LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS

Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a mist collecting unit disposed outside an ink ejection region on a platen, where ink is ejected onto a recording paper from a recording head, in the movement direction of the recording head, the ink ejection region of the platen includes a conductive material and is set to have the same potential as nozzles, a nozzle formation surface, or ink in a pressure chamber, and the mist collecting unit is set to have a more negative polarity than the ink ejection region of the platen.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus, such as an ink jet type recording apparatus, particularly a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid in a pressure chamber from nozzles by driving a pressure generating unit.

2. Related Art

A liquid ejecting apparatus is an apparatus equipped with a liquid ejecting head and ejecting various kinds of liquid from the ejecting head. For example, there are image recording apparatuses, such as an ink jet type printer or an ink jet type plotter, as the liquid ejecting apparatus, and recently, liquid ejecting apparatuses are used for various manufacturing apparatuses, using the feature that it is possible to accurately land a very small amount of ink to a predetermined position. For example, the liquid ejecting apparatus is used for a display manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a color filter, such as a liquid crystal display, an electrode forming apparatus that forms electrodes of an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display or an FED (Field Emission Display), and a chip manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a biochip (biochemical element). Further, the recording head for the image recording apparatus ejects liquid-state ink and color material ejecting heads for the display manufacturing apparatus eject liquid of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) color materials, respectively. Further, the electrode material ejecting head for the electrode forming apparatus ejects an electrode material and the bioorganic material ejecting head for the chip manufacturing apparatus ejects a solution of a bioorganic material.

There is a tendency for the recording head used for the printer or the like to reduce the amount of ink ejected from the nozzles due to the demand for improvement in image quality. The earlier speed of droplets is set to be high to surely land a very small amount of droplets onto a recording medium. Accordingly, the droplets ejected from the nozzle extend during scattering and are separated into main droplets at the front and satellite droplets (sub-droplets) behind the main droplets. Some or all of the satellite droplets rapidly decrease in speed due to viscous resistance of the air and change into mist, failing to reach the recording medium. Accordingly, the satellite droplet changed into dust (ink dust) contaminates the inside of the apparatus and adheres to members that are easily charged, such as the recording head or the electric circuit, thereby causing errors in operation.

It has been attempted to actively attract droplets to a support member (or a platen or a base member) supporting a recording medium during recording and land the droplets onto the recording medium by generating an electric field between a nozzle formation surface of a recording head and the support member while charging the droplets ejected from nozzles, in order to prevent the inconvenience (for example, see JP-A-10-278252 or JP-A-2004-202867).

However, as shown in the schematic view of FIG. 7A, while the ink ejected from a nozzle 64 of a recording head grows toward a recording medium P and a support member 65, negative charges are induced at the front portion (the portion that becomes a main droplet Md) close to the support member 65 by electrostatic induction from the support member 65 that has been positively charged, whereas positive charges are induced at the rear end portion close to the opposite nozzle 64. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, when ink ejected from a nozzle is, for example, separated into main droplets Md, a first satellite droplet Sd1, and a second satellite droplet (mist) Sd2, the main droplet Md is negatively charged, the second satellite droplet Sd2 is positively charged, and the first satellite droplet Sd1 is not charged. In this case, even if the main droplet Md and the first satellite droplet Sd1 are landed on the recording medium P, the second satellite droplet Sd2 is repelled from the positively-charged support member 65 and changes into dust around the nozzle formation surface of the recording medium. Some of the dust adheres to the nozzle formation surface. When dust adheres to the nozzle formation surface, it is necessary to regularly sweep the nozzle formation surface with a wiping member. Further, the mist that does not adhere to the nozzle formation surface may adhere to other components of the printer which have different polarity from the mist and contaminate them.

Accordingly, a configuration that keeps a positively-charged satellite droplet away from a nozzle formation surface (makes a positively-charged satellite droplet travel onto a recording medium) by disposing an electrode around a nozzle, changing the polarity of the nozzle when ink starts to be ejected from the nozzle, for example, from positive to negative, and changing again the polarity of the electrode from positive at the timing when the ink ejected from the nozzle is separated into main droplets and satellite droplets, has been proposed (for example, see JP-A-2010-214652). Further, a configuration that lands droplets onto a recording medium by ejecting ink from a nozzle with a support member (base member) negatively charged, changing the polarity of the support member into positive, allowing main droplets to be landed onto the recording medium by the inertial force, and attracting satellite droplets or mist to the support member, which is charged with the opposite polarity to that of the satellite droplets or the mist, at the timing when the ink is separated into the main droplets and the satellite droplets, has been proposed (for example, see JP-A-2010-214880).

