This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-035795 filed on Mar. 9, 2022. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.
Conventionally, as the liquid discharge apparatus which performs printing on a sheet by discharging or ejecting a liquid from a nozzle of a head, there is a publicly known ink-jet printer. A certain publicly known ink-jet printer has a cap which caps an ink discharge port formation surface of a recording head, and a pressure contacting member which is brought into pressurized contact with a pressure contacting surface of the cap.
In another publicly known ink-jet printer, a heater is attached to a lower surface of a flat plate part of a platen, and an ink droplet adhered to the platen, without landing on a sheet, is dried by the heater.
In a case that an exhausting (discharging) operation of forcibly exhausting an ink from a head to the cap is performed for maintenance of the head, the ink remains in an internal space of the cap. Although the ink which remains in the internal space of the cap is exhausted from the internal space of the cap through a flow channel (channel), an ink droplet remains in the internal space of the cap. In a case that the heater and the cap are located, respectively, at positions which are relatively close to each other in the inside of a casing of the liquid discharge apparatus, there is such a fear that the heat from the heater might be transmitted to the cap, and that the ink might be dried and solidified in the internal space of the cap and/or the flow channel. As a result, there might arise such a problem that the flow channel is clogged by the solidified ink.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid discharge apparatus in which a liquid is less likely to be dried in the internal space of the cap even in a case that the heater and the cap are arranged relatively close to each other.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a head including a nozzle surface and a nozzle opened in the nozzle surface; a cap configured to make contact with the nozzle surface at a covering position and configured to be separated away from the nozzle surface at a retreating position; a liquid channel configured to communicate an internal space of the cap and outside of the cap to each other; a lid member configured to make contact with the cap located at the retreating position so as to seal the internal space of the cap; and a heater which is positioned above the cap located at the retreating position. The lid member is positioned between the heater and the cap in an up-down direction in a state that the lid member seals the internal space of the cap.
According to the above-described configuration, since the lid member makes contact with the cap located at the retreating position and thus the internal space is sealed by the lid member, the heat of the heater which is located above the cap is blocked or shielded by the lid member. Further, the internal space of the cap is sealed by the lid member. Therefore, although the cap is heated by the heat of the heater, the liquid is less likely to evaporate and the channel in the cap is less likely to be clogged since the cap is sealed by the lid member.
According to the present disclosure, the liquid is less likely to be dried in the internal space of the cap.
In the following, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Note that the embodiment which is to be explained below is merely an example of the present disclosure; it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present disclosure. In the following explanation, an up-down direction is defined, with a state in which an image recording apparatus 100 is installed usably (a state of
<Outer Configuration of Image Recording Apparatus 100>
The image recording apparatus 100 as depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
An operation panel 44 is provided on a front surface 31F of the upper casing 31. A user performs input, via the operation panel 44, for operating the image recording apparatus 100 or for confirming a variety of kinds of settings. The operation panel 44 has a display 44 configured to indicate a lid member 82, which will be described later on, is installed in the supporting member 81.
<Internal Configuration of Image Recording Apparatus 100>
As depicted in
The internal space 32A is provided with a partition wall 41. The partition wall 41 partitions a rear lower part of the internal space 32A so as to define or demarcate a sheet accommodating space 32C. The sheet accommodating space 32C is surrounded by the partition 41 and the lower casing 32.
The roll body 37 is accommodated in the sheet accommodating space 30C. The roll body 37 has a core tube and the sheet S which is elongated. The sheet S is wound around the core tube in a roll shape in the circumferential direction of the axial core of the core tube.
As depicted in
As depicted in
The tensioner 45 is positioned in the rear part of the internal space 32A, at a location above the partition wall 41. The tensioner 45 has an outer circumferential surface 45A facing the outside of the lower casing 32. An upper end of the outer circumferential surface 45A is at a position which is substantially same, in the up-down direction, as a nip D of the conveying roller pair 36.
The sheet S pulled out from the roll body 37 is put or placed on and makes contact with the outer circumferential surface 45A. The sheet S is curved forward along the outer circumferential surface 45A, extends in a conveyance direction, and is guided to the conveying roller pair 36. The conveyance direction is a forward orientation along the front-rear direction.
The conveying roller pair 36 is positioned in front of (on the front side of) the tensioner 45. The conveying roller pair 36 has a conveying roller 36A and a pinch roller 36B. The conveying roller 36A and the pinch roller 36B make contact with each other at a position in the up-down direction which is substantially same as the upper end of the outer circumferential surface 45A, to thereby form the nip D.
The conveying roller pair 40 is positioned in front of the conveying roller pair 36. The conveying roller pair 40 has a conveying roller 40A and a pinch roller 40B. The conveying roller 40A and the pinch roller 40B make contact with each other at a position in the up-down direction which is substantially same as the upper end of the outer circumferential surface 45A, to thereby form a nip.
The conveying rollers 36A and 40A rotate by the driving force transmitted thereto from the conveying motor 53 (see
As depicted in
The head 38 is positioned at a location above the conveyance path 43 and on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the conveying roller pair 36. The head 38 has a plurality of nozzles 38A which is opened in a nozzle surface 50 (see
The first supporting mechanism 51 is positioned at a location below the conveyance path 43 and on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the conveying roller pair 36. The first supporting mechanism 51 is located at a position below the head 38 and faces or is opposed to the head 38. The first supporting mechanism 51 has the conveying belt 101 and a supporting member 104. The conveying belt 101 supports the sheet S which is (being) conveyed in the conveyance direction by the conveying roller pair 36 and which is located immediately below the head 38. The conveying belt 101 conveys the sheet S which is supported thereby in the conveyance direction. The supporting member 104 is capable of supporting the maintenance mechanism 60. The configuration of the first supporting mechanism 51 will be explained later on.
