JP4848807B2 - Liquid ejector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) is a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects ink (liquid) to a target from a nozzle opening formed on a nozzle forming surface of a recording head (liquid ejecting head). Is widely known. In this printer, when ink adhering to the nozzle formation surface is wiped off by a wiper member as part of the maintenance operation for the recording head, the meniscus of the plurality of nozzle openings may become uneven. Further, in a nozzle opening where ink ejection is small during printing, there is a possibility that the ink thickens in the nozzle opening and clogs.

  Therefore, in such a printer, so-called flushing, in which ink is forcibly ejected from a nozzle opening of the recording head based on a drive signal unrelated to printing at the time of non-printing, is appropriately performed. If the distance between the recording head and the flushing box at that time is large, the ink ejected from the recording head is subjected to air resistance before it reaches the flushing box, changes to a mist, and floats. There is a risk that the inside will be soiled. Therefore, recently, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1, a printer has been proposed in which a flushing box (liquid receptor) is disposed close to and opposed to a nozzle formation surface of a recording head.

On the other hand, in such a printer, when the thickness of a target recording medium (paper or the like) changes, the interval between the nozzle formation surface of the recording head and the platen (also referred to as a platen gap) according to the change in thickness. ) Need to be changed. For this reason, normally, as described in Patent Document 2, for example, in a printer, a guide shaft that slidably supports a carriage on which a recording head is mounted is displaced up and down in accordance with a change in the thickness of the target. Thus, a platen gap adjustment mechanism (interval changing means) that can adjust the platen gap described above is provided.
JP 2000-153621 A JP 2004-230830 A

  By the way, in the printer of Patent Document 2, when the platen gap is changed by the platen gap adjustment mechanism so that the flushing box remains in a fixed arrangement state, the distance between the flushing box and the recording head is changed. Becomes larger, and the above-mentioned mist problem is induced at the time of flushing. For this reason, in the printer of Patent Document 2, the case of the cleaning device that houses a cap that also functions as a flushing box is supported in a cantilevered state by a bracket with respect to the guide shaft, and the platen gap adjustment mechanism moves the guide shaft up and down. In the same manner, the entire case moves up and down in conjunction with the up and down movement of the guide shaft. Then, by moving the cleaning device case up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the recording head in this way, even when the platen gap is changed in the increasing direction, the gap between the cap functioning as the flushing box and the recording head is changed. These intervals are kept close to each other so as to suppress the generation of mist during flushing.

  However, in the configuration in which the case of the cleaning device is cantilevered on the guide shaft via the bracket, the support state of the case is likely to be unstable, and the cap in the case is properly attached to the nozzle formation surface of the recording head during flushing. There was a possibility that it would not be in the close opposed arrangement state. Therefore, there is a possibility that the ink ejected as the waste liquid from the recording head at the time of flushing may not be satisfactorily received by the cap functioning as the flushing box, and there has been a demand for improvement in this respect.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. The purpose is to have the liquid receiver close to the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head even when the distance between the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and the target support is changed. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can be stably supported in an opposing arrangement state and can accept discharged liquid well without making it mist.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relating to the liquid ejecting apparatus is formed on the nozzle forming surface by causing the nozzle forming surface to face the target supported on the target support in the vicinity of the target when the liquid is ejected. A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle opening toward a target, and an opening corresponding to the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, the opening facing the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head When disposed, the liquid ejecting head is moved relative to the target support and a liquid receiver capable of receiving the liquid discharged from the nozzle opening of the nozzle forming surface as waste liquid through the opening. An interval changing means for changing an interval between the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and the target support, and supporting one end of the liquid receiver. A liquid receptor moving mechanism that moves the liquid receiver between a receiving position where the opening portion faces the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and a non-receiving position spaced from the receiving position. When the liquid receptor is moved to the receiving position by the liquid receptor moving mechanism, the liquid receiver is brought into contact with at least the other end side of the liquid receptor, so that the liquid ejector is opened by the liquid jet. A liquid receptor support mechanism for supporting the head so as to be in a position close to a nozzle forming surface of the head , wherein the liquid receptor support mechanism is configured such that the liquid receptor is moved to the receiving position by the liquid receptor moving mechanism. The relative movement direction relative to the other end side of the liquid receiver when the liquid jet head is moved in a direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction of the liquid jet head with respect to the target support Position and a successively abutting possible other end supporting portion at differing plurality of positions in accordance with the displacement in a direction orthogonal to the relative moving direction on.

According to this configuration, for example, when the type of the target is changed, the interval between the nozzle formation surface of the liquid jet head and the target support is changed by the interval changing unit. On the other hand, the liquid receptor having an opening capable of receiving the liquid discharged as the waste liquid from the nozzle opening of the liquid ejecting head has been moved to the receiving position while being supported at one end by the liquid receptor moving mechanism. In this case, at least the other end side contacts the liquid receptor support mechanism at the receiving position, so that the opening is supported in close proximity to the nozzle forming surface. That is, when the liquid receptor is moved in the receiving position by the liquid receptor moving mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head, the other end side of the liquid receiver is moved to the other end of the liquid receptor supporting mechanism during the movement. The liquid jet head is sequentially brought into contact with the side support portion at a plurality of positions at different positions in the relative movement direction. The liquid receiver can move the opening relative to the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head by the difference in the contact position in the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head with the other end side support. It becomes. At the receiving position, the liquid receptor is shared and supported by the liquid receptor moving mechanism and the liquid receptor support mechanism at both the one end side and the other end side. Therefore, even when the interval between the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and the target support is changed, the liquid receiver is placed in an arrangement state in which the opening portion is close to and faces the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head. The liquid can be stably supported, and the discharged liquid can be well received without making it mist.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, in the plurality of positions, the interval between the liquid receiver and the nozzle forming surface is different, and is orthogonal to the relative movement direction according to the interval between the nozzle forming surface and the target support. The liquid receiver is displaced in the direction of movement .

  Further, in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the other end side support portion can come into contact with the other end side of the liquid receiver at a plurality of positions at different positions in the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head. Movement of the liquid receptor from a plurality of abutting portions provided in a stepped manner to the other abutting portion on the other end side of the liquid receptor between the abutting portions. Accordingly, it is configured to have a sliding contact portion that slides and guides.

  According to this configuration, at the receiving position, the liquid receiver is sequentially brought into contact with the respective contact portions of the liquid receiver support mechanism at the other end side of the liquid receiver, so that the position state is the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head. Will change. When moving between adjacent contact portions, the sliding contact portion slides and guides the other end of the liquid receiver from one contact portion to the other contact portion. It is possible to move the receptor while smoothly displacing it.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, when the other end side of the liquid receiver is in contact with the other end side support portion of the liquid receptor support mechanism, the liquid receptor support mechanism There is provided a biasing means for biasing the liquid receiver in a direction in which the other end side of the liquid receiver is pressed against the other end support portion of the liquid receiver support mechanism.

  According to this configuration, at the receiving position, the other end side of the liquid receiver is pressed against the other end side support portion of the liquid receiver support mechanism by the urging force of the urging means. For this reason, the liquid receiver is stably supported without being displaced from the arrangement state in which the opening portion is close to and opposed to the nozzle formation surface of the liquid jet head at the receiving position.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the liquid receiver may be supported such that one end side thereof is rotatable with respect to the liquid receptor moving mechanism and is displaceable in the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head. In the liquid receptor support mechanism, the liquid receptor causes the other end side of the liquid receptor to abut on the other end side support portion of the liquid receptor support mechanism, so that the opening portion is the liquid ejecting head. When the liquid receptor is moved in a direction close to the nozzle forming surface, the liquid receiver is brought into contact with one end side of the liquid receiver so that the opening is in an oppositely arranged state parallel to the nozzle forming surface. One end side support part to support is provided.

  According to this configuration, at the receiving position, the liquid receptor is supported at the other end side by the other end side support portion of the liquid receptor support mechanism, and one end side thereof contacts the one end side support portion of the liquid receptor support mechanism. When in contact, the one end side and the other end side move to the liquid ejecting head side, and the opening is in a parallel arrangement state close to the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the liquid receptor may be supported at one end side thereof so as to be rotatable with respect to the liquid receptor moving mechanism. A liquid discharge path for sucking and discharging the liquid based on driving of the suction / discharge means is connected.

  According to this configuration, the liquid receiver in the receiving position is positioned in the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head by contacting the other end side of the liquid receiver with the other end side support portion of the liquid receiver support mechanism rather than the position of the one end side. When the positional relationship is on the liquid ejecting head side, the liquid in the liquid receiving body can be easily collected to one end side to which the liquid discharge path is connected. By driving the suction / discharge means, the liquid as the waste liquid can be sucked and discharged from the liquid receptor through the liquid discharge path, so that the liquid receiving ability of the liquid receiver can be maintained well.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the liquid receptor moving mechanism may include a driving force transmission member that operates at a fixed position between the receiving position and the non-receiving position when the driving force is generated, and the driving force transmission. A moving member that moves in a predetermined direction between the receiving position and the non-receiving position in accordance with the operation of the member is provided, and one end side is supported by the moving member, so that the liquid receptor is disposed on the moving member. It is configured to move between the receiving position and the non-receiving position in conjunction with the movement.

  According to this configuration, the liquid receptor moves between the receiving position and the non-receiving position in conjunction with the movement of the moving member while the moving member moves along with the operation of the driving force transmitting member. The liquid receptor can be easily moved with simple driving contents.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the driving force transmission member may include a long bar-shaped feeding member that has a feed screw portion on an outer peripheral surface thereof and that rotates about the axis when the driving force is generated. And the moving member has an engaging portion that engages with the feed screw portion of the feed member, and the engaging portion is engaged and guided by the feed screw portion when the feed member rotates. It is set as the structure which moves forward / backward along the longitudinal direction of a feed member.

