Liquid dispensing device

Abstract

To solve the problem that when waste liquid received in a reception area diffuses toward an area which is contacted with a liquid discharge part, in an absorption member, the area toward which the waste liquid diffuses of the absorption member may be contacted with the liquid discharge part.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device 11 comprises a liquid discharge part 20, a belt-like member 60, and a supply part RLS that can supply the belt-like member 60 with reaction liquid having components which cures ink. The belt-like member 60 is arranged so that a reception area A1 which receives either of ink and reaction liquid which is ejected as waste liquid from a nozzle 36 of the liquid discharge part 20 and a contact area A2 which contacts the liquid discharge part 20 when collecting either of the ink and the reaction liquid can be set therein. The supply part RLS supplies the reaction liquid to a supply area S1 set between a position farthest away from the contact area A2 of the reception area A1 and the contact area A2, in the belt-like member 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid ejection device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet type liquid ejection device that includes a printing unit, which is an example of a liquid ejection section that ejects ink, which is an example of a liquid, from a nozzle, and an absorbing member that can absorb the ink. In this liquid ejection device, the printing unit performs flushing, which discharges ink from the nozzle as waste liquid, toward a receiving area of ​​the absorbing member. The liquid ejection device also brings an area of ​​the absorbing member that has not absorbed ink into contact with the printing unit, and absorbs ink from the printing unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-238436 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the waste liquid collected in the absorbent member spreads within the absorbent member. For example, if the waste liquid received in the receiving area of ​​the absorbent member spreads toward the area that is to come into contact with the printing unit, there is a risk that the area of ​​the absorbent member that has been wetted with the waste liquid may come into contact with the printing unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The liquid ejection device comprises a liquid ejection unit that ejects liquid from a nozzle onto a medium to perform printing, a sheet-shaped absorbent member that can absorb the liquid, and a supply unit that can supply a reaction liquid having a component that hardens the liquid to the absorbent member, wherein the absorbent member is configured to have a receiving area that receives the liquid discharged from the nozzle as waste liquid and a contact area that comes into contact with the liquid ejection unit when collecting the liquid by contacting the liquid ejection unit, and the supply unit supplies the reaction liquid to a supply area that is configured in the absorbent member between the position of the receiving area that is farthest from the contact area and the contact area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a liquid ejection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the liquid ejection unit and the carriage. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the liquid collecting device with the case located in the receiving position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a liquid collecting device that wipes a liquid ejection portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the liquid collection device with the case in a non-collection position. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a liquid discharged into a receiving area A1 in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a reaction solution supplied to a supply region S1 in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 5 is a schematic plan view showing liquid discharged onto a discharge region A3 in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a reaction solution supplied to a supply region S2 in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a reaction solution supplied to a supply region S3 in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 5 is a schematic side view showing the liquid collecting device when a reaction liquid is supplied to a supply region S3 in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] 5 is a schematic plan view showing liquid discharged onto a discharge region A4 in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a maintenance unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing liquid discharged into a receiving area A1 in the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a reaction solution supplied to a supply region S1 in the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a reaction solution supplied to a supply region S2 in the second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a reaction solution supplied to a supply region S3 in the second embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a reaction solution supplied to a supply region S4 in the second embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a schematic bottom view of a liquid ejection unit and a carriage according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described based on the embodiments. In each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. In this specification, "same" does not only mean that they are completely the same, but also includes the cases where they are the same taking into consideration measurement errors, the cases where they are the same taking into consideration manufacturing variations of components, and the cases where they are the same to the extent that their functions are not impaired. Thus, for example, "their dimensions are the same" means that, taking into consideration measurement errors and manufacturing variations of components, the dimensional difference between the two is within ±10% of the other dimension, more preferably within ±5%, and particularly preferably within ±3%.

[0008] In each figure, X, Y, and Z represent three spatial axes that are mutually orthogonal. In this specification, the directions along these axes are defined as the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction. When specifying a direction, the positive direction is defined as "+" and the negative direction as "-", and both positive and negative signs are used to indicate the direction, with the direction indicated by the arrow in each figure being the + direction and the opposite direction to the arrow being the - direction.

[0009] The Z-axis direction indicates the direction of gravity, the +Z direction indicates the vertical downward direction, and the -Z direction indicates the vertical upward direction. The plane including the X-axis and the Y-axis will be described as the XY plane, the plane including the X-axis and the Z-axis as the XZ plane, and the plane including the Y-axis and the Z-axis as the YZ plane. The XY plane is a horizontal plane. The three spatial axes X, Y, and Z, which are not limited to the positive and negative directions, will be described as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. In the following description, the direction along the X-axis will be referred to as the width direction X, the direction along the Y-axis as the depth direction Y, and the direction along the Z-axis as the gravity direction Z.

[0010] 1. Embodiment 1 The configuration of the liquid ejection device 11 according to the first embodiment will be described. The liquid ejection device 11 is, for example, an inkjet printer that ejects ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper, to perform printing. The liquid ejection device 11 of this embodiment ejects ink onto a medium onto which a reaction liquid has been ejected, to perform printing. The reaction liquid contains a component that increases the viscosity of the ink and hardens the ink when it comes into contact with the ink. The reaction liquid contains a component that, when mixed with the ink, makes the viscosity of the mixture of the ink and the reaction liquid higher than that of the ink, and hardens the mixture. The reaction liquid is an example of a liquid. In the following description, any of the ink, the reaction liquid, the ink and the reaction liquid, the mixture of the ink and the reaction liquid, and the waste liquid may be referred to as a liquid.

[0011] 1, liquid ejection device 11 includes a pair of legs 12 and a housing 13 mounted on legs 12. Liquid ejection device 11 includes a payout unit 15 that unwinds and pays out medium 14 that has been wound up in a roll, a guide unit 16 that guides medium 14 as it is discharged from housing 13, and a recovery unit 17 that winds up and recovers medium 14. Liquid ejection device 11 includes a tension applying mechanism 18 that applies tension to medium 14 recovered in recovery unit 17.

[0012] The liquid ejection device 11 includes a liquid ejection unit 20 capable of ejecting liquid, a carriage 21 that moves the liquid ejection unit 20, and a maintenance unit 22 that performs maintenance on the liquid ejection unit 20. The liquid ejection device 11 includes a liquid supply unit 23 that supplies liquid to the liquid ejection unit 20, and an operation panel 24 that is operated by a user. The carriage 21 moves the liquid ejection unit 20 back and forth along the X-axis. The liquid ejection unit 20 ejects the liquid supplied through the liquid supply unit 23 while moving, and prints on the medium 14.

[0013] The liquid supply device 23 includes a mounting portion 26 in which a plurality of liquid containers 25 for containing liquid are removably mounted, and a supply flow path 27 that supplies liquid from the liquid containers 25 mounted in the mounting portion 26 to the liquid ejection portion 20.

[0014] The liquid ejection device 11 includes a control unit 29 that controls the operation of the liquid ejection device 11. The control unit 29 includes, for example, a CPU, a memory, etc. The control unit 29 controls the liquid ejection unit 20, the liquid supply device 23, the maintenance unit 22, etc. by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory.

[0015] 2, the liquid ejection device 11 includes a guide shaft 31 that supports the carriage 21, and a carriage motor 32 that moves the carriage 21. The guide shaft 31 extends in the width direction X. The control unit 29 controls the driving of the carriage motor 32 to cause the carriage 21 and the liquid ejection unit 20 to reciprocate along the guide shaft 31.

