Recording device

Abstract

To provide a recording device which enables reduction of a dimension of a housing in a width direction.SOLUTION: A housing 11 includes: an upstream cover which may open or close an upstream opening located at the upstream of a maintenance position MP in a transport direction; and a downstream cover 41 which may open or close a downstream opening 11d located at the downstream of the maintenance position MP in the transport direction. A recording head 31 which stops in the maintenance position MP during maintenance is at least partially located between a transport path 26 and a cap 30 in a width direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a printer, which is an example of a recording device that records on roll paper, which is an example of a recording medium. The printer includes a recording head, a carriage, a capping unit, which is an example of a cap, and a housing. The recording head records on the roll paper. The carriage scans in a width direction that is different from the transport direction of the roll paper. The recording head is mounted on the carriage. The capping unit covers the nozzle surface of the recording head. The housing contains the recording head, the carriage, and the capping unit.

[0003] As the carriage moves, the recording head moves to a recording area where the recording head records on the roll paper, a first retreat area which is an example of a maintenance position, and a second retreat area which is an example of a capping position. The first retreat area is an area where a user performs maintenance on the recording head, such as wiping off dirt adhering to the recording head. The second retreat area is an area where maintenance of the recording head is performed using a capping unit. The first retreat area is located outside the recording area in the width direction. The second retreat area is located outside the recording area in the direction opposite to the width direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-155649 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The size of the recording device can be reduced by reducing the width of the housing. The width of the housing is determined by the arrangement of the cap position and the maintenance position in the width direction. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the width of the housing by changing the arrangement of these positions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A recording device that solves the above problem comprises a transport path along which a recording medium is transported in a transport direction, a recording head having a nozzle surface with openings and performing recording on the recording medium transported on the transport path, a carriage that carries the recording head and moves in a width direction different from the transport direction, a cap that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head that is positioned at a cap position, and a housing that accommodates the transport path, the recording head, the carriage, and the cap, wherein the housing comprises an upstream cover that can open and close an upstream opening that is positioned upstream of a maintenance position in the transport direction, and a downstream cover that can open and close a downstream opening that is positioned downstream of the maintenance position in the transport direction, and the recording head that stops at the maintenance position during maintenance has at least a portion in the width direction positioned between the transport path and the cap. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the recording apparatus when the recording head is in the maintenance position. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the housing in the vicinity of a downstream opening. [Figure 8]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the recording apparatus when the recording head is in the maintenance position. [Figure 9] 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the housing near the upstream opening when the upstream cover is in the open position. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An embodiment of a recording apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings. The recording apparatus of this embodiment is, for example, an inkjet printer that prints by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper.

[0009] In the drawings, the recording device is placed on a horizontal plane, the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z axis, and the directions along the horizontal plane are indicated by the X and Y axes. The X, Y, and Z axes are perpendicular to each other. In the following description, the direction parallel to the X axis is also referred to as the width direction X, the direction parallel to the Y axis is also referred to as the depth direction Y, and the direction parallel to the Z axis is also referred to as the vertical direction Z.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the recording device 10 includes a housing 11 having a substantially rectangular shape. The housing 11 includes a front wall 12, a rear wall 13, a first side wall 14, a second side wall 15, and an upper wall 16. The front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 extend in a direction perpendicular to the Y axis. The first side wall 14 and the second side wall 15 extend in a direction perpendicular to the X axis. The front wall 12 is located in the depth direction Y from the rear wall 13. The second side wall 15 is located in the width direction X from the first side wall 14. The second side wall 15 is connected to each end of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 in the width direction X. The first side wall 14 is connected to each end of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 in the opposite direction to the width direction X. The upper wall 16 extends parallel to a horizontal plane. The upper wall 16 is connected to each of the front wall 12, the rear wall 13, the first side wall 14, and the second side wall 15 in the direction opposite to the vertical direction Z.

[0011] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the recording device 10 may include a storage section 17 that stores a cylindrical roll body 18. The roll body 18 is formed by winding a recording medium 19 around a core member 20. The storage section 17 can store a plurality of roll bodies 18. Both ends of each roll body 18 in the width direction X are rotatably attached to a holding section (not shown) in the storage section 17. The storage section 17 is open in a part of the front wall 12 of the housing 11 in the vertical direction Z. The storage section 17 constitutes a part of the internal space of the housing 11 in the vertical direction Z.

[0012] The recording device 10 may include a plate-shaped support stand 21 inside the housing 11. The support stand 21 is located above the storage section 17. The dimension of the support stand 21 in the width direction X is larger than the dimension of the recording medium 19 in the width direction X. The support stand 21 is capable of supporting the recording medium 19 on its upper surface.