The heater 39 is located at a position which is below the conveyance path 43, which is on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the head 38 and which is on the upstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the conveying roller pair 40. The heater 39 is supported by a frame at a location in front of the first supporting mechanism 51 and extends in the left-right direction. The heater 39 has a heat transfer plate (not depicted in the drawings) and a film heater (not depicted in the drawings). The heat transfer plate is formed of metal, and has a supporting surface which spreads in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction at a position in the up-down direction which is substantially same as that of a conveying surface 108 of the conveying belt 101. The sheet S fed from the first supporting mechanism 51 is conveyed frontward on the supporting surface of the heat transfer plate. The film heater is fixed to a lower surface of the heat transfer plate, and generates heat under a control of the controller 130. This heat is transmitted, via the heat transfer plate, to the sheet S on the heat transfer plate. Further, the heat from the heater 39 is collected by a duct 145 arranged at a location above the heater 39.
Further, the duct 145 is located at a position which is above the conveyance path 43, which is on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the head 38 and which is on the upstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the conveying roller pair 40.
The supporting part 46 is positioned below the conveyance path 43. The supporting part 46 is located on downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the head 38 and the first supporting mechanism 51. The heater 39 is positioned at a rear part of the supporting member 46. A front part of the supporting member 46 faces the conveying roller 40A. The supporting part 46 is located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the cutter unit 26.
The supporting part 46 is supported, by the lower casing 32, to be rotatable about a axis or shaft (not depicted in the drawings) extending in the left-right direction. As depicted in
In a case that the supporting part 46 is located at the lodging position, a rotation forward end 46B of the supporting part 46 is located at a position in front of (on the downstream side in the conveyance direction) with respect to a rotation proximal end 46A of the supporting part 46. In the case that the supporting part 46 is located at the lodging position, then the supporting member 46 constitutes a part of the conveyance path 43, and the supporting part 46 is capable of supporting the sheet S which is (being) conveyed in the conveyance direction by the conveying belt 101. In a case that the supporting member 46 is located at the upstanding position, then the rotation forward end 46B of the supporting part 46 is located at a position further above than that in the case that the supporting part 46 is located at the lodging position, and the maintenance mechanism 60 is allowed to be exposed to the outside. The axis of the supporting part 46 is provided on a rear end part of the supporting part 46, and extends in the left-right direction.
The second supporting mechanism 52 is supported by the lower casing 32 to be movable in an orthogonal direction which is orthogonal to an oblique direction and the left-right direction. The second supporting mechanism 52 is capable of supporting the maintenance mechanism 60. The configuration of the second supporting mechanism 52 will be explained later on.
The CIS 25 is positioned on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the conveying roller pair 40 at a location over or above the conveyance path 43. The CIS 25 is capable of reading an image on a print surface of the sheet.
The cutter unit 26 is located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the CIS 25 at a location above the conveyance path 43. The cutter unit 26 has such a configuration wherein a cutter 28 is mounted on a cutter carriage 27. By the movement of the cutter 28, the sheet S located in the conveyance path 43 is cut along the left-right direction.
The ink tank 34 stores the ink. The ink is a liquid containing a pigment, etc. The ink is supplied from the ink tank 34 to the head 38 via a non-illustrated tube.
The impregnating liquid tank 76 stores an impregnating liquid L. The impregnating liquid L is a liquid for cleaning or washing the plurality of nozzles 38A of the head 38. The impregnating liquid tank 76 is located at a position below the second supporting mechanism 52 which will be described later. The impregnating liquid tank 76 has an atmospheric communicating channel 140 (see
The maintenance mechanism 60 is configured to perform maintenance of the head 38. The maintenance mechanism 60 is configured to be movable; in a case that the maintenance of the head 38 is performed, the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved to a location immediately below the head 38 (See
The maintenance of the head 38 includes a purging processing, a cap cleaning processing, a wiping processing, etc. As depicted in
The wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is configured to clean a rubber wiper 63 (an example of a “non-water absorbing wiper”) of the maintenance mechanism 60. The maintenance mechanism 60 is moved at a location immediately below the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 in a case that the rubber wiper 63 is (to be) cleaned. The configuration of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 will be described later on.
<Head 38>
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
Each of the ejection modules 49A, 49B, 49C is provided with the plurality of nozzles 38A. Each of the plurality of nozzles 38A is opened in the nozzle surface 50 of each of the ejection modules 49A, 49B, 49C. The nozzle surface 50 is a surface which spreads in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction. As described above, the ink is discharged downwardly from the plurality of nozzles 38A toward the sheet S supported by the conveying belt 101 of the first supporting mechanism 51 to thereby record an image on the sheet S.
The head 38 is configured to move, along the up-down direction, to a recording position as depicted in
As depicted in
<First Supporting Mechanism 51>
As depicted in
The driving roller 102 and the driven roller 103 are rotatably supported by the supporting part 104. The driving roller 102 and the driven roller 103 are separated from each other in the front-rear direction (the conveyance direction). The conveying belt 101 is an endless belt. The conveying belt 101 is stretched between the driving roller 102 and the driven roller 103. The conveying belt 101 is arranged in the inside of the conveyance path 43 in the left-right direction.
The driving roller 102 rotates by a driving force applied thereto by the conveying motor 53 (see
As depicted in
The shaft 109A rotates by a driving force transmitted thereto from a shaft motor 59 (see
The supporting member 104 is capable of changing the posture thereof to a first posture (see
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The standing walls 110, 111 are located, in the left-right direction, at the outside of the conveyance path 43. The standing walls 110, 111 rotatably support the driving roller 102 and the driven roller 103.
The standing wall 110 is provided with an upper surface 110A. The standing wall 111 has a first upper surface 111A and a second upper surface 111B. The second upper surface 111B is located at a different position from that of the first upper surface 111A in the left-right direction. The upper surface 110A and the first upper surface 111A support the maintenance mechanism 60 so as to slidably support the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60. As depicted in
As depicted in
<Second Supporting Mechanism 52>
As depicted in
As depicted in
The body 115 is a member which is generally plate-shaped. The screw shaft 161 of the ball screw 160 is fixed to the body 115 and is screwed to the nut member 162 fixed to the lower casing 32. The screw shaft 161 rotates by a driving force transmitted thereto from an up-down driving motor 163 (see
The standing wall 116 is provided to stand upwardly from a left end part of the body 115. The standing wall 117 is provided to stand upwardly from a right end part of the body 115. The standing walls 116, 117 extend along the oblique direction.