[0016] The liquid ejection unit 20 includes a nozzle forming member 37 in which a plurality of nozzles 36 are formed, and a cover member 38 that covers a portion of the nozzle forming member 37. The cover member 38 is made of a metal such as stainless steel. The cover member 38 is formed with a plurality of through holes 39 that penetrate the cover member 38 in the gravity direction Z. The cover member 38 covers the side of the nozzle forming member 37 on which the nozzles 36 are formed so that the nozzles 36 are exposed from the through holes 39. The nozzle surface 40 is formed to include the nozzle forming member 37 and the cover member 38. Specifically, the nozzle surface 40 is formed by the nozzle forming member 37 exposed from the through holes 39 and the cover member 38, and the nozzles 36 that eject the liquid are formed on the nozzle surface 40.

[0017] In the liquid ejection section 20, a large number of openings of the nozzles 36 that eject liquid are arranged at regular intervals in one direction. The multiple nozzles 36 form a nozzle row. In this embodiment, the openings of the nozzles 36 are arranged in the depth direction Y, forming a first nozzle row L1 to a twelfth nozzle row L12. The nozzles 36 that form one nozzle row eject the same type of liquid. Of the nozzles 36 that form one nozzle row, the nozzle 36 located at the back in the depth direction Y and the nozzle 36 located at the front in the depth direction Y are formed with a shift in position in the width direction X.

[0018] The first nozzle row L1 to the twelfth nozzle row L12 are arranged in pairs close to each other in the width direction X. In this embodiment, two nozzle rows arranged close to each other are referred to as a nozzle group. In the liquid ejection section 20, the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 are arranged at regular intervals in the width direction X. In this embodiment, the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 have the same dimensions in the depth direction Y. The first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 are provided in a region BW of the nozzle surface 40.

[0019] Specifically, the first nozzle group G1 includes a first nozzle row L1 that ejects magenta ink and a second nozzle row L2 that ejects yellow ink. The second nozzle group G2 includes a third nozzle row L3 that ejects cyan ink and a fourth nozzle row L4 that ejects black ink. The third nozzle group G3 includes a fifth nozzle row L5 that ejects light cyan ink and a sixth nozzle row L6 that ejects light magenta ink.

[0020] The fourth nozzle group G4 includes a seventh nozzle row L7 and an eighth nozzle row L8 that eject reaction liquid. The fifth nozzle group G5 includes a ninth nozzle row L9 that ejects black ink and a tenth nozzle row L10 that ejects cyan ink. The sixth nozzle group G6 includes an eleventh nozzle row L11 that ejects yellow ink and a twelfth nozzle row L12 that ejects magenta ink.

[0021] Next, the maintenance unit 22 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, the maintenance unit 22 has a liquid collecting device 43, a suction device 44, and a capping device 45 aligned in the width direction X. The -Z direction above the capping device 45 is the home position HP of the liquid discharger 20. The home position HP is the starting point of movement of the liquid discharger 20. The -Z direction above the liquid collecting device 43 is the cleaning position CP of the liquid discharger 20. In Fig. 3, the liquid discharger 20 positioned at the cleaning position CP is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0022] The suction device 44 includes a suction cap 51, a suction holder 52, a suction motor 53 that reciprocates the suction holder 52 along the Z axis, and a decompression mechanism 54 that decompresses the inside of the suction cap 51. The suction motor 53 moves the suction cap 51 between a capping position and a retreat position. The capping position is a position where the suction cap 51 contacts the liquid discharger 20 and surrounds the nozzles 36. The retreat position is a position where the suction cap 51 is separated from the liquid discharger 20. The suction cap 51 may be configured to surround all the nozzles 36, may be configured to surround at least one nozzle group, or may be configured to surround some of the nozzles 36 that constitute the nozzle group. The suction device 44 of this embodiment surrounds one of the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 with two suction caps 51.

[0023] The liquid discharger 11 performs suction cleaning by positioning the liquid discharger 20 above the suction device 44, and by positioning the suction cap 51 at the capping position to surround one nozzle group, and reducing the pressure inside the suction cap 51 to discharge the liquid from the nozzles 36. That is, the suction device 44 receives the liquid discharged by the suction cleaning.

[0024] The capping device 45 has a standby cap 56, a standby cap holder 57, and a standby cap motor 58 that moves the standby cap holder 57 back and forth along the Z axis. The standby cap motor 58 is driven to move the standby cap holder 57 and the standby cap 56 upward or downward. The standby cap 56 moves from a separated position, which is a lower position in the +Z direction, to a capping position, which is an upper position, and comes into contact with the liquid discharger 20 stopped at the home position HP.

[0025] The standby cap 56 located at the capping position surrounds the openings of the nozzles 36 constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6. Maintenance in which the standby cap 56 surrounds the openings of the nozzles 36 in this manner is called standby capping. Standby capping is a type of capping. Standby capping prevents the nozzles 36 from drying out.

[0026] The standby cap 56 may be configured to surround all of the nozzles 36 collectively, may be configured to surround at least one nozzle group, or may be configured to surround some of the nozzles 36 that make up a nozzle group.

[0027] Next, the liquid collecting device 43 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid collecting device 43 includes a belt-shaped member 60 capable of absorbing liquid. The belt-shaped member 60 is an example of a sheet-shaped absorbing member. The liquid collecting device 43 includes a case 61 that houses the belt-shaped member 60, a pair of rails 62 extending along the Y axis, a wiping motor 63, a winding motor 64, and a power transmission mechanism 65 that transmits the power of the winding motor 64. The case 61 has an opening 67 that exposes the belt-shaped member 60. If the size of the belt-shaped member 60 in the width direction X is equal to or larger than the size of the nozzle surface 40, the liquid ejecting section 20 can be efficiently maintained.

[0028] The case 61 reciprocates along the Y-axis on the rail 62 by the power of the wiping motor 63. Specifically, the case 61 moves between a receiving position shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 and a non-collecting position shown in FIG. 6. The standby position of the case 61 in this embodiment is the receiving position. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the case 61 is located at the receiving position and the liquid discharger 20 is located at the cleaning position CP, the strip-shaped member 60 faces the nozzle surface 40. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the case 61 is located at the non-collecting position and the liquid discharger 20 is located at the cleaning position CP, the case 61 faces the nozzle surface 40.

[0029] When the wiping motor 63 is driven in the forward direction, the case 61 located at the receiving position moves in a first wiping direction W1 parallel to the Y axis toward the non-collecting position. When the wiping motor 63 is driven in the reverse direction, the case 61 located at the non-collecting position moves in a second wiping direction W2 opposite to the first wiping direction W1 toward the receiving position.

[0030] The liquid ejection device 11 wipes the liquid ejection unit 20 during at least one of a process in which the case 61 moves from the receiving position to the non-collecting position and a process in which the case 61 moves from the non-collecting position to the receiving position. Wiping is a maintenance process in which the nozzle surface 40 is wiped off by the belt-shaped member 60.

[0031] Furthermore, the liquid ejection device 11 of this embodiment performs flushing from the liquid ejection unit 20 to the liquid collection device 43 located at the receiving position. The liquid collection device 43 receives the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection unit 20 by flushing. Flushing is a maintenance process in which liquid is ejected as waste liquid for the purpose of either preventing or clearing clogging of the nozzles 36.

[0032] Furthermore, the liquid ejection device 11 may perform pressure cleaning, which causes the liquid collection device 43 located at the receiving position from the liquid ejection section 20 to eject pressurized liquid from the nozzle 36. In this case, the liquid collection device 43 receives the liquid ejected by the pressure cleaning. The pressure cleaning is a maintenance method in which the liquid is ejected as waste liquid in order to maintain the normal state of the liquid in the liquid ejection section 20 and the supply flow path 27.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid collecting device 43 includes an unwinding section 70 having an unwinding shaft 69, and a winding section 72 having a winding shaft 71. The unwinding section 70 holds the strip-shaped member 60 in a rolled state. The strip-shaped member 60 unwound and fed from the unwinding section 70 is transported to the winding section 72 along the transport path. The liquid collecting device 43 includes an upstream roller 74, a tension roller 75, a pressing section 76, and a downstream roller 79, which are provided in this order from upstream along the transport path of the strip-shaped member 60. The case 61 supports the unwinding shaft 69, the upstream roller 74, the tension roller 75, the pressing section 76, the downstream roller 79, and the winding shaft 71 rotatably about the X-axis.