[0013] <Carriage 22> As shown in Fig. 3, the recording device 10 includes a carriage 22 that moves in the width direction X. The housing 11 houses the carriage 22. The carriage 22 is supported by a rod-shaped guide shaft 23 that extends in the width direction X. The recording device 10 may include a carriage motor 24. When the carriage motor 24 is driven, the carriage 22 can move back and forth along the guide shaft 23. The carriage 22 and the guide shaft 23 are located above the support base 21.

[0014] <Feeding and transport of recording medium 19> 3, the recording device 10 may include a drive motor 25 and a transport unit 27 that transports the recording medium 19 along a transport path 26 shown by a dashed line in the drawing. In other words, it can be said that the recording device 10 includes the transport path 26. The housing 11 houses the transport path 26. The transport path 26 may include the top of the support base 21. The transport path 26 is connected to an outlet 12h that opens in the front wall 12.

[0015] The roll body 18 is rotated by driving the drive motor 25. As the roll body 18 rotates, the recording medium 19 is unwound from the roll body 18 and fed to the transport path 26. The transport section 27 may include a plurality of transport roller pairs 29. The transport roller pairs 29 rotate with the recording medium 19 sandwiched between them, whereby the recording medium 19 is transported in a transport direction D on the transport path 26. The transport direction D is a direction along the transport path 26.

[0016] <Recording head 31> 4, the recording device 10 includes a recording head 31 that records on a recording medium 19. The housing 11 houses the recording head 31. The recording head 31 has a nozzle surface 31b in which nozzles 31a are opened. The nozzle surface 31b may be a horizontal surface.

[0017] The carriage 22 carries a recording head 31. The recording head 31 can move back and forth in the width direction X and the direction opposite to the width direction X by moving together with the carriage 22. The recording head 31 moves to a position above the support base 21 and spaced apart from the support base 21. The nozzle surface 31b may be parallel to the upper surface of the support base 21. The recording head 31 may perform recording on the recording medium 19 by ejecting liquid from the nozzles 31a onto the recording medium 19 on the support base 21. The transport direction D on the support base 21 is parallel to the Y axis. It can be said that the carriage 22 moving in the width direction X above the support base 21 moves in a direction different from the transport direction D.

[0018] <Cap 30> As shown in FIG. 4, the recording device 10 includes a cap 30 that covers the nozzle surface 31b. The housing 11 houses the cap 30. The cap 30 may be capable of reciprocating along the Z axis by a cap motor 32. As the cap 30 is moved by the cap motor 32, the cap 30 moves upward or downward. The cap 30 moves between a separated position Pu, which is a lower position, and a contact position Pt, which is an upper position. The upper side of the cap 30 is the cap position CP (see FIG. 5) of the recording head 31. When the cap 30 is at the contact position Pt, the cap 30 comes into contact with the recording head 31 that is stopped at the cap position CP.

[0019] The cap 30 covers the nozzle surface 31b to surround the openings of the nozzles 31a of the recording head 31. Maintenance in which the cap 30 surrounds the openings of the nozzles 31a in this manner is called capping. Capping prevents the nozzles 31a from drying out. The cap 30 may be configured to surround all of the nozzles 31a that open in the nozzle surface 31b.

[0020] <Operation unit 33> As shown in FIG. 5, the recording device 10 may include an operation unit 33 on the upper wall 16 of the housing 11. The operation unit 33 is configured, for example, by a touch panel, and is used when the user inputs various information. Examples of the various information input by the user to the operation unit 33 include various information about recording on the recording medium 19, starting recording on the recording medium 19, and performing various maintenance. The performance of various maintenance includes maintenance of the recording head 31. The user may input various information to the operation unit 33 by touching various menus displayed on the operation unit 33.

[0021] <Control unit 35> As shown in Fig. 5, the recording device 10 may include a control unit 35. The control unit 35 may be configured as a circuit including: α: one or more processors that execute various processes according to a computer program; β: one or more dedicated hardware circuits, such as application specific integrated circuits, that execute at least a part of the various processes; or γ: a combination thereof. The processor includes a CPU and memory, such as RAM and ROM, that stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. The memory, i.e., computer-readable medium, includes any readable medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0022] The control unit 35 may control various operations executed in the recording device 10. Based on a user's input to the operation unit 33, the control unit 35 may control the movement and stopping of the carriage 22 by controlling the driving of the carriage motor 24. The recording head 31 moves between the recording region PR and the cap position CP in accordance with the movement of the carriage 22, and stops at the maintenance position MP in accordance with the stop of the carriage 22.

