JP5778532B2 - Liquid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method of liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a head nozzle cap provided with a mechanism for preventing ink from contaminating the surroundings in maintenance work of a head nozzle that is performed during non-printing.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, when the head nozzle changes from a predetermined condition, the printing quality is significantly deteriorated. In order to prevent deterioration in printing quality, a process called cleaning and flushing is performed during non-printing when the ink jet recording apparatus is not printing.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a capping unit receives ink discharged from a recording head in order to prevent ink discharged during cleaning, flushing, and the like from being scattered and surroundings being contaminated. In a state where the recording head and the capping unit are in pressure contact with each other, the space formed by the recording head and the capping unit is sealed. Therefore, the capping unit receives the ink ejected by the recording head.

JP 2000-255075 A (published on September 19, 2000)

  However, if the space in the head nozzle cap formed by capping the head nozzle with the head nozzle cap as described above is high, the pressure in the space increases as cleaning and flushing are performed. . This is because when the ink is ejected from the head nozzle, the volume in the space is occupied by the ink, and the pressure of the air that originally existed in the space increases.

  When the sealing property of the space is broken as the pressure rises, the high pressure is released, and at the same time, ink splashes and contaminates the surroundings. Even if the space is kept sealed during the ink filling, cleaning, and flushing steps, high pressure is released when the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap are separated from each other. At that time, ink splashes and contaminates the surroundings.

  The purpose of the present application is to prevent scattering of the ink ejected from the head nozzle in the process of cleaning and flushing the head nozzle that sends the liquid to the liquid cartridge in a pressure-feed manner, such as ink filling, cleaning, and flushing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of

In order to solve the above-described problems, a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes a head nozzle that ejects liquid droplets and a maintenance of the head nozzle by applying a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the liquid droplets. a head nozzle cap to the lid of the head nozzle, comprising a, the head nozzle cap by contacting a portion other than the discharge hole in the surface of the head nozzle discharge hole is formed in the droplets, The head nozzle cap is a surface that contacts the surface of the head nozzle of the head nozzle cap, and a surface that contacts the head nozzle cap of the head nozzle. At least one of the head nozzle contact surfaces is formed with a communication structure in which the inside and outside of the head nozzle cap are continuous spaces. It is, when performing the maintenance, when the droplet from the head nozzle is ejected, is characterized in that between the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap and the non-sealed space.

  The head nozzle cap according to the present invention is a cap of a head nozzle that discharges droplets, and is a surface that directly contacts a portion other than the discharge holes on the surface of the head nozzle on which the droplet discharge holes are formed. The head nozzle cap abutment surface covers the head nozzle, and the head nozzle cap abutment surface is formed with a communication structure in which the inner side and the outer side of the cap are continuous. It is a feature.

A maintenance method for a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes: a head nozzle that ejects droplets; and a lid for the head nozzle when performing maintenance on the head nozzle by applying a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the droplet. a head nozzle cap and a liquid cartridge, a maintenance method of a head nozzle of the liquid discharge device comprising a liquid by pumping method of applying a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the liquid feed the liquid to the liquid cartridge fed A head nozzle cap contact surface that is a surface that contacts the surface of the head nozzle of the head nozzle cap, and a head nozzle contact surface that is a surface that contacts the head nozzle cap of the head nozzle. At least one is formed with a communication structure that makes the inside and outside of the head nozzle cap continuous space, The body infeed step, by covering the head nozzles in the head nozzle cap, when the liquid droplets are ejected from the head nozzle, between the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap is a non-enclosed space It is characterized by that.

  By forming the communication structure, the space inside the cap formed by contacting the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap communicates with the space outside the cap, and the space inside the cap is sealed. Prevent space. This prevents the pressure in the space from increasing in processes such as ink filling, cleaning, and flushing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink ejected from the head nozzles from being scattered in processes such as cleaning and flushing of the head nozzles that send liquid to the liquid cartridge by a pressure feeding method.

