Maintenance device and image recording device

Abstract

To provide means for preventing solidification of a liquid inside a foam.SOLUTION: A maintenance device 50 of a printer 10 includes: a flushing foam 52 for absorbing a liquid discharged from nozzles 44 of a head 42; and a flushing box 51 which does not have an upper surface and stores the flushing foam 52. The internal bottom surface of the flushing box 51 has annular ribs 71 supporting the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52. A space 75 is formed of the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52, the ribs 71, and a part of the internal bottom surface of the flushing box 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording device equipped with a head having nozzles for ejecting liquid, and a maintenance device for the image recording device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an image recording device that includes a head and a carriage on which the head is mounted, and that ejects ink from the nozzles of the head when the carriage moves in a predetermined direction. To prevent the nozzles from clogging, the image recording device moves the carriage to a predetermined position (hereinafter referred to as the flushing position) and performs flushing, which ejects ink from the nozzles. A flushing box containing foam is located below the carriage that has moved to the flushing position. The foam is made of, for example, a porous material, and absorbs ink ejected from the nozzles of the head during flushing.

[0003] In relation to the above image recording device, there is a maintenance device described in Patent Document 1. This maintenance device has an ink receiving chamber, a liquid injection section, and a waste liquid storage section. An adsorption member is positioned in the ink receiving chamber to adsorb ink ejected from the nozzle. The liquid injection section injects liquid (cleaning liquid) into the ink receiving chamber when the head is away from above the ink receiving chamber. The waste liquid storage section stores ink and liquid discharged from the ink receiving chamber. The adsorption member corresponds to the foam, and the ink receiving chamber corresponds to the flushing box. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-60018 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In an image recording device, if ink absorbed in the foam is left as is, the ink will dry out inside the foam, thicken, and solidify. This can cause the foam's ink absorption capacity to decrease, leading to ink accumulation on the foam's surface and the accumulated ink coming into contact with the nozzle surface of the head. To resolve this problem, it is possible to provide the image recording device with the above-mentioned maintenance device.

[0006] However, in the maintenance device, the adsorption member is housed in the ink receiving chamber so that the entire bottom surface of the adsorption member is in contact with the inner bottom surface of the ink receiving chamber. As a result, a mixture of ink and cleaning liquid accumulates near the bottom surface of the adsorption member, and if the concentration of the cleaning liquid is low, the ink may solidify inside the adsorption member (corresponding to the foam).

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a means for preventing liquid from solidifying inside a foam. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) A maintenance device according to the present invention is a maintenance device for an image recording device equipped with a head having a nozzle for discharging a liquid, and includes a foam for absorbing the liquid discharged from the nozzle, and a storage box without a top surface for storing the foam. The inner bottom surface of the storage box has ribs that support the bottom surface of the foam, and a space is formed by the bottom surface of the foam, the ribs, and a part of the inner bottom surface of the storage box.

[0009] According to the maintenance device, the bottom surface of the foam is supported by an annular rib, so that the liquid absorbed by the foam moves into the space, thereby preventing the liquid from solidifying inside the foam.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the apparatus further includes a suction pump fluidly connected to the space.

[0011] (3) Preferably, the space is an enclosed space.

[0012] (4) Preferably, the rib is annular.

[0013] (5) Preferably, the inner bottom surface of the storage box has a recess below the direction of gravity in the area surrounded by the annular rib, the cross-sectional area of ​​which perpendicular to the direction of gravity decreases downward in the direction of gravity.

[0014] (6) Preferably, the rib has a planar shape that can surround all the nozzles of the head.

[0015] (7) Preferably, the container further includes a plate-like member that holds down the foam and covers the top of the storage box, the plate-like member having an opening that exposes a portion of the top surface of the foam, and the rib being positioned below a position of the plate-like member excluding the opening.

[0016] (8) Preferably, at least one of the inner side surfaces of the storage box has a plurality of second ribs that abut against the side surface of the foam.

[0017] (9) Preferably, the rib and the second rib are located at positions spaced apart from each other.

[0018] (10) Preferably, the wiper unit further includes a storage tank adjacent to the storage box for storing cleaning liquid, a wiper unit having a wiper and rotating about a rotation axis between a first position where the wiper is immersed in the cleaning liquid stored in the storage tank and a second position where the wiper is not immersed in the cleaning liquid, and a partition separating the storage box and the storage tank, the height of the partition being equal to the height of the tip of the wiper when the wiper unit is located at the first position.

[0019] (11) Preferably, the rotation shaft of the wiper unit is located at a position higher than the partition.

[0020] (12) Preferably, the height of the partition is greater than the height of the rib.

[0021] (13) Preferably, the surface of the partition facing the foam has a third rib that abuts against a side surface of the foam.

[0022] (14) Preferably, the storage box and the storage tank are adjacent to each other with the partition extending in the first direction therebetween, and the partition has a central portion in the first direction that is higher than both end portions, and the size of the central portion is larger than the size of the foam in the first direction.

[0023] (15) An image recording device according to the present invention includes a head having nozzles for ejecting liquid, a carriage that carries the head and moves, and any one of the maintenance devices described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the maintenance device and image recording device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the liquid inside the foam from solidifying. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of a printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the range of movement of the carriage 41. As shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 100 and elements connected to the control unit 100. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a maintenance device 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5A is a top view of the maintenance device 50, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the maintenance device 50 taken along the line BB. [Figure 6]Figures 6(A) and 6(B) are cross-sectional views of the main parts of the maintenance device 50 taken along line AA, with Figure 6(A) showing the wiper unit 55 in an upward position and Figure 6(B) showing the wiper unit 55 in a downward position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear side view of the maintenance device 50. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the inside of the flushing box 51 and the storage tank 54. As shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the image recording process of the control unit 100. [Figure 10] FIG. 10(A) is a diagram showing the planar shape of the rib 71 according to the embodiment, and FIGS. 10(B) to 10(F) are diagrams showing the planar shapes of the rib 71 according to modified examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The following describes a maintenance device 50 and a printer 10 (an example of an image recording device) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the following description, the direction of travel is expressed as the direction from the start point of an arrow to the end point, and the direction of travel on the line connecting the start point and end point of an arrow. Furthermore, the up-down direction 7 is defined based on the state in which the printer 10 is installed and ready for use (the state shown in FIG. 1 ). The front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface on which the discharge port 13 is located as the front, and the left-right direction 9 is defined when the printer 10 is viewed from the front. The up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 are perpendicular to one another.

