Cleaning blade, method fabricating cleaning blade, and cleaning apparatus for liquid discharge head

Abstract

A cleaning blade which wipes a liquid discharge area by being moved relatively with respect to the liquid discharge area of a liquid discharge head having the liquid discharge area in which liquid discharge nozzles are arranged to discharge a liquid is disclosed. The cleaning blade includes: a supporting plate which has an adhesive agent layer on its front surface; and a wipe part which is slid and contacted with the liquid discharge area, the wipe part formed in which an elastic part formed of a synthetic resin is formed in one piece on the adhesive agent layer, and a tip end thereof is cut in a predetermined shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view depicting the appearance of a printing apparatus to which an embodiment of the invention is adapted;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view depicting the appearance of the printing apparatus on which an ink discharge head and a paper tray are mounted;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view depicting the printing apparatus;

FIG. 4 shows a side view depicting the internal configuration of the printing apparatus;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view depicting the ink discharge head;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section depicting a head cartridge to which an ink cartridge is mounted;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view depicting an ink discharge area of the head cartridge;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show cross sections depicting the ink discharge nozzle of the head cartridge;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view depicting a headcap;

FIG. 10 shows a plan view depicting the inside of the headcap;

FIG. 11 shows an x-x cross section depicting the headcap shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a y-y cross section depicting the headcap shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 shows a side view depicting the ink discharge head in the state in which the headcap blocks the head cartridge;

FIG. 14 shows a side view depicting the ink discharge head in the state in which the headcap opens the head cartridge;

FIG. 15 shows a side view depicting the ink discharge head in the state in which the headcap opens the head cartridge;

FIG. 16 shows a side view depicting the ink discharge head in the state in which the headcap blocks the head cartridge;

FIG. 17 shows a diagram depicting the fabrication process steps of the cleaning blade;

FIG. 18 shows a plan view depicting the headcap supported by a cap moving mechanism;

FIG. 19 shows a plan view depicting a cleaning blade;

FIG. 20 shows a plan view depicting a cleaning blade formed with slits;

FIG. 21 shows a plan view depicting a cleaning blade formed with slits;

FIG. 22 shows a diagram depicting a cleaning blade which cleans near a wire bonding;

FIG. 23 shows a diagram depicting a cleaning blade which is difficult to sufficiently clean the vicinity of a wire bonding;

FIG. 24 shows a diagram depicting a cleaning blade formed with slits in accordance with positions at which wire bondings are formed;

FIG. 25 shows a plan view depicting a cap moving mechanism;

FIG. 26 shows a side view depicting a support frame member;

FIG. 27 shows a side view depicting a chassis side part and a rack plate;

FIG. 28 shows a block diagram depicting a control mechanism;

FIG. 29 shows a flow chart depicting an operation sequence of the printing apparatus;

FIG. 30 shows a flow chart depicting another operation sequence of the printing apparatus;

FIG. 31 shows a flow chart depicting still another operation sequence of the printing apparatus; and

FIG. 32A to 32J show operation charts depicting an operation sequence of the printing apparatus.

Claims

1. A cleaning blade which wipes a liquid discharge area by being moved relatively with respect to the liquid discharge area of a liquid discharge head having the liquid discharge area in which liquid discharge nozzles are arranged to discharge a liquid, the cleaning blade comprising: a supporting plate which has an adhesive agent layer on its front surface; anda wipe part which is slid and contacted with the liquid discharge area, the wipe part formed in which an elastic part formed of a synthetic resin is formed in one piece on the adhesive agent layer, and a tip end thereof is cut in a predetermined shape.

2. The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate and the wipe part are formed long in accordance with the entire length in the arrangement direction of liquid discharge nozzles in the liquid discharge head in which the liquid discharge nozzles are arranged as matched with the print span of a liquid discharge target.

3. The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein the wipe part has slits by forming cuts in its tip end part at predetermined intervals.

4. A method of fabricating a cleaning blade having a wipe part which is slid and contacted with a liquid discharge area of a liquid discharge head and a supporting plate which supports a base end part of the wipe part, the cleaning blade cleaning the liquid discharge area, the method comprising the steps of: forming an elastic part slightly greater than a predetermined length and/or width of the wipe part and the supporting plate in one piece; andcutting the tip end of the elastic part in a predetermined shape to form the wipe part.

5. The method of fabricating a cleaning blade according to claim 4, comprising the step of: putting a supporting plate having an adhesive agent layer formed on its front surface in a mold; andcasting a synthetic resin thereinto for punching out, whereby the supporting plate and the elastic part formed of a synthetic resin are formed in one piece.

6. The method of fabricating a cleaning blade according to claim 4, wherein the supporting plate and the wipe part are formed long in accordance with the entire length in the arrangement direction of liquid discharge nozzles in the liquid discharge head in which the liquid discharge nozzles are arranged as matched with the width of a liquid discharge target.

7. A method of fabricating a cleaning blade having a wipe part which is slid and contacted with a liquid discharge area of a liquid discharge head and a supporting plate which supports a base end part of the wipe part, the cleaning blade cleaning the liquid discharge area, the method comprising the steps of: forming the supporting plate and the wipe part in one piece; andforming cuts in a tip end part of the wipe part at predetermined intervals to form slits.

8. The method of fabricating a cleaning blade according to claim 7, comprising the steps of: forming an elastic part slightly greater than a predetermined length and/or width of the wipe part and the supporting plate in one piece;cutting the tip end of the elastic part in a predetermined shape to form the wipe part; andfinally forming the slits.

9. The method of fabricating a cleaning blade according to claim 8, comprising the step of: putting a supporting plate having an adhesive agent layer formed on its front surface in a mold; andcasting a synthetic resin thereinto for punching out, whereby the supporting plate and the elastic part formed of a synthetic resin are formed in one piece.

10. The method of fabricating a cleaning blade according to claim 7, wherein the slit is formed as matched with the position of a plurality of projecting parts formed in the liquid discharge area at equal intervals.

11. A cleaning apparatus for a liquid discharge head of a liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a liquid discharge head having a liquid discharge area in which liquid discharge nozzles are arranged to discharge a liquid;a cleaning blade which is slid and contacted with the liquid discharge area to wipe the liquid discharge area;a moving mechanism which moves the cleaning blade with respect to the liquid discharge head; anda switching member which retracts the cleaning blade from a position at which the cleaning blade is slid and contacted with the liquid discharge area when the cleaning blade is moved to one side by the moving mechanism with respect to the liquid discharge head, and which returns the cleaning blade to a position at which the cleaning blade is slid and contacted with the liquid discharge area when the cleaning blade is moved to the other side by the moving mechanism with respect to the liquid discharge head,wherein the cleaning blade includes:a supporting plate which has an adhesive agent layer on its front surface; anda wipe part which is slid and contacted with the liquid discharge area, the wipe part formed in which an elastic part formed of a synthetic resin is formed in one piece on the adhesive agent layer, and a tip end thereof is cut in a predetermined shape.

12. The cleaning apparatus for a liquid discharge head according to claim 11, wherein the supporting plate and the wipe part are formed long in accordance with the entire length in the arrangement direction of liquid discharge nozzles in the liquid discharge head in which the liquid discharge nozzles are arranged as matched with the print span of a liquid discharge target.

13. The cleaning apparatus for a liquid discharge head according to claim 11, wherein the wipe part has slits by forming cuts in its tip end part at predetermined intervals.