The standing wall 116 is at a same position in the left-right direction as that of the standing wall 110 of the first supporting mechanism 51. The standing wall 117 is at a same position in the left-right direction as that of the standing wall 111 of the first supporting mechanism 51.
The standing wall 116 is provided with an upper surface 116A. The standing wall 117 is provided with a first upper surface 117A and a second upper surface 117B. The second upper surface 117B is at a different position in the left-right direction from that of the first upper surface 117A.
In a case that the first supporting mechanism 51 is in the second posture, the first upper surface 117 A is arranged side by side with the first upper surface 111A of the standing wall 111 of the first supporting mechanism 51 along the oblique direction, and is on a same plane as the first upper surface 111A. In other words, the first upper surface 117A and the first upper surface 111A are arranged side by side linearly. In the case that the first supporting mechanism 51 is in the second posture, the second upper surface 117B is arranged side by side with the second upper surface 111B of the standing wall 111 of the first supporting mechanism 51 along the oblique direction and is on a same plane as the second upper surface 111B. In other words, the second upper surface 117B and the second upper surface 111 B are arranged side by side linearly.
The upper surface 116A and the first upper surface 117A support the maintenance mechanism 60 and slidably supports the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60. The second upper surface 117B is located at a position at which the second upper surface 117 is capable of facing (of being opposite to) the rack 154 of the maintenance mechanism 60. As depicted in
As depicted in
<Maintenance Mechanism 60>
As depicted in
<Supporting Stand 61>
The supporting stand 61 has a bottom stand 61A, a body 61B placed on the bottom stand 61A, and a wiper holder 61C which holds the sponge wiper 64 and the rubber wiper 63 in the body 61B. The bottom stand 61A has a box shape of which upper part is opened. The bottom stand 61A has a first bottom plate 121, a first edge plate 122 provided to stand upwardly from a peripheral edge of the first bottom plate 121, an extending piece 125 and the rack 154 (see
The first bottom plate 121 has a shape of a flat plate expanding in the oblique direction and in the left-right direction. An upper surface and a lower surface of the first bottom plate 121 are each formed to have a rectangular shape which is longer in the left-right direction than in the oblique direction. The lower surface of the first bottom plate 121 is capable of making contact with the upper surface 110A of the standing wall 110 of the first supporting mechanism 51 from thereabove. The lower surface of the first bottom plate 121 is capable of making contact with the first upper surface 111A of the standing wall 111 from thereabove. With this, the maintenance mechanism 60 can be supported by the first supporting mechanism 51. The lower surface of the first bottom plate 121 is capable of making contact with the upper surface 116A of the standing wall 116 of the second supporting mechanism 52 from thereabove. The lower surface of the first bottom plate 121 is capable of making contact with the first upper surface 117A of the second supporting mechanism 52 from thereabove. With this, the maintenance mechanism 60 can be supported by the second supporting mechanism 52.
The first edge plate 122 has a shape of a rectangular frame as seen in a plan view. The extending piece 125 extends rightward from a lower end part of a right wall of the first edge plate 122. The extending piece 125 extends from one end to the other end in the oblique direction of the right wall of the first edge plate 122.
The rack 154 is formed in a lower surface of the extending piece 125. As depicted in
The rack 154 is capable of meshing with the gear 105A protruding from the opening 112 of the second upper surface 111B. In a case that the gear 105A rotate in a state that the rack 154 and the gear 105A are meshed with each other, the maintenance mechanism 60 thereby slides (slidably moves), with respect to the first supporting mechanism 51, along the upper surface 110A and the first upper surface 111A. Namely, the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 is guided by the upper surface 110A and the first upper surface 111A of the first supporting mechanism 51A.
The rack 154 is capable of facing, in the up-down direction, the second upper surface 117B of the standing wall 117 of the second supporting mechanism 52. The rack 154 is capable of meshing with the gear 118A protruding from the opening 123 of the second upper surface 117B and the gear 119A protruding from the opening 124 of the second upper surface 117B. In a case that the gear 105A rotates in a state that the rack 154 is meshed with at least one of the gear 118A and the gear 119A, the maintenance mechanism 60 thereby slides along the upper surface 116A and the first upper surface 117A, with respect to the second supporting mechanism 52. Namely, the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 is guided by the upper surface 116A and the second upper surface 117A of the second supporting mechanism 52A.
With this, the maintenance mechanism 60 is capable of moving to a standby position depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The first channel 153A is positioned on the upstream side in a flowing orientation of the impregnating liquid L in the fluid channel 153. The first channel 153A is a part extending in the left-right direction at the front side in the body 61B.
The intermediate channel 153B is positioned on the downstream side in the flowing orientation of the impregnating liquid L with respect to the first channel 153A. The intermediate channel 153B extends from a downstream end of the first channel 153A up to an intermediate part in the oblique direction of the body 61b, in a frontward-inclined orientation (an example of a “frontward orientation”).
The second channel 153C is positioned on the downstream side in the flowing orientation of the impregnating liquid L in the fluid channel 153. The second channel 153C extends rightward from a downstream end of the intermediate channel 153B.
As depicted in
An outflow port 174 via which the impregnating liquid L flows out from the second channel 153C is opened in an inner wall surface in the recessed groove at the downstream end of the second channel 153C. One end of a return tube 176 is connected to the outflow port 174. The other end of the return tube 176 reaches the outside of the first supporting mechanism 51, is connected to the impregnating liquid tank 76 and opens at a position higher than the water surface of the impregnating liquid L stored in the impregnating liquid tank 76. A return pump 75 is provided on the return tube 176 (see
As depicted in
<Sponge Wiper 64>
The sponge wiper 64 is formed of a sponge. In the present embodiment, the sponge wiper 64 is provided as three sponge wipers 64 (64A, 64B, 64C). In the following, the three sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C are collectively referred also to as the sponge wiper 64. The sponge wiper 64 is formed to have a shape of a rectangular of which length in the left-right direction is longer than a length thereof in the oblique direction and a length thereof in the up-down direction. The length in the up-down direction of the sponge wiper 64 is longer than the length in the oblique direction of the sponge wiper 64.