[0027] [Overall configuration of printer 10] The printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an image recording device that records an image on a sheet S using an inkjet recording method. The sheet S is a long piece of paper wound into a roll. A through-hole is formed in the center of the roll of the sheet S so that the sheet S can be loaded into the printer 10. The recording medium may be sticker paper, fanfold paper, cut paper, fabric, or the like.

[0028] The printer 10 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped housing 11. The housing 11 is sized to be able to be placed on a table, floor, rack, or the like. A slit-shaped discharge opening 13 extending in the left-right direction 9 is located in a front wall 12 of the housing 11. A sheet S on which an image has been recorded by the printer 10 is discharged from the discharge opening 13. The discharged sheet S is taken up, for example, by a take-up device (not shown) attached to the printer 10.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes, within a housing 11, a holder 21, a tensioner 22, a pair of conveying rollers 23, a pair of discharge rollers 24, a platen 25, four tanks 26A-26D, a carriage 41, and a head 42. The head 42 is mounted on the carriage 41. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 also includes, within the housing 11, two guide rails 37 and 38, and a maintenance device 50. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 10 also includes, within the housing 11, a control unit 100, a holder drive motor 111, a conveying motor 112, a carriage drive motor 113, a wiper drive motor 114, and a pump drive motor 115. In addition to the above-mentioned elements, the printer 10 may further include various sensors, caps, and the like.

[0030] [Tanks 26A-26D] The tanks 26A to 26D store yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks (examples of liquids), respectively. The inks are so-called latex inks, containing pigments, resin particles, and additives. The inks have a viscosity suitable for uniformly dispersing the pigments and resin particles. The pigments give the ink its color. The resin particles are used to adhere the pigments to the sheet S, and are made of a resin whose glass transition temperature is exceeded by heating, for example, by a heater (not shown).

[0031] The printer 10 only needs to have one tank, and in this case, the tank preferably stores black ink. The printer 10 may also have a tank for storing a liquid other than ink. The liquid stored in the tank may be, for example, a pretreatment liquid. The pretreatment liquid may contain a cationic polymer, a polyvalent metal salt (e.g., magnesium salt), or the like. The pretreatment liquid has the function of preventing ink bleeding and strike-through by aggregating or precipitating components in the ink. The pretreatment liquid may also have the function of improving the color development and quick-drying properties of the ink.

[0032] [Sheet S transport mechanism] A pair of side frames (not shown) extending in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 are positioned inside the housing 11. The holder 21 has a rotation shaft 31 that supports the sheet S. The rotation shaft 31 extends in the left-right direction 9, and both ends of the rotation shaft 31 are fixed to the side frames. Power from a holder drive motor 111 (see FIG. 3) is transmitted to the rotation shaft 31. This power causes the holder 21 to rotate in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft 31. In FIG. 1, the rotation direction of the holder 21 is counterclockwise. The rotation of the holder 21 also rotates the roll body supported by the holder 21. As the conveying roller pair 23 and the discharge roller pair 24 rotate, the sheet S is pulled upward from the rear end of the roll body and guided to the tensioner 22.

[0033] The tensioner 22, the conveying roller pair 23, and the discharge roller pair 24 each extend in the left-right direction 9 between the side frames and are attached so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of a rotation shaft parallel to the left-right direction 9. A rearward biasing force is applied to the tensioner 22 by a biasing member such as a spring. The tensioner 22 comes into contact with the sheet S pulled out from the roll body and guides the sheet S so as to curve forward.

[0034] The conveying roller pair 23 has a drive roller 32 and a pinch roller 33, and is located in front of the tensioner 22. The discharging roller pair 24 has a drive roller 34 and a pinch roller 35, and is located further in front of the conveying roller pair 23. The lower end positions of the drive rollers 32 and 34 roughly coincide with the upper end position of the tensioner 22 in the up-down direction 7. The pinch roller 33 abuts on the drive roller 32 from below. The pinch roller 35 abuts on the drive roller 34 from below.

[0035] The power of a conveying motor 112 (see FIG. 3) is transmitted to the drive rollers 32 and 34. This power rotates the drive rollers 32 and 34. As a result, the drive rollers 32 and 34 nip the sheet S between themselves and the pinch rollers 33 and 35 and convey the sheet S in a conveying direction 6. In this embodiment, the conveying direction 6 is forward.

[0036] [Platen 25] The platen 25 is attached to the side frames at a position between the pair of conveying rollers 23 and the pair of discharge rollers 24 in the front-to-rear direction 8. The platen 25 extends in the left-to-right direction 9 between the side frames and has a support surface 36 for the sheet S that extends in both the front-to-rear direction 8 and the left-to-right direction 9. The support surface 36 is the upper end surface of the platen 25. The vertical position of the support surface 36 roughly coincides with the upper end position of the tensioner 22. The platen 25 may be an adhesive platen that adsorbs the sheet S to the support surface 36.

