Image recording apparatus

Abstract

A protruding member is provided on a recording head side, a droplet receiving portion having a flat surface portion formed thereon is provided, and the flat surface portion of the droplet receiving portion is brought into contact with the protruding member on the recording head side to cap the recording head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a first embodiment of a recording head and a head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a front surface side showing a specific structure of the recording head in the apparatus;

FIG. 3B is a block diagram of side surfaces showing a specific structure of the recording head and the head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a flow of a maintenance operation in the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where the head cap portion is in contact with the recording head in the apparatus;

FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a front surface side showing a first modification of a recording head and a head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 6B is a block diagram of side surfaces of the recording head and the head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of a front surface side showing a second modification of a recording head and a head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 7B is a block diagram of side surfaces of the recording head and the head cap portion;

FIG. 8A is a block diagram of a front surface side showing a third modification of a recording head and a head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 8B is a block diagram of side surfaces of the recording head and the head cap portion;

FIG. 9A is a block diagram of a front surface side showing a fourth modification of a recording head and a head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 9B is a block diagram of side surfaces of the recording head and the head cap portion;

FIG. 10A is a block diagram of a front surface side showing a fifth modification of a recording head and a head cap portion in the apparatus;

FIG. 10B is a block diagram of side surfaces of the recording head and the head cap portion;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a modification of a protruding member in the apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a modification of the protruding member in the apparatus;

FIG. 13A is a block diagram of the recording head having a movable protruding member provided thereto in the apparatus;

FIG. 13B is a block diagram of the recording head having the movable protruding member provided thereto during maintenance of the recording head in the apparatus;

FIG. 14A is a block diagram showing another modification of a recording head having a movable protruding member provided thereto in the apparatus;

FIG. 14B is a block diagram of another modification of the recording head having the movable protruding member provided thereto during maintenance of the recording head in the apparatus; and

FIG. 15 is a view showing a cap member with respect to a recording head in a conventional example.

Claims

1. An image recording apparatus comprising: at least one recording head having a plurality of nozzles that discharge ink;a protruding member provided on the recording head side; anda droplet receiving portion on which a flat surface portion that comes into contact with the protruding member is formed and which receives the ink dropping from the recording head,wherein the plurality of nozzles are covered with a hermetically closed space formed by contact of the protruding member and the flat surface portion.

2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles are capped with the droplet receiving portion in a state where the protruding member is in contact with the flat surface portion.

3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is integrally provided on the recording head.

4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is provided via a collateral member of the recording head.

5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the collateral member has a plate that protects a nozzle surface in which the plurality of nozzles are formed.

6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the collateral member has a support member that supports the recording head.

7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the support member supports the plurality of recording heads.

8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is formed into a continuous convex shape surrounding the plurality of nozzles in the recording head.

9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member protrudes toward a side where it faces the droplet receiving portion.

10. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member has a base portion provided on the recording head and an opening portion integrally formed with the base portion, and is formed in a direction along which it is expanded or narrowed from the base portion toward the opening portion.

11. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is formed of an elastic member, andat least the flat surface portion of the droplet receiving portion is formed of a rigid body.

12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is formed of a rigid body, andat least the flat surface portion of the droplet receiving portion is formed of an elastic member.

13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flat surface portion is formed to have an area that allows contact with the protruding member.

14. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is changeable to a state where it protrudes ahead of the recording head and a state where it is retracted to its original position at which it does not protrude ahead of the recording head.

15. The image recording apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a movable member provided to be slidable with respect to a side surface of the recording head, wherein the recording head has a nozzle surface in which each nozzle is formed,the protruding member has a cross section formed into a curved semi-cylindrical shape and is provided on an entire periphery at a lower part of the recording head, andthe protruding member protrudes ahead of the nozzle surface of the recording head, the droplet receiving portion is brought into contact with the recording head in this state, and the plurality of nozzles are capped with the droplet receiving portion when the movable member slides to push a substantially top part of the protruding member.

16. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a maintenance mechanism that moves one or both of the recording head and the droplet receiving portion and brings the protruding member provided on the recording head side into contact with the flat surface portion of the droplet receiving portion at the time of maintenance of the recording head.

17. The image recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the maintenance mechanism includes a suction section configured to produce negative pressure in a space formed by the recording head, the protruding member and the flat surface portion to remove at least a foreign particle from the nozzles, in a state where the protruding member provided on the recording head side is in contact with the flat surface portion of the droplet receiving portion.

18. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a suction hole that draws air is provided in the flat surface portion of the droplet receiving portion.