The sponge wiper 64A and the sponge wiper 64B are arranged in the fluid channel 153A. The sponge wiper 64A is arranged on the upstream side with respect to the sponge wiper 64B. The sponge wiper 64C is arranged in the second channel 153C of the fluid channel 153.
The sponge wiper 64A, the sponge wiper 64B and the sponge wiper 64C correspond, respectively, to the ejection module 49A, the ejection module 49B and the ejection module 49C with respect to the up-down direction. The sponge wiper 64A and the sponge wiper 64B are positioned with respect to each other with a spacing distance therebetween in the left-right direction. The sponge wiper 64C is positioned at a spacing distance in the frontward-inclined orientation with respect to the sponge wiper 64A and the sponge wiper 64B. The sponge wiper 64C is positioned at an intermediate between the sponge wiper 64A and the sponge wiper 64B in the left-right direction.
The sponge wiper 64A corresponds to the ejection module 49A and is capable of facing the ejection module 49A in the up-down direction. As depicted in
<Rubber Wiper 63>
The rubber wiper 63 is formed of rubber. In the present embodiment, the rubber wiper 63 is provided as three rubber wipers 63 (63A, 63B, 63C). In the following, the three rubber wipers 63A, 63B, 63C are collectively referred also to as the rubber wiper 63.
The rubber wiper 63 is formed to have a shape of a flat plate expanding in the up-down direction and the left-right direction. A length in the oblique direction of the rubber wiper 63 is shorter than the length in the oblique direction of the sponge wiper 64. With this, the rubber wiper 63 is easily bent in a case that the rubber wiper 63 makes contact with the nozzle surface 50 of the ejection module 49 in a case that the wiping processing is (being) performed. A length in the left-right direction of the rubber wiper 63 is slightly longer than the length in the left-right direction of the sponge wiper 64. A length from the supporting stand 61 of the rubber wiper 63 is longer than a length from the supporting stand 61 of the sponge wiper 64. The rubber wiper 63 is positioned at the outside in the left-right direction of both ends in the left-right direction of the sponge wiper 64. An upper end part of the rubber wiper 63 is formed to be tapered. With this, the upper end part of the rubber wiper 63 easily makes contact with the nozzle surface 50 of the ejection module 49 in a case that the wiping processing is (being) performed.
The rubber wiper 63A and the rubber wiper 63B are arranged at the outside of the fluid channel 153. The rubber wiper 63A, the rubber wiper 63B and the rubber wiper 63C correspond, respectively, to the ejection module 49A, the ejection module 49B and the ejection module 49C with respect to the up-down direction. The rubber wiper 63A, the rubber wiper 63B and the rubber wiper 63C are arranged in the supporting stand 61, with spacing distances, respectively, from the sponge wiper 64A, the sponge wiper 64B and the sponge wiper 64C in a rearward-inclined orientation.
<Cap 62>
As depicted in
The cap 62 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, silicone, etc. The cap 62 has a shape of a box of which upper part is opened.
The cap 62A, the cap 62B and the cap 62C are capable of facing, respectively, the ejection module 49A, the ejection module 49B and the ejection module 49C in the up-down direction. The cap 62A, the cap 62B and the cap 62C are arranged to be apart, respectively, from the sponge wiper 64A, the sponge wiper 64B and the sponge wiper 64C, with a spacing distance therebetween in the frontward-oblique direction. The cap 62A, the cap 62B and the cap 62C are configured such that in a case that the maintenance mechanism 60 is located at the maintenance position, a lip 66A, a lip 66B and a lip 66C make contact with the nozzle surface 50 and seal, respectively, an internal space 67A, an internal space 67B and an internal space 67C. The caps 62A, 62B and 62C have, respectively, cap channels (each an example of a “liquid channel”) connecting, respectively, the internal spaces 67A, 67B, 67C to the outside thereof. The cap channels 68A, 68B, 68C have, respectively, inflow channel 20A, 20B, 20C via which the impregnating liquid L flows, respectively, into the internal spaces 67A, 67B, 67C of the caps 62A, 62B, 62C; the cap channels 68A, 68B, 68C have, respectively, outflow channel 21A, 21B, 21C via which the impregnating liquid L flows out, respectively, from the internal spaces 67A, 67B, 67C of the caps 62A, 62B, 62C.
In the following, the three lips 66A, 66B, 66C will be collectively referred also to as a lip 66. Further, the internal spaces 67A, 67B, 67C, the cap channels 68A, 68B, 68C, the inflow channels 20A, 20B, 20C, and the outflow channels 21A, 21B, 21C are similarly collectively referred, respectively, also as to an internal space 67, a cap channel 68, an inflow channel 20 and an outflow channel 21.
As depicted in
The cap 62B corresponds to the ejection module 49B and is capable of facing the ejection module 49B in the up-down direction. The cap 62B is arranged with a spacing distance from the sponge wiper 64B in the frontward-inclined orientation. A bottom plate 69 of the cap 62B has the inflow channel 20B which is formed in the bottom plate 69 and through which the impregnating liquid L flows into the cap 62B and the outflow channel 21B which is formed in the bottom plate 69 and through which the impregnating liquid L flows out of the cap 62B. One end of a third supply tube 179 branched from the second supply tube 177 is connected to the inflow channel 20B of the cap 62B. The other end of the third supply tube 178 is joined to the second supply tube 177 at the outside of the maintenance mechanism 60. One end of a second waste liquid tube 180 is connected to the outflow channel 21B. The other end of the second waste liquid tube 180 is joined to the first waste liquid tube 178 at the outside of the maintenance mechanism 60.