  According to this configuration, during the movement of the moving member with the rotation of the long bar-shaped feeding member that constitutes the driving force transmitting member, the liquid receptor is moved between the receiving position and the non-receiving position in conjunction with the movement of the moving member. To move between. Accordingly, the liquid receiver can be easily moved with a simple drive content of rotating the feed member, and the opening of the liquid receiver is arranged close to the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head at the receiving position. Can be in a state.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention is embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 10 as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a main body case 11 having a substantially box shape. A platen 12 as a target support is installed in the lower part of the main body case 11 along the longitudinal direction (main scanning direction which is the left-right direction in FIG. 1), and not shown below the platen 12. A waste ink tank is provided. The platen 12 is a support base that supports the paper P as a target, and is based on the driving force of the paper feed motor 14 that the paper feed mechanism 13 has outside the main body case 11. Feeding is performed along (the front-rear direction in FIG. 1).

  A guide shaft 15 is installed above the platen 12 in the main body case 11, and a carriage 16 is supported on the guide shaft 15. That is, the carriage 16 is supported so as to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the guide shaft 15 by inserting the guide shaft 15 through a support hole 16a formed penetrating in the main scanning direction. A driving pulley 17 and a driven pulley 18 are rotatably supported at positions corresponding to both ends of the guide shaft 15 on the inner surface of the main body case 11. A carriage motor 19 that is a driving source for reciprocating the carriage 16 is drivingly connected to the driving pulley 17, and a timing belt 20 that fixes and supports the carriage 16 is hooked between the pair of pulleys 17 and 18. Yes. Accordingly, the carriage 16 is movable in the main scanning direction via the timing belt 20 by driving the carriage motor 19 while being guided by the guide shaft 15.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a recording head 21 as a liquid ejecting head is provided on the lower surface side of the carriage 16. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzle openings 22 are arranged in a plurality of rows (five rows in FIG. 2) along the front-rear direction on the nozzle forming surface 21 a formed on the lower surface of the recording head 21. 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, and 22E are formed at regular intervals in the left-right direction. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the nozzle row 22E located at the rightmost end in FIG. 2 is formed by the nozzle openings 22 that eject black ink for black and white printing, and the other nozzle rows 22A to 22D are for color printing. It is formed by nozzle openings 22 for ejecting color ink.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of ink cartridges 23 (five in the present embodiment) for supplying ink to the recording head 21 are detachably mounted on the carriage 16. Each of these ink cartridges 23 individually corresponds to each of the nozzle rows 22A to 22E formed on the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21, and passes through an ink channel (not shown) formed in the recording head 21. The ink is individually supplied to the nozzle openings 22 of the corresponding nozzle rows 22A to 22E. Incidentally, in this embodiment, black ink for black and white printing is stored in the ink cartridge 23 located at the rightmost end in FIG. 1, and each color ink for color printing is stored in each of the other ink cartridges 23. ing.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a guide shaft 15 that supports the carriage 16 includes a cylindrical outer shaft 15a and an inner shaft that is rotatably inserted inside the outer shaft 15a. 15b. Eccentric shafts 100 project from positions deviated from the axial center of the inner shaft 15b, which is also the axial center of the guide shaft 15, on both end faces of the inner shaft 15b. Each eccentric shaft 100 is rotatably inserted into the left and right side walls of the main body case 11, and has a long groove shape at the protruding end of each eccentric shaft 100 protruding from the left and right side walls of the main body case 11. The operation lever 101 having the operation groove 101a is fixed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 (a) and 3 (b), on the outer surface of each of the left and right side walls of the main body case 11, in the vicinity of the operating lever 101 fixed to the protruding end of each eccentric shaft 100, An operation lever 102 having a letter shape is rotatably arranged with a central portion supported by a support shaft 103 protruding from the outer surface of the side wall of the main body case 11. The operation lever 102 has a grip portion 104 to be gripped by the user on one end side which is the upper side, and a slide which slidably engages with the operation groove 101a of the operation lever 101 on the other end side which is the lower side. It has a child 105. In the printer 10, the operation lever 102 is rotated in the direction of arrow R shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B by the user holding the holding portion 104, so that the guide shaft 15 moves up and down. At the same time, the carriage 16 supported by the guide shaft 15 moves up and down together with the recording head 21.

  That is, when the operation lever 102 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3A in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the operating lever 101 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. Become. Then, as the eccentric shaft 100 is rotated, the inner shaft 15b is rotated by the height H as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B while rotating so that the inner shaft 15b swings around the eccentric shaft 100. Become. As a result, the outer shaft 15a that is rotatably inserted through the inner shaft 15b also rises by the height H, so that the carriage 16 supported by the guide shaft 15 composed of the inner shaft 15b and the outer shaft 15a is also recorded. The head 21 rises together with the height H.

  On the contrary, when the operation lever 102 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3B in the state shown in FIG. 3B, the operation lever 101 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. It will be. Then, as the eccentric shaft 100 rotates, the inner shaft 15b is lowered so as to swing about the eccentric shaft 100 as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). Become. As a result, the outer shaft 15a that is rotatably inserted through the inner shaft 15b is also lowered by the height H, so that the carriage 16 supported by the guide shaft 15 composed of the inner shaft 15b and the outer shaft 15a is also recorded. The head 21 moves down by the height H.

  As described above, the recording head 21 in the printer 10 has the operation lever 101 and the operation lever 102 when the thickness of the paper P supported on the platen 12 is different as shown in FIGS. Intervals between the nozzle forming surface 21a and the platen 12 (also referred to as platen gaps) PG1 and PG2 are changed by the interval changing means. That is, the recording head 21 is configured such that the relative distance between the upper surface (that is, the printing surface) of the paper P and the nozzle forming surface 21a is constant by moving relative to the platen 12 in the vertical direction. .

  Further, in one end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) in the main body case 11, that is, in a non-printing area where the paper P does not reach, when the printer 10 is powered off or when the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 is maintained. A home position HP for positioning the carriage 16 is provided. At a position below the home position HP, a maintenance unit 24 that performs various maintenance operations is provided so that ink ejection from the recording head 21 to the paper P is well maintained.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the maintenance unit 24 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the maintenance unit 24 includes a unit main body 25 having a substantially rectangular frame shape. The unit body 25 includes a substantially box-shaped rear casing 25a having an open rear side, a front casing 25b having a substantially box-like shape that is open on the rear side and is larger in the front-rear direction than the rear casing 25a, both casings 25a, A right frame 25c that connects the right ends of 25b and a left frame 25d that connects the left ends of the casings 25a and 25b are provided. Then, on the rear side of the rear casing 25a in the unit main body 25, a motor housing portion 26a (see FIG. 5) is recessed from the rear side to the front side in the right half so as to close the rear opening of the rear casing 25a. An auxiliary casing 26 is attached.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a mounting plate 27 wider than the left and right widths of the unit main body 25 is fixed in a horizontal state on the lower side of the unit main body 25. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, a suction pump 29 as a suction / discharge means including a motor 28 and a tube pump is supported in an oblique manner via a mounting bracket 27a. Then, the maintenance unit 24 is supported by the main body case 11 with the attachment plate 27 in the unit main body 25 via attachment means (not shown), so that the position below the home position HP in the main body case 11 is shown in FIG. It is fixed to.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the maintenance unit 24, a drive motor (drive source) 30 capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions is attached in the motor housing portion 26 a of the auxiliary casing 26. The output shaft 30a (see FIG. 6) of the drive motor 30 extends through the auxiliary casing 26 to the front side, and the tip of the output shaft 30a is located in the rear casing 25a of the unit body 25. It is configured.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, between the rear casing 25a and the front casing 25b in the unit main body 25, a right lead screw 31 and a left lead screw 32 as a driving force transmitting member and a feeding member are provided. It is constructed so as to be rotatable in a horizontal state along the front-rear direction at a position above the left and right frames 25c and 25d and closer to the inside. As shown in FIG. 8, each of these lead screws 31 and 32 has first feed screw portions 33 and 35 having relatively small pitch sizes on the outer peripheral surfaces on the front end side and the rear end side in the longitudinal direction. The second feed screw portions 34 and 36 having a relatively large pitch are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction. The rear end portion of the right lead screw 31 and the rear end portion of the left lead screw 32 are respectively introduced into the rear casing 25a.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the unit main body 25 and the auxiliary casing 26 are removed from the maintenance unit 24 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear ends of both the lead screws 31 and 32 are shown in FIG. Toothed pulleys 37 and 38 are respectively mounted, and an endless pinion belt 39 is hung between the two toothed pulleys 37 and 38. Further, the toothed pulley 37 attached to the rear end portion of the right lead screw 31 is connected to the tip of the output shaft 30a of the drive motor 30 through the transmission gear 40 so as to be able to transmit power. Therefore, the left and right lead screws 31 and 32 are configured to rotate synchronously in the same direction around the axis S (see FIG. 6) as the driving force is generated by the rotation of the drive motor 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the left and right lead screws 31, 32 have a plurality of moving members 41, 42 (a total of six left and right pairs in this embodiment) along the axis S direction. 43 are screwed together. That is, all the moving members 41, 42, 43 are mounted on the common lead screws 31, 32. As shown in FIG. 9, each of the moving members 41, 42, and 43 has a hole 45 formed in a part of a cylindrical portion 44 that is a screwed portion with respect to the lead screws 31 and 32. A pin 46 as an engaging portion is fitted inside.

  And in each cylindrical part 44, as for each pin 46, those front-end | tips continue spirally between the 1st feed screw parts 33 and 35 of the lead screws 31 and 32, and the 2nd feed screw parts 34 and 36. It is engaged with the formed thread groove 47. Therefore, when this pin 46 is engaged and guided in the thread groove 47 when the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated, the moving members 41 to 43 are paired on the left and right sides, and the axis of the same lead screw 31 and 32 is set. It is configured to move forward and backward sequentially along the S direction. Specifically, since the pitch of the thread groove 47 for engaging and guiding the pin 46 changes in the middle of the lead screws 31 and 32 in the axis S direction, the rotational speed of the lead screws 31 and 32 is constant. The moving members 41 to 43 are configured such that the moving speed changes with the change in the pitch of the thread groove 47. That is, each of the moving members 41 to 43 has a slow moving speed in the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 having a relatively small pitch, and moves in the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 having a relatively large pitch. Increases speed.