[0037] [Carriage 41 and Head 42] As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rails 37, 38 extend parallel to each other in the left-right direction 9. The guide rails 37, 38 are positioned at the same position in the up-down direction 7. The guide rail 38 is located behind the guide rail 37 in the front-rear direction 8. Both ends of the guide rails 37, 38 are fixed to the side frames. The carriage 41 is supported by the guide rails 37, 38. The power of a carriage drive motor 113 (see FIG. 3) is transmitted to a carriage drive mechanism (not shown). The carriage 41, supported by the guide rails 37, 38, moves in the left-right direction 9 by the action of the carriage drive mechanism.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, the head 42 is mounted on a carriage 41. The lower surface of the head 42 is referred to as a nozzle surface 43. A plurality of nozzles 44 that eject ink are formed on the nozzle surface 43. The tanks 26A to 26D and the head 42 are connected via ink flow paths (not shown). The ink stored in the tanks 26A to 26D is supplied to the head 42 via the ink flow paths. While the carriage 41 is moving in the left-right direction 9, the ink supplied to the head 42 is ejected from the nozzles 44. In this way, an image is recorded on the sheet S.

[0039] [Control unit 100] As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 100 has a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an EEPROM 104, and an ASIC 105. The ROM 102 stores various data and the like necessary for the operation of the control unit 100. The RAM 103 is a working memory for the CPU 101. The EEPROM 104 stores control programs and the like to be executed by the CPU 101. Before the printer 10 executes image recording, the control program stored in the EEPROM 104 is copied to the RAM 103. The CPU 101 executes the control program stored in the RAM 103. As a result, the control unit 100 executes the image recording process described below.

[0040] The control unit 100 is electrically connected to the holder drive motor 111, the transport motor 112, the carriage drive motor 113, the wiper drive motor 114, the pump drive motor 115, and the head 42 via the ASIC 105. The holder drive motor 111, the transport motor 112, the carriage drive motor 113, the wiper drive motor 114, and the pump drive motor 115 rotate and generate power under control of the control unit 100. The head 42 ejects ink supplied to the head 42 under control of the control unit 100.

[0041] The holder 21 rotates by power from a holder drive motor 111. The drive rollers 32 and 34 rotate by power from a conveyance motor 112. The sheet S is conveyed in a conveyance direction 6 by power from the conveyance motor 112. The carriage 41 moves in a left-right direction 9 by power from a carriage drive motor 113. The wiper unit 55 included in the maintenance device 50 performs an operation described below by power from a wiper drive motor 114. The pumps 122 and 126 included in the maintenance device 50 perform an operation described below by power from a pump drive motor 115. Note that the holder drive motor 111, the conveyance motor 112, the carriage drive motor 113, the wiper drive motor 114, and part of the pump drive motor 115 may be realized by a common motor. Furthermore, the motor that drives the pump 122 and the motor that drives the pump 126 may be separate motors.

[0042] [Carriage 41 movement range] As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 25 has a shape that is elongated in the left-right direction 9 and is located below the carriage 41 in the up-down direction 7 (see FIG. 1). The left end of the platen 25 is located near the left ends of the guide rails 37 and 38 in the left-right direction 9. The right end of the platen 25 is located to the right of the center of the guide rails 37 and 38 in the left-right direction 9. The maintenance device 50 is located to the right of the platen 25 in the left-right direction 9. While the printer 10 is recording an image, the carriage 41 moves in the left-right direction 9 within the range of the platen 25. While the printer 10 is not recording an image, the carriage 41 is located to the right of the maintenance device 50 (hereinafter referred to as the standby position). While the carriage 41 is located in the standby position, the nozzle surface 43 of the head 42 is covered by a cap (not shown).

[0043] [Maintenance Device 50] As shown in Fig. 4, the maintenance device 50 includes a flushing box 51, a flushing foam 52, a plate-shaped member 53, a storage tank 54, a wiper unit 55, and two wipers 56 and 57. As shown in Fig. 6(A), the maintenance device 50 further includes pumps 122 and 126, a waste liquid tank 124, and a cleaning liquid tank 128. The flushing box 51, the flushing foam 52, the plate-shaped member 53, the pump 122, and the waste liquid tank 124 are elements for the flushing process. The storage tank 54, the wiper unit 55, the wipers 56 and 57, the pump 126, and the cleaning liquid tank 128 are elements for the wiping process.

[0044] As shown in Figures 4, 5(A), 6(A), and 8, the storage tank 54 is adjacent to the flushing box 51 and is located to the right of the flushing box 51. The flushing box 51 and the storage tank 54 are integrally formed. Figure 8 shows the interior of the flushing box 51 and the storage tank 54 without the flushing foam 52, the plate-like member 53, the wiper unit 55, and the wipers 56 and 57.

[0045] [Flushing Box 51] As shown in FIG. 8, the flushing box 51 has a box-like shape without an upper surface. As shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 6(A), the flushing box 51 houses a flushing foam 52 inside. The flushing foam 52 is made of a porous material. The flushing foam 52 is, for example, a sponge. The flushing foam 52 is an example of a foam. The flushing box 51 is an example of a storage box.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5(A), the plate-shaped member 53 holds down the flushing foam 52 and covers the top of the flushing box 51. The plate-shaped member 53 has an opening 58 in the center that exposes part of the top surface of the flushing foam 52. The plate-shaped member 53 covers the entire top of the flushing box 51 except for the position of the opening 58. The plate-shaped member 53 holds down the flushing foam 52 inside the flushing box 51. Specifically, when the plate-shaped member 53 is engaged with the flushing box 51, it applies a downward force to the flushing foam 52 housed in the flushing box 51.

[0047] When performing the flushing process, the control unit 100 moves the carriage 41 above the flushing box 51. The opening 58 is formed so that all of the nozzles 44 of the head 42 face the flushing foam 52 at this time. The shape of the opening 58 is preferably the same as the shape of the arrangement area of ​​the nozzles 44 in the head 42. More preferably, the size of the opening 58 is the same as or slightly larger than the size of the arrangement area of ​​the nozzles 44 in the head 42. The flushing foam 52 housed in the flushing box 51 absorbs ink ejected from the nozzles 44 of the head 42 during the flushing process.