The cap 62C corresponds to the ejection module 49C and is capable of facing the ejection module 49C in the up-down direction. The cap 62C is arranged with a spacing distance from the sponge wiper 64C in the frontward-inclined orientation. A bottom plate 69 of the cap 62C has the inflow channel 20C which is formed in the bottom plate 69 and through which the impregnating liquid L flows into the cap 62C and the outflow channel 21C which is formed in the bottom plate 69 and through which the impregnating liquid L flows out of the cap 62C. One end of a fourth supply tube 201 branched from the second supply tube 177 is connected to the inflow channel 20C of the cap 62C. The other end of the fourth supply tube 201 is joined to the second supply tube 177 at the outside of the maintenance mechanism 60. One end of a third waste liquid tube 202 is connected to the outflow channel 21C. The other end of the third waste liquid tube 202 is joined to the first waste liquid tube 178 at the outside of the maintenance mechanism 60.
A cap washing valve 72 (see
The suction pump 74 (see
<Wiper Cleaning Mechanism 80>
As depicted in
As depicted in
The facing surface 81A is a lower-side surface of the supporting member 81.
The left inner wall 84C has a supporting piece 85B and a guiding surface 86B.
The supporting piece 85A is a projection which projects or protrudes from the left inner wall 84C to the right side in the left-right direction. The supporting piece 85A is provided as a plurality of supporting pieces 85A arranged along the oblique direction.
The guiding surface 86A is a projected part (protruded part) which guides installment of the lid member 82 in the supporting member 81. The guiding surface 86A projects from the left inner wall 84C to the right side in the left-right direction. The guiding surface 86A is located at a position which is in the frontward-inclined orientation with respect to the supporting piece 85A. The guiding surface 86A has one end side extending in the rearward-inclined orientation, and the other end side extending further away (separated) from the facing surface 81A as the other end side is further in the frontward-inclined orientation.
The right inner wall 84D has a supporting piece 85B and a guiding surface 86B, similarly to the left inner wall 84C.
The supporting piece 85B of the right inner wall 84D has a similar configuration as that of the above-described projecting piece 85A, except that the supporting piece 85B projects from the right inner wall 84D to the left side in the left-right direction. The supporting piece 85A and the supporting piece 85B support the lid member 82 from therebelow.
The guiding surface 86B of the right inner wall 84D has a similar configuration as that of the above-described guiding surface 86A, except that the guiding surface 86B projects from the right inner wall 84D to the left side in the left-right direction.
The regulating shaft 97 regulates movement in the rearward-inclined orientation of the installed lid member 82. The regulating shaft 97 is formed to have a shape of a shaft on the facing surface 81A. The regulating shaft 97 is arranged at a central position in the left-right direction at a part on the front side of the supporting member 81.
Further, the supporting member 81 has an installment sensor 87 (see
As depicted in
The lid member 82 has a holding member 90 in the lower surface 88. The holding member 90 is formed of a sponge and is capable of holding (retaining) the ink. The holding member 90 makes contact with the lip 66 and the rubber wiper 63 which are located at the retreating position (see
As depicted in
The rib 91 is detectable by the installment sensor 87 in a state that the lid member 82 is installed in the supporting member 81. The rib 91 is arranged in the center in the oblique direction of the upper surface 89 and at an area on the left side. The rib 91 has a shape of a flat plate and extends along the oblique direction.
The left operating part 92A has a shape of a flat plate and extends along the oblique direction in the upper surface 89. The left operating part 92A is integrally formed with the rib 91. The left operating part 92A has an end part on the rearward-inclined orientation which is fixed to the upper surface 89. Namely, the left operating part 92A is capable of rocking in the left-right direction with the end part on the side of the rearward-inclined orientation as the fulcrum. The left operating part 92A has a left engaging part 93A projecting leftward at a central position in the oblique direction of the left operating part 92A.
The left engaging part 93A is formed on a left-side surface of the left operating part 92A. The left engaging part 93A has a left contacting surface 95A which is a surface spreading in the left-right direction and in the orthogonal direction, and a left inclined surface 94A which is inclined, from the left-side surface of the left operating part 92A, further toward the left side as approaching further closely toward the frontward-inclined orientation and connecting (linking) to the left contacting surface 95A.
The right operating part 92B has a configuration which is similar to that of the left operating part 92A, except that the right operating part 92B has a right engaging part 93B projecting toward the right side at a central position in the oblique direction of the right operating part 92B. Thus, any further explanation of the right operating part 92B will be omitted.
The right engaging part 93B is formed in a right-side surface of the right operating part 92B. The right engaging part 93B has a right contacting surface 95B which is a surface spreading in the left-right direction and the orthogonal direction, and a right inclined surface 94B which is inclined, from the right-side surface of the right operating part 92B, further toward the right side as approaching further closely in the frontward-inclined orientation and connecting (linking) to the right contacting surface 95B. The left engaging part 93A and the right engaging part 93B are a pair of engaging parts 93A, 93B which is engaged with a locking part 96 (see
The cutout part 98 makes contact with the regulating shaft 97 and regulates the movement in the rearward-inclined orientation of the lid member 82 with respect to the supporting member 81 of the lid member 82. The cutout part 98 is arranged in a central position in the left-right direction at a part on the front side of the lid member 82. The cutout part 98 is opened in the rearward-inclined orientation.
In a case that the lid member 82 installed in the supporting member 81 slides (slidably moves) in the frontward-inclined orientation with respect to the supporting member 81, the contact surfaces 95A, 95B make contact with the locking part 96 formed in the supporting member 81 to thereby regulate the movement of the lid member 82. The user is capable of detaching (disengaging) the engaging parts 93A and 93B from the locking part 96 by moving the left operating part 92A to the right side in the left-right direction and by moving the right operating part 92B to the left side in the left-right direction. In this state, the user is capable of sliding the lid member 82 in the frontward-inclined orientation to thereby detach (disengage) the lid member 82 from the supporting member 81.
