of the cleaning device 100A of the first embodiment, and a second support member 1022 that is in contact with the other surface 101C of the blade 101 opposite to the one surface 101B of the blade 101 and is capable of supporting the blade 101. Here, the second support member 1022 is positioned closer to the other end (the -X direction side) of the blade 101 than the one end of the blade 101 and is shifted relative to the blade 101 so that the amount of shift is greater than that of the first support member 1021. A portion of the abutting surface 102C that abuts against the blade 101, which faces the second abutting surface S2 of the first support member 1021, fixes the blade 101.

[0057] The cleaning device 100C of this embodiment is configured in this way, and is therefore particularly effective in preventing the blade 101 from turning over even when the conveyor belt 13, which is the object to be cleaned, is moved in the opposite direction to the traveling direction B. Furthermore, with this configuration, the first support member 1021 and the second support member 1022, which are the two support members, can effectively prevent the blade 101 from turning over, thereby particularly effectively preventing a decrease in cleaning performance and particularly effectively preventing damage to the conveyor belt 13, which is the object to be cleaned.

[0058] As described above, in cleaning device 100A of Example 1, blade 101 is fixed to support member 102 using double-sided tape. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, in cleaning device 100C of this embodiment, blade 101 is fixed to support member 102 using screws 103. As such, there are no particular limitations on the method for fixing blade 101 to support member 102. An adhesive may be used, or a combination of multiple methods such as a combination of screws and an adhesive may be used.

[0059] 8 shows two screws 103, screws 103A and 103B, but in reality, the support member 102 and the blade 101 are long in the width direction D1, and therefore a plurality of screws 103 are provided along the width direction D1. Each screw 103 fixes one surface 101B of the blade 101 to the abutment surface 102B of the first support member 1021, and also fixes the other surface 101C of the blade 101 to the abutment surface 102C of the second support member 1022.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that these modifications are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1...inkjet printer (printer, recording device), 2...device main body, 3...first media cassette, 4...second media cassette, 5...third media cassette, 6...fourth media cassette, 7...supply tray, 8...output tray, 10...ink storage section, 11...waste liquid storage section, 12...line head (recording section), 13...conveyor belt (object to be cleaned), 13A...outer peripheral surface, 14...pulley, 15...pulley, 18...external transport roller pair, 19...supply roller, 20...separation roller, 21...pick roller, 22...pick roller, 23...pick roller, 24...pick roller, 25...feed roller pair, 26...feed roller pair, 27...feed roller pair, 28...feed roller pair, 29...conveyor roller pair, 30...conveyor roller pair, 31...conveyor roller pair (rotating body), 32...conveyor roller pair, 33...conveyor roller pair, 34...conveyor roller pair, 37...conveyor roller pair, 38 ...pair of conveying rollers, 39...pair of conveying rollers, 41...flap, 42...flap, 100...cleaning device, 100A...cleaning device, 100B...cleaning device, 100C...cleaning device, 101...blade, 101A...tip portion, 101B...one side, 101C...other side, 101a...starting point, 101b...starting point, 102...support member, 102B...contact surface, 102C...contact surface, 103...screw, 103A...screw, 103 B...screw, 130...pair of transport rollers, 131...pair of transport rollers, 132...pair of transport rollers, 1021...first support member, 1022...second support member, L1...length, L2...length, L3...length, L4...length, P...medium, R1...first curved path, R2...second curved path, S1...first contact surface, S2...second contact surface, S2a...end region, S2b...central region, T1...supply path, T2...transport path during recording, T3...switchback path, T4...reversal path

Claims

1. a plate-shaped blade having a tip that contacts the outer circumferential surface of the cleaning object traveling in the traveling direction; a support member that is in contact with one surface of the blade and is capable of supporting the blade, The support member is the blade is disposed so as to be offset from the one end of the blade toward the other end opposite to the one end of the blade on the tip end side, the abutment surface abutting on the one surface includes a first abutment surface disposed on the one end side and a second abutment surface disposed on the other end side of the first abutment surface, A cleaning device, characterized in that the first contact surface does not fix the blade, and the second contact surface fixes the blade.

2. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, The cleaning device is characterized in that the support member is disposed downstream of the blade in the direction of travel of the object to be cleaned.

3. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, The cleaning device is characterized in that the support member has higher rigidity than the blade.

4. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, the length of the second contact surface in the extension direction from the one end side to the other end side of the end region in the width direction intersecting the traveling direction is longer than the length of the central region in the extension direction in the width direction.

5. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, the length of the second contact surface in the extension direction from the one end side to the other end side of the end region in the width direction intersecting the traveling direction is shorter than the length of the central region in the extension direction in the width direction.

6. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, a first support member as the support member; a second support member that is in contact with the other surface of the blade opposite to the one surface and is capable of supporting the blade, The second support member is the first support member is disposed on the other end side of the blade relative to the one end thereof, and the amount of displacement is greater than that of the first support member; a cleaning device, characterized in that a portion of the contact surface that contacts the blade and faces the second contact surface of the first support member fixes the blade;

7. a conveyor belt as the object to be cleaned, the conveyor belt being capable of conveying a medium while traveling in the traveling direction; a recording unit capable of recording on the transported medium; 7. A recording apparatus comprising: the cleaning device according to claim 1, which is disposed opposite the outer peripheral surface of the conveyor belt.

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