[0048] 8 , the flushing box 51 has a bottom wall 61, a front wall 62, a left wall 63, a rear wall 64, and a partition 65. The partition 65 separates the flushing box 51 from the storage tank 54. The bottom wall 61, the front wall 62, the left wall 63, the rear wall 64, and a portion of the partition 65 define the internal space of the flushing box 51.

[0049] The front wall 62 has two ribs 66a and 66b that protrude toward the internal space of the flushing box 51. The rear wall 64 has two ribs 66c and 66d that protrude toward the internal space of the flushing box 51. The partition 65 has two ribs 67a and 67b that protrude toward the internal space of the flushing box 51. The bottom surfaces of the ribs 66a to 66d, 67a, and 67b are fixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall 61.

[0050] The ribs 66a and 66b abut against the front side surface of the flushing foam 52 (see FIG. 5(B)). The ribs 66c and 66d abut against the rear side surface of the flushing foam 52. The ribs 67a and 67b abut against the right side surface of the flushing foam 52 (see FIG. 6(A)). In this way, one of the internal side surfaces of the flushing box 51 (the inner surface of the front wall 62) has two ribs 66a and 66b that abut against the front side surface of the flushing foam 52. The other of the internal side surfaces of the flushing box 51 (the inner surface of the rear wall 64) has two ribs 66c and 66d that abut against the rear side surface of the flushing foam 52. The surface of the partition 65 facing the flushing foam 52 has two ribs 67a and 67b that abut against the right side surface of the flushing foam 52. The ribs 66a to 66d are examples of second ribs. The ribs 67a and 67b are an example of a third rib.

[0051] [Rib 71 and recess 72] As shown in FIG. 8 , an annular rib 71 is located in the central portion of the inner surface of the lower wall 61, protruding toward the interior space of the flushing box 51. The planar shape of the rib 71 is roughly rectangular. The rib 71 has a planar shape that can surround all of the nozzles 44 of the head 42. The bottom surface of the flushing foam 52 housed in the flushing box 51 abuts against the upper surface of the rib 71. The rib 71 supports the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52. In this way, the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 51 has the annular rib 71 that supports the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52.

[0052] The ribs 71 are located below a position of the plate-like member 53 excluding the openings 58. The planar shape of the ribs 71 is preferably smaller than the entire nozzle surface 43 and larger than the portion of the nozzle surface 43 where the nozzles 44 are formed (nozzle region). By making the planar shape of the ribs 71 larger than the nozzle region, ink ejected from all the nozzles 44 of the head 42 and absorbed by the flushing foam 52 can be collected in the space 75.

[0053] The height of the rib 71 is lower than the height of the partition 65. In other words, the height of the partition 65 is lower than the height of the rib 71. The rib 71 is located at a distance from the ribs 66a to 66d, and the rib 71 is located at a distance from the ribs 67a and 67b. In the internal space of the storage tank 54, outside the rib 71, there is formed a portion 68 (see FIGS. 5(B) and 6(A)) that stores the cleaning liquid supplied from the storage tank 54. The portion 68 is formed by positioning the multiple ribs 66a to 66d at a distance from the rib 71.

[0054] A recess 72 is located in the portion of the inner surface of the bottom wall 61 surrounded by the rib 71. The recess 72 is formed by four triangular inclined walls 73, with the distance from the internal space of the flushing box 51 increasing as the recess 72 approaches the center. An outlet 74 is located in the center of the recess 72. Thus, the internal bottom surface of the flushing box 51 has the recess 72, below the direction of gravity in the area surrounded by the annular rib 71, whose cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of gravity decreases as it goes downward in the direction of gravity.

[0055] [Space 75 and Pump 122] 5(B) and 6(A), a space 75 is formed by the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52, the inner side surfaces of the ribs 71, and the portion of the inner surface of the bottom wall 61 of the flushing box 51 that is surrounded by the ribs 71 (including the four inclined walls 73). When the flushing foam 52 is considered to be a single solid, the space 75 is an enclosed space.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 6(A), the space 75 is connected to one end of a pump 122 via an outlet 74 and a tube 121. The pump 122 is fluidly connected to the space 75. The other end of the pump 122 is connected to one end of a tube 123, and a waste liquid tank 124 is located at the other end of the tube 123. When driven by a pump drive motor 115 (see FIG. 3), the pump 122 applies negative pressure to the space 75. The pump 122 is an example of a suction pump.

[0057] [Plate-shaped member 53] The plate-shaped member 53 is formed by forming an opening 58 in a metal plate and processing each end of the metal plate. As shown in FIG. 6(A), a vertical portion 81a is formed at the left end of the plate-shaped member 53, and a vertical portion 81b is formed at the right end of the plate-shaped member 53. The vertical portions 81a and 81b are formed by bending two opposing ends (the left end portion and the right end portion) of the metal plate so that they are perpendicular to the upper surface of the plate-shaped member 53. The vertical portions 81a and 81b prevent the plate-shaped member 53 from shifting in the left-right direction 9 when the plate-shaped member 53 is engaged with the flushing box 51.