  Further, in each of the moving members 41 to 43, two or more moving members are not simultaneously engaged with the second feed screw portions 34 and 36, and only one moving member is engaged with the second feed screw portion. Further, the lead screws 31 and 32 are spaced apart in the axis S direction. That is, the number of pitches existing between the pins 46 of the moving members 41 to 43 in the direction of the axis S of the lead screws 31 and 32 is set to be greater than or equal to the pitch number of the second feed screw portions 34 and 36. Therefore, when the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated, when one moving member is engaged with the second feed screw portions 34 and 36, the other moving member is simultaneously engaged with the second feed screw portions 34 and 36. Only one moving member engaged with the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 at that time moves at a high speed.

  Incidentally, in the present embodiment, when the drive motor 30 is driven forward, both lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the forward direction, and the moving members 41 to 43 move from the rear casing 25a side to the front casing 25b side. And is configured to move forward. On the other hand, when the drive motor 30 is driven in the reverse direction, both the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the reverse direction, and the moving members 41 to 43 move backward from the front casing 25b side to the rear casing 25a side. It is configured. The lead screw 31, 32 and the moving members 41 to 43 constitute a driving force transmission device in the present embodiment, and in particular, the liquid receptor moving mechanism is constituted by the lead screws 31, 32 and the moving member 43. Has been.

  Here, of the moving members 41 to 43, the moving member 41 located on the foremost side in the direction of the axis S of the lead screws 31 and 32 is a cap means and valve that will be described later with a driving force based on the rotation of the lead screws 31 and 32. It is configured as a moving member 41 for cap means and valve means for transmitting to the means, respectively. Further, the moving member 42 located second from the front side in the direction of the axis S of the lead screws 31 and 32 is a wiping means moving member 42 that transmits a driving force based on the rotation of the lead screws 31 and 32 to the wiping means described later. It is configured as. Further, the moving member 43 located on the rearmost side in the direction of the axis S of the lead screws 31 and 32 is for wiping means that respectively transmits the driving force based on the rotation of the lead screws 31 and 32 to the wiping means and the liquid receiving means described later. And a moving member 43 for liquid receiving means.

First, the moving member 41 for the cap means and the valve means will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the moving member 41 for the cap means and the valve means has a substantially rectangular plate portion 48 that is long in the front-rear direction, inside the left and right frames 25 c and 25 d in the unit body 25. Are integrally formed so as to be suspended. The plate portion 48 is formed with a guide long hole 49 that functions as a linking portion for the cap means in the moving member 41. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the guide long holes 49 are formed from a rear horizontal portion 49 a that extends horizontally from a lower portion on the rear end side of the plate portion 48 to a substantially intermediate position in the front-rear direction, and from a front end of the rear horizontal portion 49 a. The plate portion 48 includes an inclined portion 49b extending obliquely toward the vicinity of the upper portion on the front end side, and a front horizontal portion 49c extending horizontally from the front end of the inclined portion 49b to the upper portion on the front end side of the plate portion 48.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the upper side is opened at a position inside the plate portion 48 and corresponding to the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 in the lead screws 31 and 32. A rectangular frame-shaped holder member 50 is disposed. And the cap member 51 which comprises a cap means in this holder member 50 is accommodated in the state which was accommodated in the cap holder 51a which makes bottomed box shape so that it can move to the up-down direction with the cap holder 51a. A coil spring (not shown) is interposed between the lower surface of the cap member 51 and the inner bottom surface of the cap holder 51a so as to urge the cap member 51 upward. 10 to 12 show a state in which the maintenance unit 24 is viewed from the left side. Accordingly, FIGS. 10 to 12 show the left lead screw 32 and its feed screw with respect to the left and right lead screws 31 and 32. Only the portions 35 and 36 are shown.

Here, the cap member 51 which comprises a cap means is demonstrated.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and FIGS. 10 to 12, the cap member 51 has a substantially rectangular box shape, and each nozzle row 22 </ b> A formed on the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21 is formed on the upper surface side thereof. A plurality of (five in this embodiment) rectangular annular seal portions 52 corresponding to 22B, 22C, 22D, and 22E are formed. Each cap chamber (not shown) recessed inside each seal portion 52 contains an ink absorbing material 53 to absorb and hold ink ejected from the nozzle openings 22 of the nozzle rows 22A to 22E. It is like that.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, convex portions 54 are formed in the horizontal direction from the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls of the cap holder 51 a, and each convex portion 54 guides the plate portion 48 formed integrally with the moving member 41. It is engaged in the long hole 49. Therefore, when the moving member 41 (and the plate portion 48) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction with the rotation of the lead screws 31 and 32, the convex portion 54 of the cap holder 51a slides in the guide elongated hole 49 of the plate portion 48. In particular, when sliding along the slanted portion 49b of the guide slot 49, it moves in the vertical direction.

  That is, the cap member 51 is in the sealed position in which the cap member 51a moves upward when the convex portion 54 of the cap holder 51a is engaged with the front horizontal portion 49c of the guide slot 49 of the plate portion 48. Thus, the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21 can be sealed by the close contact action of the seal portion 52. On the other hand, the cap member 51 is separated from the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21 when the convex portion 54 of the cap holder 51 a is engaged with the rear horizontal portion 49 a of the guide slot 49 of the plate portion 48. It will be in the non-sealing position state which moved most downward among the performed positions.

  Then, when the moving member 41 passes through the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate, the cap member 51 has the convex portion 54 of the cap holder 51 a integrated with the moving member 41. It is slidably guided by the inclined portion 49b of the guide long hole 49 of the moving plate portion 48, and is moved up and down in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 41 between the sealing position and the non-sealing position. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ink discharge tube 55 constituting the liquid flow path is drawn from the front side wall of the cap member 51 so as to correspond to each cap chamber containing the ink absorbing material 53. Each of these ink discharge tubes 55 is drawn into a suction pump 29 supported via a mounting plate 27 below the unit body 25. When the suction pump 29 is driven when the cap member 51 is in the sealed position, waste ink is sucked from the corresponding cap chamber through each ink discharge tube 55, and the lower part in the main body case 11 is drawn. The ink is discharged to a waste ink tank (not shown) provided in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 13, and 14, a plate disposed inside the right frame 25 c of the unit main body 25, of both plate portions 48 that are integrally suspended from the pair of left and right moving members 41. A pressing piece 56 having a substantially triangular shape in plan view is formed so as to protrude in the horizontal direction from the outer surface of the portion 48. The pressing piece 56 functions as a linking portion for the valve means in the moving member 41 and protrudes to the outside of the unit main body 25 through a notch groove 57 formed in the right frame 25c along the front-rear direction. . When the moving member 41 (and the plate portion 48) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction along with the rotation of the lead screws 31 and 32, the moving member 41 (and the plate portion 48) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction, and the valve An air release valve device 58 having means is configured to operate.

Here, the atmosphere release valve device 58 having valve means will be described.
As specifically shown in FIG. 4, the air release valve device 58 is positioned outside the rear end portion of the right frame 25 c in the unit body 25 on the moving path of the pressing piece 56 of the moving member 41 described above. Is provided. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the atmosphere release valve device 58 has a bottomed square box-like case portion 59 fixed to the right frame 25 c of the unit body 25, and the bottom wall 60 of the case portion 59 has a bottom wall 60. A rectangular through hole 61 occupying a substantially half area of the front end side of the bottom wall 60 is formed.

  The bottom wall 60 of the case portion 59 is formed with a plurality of (in this embodiment, five) cylindrical portions 62 whose end portions protrude in both the upper and lower directions, and the inside of each cylindrical portion 62 constitutes an air release hole 63. ing. One end of each atmospheric tube 64 is connected to the end portion of each cylindrical portion 62 extending downward from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 60. The other end of each atmospheric tube 64 is the rear side wall of the cap member 51 as shown in FIG. It is configured to be drawn into the interior and communicate with each cap chamber that corresponds individually.

  On the other hand, a valve seat 65 made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided at the end of the case portion 59 that protrudes toward the upper surface of the bottom wall 60 of each cylindrical portion 62 so that the atmosphere opening state of the atmosphere opening hole 63 is ensured. On the valve seat 65, a valve body 66 as a valve means having a rectangular plate shape is placed on the valve seat 65 as shown in FIGS. 13 (a), 14 (a) and 14 (b). On the upper surface of the valve body 66, a pair of left and right engaging pieces 67 are erected so as to face each other in a hook shape from a position that is substantially intermediate in the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b), projections 69 are provided so as to project from the respective outer side surfaces of both locking pieces 67 into a notch groove 68 that is notched downward from the upper end of the case portion 59. ing. Then, the valve body 66 causes the inside of the ink discharge tube 55 communicating with the atmosphere tube 64 and the cap chamber to communicate with the atmosphere by the protrusion 69 sliding in the notch groove 68 in the vertical direction. It is configured to move between an open position (upper position) and a closed position (lower position) that is not in communication with the atmosphere.

  From the upper end position of the case portion 59 on the front end side of the notch groove 68 in the case portion 59, a support groove 71 that supports the lever member 70 that swings to open and close the valve body 66 is formed in the up-down direction. ing. The lever member 70 is formed so as to have an inverted L shape in cross-sectional view, and projections 72 projecting in the horizontal direction from the left and right end surfaces of the bent portion are engaged in the support groove 71, whereby the air release valve The device 58 is supported by the case portion 59 in a swingable state.

  The lever member 70 has a horizontal arm 73 extending from the bent portion to the rear side in the horizontal direction, and a hanging arm 74 extending vertically downward from the bent portion. That is, the horizontal arm 73 extends to a rear position between the valve body 66 and the hook-shaped upper end of the locking piece 67, and the hanging arm 74 has a through hole 61 formed in the bottom wall 60 of the case portion 59. It extends to a lower position that penetrates, specifically, a position that intersects the movement locus of the pressing piece 56 of the moving member 41.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a pedestal 75 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape is attached to the right side frame 25 c of the unit body 25 in the vicinity of the front side of the case portion 59 of the atmosphere release valve device 58. On the side surface of the pedestal 75, a hook-like portion 76 is formed so as to protrude, and a coil spring 77 is hung between the hook-like portion 76 and the hanging arm 74 of the lever member 70. Therefore, the lever member 70 is always slightly downward from the locking piece 67 of the valve body 66 in which the hanging arm 74 is along the vertical direction and the horizontal arm 73 is in the closed position by the urging force of the coil spring 77. It is in a state along the horizontal direction and spaced apart from each other, that is, in the position state shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the pressing piece 56 moves backward together with the moving member 41 to press the hanging arm 74 against the urging force of the coil spring 77 as shown in FIG. Rotating (swinging) about the center of rotation, the horizontal arm 73 is locked to the locking piece 67 and lifts the valve body 66 in the closed position to the upper open position. As described above, in the atmosphere release valve device 58, the drooping arm 74 of the lever member 70 is pressed (or not pressed) by the pressing piece 56 that moves integrally with the moving member 41, so that the valve body 66 is moved downward. It moves up and down in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 41 between the closed position and the upper open position. Incidentally, in the case of the present embodiment, the pressing piece 56 is used in the atmosphere release valve device 58 when the moving member 41 retracts the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 on the rear side of the lead screws 31 and 32 to the rear end side. The hanging arm 74 of the lever member 70 is pressed.

