The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-226716, filed on Dec. 16, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a liquid discharge apparatus for discharging a liquid from nozzles of a head to a medium.
A liquid discharge apparatus is known, which performs the printing on a sheet by discharging a liquid from nozzles of a head. In the case of an ink-jet recording apparatus as an example of the liquid discharge apparatus, the nozzles of the head are coated with a cap provided for a maintenance mechanism in the circumstances other than the printing on the sheet, in order to protect the meniscus and/or perform the purge process.
Such configuration is conceived that the maintenance mechanism is moved to the maintenance position opposed to the head when the nozzles of the head are covered with the cap, while the maintenance mechanism is retracted to the waiting position not opposed to the head when the nozzles of the head are not covered with the cap, for example, when the printing is performed on the sheet. In such a situation, a support mechanism (for example, a platen and a conveying belt for supporting the sheet), which is disposed at the position opposed to the head when the printing is performed, is moved in order to provide a space for positioning the maintenance mechanism disposed at the maintenance position when the maintenance mechanism is moved to the maintenance position.
For example, a recording apparatus is known, which is configured such that a maintenance mechanism enters a space generated by the rotation of a conveying belt.
The known recording apparatus described above has a rod-shaped guide member which extends in a straight form from the waiting position to the maintenance position. The maintenance mechanism is moved linearly to the waiting position and the maintenance position by being guided by the guide member.
However, the recording apparatus described above is configured such that one guide member extends from the waiting position to the maintenance position. For example, if any straight movement route for moving the maintenance mechanism from the waiting position to the maintenance position cannot be configured on account of the arrangement of parts in the apparatus, it is necessary for the recording apparatus to curve and/or bend one guide member. If the guide member is curved and/or bent, it is feared that the movement of the maintenance mechanism cannot be executed smoothly.
The present disclosure has been made taking the foregoing circumstances into consideration, an object of which is to provide a liquid discharge apparatus which makes it possible to smoothly execute the movement of a maintenance mechanism having a cap for covering nozzles of a head.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a head including a nozzle surface on which a nozzle is opened, the head being configured to discharge a liquid from the nozzle; a maintenance mechanism including a cap, the maintenance mechanism being movable to a maintenance position and a waiting position, wherein the cap contacts with the head to cover the nozzle at the maintenance position, and the waiting position is different from the maintenance position; a first support mechanism including a first guide configured to guide the maintenance mechanism and supporting the maintenance mechanism disposed at the maintenance position; and a second support mechanism including a second guide configured to guide the maintenance mechanism and supporting the maintenance mechanism disposed at the waiting position. The first support mechanism includes a first driving-transmitting mechanism by which a driving force is transmitted to the maintenance mechanism to move the maintenance mechanism. The second support mechanism includes a second driving-transmitting mechanism by which a driving force is transmitted to the maintenance mechanism to move the maintenance mechanism. One of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is relatively movable to a first position and a second position with respect to the other of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism. When the one of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is disposed at the first position, both of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism are configured to simultaneously support the maintenance mechanism. When the one of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is disposed at the second position, one of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is configured to support the maintenance mechanism, and the other of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is separated away from the maintenance mechanism.
According to the configuration as described above, each of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism has the guide for guiding the maintenance mechanism. One of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is relatively movable with respect to the other. Further, when one of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is disposed at the first position, both of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism can simultaneously support the maintenance mechanism. Accordingly, when one of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is disposed at the first position, the maintenance mechanism is delivered between the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism during the movement. As described above, according to the configuration described above, one of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism is relatively movable with respect to the other, while dividing the guide into two. Thus, it is unnecessary to curve and/or bend the shapes of the first guide and the second guide. Therefore, it is possible to suppress any complicated movement route of the maintenance mechanism. As a result, it is possible to smoothly execute the movement of the maintenance mechanism.
An image recording apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained below. Note that the embodiment explained below is merely an example of the present disclosure, and it goes without saying that the embodiment can be appropriately changed within a range without changing the gist or essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Further, in the following explanation, the upward-downward direction 7 is defined on the basis of a state (state depicted in
<Appearance Configuration of Image Recording Apparatus 100>
In the image recording apparatus 100 depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The lower casing 32 has a right surface 32R, a left surface 32L, a lower surface 32D, a front surface 32F, and a back surface 32B. Accordingly, the internal space 32A of the lower casing 32 (see
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
An operation panel 44 is provided on the front surface 31F of the upper casing 31. A user performs the input by means of the operation panel 44 in order that the image recording apparatus 100 is operated and/or various settings are confirmed and decided.
<Internal Structure of Image Recording Apparatus 100>
As depicted in
A partition wall 41 is provided in the internal space 32A. The partition wall 41 partitions the back lower portion of the internal space 32A to compart a sheet accommodating space 32C. The sheet accommodating space 32C is the space which is surrounded by the partition wall 41 and the lower casing 32 (specifically the back surface 32B, the lower surface 32D, the right surface 32R, and the left surface 32L) and which is isolated, for example, from the head 38.
The roll member 37 is accommodated in the sheet accommodating space 32C. The roll member 37 has a core tube and the lengthy sheet S. The sheet S is wound around the core tube in a roll form in the circumferential direction of the axial center of the core tube. The sheet S can have the width (from the minimum width to the maximum width) at which the image recording apparatus 100 can record the image. That is, a plurality of types of roll members 37 having different widths can be accommodated in the sheet accommodating space 32C. Note that it is also allowable that the roll member 37 does not have the core tube, and the sheet S is wound in a roll form so that the sheet S can be installed to the holder 35. Further, it is also allowable that fan-fold paper and cut paper can be accommodated in the sheet accommodating space 32C.
As depicted in
As depicted in
The tensioner 45 is positioned over or above the partition wall 41 at the back portion of the internal space 32A. The tensioner 45 has the outer circumferential surface 45A which is directed to the outside of the lower casing 32. The outer circumferential surface 45A has the size which is not less than the maximum width of the sheet in the left-right direction 9, and the outer circumferential surface 45A has the shape which is mutually symmetrical with respect to the paper passing center. The upper end of the outer circumferential surface 45A is disposed at approximately the same vertical position as that of the nip D of the conveying roller pair 36 in the upward-downward direction 7.
The sheet S, which is pulled out from the roll member 37, is applied to the outer circumferential surface 45A, and the sheet S abuts thereagainst. The sheet S is curved frontwardly along the outer circumferential surface 45A. The sheet S extends in the conveyance direction 8A, and the sheet S is guided by the conveying roller pair 36. The conveyance direction 8A is the frontward orientation extending in the front-back direction 8. The tensioner 45 gives the tension to the sheet S by means of any well-known technique.
Note that as for the tensioner 45, the present disclosure is not limited to the configuration depicted in
The conveying roller pair 36 is positioned in front 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 mutually abut at approximately the same vertical position as that of the upper end of the outer circumferential surface 45A to 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 mutually abut at approximately the same vertical position as that of the upper end of the outer circumferential surface 45A to form the nip.
The conveying rollers 36A, 40A are rotated by the driving force transmitted from the conveying motor 53 (see
As depicted in
The head 38 is positioned on the downstream side in the conveyance direction 8A as compared with the conveying roller pair 36 over or above the conveying passage 43. The head 38 has a plurality of nozzles 38A. The ink is discharged downwardly from the plurality of nozzles 38A toward the sheet S supported by the conveying belt 101. Accordingly, the image is recorded on the sheet S. The configuration of the head 38 will be explained in detail later on.