  More preferably, the head nozzle cap abutting surface is an elastic body that surrounds the periphery of the surface where the ejection holes are formed. Accordingly, the elasticity of the elastic body can be used when the head nozzle cap is brought into contact with the head nozzle. Therefore, the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap are in intimate contact. Therefore, ink discharged from the head nozzle is prevented from leaking out from the contact portion between the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap in processes such as head nozzle cleaning and flushing.

  The communication structure is more preferably a convex structure. With the above configuration, when the head nozzle cap is brought into contact with the head nozzle, the convex structure provided in the head nozzle cap comes into contact with the head nozzle. At this time, portions other than the convex structure of the head nozzle cap do not contact the head nozzle. Therefore, a space is formed in which the inside and outside of the head nozzle cap communicate. This prevents the space formed when the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap are in contact with each other from becoming a sealed space.

  The liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention has a communication structure for making the inner and outer sides of the head nozzle cap a continuous space on the head nozzle cap abutting surface that abuts against the head nozzle. In the steps such as cleaning and flushing of the head nozzle that sends liquid, it is possible to prevent the ink ejected from the head nozzle from being scattered.

It is the schematic of the head nozzle cap and head nozzle which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the head nozzle cap and head nozzle which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a perspective view which shows the outline of the head nozzle cap which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (B) is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a liquid ejection apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments according to one embodiment of the present invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Embodiment 1
A liquid ejection apparatus 1 according to an aspect of the present invention includes a head nozzle cap 10 and a head nozzle 20 shown in FIG.

(Head nozzle 20)
The head nozzle 20 includes a nozzle (ejection hole) 21 that ejects a liquid to be ejected (hereinafter referred to as ink in the present embodiment) to a printing material.

  The head nozzle 20 includes an ink cartridge (not shown). The ink cartridge is filled with ink from a liquid storage tank (not shown). Several methods for filling the ink cartridge with ink are known. Here, the description will be given on the assumption that a pressure-feed type is adopted. In the case of the pressure feeding type, the upstream side of the ink cartridge is pressurized to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure with a pump. With this pressurized pressure, ink is pumped from the liquid storage tank to the liquid cartridge. The ink to be pumped is shown in FIG. When the ink is filled, the ink originally present in the vicinity of the nozzle 21 of the head nozzle 20 is ejected from the nozzle as the ejected ink 30.

  The condition of the head nozzle 20 may deteriorate due to external factors such as dust adhering to the nozzle 21, ink viscosity increasing due to ink evaporation, and air entering the ink flow path. This deterioration of the condition causes the deterioration of the print quality. Therefore, in order to return the condition of the head nozzle 20 to the state before the deterioration, or to prevent the deterioration, a process called cleaning and flushing is performed. Cleaning is a process of forcibly ejecting a larger amount of ejected ink 30 than the nozzle 21 by pressurizing the upstream side of the head nozzle 20. On the other hand, flushing is a process of ejecting the protruding ink 30 by outputting a dummy drive signal to the head nozzle. In the present specification, a process of performing maintenance of the head nozzle by sending liquid to the liquid cartridge by a pressure feeding method, such as ink filling, cleaning, and flushing, is referred to as “maintenance process” in this specification. Also, a method for performing the maintenance process is collectively referred to as a maintenance method.

  In the maintenance process, the ejected ink 30 is ejected from the nozzle 21. In order to prevent the discharge ink 30 from contaminating the inside of the liquid discharge apparatus, the liquid discharge apparatus includes a head nozzle cap 10.

(Head nozzle cap 10)
The head nozzle cap 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the head nozzle cap 10 is a member for preventing the discharge ink 30 from contaminating the inside of the liquid discharge apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the head nozzle cap 10 is installed in contact with a surface including the nozzle 21 of the head nozzle 20 (referred to as a head nozzle contact surface 22). Of the surfaces facing the head nozzle contact surface 22 of the head nozzle cap 10, the surface closest to the head nozzle 20 is defined as the head nozzle cap contact surface 12.