[0023] The recording region PR is an area where the nozzle surface 31b overlaps with the transport path 26 in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 31b. More specifically, the recording region PR is an area where the nozzle surface 31b overlaps with the transport path 26 on the support base 21 in a direction parallel to the Z axis. The dimension of the recording region PR in the width direction X matches the dimension of the width direction X of the mounting space for the recording medium 19 on the support base 21. The recording head 31 may record on the recording medium 19 while moving in the recording region PR.

[0024] The cap position CP is a position separated from the recording area PR in the width direction X. The cap position CP is the home position of the recording head 31. The recording head 31 starts moving from the cap position CP.

[0025] When the user inputs a command to start recording on the recording medium 19 to the operation unit 33, the control unit 35 starts driving the carriage motor 24. As a result, the recording head 31 ejects liquid while moving back and forth in the recording area PR to record on the recording medium 19. When recording on the recording medium 19 is completed, the control unit 35 moves the recording head 31 in the width direction X to the cap position CP. The control unit 35 stops driving the carriage motor 24, so that the recording head 31 stops at the cap position CP.

[0026] The control unit 35 starts driving the cap motor 32 at the timing when the recording head 31 is located at the cap position CP. As a result, the cap 30 moves from the separated position Pu. The control unit 35 stops driving the cap motor 32 when the cap 30 moves to the contact position Pt. As a result, the cap 30 stops at the contact position Pt. The recording head 31 stops at the cap position CP and the cap 30 stops at the contact position Pt, thereby performing capping in which the cap 30 covers the nozzle surface 31b. The control unit 35 starts driving the cap motor 32 when the recording head 31 moves from the cap position CP. As a result, the cap 30 moves from the contact position Pt. The control unit 35 stops driving the cap motor 32 when the cap 30 moves to the separated position Pu. As a result, the cap 30 stops at the separated position Pu.

[0027] The control unit 35 may stop the carriage 22 at a position where the recording head 31 is at the maintenance position MP, on condition that an instruction to perform maintenance on the recording head 31 has been received from the user. The control unit 35 determines that an instruction to perform maintenance on the recording head 31 has been received from the user when the user has input to the operation unit 33 an instruction to perform maintenance on the recording head 31.

[0028] When performing maintenance on the recording head 31, the control unit 35 first starts driving the carriage motor 24, so that the recording head 31 moves from the cap position CP in the direction opposite to the width direction X. The control unit 35 stops driving the carriage motor 24 when the recording head 31 reaches the maintenance position MP.

[0029] The maintenance position MP is a position between the recording area PR and the cap position CP in the width direction X. The recording head 31 that stops at the maintenance position MP during maintenance is at least partially located between the transport path 26 and the cap 30 in the width direction X. The nozzle surface 31b of the recording head 31 when stopped at the maintenance position MP may be located outside the recording area PR in the width direction X. When the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP, a portion of the nozzle surface 31b in the width direction X may overlap a portion of the nozzle surface 31b when the recording head 31 stops at the cap position CP.

[0030] When the recording head 31 starts to move from the cap position CP toward the maintenance position MP, the control unit 35 starts driving the cap motor 32. This causes the cap 30 to move from the contact position Pt. When the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP, the cap 30 is located at a position between the contact position Pt and the separated position Pu, or at the separated position Pu. Therefore, when the recording head 31 is at the maintenance position MP, the cap 30 is separated from the nozzle surface 31b.

[0031] <Downstream cover 41> 5, the housing 11 includes a downstream cover 41 that can open and close the downstream opening 11d. The downstream opening 11d may be located on the front wall 12 of the housing 11, so that the downstream cover 41 is disposed on the front wall 12 of the housing 11. The downstream opening 11d is located downstream of the maintenance position MP in the conveying direction D. As a result, the downstream cover 41 is located downstream of the maintenance position MP in the conveying direction D.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the downstream cover 41 may include a support portion 45, a claw portion 46, and a protrusion 47. When the downstream cover 41 closes the downstream opening 11d, the end of the downstream cover 41 in the width direction X is referred to as a first downstream end 41a. Two support portions 45 are located along the first downstream end 41a. The support portion 45 supports the downstream cover 41 rotatably relative to the housing 11 around a rotation axis extending parallel to the first downstream end 41a. The downstream cover 41 is movable between a closed position that covers the downstream opening 11d of the housing 11 and an open position that opens the downstream opening 11d. The claw portion 46 and the protrusion 47 are located on a downstream inner surface 41b, which is an inner surface of the downstream cover 41. Two claw portions 46 are arranged along a second downstream end 41c that is located opposite to the first downstream end 41a of the downstream cover 41.

[0033] 7, the recording head 31 may include a downstream side surface 31d located downstream of the recording head 31 in the transport direction D. When the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the downstream cover 41 faces the downstream side surface 31d of the recording head 31. The downstream side surface 31d is connected to an edge portion of the nozzle surface 31b downstream in the transport direction D. When the downstream cover 41 is in an open state and the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the downstream side surface 31d is exposed to the outside of the housing 11 through the downstream opening 11d.