The first support mechanism 51 is positioned downstream in the conveyance direction 8A as compared with the conveying roller pair 36 under or below the conveying passage 43. The first support mechanism 51 is opposed to the head 38 under or below the head 38. The first support mechanism 51 has a conveying belt 101 and a support unit 104. The conveying belt 101 supports the sheet S which is conveyed in the conveyance direction 8A by the conveying roller pair 36 and which is positioned just under the head 38. The conveying belt 101 conveys the supporting sheet S in the conveyance direction 8A. The support unit 104 can support the maintenance mechanism 60. The configuration of the first support mechanism 51 will be explained in detail later on.
The fixing unit 39 is positioned downstream in the conveyance direction 8A from the head 38 over or above the conveying passage 43 and upstream in the conveying direction from the conveying roller pair 40. The fixing unit 39 is an ultraviolet radiating device having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape which is lengthy in the left-right direction 9. The fixing unit 39 has a casing 39A. An opening 39B, which extends in the left-right direction 9, is formed on the lower wall of the casing 39A. The fixing unit 39 radiates the ultraviolet light via the opening 39B to the sheet S and/or the ink on the sheet S which passes just under the opening 39B. In this embodiment, the ink contains a resin which is curable by the ultraviolet. Therefore, the ink, which is irradiated with the ultraviolet light, is fixed on the sheet S.
Note that the fixing unit 39 is not limited to the ultraviolet radiating device. For example, the fixing unit 39 may be a halogen heater having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape which is lengthy in the left-right direction 9. In this case, the fixing unit 39 radiates the infrared light via the opening 39B to heat the sheet S and/or the ink on the sheet S which passes just under the opening 39B. Accordingly, the ink is fixed to the sheet S.
The support member 46 is positioned under or below the conveying passage 43. The support member 46 is positioned downstream in the conveyance direction 8A as compared with the head 38 and the first support mechanism 51. The back portion of the support member 46 is opposed to the fixing unit 39. The front portion of the support member 46 is opposed to the conveying roller 40A. The support member 46 supports the sheet S which is conveyed in the conveyance direction 8A by the conveying belt 101 of the first support mechanism 51.
The support member 46 is supported rotatably about the axis or shaft (not depicted) extending in the left-right direction 9 by the lower casing 32. As depicted in
When the support member 46 is positioned at the lodging position, the rotation forward end 46B of the support member 46 is positioned frontwardly (downstream in the conveyance direction 8A) as compared with the rotation proximal end 46A. When the support member 46 is positioned at the lodging position, then the support member 46 constitutes a part of the conveying passage 43, and the support member 46 can support the sheet S which is conveyed in the conveyance direction 8A by the conveying belt 101. When the support member 46 is positioned at the upstanding position, then the rotation forward end 46B of the support member 46 is positioned upwardly as compared with when the support member 46 is positioned at the lodging position, and the maintenance mechanism 60 can be exposed to the outside.
The second support mechanism 52 is positioned under or below the support member 46. The second support mechanism 52 is fixed at the inside of the lower casing 32 by being supported by the lower casing 32. The second support mechanism 52 can support the maintenance mechanism 60. The configuration of the second support mechanism 52 will be explained in detail later on.
Note that in this embodiment, the axis or shaft of the support member 46 is provided at the back end portion of the support member 46, and the axis or shaft of the support member 46 extends in the left-right direction 9. However, the axis or shaft is not limited to the configuration as described above. For example, the axis or shaft of the support member 46 may be provided at the front end portion of the support member 46, and the axis or shaft of the support member 46 may extend in the left-right direction 9. Alternatively, for example, the axis or shaft of the support member 46 may extend in the front-back direction 8.
CIS 25 is positioned downstream in the conveyance direction 8A as compared with the conveying roller pair 40 over or above the conveying passage 43. In CIS 25, the light is radiated from the light source such as LED or the like, and the light is reflected by the sheet to provide the reflected light which is collected to a line sensor by means of a refractive index distribution (refractive index profile) type lens. Thus, an electric signal, which depends on the intensity of the reflected light received by the line sensor, is outputted. Accordingly, CIS 25 can read the image on the printing surface of the sheet. CIS 25 is arranged so that the reading line extends in the left-right direction 9.
The cutter unit 26 is positioned downstream in the conveying direction 8A as compared with CIS 25 over or above the conveying passage 43. As for the cutter unit 26, a cutter 28 is carried on a cutter carriage 27. The cutter carriage 27 is movable in the left-right direction 9 across the conveying passage 43, for example, by means of an unillustrated belt driving mechanism. The cutter 28 is positioned so that the cutter 28 traverses the conveying passage 43 in the upward-downward direction 7. The cutter 28 is moved in the left-right direction across the conveying passage 43 in accordance with the movement of the cutter carriage 27. The sheet S, which is positioned in the conveying passage 43, is cut in the left-right direction 9 in accordance with the movement of the cutter 28.
The tank 34 stores the ink. The ink is a liquid containing a pigment or the like. The ink has a viscosity which is suitable to uniformly disperse the pigment. The pigment provides the color of the ink. The ink is supplied from the tank 34 via an unillustrated tube to the head 38. As described above, the ink can contain the resin which is curable by the ultraviolet light. However, it is not necessarily indispensable that the ink contains the resin which is curable by the ultraviolet light. When the ink does not contain the resin, the fixing unit 39 is constructed by any device including, for example, a halogen heater other than the ultraviolet radiating device.
The maintenance mechanism 60 is provided to perform the maintenance for the head 38. The maintenance mechanism 60 is configured so that the maintenance mechanism 60 is movable. When the maintenance is performed for the head 38, the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved to the position disposed just under the head 38 (see
The maintenance for the head 38 includes, for example, the flashing process, the purge process, and the wiping process. The flashing process is the process in which the ink is discharged toward the maintenance mechanism 60 (in particular, toward a liquid receiver of the maintenance mechanism 60 as described later on). As depicted in
The wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is configured to clean the wiper 63 of the maintenance mechanism 60 (see
<Head 38>
The head 38 depicted in
The frame 48 is fixed to the lower casing 32. As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
Each of the discharge modules 49A, 49B, 49C is provided with the plurality of nozzles 38A. The respective nozzles 38A are open on the lower surfaces 50 of the respective discharge modules 49A, 49B, 49C. The lower surface 50 is the surface which expands in the front-back direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. As described above, the ink is discharged downwardly from the plurality of nozzles 38A toward the sheet S which is supported by the conveying belt 101 of the first support mechanism 51, and the image is recorded on the sheet S. Note that the arrangement and the number of the plurality of nozzles 38A are not limited to the arrangement and the number depicted in
As depicted in
The protrusion 72 protrudes downwardly from the lower surface 48A of the frame 48. The protrusion 72 can be vertically opposed to a protrusion 158 (see
The head 38 is movable in the upward-downward direction 7 to the recording position (example of the second position) depicted in
As depicted in
<First Support Mechanism 51>
As depicted in
The driving roller 102 and the following roller 103 are rotatably supported by the support unit 104. The driving roller 102 and the following roller 103 are separated from each other in the front-back direction 8 (conveyance direction 8A). The conveying belt 101 is an endless belt. The conveying belt 101 is applied and stretched under tension between the driving roller 102 and the following roller 103. The conveying belt 101 is arranged in the conveying passage 43 in the left-right direction 9.