Further, the user is also capable of installing the lid member 82 in the supporting member 81 by moving an insertion forward end of the lid member 82 in the rearward-inclined orientation to be along the guiding surfaces 86A, 86B. Specifically, in a case that the lid member 82 is inserted into the supporting member 81, the left engaging part 93A is pressed to the right side by the locking part 96 to thereby deform the left operating part 92A rightward, and the right engaging part 93B is pressed to the left side by the locking part 96 to thereby deform the right operating part 92B leftward. In a case that the lid member 82 is pushed further in the rearward-inclined orientation, the engaging parts 93A, 93B ride over the locking part 96 and then the contacting surfaces 95A, 95B engage with the locking part 96. In this situation, since the cutout part 98 makes contact with the regulating shaft 97, the movement in the rearward-inclined orientation of the lid member 82 with respect to the supporting part 81 is also regulated. Note that it is sufficient that the operating parts 92A, 92B, the engaging parts 93A, 93B, the locking part 96, the cutout part 98 and the regulating shaft 97 are capable of regulating the movement of the lid member 82 installed in the supporting member 81 in the oblique direction, and that any other publicly known configuration for each of the operating parts 92A, 92B, the engaging parts 93A, 93B, the locking part 96, the cutout part 98 and the regulating shaft 97 may be adopted.
<Controller 130>
As depicted in
The conveying motor 53, the head motor 54, the first motor 55, the second motor 56, a return pump motor 47, a suction pump motor 58, the shaft motor 59, the up-down driving motor 163, a valve motor 71, the operation panel 44, the installment sensor 87, and the display 44A are connected to the ASIC 135.
The ASIC 135 generates a drive signal for rotating each of the motors and controls each of the motors based on this drive signal. Each of the motors rotates forward or backward (rotates normally or reversely) based on the drive signal from the ASIC 135. The controller 130 controls the driving of the conveying motor 53 so as to rotate the holder 35, the conveying roller 36A, the conveying roller 40A and the driving roller 102. The controller 130 controls the driving of the head motor 54 so as to rotate the screw shaft 29A, thereby moving the head 38 along the up-down direction. The controller 130 controls the driving of the shaft motor 59 so as to rotate (pivot) the first supporting mechanism 151. The controller 130 controls the driving of the first motor 55 so as to rotate the gear 106 of the first supporting mechanism 51. The controller 130 controls the driving of the up-down driving motor 163 so as to rotate the screw shaft 161, thereby moving the second supporting mechanism 52 along the orthogonal direction. The controller 130 controls the driving of the second motor 56 so as to rotate the gear 120 of the second supporting mechanism 52. The controller 130 controls the driving of the return pump motor 78 so as to drive the return pump 75. The controller 130 controls the driving of the suction pump motor 58 so as to drive the suction pump 74. The controller 130 controls the driving of the valve motor 71 so as to open and close the cap cleaning valve 72. The controller 130 controls the driving of the valve motor 73 so as to cause the impregnating liquid circulating valve 141 to open and close.
Further, the operation panel 44, the display 44A and a piezoelectric element (not depicted in the drawings) are connected to the ASIC 135. The operation panel 44 outputs an operation signal to the controller 130 in accordance with an operation by the user. The operation panel 44 may have, for example, a push button and/or may have a touch sensor overlaid on a display. The display 44A indicates that the lid member 82 is installed in the supporting member 81. The piezoelectric element is operated in case that the electric power is supplied to the piezoelectric element by the controller 130 via a non-illustrated drive circuit. The controller 130 controls the power supply to the piezoelectric element to thereby selectively discharge an ink droplet of the ink from the plurality of nozzles 38A.
Furthermore, the installment sensor 87 is electrically connected to the ASIC 35. The controller 130 detects insertion and detachment (removal) of the lid member 82 via the installment sensor 87.
In the following, an operation of the maintenance mechanism 60 will be described, together with a purging processing, an immersion processing, a wiping processing and an image recording processing. In the present embodiment, the supply and discharge (exhaust) of the impregnating liquid L is performed together with the above-described processings.
<Purging Processing and Immersion Processing>
The image recording apparatus 100 in a case that the image recording processing is not (being) executed is in a standby state. In a case that the image recording apparatus 100 is in the standby state, as depicted in
In a case that the image recording apparatus 100 is in the standby state, the controller 130 executes the purging processing at a predetermined timing or in a case that the controller 130 receives an instruction from the outside. In the following, an explanation will be given about a processing (to be executed) in a case that the image recording apparatus 100 is in the standby state and that the controller 130 receives, from the outside, an instruction or command to execute the purging processing.
In the purging processing, the controller 130 drives the suction pump 74 in a state that the controller 130 closes the cap cleaning valve 72. With this, the ink in the inside of the plurality of nozzles 38A is sucked and the ink flows from the internal spaces 67A, 67B, 67C of the cap 62 and through the outflow channels 21A, 69B, 69C; the ink flows through the first waste liquid tube 178, the second waste liquid tube 180 and the third waste liquid tube 202 and then the ink is discharged (exhausted) to the waste liquid tank 77. In this situation, since the cap cleaning valve 72 is closed, the impregnating liquid L is not supplied from the impregnating liquid tank 76 to the caps 62A, 62B, 62C via, respectively, the second supply tube 177, the third supply tube 179 and the fourth supply tube 201.
The controller 130 executes the immersion processing at a predetermined timing or in a case that the controller 130 receives an instruction from the outside. In the following, an explanation will be given about a processing (to be executed) in a case that the controller 130 executes the immersion processing after the purging processing has been executed in the case that the image recording apparatus 100 has been in the standby state.
In the immersion processing, the controller 130 drives the suction pump 74 in a state that the cap cleaning valve 72 is opened. With this, the impregnating liquid L is supplied from the impregnating liquid tank 76 to the caps 62A, 62B, 62C, respectively, through the second supply tube 177, the third supply tube 179 and the fourth supply tube 201, and the plurality of nozzles 38A of the ejection module 49 is immersed in the impregnating liquid L. As a result, the ink adhering to the nozzle surface 50 is dissolved in the impregnating liquid L and is discharged (exhausted), together with the impregnating liquid L, into the waste liquid tank 77.