Next, the moving member 42 for wiping means will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the wiping means moving member 42 is provided with a wiper holder 78 that functions as a linking part for the wiping means in the moving member 42 so as to connect the pair of left and right moving members 42. ing. A wiper member 79 constituting wiping means is mounted on the upper surface side of the wiper holder 78 so as to extend slightly obliquely over the entire longitudinal direction of the wiper holder 78. When the moving member 42 (and the wiper holder 78) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate, the wiper member 79 is interlocked during the movement of the moving member 42 (and the wiper holder 78). To move forward and backward.

  Here, the wiper member 79 moves in the front-rear direction while sliding the tip (upper end) of the wiper member 79 on the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21, so that all the nozzle rows 22A to 22E formed on the nozzle forming surface 21a. Is configured as a wiper member 79 for all rows that wipes the entire nozzle forming surface 21a. Therefore, in the state where the carriage 16 (and the recording head 21) is located at the home position HP, when the moving member 42 passes through the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate, The entire surface of the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 is wiped off by the wiper member 79.

Next, the moving member 43 for the wiping means and the liquid receiving means will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the wiper holder 80 that functions as a linking portion for the wiping means and the liquid receiving means in the moving member 43 includes a pair of left and right moving members. 43 are provided so as to connect the 43. A wiper member 81 constituting wiping means is mounted on the upper surface side of the wiper holder 80 in the vicinity of the left end in the longitudinal direction of the wiper holder 80. When the moving member 43 (and the wiper holder 80) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate, the wiper member 81 is interlocked during the movement of the moving member 43 (and the wiper holder 80). To move forward and backward.

  Here, the wiper member 81 moves in the front-rear direction while sliding the tip (upper end) of the wiper member 81 on the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21, so that all the nozzle rows 22A to 22E formed on the nozzle forming surface 21a. The wiper member 81 for a single row is configured to wipe only the formation region of any one of the nozzle rows (a part of the nozzle formation surface 21a). That is, when this single-row wiper member 81 is used, one nozzle row whose wiping target is the left and right position of the carriage 16 (and the recording head 21) in the home position HP is placed in the front-rear direction of the wiper member 81. The movement is adjusted so as to correspond to the movement path along the position. Thereafter, when the moving member 43 passes through the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate, a part of the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 is wiped by the wiper member 81. Only the formation area of one target nozzle row) is wiped off.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, a pair of left and right support pieces 82 project forward from the front wall surface of the rear casing 25 a in the unit body 25, and the front end portions of the support pieces 82. From the upper edge, a notch groove 83 is formed so as to form a bowl shape toward the rear side. Between the left and right support pieces 82, a rectangular plate-like seal plate 84 having a front surface as a seal surface is disposed. The seal plate 84 supports the shaft portion 85 projecting horizontally from the left and right end surfaces. By being engaged in the notch groove 83 of the piece 82, the shaft portion 85 is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation center.

  A coil spring 86 is interposed between the front wall surface of the rear casing 25 a and the rear surface of the seal plate 84 at a position slightly above the support piece 82, and the seal plate is urged by the biasing force of the coil spring 86. 84 is always urged to rotate clockwise in FIGS. 10 to 12 with the shaft portion 85 as the center of rotation. Further, a projection 87 that functions as a stopper is projected forward from the front wall surface of the rear casing 25 a at a position below the support piece 82, and the projection 87 is urged to rotate by a coil spring 86. When the lower part of the rear surface of the sealed plate 84 comes into contact, further rotation of the seal plate 84 is restricted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 10 to 12, a flushing box (liquid receiver) 88 constituting a liquid receiving means is disposed between the seal plate 84 and the wiper holder 80. As shown in FIG. 15, the flushing box 88 has a bottomed box shape having a rectangular opening 88 a corresponding to the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21. The liquid absorbing material 88b, which is the same material as the ink absorbing material 53 stored in the room, is stored in a state in which the liquid absorbing material 88b is retained by the wire 88c.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, one end of the waste liquid tube 89 constituting the liquid discharge path is flushed at the approximate center of one end of the bottom surface of the flushing box 88 (the upper end in the case of FIGS. 4 and 6). It is connected so as to communicate with the inside of the box 88. The other end of the waste liquid tube 89 is drawn into the suction pump 29 and then drawn into a waste ink tank (not shown) provided in the lower part of the main body case 11.

  10 to 12, 16, and 17, for the sake of simplifying the drawings, only the one end side portion connected to the flushing box 88 side of the waste liquid tube 89 is stopped, and the suction pump 29 side is shown. The other end side portion connected to is not shown. In FIGS. 16 and 17, similarly, the cap member 51 and the cap holder 51 a are omitted for the sake of simplifying the drawing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, a pair of left and right pin portions 88d are projected in the horizontal direction from the left and right end surfaces of one end side of the flushing box 88 (the upper end side in the case of FIGS. 4, 6 and 7). Yes. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the pin portions 88d are respectively downward from the upper end edges of a pair of left and right support pieces 90 projecting rearward from the left and right rear end portions of the wiper holder 80 described above. By being slidably inserted into the cutout groove 90a formed in the cutout, each is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the corresponding support piece 90 and capable of being displaced in the vertical direction. That is, the flushing box 88 is supported by the pair of left and right pin portions 88d that are protruded from the rear surface side of the wiper holder 80 so that the pair of left and right pin portions 88d can be rotated and displaced in the vertical direction. A pin portion 88d on one end side (upper end side) with respect to 80 is supported so as to be rotatable and movable up and down.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 10A, the flushing box 88 has an opening 88a that faces the rear side when not in use, which does not accept the ink ejected from the recording head 21. In this vertical state, it is held at the non-receptive position, and the opening 88 a is closed by the front surface of the seal plate 84 which is the seal surface. That is, the opening 88a is closed by the seal plate 84, so that drying and solidification of the ink absorbed and held by the liquid absorbent 88b accommodated in the flushing box 88 is suppressed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, a pair of left and right plate-like legs 91 on the other end side of the flushing box 88 (the lower end side in the case of FIGS. 10 to 12) has a pair of left and right plate pieces. They are integrally formed so as to extend obliquely outward from the bottom surface (in the case of FIG. 10A, obliquely forward and downward), and pin portions 92 are respectively provided in the horizontal direction from the inner ends of the respective leg portions 91. Each of these leg portions 91 corresponds to a base portion 50b of a pair of left and right plate portions 50a erected from the left and right ends of the rear end portion of the holder member 50 described above in the left-right direction position. When the flushing box 88 is in a substantially vertical state when not in use, the base 50b of the corresponding column 50a is in contact with the base 50b from the rear side.

  From the inside of the substantially intermediate position in the height direction of the left and right struts 50a in the holder member 50, a pair of left and right pin parts 93 are respectively provided in the horizontal direction so as to correspond to the pin part 92 of the leg part 91 in the flushing box 88 described above. Projected. A coil spring 94 is hooked between the pin portion 92 and the pin portion 93 corresponding to each other, and the urging force of the coil spring 94 causes the flushing box 88 to have a pin portion 88d on one end side (upper end side). As a rotation fulcrum, the leg 91 is normally urged to rotate in a direction (counterclockwise in FIGS. 10 to 12) in which the leg 91 is pressed against the base 50b of the support column 50a of the holder member 50.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, 16, and 17, the inner side of the left and right support columns 50 a on the rear end side of the holder member 50 is downward from the upper end by a distance corresponding to the depth of the flushing box 88. The other end side support part 95 which can support the other end side (left end side in FIG. 16, FIG. 17) of the flushing box 88 is formed in the position. The other end side support portion 95 is formed to be wider so that the distance between the opposing surfaces of the left and right support columns 50 a is slightly larger than the width in the left-right direction of the flushing box 88. For this reason, the flushing box 88 passes between the left and right support columns 50a on the rear end side of the holder member 50 above the other end side support portion 95, thereby moving in the front-rear direction (relative movement of the recording head 21 relative to the platen 12). In a direction perpendicular to the direction).

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the other end side support portion 95 in the holder member 50 includes a horizontal rear abutment portion 95 a and a front abutment portion 95 b that are stepped from each other, and both abutment portions 95 a, It has a slope-like sliding contact portion 95c connecting between 95b. When the flushing box 88 moves in the front-rear direction between the left and right support columns 50a of the holder member 50, the leg portion 91 of the flushing box 88 is brought into contact with the contact portions 95a and 95b of the other end side support 95. It is comprised so that it may contact | abut to the sliding contact part 95c.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, 16, and 17, the position that is lower than the upper end by the distance corresponding to the depth of the flushing box 88 on the inner surfaces of the left and right support columns 50 c on the front end side of the holder member 50. Is formed with one end side support portion 96 capable of supporting one end side of the flushing box 88 (right end side in FIGS. 16 and 17). The one end side support portion 96 is formed to be wider so that the distance between the opposing surfaces of the left and right support columns 50c is slightly larger than the width in the left-right direction of the flushing box 88. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, a pair of left and right convex portions 88 e that form a semicircular shape in side view protrudes downward from the bottom side of one end of the flushing box 88. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the one end side support portion 96 of the holder member 50 has a guide portion 96 a having a rear slope shape, and a horizontal plane shape continuous from the front end (upper end) of the guide portion 96 a to the front side. And a mounting portion 96b. When the flushing box 88 moves further forward from the state where the leg portion 91 is in contact with the rear contact portion 95a of the other end side support portion 95, the flushing box 88 is formed on the bottom surface on one end side of the flushing box 88. The projected portion 88e is configured to abut on the placement portion 96b of the one end side support portion 96.