The driving roller 102 is rotated by the driving force given by the conveying motor 53 (see
As depicted in
The shaft 109 is rotated by the driving force transmitted from the shaft motor 59 (see
Note that the configuration for rotating the support unit 104 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the following configuration is also available. That is, the lower casing 32 is provided with a shaft 109A. The shaft 109A is fitted to a hole provided for the support unit 104, and thus the support unit 104 is rotated about the shaft 109A. In this case, the support unit 104 is provided with a virtual shaft or axis.
The first support mechanism 51 is rotatable to the first rotation position depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The upstanding walls 110, 111 are arranged outside the conveying passage 43 in the left-right direction 9. The upstanding walls 110, 111 rotatably support the driving roller 102 and the following roller 103.
The upstanding wall 110 is provided with an upper surface 110A. The upstanding wall 111 is provided with a first upper surface 111A and a second upper surface 111B. The second upper surface 111B is positioned at the position different from the position of the first upper surface 111A in the left-right direction 9. The upper surface 110A and the first upper surface 111A support the maintenance mechanism 60 and guide the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60. As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
In other words, when the gear 105B is rotated, when any gap is present between the projection 114 and the surface for comparting the hole 113 on the side in the movement orientation of the projection 114, then the gear 105B undergoes the racing or idling with respect to the gear 105A during the period until the projections 114 abut against the surfaces. Then, when the projections 114 abut against the surfaces, then the projections 114 push the surfaces, and thus the gear 105B and the gear 105A are integrally rotated. In other words, the driving force is transmitted from the gear 105B to the gear 105A.
<Second Support Mechanism 52>
As depicted in
As depicted in
The main body 115 is an approximately plate-shaped member, and the main body 115 is fixed to the lower casing 32. The upstanding wall 116 is provided in an upstanding manner upwardly from the left end portion of the main body 115. The upstanding wall 117 is provided in an upstanding manner upwardly from the right end portion of the main body 115. The upstanding walls 116, 117 extend in the inclination direction 6.
The upstanding wall 116 is disposed at the same position as that of the upstanding wall 110 of the first support mechanism 51 in the left-right direction 9. The upstanding wall 117 is disposed at the same position as that of the upstanding wall 111 of the first support mechanism 51 in the left-right direction 9.
The upstanding wall 116 is provided with an upper surface 116A. The upstanding wall 117 is provided with a first upper surface 117A and a second upper surface 117B. The second upper surface 117B is disposed at the position which is different from the position of the first upper surface 117A in the left-right direction 9.
When the first support mechanism 51 is disposed at the second rotation position, then the first upper surface 117A is aligned in the inclination direction 6 with the first upper surface 111A of the upstanding wall 111 of the first support mechanism 51, and the first upper surface 117A is disposed on the same plane as that of the first upper surface 111A (see
Similarly, when the first support mechanism 51 is disposed at the second rotation position, then the upper surface 116A is aligned in the inclination direction 6 with the upper surface 110A of the upstanding wall 110 of the first support mechanism 51, and the upper surface 116A is disposed on the same plane as that of the upper surface 110A. In other words, the upper surface 116A and the upper surface 110A are aligned linearly (on a straight line).
The upper surface 116A and the first upper surface 117A support the maintenance mechanism 60 to guide the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60. As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
In other words, when the gear 118B is rotated, when any gap is present between the projection 127 and the surface for comparting the hole 125 on the side in the movement orientation of the projection 127, then the gear 118B undergoes the racing or idling with respect to the gear 118A during the period until the projections 127 abut against the surfaces. Then, when the projections 127 abut against the surfaces, then the projections 127 push the surfaces, and thus the gear 118B and the gear 118A are integrally rotated. In other words, the driving force is transmitted from the gear 118B to the gear 118A.
Further, when the gear 119B is rotated, when any gaps are present between the projections 128 and the surfaces for comparting the holes 126 in the orientation in which the gear 119B is rotated, in relation to the projections 128, then the gear 119B undergoes the racing or idling with respect to the gear 119A during the period until the projections 128 abut against the surfaces. Then, when the projections 128 abut against the surfaces, then the projections 128 push the surfaces, and thus the gear 119B and the gear 119A are integrally rotated. In other words, the driving force is transmitted from the gear 119B to the gear 119A.
In this case, the lengths in the circumferential direction and the positions in the circumferential direction of the holes 125, 126 and the lengths in the circumferential direction and the positions in the circumferential direction of the projections 127, 128 are set so that the timing, at which the gear 118B and the gear 118A start the integral rotation, is the same as the timing at which the gear 119B and the gear 119B are rotated integrally.
<Maintenance Mechanism 60>
As depicted in
The main body 61 has a box-shaped form in which the upper portion is open. The main body 61 is provided with a bottom plate 151, an edge plate 152 which is provided in an upstanding manner upwardly from the circumferential edge of the bottom plate 151, protruding walls 153, 154, upstanding walls 155, 156, a comparting wall 157, and a protrusion 158.
The protruding wall 153 protrudes downwardly from the left end of the bottom plate 151. The protruding wall 154 protrudes downwardly from the right end of the bottom plate 151. The protruding walls 153, 154 extend in the inclination direction 6.
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The lower surface 153A can abut against the upper surface 116A of the upstanding wall 116 of the second support mechanism 52 from the upper position. The lower surface 154A can abut against the first upper surface 117A of the upstanding wall 117 of the second support mechanism 52 from the upper position. Accordingly, the maintenance mechanism 60 can be supported by the second support mechanism 52.
The rack gear 154B can be vertically opposed to the second upper surface 111B of the upstanding wall 111 of the first support mechanism 51. The rack gear 154B can be meshed with the gear 105A which protrudes from the opening 112 of the second upper surface 111B. The gear 105A is rotated in a state in which the rack gear 154B and the gear 105A are meshed with each other, and thus the maintenance mechanism 60 slides along the upper surface 110A and the first upper surface 111A with respect to the first support mechanism 51. In other words, the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 is guided by the first upper surface 111A and the upper surface 110A of the first support mechanism 51.
The rack gear 154B can be vertically opposed to the second upper surface 117B of the upstanding wall 117 of the second support mechanism 52. The rack gear 154B can be meshed with the gear 118A which protrudes from the opening 123 of the second upper surface 117B and the gear 119A which protrudes from the opening 124 of the second upper surface 117B. The gear 105A is rotated in a state in which the rack gear 154B and at least one of the gear 118A and the gear 119A are meshed with each other, and thus the maintenance mechanism 60 slides along the upper surface 116A and the first upper surface 117A with respect to the second support mechanism 52. In other words, the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 is guided by the first upper surface 111A and the upper surface 116A of the second support mechanism 52.