[0058] 5(B), a vertical portion 82 and a horizontal portion 83 are formed at the rear end of plate-shaped member 53. Vertical portion 82 is formed by bending the other end (the portion that will become the rear end) of the metal plate so that it is perpendicular to the top surface of plate-shaped member 53. Horizontal portion 83 is formed by further bending the bent portion of the metal plate outward (in a direction away from the center of plate-shaped member 53) so that it is parallel to the top surface of plate-shaped member 53.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7 , the rear wall 64 of the flushing box 51 is fixed to a housing 84 of the maintenance device 50. As shown in FIG. 8 , the rear wall 64 of the flushing box 51 has an opening 85 for passing the tip 83 a of the horizontal portion 83 of the plate-shaped member 53. The tip 83 a of the horizontal portion 83 is inserted into the opening 85. The tip 83 a of the horizontal portion 83 has an opening (not shown) for passing the upper portion of a leaf spring 86. The upper portion of the leaf spring 86 is inserted into the opening of the tip 83 a of the horizontal portion 83. As shown in FIG. 7 , the lower portion of the leaf spring 86 is fixed to the housing 84 of the maintenance device 50. The leaf spring 86 biases the upper portion in a direction away from the rear wall 64 of the flushing box 51. In this way, the rear end of the plate-shaped member 53 is fixed to the flushing box 51 via the leaf spring 86. The plate spring 86 biases the plate-shaped member 53 in a direction away from the upper part of the flushing box 51.

[0060] As shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), an operating portion 87 and a hook 88 are formed at the front end of the plate-shaped member 53. The operating portion 87 is a portion that is narrower than the front end of the plate-shaped member 53. The operating portion 87 has a width that is suitable for a user of the printer 10 to lift it upward with their fingers. The hook 88 is formed by bending a metal plate that is narrower than the metal plate that forms the plate-shaped member 53 in a 90° direction and a 60° direction. The hook 88 is fixed to the front end of the plate-shaped member 53.

[0061] 8, a hook receiving portion 89 is located on the outer side of the front wall 62 of the flushing box 51. The hook receiving portion 89 is located close to the hook 88 when the plate-shaped member 53 covers the upper part of the flushing box 51. When the plate-shaped member 53 covers the upper part of the flushing box 51, the hook 88 engages with the hook receiving portion 89, and the plate-shaped member 53 is locked to the flushing box 51.

[0062] If the flushing process is performed repeatedly, it becomes necessary to replace the flushing foam 52. When replacing the flushing foam 52, the user of the printer 10 lifts the operation unit 87 upward until the hook 88 disengages from the hook receiving portion 89. When the hook 88 disengages from the hook receiving portion 89, the biasing force of the leaf spring 86 causes the plate-shaped member 53 to rotate around its rear end side and move away from the top surface of the flushing box 51. This prevents the user of the printer 10 from neglecting to lock the plate-shaped member 53 to the flushing box 51 when replacing the flushing foam 52.

[0063] [Storage tank 54 and wiper unit 55] As shown in Fig. 8, the storage tank 54 has a box-like shape without an upper part. As shown in Fig. 6(A), the storage tank 54 stores therein a cleaning liquid L. The cleaning liquid L is a liquid suitable for removing unnecessary matter adhering to the nozzle surface 43 of the head 42, and for example, glycerin is used.

[0064] The wipers 56 and 57 are attached to the wiper unit 55 so that their tips are located outside the reservoir 54. The wiper 56 is not impregnated with the cleaning liquid L and deforms in response to an external force while maintaining its shape to some extent. On the other hand, the wiper 57 is impregnated with the cleaning liquid L and deforms with a high degree of freedom in response to an external force. The wiper 56 is made of, for example, a rubber material. The wiper 57 is made of, for example, a porous material.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 4, wiper unit 55 has a rotation shaft 59. As shown in Fig. 8, a front wall 91 of storage tank 54 has a support portion 93, and a rear wall 92 of storage tank 54 has a support portion 94. Support portion 93 supports one end of rotation shaft 59 of wiper unit 55, and support portion 94 supports the other end of rotation shaft 59. As a result, wiper unit 55 is supported by storage tank 54 so as to be rotatable about rotation shaft 59.

[0066] When the power of the wiper drive motor 114 (see FIG. 3) is transmitted to the wiper drive mechanism (not shown), the rotary shaft 59 of the wiper unit 55 rotates half a turn, and accordingly, the wiper unit 55 and the wipers 56, 57 rotate half a turn around the rotary shaft 59. As a result, the wiper unit 55 rotates between a position where the tips of the wipers 56, 57 face upward (the position shown in FIG. 6(A) ; hereinafter referred to as the upward position) and a position where the tips of the wipers 56, 57 face downward (the position shown in FIG. 6(B) ; hereinafter referred to as the downward position).

[0067] When the wiper unit 55 is in the upward position, the wipers 56, 57 are not immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the storage tank 54, and are positioned so that they can come into contact with the nozzle surface 43 of the head 42. When the wiper unit 55 is in the downward position, a portion of the wiper 56 and a portion of the wiper 57 are immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the storage tank 54, and the wipers 56, 57 are positioned so that they cannot come into contact with the nozzle surface. The height of the partition 65 is equal to the height of the tips of the wipers 56, 57 when the wiper unit 55 is in the downward position. The downward position is an example of a first position in which the wipers 56, 57 are immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the storage tank 54. The upward position is an example of a second position in which the wipers 56, 57 are not immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the storage tank 54.