In a case that the immersion processing is completed, the controller 130 moves the head 38 to the uncap position and separates the head 38 from the maintenance mechanism 60 located at the maintenance position; before the above-described operation, however, the controller 130 drives the impregnating liquid circulating valve 141 so as to provide a state that the atmospheric communicating channel 140 is closed and drives the return pump 75. With this, the impregnating liquid L is supplied from the impregnating liquid tank 76 to the supporting stand 61 through the first supply tube 175. The impregnating liquid L supplied to the supporting stand 61 flows into the first channel 135A in the fluid channel 153 through the inflow port 171. The impregnating liquid L inflowed into the first channel 153A flows into the intermediate channel 153B and the second channel 153C in this order, and is exhausted from the outflow port 174. In this situation, there is provided a state that the sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C are impregnated with the impregnating liquid L and that the sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C are fully impregnated with the impregnating liquid L. Note that in a case that the head 38 is moved to the uncap position, there is provided a state that the impregnating liquid L is adhered to the lips 66A, 66B, 66C.
The controller 130 drives the impregnating liquid circulating valve 141 so as to provide a state that the atmospheric communicating channel 140 is opened, and the controller 130 drives the return pump 75. With this, the impregnating liquid L discharged from the outflow port 174 is returned to the impregnating liquid tank 76 through the return tube 176.
<Wiping Processing>
The controller 130 executes the wiping processing in a state that the sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C are impregnated with the impregnating liquid L. The wiping processing will be explained as follows.
The controller 130 moves the head 38 downwardly to thereby move the head 38 from the uncap position indicated by broken lines in
On the other hand, although the maintenance mechanism 60 at the maintenance position is supported by the first supporting mechanism 51, the rack 154 meshes with the gear 105 in this situation. In a case that the first motor 55 is driven in this state so as to rotate the gear 106 clockwise in
In a process in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is (being) moved from the maintenance position to the wiping position, a forward end part (upper end part) of each of the sponge wiper 64 and the rubber wiper 63 slides with respect to the nozzle surface 50 of the ejection module 49 while the forward end part (upper end part) of each of the sponge wiper 64 and the rubber wiper 63 is making contact with the nozzle surface 50. Specifically, the sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C and the rubber wipers 63A, 63B, 63C slide in a state that the sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C and the rubber wipers 63A, 63B, 63C make contact with, respectively, the nozzle surfaces 50 of the ejection modules 49A, 49B, 49C. With this, the nozzle surfaces 50 of the respective ejection modules 49A, 49B, 49C are wiped. As a result, a foreign matter, etc., adhered to the nozzle surface 50 and/or the plurality of nozzles 38A opened in the nozzle surface 50 is removed.
In a case that the maintenance mechanism 60 is located at the wiping position, the first motor 55 is driven so as to rotate the gear 106 rotates counterclockwise in
The controller 130 drives the shaft motor 59 so as to change the posture of the first supporting mechanism 51 from the first posture to the second posture (see
<Movement of Maintenance Mechanism 60>
As depicted in
Specifically, the controller 130 drives the first motor 55 at first. With this, since the gear 106 rotates clockwise in
The controller 130 drives the second motor 56. With this, since the gear 120 rotates clockwise in
The controller 130 drives the up-down driving motor 163. With this, since the screw shaft 161 rotates, the second supporting mechanism 52 moves upward from the standby position along the orthogonal direction (an example of a direction crossing a surface of the holding member 90), and the maintenance mechanism 60 arrives at the retreating position (see
Further, the caps 62A, 62B, 62C are arranged to overlap with a range, in the conveyance direction of the sheet S, which is occupied by the heater 39. Specifically, as depicted in
<Image Recording Processing>
In the following, a processing in a case of recording an image on the sheet S (image recording processing) will be explained.
In a case that the controller 130 receives a command of recording an image on a sheet S, from the operation panel or from an external apparatus or device such as an information processing apparatus which is connected to the image recording apparatus 100 by a LAN, etc., the controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 from the maintenance position to the standby position, as descried above. Then, the controller 130 drives the up-down driving motor 163 so as to move the maintenance mechanism 60 from the standby position to the retreating position. The controller 130 drives the shaft motor 59 so as to change the posture of the first supporting mechanism 51 from the second posture to the first posture (see
Next, the controller 130 moves the head 38 downward to thereby move the head 38 from the capping position to the recording position (see
In a case that the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved to the maintenance position after the image recording processing with respect to the sheet S, a processing (steps) which is reverse to that described above will be performed.
Specifically, the controller 130 drives the up-down driving motor 163 at first. With this, the screw shaft 161 rotates so as to move the second supporting mechanism 52 downward from the retreating position along the orthogonal direction, and the maintenance mechanism 60 arrives at the standby position. In this situation, the lips 66A, 66B, 66C, the rubber wipers 63A, 63B, 63C and the sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C of the caps 62A, 62B, 62C, respectively, are in a state of being away from the holding member 90 of the lid member 82 (see
Next, the controller 130 drives the shaft motor 59 so as to change the posture of the first supporting mechanism 51 from the first posture to the second posture (see
The controller 130 drives the first motor 55. With this, since the gear 106 rotates counterclockwise in
The shaft motor 59 (see
<Technical Effect of Embodiment>
Since the lid member 81 makes contact with the cap 62 at the retreating position and the internal space 67 is sealed thereby, the heat of the heater 39 located above the cap 62 is shielded by the lid member 82. Further, the internal space 67 of the cap 62 is sealed by the lid member 82. With this, although the cap 62 is warmed or heated by the heat from the heater 39, the cap 62 is tightly closed by the lid member 82, and thus the ink is less likely to evaporate, thereby suppressing any clogging of the cap channel 68.
In a case that the cap 62 is located at the retreating position, since the ink adhered to the lip 66 of the cap 62 is retained by the holding member 90, the ink does not dry and solidify in the lip 66 of the cap 62.
Since the lid member 82 is detachably installable with respect to the supporting member 81, it is possible to exchange the lid member 82 to thereby make it possible to always maintain the holding member 90 to be in such a state that the holding member 90 is capable of retaining the ink in a case that the lip 66 of the cap 62 makes contact with the holding member 90. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the lip 66 of the cap 62 to be in a clean state.