Accordingly, the maintenance mechanism 60 can be moved to the waiting position depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The comparting wall 157 is positioned between the upstanding walls 155, 156 in the left-right direction 9. The comparting wall 157 is disposed at the position at which the three caps 62 are not arranged. The comparting wall 157 is provided to extend so that a predetermined area of the bottom plate 151 is surrounded. In this embodiment, the comparting wall 157 has an H-shaped form as viewed in a plan view. A liquid receiver, which receives the liquid such as the ink or the like, is constructed by the comparting wall 157 and the portion of the bottom plate 151 (bottom plate 151 in the predetermined area) disposed inside the comparting wall 157 as viewed in a plan view. The liquid receiver is provided with a receiving surface. The receiving surface is constructed by the upper surface 151A of the bottom plate 151 disposed inside the comparting wall 157 as viewed in a plan view. Note that the predetermined area is not limited to the area depicted in
A through-hole 73, which penetrates through the comparting wall 157 in the left-right direction 9, is formed at the front left end portion of the comparting wall 157. The through-hole 73 is formed at the lower end portion of the comparting wall 157. One end of the tube 65 is connected to the through-hole 73.
The protrusion 158 protrudes upwardly from the bottom plate 151. In this embodiment, the protrusion 158 is positioned leftwardly as compared with the upstanding wall 155 in the left-right direction 9. Note that the position of the protrusion 158 is not limited to the position depicted in
<Cap 62>
As depicted in
The plurality of caps 62 are provided. In this embodiment, the caps 62 are composed of the three caps 62A, 62B, 62C. In the following description, the three caps 62A, 62B, 62C are generally referred to as “cap 62” as well. The cap 62A corresponds to the discharge module 49A, and the cap 62A can be opposed in the upward-downward direction 7 to the discharge module 49A. The cap 62B corresponds to the discharge module 49B, and the cap 62B can be opposed in the upward-downward direction 7 to the discharge module 49B. The cap 62C corresponds to the discharge module 49C, and the cap 62C can be opposed in the upward-downward direction 7 to the discharge module 49C. In other words, the mutual positional relationship among the caps 62A, 62B, 62C is the same as or equivalent to the mutual positional relationship among the discharge modules 49A, 49B, 49C. That is, the caps 62A, 62B are positioned while providing a spacing distance in the left-right direction 9. The cap 62C is positioned in front of the caps 62A, 62B, and the cap 62C is positioned between the caps 62A, 62B in the left-right direction 9. Note that the number of the caps 62 is not limited to three. The number of the caps 62 is set in conformity with the number of the discharge modules 49 of the head 38 described above.
The cap 62 is composed of an elastic member such as rubber, silicon or the like. Each of the caps 62A, 62B, 62C has a box-shaped form in which the upper portion is open. A hole 70 is formed through a bottom plate 69 of each of the caps 62A, 62B, 62C. One end of the tube 66 is connected to the hole 70.
As depicted in
On the other hand, as depicted in
<Wiper 63>
As depicted in
The wiper 63A corresponds to the discharge module 49A, and the wiper 63A can be opposed in the upward-downward direction 7 to the discharge module 49A. The wiper 63B corresponds to the discharge module 49B, and the wiper 63B can be opposed in the upward-downward direction 7 to the discharge module 49B. The wiper 63C corresponds to the discharge module 49C, and the wiper 63C can be opposed in the upward-downward direction 7 to the discharge module 49C. In other words, the mutual positional relationship among the wipers 63A, 63B, 63C is the same as or equivalent to the mutual positional relationship among the discharge modules 49A, 49B, 49C. That is, the wipers 63A, 63B are positioned while providing a spacing distance in the left-right direction 9. The wiper 63C is positioned in front of the wipers 63A, 63B, and the wiper 63C is positioned between the wipers 63A, 63B in the left-right direction 9. Note that the number of the wipers 63 is not limited to three. The number of the wipers 63 is set in conformity with the number of the discharge modules 49 of the head 38 described above.
The wiper 63 is composed of an elastic member such as rubber or the like, or cloth. As described later on, the wiper 63 slides against the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49 of the head 38, and thus the wiper 63 wipes out the lower surface 50.
<Shutter 64>
As depicted in
One of the two shutters 64 is positioned in front of the wipers 63A, 63B provided at the back of the caps 62A, 62b, at the back of the caps 62A, 62C. The other of the two shutters 64 is positioned in front of the wiper 63C provided between the cap 62C and the caps 62A, 62B, at the back of the cap 62C. Each of the shutters 64 extends to the both outer sides of the wiper 63 in the left-right direction 9.
The shutter 64 extends to the position disposed over or above the wiper 63 in a state in which no force is applied from the outside (see
Each of the shutters 64 is provided with projections 64A at both left and right end portions. Accordingly, the both left and right end portions of the shutter 64 is higher than the other portions of the shutter 64. When the maintenance mechanism 60 is positioned within a range ranging from the maintenance position to the wiping position (see
<Tubes 65, 66, 67 and Joint Unit 68>
As depicted in
The plurality of tubes 66 are provided corresponding to the plurality of caps 62. One end of each of the tubes 66 is connected to the hole 70 formed for one of the caps 62. In other words, the other end of the tube 66 is connected to the joint unit 68. The tube 66 is arranged on the bottom plate 151. The internal space of the tube 66 constitutes the second flow passage. In other words, the ink, which is collected in the cap 62, flows through the second flow passage from the cap 62 to the joint unit 68.
In this embodiment, the tube 66 which is connected to the cap 62A merges with the tube 66 which is connected to the cap 62B, at the position disposed in front of the joint unit 68. Note that the tube 66 which is connected to the cap 62A and the tube 66 which is connected to the cap 62B penetrate through the through-holes formed through the upstanding wall 155. The tube 66, which is connected to the cap 62C, is arranged separately from the tubes 66 which are connected to the caps 62A, 62B. Note that the arrangement of the tubes 66 is not limited to the arrangement depicted in
One end of the tube 67 is connected to the joint unit 68. The other end of the tube 67 is connected to an unillustrated waste liquid tank. The internal space of the tube 67 constitutes the third flow passage. In other words, the ink, which stays in the joint unit 68, flows through the third flow passage from the joint unit 68 to the waste liquid tank.
The tube 67 is positioned leftwardly as compared with the second support mechanism 52 in the left-right direction 9. Further, the tube 67 is positioned leftwardly as compared with the support member 46 and the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 (see
The joint unit 68 mutually communicates the internal spaces of the connected tubes 65, 66, 67. In other words, the joint unit 68 mutually communicates the first flow passage, the second flow passage, and the third flow passage. That is, the first flow passage and the second flow passage merge at the joint unit 68.
As depicted in
A part of the tube 65 is supported by the protrusion 158 which protrudes upwardly from the bottom plate 151. In other words, the portion of the tube 65, which is supported by the protrusion 158, is disposed at the position higher than those of the other portions of the tube 65 (portions arranged on the bottom plate 151). Further, the portion of the tube 65, which is supported by the protrusion 158, is disposed at the position higher than that of the tube 66 arranged on the bottom plate 151. An opening/closing mechanism is constructed by the protrusion 158 and the protrusion 72 described above. The opening/closing mechanism opens/closes the first flow passage as described later on.