However, recently, as the driving frequency for ejecting ink becomes higher in the type of printer, the next ink is ejected from the nozzle before the satellite droplets land on the recording medium. Therefore, in the configuration of changing the polarity of the electrode at the timing of ejecting ink or the timing of separating the ink, it is more difficult to surely land the satellite droplets to the recording medium and scattering of the ink is influenced, thereby making the landing unstable.

As described above, in the configuration of the related art, it is difficult to reliably prevent the mist from adhering to the nozzle formation surface or the components of the printer.

The phenomenon described above is not limited to the piezoelectric vibrator and is also generated in other pressure generating units that are operated by applying a driving voltage, such as a heater element.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some of the aspects of the invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can prevent the inside of the apparatus from being contaminated, by more reliably collecting mist.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that has a nozzle formation surface where nozzles ejecting liquid are formed and a pressure generating unit driven by an applied driving signal and generating a pressure change in a liquid in a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles, and ejects the liquid toward a landing target from the nozzle by driving the pressure generating unit; a driving signal generating unit that generates a driving signal for driving the pressure generating unit; a support unit that is disposed with a gap from the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head and supports the landing target in ejecting; and a droplet collecting unit that is disposed outside an ejection region of the support unit where the liquid is ejected onto the landing target from the liquid ejection head, in which the ejection region of the support unit includes a conductive material and is set at the same potential as the nozzles, the nozzle formation surface, or the liquid in the pressure chamber, and the droplet collecting unit is set to have a more negative polarity than the ejection region.

According to the aspect of the invention, the ink ejection region of the support unit includes a conductive material and is set to have the same potential as nozzles, a nozzle formation surface, or ink in a pressure chamber and the droplet collecting unit is set to have a more negative polarity than the ink ejection region, such that liquid is ejected from the nozzles and positively charged, without an electric field between the nozzle formation surface and the support unit. Accordingly, mist created by separation of the liquid scattering toward the landing target is also positively charged, such that the mist is attracted by an electrostatic force from the droplet collecting unit, which is negatively charged, and landed and collected on the droplet collecting unit. Therefore, less mist adheres to the components (for example, a driving motor, a driving belt, and a linear scale) in the apparatus. As a result, a breakdown due to the adhering mist is suppressed and durability and reliability of the liquid ejecting apparatus are improved.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that has a nozzle formation surface where nozzles ejecting liquid are formed and a pressure generating unit driven by an applied driving signal and generating a pressure change in a liquid in a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles, and ejects the liquid toward a landing target from the nozzle by driving the pressure generating unit; a driving signal generating unit that generates a driving signal for driving the pressure generating unit; a support unit that is disposed with a gap from the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head and supports the landing target in ejecting; and a droplet collecting unit that is disposed outside an ejection region of the support unit where the liquid is ejected onto the landing target from the liquid ejection head, in which the ejection region of the support unit includes a conductive material and is set at the same potential as the nozzles, the nozzle formation surface, or the liquid in the pressure chamber, and the droplet collecting unit is set to have a polarity opposite to the voltage applied to the driving electrode when the pressure generating unit is driven.

According to the aspect of the invention, since the ejection region of the support unit includes a conductive material and is set at the same potential as the nozzles, the nozzle formation surface, or the liquid in the pressure chamber and the droplet collecting unit is set to have a polarity opposite to the voltage applied to the driving electrode when the pressure generating unit is driven, liquid is ejected from the nozzles and charged with the same polarity as the voltage applied to the driving electrode, without an electric field between the nozzle formation surface and the support unit, and the liquid is separated while scattering toward the landing target, such that the mist is also charged with the same polarity as the voltage applied to the driving electrode. The mist is attracted by an electrostatic force from the droplet collecting unit charged with a polarity opposite to the voltage applied to the driving electrode, and landed and collected to the droplet collecting unit. Therefore, less mist adheres to the components (for example, a driving motor, a driving belt, and a linear scale) in the apparatus. As a result, a breakdown due to the adhering mist is suppressed and durability and reliability of the liquid ejecting apparatus are improved.