[0034] The winding shaft 71 rotates by being driven by the winding motor 64. The winding unit 72 winds the strip-shaped member 60 in a roll around the winding shaft 71. The winding unit 72 winds the strip-shaped member 60, thereby moving the portion of the strip-shaped member 60 that has been unwound from the unwinding unit 70 in direction D. The direction D is a direction along the transport path of the strip-shaped member 60, and is the movement direction from the upstream unwinding unit 70 toward the downstream winding unit 72.

[0035] The power transmission mechanism 65 transmits the driving force of the winding motor 64 to the winding shaft 71. The winding motor 64 may rotate at least one of the winding shaft 71, the upstream roller 74, the tension roller 75, the pressing portion 76, and the downstream roller 79 together with the winding shaft 71. The power transmission mechanism 65 may connect the winding motor 64 and the winding shaft 71 when the case 61 is located at the standby position, and may disconnect the winding motor 64 and the winding shaft 71 when the case 61 is away from the standby position.

[0036] The tension roller 75 is disposed upstream of the pressing portion 76 in the direction D and below the direction of gravity Z. The tension roller 75 applies tension to the belt-shaped member 60 by pressing the belt-shaped member 60 downward.

[0037] The pressing portion 76 in this embodiment is a roller around which the belt-shaped member 60 is wound. The pressing portion 76 presses the belt-shaped member 60 unwound from the unwinding portion 70 from below to above, causing the belt-shaped member 60 to protrude from the opening 67.

[0038] The transport path has an upstream region upstream of the pressing portion 76, a contact region A2 where the belt-shaped member 60 can be brought into contact with the liquid discharge portion 20, and a downstream region downstream of the pressing portion 76.

[0039] 4 to 6, the upstream region is the region from the lowermost part of tension roller 75 to the upstream end of contact area A2 in direction D. Pressing portion 76 is located downstream in direction D and above tension roller 75. Therefore, the belt-shaped member 60 located in the upstream region forms an upward slope that rises in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity Z as it moves downstream in direction D.

[0040] The contact area A2 is an area that comes into contact with the liquid discharger 20 when wiping. The pressing unit 76 can press the contact area A2 located at the contact position 60a of the belt-shaped member 60 to bring the contact area A2 into contact with the liquid discharger 20. That is, the liquid collection device 43 wipes the liquid discharger 20 by moving the case 61 with the contact area A2 in contact with the liquid discharger 20. In other words, the belt-shaped member 60 is provided so that the contact area A2 that comes into contact with the liquid discharger 20 when collecting liquid from the liquid discharger 20 by contacting the liquid discharger 20 can be set on the belt-shaped member 60. In FIG. 3, the contact position 60a is indicated by shading.

[0041] The downstream region is a region from the downstream end of the contact region A2 in the D direction to the top of the downstream roller 79. The downstream roller 79 is located downstream and below the pressing portion 76 in the D direction. Therefore, the belt-shaped member 60 located in the downstream region forms a downward slope that gradually descends in the direction of gravity Z toward the downstream in the D direction. The belt-shaped member 60 located in the downstream region is exposed from the opening 67.

[0042] 4, when the case 61 is located at the receiving position and the liquid ejection unit 20 is located at the cleaning position CP, the belt-shaped member 60 located in the receiving area A1 in the downstream area faces the area BW of the nozzle surface 40. In this state, the liquid ejection device 11 performs either flushing or pressurized cleaning. In this case, the liquid collection device 43 receives in the receiving area A1 the liquid discharged by either flushing or pressurized cleaning.

[0043] In other words, the belt-shaped member 60 is provided so that a receiving area A1 for receiving liquid discharged as waste liquid from the liquid discharger 20 can be set on the belt-shaped member 60. In this embodiment, the contact area A2 is set upstream of the receiving area A1 in the D direction.

[0044] Next, a description will be given of the maintenance operation of the liquid ejection device 11 in this embodiment. First, a case will be described in which the control unit 29 of the liquid ejection device 11 performs suction cleaning, wiping, and flushing in this order as maintenance of the liquid ejection unit 20.

[0045] The control unit 29 stops the liquid discharger 20 above the suction device 44 and performs suction cleaning on the nozzle group that requires suction cleaning. When the suction cleaning is completed, the control unit 29 moves the liquid discharger 20 to the cleaning position CP.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, with the case 61 in the receiving position, which is the standby position, the control unit 29 drives the wiping motor 63 in the reverse direction to move the case 61 in the second wiping direction W2.

[0047] 5, the liquid collection device 43 wipes by bringing the contact area A2 into contact with the liquid discharge unit 20. Specifically, the liquid collection device 43 performs wiping by causing the pressing unit 76 to press the contact area A2 of the belt-shaped member 60 against the nozzle surface 40, and moving the case 61 with the belt-shaped member 60 sandwiched between the pressing unit 76 and the nozzle surface 40.

[0048] 6, when the case 61 moves to the non-collection position, the control unit 29 stops driving the wiping motor 63 and moves the liquid discharger 20 from the cleaning position CP. After that, the control unit 29 drives the wiping motor 63 in the forward direction to move the case 61 in the first wiping direction W1.

[0049] When wiping is completed, the control unit 29 moves the liquid discharger 20 to the cleaning position CP with the case 61 located at the receiving position. Then, as shown in Fig. 7, the control unit 29 performs flushing by discharging liquid from the nozzles 36 of the liquid discharger 20 to the receiving area A1 of the belt-shaped member 60 that the liquid discharger 20 faces. Note that in Figs. 7 to 11, 13, and 15 to 19, the range of liquid attached to the belt-shaped member 60 is shown by hatching. Also, when the liquid is ink, it is shown by hatching with diagonal lines that extend in the -Y direction as it approaches the +X direction, and when the liquid is a reaction liquid, it is shown by hatching with diagonal lines that extend in the +Y direction as it approaches the +X direction.

[0050] The liquid discharged onto the belt-shaped member 60 spreads within the belt-shaped member 60. The liquid discharged onto the receiving area A1 of the belt-shaped member 60 by flushing spreads over time from the hatched area shown in FIG. 7 to a larger area. For this reason, the area in the belt-shaped member 60 that has absorbed the liquid also spreads in the direction toward the contact area A2, which is the +Y direction. When the liquid received in the receiving area A1 of the belt-shaped member 60 spreads toward the contact area A2, there is a risk that the area of ​​the belt-shaped member 60 where the liquid has spread may come into contact with the liquid discharger 20.

[0051] In this embodiment, after flushing, the control unit 29 moves the liquid ejection unit 20 in the X-axis direction and ejects reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 that constitute the fourth nozzle group G4 to a position that overlaps with the area where ink was ejected by flushing, as shown by hatching in Figure 8.

[0052] According to this, the viscosity of the ink and the reaction liquid increases when the ink absorbed in the belt-shaped member 60 comes into contact with the reaction liquid supplied to the belt-shaped member 60. Furthermore, the ink and the reaction liquid harden when the ink absorbed in the belt-shaped member 60 comes into contact with the reaction liquid supplied to the belt-shaped member 60. As a result, the ink and the reaction liquid received in the reception area A1 can be prevented from spreading inside the belt-shaped member 60 toward the contact area A2.