<Wiper Cleaning Mechanism 80>
As depicted in
As depicted in
The main body 163 is provided with a pair of protrusions 162. The pair of protrusions 162 protrude outwardly in the left-right direction 9 from the both upper left and right end portions of the main body 163. The pair of protrusions 162 extends in the inclination direction 6 (direction directed to the back of the paper surface of
The main body 163 is formed with a pair of recesses 167. The pair of recesses 167 are recessed upwardly from the both left and right end portions of the lower surface of the main body 163. The pair of recesses 167 are formed to range over from one end to the other end in the inclination direction 6 of the main body 163. Protrusions 168, 169 are formed on the surfaces of the pair of recesses 167 for comparting the outer sides in the left-right direction 9. The protrusion 169 is formed frontwardly and upwardly as compared with the protrusion 168. The protrusions 168, 169 have the same shape. The protrusion 168 is disposed at the same position as that of the projection 159 in the left-right direction 9 and the upward-downward direction 7. The protrusion 169 is disposed at the same position as that of the projection 160 in the left-right direction 9 and the upward-downward direction 7.
Each of the protrusions 168, 169 has a first cam surface 171, a second cam surface 172, and a third cam surface 173. In other words, the two first cam surfaces 171, the two second cam surfaces 172, and the two third cam surfaces 173 are provided respectively while providing spacing distances in the inclination direction 6 respectively. Further, the two first cam surfaces 171, the two second cam surfaces 172, and the two third cam surfaces 173 are provided at different positions in the inclination direction respectively, and they are provided at different positions in the orthogonal direction 1 respectively. The orthogonal direction 1 is the direction which is orthogonal to the inclination direction 6 and the left-right direction 9.
As depicted in
In this embodiment, the first urging member 164 and the second urging member 165 depicted in
As depicted in
The foam 166 depicted in
The wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is movable in the orthogonal direction 1 to the separated position depicted in
The wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is detachable with respect to the support member 46.
This feature will be described in detail below. As depicted in
The wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is disengaged from the support member 46 in accordance with the following procedure. At first, the upper casing 31 is rotated from the closed position (see
When the support member 46 is positioned at the upstanding position, the holding unit 161 extends in the orientation 3 directed frontwardly and obliquely upwardly up to the upper end of the support member 46. In this case, the orientation 3 is the orientation which is directed from the rotation proximal end 46A of the support member 46 to the rotation forward end 46B. The wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is allowed to slide in the orientation 3 with respect to the support member 46, and the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is disengaged from the support member 46.
The wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is installed to the support member 46 in accordance with the following procedure. At first, the upper casing 31 is positioned at the open portion, and the support member 46 is positioned at the upstanding position. Subsequently, the protrusion 162 of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is inserted into the holding unit 161 from the rotation forward end 46B of the support member 46, and the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is allowed to slide in the orientation directed backwardly and obliquely downwardly (orientation reverse to the orientation 3). Accordingly, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is installed to the support member 46. After that, the support member 46 is rotated from the upstanding position to the lodging position, and the upper casing 31 is rotated from the open portion to the closed position.
As described above, the holding unit 161 of the support member 46 disposed at the upstanding position holds the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 in the orientation 3 so that the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 can be inserted/withdrawn.
Note that in this embodiment, the entire wiper cleaning mechanism 80 can be attached/detached with respect to the support member 46. However, it is also allowable that only a part of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 can be attached/detached with respect to the support member 46. For example, any portion of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 other than the foam 166 may be fixed to the support member 46, and only the foam 166 can be attached/detached with respect to the portion of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 other than the foam 166.
<Controller 130>
As depicted in
The conveying motor 53, the head motor 54, the first motor 55, the second motor 56, the pump motor 58, and the shaft motor 59 are connected to ASIC 135.
ASIC 135 generates the driving signals for rotating the respective motors, and ASIC 135 controls the respective motors on the basis of the driving signals. The respective motors are rotated forwardly or reversely in accordance with the driving signals fed from ASIC 135. The controller 130 controls the driving of the conveying motor 53 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 to rotate the screw shaft 29A and move the head 38 in the upward-downward direction 7. The controller 130 controls the driving of the first motor 55 to rotate the gear 106 of the first support mechanism 51. The controller 130 controls the driving of the second motor 56 to rotate the gear 120 of the second support mechanism 52. The controller 130 controls the driving the pump motor 58 to drive the suction pump 74. The controller 130 controls the driving of the shaft motor 59 to rotate the first support mechanism 51.
Further, a piezoelectric element 57 is connected to ASIC 135. The piezoelectric element 57 is operated by supplying the electric power by means of the controller 130 via an unillustrated drive circuit. The controller 130 controls the electric power supply to the piezoelectric element 57 to selectively discharge ink droplets from the plurality of nozzles 38A.
<Movement of Maintenance Mechanism 60>
The maintenance mechanism 60 slides with respect to the second support mechanism 52 in a state in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is supported by the second support mechanism 52, and thus the maintenance mechanism 60 is movable to the waiting position and the cleaning termination position in the inclination direction 6. In other words, the second support mechanism 52 can support the maintenance mechanism 60 positioned at the waiting position, the cleaning termination position, and any position between the both positions.
As depicted in
The maintenance mechanism 60, which is disposed at the waiting position, is supported by the second support mechanism 52. In this situation, the rack gear 154B is meshed with both of the gears 118, 119. When the second motor 56 is driven, and the gear 120 is rotated clockwise as viewed in
As depicted in
The cleaning of the wiper 63 is executed by the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 during the process in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved from the waiting position to the cleaning termination position. The cleaning of the wiper 60 performed by the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 will be explained in detail later on.
The maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered between the second support mechanism 52 and the first support mechanism 51 disposed at the second rotation position. Thus, the maintenance mechanism 60 is movable to the waiting position and the maintenance position. The waiting position is the position at which the maintenance mechanism 60 is retracted from the maintenance position.
As depicted in
As depicted in
In this case, as described above, when the first support mechanism 51 is disposed at the second rotation position, then the first upper surface 117A of the second support mechanism 52 is aligned in the inclination direction 6 with the first upper surface 111A of the first support mechanism 51, the second upper surface 117B of the second support mechanism 52 is aligned in the inclination direction 6 with the second upper surface 111B of the first support mechanism 51, and the upper surface 116A of the second support mechanism 52 is aligned in the inclination direction 6 with the upper surface 110A of the first support mechanism 51.
Further, as depicted in
Therefore, in the course or process of the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 in the backward inclination orientation 4, the maintenance mechanism 60 undergoes the state in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is supported by only the second support mechanism 52 (see
Note that in the movement process, the first motor 55 (see
Further, in the movement process, the rack gear 154B maintains the state in which the rack gear 154B is meshed with at least one of the gear 118 and the gear 105. On this account, in the movement process, the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 is not stopped, which would be otherwise stopped by disengaging the meshed state between the rack gear 154B and the gears 118, 105.
The shaft motor 59 (see
When the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved from the maintenance position to the waiting position, the operation, which is reverse to the above, is executed. In other words, the shaft motor 59 (see
Note that when the maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered between the second support mechanism 52 and the first support mechanism 51 disposed at the second rotation position, the process is executed in order to reliably mesh the gears 106, 118, 119 with the rack gear 154B. However, the process will be explained in detail later on.
The maintenance mechanism 60 slides with respect to the first support mechanism 51 in a state in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is supported by the first support mechanism 51, and thus the maintenance mechanism 60 is movable to the maintenance position and the wiping position. The wiping position is the position disposed in front of the maintenance position (on the side of the waiting position). In other words, the first support mechanism 51 can support the maintenance mechanism 60 positioned at the maintenance position, the wiping position, and any position between the both positions.