  The head nozzle cap contact surface 12 is provided with a protruding portion 11 having a convex structure. When the head nozzle cap 10 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20, the protruding portion 11 comes into contact with a region excluding the nozzle 21 in the head nozzle contact surface 22. As a result, the head nozzle contact surface 22 and the head nozzle cap contact surface 12 do not directly contact each other, and a gap is formed between the two surfaces as shown in FIG. Even when the head nozzle cap 10 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20, the inner side and the outer side of the head nozzle cap 10 communicate with each other through the gap to form a continuous space. Therefore, the protrusion 11 functions as a communication structure of the head nozzle cap according to the present invention.

  In the liquid ejection device 1, the head nozzle cap 10 receives the ejected ink 30 by contacting the head nozzle contact surface 22 so that the head nozzle cap contact surface 12 surrounds the periphery of the head nozzle 21. When the head nozzle cap 10 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20, the head nozzle cap contact surface 12 may be in contact with a region that is within the head nozzle contact surface 22 and does not contact the head nozzle 21. More preferably, the area of the head nozzle contact surface 22 is set larger than the size of the head nozzle cap contact surface 12. As a result, even when the contact position of the head nozzle cap 10 with respect to the head nozzle 20 is shifted, the head nozzle cap 10 and the head nozzle 20 can appropriately contact each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to accurately control the position when the head nozzle cap 10 contacts the head nozzle 20.

  The position when the head nozzle cap 10 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20 depends on the processing accuracy of the various components constituting the liquid ejection apparatus 1 and the mounting accuracy when the various components are assembled. The liquid ejecting apparatus 1 does not require high accuracy with respect to the contact position when the head nozzle cap 10 contacts the head nozzle 20. This is because, even if the processing accuracy and the assembly accuracy are poor and the gap between the head nozzle cap 10 and the head nozzle 20 is generated, the periphery of the head nozzle 20 is covered with the elastic body, so that the ink is scattered. It is because it is suppressed. Therefore, regardless of the accuracy when the head nozzle cap 10 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20, the accuracy of various components constituting the liquid ejection device 1 and the accuracy required when assembling the various components can be determined. .

  The head nozzle cap 10 includes six protrusions 11. More preferably, the head nozzle cap according to the present invention includes a plurality of convex structures. By having a plurality of convex structures, there are a plurality of locations where the convex structures and the head nozzle contact surface come into contact. Thus, a stable contact state can be obtained when the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap are brought into contact with each other. In other words, a space that communicates the inside and the outside of the head nozzle cap can be stably formed. The number of convex structures may be determined in consideration of the size of the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap, and the characteristics of the material constituting the head nozzle cap.

  The head nozzle cap 10 is made of black fluororubber. As in this embodiment, the material constituting the head nozzle cap according to the present invention is preferably an elastic body. For example, fluororubber, silicon rubber and urethane resin can be used. When the head nozzle cap is made of an elastic body, the elasticity of the elastic body can be used when the head nozzle cap is brought into contact with the head nozzle. Therefore, the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap are in intimate contact with each other in the region excluding the communication structure.

  The material constituting the head nozzle cap 10 is preferably a material that absorbs at least one of light in the visible region and the ultraviolet region. When the ink used in the liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention is a liquid containing pigments typified by black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, the color is faded by being irradiated with light in the visible region and the ultraviolet region. There is a risk of discoloration. On the other hand, the ink used for printing is not a liquid containing a pigment, but may be a liquid obtained by diluting a photosensitive material with an organic solvent, for example, a photoresist. A liquid having photosensitivity as typified by a photoresist is exposed to light in a visible region and an ultraviolet region generated by an indoor lighting device. Since the head nozzle cap is made of a material that absorbs at least one of light in the visible region and the ultraviolet region, the photosensitive liquid can be prevented from being exposed.

  In the present embodiment, the height of the protruding portion 11 is 100 μm. Although the shape of the protrusion part 11 is not specifically limited, For example, it is circular in planar view and the shape which consists of circular arcs in sectional view can be used.

(Maintenance method using the head nozzle cap 10)
In the state where the head nozzle cap 10 is in contact with the head nozzle 20, the ejection ink 30 is captured by the head nozzle cap 10 by performing a maintenance process of the head nozzle 20. That is, the ejected ink 30 does not leak to the outside of the head nozzle cap 10 and contaminate the surroundings. In addition, the pressure in the space formed by the head nozzle cap 10 and the head nozzle 20 does not increase. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the discharge ink 30 from contaminating the periphery of the liquid discharge apparatus 1 as the maintenance process is performed.