[0053] Furthermore, if the region of the belt-shaped member 60 onto which the reaction liquid is ejected from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 is defined as a supply region S1, the supply region S1 is located within the receiving region A1. The nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 are an example of a supply unit RLS capable of supplying the reaction liquid having a component that hardens the ink to the belt-shaped member 60. In this case, it can be said that the supply unit RLS includes the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4.

[0054] Furthermore, the supply of reaction liquid to the belt-shaped member 60 may be performed before flushing. In this case, for example, the control unit 29 ejects reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 to a supply region S1 shown by hatching in Fig. 8 while moving the liquid ejection unit 20 in the X-axis direction. Thereafter, the control unit 29 moves the liquid ejection unit 20 to the cleaning position CP. Then, as shown in Fig. 7, the control unit 29 performs flushing by ejecting liquid from the nozzles 36 of the liquid ejection unit 20 to the receiving region A1 of the belt-shaped member 60 that the liquid ejection unit 20 faces.

[0055] In addition, when reaction liquid is ejected from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 into a supply area S1 that overlaps with the area into which ink is ejected by flushing, it is not necessary to eject reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 into the area indicated by the dotted line in Figure 7 during flushing.

[0056] In addition, during flushing, if there is a risk that the reaction liquid ejected for flushing will not come into contact with other ink in the area indicated by the dotted line in Figure 7, ink may be ejected from any of the nozzles 36 constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the third nozzle group G3, the fifth nozzle group G5, and the sixth nozzle group G6 into the ejection area A3 that overlaps with the area indicated by the dotted line in Figure 7, as shown in Figure 9.

[0057] In addition, the reaction liquid may be supplied to the belt-shaped member 60 through a supply region S2 shown by hatching in FIG. 10, instead of through the supply region S1. The supply region S2 is located within the receiving region A1. The supply region S2 overlaps with the end of the receiving region A1 on the +Y direction side. The end of the receiving region A1 on the +Y direction side is the end of the receiving region A1 on the upstream side in the D direction, and is the position of the receiving region A1 closest to the contact region A2. In other words, the supply region S2 overlaps with the position of the receiving region A1 closest to the contact region A2. The supply region S2 extends in a belt-like shape in the X-axis direction, which is the width direction of the belt-shaped member 60. The dimension of the supply region S2 in the X-axis direction may be the same as the width dimension of the belt-shaped member 60. In addition, the dimension of the supply region S2 in the Y-axis direction may be smaller than half the dimension of the first nozzle row L1 to the twelfth nozzle row L12 in the Y-axis direction.

[0058] When supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S2, for example, the control unit 29 discharges the reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 to the supply region S2 while moving the liquid discharge unit 20 in the X-axis direction. At this time, the reaction liquid is discharged to the supply region S2 from some of the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 that face the supply region S2. The some of the nozzles 36 that face the supply region S2 are nozzles 36 constituting the +Y direction side of the fourth nozzle group G4. Alternatively, when supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S2, the reaction liquid may be discharged to the supply region S2 from one of the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 that is at the end in the +Y direction.

[0059] Furthermore, the reaction liquid may be supplied to the belt-shaped member 60 through a supply region S3 shown by hatching in FIG. 11, instead of through the supply region S1. The supply region S3 is located between the receiving region A1 and the contact region A2 in the Y-axis direction. The supply region S3 extends in a belt-like shape in the X-axis direction, which is the width direction of the belt-shaped member 60. The dimension of the supply region S3 in the X-axis direction may be the same as the width dimension of the belt-shaped member 60. Furthermore, the dimension of the supply region S3 in the Y-axis direction may be smaller than half the dimension of the first nozzle row L1 to the twelfth nozzle row L12 in the Y-axis direction.

[0060] When supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S3, for example, the control unit 29 drives the wiping motor 63 to move the case 61 to a position in the -Y direction from the receiving position as shown in FIG. 12. As a result, the supply region S3 is set in the downstream region of the belt-shaped member 60. Then, the control unit 29 discharges the reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 to the supply region S3 while moving the liquid discharge unit 20 in the X-axis direction. At this time, the reaction liquid is discharged to the supply region S3 from some of the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 that face the supply region S3. The some of the nozzles 36 that face the supply region S3 are nozzles 36 constituting the +Y direction side of the fourth nozzle group G4. Alternatively, when supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S3, the reaction liquid may be discharged to the supply region S3 from one of the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 at the end in the +Y direction.

[0061] When supplying reaction liquid to the supply region S2, if there is a risk that the reaction liquid ejected as flushing will not come into contact with other ink in the range indicated by the dotted line in Figure 10 during flushing, ink may be ejected from any of the nozzles 36 constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the third nozzle group G3, the fifth nozzle group G5, and the sixth nozzle group G6 into the ejection region A4 that overlaps with the supply region S2, as shown in Figure 13.

[0062] The dimension in the X-axis direction of the discharge region A4 may be smaller than the dimension in the X-axis direction of the supply region S2. Also, the dimension in the X-axis direction of the discharge region A4 may be larger than the dimension in the X-axis direction of the range indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 10. When the reaction liquid is supplied to the supply region S3, if there is a risk that the reaction liquid discharged as flushing will not come into contact with other ink in the range indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 11 during flushing, ink may be discharged from any of the nozzles 36 constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the third nozzle group G3, the fifth nozzle group G5, and the sixth nozzle group G6 to the discharge region A4 or to a region overlapping with the supply region S3, as in the case of supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S2.

[0063] In addition, when a large amount of liquid is collected in the contact area A2 of the belt-shaped member 60 during wiping, the liquid collected in the contact area A2 may spread toward the upstream side of the belt-shaped member 60 in the direction D, and the area of ​​the belt-shaped member 60 where the liquid has spread may come into contact with the liquid discharger 20 during the next wiping. In this case, a reaction liquid may be supplied to the contact area A2 where the liquid has been collected by wiping.

[0064] Specifically, after wiping, the control unit 29 causes the winding unit 72 to wind the belt-shaped member 60, thereby moving the contact area A2 that has collected liquid by wiping in the direction D. Then, the control unit 29 positions the contact area A2 that has collected liquid by wiping within the receiving area A1.

[0065] Thereafter, for example, the control unit 29 discharges the reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 to the supply region S2 while moving the liquid discharge unit 20 in the X-axis direction. Alternatively, the control unit 29 may discharge the reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 to the supply region S3.

[0066] In this case, for example, the contact area A2 that has been moved into the receiving area A1 and has collected liquid by wiping is set as the collecting area CR, and the area of ​​the belt-shaped member 60 that is set as the contact area A2 to be used in the next wiping is set as the wiping area WR. At this time, the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 supply the reaction liquid to the supply area S2 or the supply area S3 that is between the wiping area WR and the position of the collecting area CR that is farthest from the wiping area WR on the belt-shaped member 60.

[0067] Next, a case will be described in which the control unit 29 performs pressurized cleaning, wiping, and flushing in this order as maintenance of the liquid ejection device 11. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, when performing pressurized cleaning, the control unit 29 positions the case 61 at the receiving position. Thereafter, the control unit 29 moves the liquid ejection unit 20 to the cleaning position CP and stops it there.

[0068] The control unit 29 controls the liquid supply device 23 to supply pressurized liquid to the nozzle 36 and discharge the liquid from the nozzle 36. The liquid discharged from the nozzle 36 drips from the nozzle surface 40. At this time, the belt-shaped member 60 is positioned vertically below the nozzle 36 in the +Z direction. Therefore, the liquid discharged as waste liquid from the nozzle 36 by the pressurized cleaning is received by the receiving area A1 set on the belt-shaped member 60, similar to flushing.