[0034] <Upstream cover 61> 8, the housing 11 includes an upstream cover 61 that can open and close the upstream opening 11u. The upstream opening 11u may be located on the rear wall 13 of the housing 11, so that the upstream cover 61 may be disposed on the rear wall 13 of the housing 11. The upstream opening 11u is located upstream of the maintenance position MP in the conveying direction D. As a result, the upstream cover 61 is located upstream of the maintenance position MP in the conveying direction D.

[0035] The housing 11 may include an interface cover 62 that covers the upstream cover 61 from the outside of the housing 11. The interface cover 62 covers the rear wall 13 around the upstream cover 61, including the upstream cover 61. By opening the interface cover 62, the upstream cover 61 can be opened.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 9, the upstream cover 61 may include a support portion 45, a claw portion 46, and a protrusion 47. When the upstream cover 61 closes the upstream opening 11u, the lower end of the upstream cover 61 is called a first upstream end 61a. Two support portions 45 are located along the first upstream end 61a. The support portion 45 supports the upstream cover 61 rotatably relative to the housing 11 around a rotation axis extending parallel to the first upstream end 61a. The upstream cover 61 is movable between a closed position that covers the upstream opening 11u of the housing 11 and an open position that opens the upstream opening 11u. The claw portion 46 and the protrusion 47 are located on an upstream inner surface 61b that is the inner surface of the upstream cover 61. Two claw portions 46 are arranged along a second upstream end 61c that is located opposite to the first upstream end 61a of the upstream cover 61.

[0037] The recording head 31 may include an upstream side surface 31u located upstream of the recording head 31 in the transport direction D. When the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the upstream cover 61 faces the upstream side surface 31u of the recording head 31 in the depth direction Y. The upstream side surface 31u is connected to an edge portion of the nozzle surface 31b upstream in the transport direction D. When the upstream cover 61 is in an open state and the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the upstream side surface 31u is exposed to the outside of the housing 11 through the upstream opening 11u.

[0038] <Structure of the housing 11 near the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61> 7 and 9, the housing 11 may include receiving portions 48 into which the claw portions 46 can be inserted. The receiving portions 48 are through-holes that penetrate the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, and two receiving portions 48 are provided on each of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13.

[0039] The housing 11 may include an internal member 49 therein. The internal member 49 faces above the downstream opening 11d and below the upstream opening 11u. The internal member 49 includes a through hole 49a that passes through the internal member 49.

[0040] When the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 are in the closed position, the claws 46 are inserted into the receiving portions 48, and the protrusions 47 are inserted into the through holes 49a. When the claws 46 are inserted into the receiving portions 48, the claws 46 engage with the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 via the receiving portions 48. This prevents the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 from being easily released except when the user releases them.

[0041] The recording device 10 may include an interlock sensor 50 inside the housing 11. The interlock sensor 50 is aligned with the through hole 49a of the internal member 49 in the depth direction Y. When the protrusion 47 of the downstream cover 41 is inserted into the through hole 49a, the interlock sensor 50 detects that the downstream cover 41 is in the closed position. When the protrusion 47 of the downstream cover 41 is not inserted into the through hole 49a, the interlock sensor 50 detects that the downstream cover 41 is in the open position. When the protrusion 47 of the upstream cover 61 is inserted into the through hole 49a, the interlock sensor 50 detects that the upstream cover 61 is in the closed position. When the protrusion 47 of the upstream cover 61 is not inserted into the through hole 49a, the interlock sensor 50 detects that the upstream cover 61 is in the open position. The interlock sensor 50 outputs a signal to the control unit 35 according to the open / closed state of the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61.

[0042] The housing 11 may include a locking member 51. The locking member 51 is displaceable between a locked state in which the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 are locked in a closed state, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is released. A plurality of locking members 51 may be disposed in the housing 11 so as to correspond to the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61, respectively. The locking member 51 may lock the downstream cover 41 in the closed state by locking the claw portion 46 of the downstream cover 41 inserted in the receiving portion 48. The locking member 51 may lock the upstream cover 61 in the closed state by locking the claw portion 46 of the upstream cover 61 inserted in the receiving portion 48.

[0043] The recording device 10 may include an illumination unit 52 that illuminates the recording head 31 at the maintenance position MP. The illumination unit 52 is turned on when at least one of the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 is in an open state. The control unit 35 may control the switching between the locked state and the unlocked state of the locking member 51 and the switching between turning on and off the illumination unit 52.