  Contamination due to ink around the liquid ejecting apparatus 1 causes contamination of printed matter and deterioration of printing quality. The fact that the discharge ink 30 does not contaminate the periphery of the liquid discharge device 1 in the maintenance process means that the frequency of maintenance of the liquid discharge device 1 can be reduced. Therefore, the running cost of the liquid ejection device 1 can be reduced.

  In a state where the liquid ejecting apparatus 1 is not printing, that is, during non-printing, the head nozzle 20 stands by at a position that does not face the substrate. The position where the head nozzle 20 waits during this non-printing is referred to as a “standby position” in this specification. The head nozzle cap 10 provided in the liquid ejection device 1 is installed at a position facing the standby position of the head nozzle 20. When the liquid ejection apparatus 1 detects that the head nozzle 20 is waiting at the standby position, the liquid nozzle 1 mechanically moves the head nozzle cap 10 to contact the head nozzle 20. At this time, the liquid ejection apparatus 1 may mechanically move the head nozzle 20 to contact the head nozzle cap 10. The operation of bringing the head nozzle cap 10 into contact with the head nozzle 20 may be performed manually.

It is more preferable that the liquid ejection device 1 is set so that the head nozzle 20 and the head nozzle cap 10 always come into contact with each other during non-printing. Since the head nozzle 20 is covered except during printing, the ejected ink 30 does not contaminate the periphery of the liquid ejecting apparatus 1, and the following additional advantages are obtained.
(A) Preventing dust or the like present in the air from adhering to the nozzle 21.
(B) In the case of an ink containing a pigment, discoloration and discoloration of the ink are prevented. When the ink is a photoresist or the like, the ink is prevented from being exposed.
(C) The evaporation amount of the solvent contained in the ink is suppressed, and the increase in the clay of the ink near the nozzle is suppressed. Therefore, the possibility of nozzle clogging is reduced.
Since the communication structure in this embodiment is small, there is no continuous air flow between the inside and outside of the head nozzle cap. Therefore, the evaporation amount of the solvent contained in the ink is suppressed, and the possibility of nozzle clogging is reduced.

  The inside of the head nozzle cap 10 has a concave structure that is dug down from the head nozzle cap contact surface 12. Accordingly, the protruding ink 30 is stored in the concave structure portion. The stored ink is referred to as stored ink 31. By repeating the maintenance process of the head nozzle 20, the stored ink 31 increases. Therefore, it is necessary to collect the stored ink 31 from the head nozzle cap 10 at an appropriate timing. In order to collect the stored ink 31, the head nozzle cap 10 has a through-hole 13 that penetrates from the inside to the outside of the head nozzle cap 10. The through-hole 13 is normally closed by a valve not shown in FIG. Only when the stored ink 31 is collected, the valve is opened. A pump 40 is installed on the downstream side of the through-hole 13 and sucks the stored ink 31.

[Embodiment 2]
The liquid ejection apparatus 100 includes the head nozzle cap 50 and the head nozzle 20 shown in FIG. In addition, about the member same as the member demonstrated in Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Specifically, the head nozzle 20 included in the liquid ejection apparatus 100 is the same as the head nozzle 20 in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the description of the head nozzle 20 is omitted, and only the head nozzle cap 50 is described.

(Head nozzle cap 50)
The configuration of the head nozzle cap 50 is different from the configuration of the head nozzle cap 10 in the communication structure provided on the head nozzle cap contact surface 52. The head nozzle cap contact surface 52 is not provided with a convex communication structure. Therefore, when the head nozzle cap 50 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20, the head nozzle cap contact surface 52 and the head nozzle contact surface 22 are in direct contact with each other. In order to make the inside and outside of the head nozzle cap 50 continuous space in this state, the head nozzle cap 50 is provided with a notch 51 having a communication structure.