[0069] 5, after performing the pressure cleaning, the control unit 29 drives the wiping motor 63 in the reverse direction while keeping the liquid discharge unit 20 stopped, and moves the case 61 in the second wiping direction W2. That is, the control unit 29 performs wiping by bringing the contact area A2 of the belt-shaped member 60 into contact with the nozzle face 40, and collects the liquid discharged by the pressure cleaning and remaining on the nozzle face 40 in the contact area A2. After performing wiping, the control unit 29 moves the liquid discharge unit 20 to perform flushing.

[0070] In this embodiment, when pressure cleaning, wiping, and flushing are performed as maintenance of the liquid ejection device 11, reaction liquid is ejected from nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 into one of the supply areas S1, S2, S3 set on the strip-shaped member 60, just as when suction cleaning, wiping, and flushing are performed in sequence as maintenance of the liquid ejection section 20.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 29 moves the liquid ejection unit 20 to the cleaning position CP every time a predetermined time elapses during printing. Then, the control unit 29 performs flushing by ejecting liquid from the nozzles 36 of the liquid ejection unit 20 onto the receiving area A1 of the belt-shaped member 60 that the liquid ejection unit 20 faces. In this way, even when flushing is performed during printing as maintenance of the liquid ejection unit 20, the reaction liquid may be ejected from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 onto any of the supply areas S1, S2, S3 set on the belt-shaped member 60.

[0072] The supply regions S1, S2, and S3 are set at positions between the contact region A2 and the end of the receiving region A1 in the -Y direction on the belt-shaped member 60. In other words, the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 supply the reaction liquid to the supply regions S1, S2, and S3 set between the contact region A2 and the position of the receiving region A1 farthest from the contact region A2 on the belt-shaped member 60.

[0073] The +Y direction ends of the supply regions S1, S2, S3 are set at positions on the belt-shaped member 60 between the -Y direction end of the receiving region A1 and the -Y direction end of the contact region A2. The +Y direction ends of the supply regions S1, S2, S3 are set at positions on the belt-shaped member 60 downstream in the D direction from the contact region A2, and spaced apart from the contact region A2.

[0074] In this embodiment, the ends of the supply regions S1, S2, and S3 on the -Y direction side are set at positions on the belt-shaped member 60 that are between the end of the reception region A1 on the -Y direction side and the end of the contact region A2 on the -Y direction side. However, as long as the reaction liquid supplied to the belt-shaped member 60 from the supply unit RLS comes into contact with the ink discharged into the set reception region A1, the ends of the supply regions S1, S2, and S3 on the -Y direction side do not have to be set at positions on the belt-shaped member 60 that are between the end of the reception region A1 on the -Y direction side and the end of the contact region A2 on the -Y direction side.

[0075] For example, if the +Y direction ends of the supply regions S1, S2, S3 are set at positions between the -Y direction end of the receiving region A1 and the -Y direction end of the contact region A2, the -Y direction ends of the supply regions S1, S2, S3 may be set at positions downstream in the D direction from the -Y direction end of the receiving region A1. In other words, the supply unit RLS supplies the reaction liquid to a region of the belt-shaped member 60 that comes into contact with the ink collected in the receiving region A1.

[0076] As described above, the liquid ejection device 11 according to the first embodiment can provide the following advantages.

[0077] The liquid ejection device 11 includes a liquid ejection section 20 that ejects ink from a nozzle 36 onto a medium 14 to perform printing, a sheet-like band member 60 that can absorb ink and a reaction liquid, and a supply section RLS that can supply the band member 60 with a reaction liquid having a component that hardens the ink. The band member 60 is provided so as to be able to set a reception area A1 that receives either the ink or the reaction liquid discharged as waste liquid from the nozzle 36, and a contact area A2 that contacts the liquid ejection section 20 when collecting either the ink or the reaction liquid by contacting the liquid ejection section 20. The supply section RLS supplies the reaction liquid to supply areas S1, S2, and S3 that are set on the band member 60 between the contact area A2 and the position of the reception area A1 that is farthest from the contact area A2. This can prevent the waste liquid received in the reception area A1 from spreading toward the contact area A2 on the band member 60, making it easier to bring the area that does not absorb the waste liquid into contact with the liquid ejection section 20.

[0078] The liquid discharger 11 further includes an unwinding unit 70 that holds the belt-shaped member 60 in a rolled state, and a winding unit 72 that can move the belt-shaped member 60 in direction D by winding the belt-shaped member 60 from the unwinding unit 70, and the contact area A2 is set upstream of the receiving area A1 in direction D. With this, the area of ​​the belt-shaped member 60 that has not absorbed waste liquid can be set as the contact area A2, so that the area that has not absorbed waste liquid can be easily brought into contact with the liquid discharger 20.

[0079] The supply regions S1 and S2 are located within the receiving region A1, which makes it possible to reduce the amount of waste liquid received in the receiving region A1 that spreads from the receiving region A1 toward the contact region A2.

[0080] The supply region S3 is located between the receiving region A1 and the contact region A2, which makes it possible to prevent the waste liquid received in the receiving region A1 from spreading toward the contact region A2.

[0081] The supply unit RLS supplies the reaction liquid to the belt-shaped member 60 before the liquid discharge unit 20 discharges ink into the receiving area A1. This increases the viscosity of the ink and the reaction liquid when the reaction liquid absorbed in the belt-shaped member 60 comes into contact with the ink discharged onto the belt-shaped member 60. In addition, the ink and the reaction liquid harden when the reaction liquid absorbed in the belt-shaped member 60 comes into contact with the ink discharged onto the belt-shaped member 60. As a result, it is possible to prevent the waste liquid received in the receiving area A1 from spreading toward the contact area A2.

[0082] The supply unit RLS supplies the reaction liquid to the belt-shaped member 60 after the liquid ejection unit 20 discharges the ink into the reception area A1. This increases the viscosity of the ink and the reaction liquid when the ink absorbed in the belt-shaped member 60 comes into contact with the reaction liquid supplied to the belt-shaped member 60. In addition, the ink absorbed in the belt-shaped member 60 comes into contact with the reaction liquid supplied to the belt-shaped member 60, causing the ink and the reaction liquid to harden. As a result, it is possible to prevent the waste liquid received in the reception area A1 from spreading toward the contact area A2.

[0083] The supply unit RLS includes nozzles 36 constituting a fourth nozzle group G4 capable of ejecting the reaction liquid, and the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 capable of ejecting the reaction liquid are provided in the liquid ejection unit 20. This makes it possible to supply the reaction liquid to the belt-shaped member 60 by utilizing the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 of the liquid ejection unit 20.

[0084] The liquid ejection device 11 performs printing by ejecting ink from the liquid ejection unit 20 onto the medium 14 to which the supply unit RLS has supplied a reaction liquid. This allows the ink to be fixed on the medium 14 before it spreads on the medium 14, thereby improving the image quality of the print.

[0085] 2. Embodiment 2 Next, a liquid ejection device 11 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts common to the liquid ejection device 11 according to the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0086] When the nozzle 36 capable of ejecting the reaction liquid is defined as the reaction liquid nozzle 36A and the nozzle 36 capable of ejecting the ink is defined as the ink nozzle 36B, the liquid ejection unit 20 in this embodiment includes a reaction liquid ejection unit 20A having a reaction liquid nozzle 36A capable of ejecting the reaction liquid, and an ink ejection unit 20B having an ink nozzle 36B capable of ejecting the ink. In other words, the liquid ejection device 11 in this embodiment includes a reaction liquid ejection unit 20A having a reaction liquid nozzle 36A capable of ejecting the reaction liquid.