As depicted in
In the process in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved from the maintenance position to the wiping position, the wiper 63 moves while making abutment against the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49 of the head 38. In other words, the wiper 63 slides with respect to the lower surface 50. Accordingly, the wiping of the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49 is executed by the wiper 63.
As depicted in
When the maintenance mechanism 60 is disposed at the wiping position, when the first motor 55 is driven, and the gear 106 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in
<Gear Meshing Process>
An explanation will be made about the process in order to reliably mesh the gears 106, 118, 119 with the rack gear 154B when the maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered between the second support mechanism 52 and the first support mechanism 51 disposed at the second rotation position.
The process, which is executed when the maintenance mechanism 60 supported by the first support mechanism 51 and positioned at the maintenance position (see
At first, the controller 130 drives the shaft motor 59 (see
Subsequently, the controller 130 drives the first motor 55 (see
The controller 130 drives the second motor 56 (see
Note that in
Subsequently, the controller 130 judges whether or not the rack gear 154B is meshed with the gear 118A (S140). The judgment is executed by means of any known means including, for example, the recognition of the position of the first support mechanism 51 by a sensor or the recognition of the rotation amount of the gear 120 by a rotary encoder.
When the rack gear 154B is meshed with the gear 118A, even when any deviation arises in the circumferential direction between the gear teeth of the rack gear 154B and the gear teeth of the gear 118A, then the gear 118A idles, and thus the rack gear 154B and the gear 118A are meshed with each other by rectifying the deviation.
As depicted in
An explanation will be made below with reference to a flow chart depicted in
At first, the controller 130 drives the shaft motor 59 (see
Subsequently, the controller 130 drives the second motor 56 (see
The controller 130 drives the first motor 55 (see
Note that in
Subsequently, the controller 130 judges whether or not the rack gear 154B is meshed with the gear 105A (S240). The judgment is executed by means of any known means described above.
When the rack gear 154B is meshed with the gear 105A, even when any deviation arises in the circumferential direction between the gear teeth of the rack gear 154B and the gear teeth of the gear 105A, then the gear 105A idles, and thus the rack gear 154B and the gear 105A are meshed with each other by rectifying the deviation.
As depicted in
Subsequently, the controller 130 drives the shaft motor 59 (see
<Image Recording Process>
An explanation will be made below about the process (image recording process) to be executed when the image is recorded on the sheet S.
When the image recording process is not executed, the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state. In the case of the waiting state, as depicted in
When the controller 130 receives a command to record the image on the sheet S, from the operation panel 44 or any external device such as an information processing apparatus connected by LAN or the like to the image recording apparatus 100, the controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 from the maintenance position to the waiting position. In particular, the controller 130 rotates the first support mechanism 51 from the first rotation position to the second rotation position (see
Subsequently, the controller 130 rotates the first support mechanism 51 from the second rotation position to the first rotation position.
Subsequently, the controller 130 moves the head 38 from the capping position to the recording position by moving the head 38 downwardly (see
Note that the controller 130 may convey the sheet S to the cutter unit 26 before moving the head 38 from the capping position to the recording position. In this procedure, the forward end portion of the sheet S is cut by the cutter unit 26, and then the sheet S is allowed to reversely travel to the upstream from the head 38 on the conveying passage 43. After that, the head 38 is moved from the capping position to the recording position, and the image recording is executed on the sheet S in accordance with the procedure as described above.
<Wiping Process>
An explanation will be made below about the wiping process in which the wiper 63 wipes out the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49 of the head 38.
When the image recording process is not executed, the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state. In the waiting state, as depicted in
The controller 130 executes the wiping process every time when a predetermined period elapses or when a command is received from any external device. An explanation will be made below about the process executed when the controller 130 receives the command to execute the wiping process from the external device when the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state.
In the wiping process, the controller 130 firstly moves the head 38 upwardly, and thus the controller 130 moves the head 38 from the capping position (see
Subsequently, the controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 from the maintenance position to the wiping position. In particular, the controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 to the wiping position by moving the maintenance mechanism 60 frontwardly in the front-back direction 8 (see
The forward end portions (upper end portions) of the wipers 63 slide with respect to the lower surfaces 50 while making abutment against the lower surfaces 50 of the discharge modules 49 in the process in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved from the maintenance position to the wiping position. In particular, the wiper 63A slides with respect to the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49A, the wiper 63B slides with respect to the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49B, and the wiper 63C slides with respect to the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49C. Accordingly, the lower surfaces 50 of the respective discharge modules 49A, 49B, 49C are wiped out. As a result, any foreign matter or the like, which adheres to the lower surface 50 and the nozzles 38A open on the lower surface 50, is removed.
The ink and the foreign matter, which have been wiped out, adhere to the wiper 63. Parts of the ink and the foreign matter adhered to the wiper 63 flow downwardly along the wiper 63, and they are collected in the liquid receiver. The ink, which is collected in the liquid receiver, is discharged to the waste liquid tank in accordance with the liquid receiver suction process as described later on. Further, the wiper 63 is cleaned in accordance with the cleaning process as described later on, and thus the ink and the foreign matter, which adhere to the wiper 63, are removed.
Note that when the maintenance mechanism 60 is positioned at the maintenance position, the wiping position, or the position between the both positions, then the cams 71 (see
Subsequently, the controller 130 moves the head 38 upwardly, and thus the controller 130 moves the head 38 from the wiping position depicted by solid lines in
Subsequently, the controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 backwardly in the front-back direction 8, and thus the controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 from the wiping position to the maintenance position.
<Nozzle Suction Process, Liquid Receiver Suction Process, and Flashing Process>
An explanation will be made below about the nozzle suction process for sucking the ink from the nozzles 38A, the liquid receiver suction process for sucking the ink collected in the liquid receiver, and the flashing process for discharging the ink to the liquid receiver.
When the image recording process is not executed, the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state. In the waiting state, as depicted in
In the waiting state, the controller 130 executes the nozzle suction process at a predetermined timing or when a command is received from any external device. An explanation will be made below about the process executed when the controller 130 receives the command to execute the nozzle suction process from the external device when the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state.
In the nozzle suction process, the controller 130 drives the suction pump 74. Accordingly, the ink contained in the nozzles 38A is sucked. The ink passes through the tubes 66, 67 from the spaces formed by the caps 62 and the lower surfaces 50 of the discharge modules 49, and the ink is discharged to the waste liquid tank.
As depicted in
Note that the tube 66 is positioned in the vicinity of the portion of the tube 65 supported by the protrusion 158. However, the tube 66 is positioned under or below the portion, and hence the tube 66 is not pressed by the protrusion 72.
In the waiting state, the controller 130 executes the liquid receiver suction process at a predetermined timing or when the controller 130 receives a command from any external device. An explanation will be made below about the process executed when the controller 130 receives the command to execute the liquid receiver suction process from the external device when the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state.
In the liquid receiver suction process, the controller 130 firstly moves the head 38 from the capping position to the wiping position or the upper retracted position. Accordingly, the caps 62 are separated from the discharge modules 49. Further, as a result, the protrusion 72 of the head 38 is separated from the protrusion 158. Therefore, the open state is given, in which the tube 65 is not deformed, and the first flow passage is opened. Thus, the flow of the ink is permitted through the first flow passage.