  The depth of the cut structure may be determined in consideration of the elasticity of the material constituting the head nozzle cap and the magnitude of the force applied to the head nozzle cap when the head nozzle cap is brought into contact with the head nozzle.

  The nozzle cap 50 includes ten cuts 51. More preferably, the head nozzle cap according to the present invention includes a plurality of cut structures. By providing a plurality of cutting structures, even if any of the cutting structures are blocked by the ink ejected from the head nozzles during the maintenance process, the head nozzle cap has a plurality of cutting structures, which The maintenance process can be continued.

  The head nozzle cap 50 is made of black fluororubber. More preferably, the material constituting the head nozzle cap is an elastic body. The material constituting the head nozzle cap is more preferably a material that absorbs at least one of light in the visible region and the ultraviolet region. The reason why the head nozzle cap according to the present embodiment is more preferably provided with these configurations is the same as the reason described in the first embodiment.

  The maintenance method using the head nozzle cap 50 is the same as the maintenance method using the head nozzle cap 10.

  The communication structure may be provided in at least one of the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap, but it is more preferable that the communication structure is in the head nozzle cap. Even if the communication structure becomes contaminated with, for example, ink, or wears out, the function of the communication structure can no longer be performed, so the maintenance of the head nozzle cap can be easily resumed by replacing the head nozzle cap. Because it can.

  When the head nozzle contact surface has a communication structure, the specific structure may be, for example, a convex structure as in the first embodiment, or may be a cut structure as in the second embodiment. .

  When the head nozzle contact surface has a convex structure as the communication structure, the head nozzle contact surface may be made of the same material as that constituting the head nozzle and integrally formed with the head nozzle contact surface. When the head nozzle contact surface has a convex structure as the communication structure, the head nozzle contact surface may be made of a material different from the material constituting the head nozzle and attached to the head nozzle contact surface.

  Also in the form in which the communication structure is on the head nozzle contact surface, the number is more preferably plural. In consideration of the elasticity of the material constituting the head nozzle cap and the material constituting the communication structure of the head nozzle, the communication is performed so that a space for communicating the inside and the outside of the head nozzle cap is appropriately provided. What is necessary is just to determine the number of structures.

[Embodiment 3]
The liquid ejection apparatus 200 includes the head nozzle 20 and the head nozzle cap 60 shown in FIG. In addition, about the member same as the member demonstrated in Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Specifically, the head nozzle 20 included in the liquid ejection apparatus 200 is the same as the head nozzle 20 in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the description of the head nozzle 20 is omitted, and only the head nozzle cap 60 is described.

(Head nozzle cap 60)
The head nozzle cap 60 includes a cap inner wall 61 and a cap outer wall 62. A cut 63 is provided on the inner wall of the cap. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an outline of the head nozzle cap 60. FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing a cross section of the liquid ejection device 200 at the position of the notch 63.

  In the head nozzle cap 60, the upper surface of the cap inner wall 61 becomes a head nozzle cap contact surface and directly contacts the head nozzle contact surface. The notch 63 is a communication structure for making a space formed inside and outside the cap inner wall 61 into a continuous space. Further, a gap is formed between the cap outer wall 62 and the head nozzle 20. This gap is a communication structure for making the space formed inside and outside the cap outer wall 62 a continuous space.

  In the head nozzle 60, the cap inner wall 61 functions as a cap that prevents scattering of ink ejected from the nozzle 21. The air discharged together with the ink in the maintenance process is discharged to a space formed outside the head nozzle 60 through the notch 63 and a gap provided between the cap outer wall and the head nozzle 20. Therefore, the pressure in the space formed inside the cap inner wall 61 does not increase during the maintenance process.

  When there is much air discharged from the nozzle 21, ink may leak from the notch 63 to the outside of the cap inner wall 61 together with the air. Even in this case, since the head nozzle cap 60 includes the cap outer wall 62, there is no possibility that ink leaks to the outside of the head nozzle cap 60.

  Since the cap outer wall 62 is provided in addition to the cap inner wall 61, the head nozzle 60 can prevent the ink from splashing around.