In the apparatus, an absorbent material that absorbs droplets may be used for the droplet collecting unit.

In the apparatus, the absorbent material may have conductivity and may be charged when a voltage is applied.

In the apparatus of the invention, a voltage may be applied to the absorbent material, only when the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head and the droplet collecting unit are opposite each other.

According to the aspect of the invention, since a voltage is applied to the absorbent material only when the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head and the droplet collecting unit are opposite each other, charging of the absorbent material does not influence the ejected liquid while the droplet ejecting head ejects droplets onto the landing target. Further, since a voltage is not applied to the absorbent material until the nozzle formation surface and the droplet collecting unit become opposite each other, mist is prevented from adhering to the end portions of the landing target in the width direction (head movement direction) while the liquid ejecting head moves toward the droplet collecting unit.

In the apparatus, the absorbent material may be implemented by an element having a negative polarity in a triboelectric series.

According to the aspect of the invention, since the absorbent material itself is negatively charged, a power source for charging the absorbent material is not necessary, such that it is possible to achieve an effect of collecting mist with a simpler configuration.

In the apparatus, the droplet collecting unit is disposed the end portion of a landing target which has the corresponding maximum width, outside an ejection region.

According to the aspect of the invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent the influence of charging of the droplet collecting unit on the ejected liquid while the liquid is ejected onto the landing target from the liquid ejecting head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is perspective view illustrating the configuration of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of a recording head.

FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a piezoelectric vibrator.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the recording head.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a wave form illustrating the configuration of an ejection pulse of a driving signal.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views illustrating collection of mist.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic views illustrating when ink ejected from a nozzle is charged in a configuration where an electric field is generated between the nozzle and a support member.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are described hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although various limits are applied as detailed examples that are very suitable for the invention in the embodiment described below, the spirit of the invention is not limited thereto, if it is not stated to specifically limit the invention in the following description. Further, an ink jet type of recording apparatus (hereafter, printer) is exemplified, below as a liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a printer 1. The printer 1 includes: a carriage 4 that is equipped with a recording head 2, which is a kind of liquid ejecting head, and detachably equipped with an ink cartridge 3 that is a kind of liquid supplier; a platen 5 that is disposed under the recording head 2 during recording; a carriage moving mechanism 7 that reciprocates the carriage 4 in the width direction of recording paper 6 (a kind of recording medium or a landing target), that is, in the main scanning direction; and a transport mechanism 8 that transports the recording paper 6 in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

The carriage 4 is fitted on a guide rod 9 held in the main scanning direction to be moved in the main scanning direction along the guide rod 9 through the operation of the carriage moving mechanism 7. The position of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction is detected by a linear encoder 10 and the detection signal, that is, an encoder pulse (a kind of position information) is transmitted to a printer controller 51 (see FIG. 4). The linear encoder 10, a kind of position information output unit, outputs an encoder pulse EP according to the scanning position of the recording head 2 as position information in the main scanning direction.

A home position that is the start point of scanning of the carriage is set in an end region outside a recording region within the movement range of the carriage 4. A capping member 11 sealing a nozzle formation surface (nozzle plate 24, see FIG. 2) of the recording head 2 and a wiper member 12 that sweeps the nozzle formation surface are disposed at the home position in the embodiment. Further, the printer 1 can perform so-called bidirectional recording for recording characters or images on the recording paper 6 in both a forward movement when the carriage 4 moves from the home position toward the opposite end and a backward movement when the carriage 4 returns to the home position from the opposite end.

The platen 5 is a plate-shaped member that is long in the main scanning direction and a plurality of support protrusions 5a is formed at a predetermined intervals longitudinally on the surface. Each of the support protrusions 5a protrudes upward further than the surface of platen 5 (toward the recording head 2 during recording). The surface of the support protrusion 5a is a contact surface supporting the recording paper 6 and partially supports the back of the recording paper 6 (surface opposite the recording surface where ink is landed). Further, an ink absorbent material 5b is disposed at the portions without the support protrusions 5a, on the surface of the platen 5. The ink absorbent material 5b is an amorphous member, for example, made of felt or urethane sponge and having liquid absorptiveness. At least a portion of the platen 5 of the embodiment is made of a material having electrical conductivity. For example, the platen 5 is provided with electrical conductivity by adding a conductive material, such as carbon, into the material of the main body of the platen 5. Alternatively, the ink absorbent material 5b may be provided with electrical conductivity by adding a conductive material into the material of the ink absorbent material 5b. Accordingly, the platen 5 (the ink absorbent material 5b, when the ink absorbent material 5b has electrical conductivity) is grounded. As described below, the nozzle plate 24 of the recording head 2 of the embodiment is also grounded, such that the liquid in the platen 5, the nozzle plate 24 (nozzles 30), and the pressure chamber 28 have the same potential.