[0068] [Cleaning solution L supply and partition 65] As shown in Figures 6(A) and 8, the lower wall of the storage tank 54 consists of two inclined walls 95, 96. The inclined wall 95 extends in the front-rear direction 8 and is located to the right of the flushing box 51. The inclined wall 96 extends in the front-rear direction 8 and is located further to the right of the inclined wall 95. The right end of the inclined wall 95 and the left end of the inclined wall 96 are located at the same height and are liquid-tightly connected. The left end of the inclined wall 95 is located slightly higher than the right end of the inclined wall 95. The right end of the inclined wall 96 is located higher than the left end of the inclined wall 96. A supply port 97 for the cleaning liquid L is located near the rear wall 92 at the connection between the inclined walls 95, 96.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 6(A), the supply port 97 is connected to one end of a pump 126 via a tube 125. The other end of the pump 126 is connected to a cleaning liquid tank 128 via a tube 127. The cleaning liquid tank 128 stores unused cleaning liquid. When the pump 126 is driven by a pump drive motor 115 (see FIG. 3), the pump 126 supplies unused cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 128 to the storage tank 54. The cleaning liquid L stored in the storage tank 54 is supplied from the cleaning liquid tank 128 using the pump 126.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 8, the flushing box 51 and the storage tank 54 are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction 9, sandwiching a partition 65 extending in the front-rear direction 8. The partition 65 is lower than the front wall 62, the left wall 63, and the rear wall 64. As shown in FIG. 8, the central portion of the partition 65 is higher than both end portions of the partition 65. In other words, the central portion of the partition 65 in the front-rear direction 8 is higher than both end portions. The size of the central portion of the partition 65 is larger than the size of the flushing foam 52 in the front-rear direction 8. The rotation shaft 59 of the wiper unit 55 is located at a position higher than the partition 65 (see FIG. 8). The front-rear direction 8 is an example of a first direction.

[0071] When the pump 126 operates and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid tank 128 to the storage tank 54, part of the cleaning liquid L stored in the storage tank 54 flows over the partition 65 into the flushing box 51. The cleaning liquid that has flowed into the flushing box 51 flows in the space outside the ribs 71 and surrounds the outside of the ribs 71. The cleaning liquid L located outside the ribs 71 is absorbed by the flushing foam 52 and diffuses into the flushing foam 52.

[0072] [Image recording processing] 9, the image recording process by the control unit 100 will be described. When the control unit 100 reaches S11, the carriage 41 is in the standby position, and the wiper unit 55 is in the downward position. At this time, part of the wiper 56 and part of the wiper 57 are immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the storage tank 54.

[0073] The control unit 100 receives an image recording instruction from an operation unit (not shown) (S11). Specifically, the control unit 100 waits in S11 until it receives the image recording instruction. When the control unit 100 receives the image recording instruction in S11, it controls the wiper drive motor 114 to move the wiper unit 55 to the upward position (S12).

[0074] Next, the control unit 100 executes the wiping process (S13). In S13, the control unit 100 controls the carriage drive motor 113 to move the carriage 41 leftward from the standby position above the wiper unit 55. At this time, the carriage 41 moves leftward while the wipers 56 and 57 are in contact with the nozzle surface 43 of the head 42. The control unit 100 controls the carriage drive motor 113 to move the carriage 41 to a position where the wipers 56 and 57 are not in contact with the nozzle surface 43 of the head 42. At this point, the control unit 100 ends the wiping process. Next, the control unit 100 controls the wiper drive motor 114 to move the wiper unit 55 to a downward position (S14).

[0075] Next, the control unit 100 controls the carriage drive motor 113 to move the carriage 41 leftward to the recording start position (S15). The recording start position is a predetermined position where the carriage 41 faces the platen 25. Next, the control unit 100 controls the holder drive motor 111 and the conveyance motor 112 to convey the sheet S to the recording start position (S16). Note that the control unit 100 may execute S16 in parallel with all or part of S12 to S15.

[0076] Next, the control unit 100 executes image recording on the sheet S (S17). In S17, the control unit 100 controls the carriage drive motor 113 to move the carriage 41 in the left-right direction 9 (to the left or right). While the carriage 41 is moving in the left-right direction 9, the control unit 100 controls the head 42 to eject an amount of ink according to image data from the nozzles 44 of the head 42.

[0077] Next, the control unit 100 determines whether image data remains (S18). If the control unit 100 determines in S18 that image data remains (S18: Yes), the control unit 100 proceeds to S19. In this case, the control unit 100 controls the conveying motor 112 to convey the sheet S by a predetermined amount (S19). Thereafter, the control unit 100 proceeds to S17.

[0078] If the control unit 100 determines in S18 that no image data remains (S18: No), the process proceeds to S20. In this case, the control unit 100 controls the conveyance motor 112 to discharge the sheet S to a predetermined position (S20). Next, the control unit 100 controls the carriage drive motor 113 to move the carriage 41 rightward to a standby position (S21). Thereafter, the control unit 100 proceeds to S11 to perform the next image recording.

[0079] [Flushing process] The control unit 100 determines that flushing processing is necessary, for example, when the time elapsed since the previous flushing processing exceeded a threshold value or when an instruction was received from the user of the printer 10. The control unit 100 performs flushing processing in response to determining that flushing processing is necessary.

[0080] As described above, when the control unit 100 performs the flushing process, the control unit 100 controls the carriage drive motor 113 to move the carriage 41 above the flushing box 51. The opening 58 is formed so that all of the nozzles 44 of the head 42 face the flushing foam 52 at this time. The control unit 100 controls the head 42 to eject an amount of ink appropriate for the flushing process from the nozzles 44. The flushing foam 52 housed in the flushing box 51 absorbs the ink ejected from the nozzles 44 of the head 42 during the flushing process.

[0081] Since the flushing foam 52 is impregnated with the cleaning liquid, the ink absorbed in the flushing foam 52 moves downward within the flushing foam 52 together with the cleaning liquid and reaches a space 75 formed below the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52.

[0082] The control unit 100 drives the pump drive motor 115 (see FIG. 3) while performing the flushing process or after performing the flushing process, thereby operating the pump 122. The pump 122 applies negative pressure to the space 75. Therefore, the ink and cleaning liquid in the flushing foam 52 are sucked and move quickly downward, and the ink and cleaning liquid that reach the space 75 are sucked and move to the waste liquid tank 124.

[0083] [Effects of the embodiment] As described above, the maintenance device 50 according to this embodiment includes the flushing foam 52 for absorbing the liquid discharged from the nozzle 44 of the head 42, and the flushing box 51, which has no upper surface and contains the flushing foam 52. The inner bottom surface of the flushing box 51 has an annular rib 71 that supports the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52, and a space 75 is formed by the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52, the rib 71, and a part of the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 51.