<Additional notes>
As described above, the liquid ejection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the head nozzle 20 that ejects ink and the head nozzle cap 10 that covers the head nozzle 20, and the head nozzle cap 10 includes: The head nozzle 20 is covered by contacting the surface of the head nozzle 20 on which the ink nozzles 21 are formed with a portion other than the nozzle 21, and contacts the surface of the head nozzle 20 of the head nozzle cap 10. At least one of the head nozzle cap contact surface 12 that is a surface and the head nozzle contact surface 22 that is a surface that contacts the head nozzle cap 10 of the head nozzle 20 is an inner side and an outer side of the head nozzle cap 10. It is characterized in that a communication structure for forming a continuous space is formed.

  A head nozzle cap 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a cap of a head nozzle 20 that ejects ink, and directly contacts a portion other than the nozzle 21 on the surface of the head nozzle 20 on which the ink nozzle 21 is formed. The head nozzle cap abutment surface 12, which is a surface, covers the head nozzle 20, and the head nozzle cap abutment surface 12 is formed with a communication structure in which the inner side and the outer side of the cap itself are continuous spaces. It is characterized by having.

  A maintenance method for a liquid ejection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a droplet ejection apparatus 1 that includes a head nozzle 20 that ejects ink, a head nozzle cap 10 that covers the head nozzle 20, and a liquid cartridge. A method for maintaining the head nozzle 20, which includes an ink feeding step of feeding ink into the ink cartridge by a pressure feeding method in which a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is applied to the ink, and is applied to the surface of the head nozzle 20 of the head nozzle cap 10. At least one of the head nozzle cap abutting surface 12 that is in contact with the head nozzle 20 and the head nozzle abutting surface 22 that is in contact with the head nozzle cap 10 of the head nozzle 20 includes an inner side and an outer side of the head nozzle cap 10. Is formed in a continuous space. In the ink feeding process, the head nozzle cap is formed. It is characterized by covering the head nozzle 20 by flop 10.

  By forming the communication structure, the space inside the cap formed by contacting the head nozzle 10 and the head nozzle cap 20 communicates with the space outside the cap, and the space becomes a sealed space. To prevent that. This prevents the pressure in the space from increasing in processes such as ink filling, cleaning, and flushing. Therefore, the ejected ink 30 from the head nozzle 20 can be received in a process such as cleaning and flushing of the head nozzle 20 that sends liquid to the liquid cartridge by a pressure feeding method. Therefore, the discharge ink 30 is prevented from being scattered and contaminating the periphery of the liquid discharge apparatus 1.

  The head nozzle cap contact portion 12 is an elastic body that surrounds the head nozzle contact surface 22 in the head nozzle contact surface 22 where the nozzles 21 are formed. Thereby, when the head nozzle cap 10 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20, the elasticity of the elastic body can be utilized. Therefore, the head nozzle 20 and the head nozzle cap 10 are in intimate contact with each other in the region excluding the protruding portion 11 on the head nozzle cap contact surface 12. Therefore, ink discharged from the head nozzle is prevented from leaking out from the contact portion between the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap in processes such as cleaning and flushing of the head nozzle 20.

  The communication structure provided in the head nozzle cap 10 is a protrusion 11. With the above configuration, when the head nozzle cap 10 is brought into contact with the head nozzle 20, the protruding portion 11 provided in the head nozzle cap 10 contacts the head nozzle 20. At this time, portions other than the protruding portion 11 of the head nozzle cap 10 do not contact the head nozzle 20. Therefore, a space is formed in which the inside and outside of the head nozzle cap communicate. This prevents the space formed when the head nozzle 20 and the head nozzle cap 10 are in contact with each other from becoming a sealed space.

  The head nozzle cap 10 includes a plurality of protrusions 11. By providing the above configuration, there are a plurality of locations where the protruding portion 11 and the head nozzle 20 come into contact. Thus, a stable contact state can be obtained when the head nozzle 20 and the head nozzle cap 10 are brought into contact with each other. In other words, a space that communicates the inside and the outside of the head nozzle cap can be stably formed.