Subsequently, the controller 130 drives the suction pump 74. Accordingly, the ink collected in the liquid receiver is sucked. The ink passes through the tubes 65, 67, and the ink is discharged to the waste liquid tank. Note that in this situation, the ink collected in the caps 62 is also sucked. The ink passes through the tubes 66, 67, and the ink is discharged to the waste liquid tank.
Note that the liquid receiver suction process can be also executed in any state of the image recording apparatus 100 other than the waiting state. When the image recording apparatus 100 is not in the waiting state, the caps 62 are separated from the discharge modules 49. Therefore, when the controller 130 receives the command to execute the liquid receiver suction process, the controller 130 drives the suction pump 74. Accordingly, the ink collected in the liquid receiver is sucked. The ink passes through the tubes 65, 67, and the ink is discharged to the waste liquid tank.
The controller 130 executes the flashing process at a predetermined timing or when the controller 130 receives a command from any external device. An explanation will be made below about the process executed when the controller 130 receives the command to execute the flashing process from the external device when the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state.
In the flashing process, the controller 130 firstly moves the head 38 to the wiping position or the upper retracted position.
Subsequently, the controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 frontwardly from the maintenance position. In this procedure, the nozzles 38A are vertically opposed to the caps 62 in the waiting state. However, when the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved frontwardly, the nozzles 38A is vertically opposed to the liquid receiver. The controller 130 stops the maintenance mechanism 60 at the position at which the nozzles 38A are vertically opposed to the liquid receiver.
Subsequently, the controller 130 allows the nozzles 38A to discharge the ink therefrom. The discharged ink is collected in the liquid receiver. The ink collected in the liquid receiver is discharged to the waste liquid tank in accordance with the liquid receiver suction process described above.
<Cleaning Process for Wiper 63>
An explanation will be made below about the cleaning process executed when the wipers 63 are cleaned.
When the image recording process is not executed, the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state. In the waiting state, as depicted in
The controller 130 executes the cleaning process at a predetermined timing or when a command is received from any external device. An explanation will be made below about the process executed when the controller 130 receives the command to execute the cleaning process from the external device when the image recording apparatus 100 is in the waiting state.
In the cleaning process, the controller 130 firstly moves the maintenance mechanism 60 to the waiting position in accordance with the same or equivalent procedure as that adopted when the image recording process is executed. In particular, the controller 130 rotates the first support mechanism 51 from the first rotation position to the second rotation position (see
When the maintenance mechanism 60 is disposed at the waiting position depicted in
Further, as depicted in
The controller 130 further moves the maintenance mechanism 60 in the frontward inclination orientation 5 from the waiting position depicted in
The controller 130 further moves the maintenance mechanism 60 from the position depicted in
The projections 159, 160 are guided from the first cam surfaces 171 to the second cam surfaces 172 in accordance with the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 in the frontward inclination orientation 5. As depicted in
The controller 130 further moves the maintenance mechanism 60 in the frontward inclination orientation 5 from the position depicted in
When the positions of the maintenance mechanism 60 is the cleaning termination position, then the wipers 63 are opposed in the orthogonal direction 1 to the downstream end portions in the frontward inclination direction 5 of the foams 166 of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 disposed at the abutment position, and the foams 166 are brought in contact with the forward end portions of the wipers 63. In particular, the downstream end portion in the frontward inclination orientation 5 of the foam 166A is brought in contact with the forward end portion of the wiper 63A, the downstream end portion in the frontward inclination orientation 5 of the foam 166B is brought in contact with the forward end portion of the wiper 63B, and the downstream end portion in the frontward inclination orientation 5 of the foam 166C is brought in contact with the forward end portion of the wiper 63C. Note that the movement of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 from the abutment position to the separated position is inhibited by the abutment of the projections 159, 160 against the second cam surfaces 172. In other words, the second cam surfaces 172 retain the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 at the abutment position.
The controller 130 further moves the maintenance mechanism 60 in the frontward inclination orientation 5 from the position depicted in
The controller 130 moves the maintenance mechanism 60 in the backward inclination orientation 4 from the position depicted in
<Function and Effect of Image Recording Apparatus 100>
According to the embodiment described above, each of the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52 has the upper surface 110A, the first upper surface 111A, the upper surface 116A, and the first upper surface 117A as the guide for guiding the maintenance mechanism 60. The first support mechanism 51 is relatively movable with respect to the second support mechanism 52. Further, when the first support mechanism 51 is disposed at the second rotation position, both of the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52 can simultaneously support the maintenance mechanism 60. Accordingly, when the first support mechanism 51 is disposed at the second rotation position, the maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered between the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52 during the movement. As described above, in the embodiment described above, one of the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52 is relatively movable with respect to the other, while dividing the guide into two. Thus, it is unnecessary to curve and/or bend the shapes of the upper surface 110A, the first upper surface 111A, the upper surface 116A, and the first upper surface 117A. Therefore, it is possible to suppress any complicated movement route of the maintenance mechanism 60. As a result, it is possible to smoothly execute the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60.
In the embodiment described above, as shown in
Further, the driving transmission to the maintenance mechanism 60, which is provided when the maintenance mechanism 60 is supported by the first support mechanism 51, can be separated from the driving transmission to the maintenance mechanism 60 which is provided when the maintenance mechanism 60 is supported by the second support mechanism 52, by means of the simple configuration composed of the rack gear 154B and the gears 105A, 118A.
Further, the length L1 of the rack gear 154B is not less than the center distance L3 between the gears 105A, 118A. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the state in which the rack gear 154B is meshed with at least one of the gears 105A, 118A.
Further, the maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered between the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52 during the movement. Upon the delivery, it is feared that the rack gear 154B may not be meshed with the gears 105A, 118A at the delivery destination. In the embodiment of the present invention, the gear 105A is engaged with the gear 105B as the source of the driving transmission while providing the play. Therefore, when the maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered from the second support mechanism 52 to the first support mechanism 51, it is possible to lower such a possibility that the rack gear 154B may not be meshed with the gear 105A of the first support mechanism 51. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the gear 118A is engaged with the gear 118B as the source of the driving transmission while providing the play. Therefore, when the maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered from the first support mechanism 51 to the second support mechanism 52, it is possible to lower such a possibility that the rack gear 154B may not be meshed with the gear 118A of the second support mechanism 52.
Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, in Steps S130 to S150, the gear 118B is rotated by the predetermined amount in the second rotation orientation, and then the gear 118B is switched to be in the first rotation orientation. Further, in Steps S230 to S250, the gear 105B is rotated by the predetermined amount in the first rotation orientation, and then the gear 105B is switched to be in the second rotation orientation. Accordingly, the plays are reliably formed between the gears 105B, 118B and the gears 105A, 118A in the support mechanism as the delivery destination of the moving maintenance mechanism 60. Accordingly, when the maintenance mechanism 60 is delivered between the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52, it is possible to lower such a possibility that the rack gear 154B may not be meshed with the gears 105A, 118A.
Further, in the process in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved from the maintenance position to the wiping position, the ink, which adheres to the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49, can be wiped out by the wiper 63.
Further, the movement distance L4 of the maintenance mechanism 60 between the maintenance position and the wiping position is less than the length L1 of the rack gear 154B. Therefore, the rack gear 154B can be used for the movement of the maintenance mechanism 60 between the maintenance position and the wiping position.