[0044] <Control of Opening and Closing of Downstream Cover 41 and Upstream Cover 61> The control unit 35 may switch the locking member 51 from the locked state to the unlocked state when the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP. This causes the locking member 51 to transition from the locked state to the unlocked state when the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP. This allows the user to open the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61.

[0045] The control unit 35 may switch the locking member 51 to the locked state on condition that, with the locking member 51 in the unlocked state, a signal indicating that both the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 are in the closed state is received from the interlock sensor 50. By switching the locking member 51 from the unlocked state to the locked state, both the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 may be locked in the closed state.

[0046] The condition for the control unit 35 to switch the locking member 51 to the locked state is not limited to the condition of receiving a signal from the interlock sensor 50 indicating that both the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 are in the closed state. For example, the control unit 35 may switch the locking member 51 to the locked state on the condition that a signal from the interlock sensor 50 indicating that both the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 are in the closed state is continuously received for a predetermined time. The control unit 35 may switch the locking member 51 from the unlocked state to the locked state on the condition that a signal from the interlock sensor 50 indicating that both the downstream cover 41 and the upstream cover 61 are in the closed state is received and the user has performed an operation on the operation unit 33 other than maintenance of the recording head 31.

[0047] When the control unit 35 receives a signal from the interlock sensor 50 indicating that at least one of the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 is in the open state, the control unit 35 may determine that at least one of the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 has been moved to the open position by the user, and may turn on the illumination unit 52. When the control unit 35 receives a signal from the interlock sensor 50 indicating that both the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 are in the closed state, the control unit 35 may determine that both the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 have been moved to the closed position by the user, and may turn off the illumination unit 52. In other words, the illumination unit 52 may be turned off when both the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 are in the closed state.

[0048] The control unit 35 may start driving the carriage motor 24 to start moving the carriage 22 when it receives a signal from the interlock sensor 50 indicating that both the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 are in the closed state. That is, the carriage 22 may start moving the recording head 31 from the maintenance position MP to the cap position CP when both the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 change from the open state to the closed state. Note that the control unit 35 may start moving the carriage 22 after switching the lock member 51 to the locked state.

[0049] <Action of this embodiment> The operation of this embodiment will be described. When a user operates the operation unit 33 during maintenance of the recording head 31, the control unit 35 starts driving the carriage motor 24 to move the recording head 31 from the cap position CP to the maintenance position MP. The control unit 35 stops the recording head 31 at the maintenance position MP.

[0050] When the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the user can perform maintenance on the nozzle surface 31b and the upstream side surface 31u of the recording head 31 through the upstream opening 11u by opening the upstream cover 61.

[0051] When the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the user can perform maintenance on the nozzle surface 31b and downstream side surface 31d of the recording head 31 through the downstream opening 11d by opening the downstream cover 41.

[0052] <Effects of this embodiment> The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) When the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP, the user can perform maintenance on the recording head 31 through the upstream opening 11u by opening the upstream cover 61. When the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP, the user can perform maintenance on the recording head 31 through the downstream opening 11d by opening the downstream cover 41. The recording head 31 that stops at the maintenance position MP during maintenance is at least partially positioned between the transport path 26 and the cap 30 in the width direction X. Therefore, the dimension of the housing 11 in the width direction X can be reduced compared to a case where the cap position CP is a position outside the transport path 26 in the width direction X and the maintenance position MP is a position outside the transport path 26 in the opposite direction to the width direction X.

[0053] (2) When the upstream cover 61 is in an open state and the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the upstream side surface 31u of the recording head 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 11 through the upstream opening 11u. When the downstream cover 41 is in an open state and the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the downstream side surface 31d of the recording head 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 11 through the downstream opening 11d. Therefore, the user can perform maintenance of the upstream side surface 31u while visually checking the upstream side surface 31u of the recording head 31 through the upstream opening 11u of the housing 11. The user can perform maintenance of the downstream side surface 31d while visually checking the downstream side surface 31d of the recording head 31 through the downstream opening 11d of the housing 11. Therefore, the efficiency of the user's maintenance of the upstream side surface 31u and the downstream side surface 31d of the recording head 31 can be improved.

[0054] (3) On condition that the control unit 35 receives an instruction from the user to perform maintenance on the recording head 31, it stops the carriage 22 at a position where the recording head 31 becomes the maintenance position MP. Therefore, compared to a case where the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP periodically, the time that the user has to wait from when the user attempts to perform maintenance on the recording head 31 until the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP can be shortened. Therefore, the user's work efficiency can be improved when performing maintenance on the recording head 31.

[0055] (4) The housing 11 includes a locking member 51 that can be displaced between a locked state in which both the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 are locked in a closed state, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is released. The locking member 51 displaces from the locked state to the unlocked state when the recording head 31 stops at the maintenance position MP. This makes it possible to prevent the user from displacing the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 from the closed state to the open state while the recording head 31 is moving to the maintenance position MP. This makes it possible to prevent the user from performing maintenance on the recording head 31 while the recording head 31 is moving.