  The shape of the discharge part 11 is circular in a plan view and is an arc in a cross-sectional view. By providing the above configuration, even when the head nozzle contact surface 22 is not smooth, the head nozzle cap contact surface 12 can be brought into contact with the head nozzle contact surface 22 in a stable state.

  The communication structure provided in the head nozzle cap 50 is a cut 51 that communicates the inside and the outside of the head nozzle cap 50. By providing the above configuration, the contact area when the head nozzle cap 50 and the head nozzle 20 are brought into contact with each other can be set wide. Therefore, the head nozzle cap 50 and the head nozzle 50 can be contacted in a stable state.

  The head nozzle cap 50 includes a plurality of cuts 51. By providing the above configuration, even when any of the cuts 51 is blocked by the ejected ink 30, the space formed when the head nozzle 20 and the head nozzle cap 10 are in contact with each other is made continuous. Can keep.

  The head nozzle caps 10 and 50 included in the liquid ejection devices 1 and 100 include a through-hole 13 that penetrates from the inside to the outside of each head nozzle cap. As a result, the stored ink 31 can be discharged to the outside of each head nozzle cap.

  The head nozzle caps 10 and 50 included in the liquid ejecting apparatuses 1 and 100 are formed of a material that absorbs at least one of light in the visible region and the ultraviolet region. When the ink used for printing is a liquid containing pigments typified by black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, there is a risk of fading or discoloration when irradiated with light in the visible region and ultraviolet region. . The ink used for printing is not a liquid containing the pigment, but may be a liquid obtained by diluting a photosensitive material with an organic solvent, for example, a photoresist. A liquid having photosensitivity as typified by a photoresist is exposed to light in a visible region and an ultraviolet region generated by an indoor lighting device. By providing the head nozzle caps 10 and 50 with the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent discoloration or discoloration of the liquid containing the pigment. Similarly, the photosensitive liquid can be prevented from being exposed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be used in a maintenance process that is performed in order to maintain the condition of the head nozzle provided in the liquid ejection device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Droplet discharge device 10 Head nozzle cap 11 Protrusion part 12 Head nozzle cap contact surface 13 Through-hole 20 Head nozzle 21 Nozzle (discharge hole)
22 Head nozzle contact surface 30 Discharged ink 31 Accumulated ink 32 Pumped ink 40 Pump

Claims (4)

A head nozzle for discharging droplets;
A head nozzle cap that covers the head nozzle when maintaining the head nozzle by applying a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the droplet ;
The head nozzle cap covers the head nozzle by coming into contact with a portion other than the discharge hole on the surface of the head nozzle where the droplet discharge hole is formed,
At least one of a head nozzle cap contact surface that is a surface that contacts the surface of the head nozzle of the head nozzle cap and a head nozzle contact surface that is a surface that contacts the head nozzle cap of the head nozzle A communication structure is formed in which the inner side and the outer side of the head nozzle cap are continuous spaces .
When performing the maintenance, when the droplet from the head nozzle is ejected, a liquid discharge device which is characterized in that between the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap and the non-sealed space. The head nozzle cap abutment surface, the liquid material discharge device according to claim 1, characterized in that in a plane the discharge hole is formed an elastic body surrounding the said surfaces. The communicating structure, the liquid material discharge device according to claim 1, characterized in that a convex structure. A head nozzle that discharges a droplet, a head nozzle cap that covers the head nozzle when the head nozzle is maintained by applying a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the droplet, and a liquid cartridge. a maintenance method of a head nozzle of the liquid discharge device comprising,
Including a liquid feeding step of feeding the liquid into the liquid cartridge by a pressure feeding method in which a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure is applied to the liquid;
At least one of a head nozzle cap contact surface that is a surface that contacts the surface of the head nozzle of the head nozzle cap and a head nozzle contact surface that is a surface that contacts the head nozzle cap of the head nozzle A communication structure is formed in which the inner side and the outer side of the head nozzle cap are continuous spaces.
In the liquid feeding step, by covering the head nozzle with the head nozzle cap, when the droplet is ejected from the head nozzle, a space between the head nozzle and the head nozzle cap is made a non-sealed space. maintenance method for a liquid discharge apparatus according to claim Rukoto.

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