[0087] 14, the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A and the ink ejection unit 20B are provided on the carriage 21 with a gap therebetween in the Y-axis direction. The reaction liquid ejection unit 20A is provided in the -Y direction relative to the ink ejection unit 20B. The reaction liquid nozzle 36A and the ink nozzle 36B are examples of nozzles. The ink ejection unit 20B is an example of a liquid ejection unit.

[0088] The configurations of the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A and the ink ejection unit 20B are the same as those of the liquid ejection unit 20 in embodiment 1. Furthermore, reaction liquid is ejected from reaction liquid nozzles 36A constituting the first nozzle group G1, the second nozzle group G2, the third nozzle group G3, the fourth nozzle group G4, the fifth nozzle group G5, and the sixth nozzle group G6 of the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A.

[0089] Furthermore, the ink nozzles 36B constituting the first nozzle group G1, the second nozzle group G2, the third nozzle group G3, the fifth nozzle group G5, and the sixth nozzle group G6 of the ink ejection unit 20B eject the same ink as the liquid ejection unit 20 of embodiment 1. The ink nozzles 36B constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 eject, for example, white ink.

[0090] The maintenance unit 22 in this embodiment has a liquid collecting device 43, a suction device 44, and a capping device 45 arranged in the width direction X. The configuration of the liquid collecting device 43 is the same as that of the liquid collecting device 43 in the first embodiment, except that the length of the rail 62 and the distance that the case 61 reciprocates along the Y axis are changed in accordance with the reaction liquid ejecting section 20A and the ink ejecting section 20B.

[0091] In this embodiment, the standby position of the case 61 is a position where the strip-shaped member 60 faces the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A when the liquid ejection unit 20 is located at the cleaning position CP. That is, the standby position of the case 61 is a receiving position corresponding to the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A. When the case 61 is located at the receiving position corresponding to the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A, the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A is located at the position of the liquid ejection unit 20 shown by the two-dot chain line in Figs. 15 to 19, and when the case 61 is located at the receiving position corresponding to the ink ejection unit 20B, the ink ejection unit 20B is located at the position of the liquid ejection unit 20 shown by the two-dot chain line in Figs. 15 to 19.

[0092] The suction device 44 includes a suction device 44A corresponding to the reaction liquid discharge section 20A and a suction device 44B corresponding to the ink discharge section 20B. The configurations of the suction devices 44A and 44B are the same as those of the suction device 44 in the first embodiment. The capping device 45 includes a capping device 45A corresponding to the reaction liquid discharge section 20A and a capping device 45B corresponding to the ink discharge section 20B. The configurations of the capping devices 45A and 45B are the same as those of the capping device 45 in the first embodiment.

[0093] The maintenance unit 22 may also have a flushing device 42 that undergoes flushing performed at predetermined time intervals during printing. In this case, the flushing device 42 includes a reaction liquid receiving section 42A that receives the reaction liquid ejected by the reaction liquid ejection section 20A as flushing, and an ink receiving section 42B that receives the ink ejected by the ink ejection section 20B as flushing.

[0094] Next, a case will be described where the control unit 29 performs pressure cleaning on the ink ejection unit 20B as maintenance of the liquid ejection device 11. As shown in Fig. 15, when performing pressure cleaning, the control unit 29 moves the case 61 from the standby position shown in Fig. 14 to a receiving position corresponding to the ink ejection unit 20B, which is in the +Y direction. Thereafter, the control unit 29 moves the liquid ejection unit 20 to the cleaning position CP and stops it there. As a result, the receiving area A1 of the strip-shaped member 60 faces the area BW of the ink ejection unit 20B.

[0095] The control unit 29 controls the liquid supply device 23 to supply pressurized liquid to the ink nozzle 36B, thereby discharging ink from the ink nozzle 36B. As shown by hatching in Fig. 15, the ink discharged as waste liquid from the ink nozzle 36B by the pressurized cleaning is received by a receiving area A1 set on the belt-shaped member 60.

[0096] After performing pressure cleaning on the ink discharge unit 20B, the control unit 29 drives the wiping motor 63 in the reverse direction while keeping the liquid discharge unit 20 stopped, and moves the case 61 in the second wiping direction W2. That is, the control unit 29 performs wiping by bringing the contact area A2 of the belt-shaped member 60 into contact with the nozzle surface 40 of the ink discharge unit 20B, and collects in the contact area A2 the ink that is discharged by the pressure cleaning and remains on the nozzle surface 40.

[0097] After wiping the ink discharge section 20B, the control section 29 continues to move the case 61 in the second wiping direction W2 and stops it at the receiving position corresponding to the reaction liquid discharge section 20A. Then, as shown by hatching in Fig. 16, the control section 29 causes the reaction liquid nozzles 36A constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 of the reaction liquid discharge section 20A to discharge the reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzles 36A constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 of the reaction liquid discharge section 20A to an area overlapping with an area from which ink has been discharged by pressure cleaning of the ink discharge section 20B. In other words, the reaction liquid discharge section 20A supplies the reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzles 36A to the strip-shaped member 60 after ink is discharged from the ink nozzles 36B of the ink discharge section 20B to the receiving area A1.

[0098] If the region of the belt-shaped member 60 where the reaction liquid is discharged from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharger 20A is defined as a supply region S1, the supply region S1 is located within the receiving region A1. The reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharger 20A is an example of a supply unit RLS capable of supplying a reaction liquid having a component that hardens the ink to the belt-shaped member 60. In this case, it can also be said that the supply unit RLS includes the reaction liquid discharger 20A. Alternatively, it can also be said that the supply unit RLS includes the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharger 20A.

[0099] The control unit 29 ejects the reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A onto the receiving area A1 of the belt-shaped member 60, and then moves the case 61 to a receiving position corresponding to the ink ejection unit 20B. Then, the control unit 29 performs flushing, which ejects ink from the ink nozzle 36B of the ink ejection unit 20B onto the receiving area A1 of the belt-shaped member 60.

[0100] Furthermore, when the maintenance unit 22 has a flushing device 42, flushing from the ink ejection unit 20B, which is performed after wiping the ink ejection unit 20B, may be performed toward the ink receiving unit 42B of the flushing device 42. In this case, after wiping the ink ejection unit 20B, the control unit 29 moves the liquid ejection unit 20 to a position facing the reaction liquid receiving unit 42A and the ink ejection unit 20B of the flushing device 42 while moving the case 61 toward a receiving position corresponding to the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A. Then, the control unit 29 causes the ink receiving unit 42B of the flushing device 42 to perform flushing by ejecting ink from the ink nozzles 36B of the ink ejection unit 20B.

[0101] Furthermore, the supply of reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharger 20A to the supply region S1 of the strip-shaped member 60 may be performed before pressure cleaning is performed on the ink discharger 20B. In this case, the control unit 29 moves the liquid discharger 20 to the cleaning position CP with the case 61 located at the standby position, and causes the reaction liquid to be discharged from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharger 20A to the supply region S1 shown by hatching in Fig. 16. Thereafter, the control unit 29 performs pressure cleaning on the ink discharger 20B.

[0102] In addition, when wiping the ink discharge section 20B, if a large amount of ink is collected in the contact area A2 of the belt-shaped member 60, the ink collected in the contact area A2 may wet and spread toward the upstream side of the belt-shaped member 60 in the direction D, and the area of ​​the belt-shaped member 60 where the ink has wet and spread may come into contact with either the reaction liquid discharge section 20A or the ink discharge section 20B. In this case, reaction liquid may be supplied to the contact area A2 where ink has been collected by wiping the ink discharge section 20B.