[0056] (5) The recording device 10 includes an illumination unit 52 that illuminates the recording head 31 at the maintenance position MP. The illumination unit 52 is turned on when at least one of the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 is open. Therefore, the user can perform maintenance on the recording head 31 while the illumination unit 52 is illuminating the recording head 31. Therefore, the user's work efficiency can be improved when performing maintenance on the recording head 31.

[0057] (6) When the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 change from the open state to the closed state, the illumination unit 52 that was on is turned off, and the carriage 22 starts moving the recording head 31 to the cap position CP. Therefore, after completing maintenance of the recording head 31, the user does not need to perform the tasks of turning off the illumination unit 52 and moving the recording head 31 in addition to the task of closing the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41. Therefore, the user's work efficiency can be improved when maintaining the recording head 31.

[0058] The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that no technical contradiction occurs. The locking member 51 may lock either the upstream cover 61 or the downstream cover 41 in the closed state.

[0059] The carriage 22 may be stopped when at least one of the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 is in the open state. According to the above modification, in addition to the advantages (1) to (3), (5), and (6) of the above embodiment, the following advantages can be obtained.

[0060] (7) When the user changes at least one of the upstream cover 61 and the downstream cover 41 from a closed state to an open state while the recording head 31 is moving, the recording head 31 stops. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from performing maintenance on the recording head 31 while the recording head 31 is moving.

[0061] The recording device 10 may include a cam that moves the cap 30, which is located at the separation position Pu, to the contact position Pt by being pushed by the carriage 22 moving in the width direction X. In this case, as the recording head 31 moves and approaches the cap position CP, the cap 30 gradually moves upward toward the contact position Pt. At the timing when the recording head 31 is located at the cap position CP, the cap 30 moves to the contact position Pt and stops at the contact position Pt. The recording head 31 stops at the cap position CP and the cap 30 stops at the contact position Pt, thereby performing capping in which the cap 30 covers the nozzle surface 31b. As the recording head 31 moves and approaches the maintenance position MP from the cap position CP, the cap 30 gradually moves downward. At the timing when the recording head 31 is located at the maintenance position MP, the cap 30 is located at a position between the contact position Pt and the separation position Pu, or at the separation position Pu. When the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP and maintenance of the recording head 31 is performed, the recording head 31 and the cap 30 are separated from each other.

[0062] The illumination unit 52 may be turned on and off based on an operation of the operation unit 33 by the user. Two lighting units 52 may be disposed near the upstream cover 61 and near the downstream cover 41. In this case, one lighting unit 52 may be configured to be lit when the upstream cover 61 is in the open state. The other lighting unit 52 may be configured to be lit when the downstream cover 41 is in the open state. The recording device 10 does not have to be equipped with the lighting units 52.

[0063] Instead of operating the operation unit 33, the user may cause the control unit 35 to perform various controls by communicating with the control unit 35 using a communication device. In this case, the control unit 35 determines that it has received an instruction from the user to perform maintenance on the recording head 31, based on communication with the user using the communication device.

[0064] The nozzle surface 31b may be an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. In this case, for example, the upper wall 16 of the housing 11 may be located upstream of the maintenance position MP in the transport direction D, and the front wall 12 of the housing 11 may be located downstream of the maintenance position MP in the transport direction D. In such a case, the upstream cover 61 may be disposed on the upper wall 16 of the housing 11. The downstream cover 41 may be disposed on the front wall 12 of the housing 11.

[0065] When the upstream cover 61 is in an open state and the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the part of the recording head 31 exposed to the outside of the housing 11 through the upstream opening 11u is not limited to the upstream side surface 31u. In other words, if the upstream opening 11u is located upstream of the maintenance position MP in the transport direction D, maintenance of the recording head 31 stopped at the maintenance position MP can be performed through the upstream opening 11u. When the downstream cover 41 is in an open state and the recording head 31 is stopped at the maintenance position MP, the part of the recording head 31 exposed to the outside of the housing 11 through the downstream opening 11d is not limited to the downstream side surface 31d. In other words, if the downstream opening 11d is located downstream of the maintenance position MP in the transport direction D, maintenance of the recording head 31 stopped at the maintenance position MP can be performed through the downstream opening 11d.