  Accordingly, when the moving member 43 (and the wiper holder 80) moves back and forth in the front-rear direction as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate, the flushing box 88 is interlocked during the movement of the moving member 43 (and the wiper holder 80). To move forward and backward. That is, the flushing box 88 is supported by the moving member 43 via the support piece 90 of the wiper holder 80 when the moving member 43 passes through the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate. The pair of pin portions 88d are moved in conjunction with each other. As the pin portion 88d moves, the flushing box 88 has a receiving position (see FIG. 12B) in a horizontal posture in which the opening 88a faces the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 in close proximity. It moves forward and backward between a non-accepting position (see FIG. 10A) in a vertical posture separated from the accepting position.

  Specifically, when the moving member 43 moves forward, the flushing box 88 receives a biasing force from the coil spring 94 in the vertical posture state with the pin portion 88d as a rotation fulcrum. As shown to 12 (a), it will be in the inclination posture state in which the bottom face contacted the other end side support part 95. FIG. And it moves forward with the moving member 43, changing the inclination posture state to the direction which becomes a horizontal posture state gradually. When the moving member 43 moves further forward, the leg portion 91 of the flushing box 88 comes into contact with the other end side support portion 95, and finally, as shown in FIG. In addition, the leg 91 is brought into a horizontal posture in which the tip end is in contact with and supported by the other end support portion 95.

  In the middle of the forward movement of the moving member 43 in this way, the flushing box 88 changes its posture from the vertical posture state to the horizontal posture state by contacting the bottom surface and the leg portion 91 with the other end side support portion 95. It is designed to change stably. In the horizontal posture state at the receiving position, the tip end of the leg portion 91 is maintained in the stable support state in contact with the other end side support portion 95 by the biasing force of the coil spring 94.

  On the other hand, when the moving member 43 moves backward, the flushing box 88 moves from the receiving position to the non-receiving position. In this case as well, as in the case where the moving member 43 moves forward, the flushing box 88 is inclined so that the bottom surface and the leg portion 91 are in contact with the other end side support portion 95 while receiving the urging force from the coil spring 94. After the posture state, the posture is stably changed from the horizontal posture state to the vertical posture state. As shown in FIG. 10A, in the vertical posture state at the non-receiving position, in addition to the biasing force of the coil spring 94, the biasing force from the coil spring 86 via the seal plate 84 is applied from the coil spring 94. By applying from the opposite direction to the force, the vertical posture state is stably maintained.

Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described below with particular attention paid to the operation of the maintenance unit 24.
In the maintenance unit 24 of the present embodiment, the cap member 51 constituting the cap means, the valve body 66 constituting the valve means, the wiper members 79 and 81 constituting the wiping means, and the liquid receiving means (liquid receptor) are provided. A plurality of driven members such as the flushing box 88 that are configured operate with different operation purposes and operation areas. Therefore, in the following, the operation modes of each of these driven members (the cap member 51, the valve body 66, the wiper members 79 and 81, and the flushing box 88) during maintenance will be sequentially described.

First, the operation | movement aspect of the cap member 51 which comprises a cap means is demonstrated.
Now, while the maintenance unit 24 is in the state shown in FIG. 10C, the ink is sucked and removed from the nozzle opening 22 of the recording head 21 to prevent clogging while the printer 10 is printing on the paper P. When cleaning is performed, the printer 10 and its maintenance unit 24 perform the following operations.

  That is, the carriage 16 that has reciprocated in the printing area along the guide shaft 15 during printing moves from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 to the home position HP above the cap member 51 and is stopped. 6 corresponds to the case where the maintenance unit 24 is in the state shown in FIG. Then, since the drive motor 30 is driven in reverse and the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the reverse direction, each of the moving members 41 to 43 moves backward with the rotation of the lead screws 31 and 32 in the reverse direction. Start.

  At this time (the time shown in FIG. 10C), the moving members 42 and 43 in which the cylindrical portion 44 is screwed with the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 of the lead screws 31 and 32 are retracted relatively slowly. Moving. On the other hand, at this time, the moving member 41 in which the cylindrical portion 44 is screwed with the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 of the lead screws 31 and 32 moves backward relatively quickly, and at this time, the moving member 41 The plate portion 48 integrated with 41 also moves backward relatively quickly.

  Therefore, the convex portion 54 on the side of the cap holder 51a engaged with the guide long hole 49 of the plate portion 48 is slidably guided to the oblique portion 49b of the guide long hole 49 as shown in FIG. Move up quickly. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10A, the cap member 51 is moved to the uppermost position, and the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 located at the home position HP is brought into close contact with the seal portion 52. Seal.

  In this state, when the suction pump 29 is driven based on the driving of the pump motor 28, the cap small chamber of the cap member 51 and the ink discharge tube 55 are in a negative pressure state, and each nozzle opening 22 of the recording head 21. The thickened ink is sucked from the inside, and is then pumped and discharged to a waste ink tank disposed downstream of the suction pump 29.

  As described above, in the maintenance unit 24, the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated by the driving force of the drive motor 30 when performing a cleaning operation which is a kind of maintenance operation. At that time, among the moving members 41, 42, 43 that move forward and backward along the axis S of the same lead screw 31, 32, the moving member 41 that passes through the second feed screw portions 34, 36 is a guide slot. The cap member 51 that is in a linked state via 49 and the convex portion 54 is moved up and down in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 41.

  In this respect, for the moving member 41, the cap member 51 becomes a driven member that is linked in a state where the driving force from the lead screws 31 and 32 can be transmitted. When the cap member 51 in the sealing position (that is, the state shown in FIG. 10A) is moved to the non-sealing position (that is, the state shown in FIG. 10C), the state shown in FIG. The drive motor 30 is driven to rotate forward. Then, the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated in the forward rotation direction, and the moving member 41 and the plate portion 48 are moved forward, so that the cap member 51 has the convex portion 54 of the cap holder 51a formed by the inclined portion 49b of the guide long hole 49. As a result of being guided to slide downward, it returns to the non-sealing position shown in FIG.

Next, the operation | movement aspect of the air release valve apparatus 58 which has a valve means is demonstrated.
As described above, when the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 is sealed with the cap member 51 and cleaning is performed, the cap chamber of the cap member 51 and the inside of the ink discharge tube 55 are forcibly in a negative pressure state. It is said. Therefore, after the cleaning is completed, it is necessary to eliminate the negative pressure state in the ink discharge tube 55 or the like. In such a case, the maintenance unit 24 performs the following operation.

  That is, when the cap member 51 is in the sealing position state (state shown in FIG. 10A) for sealing the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21, the drive motor 30 is further driven in reverse from this state, and the lead screw is driven. 31 and 32 are further rotated in the reverse direction. Then, as the lead screws 31 and 32 are further rotated in the reverse rotation direction, the moving members 41 to 43 further start to move backward.

  Here, when the maintenance unit 24 is in the state of FIG. 10B, the pressing piece 56 is in the position shown in FIG. 13 on the right side of the maintenance unit 24. Then, in the state of FIG. 10A in which the lead screws 31 and 32 are further rotated in the reverse rotation direction and the respective moving members 41 to 43 are further moved backward than in the state, the pressing piece 56 is connected to the air release valve device. 58 to a position directly below the pedestal 75. Therefore, when the lead screws 31 and 32 are further rotated in the reverse direction from this state and the moving member 41 and the plate portion 48 are further moved backward, the pressing piece 56 protruding from the plate portion 48 is further moved backward as well. Will do. Then, when the plate portion 48 further moves backward from the state shown in FIG. 10A and the convex portion 54 on the cap holder 51a side is slid and guided to the vicinity of the front end of the front horizontal portion 49c of the guide long hole 49, The pressing piece 56 contacts the hanging arm 74 of the lever member 70 in the atmosphere release valve device 58.

  Then, when the lead screws 31 and 32 further rotate in the reverse direction from the state and the plate portion 48 further moves backward, the pressing piece 56 moves the hanging arm 74 against the urging force of the coil spring 77 as shown in FIG. Press to rotate counterclockwise. Then, since the horizontal arm 73 of the lever member 70 lifts the valve body 66 via the locking piece 67, the valve body 66 moves away from the valve seat 65 and rises to the atmospheric release position. As a result, the negative pressure state in the cap small chamber of the cap member 51 and the ink discharge tube 55 is eliminated through the atmosphere opening hole 63 and the atmosphere tube 64 which are communicated with the atmosphere.

  As described above, in the maintenance unit 24, when performing an air release operation which is a kind of maintenance operation, the same lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated by the driving force of the drive motor 30 as in the case of the cleaning operation. At that time, the moving member 41 in which the plate portion 48 provided with the pressing piece 56 is integrated among the moving members 41, 42, 43 that move forward and backward along the axis S of the same lead screw 31, 32. However, the valve body 66 of the air release valve device 58 is raised in conjunction with the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 on the front side while moving backward relatively slowly.

  In this regard, for the moving member 41, the valve member 66 of the air release valve device 58 together with the above-described cap member 51 is also connected to the driven member that is linked in a state where the driving force from the lead screws 31 and 32 can be transmitted. Become. When the valve body 66 in the open position (that is, the state shown in FIG. 14B) is moved to the closed position (that is, the state shown in FIG. 14A), the state shown in FIG. The drive motor 30 is driven forward. Then, the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the forward rotation direction, the moving member 41 and the plate portion 48 move forward, and the pressing piece 56 is separated from the hanging arm 74 of the lever member 70. As a result, the lever member 70 is returned to the state shown in FIG. 14A by the urging force of the coil spring 77, and the horizontal arm 73 of the lever member 70 is separated downward from the locking piece 67 of the valve body 66. The body 66 returns to the closed position seated on the valve seat 65.

Next, the operation | movement aspect of the wiper members 79 and 81 which comprise a wiping means is demonstrated.
Now, for example, ink droplets ejected from the nozzle openings 22 of the recording head 21 to the paper P at the time of printing adhere to the nozzle forming surface 21a due to rebound from the paper P or the like. May adhere. Since such adhering ink may affect the ejection direction of the ink from the nozzle opening 22 and cause a printing defect, it is necessary to wipe off. In such a case, the maintenance unit 24 performs the following operation.