[0103] Specifically, after wiping the ink ejection portion 20B, the control unit 29 causes the winding unit 72 to wind up the belt-shaped member 60, thereby moving the contact area A2 that has collected ink by wiping in the direction D. Then, the control unit 29 positions the contact area A2 that has collected ink by wiping within the receiving area A1.

[0104] Thereafter, for example, the control unit 29 moves the case 61 to a standby position and discharges the reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A to the supply region S2. Alternatively, the control unit 29 may discharge the reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A to the supply region S3.

[0105] In this case, for example, the contact area A2 that has been moved into the receiving area A1 and has collected ink by wiping the ink ejection unit 20B is set as the collection area CRB, and the area of ​​the belt-shaped member 60 that is set as the contact area A2 to be used in the next wiping is set as the wiping area WR. At this time, the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A supplies reaction liquid to a supply area S2 or a supply area S3 that is between the wiping area WR and the position of the collection area CRB that is farthest from the wiping area WR on the belt-shaped member 60.

[0106] Next, a case will be described where the control unit 29 performs flushing as maintenance of the liquid discharge unit 20. For example, when causing the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A to perform flushing, the control unit 29 moves the liquid discharge unit 20 to the cleaning position CP with the case 61 located at the standby position, and causes the reaction liquid to be discharged from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A to a supply region S1 shown by hatching in FIG.

[0107] Thereafter, when flushing is to be performed by the ink ejection unit 20B, the control unit 29 moves the case 61 to a receiving position corresponding to the ink ejection unit 20B, and then moves the liquid ejection unit 20 to the cleaning position CP. Then, the control unit 29 ejects ink from the ink nozzle 36B of the ink ejection unit 20B into the receiving area A1 shown by hatching in FIG.

[0108] At this time, the control unit 29 does not cause the winding unit 72 to perform the winding operation of the strip-shaped member 60 between the flushing of ejecting reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid ejecting unit 20A and the flushing of ejecting ink from the ink nozzle 36B of the ink ejecting unit 20B. In this case, the operation of the reaction liquid ejecting unit 20A to eject reaction liquid onto the strip-shaped member 60 by flushing corresponds to the operation of the reaction liquid ejecting unit 20A to supply reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A to the supply region S1 overlapping with the reception region A1 of the strip-shaped member 60 before the ink ejecting unit 20B ejects ink into the reception region A1 by flushing.

[0109] In this embodiment, the reaction liquid may be supplied to the belt-shaped member 60 through a supply region S2 shown by hatching in Fig. 17 instead of through the supply region S1. The supply region S2 in this embodiment is the same as the supply region S2 in the first embodiment. When supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S2, for example, the control unit 29, with the case 61 located at the standby position, moves the liquid discharger 20 in the X-axis direction to discharge the reaction liquid from any of the reaction liquid nozzles 36A constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 into the supply region S2.

[0110] At this time, the reaction liquid is discharged to the supply region S2 from some of the reaction liquid nozzles 36A that face the supply region S2 among the reaction liquid nozzles 36A constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6. The reaction liquid nozzles 36A that face the supply region S2 are the nozzles 36 that constitute the +Y direction side of the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6. Alternatively, when supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S2, the reaction liquid may be discharged to the supply region S2 from one nozzle at the end in the +Y direction among the nozzles 36 that constitute the +Y direction side of the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6.

[0111] Furthermore, the reaction liquid may be supplied to the belt-shaped member 60 through a supply region S3 shown by hatching in FIG. 18 instead of through the supply region S1. The supply region S3 in this embodiment is the same as the supply region S3 in the first embodiment. When supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S3, for example, the control unit 29 drives the wiping motor 63 to move the case 61 to a position in the +Y direction from the standby position. This sets the supply region S3 in the downstream region of the belt-shaped member 60. Then, the control unit 29 discharges the reaction liquid from any of the reaction liquid nozzles 36A constituting the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 into the supply region S3 while moving the liquid discharge unit 20 in the X-axis direction, in the same manner as when supplying the reaction liquid to the supply region S2.

[0112] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the supply of reaction liquid to the belt-shaped member 60 may be performed to a supply region S4 shown by hatching in Fig. 19 instead of the supply region S1. For example, a case will be described in which reaction liquid is supplied to the supply region S4 before ink is discharged from the ink nozzle 36B of the ink discharge unit 20B in the receiving region A1 shown by hatching in Fig. 19.

[0113] In this case, the control unit 29 moves the liquid discharge unit 20 to the cleaning position CP with the case 61 located at the standby position. Then, the control unit 29 moves the case 61 from the standby position in a first wiping direction W1, and brings the contact area A2 of the strip-shaped member 60 into contact with a reaction liquid nozzle area including the opening of the reaction liquid nozzle 36A on the nozzle surface 40 of the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A. Alternatively, the control unit 29 wipes the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A with the strip-shaped member 60. As a result, the reaction liquid adhering to the reaction liquid nozzle area of ​​the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A is collected in the contact area A2.

[0114] Alternatively, the control unit 29 controls the liquid supply device 23 to supply the reaction liquid to the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A, causing the reaction liquid to swell from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A. In this state, the control unit 29 may bring the contact area A2 of the strip-shaped member 60 into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle area of ​​the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A. As a result, the reaction liquid swelled from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid discharge unit 20A is collected in the contact area A2.

[0115] Then, the control unit 29 causes the winding unit 72 to wind up the belt-shaped member 60, and moves the contact area A2 that has collected the reaction liquid to the position of the supply area S4 downstream in direction D. In this case, the contact area A2 that has collected the reaction liquid by contacting the reaction liquid nozzle area and then moved to a position within the receiving area A1 can be said to be the supply area S4 that supplies the reaction liquid to the receiving area A1 from which the ink is discharged.

[0116] Thereafter, the control unit 29 moves the case 61 to a receiving position relative to the ink ejection unit 20B, and performs, for example, pressure cleaning on the ink ejection unit 20B, causing ink to be discharged from the ink nozzles 36B of the ink ejection unit 20B into the receiving area A1 of the strip-shaped member 60. In other words, the strip-shaped member 60 is provided so that the supply area S4 can come into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle area including the opening of the reaction liquid nozzle 36A, and after the supply area S4 comes into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle area, ink is discharged from the ink ejection unit 20B into the receiving area A1.

[0117] As described above, the liquid ejection device 11 according to the second embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0118] The liquid discharger 11 further includes a reaction liquid discharger 20A having a nozzle 36 capable of discharging a reaction liquid, and the supply unit RLS includes the reaction liquid discharger 20A. This allows the reaction liquid to be supplied to the strip-shaped member 60 by utilizing the reaction liquid discharger 20A.

[0119] When the nozzle 36 that ejects the reaction liquid is the reaction liquid nozzle 36A, the belt-shaped member 60 is provided so that the supply region S4 can come into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle region including the opening of the reaction liquid nozzle 36A, and after the supply region S4 comes into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle region, the ink is discharged from the ink ejection section 20B to the receiving region A1. In this way, by bringing the belt-shaped member 60 into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle region, the reaction liquid can be supplied from the supply section RLS to the supply region S4 of the belt-shaped member 60.

[0120] With the reaction liquid expanded from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A, the supply region S4 of the belt-shaped member 60 comes into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle region. This makes it possible to increase the amount of reaction liquid supplied to the belt-shaped member 60.