[0066] The recording device 10 may be a liquid ejection device that performs recording by ejecting or discharging a liquid other than ink. The state of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection device as minute droplets includes granular, teardrop, and thread-like tails. The liquid may be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejection device. For example, the liquid may be any state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, and includes fluids such as high or low viscosity liquids, sols, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, and metal melts. The liquid includes not only liquids as one state of matter, but also particles of functional materials made of solids such as pigments and metal particles dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent. Representative examples of liquids include inks and liquid crystals as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes various liquid compositions such as general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as gel inks and hot melt inks. Specific examples of the liquid ejection device include a device that ejects a liquid containing materials such as electrode materials and color materials in a dispersed or dissolved form, which are used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, electroluminescence displays, surface-emitting displays, and color filters. The liquid ejection device may be a device that ejects biological organic matter used in the manufacture of biochips, a device that ejects liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a textile printing device, a microdispenser, or the like. The liquid ejection device may be a device that ejects lubricating oil at a pinpoint onto precision machinery such as a watch or camera, or a device that ejects transparent resin liquid such as ultraviolet curing resin onto a substrate to form a micro hemispherical lens, optical lens, or the like used in optical communication elements. The liquid ejection device may be a device that ejects an etching liquid such as an acid or alkali to etch a substrate or the like.

[0067] The technical ideas and effects obtained from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described below. (A) A recording device comprises a transport path along which a recording medium is transported in a transport direction, a recording head having a nozzle surface with openings and performing recording on the recording medium transported on the transport path, a carriage carrying the recording head and moving in a width direction different from the transport direction, a cap covering the nozzle surface of the recording head located at a cap position, and a housing that accommodates the transport path, the recording head, the carriage, and the cap, wherein the housing comprises an upstream cover capable of opening and closing an upstream opening located upstream of a maintenance position in the transport direction, and a downstream cover capable of opening and closing a downstream opening located downstream of the maintenance position in the transport direction, and the recording head that stops at the maintenance position during maintenance has at least a portion in the width direction positioned between the transport path and the cap.

[0068] According to this configuration, when the recording head stops at the maintenance position, the user can perform maintenance on the recording head through the upstream opening by opening the upstream cover. When the recording head stops at the maintenance position, the user can perform maintenance on the recording head through the downstream opening by opening the downstream cover. At least a portion of the recording head that stops at the maintenance position during maintenance is located between the transport path and the cap in the width direction. Therefore, the dimension of the housing in the width direction can be reduced compared to a case where the cap position is a position outside the transport path in the width direction and the maintenance position is a position outside the transport path in the opposite direction to the width direction.

[0069] (B) In a recording device, the recording head has an upstream side located upstream in the transport direction and a downstream side located downstream in the transport direction, and the upstream side is exposed to the outside of the housing through the upstream opening when the upstream cover is in an open state and the recording head is stopped at the maintenance position, and the downstream side may be exposed to the outside of the housing through the downstream opening when the downstream cover is in an open state and the recording head is stopped at the maintenance position.

[0070] According to this configuration, the user can perform maintenance on the upstream side surface of the recording head while visually checking the upstream side surface of the recording head through the upstream opening of the housing. The user can perform maintenance on the downstream side surface while visually checking the downstream side surface of the recording head through the downstream opening of the housing. Therefore, the efficiency of the user's maintenance of the upstream side surface and the downstream side surface of the recording head can be improved.

[0071] (C) In the recording apparatus, the nozzle surface may be a horizontal surface, the upstream cover may be disposed on a rear wall of the housing, and the downstream cover may be disposed on a front wall of the housing. (D) The recording device may be provided with a control unit that controls the movement and stopping of the carriage, and the control unit may stop the carriage at a position where the recording head is at the maintenance position upon receiving an instruction from a user to perform maintenance on the recording head.

[0072] With this configuration, the time the user has to wait between when he or she attempts to perform maintenance on the print head and when the print head stops at the maintenance position can be shortened, compared to when the print head is stopped at the maintenance position periodically, thereby improving the user's work efficiency when performing maintenance on the print head.

[0073] (E) In the recording device, the housing may include a locking member that is displaceable between a locked state that locks at least one of the upstream cover and the downstream cover in a closed state, and an unlocked state that releases the locked state, and the locking member may be displaced from the locked state to the unlocked state when the recording head stops at the maintenance position.

[0074] This configuration can prevent the user from changing the upstream cover and the downstream cover from the closed state to the open state while the recording head is moving to the maintenance position, and therefore can prevent the user from performing maintenance on the recording head while the recording head is moving.

[0075] (F) In the recording device, the carriage may stop when at least one of the upstream cover and the downstream cover is in an open state. According to this configuration, when the user changes at least one of the upstream cover and the downstream cover from a closed state to an open state while the recording head is moving, the recording head stops, which makes it possible to prevent the user from performing maintenance on the recording head while the recording head is moving.

[0076] (G) The recording apparatus may further include an illumination unit that illuminates the recording head in the maintenance position, and the illumination unit may be turned on when at least one of the upstream cover and the downstream cover is in an open state.