The lid member 82 can be detached from the supporting member 81 by slidably moving the lid member 82 in the frontward-inclined orientation with respect to the casing 30 of the image recording apparatus 100. Accordingly, the operation of exchanging the lid member 82 can be performed easily.
Since the lid member 82 can be installed along the guide member 86 of the supporting member 81, the lid member 82 can be easily installed in the supporting member 81.
Since the lid member 82 can be disengaged from the supporting member 81 by operating the operating part 92, the lid member 82 can be easily detached from the supporting member 81.
Since the installment sensor 87 detects that the lid member 82 is installed in the supporting member 81, it is possible for the user to confirm whether the lid member 82 is successfully installed in the supporting member 81 in an ensured manner.
Since the lid member 82 is urged by the elastic member 83 toward the cap 62 in a case that the cap 62 is located at the retreating position, the lid member 82 is tightly brought into contact with the cap 62.
In a case that the lid member 82 is being in the state of sealing the internal space 67 of the cap 62, although the rubber wiper 63 makes contact with the holding member 90 and the ink is thereby absorbed, the sponge wiper 64 does not contact with the holding member 90 and thus the ink is not absorbed. Accordingly, it is possible to wipe the ink adhered to the rubber wiper 63 by the holding member 90, and it is also possible to suppress such a situation that the impregnating liquid L moves from the sponge wiper 64 to the holding member 90, that an amount of the impregnating liquid L included in the holding member 90 becomes great and that the impregnating liquid L drips downward from the holding member 90.
The maintenance mechanism 60 moves such that the rubber wiper 63 does not slide in a state that the rubber wiper 63 makes contact with the holding member 90. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress such a situation that the ink absorbed and retained by the holding member 90 is squeezed out by, for example, the rubber wiper 63 making contact with the holding member 90, due to the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the invention, and not limiting the invention. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations in the described invention are provided below:
<Modifications>
In the image recording apparatus 100, although the fluid channel 153 is formed to have the shape of the letter “U” which extends in the left-right direction and is turned (folded) back so as to make the U-turn, the fluid channel 153 is not limited to or restricted by having the shape of the letter “U”, provided that the impregnating liquid L circulating or flowing through the fluid channel 153 is capable of making contact with the sponge wiper 64. The fluid channel 153 may also be formed, for example, in a linear shape extending in the left-right direction.
In the image recording apparatus 100, although the sponge wiper 64 has the three sponge wipers 64A, 64B, 64C, the number of the sponge wiper 64 is not limited to being 3 (three), provided that the number of the sponge wiper 64 corresponds to the number of the ejection module 49. For example, the number of the sponge wiper 64 may be not less than 4 (four), or not more than 2 (two).
In the image recording apparatus 100, although the three rubber wipers 63A, 63B, 63C are provided on the supporting stand 61, the number of the rubber wiper 63 is not particularly limited, provided that the number of the rubber wiper 63 corresponds to the number of the ejection module 49. For example, the number of the rubber wiper 63 may be not less than 4 (four), or not more than 2 (two). Alternatively, the rubber wiper 63 may be omitted.
In the image recording apparatus 100, although the three caps 62A, 62B, 62C are provided on the supporting stand 61, the number of the cap 62 is not particularly limited, provided that the number of the cap 62 corresponds to the number of the ejection module 49. For example, the number of the cap 62 may be not less than 4 (four), or not more than 2 (two).
In the image recording apparatus 100, although the maintenance mechanism 60 moves frontward from the maintenance position to thereby move to the wiping position, it is allowable that the maintenance mechanism 60 moves rearward from the maintenance position to thereby move to the wiping position. In such a case, the sponge wiper 64 may be positioned on the rear side with respect to the rubber wiper 63.
In the image recording apparatus 100, in the wiping processing, although the sponge wiper 64 and the rubber wiper 63 move with respect to the head 38 in a state that the head 38 is located at the wiping position, it is allowable that the head 38 moves with respect to the sponge wiper 64 and the rubber wiper 63 in a state that the positions, respectively, of the sponge wiper 64 and the rubber wiper 63 are fixed.
In the image recording apparatus 100, the explanation has been given about the case, as an example, wherein the maintenance mechanism 60 is supported by the first supporting mechanism 51 and the second supporting mechanism 52, and wherein in a case that the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved to the maintenance position and to the standby position, the maintenance mechanism 60 is handed and received between the first supporting mechanism 51 and the second supporting mechanism 52, the present disclosure is not limited to or restricted by this configuration. For example, it is allowable that the first supporting mechanism 51 and the second supporting mechanism 52 are integrally formed, and that the first supporting mechanism 51 and the second supporting mechanism 52 are capable of changing the posture thereof to the first posture and the second posture, and that the maintenance mechanism 60 is capable of being supported by such a configuration.
In the image recording apparatus 100, the explanation has been given about the case, as an example, wherein the lid member 82 is caused to slide in the frontward inclined orientation 5 with respect to the casing 30 so that the lid member 82 can be detached from the casing 30. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to or restricted by this configuration. It is allowable that the lid member 82 is configured, for example, to be detached in a direction crossing the up-down direction.
In the image recording apparatus 100, the explanation has been given about the case, as an example, wherein, in the conveying direction, the range P1 of the heater 39 and the range P2 of the cap 62 overlap in the conveying direction. It is allowable, however, that specifically, the range P1 of the heater 39 and the range P2 of the cap 62 overlap partially or overlap completely with each other in the conveying direction. In the present embodiment, although the explanation has been given about the case, as an example, wherein the front side part of the range P1 of the heater 39 and the rear side part of the range P2 of the cap 62 overlap, it is also allowable to provide such a configuration that a front side part of the range P2 of the cap 62 and a rear side part of the range P1 of the heater 39 overlap. Alternatively, it is also allowable to provide such a configuration that all the range P1 of the heater 39 is included in the range P2 of the cap 62; still alternatively, it is allowable to provide such a configuration that all the range P1 of the heater 39 is included in the range P2 of the cap 62.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2022-035795 | Mar 2022 | JP | national |