JP3138655B2 - Cap mechanism of inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cap mechanism for an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to a cap mechanism for an ink jet recording apparatus which covers an ink discharge port forming surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the related art. Auxiliary cleaning means 24 is provided adjacent to the wiper member 23 at a position facing the nozzle surface 22 of the recording head 21. The auxiliary cleaning means 24 includes an ink absorbing member 25 for absorbing ink attached to the wiper member 23, and a regular wiper. An advancing / retracting drive unit that causes the ink absorbing member to relatively move to a position where the ink absorbing member is brought into contact with the wiping surface of the wiper member when the wiping operation by the wiper member is completed. (See, for example,
297723)

In the prior art described above, it is necessary to replace the ink absorbing member when the ink absorbing member becomes saturated, and it is necessary to mechanically drive the ink absorbing member by means of the advance / retreat driving means. There was a disadvantage that it did not.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap mechanism for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising an ink absorber provided on a non-printing area side of a guide holder and a wiper provided on a non-printing area side of a carrier. It comprises a rib for transferring ink and transferring the ink to the ink absorber , and a pump for sucking the ink contained in the ink absorber through a tube.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap mechanism for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a cap mounted on a carrier, which is in close contact with a nozzle surface at a tip end of a head; a cap base, which is fitted to a part of the cap; regulated at least vertically, and wherein a guide holder cap base to coercive <br/> lifting, and a rib provided on said carrier in the vicinity of the nozzle face of the head tip, the ink in contact with the rib An absorber is provided on the guide holder at a position facing the rib, and the ink absorber contacts the rib only when the cap is in close contact with the nozzle.

[0006] A cap mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the cap mechanism of the second aspect, further comprising a pump for sucking the ink of the ink absorber through a tube.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a cap mechanism for an ink jet recording apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein an elastic body is provided between the cap base and the guide holder.

[0008]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a partially cutaway side view and a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. Capping mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the guide holder 6
The ink absorber 7 provided on the non-printing area side of
Includes a rib 3 provided on the non-printing area side for transferring ink adhering to the wiper 12 and transferring it to the ink absorber 7, and a pump 11 for sucking ink contained in the ink absorber 7 through a tube 10a. Be composed.

The carrier 1 has three types of heads 2a and 2
b and 2c are integrally formed and attached to a plate (not shown). A nozzle plate covered with a cap 4 is provided at the tip of each of the heads 2a, 2b, 2c. The cap 4 is made of an elastic material such as a rubber material, and is fitted to a protruding rib of the cap base 5. The cap 4 has an opening that covers the nozzle at a distance of 1 to 1.5 mm from the center of the hole of all nozzles. An ink flow path is formed in the cap base 5 so as to communicate with the opening of the cap 4. Ribs are formed around the cap base 5, and the ribs restrict up, down, left, and right movements in the guide holder 6.

Between the cap base 5 and the guide holder 6, there are provided compression springs 9a and 9b, which are elastic bodies for increasing the adhesion of the cap 4 and absorbing the dispersion of the adhesion. An ink absorber 7 is provided on the guide holder 6 so as to be in contact with the rib 3 protruding from the carrier 1 on the side opposite to the printing area of the guide holder 6, and the ink absorbed by the ink absorber 7 is supplied to the tube 10a. Is sucked by the pump 11 through

A projection is provided on the side of the cap base 5 opposite to the surface on which the cap 4 is mounted, and one end of the tube 10b is connected to the projection. As a material of the tube 10b, a material having low gas permeability and low water vapor permeability, for example, EPD
It is desirable that the surface of M, IIR, fluorine or silicon is coated with an organic or inorganic material having low gas permeability and low water vapor permeability. The other end of the tube 10b communicates with a pump 11 that performs a suction operation.

A wiper 12 made of an elastic material is provided on the printing area side of the cap 4. The wiper 12 wipes the ink on the nozzle surface, and maintains the posture perpendicular to the nozzle surface and wipes the nozzle surface only when the carrier 1 moves from right to left. When the carrier 1 moves from left to right, the wiper 12
And it does not touch the nozzle surface.

As the carrier 1 moves from left to right, the cap 4 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface while the guide holder 6 is lifted by the cap lever 14 to protect the area around the nozzle from dust and drying.

The pump 11 is driven by driving means 15 connected to a paper feed motor.

Next, the operation will be described. The carrier 1 is moved left and right along a guide shaft 16 by a motor, and forms an image on a sheet conveyed by a sheet feed motor. When ink ejection failure occurs, the cap 4 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface, and the ink is sucked from the nozzle.
After the suction is completed, the cap 4 is separated from the nozzle surface, and the nozzle cotton is rubbed with the wiper 12. At this time, the heads 2a, 2b, 2
The ink on the nozzle surface is scraped off in the order of c.
After scraping c, the surface of the wiper 12 on the nozzle surface side is rubbed with the rib 3 provided on the carrier 1 near the head 2c to scrape the ink on the surface. At this time, the scraped ink adheres to the surface of the rib 3 on the head 2c side.

The carrier 1 moves to the position of the cap 4 to protect the heads 2a, 2b, 2c. When the carrier 1 comes to this position, the cap 4 moves the heads 2a, 2b, 2
Cover c. The ink absorber 7 provided on the guide holder 6
The ink 8 is in contact with the rib 3 and absorbs the ink 8 attached to the rib 3. Pump 8 absorbs ink 8 absorbed by ink absorber 7
The ink 8 adhering to the rib 3 can be removed stably over a long period of time.

[0018]

As described above, the cap mechanism of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention transfers ink adhered to the wiper to the ink absorber and sucks the ink contained in the ink absorber with a pump, thereby stabilizing the ink for a long time. This has the effect of removing ink adhering to the ribs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carrier 2 head 3 rib 4 cap 5 cap base 6 guide holder 7 ink absorber 8 ink 9 spring 10 tube 11 homp 12 wiper 16 guide shaft

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An ink absorber provided on a non-printing area side of a guide holder; a rib provided on a non-printing area side of a carrier for transferring ink adhered to a wiper and transferring the ink to the ink absorber; A pump for sucking ink contained in the ink through a tube. 2. A cap mounted on a carrier for closely adhering a nozzle surface at a tip end of a head, a cap base fitted to a part of the cap, a movement of the cap base at least up and down, and the cap base And a rib provided on the carrier in the vicinity of the nozzle surface at the tip of the head, and the ink absorber faces the rib of the guide holder so as to be in contact with the rib. Wherein the ink absorbing member is in contact with the rib only when the cap is in close contact with the nozzle. 3. A cap mechanism for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a pump for sucking the ink of said ink absorber through a tube. 4. The cap mechanism according to claim 2, wherein an elastic body is provided between the cap base and the guide holder.