[0077] According to this configuration, the user can perform maintenance on the recording head while the illumination unit is illuminating the recording head, thereby improving the work efficiency of the user when performing maintenance on the recording head.

[0078] (H) In the recording device, the lighting unit may be turned off when both the upstream cover and the downstream cover are in a closed state, and the carriage may begin moving the recording head to the cap position when both the upstream cover and the downstream cover change from an open state to a closed state.

[0079] According to this configuration, when the upstream cover and downstream cover change from the open state to the closed state, the illumination unit that was on turns off and the carriage starts moving the recording head to the cap position. Therefore, after completing maintenance of the recording head, the user does not need to perform the tasks of turning off the illumination unit and moving the recording head in addition to the task of closing the upstream cover and downstream cover. Therefore, the user's work efficiency can be improved when maintaining the recording head. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] CP...cap position, D...transport direction, MP...maintenance position, PR...recording area, Pt...contact position, Pu...separation position, X...width direction, Y...depth direction, Z...vertical direction, 10...recording device, 11...casing, 11d...downstream opening, 11u...upstream opening, 12...front wall, 12h...discharge port, 13...rear wall, 14...first side wall, 15...second side wall, 16...upper wall, 17...accommodation section, 18...roll body, 19...recording medium, 20...core member, 21...support stand, 22...carriage, 23...guide shaft, 24...carriage motor, 25...drive motor, 26...transport path, 27...transport section, 29...transportation roller roller pair, 30...cap, 31...recording head, 31a...nozzle, 31b...nozzle surface, 31d...downstream side surface, 31u...upstream side surface, 32...cap motor, 33...operation unit, 35...control unit, 41...downstream cover, 41a...first downstream end, 41b...downstream inner surface, 41c...second downstream end, 45...support unit, 46...claw portion, 47...protrusion, 48...receiving portion, 49...internal member, 49a...through hole, 50...interlock sensor, 51...locking member, 52...illumination unit, 61...upstream cover, 61a...first upstream end, 61b...upstream inner surface, 61c...second upstream end, 62...interface cover.

Claims

1. a conveying path along which the recording medium is conveyed in a conveying direction; The recording medium has a nozzle surface on which nozzles are opened, and is transported along the transport path. a recording head for recording on a recording medium; A carriage that carries the recording head and moves in a width direction different from the transport direction. With a cap for covering the nozzle surface of the recording head located at a cap position; a housing that houses the transport path, the recording head, the carriage, and the cap; , The housing has an upstream opening located upstream of a maintenance position in the transport direction. a closable upstream cover and a downstream maintenance position in the conveying direction; A downstream cover capable of opening and closing the downstream opening, The recording head that stops at the maintenance position during maintenance is at least a portion of the cap is located between the transport path and the cap, the recording head includes an upstream side located upstream in the transport direction, The upstream side surface is a surface of the upstream cover that is in an open state and the recording head is in a maintenance state. When the nozzle is stopped at the upstream position, the nozzle is exposed to the outside of the housing through the upstream opening. A recording device.

2. the recording head includes a downstream side surface located downstream in the transport direction, The downstream side surface is in a state where the downstream cover is in an open state and the recording head is in a state where the maintenance When the nozzle is stopped at the downstream position, the nozzle is exposed to the outside of the housing through the downstream opening.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. the nozzle surface is a horizontal surface, the upstream cover is disposed on a rear wall of the housing, 10. The downstream cover is disposed on a front wall of the housing. Item 3. The recording device according to item 2.

4. A control unit is provided to control the movement and stopping of the carriage, The control unit receives an instruction from a user to perform maintenance on the recording head. The carriage is stopped at a position where the recording head is at the maintenance position under the condition that 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

5. The housing is configured to lock at least one of the upstream cover and the downstream cover in a closed state. a locking member that is displaceable between a locked state in which the locking member is engaged and an unlocked state in which the locking member is released Equipped with The locking member is configured to lock the locking member when the recording head is stopped at the maintenance position. According to any one of claims 1 to 4, the locking state is changed to the unlocked state.

13. The recording device according to claim 12 .

6. The carriage is configured such that at least one of the upstream cover and the downstream cover is in an open state. The recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recording is stopped when Device.

7. a lighting unit that illuminates the recording head when the recording head is in the maintenance position; When at least one of the upstream cover and the downstream cover is in an open state, the illumination unit 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is turned on when the recording apparatus detects a malfunction.

8. The illumination unit is turned off when both the upstream cover and the downstream cover are in a closed state. 、 The carriage is configured such that both the upstream cover and the downstream cover are changed from an open state to a closed state. and when the recording head is in the cap position, the recording head starts to move to the cap position. The recording device according to claim 7.

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