  That is, with the maintenance unit 24 in the state shown in FIG. 10C, the carriage 16 is first moved from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 to the home position HP above the cap member 51 and stopped. Then, the drive motor 30 is driven to rotate forward, and the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated in the forward rotation direction. Then, as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the forward rotation direction, the moving members 41 to 43 start moving forward.

  At this time (the time shown in FIG. 10C), the moving member 41 in which the cylindrical portion 44 is screwed into the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 of the lead screws 31 and 32 is connected to the lead screws 31 and 32. Based on the further rotation in the forward rotation direction, the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 on the front side are reached, and the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 are moved forward relatively slowly. On the other hand, the moving member 42 on the front side among the moving members 42 and 43 in which the cylindrical portion 44 is screwed with the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 on the rear side of the lead screws 31 and 32 at this time is the lead screw. The second feed screw portions 34 and 36 are reached based on the further rotation of the 31 and 32 in the forward rotation direction, and the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 are moved forward relatively quickly. At that time, the wiper holder 78 that connects the pair of left and right moving members 42 also moves forward relatively quickly.

  Therefore, the wiper member 79 attached to the upper surface side of the wiper holder 78 also moves forward together with the wiper holder 78 from the non-wiping position shown in FIG. 10C to the wiping position shown in FIG. During the forward movement, the tip portion (upper end portion) is brought into sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 located at the home position HP while being bent and deformed. The wiper member 79 wipes and removes the adhering ink from the nozzle forming surface 21a over the entire surface of the nozzle forming surface 21a by the sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface 21a.

  The moving speed of the moving member 42 engaged with the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 is set to a speed suitable for the wiper member 79 to wipe the ink on the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21. . That is, the rotational speeds of the lead screws 31 and 32 are set in consideration of the number of pitches of the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 so as to achieve such a speed. Then, when the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated at a rotational speed set in consideration of the number of pitches of the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 as described above, the cap member 51 described above is also unsealed from the sealing position. It moves up and down between the stop positions. In this case, if the moving speed of the cap member 51 is high, the cap member 51 moves up and comes into contact with the nozzle forming surface 21a. It is preferable to set the inclination of the slanted portion 49b so as to be a gentle speed that does not give such an impact.

  Thus, in the maintenance unit 24, when performing a wiping operation, which is a kind of maintenance operation, the same lead screw is driven by the driving force of the drive motor 30 as in the case of performing the cleaning operation and the air release operation. 31 and 32 are rotated. At that time, among the moving members 41, 42, and 43 that move forward and backward along the axis S of the same lead screw 31 and 32, the moving member 42 that passes through the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 moves the wiper holder 78. The wiper member 79 that is in a linked state is moved forward and backward in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 42.

  In this respect, for the moving member 42, the wiper member 79 is a driven member that is linked in a state where the driving force from the lead screws 31 and 32 can be transmitted. After the wiper member 79 in the non-wiping position (that is, the state of FIG. 10C) is moved to the wiping position (that is, the state of FIG. 11) and the nozzle forming surface 21a is wiped, the wiper member 79 is removed. When the motor is moved to the original non-wiping position, the drive motor 30 is driven in reverse. Then, the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the reverse direction, and the moving member 42 and the wiper holder 78 move backward, so that the wiper member 79 is moved to the original non-wiping position shown in FIG. 10C together with the moving member 42 and the wiper holder 78. Return to. During the backward movement, the recording head 21 may be moved away from the home position HP together with the carriage 16 so that the wiper member 79 does not unnecessarily wipe the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21.

  Further, for example, when the ink formation frequency is not wiped from the nozzle formation surface 21a over the entire surface of the nozzle formation surface 21a in consideration of the frequency of ink ejection, but the nozzle row formation region is wiped in units of one row. Instead of the above-described wiper member 79 for all rows, a single row wiper member 81 linked to the moving member 43 via the wiper holder 80 is used.

  In this case, before the carriage 16 is moved to the home position HP, first, the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated in the normal rotation direction, and the wiper members 79 for all the rows described above are moved together with the moving member 42 in FIG. The position state shown in c) is moved to the position state shown in FIG. 11, and further moved until the position state shown in FIG.

  At this point, the carriage 16 is moved to the home position HP and stopped. At that time, the carriage 16 is moved and adjusted so that the formation region of one nozzle row to be wiped corresponds to the movement path along the front-rear direction of the wiper member 81 in position. Thereafter, the lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated again in the forward rotation direction. Then, from the position state shown in FIG. 12, the moving member 43 and the wiper holder 80 are further moved backward by passing below the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 at the home position HP, so that the single row wiper member 81 is moved. A part of the nozzle formation surface 21a (only the formation region of one nozzle row that is a wiping target at that time) is wiped off.

  As described above, in the maintenance unit 24, when performing the wiping operation which is a kind of maintenance operation, the entire wiping operation of the nozzle forming surface 21a and the wiping operation of only a part thereof are performed. A row wiper member 79 and a single row wiper member 81 are selectively used. When the wiping operation is performed using any of the wiper members 79 and 81, the same lead screws 31 and 32 are rotated by the driving force of the driving motor 30 as in the case of performing the cleaning operation and the air release operation. Let When wiping only a part of the nozzle forming surface 21a, the second feed screw portion 34, of the moving members 41, 42, 43 that move forward and backward along the axis S of the same lead screw 31, 32, The wiper member 81 in which the moving member 43 passing through 36 is linked via the wiper holder 80 is moved forward and backward in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 43.

  In this respect, for the moving member 43, the wiper member 81 is a driven member that is linked in a state where the driving force from the lead screws 31 and 32 can be transmitted. In addition, after moving the wiper member 81 which was in the non-wiping position to the wiping position and wiping the nozzle forming surface 21a, when moving the wiper member 81 to the original non-wiping position, the recording head 21 is moved. After moving from the home position HP so that the wiper member 81 does not come into contact with the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21, the drive motor 30 is driven in reverse. Then, the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the reverse direction, and the moving member 43 and the wiper holder 80 move backward. Therefore, the wiper member 81 is moved to the original non-wiping position shown in FIG. 10C together with the moving member 43 and the wiper holder 80. Return to. Thereafter, the recording head 21 is moved again to the home position HP, a region different from a part of the nozzle forming surface 21a wiped earlier is positioned so as to correspond to the movement path of the wiper member 81, and the moving member 43 is moved forward again. When moved, another partial region of the nozzle forming surface 21a is wiped off.

Finally, an operation mode of the flushing box 88 constituting the liquid receiving means and the liquid receiver will be described.
When the wiping operation of the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 by the wiper member 81 is completed as shown in FIG. 12B, the flushing for stabilizing the ink meniscus in the nozzle opening 22 is performed next. Operation is performed. That is, the flushing box 88 moves forward while changing the posture from the position state shown in FIG. 10C to the position state shown in FIG. 12B in conjunction with the forward movement of the moving member 43. In the flushing operation, a piezoelectric element (not shown) provided individually corresponding to the nozzle opening 22 in the recording head 21 is operated based on a control signal unrelated to printing, and ink is ejected from each nozzle opening 22. It means to make it.

  Here, looking at the posture change of the flushing box 88 from the state of FIG. 10C to the state of FIG. 12B, before the moving member 43 starts the forward movement, FIG. As shown in (c), it is in a substantially vertical state. However, as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the forward direction, the flushing box 88 has one end thereof while the moving member 43 gradually moves the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 on the rear side forward. The pin portion 88d on the side (upper end side) is pivotally displaced in the clockwise direction in FIGS. That is, the flushing box 88 changes its posture while moving along the front-rear direction orthogonal to the reciprocating direction (left-right direction) of the carriage 16.

  At that time, the leg portion 91 is initially in contact with the base portion 50b of the support column 50a of the holder member 50 by the urging force of the coil spring 94, but when the moving member 43 further moves forward from the position state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the bottom surface of the flushing box 88 rides on the other end side support portion 95 of the support column portion 50a. From this state, when the lead screws 31 and 32 are further rotated in the forward rotation direction, the moving member 43 reaches the second feed screw portions 34 and 36.

  Then, the moving member 43 moves forward more quickly than before until the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 on the front side, and the flushing box 88 has a leg portion 91 that supports the other end side of the column portion 50a. In the horizontal posture state supported on the portion 95, the receiving position state is located immediately below the home position HP. At this time, the carriage 16 is moved to a home position HP that is immediately above the flushing box 88 and stopped. The flushing box 88 has an opening 88a close to the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21. Come to face each other.

  Here, the platen gap between the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 and the upper surface of the platen 12 is a narrow interval PG1 shown in FIG. 3A and a wide interval PG2 shown in FIG. 3B. The position of the flushing box 88 at the receiving position will also change. That is, when the platen gap is the narrow interval PG1 shown in FIG. 3A, the flushing box 88 has a leg portion 91 on the other end side and a support portion 95 on the other end side in the holder member 50 as shown in FIG. The pin portion 88d on one end side is inserted into and supported by the cutout groove 90a of the support piece 90 in the wiper holder 80. In this state, the flushing box 88 is in a position mode in which the opening 88 a is opposed to the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21. In this case, the other end side support portion 95 in the holder member 50 and the support piece 90 in the wiper holder 80 function as a liquid receptor support mechanism. At this time, the convex portion 88e on one end side in the flushing box 88 is in a non-contact and spaced apart state from the one end side support portion 96 in the holder member 50.

  On the other hand, when the platen gap is the wide interval PG2 shown in FIG. 3 (b), the flushing box 88 has the other end side leg portion 91 in the holder member 50 as shown in FIG. 95, the first abutting convex portion 88e is in contact with the mounting portion 96b of the one end side supporting portion 96 of the holder member 50. Therefore, in this case, the other end side support part 95 and the one end side support part 96 in the holder member 50 function as a liquid receptor support mechanism. Further, in this case, the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 is positioned higher than the height position shown in FIG. 16 by the height H shown in FIG. 3, but it corresponds to the height H. The height position of the flushing box 88 shown in FIG. 17 is higher than the height position shown in FIG. 16 by the distance.

