Inkjet recording device

Abstract

To prevent the scattering of ink remaining in the ink receiving section. [Solution] The device comprises a plurality of wipers 24 that wipe the ink ejection surfaces of a plurality of inkjet heads, an ink receiving section 21 that receives ink that falls when wiped by the wipers 24, a wiper drive section that moves the wipers 24 in a direction perpendicular to the row in which the wipers 24 are arranged, a wiper 25 that wipes ink from the bottom surface of the ink receiving section 21 and a mounting base 23 to which the wipers 24 are fixed, and a cover member 26 that works in conjunction with the mounting base 23 to cover the top of the ink receiving section 21, and when cleaning of the inkjet heads is completed, the wiper 24 with ink adhering to it is pushed down by an ink shielding blade 27 attached to the side of the ink receiving section 21 as the mounting base 23 moves, causing it to tilt and settle into a position lower than the ink shielding blade 27, thereby shielding the opening of the ink receiving section 21.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that prevents ink remaining in an ink receiving portion from scattering. [Background technology]

[0002] A line-type inkjet recording apparatus performs printing by ejecting ink from an inkjet head onto a sheet of paper that is being transported based on image data.

[0003] In such inkjet printing devices, periodic maintenance is performed to maintain the inkjet head in a normal ejection state. For example, a purge is performed to forcibly eject ink from the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head, and the ejected ink and any dust adhering to the ink ejection surface are wiped away with a wiper blade. The wiped ink is then collected and discarded.

[0004] Patent document 1 discloses an inkjet recording device equipped with a cap unit having a head cap with an ink outlet at the bottom for discharging ink ejected from the nozzles, and a wipe unit having a wipe blade that wipes the bottom of the head and guides ink remaining at the bottom to the ink outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-101594 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that when the ink pan is moved horizontally at high speed, the remaining ink collected at the bottom of the ink pan scatters.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that prevents ink remaining in an ink receiving portion from scattering. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by: a plurality of first wiper blades for wiping ink ejection surfaces of the plurality of inkjet heads; an ink receiving section that houses the plurality of first wiper blades and receives ink that falls due to wiping by the first wiper blades; a wiper driving unit that moves the first wiper blade in a direction perpendicular to the row in which the first wiper blades are arranged within the ink receiving unit; a second wiper blade for wiping ink on a bottom surface of the ink receiving portion and a base portion to which the first wiper blade is fixed; a cover member that is linked to the base portion and covers an upper portion of the ink receiving portion; When cleaning of the inkjet head is completed, the first wiper blade with ink adhering thereto is pressed down by an ink blocking blade attached to the side surface of the ink receiving section as the base section moves, causing the first wiper blade to tilt and settle in a position below the ink blocking blade, thereby blocking the opening of the ink receiving section. The reason is that. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the ink remaining in the ink receiving portion from scattering. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]1 is a plan view of a wiping unit provided in an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a plan view of a wiping unit provided in an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a side view of a wiping unit provided in an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts and components are designated by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and may differ from the actual product. Furthermore, the drawings may include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0012] Furthermore, the embodiments shown below are merely examples of devices that embody the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention does not limit the arrangement of each component to that shown below. Various modifications can be made to the technical concept of the present invention within the scope of the claims.

[0013] Example 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The up, down, left, and right directions indicated by arrows in Fig. 1 are the up, down, left, and right directions of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. The direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1 is the front-to-rear direction, the direction towards the front of the plane of the plane is the front, and the direction towards the back of the plane of the plane is the rear.

[0015] The inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a printing unit 10 and a wiping unit 20, as shown in FIG.

[0016] The printing section 10 includes a head unit 11 provided with a plurality of inkjet heads, and a transport section 12 provided opposite the head unit 11.

[0017] 2 and 3 are plan views of the wiping unit provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the wiping unit provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows the initial position of the wiping unit provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 shows the reversal position of the wiping unit provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] 2 to 4, the head unit 11 has three line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C. Each of the three line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C has six inkjet heads and is arranged in the left-right direction (the transport direction of the printing paper P). The three line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C each eject ink of a different color.

[0019] As the printing paper P is transported from left to right directly below the head unit 11, ink is ejected from the three line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C, and printing is performed on the printing paper P.

[0020] The conveying section 12 includes a circular conveying belt 123, an intake fan 121, a driving roller 124 and a driven roller 125 around which the conveying belt 123 is stretched.

[0021] A plurality of suction holes are provided in the conveyor belt 123. In addition, an intake fan 121 is provided at a position facing the back side of the conveyor belt 123, which is the conveyance path surface of the printing paper P. When the intake fan 121 rotates, a suction force is generated in the suction holes of the conveyor belt 123.