[0121] The liquid ejection device 11 according to the above embodiment of the present invention is basically configured as described above, but it is of course possible to modify or omit parts of the configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above embodiment and other embodiments described below can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility. Other embodiments will be described below.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the liquid ejection device 11 may include a reaction liquid ejection unit 220 capable of ejecting a reaction liquid, as shown in FIG. 20. The reaction liquid ejection unit 220 has an ejection nozzle 236 that ejects a reaction liquid. The reaction liquid ejection unit 220 is provided on the carriage 21 so as to be capable of supplying a reaction liquid to either the strip-shaped member 60 or the medium 14. The reaction liquid ejection unit 220 is an example of a supply unit RLS capable of supplying a reaction liquid having a component that hardens the ink to the strip-shaped member 60. In this case, the liquid supply device 23 supplies the reaction liquid to the reaction liquid ejection unit 220. Also, in this case, the liquid ejection unit 20 of the first embodiment may not eject a reaction liquid from the nozzles 36 constituting the fourth nozzle group G4 to the strip-shaped member 60. Also, in this case, the liquid ejection unit 20 of the second embodiment may not eject a reaction liquid from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid ejection unit 20A to the strip-shaped member 60.

[0123] In the above embodiment, the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 of the liquid ejection section 20 do not have to extend in the Y direction. Furthermore, the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 do not have to be arranged at intervals in the X direction. For example, the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 of the liquid ejection section 20 may extend in the X direction across the width of the medium 14. Furthermore, the first nozzle group G1 to the sixth nozzle group G6 may be arranged at intervals in the Y direction. In this case, the liquid ejection section 20 may be a so-called line head, and the liquid ejection device 11 may be a line head printer.

[0124] In the above embodiment, the liquid collecting device 43 may not include the unwinding unit 70 and the winding unit 72. In this case, for example, the case 61 of the liquid collecting device 43 may move in the Y-axis direction while supporting the belt-shaped member 60 in a flat plate shape along the XY plane. The case 61 may also support the belt-shaped member 60 so that it can come into contact with the nozzle surface 40 of the liquid ejecting unit 20.

[0125] In the above embodiment, the liquid ejection device 11 does not need to perform printing by the liquid ejection unit 20 ejecting ink onto the medium 14 to which the supply unit RLS has supplied the reaction liquid. In this case, for example, the liquid ejection device 11 may supply the reaction liquid via the supply unit RLS onto the medium 14 to which the liquid ejection unit 20 has ejected ink to perform printing. Alternatively, when the liquid ejection unit 20 ejects ink onto the medium 14 to perform printing, the liquid ejection device 11 does not need to supply the reaction liquid to the medium 14.

[0126] In the above-described second embodiment, the reaction liquid ejection section 20A does not have to be provided in the -Y direction with respect to the ink ejection section 20B. In this case, for example, the reaction liquid ejection section 20A may be provided in the +Y direction with respect to the ink ejection section 20B. Also, for example, the reaction liquid ejection section 20A may be provided side by side with an interval in the X direction with respect to the ink ejection section 20B.

[0127] In the above-described second embodiment, the liquid collecting device 43 does not have to move the case 61 from the standby position to the receiving position corresponding to the ink ejecting unit 20B to receive the ink discharged from the ink nozzles 36B of the ink ejecting unit 20B on the strip-shaped member 60. In this case, for example, the liquid collecting device 43 may set the receiving position corresponding to the ink ejecting unit 20B as the standby position. Also, for example, the liquid collecting device 43 may have a downstream region extending in the Y direction in the transport path of the strip-shaped member 60 so as to be able to receive the reaction liquid discharged from the reaction liquid nozzle 36A of the reaction liquid ejecting unit 20A and the ink discharged from the ink nozzles 36B of the ink ejecting unit 20B when the case 61 is located at the standby position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 11...liquid ejection device, 12...legs, 13...housing, 14...medium, 15...feeding section, 16...guide section, 17...recovery section, 18...tension applying mechanism, 20...liquid ejection section, 20A...reaction liquid ejection section, 20B...ink ejection section, 21...carriage, 22...maintenance unit, 23...liquid supply device, 24...operation panel, 25...liquid container, 26...mounting section, 27...supply flow path, 29...control section, 31...guide shaft, 32...carriage motor, 36...nozzle, 36A...reaction liquid nozzle , 36B...ink nozzle, 37...nozzle forming member, 38...cover member, 39...through hole, 40...nozzle surface, 42...flushing device, 42A...reaction liquid receiving portion, 42B...ink receiving portion, 43...liquid collecting device, 44, 44A, 44B...suction device, 45, 45A, 45B...capping device, 51...suction cap, 52...suction holder, 53...suction motor, 54...pressure reducing mechanism, 56...standby cap, 57...standby cap holder, 58...standby cap motor , 60...belt-shaped member, 60a...contact position, 61...case, 62...rail, 63...wiping motor, 64...winding motor, 65...power transmission mechanism, 67...opening, 69...winding shaft, 70...winding section, 71...winding shaft, 72...winding section, 74...upstream roller, 75...tension roller, 76...pressure section, 79...downstream roller, 220...reaction liquid jet section, 236...jet nozzle, A1...receiving area, A2...contact area, A3, A4...ejection area, G1...first nozzle group, G2...second nozzle group, G3...third nozzle group, G4...fourth nozzle group, G5...fifth nozzle group, G6...sixth nozzle group, L1...first nozzle row, L2...second nozzle row, L3...third nozzle row, L4...fourth nozzle row, L5...fifth nozzle row, L6...sixth nozzle row, L7...seventh nozzle row, L8...eighth nozzle row, L9...ninth nozzle row, L10...tenth nozzle row, L11...eleventh nozzle row, L12...twelfth nozzle row, S1, S2, S3, S4...supply area, W1...first wiping direction, W2...second wiping direction.

Claims

1. a liquid ejection unit that ejects liquid from a nozzle onto a medium to perform printing; a sheet-like absorbent member capable of absorbing the liquid; a supply unit capable of supplying a reaction liquid having a component that hardens the liquid to the absorbing member; Equipped with the absorbing member is provided so as to be capable of setting a receiving area for receiving the liquid discharged as waste liquid from the nozzle and a contact area for contacting the liquid ejection portion when collecting the liquid by contacting the liquid ejection portion, the supply section supplies the reaction liquid to a supply region that is set between the contact region and a position of the receiving region that is the farthest from the contact region in the absorbent member. A liquid ejection device comprising:

2. an unwinding section that holds the absorbent member in a rolled state; a winding section capable of moving the absorbing member in a movement direction by winding the absorbing member from the unwinding section; Further equipped with The contact area is set upstream of the receiving area in the movement direction. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1 .

3. The supply region is located within the receiving region.

3. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejection apparatus is a liquid ejection apparatus.

4. The supply region is located between the receiving region and the contact region.

3. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejection apparatus is a liquid ejection apparatus.

5. the supply unit supplies the reaction liquid to the absorbent member before the liquid discharge unit discharges the liquid into the receiving area. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the supply unit supplies the reaction liquid to the absorption member after the liquid discharge unit discharges the liquid into the receiving area. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. the supply unit includes a nozzle capable of ejecting the reaction liquid, and the nozzle capable of ejecting the reaction liquid is provided in the liquid ejection unit. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. a reaction liquid discharge unit having a nozzle capable of discharging the reaction liquid, The supply unit includes the reaction liquid discharge unit. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. When the nozzle for ejecting the reaction liquid is a reaction liquid nozzle, the absorbing member is provided in a reaction liquid nozzle region including an opening of the reaction liquid nozzle so as to be able to come into contact with the supply region, After the supply region comes into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle region, the liquid is discharged from the liquid discharger to the receiving region.

9. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the liquid ejection apparatus is a liquid ejection apparatus.

10. the supply region of the absorbing member comes into contact with the reaction liquid nozzle region in a state in which the reaction liquid is expanded from the reaction liquid nozzle; The liquid ejection device according to claim 9 .

11. the liquid ejection unit ejects the liquid onto the medium to which the reaction liquid has been supplied by the supply unit, thereby performing the printing. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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