  That is, when the platen gap is a wide interval PG2 shown in FIG. 3B, the wiper holder 80 is moved further forward from the position state shown in FIG. Then, the flushing box 88 moves forward in conjunction with the forward movement of the wiper holder 80, so that the leg 91 on the other end side comes into contact with the rear contact portion 95 a on the other end support portion 95. It slides on the sliding contact portion 95c and comes into contact with the front contact portion 95b. Similarly, in the flushing box 88, the convex portion 88e on one end side is slidably guided by the guide portion 96a of the one end side support portion 96 and comes into contact with the mounting portion 96b. The flushing box 88 has a leg 91 on the other end abutted on the front abutting portion 95 b of the other end side support 95 in the holder member 50, and a convex portion 88 e on the one end side of the holder member 50. In the horizontal state in contact with the mounting portion 96 b of the one end side support portion 96, the opening 88 a is positioned close to and opposed to the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21.

  Thus, at the same time as the wiping operation of the nozzle forming surface 21a by the wiper member 81 is completed, the flushing box 88 is disposed at the receiving position where the horizontal posture state is obtained. In this state, the recording head 21 performs a flushing operation by ejecting ink from the nozzle openings 22. In this case, the height position of the flushing box 88 is also changed in correspondence with the height position of the recording head 21 so that the opening 88a is opposed to the nozzle forming surface 21a. Ink ejected from the opening 22 is also prevented from scattering in the form of mist due to air resistance. Thereafter, if a print command has already been issued, the recording head 21 moves to the print area side together with the carriage 16 from this state, and printing on the paper P is executed.

  On the other hand, in the maintenance unit 24, as shown in FIG. 10a), before the printing on the paper P is started from the state in which the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 is sealed by the cap member 51, the flushing box. A flushing operation using 88 may be performed. For example, when the printer 10 is not used for several days with the power off, the ink in the nozzle openings 22 is dried and thickened. When performing the flushing operation before starting printing, the printer 10 and its maintenance unit 24 perform the following operations.

  That is, from the state shown in FIG. 10A, first, the carriage motor 19 is driven to move the recording head 21 together with the carriage 16 to a position deviated from the home position HP. Thereafter, the drive motor 30 is driven to rotate in the forward direction to rotate the lead screws 31 and 32 in the forward rotation direction, whereby the cap member 51 and the wiper member 79 are interlocked with the forward movement of the corresponding moving members 41 and 42. Each is moved until the position state shown in FIG. Then, from this state, the drive motor 30 is further driven to rotate forward, and the lead screws 31 and 32 are further rotated in the forward rotation direction.

  Then, from the state shown in FIG. 12A, as the lead screws 31 and 32 further rotate in the forward rotation direction, the moving member 43 and the wiper holder 80 further move forward under the home position HP, As shown in FIG. 12B, the moving member 43 reaches the first feed screw portions 33 and 35 on the front side. In this case, the single-row wiper member 81 mounted on the upper surface side of the wiper holder 80 together with the moving member 43 also moves forward under the home position HP, but at this time, the carriage 16 is still at the home position HP. Therefore, the nozzle forming surface 21a is not wiped unnecessarily.

  At this time, as described above, the flushing box 88 has a receiving position state in which the leg portion 91 is supported on the other end side support portion 95 of the support column portion 50a and is located immediately below the home position HP in a horizontal posture state. Become. At this time, the carriage 16 is moved to a home position HP that is immediately above the flushing box 88 and stopped. The flushing box 88 has an opening 88a close to the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21. Come to face each other. Thereafter, when ink is ejected for flushing from each nozzle opening 22 of the recording head 21, the ejected ink is absorbed and held by the liquid absorbent 88 b stored in the flushing box 88.

  As described above, in the maintenance unit 24, when performing a flushing operation, which is a kind of maintenance operation, the same lead screw 31 is driven by the driving force of the drive motor 30 as in the case of the cleaning operation, the air release operation, and the wiping operation. , 32 are rotated. At that time, the flushing box in which the movable member 43 is linked via the wiper holder 80 among the movable members 41, 42, 43 that move forward and backward along the axis S of the same lead screw 31, 32. 88 is moved forward and backward and displaced in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 43.

  In this respect, for the moving member 43, the flushing box 88 together with the wiper member 81 described above is a driven member that is linked in a state where the driving force from the lead screws 31 and 32 can be transmitted. When the flushing box 88 in the receiving position (that is, the state of FIG. 12B) is moved to the non-receiving position (that is, the states of FIGS. 10A to 10C) after the flushing is finished, In the state of FIG. 12B, the drive motor 30 is driven in reverse. Then, the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate in the reverse direction, and the moving member 43 and the wiper holder 80 move backward, so that the flushing box 88 comes into contact with the base 50b of the column 50a by the biasing force of the coil spring 94. As a result of being urged to rotate in the direction, for example, it returns to the non-accepting position shown in FIG.

  When the printer 10 is turned off, the lead screws 31 and 32 are further rotated in the reverse direction so that the moving member 43 moves backward to the position shown in FIG. 10A, so that the flushing box 88 has a pin portion 88d. And the opening 88 a is closed by the seal plate 84. At that time, the coil spring 86 urges the sealing plate 84 toward the flushing box 88, so that the sealing performance of the opening 88a of the flushing box 88 is ensured.

  FIG. 18 shows the moving distances of the moving members 41 to 43 in accordance with the rotation amounts [rev] of the lead screws 31 and 32. In FIG. 18, the moving distance of the moving member 41 is indicated by a solid line A. The moving distance of the moving member 42 is indicated by a solid line B, and the moving distance of the moving member 43 is indicated by a solid line C. As can be understood from FIG. 18, each of the moving members 41 to 43 is mounted on the same lead screw 31, 32 and moves along the axis S direction of the lead screw 31, 32. However, according to the amount of rotation of the lead screws 31, 32, the lead screws 31, 32 move in different positions in the axis S direction.

  In addition, each of the solid lines A, B, and C indicating the movement distances of the respective moving members 41 to 43 is suddenly raised, and each of the moving members 41 to 43 includes the second feed screw portions 34 and 36 of the lead screws 31 and 32. It shows that it is passing. In FIG. 18, the rotation amounts of the lead screws 31 and 32 indicated by the one-dot chain line P0 indicate the origin positions of the lead screws 31 and 32, and are not shown with reference to the rotation amount (rotation angle) indicated by the one-dot chain line P0. The control device (CPU) controls the drive state of the drive motor 30. Further, when the rotation amount of the lead screws 31 and 32 is the rotation amount of the Vopen region on the left side of the one-dot chain line P0 in FIG. 18, the sealing position where the cap member 51 seals the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21. In addition, the pressing piece 56 of the moving member 41 presses the lever member 70 in the air release valve device 58 to raise the valve body 66 to the open position.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the flushing box 88 is moved to the receiving position in conjunction with the forward movement of the wiper holder 80 with the pin portion 88d on one end thereof being supported by the support piece 90 of the wiper holder 80, The other end side leg portion 91 of the holder member 50 is supported by the other end side support portion 95. In this state, the flushing box 88 has one end side (pin portion 88d or convex portion 88e) and the other end side (legs) in a position where the opening 88a faces the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 in the vicinity. Part 91) is supported in a stable state. Therefore, at the time of flushing, the flushing box 88 can be stably supported in an opposing arrangement state in which the opening 88a is appropriately close to the nozzle formation surface 21a of the recording head 21, so that the flushing box 88 is discharged as waste liquid from the nozzle opening 22 of the recording head 21. The flushing box 88 can receive the ink well without making it mist.

  (2) When the platen gap is changed due to the difference in the thickness of the paper P during the flushing, the flushing box 88 is inserted into the holder member 50 in accordance with the height position of the recording head 21 at that time. It can be selectively supported by the contact portions 95 a, 95 b that form the stepped shape of the other end side support portion 95 and the mounting portion 96 b of the one end side support portion 96. That is, the flushing box 88 has its opening 88a formed on the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 21 by the difference in the contact position of the leg portion 91 in the vertical direction with respect to the contact portions 95a and 95b of the other end side support portion 95. It becomes possible to move to a height position that is appropriately close to and opposed to 21a.

  (3) In the receiving position, when the flushing box 88 moves in conjunction with the movement of the wiper holder 80 in the front-rear direction, the leg portion 91 on the other end side contacts each contact portion of the other end side support portion 95 in the holder member 50. By sequentially abutting on 95a and 95b, the position state of the opening 88a is changed in the relative movement direction of the recording head 21 with respect to the platen 12. When the leg portion 91 moves between the rear contact portion 95a and the front contact portion 95b that are adjacent to each other, the sliding contact portion 95c that connects the contact portions 95a and 95b in a slanted manner is provided. Since the portion 91 is slidably guided from one contact portion to the other contact portion, the flushing box 88 can be moved smoothly.

  (4) At the receiving position, the flushing box 88 is such that the other end side leg portion 91 is pressed against the other end side support portion 95 of the holder member 50 by the biasing force of the coil spring 94. Therefore, the flushing box 88 at the receiving position can be stably supported in a position state in which the opening 88 a is opposed to the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21.

  (5) At the receiving position, the flushing box 88 has a convex portion on one end side in a state where the leg portion 91 on the other end side is supported by the other end side support portion 95 in the holder member 50 as shown in FIG. When 88e abuts on the one end side support portion 96 of the holder member 50, the entire flushing box 88 including the one end side and the other end side moves to the recording head 21 side. As a result, the flushing box 88 can be supported in an arrangement state in which the opening 88a is close to the nozzle forming surface 21a of the recording head 21 in a parallel manner.

  (6) The drive mechanism (liquid receptor moving mechanism) for moving the flushing box 88 is the lead screws 31 and 32 and the moving member 43 that moves forward and backward along the axis S direction of the lead screws 31 and 32. It is configured. Therefore, the flushing box 88 can be easily moved by a simple drive content of rotating the lead screws 31 and 32, and the opening 88 a of the flushing box 88 is formed on the nozzle forming surface 21 a of the recording head 21 at the receiving position. It can be placed in close proximity to each other.