[0084] According to the maintenance device 50 of this embodiment, the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52 is supported by the annular rib 71, which causes the ink absorbed by the flushing foam 52 to move into the space 75. This prevents the ink from solidifying inside the flushing foam 52. The same effect can be achieved with the printer 10 of this embodiment.

[0085] The maintenance device 50 also includes a pump 122 fluidly connected to the space 75. The pump 122 applies negative pressure to the space 75, causing the ink absorbed in the flushing foam 52 to move into the space 75 in a short time. This prevents the ink from solidifying inside the flushing foam 52. The space 75 is also an enclosed space. Therefore, by applying negative pressure to the space 75, which is an enclosed space, using the pump 122, the ink absorbed in the flushing foam 52 moves into the space 75 in a short time.

[0086] Furthermore, the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 51 has a recess 72, below the direction of gravity in the area surrounded by the annular rib 71, whose cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of gravity decreases as it goes downward in the direction of gravity. Therefore, ink absorbed by the flushing foam 52 can be collected in the recess 72 within the space 75. Furthermore, the rib 71 has a planar shape that can surround all of the nozzles 44 of the head 42. Therefore, ink ejected from all of the nozzles 44 of the head 42 can be collected in the space 75.

[0087] The maintenance device 50 also includes a plate-like member 53 that holds down the flushing foam 52 and covers the top of the flushing box 51. The plate-like member 53 has an opening 58 that exposes part of the top surface of the flushing foam 52, and the rib 71 is located below the plate-like member 53 at a position excluding the opening 58. Therefore, twisting of the flushing foam 52 held down by the plate-like member 53 can be prevented.

[0088] Furthermore, at least one of the inner side surfaces of the flushing box 51 has a plurality of ribs 66a to 66d that abut against the side surface of the flushing foam 52. Therefore, the plurality of ribs 66a to 66d form a portion for storing cleaning liquid and the like at the outer periphery of the internal space of the flushing box 51, and the cleaning liquid and the like can be supplied to the flushing foam 52. Furthermore, the rib 71 and the ribs 66a to 66d are located at separate positions. Therefore, stagnation of the flow of cleaning liquid and the like stored in the flushing box 51 can be prevented.

[0089] The maintenance device 50 also includes a wiper unit 55 adjacent to the flushing box 51, which has a storage tank 54 for storing cleaning fluid, and wipers 56, 57. The wiper unit 55 rotates about a rotation shaft 59 between a downward position where the wipers 56, 57 are immersed in the cleaning fluid stored in the storage tank 54 and an upward position where the wipers 56, 57 are not immersed in the cleaning fluid, and a partition 65 that separates the flushing box 51 from the storage tank 54. The height of the partition 65 is equal to the height of the tips of the wipers 56, 57 when the wiper unit 55 is in the downward position. Therefore, an appropriate amount of cleaning fluid can be supplied from the storage tank 54 to the flushing box 51.

[0090] Furthermore, the rotating shaft 59 of the wiper unit 55 is located at a higher position than the partition 65. Therefore, there is no need to seal the rotating shaft 59 of the wiper unit 55. Furthermore, the height of the partition 65 is higher than the height of the rib 71. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink and cleaning liquid inside the rib 71 from mixing with the cleaning liquid supplied from the storage tank 54. Furthermore, the surface of the partition 65 facing the flushing foam 52 has ribs 67a and 67b that abut against the side surface of the flushing foam 52. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the flow of the cleaning liquid and the like stored in the flushing box 51 from stagnating.

[0091] The flushing box 51 and the storage tank 54 are adjacent to each other with a partition 65 extending in the front-to-rear direction 8 therebetween, and the central portion of the partition 65 is taller than both end portions, and the size of the central portion of the partition 65 is larger than the size of the flushing foam 52 in the front-to-rear direction 8. Therefore, a sufficient amount of cleaning liquid can be supplied from the storage tank 54 to the flushing box 51.

[0092] [Variations] Various modifications can be made to the maintenance device 50 according to this embodiment. The maintenance device 50 is provided with a pump 122 fluidly connected to the space 75. Maintenance devices according to modifications do not necessarily have to be provided with the pump 122 in order to discharge the ink and cleaning liquid from the space 75. Furthermore, in the maintenance device 50, the space 75 is an enclosed space. In maintenance devices according to modifications, the space formed by the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52, the rib 71, and a portion of the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 51 does not necessarily have to be so airtight as to be called an enclosed space.

[0093] In the maintenance device 50, the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 51 has one recess 72 inside the position of the rib 71. In a maintenance device according to a modified example, the inner bottom surface of the flushing box 51 may have two or more recesses 72 inside the position of the rib 71.

[0094] In the maintenance device 50, the rib 71 is annular, and the planar shape of the rib 71 is generally rectangular (see rib 71a shown in FIG. 10(A)). The shape of the rib 71 is not limited to this. In maintenance devices according to modified examples, the rib 71 may have, for example, the planar shape shown in FIGS. 10(B) to 10(F).

[0095] The rib 71b shown in FIG. 10(B) is roughly rectangular in shape with gaps at the four corners. The size of the gaps is set, for example, so that the gaps are filled by the surface tension of the ink. The rib 71b configured in this manner can be said to be an annular rib. The ribs 71c and 71d shown in FIGS. 10(C) and 10(D) are annular ribs. The rib 71c has a square shape (a rectangle with the four sides extended by a predetermined amount). The rib 71d has an elliptical shape. The ribs 71e and 71f shown in FIGS. 10(E) and 10(F) are not annular ribs, but each consist of two parts. The rib 71e has a planar shape consisting of two straight lines extending in the front-rear direction 8. The rib 71f has a planar shape consisting of two straight lines extending in the left-right direction 9.