[0022] The printing paper P fed to the printing unit 10 is adsorbed onto the conveying belt 123 by the suction action caused by the rotation of the intake fan 121, and is then printed using ink ejected from the head unit 11 while being transported at a predetermined transport speed by the rotation of the drive roller 124.

[0023] The wiping unit 20 performs a wiping operation to wipe the ink ejection surfaces of the three line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C. The ink ejection surfaces are surfaces on which the ink ejection openings of the many nozzles of the three line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C are arranged.

[0024] The wiping unit 20 is configured to be movable between a retracted position, which is the position of the wiping unit 20 shown in Figure 1, and a wiping position, which is the position directly below the three line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C when performing a wiping operation, by a predetermined actuator not shown.

[0025] The wiping section 20 includes an ink receiving section 21, a wiping unit 22, and a wiper driving section 30.

[0026] The ink receiving section 21 receives ink and the like that is removed from the ink ejection surfaces of the line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C and drops during the wiping operation. The ink receiving section 21 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0027] The wiper driving section 30 moves the wipe unit 22 in the ink receiving section 21 in a direction (front-rear direction) perpendicular to the row in which three wipers (first wipe blades) 24, which will be described later, are arranged.

[0028] The wiping unit 22 is provided so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction between a reference position shown in Fig. 2 and a reverse start position shown in Fig. 3, and wipes the ink ejection surfaces of the line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C when moving from the reverse start position to the reference position. The wiping unit 22 includes a mounting base 23, three wipers (first wiper blades) 24, and one wiper (second wiper blade) 25.

[0029] A wiper (first wiper blade) 24 is attached to the upper part of the mounting base (base portion) 23, and a wiper (second wiper blade) 25 is attached to the lower part of the mounting base 23. The mounting base 23 is provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction along a guide rod (not shown).

[0030] The wiper 24 is a member that wipes the ink ejection surfaces of the line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C. The wiper 24 is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber and is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The lower end of the wiper 24 is fixed to the mounting base 23.

[0031] The wiper 25 is a member that wipes the ink IK off the bottom surface of the ink receiving section 21. The wiper 25 is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber, similar to the wiper 24, and is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The upper end of the wiper 25 is fixed to the mounting base (base section) 23.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, when the wiping unit 20 is positioned in the wiping position, the three wipers 24 are arranged so that they are located on the extension lines of each row along the front-to-back direction of the staggered line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C.

[0033] When the wiping unit 20 is disposed in the wiping position, the upper end of the wiper 24 is positioned higher than the ink ejection surfaces of the line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C. The wiper 24 is moved from the front side to the rear side by the wiper driving unit 30, and when it comes into contact with the ink ejection surface, it is elastically deformed so that the upper end thereof slides (wipes) over the ink ejection surface. The ink that has been slid (wiped) falls and is received by the ink receiving unit 21.

[0034] When the wiping unit 20 is disposed at the wiping position, the lower end of the wiper 25 is in contact with the surface of the ink receiving unit 21. The wiper 25 is moved from the rear side to the front side by the wiper driving unit 30, and is elastically deformed while in contact with the surface of the ink receiving unit 21, so that the lower tip part slides (wipes) the surface of the ink receiving unit 21. The ink that has been slid (wiped) is moved forward, and is discharged into the discharge path 21a when the wiping unit 22 moves to the reference position.

[0035] A cover member 26 is attached to the rear side of the mounting base (base portion) 23. The other end of the cover member 26 is attached to the rear side of the ink receiving portion 21. The mounting base 23 is configured in an accordion-like manner so as to be able to freely expand and contract in the front-to-rear direction, and covers or opens the upper part of the ink receiving portion 21 in conjunction with the movement of the mounting base (base portion) 23 in the front-to-rear direction. Specifically, when the wiping unit 22 is in the reference position shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 26 covers the upper part of the ink receiving portion 21, and when the wiping unit 22 is in the reversal start position shown in FIG. 3, the cover member 26 opens the ink receiving portion 21.

[0036] Furthermore, an ink blocking blade 27 is provided on the inner side surface of the ink receiving portion 21 above the discharge path 21a so as to correspond to the positions of the three wipers (first wipe blades) 24 in the left-right direction.

[0037] When cleaning of the line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C is completed, the wiping unit 22 moves to the reference position, and the accompanying forward movement of the mounting stand (base portion) 23 causes the tip of the wiper 24, to which ink has adhered, to come into contact with the ink blocking blade 27 and be pushed downward, causing the wiper 24 to tilt. As a result, the wiper 24 is positioned below the ink blocking blade 27, thereby blocking the opening of the ink receiving portion 21.

[0038] 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] 5(a), when the wiping unit 22 is in the reference position, the tip of the wiper 24 comes into contact with the ink blocking blade 27, is pushed downward, and tilts, settling in a position below the ink blocking blade 27. At this time, the cover member 26 covers the upper part of the ink receiving section 21 and blocks the opening.