The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment (another example) as follows.
19 and 20, the flushing box 88 may have a configuration in which the pin portion 88d on one end side thereof is supported only rotatably with respect to the support piece 90 of the wiper holder 80. In this case, it is not necessary to form the convex portion 88e having a semicircular shape in side view from the bottom surface on one end side of the flushing box 88, and the flushing is also performed on the upper portion of the support portion 50c on the front end side of the holder member 50. It is not necessary to form the one end side support part 96 for supporting the convex part 88e of the box 88. In the case of this other example, when the flushing box 88 moves in conjunction with the movement of the wiper holder 80 from the state shown in FIG. 19 to the state shown in FIG. It is in a state where it is supported by the front contact portion 95b of the end side support portion 95, that is, one end side thereof is positioned slightly below the other end side. Therefore, waste ink in the flushing box 88 can be easily collected to one end to which the waste liquid tube 89 is connected, and the suction pump 29 is driven in that state (the state shown in FIG. 20). Since the waste ink can be efficiently sucked and discharged from the liquid, the liquid receiving capacity of the flushing box 88 can be maintained well.

In the above embodiment, there may be three or more contact portions 95a, 95b of the other end side support portion 95.
In the above-described embodiment, the other end side support portion 95 may be configured by an abutting portion having an inclined surface shape or an arc surface shape from the rear end side to the front end side.

  In the above embodiment, the flushing box 88 does not have the leg portion 91 and the convex portion 88e, and the other end side of the bottom surface is supported by the other end side support portion 95 of the holder member 50, while the one end side of the bottom surface is the holder member. 50 may be supported by the one end side support portion 96.

  In the above embodiment, the flushing box 88 is linked to the moving members 41, 42 other than the moving member 43 among the plurality of moving members 41, 42, 43, and interlocks during the movement of the moving members 41, 42. May be configured to move.

  In the above embodiment, the maintenance unit 24 may be provided with the lead screws 31 and 32 arranged in the left-right direction at the right end in the main body case 11. In this case, as the lead screws 31 and 32 rotate, the flushing box 88 moves along the direction in which the carriage 16 reciprocates (left and right direction).

  In the above embodiment, the driving force transmission member configured by the lead screws 31 and 32 may be a slide member such as a shaft that slides along the axis S direction. In this case, at least one moving member is mounted at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the shaft, and the moving member that moves forward and backward as the shaft slides is linked to the plurality of driven members. In this case, it is preferable that each of the driven members is operated.

In the above-described embodiment, the lead screws 31 and 32 may have screw grooves 47 that are spiral at the same pitch.
-In the said embodiment, the moving member may be comprised by the nut member in which the internal thread hole screwed together in the lead screws 31 and 32 was formed. In this case, the female screw hole becomes the engaging portion.

  In the above embodiment, the other end side support portion 95 is formed so that the upper end surface of the support column portion 50a of the holder member 50 corresponds to the height and shape of each contact portion 95a, 95b and the sliding contact portion 95c. It may be configured.

In the above embodiment, the other end side support portion 95 may be constituted by a guide plate having, for example, an arcuate guide groove for engaging the pin portion 92 of the flushing box 88.
In the above embodiment, the waste liquid tube 89 is not necessarily connected to the flushing box 88.

  In the above embodiment, the flushing box 88 may be configured to be held by the wiper holder 80 in a posture state between the vertical posture state and the horizontal posture state or in a horizontal posture state at the non-reception position.

  In the above embodiment, the flushing box 88 may be configured to be linked via a moving member to a dedicated lead screw provided along the moving direction of the carriage 16 separately from the lead screws 31 and 32. In this case, it is preferable to provide another drive source for rotating the dedicated lead screw separately from the carriage motor 19.

  In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 23 is embodied as an on-carriage type ink jet printer in which the carriage 16 is mounted. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be embodied as an off-carriage type ink jet printer.

  In the above embodiment, the printer 10 that ejects ink has been described as the liquid ejecting apparatus, but other liquid ejecting apparatuses may be used. For example, printing apparatuses including fax machines, copiers, etc., liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject liquids such as electrode materials and coloring materials used in the production of liquid crystal displays, EL displays, and surface-emitting displays, and bio-organic materials used in biochip manufacturing It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid or a sample ejecting apparatus as a precision pipette. Further, the liquid is not limited to ink, and may be applied to other liquids.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer according to the embodiment. The bottom view of a recording head. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams for comparing the case where the interval between the recording head and the platen is different, where FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating the case of a narrow interval, and FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating the case of a wide interval. The perspective view at the time of seeing a maintenance unit from the right front. The perspective view at the time of seeing a maintenance unit from the left rear. The top view of a maintenance unit. The perspective view which shows the structure in the unit main body in a maintenance unit. The perspective view of a lead screw. Sectional drawing which shows the engagement state of the lead screw and the cylindrical part of a moving member. It is the schematic which shows the principal part of a maintenance unit, Comprising: (a) is the schematic when a cap member exists in a sealing position, (b) is the schematic when a cap member is in the middle of raising / lowering, (c) is Schematic in case a cap member exists in a non-sealing position. Schematic which shows the principal part of a maintenance unit in case the wiper member for all the rows exists in a wiping position. It is the schematic which shows the principal part of a maintenance unit, Comprising: (a) is the schematic when a wiper member for single rows exists in a wiping position, (b) is the schematic when the flushing box exists in a liquid receiving position. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of an air release valve apparatus and a press piece, Comprising: (a) is the top view, (b) is the front view. (A) is the VV arrow directional cross-sectional view in Fig.13 (a), (b) is sectional drawing which shows the state which the press piece retreated from the state of (a). The perspective view of a flushing box. Schematic when the flushing box is in the liquid receiving position. Schematic when the flushing box is in the liquid receiving position. The graph which shows the relationship between the rotation amount of a lead screw, and the movement distance of each moving member. Schematic in case the flushing box in another example exists in a liquid receiving position. Schematic in case the flushing box in another example exists in a liquid receiving position.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus, 12 ... Platen as a target support, 21 ... Recording head as a liquid ejecting head, 21a ... Nozzle formation surface, 22 ... Nozzle opening, 29 ... Suction pump as suction / discharge means , 31, 32... A driving force transmission member constituting the liquid receptor moving mechanism and a lead screw as a feed member, 33, 35... First feed screw portion, 34, 36... Second feed screw portion, 41, 42, 43. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Moving member constituting liquid receptor moving mechanism, 46 ... Pin as engaging part, 88 ... Flushing box as liquid receiver, 88a ... Opening part, 89 ... Waste liquid tube constituting liquid discharge path, 90 ... Liquid Support piece constituting receiver support mechanism, 94 ... Coil spring as urging means, 95 ... Other end side support constituting liquid receptor support mechanism 95a, 95b ... abutting part, 95c ... sliding contact part, 96 ... one end side support part, 101 ... operating lever constituting interval changing means, 102 ... operating lever constituting interval changing means, P ... target Paper, PG1, PG2 ... interval, S ... axis.

Claims (8)

A liquid ejecting head that causes a nozzle formation surface to be closely opposed to a target supported on a target support during liquid ejection, and ejects liquid from a nozzle opening formed on the nozzle formation surface toward the target; and
When there is an opening corresponding to the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and the opening is arranged opposite to the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, the waste liquid is discharged from the nozzle opening of the nozzle forming surface. A liquid receptor capable of receiving the discharged liquid through the opening;
Interval changing means for changing the interval between the nozzle forming surface of the liquid jet head and the target support by moving the liquid jet head relative to the target support;
In a state where one end side of the liquid receiver is supported, the liquid receiver is placed between a receiving position where the opening portion faces the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and a non-receiving position spaced from the receiving position. A moving liquid receptor moving mechanism;
When the liquid receptor is moved to the receiving position by the liquid receptor moving mechanism, the liquid receiver is brought into contact with at least the other end side of the liquid receptor, so that the liquid ejector is opened by the liquid jet. A liquid receptor support mechanism for supporting the head so as to be in a position close to the nozzle forming surface of the head ,
When the liquid receptor is moved in the direction perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the target support at the receiving position by the liquid receptor moving mechanism, the liquid receptor supporting mechanism is There is a support portion on the other end side that can be sequentially contacted at a plurality of positions where the position in the relative movement direction differs with respect to the other end side of the liquid receptor according to the displacement in the direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction to have liquid injection device. In the plurality of positions, the interval between the liquid receiver and the nozzle forming surface is different,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid receiver is displaced in a direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction in accordance with an interval between the nozzle forming surface and the target support . The other end side support portion is provided with a plurality of contact portions provided in a stepped manner so that the other end side of the liquid receiver can contact each other at a plurality of positions at different positions in the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head. And a sliding contact portion that slides and guides the other end of the liquid receiver from one adjacent contact portion to the other contact portion between the contact portions as the liquid receiver moves. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is configured to include: In the liquid receptor support mechanism, when the other end side of the liquid receptor abuts on the other end side support portion of the liquid receptor support mechanism, the other end side of the liquid receptor is placed on the other end side of the liquid receptor. 4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an urging unit that urges the liquid receiving member support mechanism in a direction in which it is pressed against the support portion on the other end side. 5. One end side of the liquid receiver is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the liquid receptor moving mechanism and displaceable in the relative movement direction of the liquid ejecting head. When the liquid receiver makes the other end of the liquid receiver abut on the other end support of the liquid receiver support mechanism, the opening moves in a direction closer to the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head. In this case, an end-side support portion is provided that contacts the one end side of the liquid receiver and supports the liquid receiver so that the opening is in a parallel opposed state with respect to the nozzle forming surface. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4. One end side of the liquid receptor is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the liquid receptor moving mechanism, and a liquid is supplied to one end side of the liquid receiver from the liquid receiver based on the driving of the suction / discharge means. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a liquid discharge path for sucking and discharging is connected. The liquid receptor moving mechanism includes a driving force transmission member that operates at a fixed position between the receiving position and the non-receiving position with generation of a driving force, and the receiving position and the The moving member moves in a predetermined direction across the non-receiving position, and one end side is supported by the moving member, so that the liquid receiver is linked to the receiving position in the middle of the movement of the moving member. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is configured to move between non-receiving positions. The driving force transmission member has a feed screw portion on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and is configured by a long bar-shaped feeding member that rotates around an axis with the generation of the driving force, and the moving member is the feeding member An engaging portion that engages with the feed screw portion, and the engaging portion is engaged and guided by the feed screw portion when the feed member rotates, thereby moving forward and backward along the longitudinal direction of the feed member. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is configured as described above.

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