[0096] The maintenance device according to the modified example may have any of the ribs 71a to 71f as the rib 71, in that it can support the bottom surface of the flushing foam 52 and form a space below the flushing foam 52. However, the annular ribs 71a to 71d are more preferable in that it can form an enclosed space below the flushing foam 52. Furthermore, the annular rib 71a, which has a rectangular planar shape, is even more preferable in that it can form an enclosed space below the flushing foam 52 and can surround all of the nozzles 44 of the head 42 without waste.

[0097] The maintenance device 50 is provided with a plate-like member 53 that holds down the flushing foam 52 and covers the top of the flushing box 51. A maintenance device according to a modified example need not have a member that covers the top of the flushing box, or the member that covers the top of the flushing box may be formed of wire or mesh material instead of the plate-like member 53 with the opening 58.

[0098] In the maintenance device 50, the front wall 62 and the rear wall 64 of the flushing box 51 each have two ribs 66. In a maintenance device according to a modified example, at least one of the internal side surfaces of the flushing box 51 may have multiple ribs that abut against the side surface of the flushing foam 52.

[0099] In the maintenance device 50, the flushing box 51 and the storage tank 54 are formed as a single unit. In a maintenance device according to a modified example, the flushing box 51 and the storage tank 54 may be formed separately. The maintenance device according to the modified example does not need to have elements for wiping (storage tank 54, wiper unit 55, and wipers 56, 57). In this case, the maintenance device according to the modified example only needs to have a supply unit that supplies cleaning liquid to the flushing box 51 without going through the storage tank 54.

[0100] In the maintenance device 50, the wiper unit 55 has two wipers 56, 57. In a maintenance device according to a modified example, the wiper unit 55 may have one wiper or three or more wipers. In the maintenance device 50, the height of the partition 65 is equal to the height of the tips of the wipers 56, 57 when the wiper unit 55 is in the downward position. In a maintenance device according to a modified example, the height of the partition 65 may be higher or lower than the height of the tips of the wipers 56, 57 when the wiper unit 55 is in the downward position.

[0101] In the maintenance device 50, the size of the central portion of the partition 65 is larger than the size of the flushing foam 52 in the front-to-rear direction 8. In a maintenance device according to a modified example, the size of the central portion of the partition 65 may be smaller than the size of the flushing foam 52 in the front-to-rear direction 8. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 8...Anteroposterior direction (first direction) 10. Printer (image recording device) 42...head 44 Nozzle 50 Maintenance equipment 51 Flushing box (storage box) 52···Flushing Foam (Foam) 52···Flushing Foam 53 Plate-shaped member 54... Reservoir 55···Wiper unit 56, 57 Wiper 58...Aperture 59 Rotational axis 65···Divider 66··· rib (second rib) 67··· rib (third rib) 71 Rib 72 Recess 75...space 122···Pump (Suction Pump)

Claims

1. A maintenance device for an image recording device equipped with a head having a nozzle for ejecting liquid, comprising: a foam for absorbing liquid discharged from the nozzle; a container having no top surface and configured to contain the foam; The inner bottom surface of the container has ribs that support the bottom surface of the foam; A space is formed by the bottom surface of the foam, the rib, and a part of the inner bottom surface of the storage box, The maintenance device, wherein the rib is annular.

2. 2. The maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the inner bottom surface of the storage box has a recess, below the direction of gravity in a region surrounded by the annular rib, whose cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of gravity decreases downward in the direction of gravity.

3. The maintenance device according to claim 2 , wherein the rib has a planar shape capable of surrounding all the nozzles of the head.

4. Further, a plate-like member is provided to hold down the foam and cover an upper portion of the storage box, the plate-like member has an opening through which a portion of an upper surface of the foam is exposed; 4. The maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the rib is positioned below a position of the plate member excluding the opening.

5. A maintenance device for an image recording device equipped with a head having a nozzle for ejecting liquid, comprising: a foam for absorbing liquid discharged from the nozzle; a container having no top surface for containing the foam; a plate-like member that holds the foam and covers an upper portion of the storage box; The inner bottom surface of the container has ribs that support the bottom surface of the foam; A space is formed by the bottom surface of the foam, the rib, and a part of the inner bottom surface of the storage box, the plate-like member has an opening through which a portion of an upper surface of the foam is exposed; The rib is a maintenance device located below a position of the plate-like member excluding the opening.

6. The maintenance device according to claim 1 or 5, further comprising a suction pump fluidly connected to the space.

7. The maintenance device according to claim 6, wherein the space is an enclosed space.

8. 8. The maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner side surfaces of the storage box has a plurality of second ribs that abut against a side surface of the foam.

9. The maintenance device according to claim 8 , wherein the rib and the second rib are positioned at separate positions.

10. a storage tank adjacent to the storage box for storing a cleaning liquid; a wiper unit having a wiper and configured to rotate about a rotation axis between a first position where the wiper is immersed in the cleaning liquid stored in the storage tank and a second position where the wiper is not immersed in the cleaning liquid; Further comprising a partition separating the storage box and the storage tank, 10. The maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the partition is equal to the height of the tip of the wiper when the wiper unit is located at the first position.

11. The maintenance device according to claim 10, wherein the rotation shaft of the wiper unit is positioned higher than the partition.

12. 12. The maintenance device according to claim 10, wherein the height of the partition is greater than the height of the rib.

13. 13. The maintenance device according to claim 10, wherein a surface of the partition facing the foam has a third rib that abuts against a side surface of the foam.

14. The storage box and the storage tank are adjacent to each other with the partition extending in a first direction therebetween, The partition has a center portion lower in height than both end portions in the first direction, The maintenance device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the size of the central portion is greater than the size of the foam in the first direction.

15. A head having a nozzle for ejecting liquid; a carriage which carries the head and moves; An image recording device comprising: the maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

Images