[0040] 5(b), when the wiping unit 22 is moved toward the rear, the wiper 24 comes out of contact with the ink blocking blade 27 and stands up. When the wiping unit 22 is moved toward the rear with the wiper 24 in the upright state, the upper tip of the wiper 24 comes into contact with the ink ejection surfaces of the line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C and is elastically deformed to slide (wipe) the ink ejection surfaces. The ink IK that has been slid (wiped) falls and is received in the ink receiving section 21.

[0041] As shown in Figure 6(a), when the wiping unit 22 is moved forward from the inversion start position, the wiper 25 is elastically deformed while contacting the surface of the ink receiving portion 21, and the lower tip portion slides (wipes) the surface of the ink receiving portion 21.

[0042] 6(b), when the wiping unit 22 reaches the reference position, the wiped ink is moved forward by the wiper 25 and discharged into the discharge path 21a. At that time, the tip of the wiper 24 comes into contact with the ink blocking blade 27, and is pushed downward and tilted, settling in a position below the ink blocking blade 27.

[0043] In this way, by folding and storing the wiper 24 with ink adhering thereto below the ink shielding blade 27 and covering the opening of the ink receiving section 21 with the cover member 26, it is possible to prevent ink remaining in the ink receiving section 21 from scattering inside the housing when the wipe unit 22 is moved.

[0044] <Example 2> In the first embodiment of the present invention, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is exemplified in which, when cleaning of the line heads 11A, 11B, and 11C is completed, the tip of the wiper 24 comes into contact with the ink blocking blade 27, is pushed downward, and is tilted.

[0045] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7(a), when the wiping unit 22 moves forward from the reverse start position, the wiper 24A is out of contact with the ink blocking blade 27A, and the biasing force of the spring 29 causes the wiper 24A to stand up.

[0047] An inclined surface 27a is provided on the bottom of the ink blocking blade 27A, and as shown in Figure 7(b), when the wiping unit 22 reaches the reference position, the tip of the wiper 24A comes into contact with the inclined surface 27a of the ink blocking blade 27A, is pushed downward, and tilts, settling into a position below the ink blocking blade 27A.

[0048] As described above, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the wiper 24A and the ink blocking blade 27A, and therefore it becomes easier to tilt the wiper 24A.

[0049] (Addendum) The present application discloses the following inventions.

[0050] (Appendix 1) a plurality of first wiper blades for wiping ink ejection surfaces of the plurality of inkjet heads; an ink receiving section that houses the plurality of first wiper blades and receives ink that falls due to wiping by the first wiper blades; a wiper driving unit that moves the first wiper blade in a direction perpendicular to the row in which the first wiper blades are arranged within the ink receiving unit; a second wiper blade for wiping ink on a bottom surface of the ink receiving portion and a base portion to which the first wiper blade is fixed; a cover member that is linked to the base portion and covers an upper portion of the ink receiving portion; When cleaning of the inkjet head is completed, the first wiper blade with ink adhering thereto is pressed down by an ink blocking blade attached to the side surface of the ink receiving section as the base section moves, causing the first wiper blade to tilt and settle in a position below the ink blocking blade, thereby blocking the opening of the ink receiving section. An inkjet recording apparatus characterized by the above.

[0051] In this way, by folding and storing the wiper 24 with ink adhering thereto below the ink shielding blade 27 and covering the opening of the ink receiving section 21 with the cover member 26, it is possible to prevent ink remaining in the ink receiving section 21 from scattering inside the housing when the wipe unit 22 is moved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Inkjet recording device 10 Printing Department 11 Head Unit 11A, 11B, 11C Line Head 12 Conveyor 20 Wiping section 21 Ink receiver 21a Exhaust channel 22 Wipe Unit 23 Mounting base (base part) 24,24A Wiper (first wiper blade) 25 Wiper (second wiper blade) 26 Cover member 27 Ink shielding blade 27a Slope 27A Ink shielding blade 29 Spring 30 Wiper drive unit

Claims

[Claim 1] a plurality of first wiper blades for wiping ink ejection surfaces of the plurality of inkjet heads; an ink receiving section that houses the plurality of first wiper blades and receives ink that falls due to wiping by the first wiper blades; a wiper driving unit that moves the first wiper blade in a direction perpendicular to the row in which the first wiper blades are arranged within the ink receiving unit; a second wiper blade for wiping ink on a bottom surface of the ink receiving portion and a base portion to which the first wiper blade is fixed; a cover member that is linked to the base portion and covers an upper portion of the ink receiving portion; When cleaning of the inkjet head is completed, the first wiper blade with ink adhering thereto is pressed down by an ink blocking blade attached to a side surface of the ink receiving section as the base section moves, and is tilted, settling into a position below the ink blocking blade, thereby blocking the opening of the ink receiving section. An inkjet recording apparatus characterized by the above.

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