Further, the length L1 of the rack gear 154B is not less than the center distance L3 between the gears 105A, 118A. Therefore, in the process in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved between the waiting position and the maintenance position, it is possible to maintain the state in which the rack gear 154B is meshed with at least one of the gears 105A, 118A.
Further, the length L2 of the first support mechanism 51 is not less than the length L1 of the rack gear 154B. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the attitude or posture of the maintenance mechanism 60 supported by the first support mechanism 51.
Further, when the first support mechanism 51 is disposed at the second rotation position, the upper surface 110A and the upper surface 116A, and the first upper surface 111A and the first upper surface 117A are aligned linearly respectively. Therefore, the maintenance mechanism 60 can be moved linearly.
<Modified Embodiments>
In the embodiment described above, the first support mechanism 51 is rotated about the shaft 109A which is formed at the back portion and which extends in the left-right direction 9 so that the rotation forward end 51A, which is the front end, is moved vertically (upwardly/downwardly). However, the rotation of the first support mechanism 51 is not limited thereto. For example, the first support mechanism 51 may be rotated about the shaft 109A which is formed at the front portion and which extends in the left-right direction 9 so that the rotation forward end 51A, which is the back end, is moved vertically (upwardly/downwardly). Further, for example, the first support mechanism 51 may be rotated about the shaft 109A which is formed at the right portion and which extends in the front-back direction 8 so that the rotation forward end 51A, which is the left end, is moved vertically (upwardly/downwardly).
In the embodiment described above, the first support mechanism 51 is moved by making the rotation. However, it is also allowable that the first support mechanism 51 may be moved by any means such as the sliding or the like other than the rotation.
In the embodiment described above, the first support mechanism 51 is rotatable, while the second support mechanism 52 is fixed. In other words, the first support mechanism 51 is moved relatively with respect to the second support mechanism 52. However, conversely to the embodiment described above, the second support mechanism 52 may be rotatable, while the first support mechanism 51 may be fixed. In other words, the second support mechanism 52 may be moved relatively with respect to the first support mechanism 51. Further, one of the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52 may be configured to be rotatable, while the other of the first support mechanism 51 and the second support mechanism 52 may be configured to be movable (for example, rotatable or slidable).
In the embodiment described above, the first upper surface 117A and the first upper surface 111A, the second upper surface 117B and the second upper surface 111B, and the upper surface 116A and the upper surface 110A are aligned linearly in the inclination direction 6 respectively. However, it is also allowable that the respective surfaces described above are not aligned linearly in the inclination direction 6 on condition that the maintenance mechanism 60 can be delivered between the second support mechanism 52 and the first support mechanism 51 disposed at the second rotation position. For example, the first upper surface 117A may extend in the inclination direction 6, while the first upper surface 111A may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the inclination direction 6.
In the embodiment described above, the driving force is applied from the first motor 55 to the gear 106 of the first support mechanism 51, and the driving force is applied from the second motor 56 to the gear 120 of the second support mechanism 52. In other words, the driving force is applied to the gears 106, 120 from the different motors. However, the driving force may be applied to the gears 106, 120 from an identical motor. In this case, a known driving stitching mechanism is arranged between the identical motor and the respective gears 106, 120. Thus, the controller 130 controls, for example, the presence or absence of the individual driving of each of the gears 106, 120, the driving start timing, and the driving stop timing.
In the embodiment described above, the head 38 is relatively moved in the upward-downward direction 7 with respect to the maintenance mechanism 60. However, the maintenance mechanism 60 may be relatively moved in the upward-downward direction 7 with respect to the head 38, or both of the head 38 and the maintenance mechanism 60 may be relatively moved in the upward-downward direction 7 with respect to one another.
In the embodiment described above, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is detachably held by the support member 46. However, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 may be detachably held by any member (for example, the lower casing 32) other than the support member 46.
In the embodiment described above, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is arranged just under the support member 46. However, the position of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is not limited to the position disposed just under the support member 46. For example, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 may be arranged over or above the support member 46. Further, for example, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 may be arranged just under the first support mechanism 51, not at the position disposed just under the support member 46.
In the embodiment described above, the maintenance mechanism 60 is provided with the projections 159, 160, and the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is provided with the protrusions 168, 169. However, conversely to the embodiment described above, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 may be provided with the projections 159, 160, and the maintenance mechanism 60 may be provided with the protrusions 168, 169.
In the embodiment described above, the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 is relatively moved in the orthogonal direction 1 with respect to the maintenance mechanism 60. However, conversely to the embodiment described above, the maintenance mechanism 60 may be relatively moved in the orthogonal direction 1 with respect to the wiper cleaning mechanism 80. Further, both of the wiper cleaning mechanism 80 and the maintenance mechanism 60 may be configured to be movable in the orthogonal direction 1.
In the embodiment described above, the first support mechanism 51 is provided with the conveying belt 101 for conveying the sheet S. However, the first support mechanism 51 may be provided with any member other than the conveying belt 101 for conveying the sheet S, for example, a roller pair. Further, it is also allowable that the first support mechanism 51 is not provided with any member such as the conveying belt 101 or the like for conveying the sheet S. Further, it is also allowable to provide any other conveyer (for example, a conveying belt) in place of the conveying roller pairs 36, 40.
In the embodiment described above, the wiper 63 slides against the lower surface 50 of the discharge module 49 during the process in which the maintenance mechanism 60 is moved in the front-back direction 8 from the maintenance position to the wiping position. Thus, the wiper 63 wipes out the lower surface 50. However, the means for wiping out the lower surface 50 is not limited thereto.
For example, as depicted in
Further, for example, as depicted in
As described in the embodiment described above (see
Further, when the maintenance mechanism 60 is arranged obliquely so that the front end thereof is positioned under or below the back end, it is possible to increase the vacant space disposed obliquely downwardly at the back of the maintenance mechanism 60 in the internal space 32A of the lower casing 32. Accordingly, it is possible to miniaturize the image recording apparatus 100 in the upward-downward direction 7, while preventing the maintenance mechanism 60 from interfering with the roll member 37 (see
In other words, it is possible to simultaneously realize the miniaturization in both of the front-back direction 8 and the upward-downward direction 7 of the image recording apparatus 100.
In the embodiment described above, the system, in which the head 38 records the image on the sheet S, is the line head type ink-jet recording system. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, it is also allowable to use a serial type ink-jet recording system.
In the embodiment described above, the sheet S is explained as an example of the medium. However, the medium, on which the image recording apparatus 100 records the image, is not limited to the sheet S. For example, the medium, on which the image is to be recorded by the image recording apparatus 100, may be, for example, a resin member to be utilized as a case or the like of a smartphone, a printed circuit board, a fabric (cloth), or a vinyl material.
In the embodiment described above, the ink is explained as an example of the liquid. However, for example, those corresponding to the liquid may include a pretreatment liquid which is discharged to the sheet S or the like prior to the ink when the image is recorded and water which is usable to wash the head 38.
In the embodiment described above, the image recording apparatus 100 records the image on the medium such as the sheet S or the like by means of the ink-jet recording system. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the ink-jet recording system. For example, the image recording apparatus 100 may record the image on the medium such the sheet S or the like by means of the electrophotographic system. In this case, the pretreatment liquid described above is discharged to the medium before recording the image on the medium.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2019-226716 | Dec 2019 | JP | national |
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