Further, a mist collecting unit 13 collecting mist created when the ink is ejected from the recording head 2 is positioned at an end portion of the platen 5 in the main scanning direction, in detail, outside the width-directional end portion (the maximum recording paper width) of the recording paper 6 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B) when the recording medium 6 having the maximum size available for the printer 1 is positioned on the platen 5, in the region outside the region where ink is ejected to the recording paper 6 (ink ejection region) in the platen 5, specifically, the region outside the ink ejection region in the main scanning direction. The mist collecting unit 13 is preferably disposed at both sides of the platen 5 in the main scanning direction, but may be disposed at at least one side. The mist collecting unit 13 of the embodiment is formed in a box shape formed by an insulating member. A mist absorbent material 14 (corresponding to the absorbent material in the invention) is disposed on the top of the mist collecting unit 13. The mist absorbent material 14 is created by adding a conductive material, such as carbon, into an amorphous member made of urethane sponge or the like and having a liquid absorbing property. Accordingly, a voltage is applied to the mist absorbent material 14 from a collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58, which is described below. This is described in detail below. Further, the mist collecting unit 13 (in detail, the mist absorbent material 14) is charged when a voltage is applied, such that when ink is ejected from the recording head 2 to the recording paper 6, it is possible to prevent the influence due to the ejected ink charged by the mist collecting unit 13, by disposing the mist collecting unit 13 at the position described above.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the main parts in the configuration of the recording head 2. The recording head 2 includes a case 15, a vibrator unit 16 accommodated in the case 15, a channel unit 17 bonded to the bottom (front end surface) of the case 15, and a cover member 45. The case 15 is made of epoxy-based resin and an accommodating space 18 for accommodating the vibrator unit 16 is defined therein. The vibrator unit 16 includes a piezoelectric vibrator 20 that functions as a kind of pressure generating unit, a fixing plate 21 where the piezoelectric vibrator 20 is bonded, and a flexible cable 22 for supplying a driving signal to the piezoelectric vibrator 20.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the vibrator unit 16. As shown in the figure, the piezoelectric vibrator 20 is a stacking type of piezoelectric vibrator formed by alternately stacking common internal electrodes 39 and individual internal electrodes 40 with piezoelectric bodies 41 therebetween. The common internal electrodes 39 are common electrodes for the entire piezoelectric vibrator 20 and set at ground potential. Further, the individual internal electrodes 40 are electrodes that change in potential in accordance with an ejection pulse DP (see FIG. 5) of an applied driving signal. In the embodiment, the portion from the vibrator front end of the piezoelectric vibrator 20 to the halfway or approximately the ⅔ portion in the vibrator-longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the stacking direction) is a free end portion 20a. Further, the remaining portion of the piezoelectric vibrator 20, that is, the portion from the base end of the free end portion 20a to the vibrator base end is a base end portion 20b.

An active region (overlap) A where the common internal electrodes 39 and the individual internal electrodes 40 overlap is formed at the free end portion 20a. When a potential difference is given to the internal electrodes 39 and 40, the piezoelectric bodies 41 in the active region operate and deform and the free end portion 20a extends/contracts in the vibrator-longitudinal direction. The base ends of the common internal electrodes 39 are connected to a common external electrode 42 on the base end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 20. Meanwhile, the front ends of the individual internal electrodes 40 are connected to an individual external electrode 43 on the front end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 20. Further, the front ends of the common internal electrodes 39 are positioned slightly ahead of the front end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 20 (to the base end surface), while the base ends of the individual internal electrodes 40 are positioned at the interface between the free end portion 20a and the base end portion 20b.

The individual external electrode 43 (corresponding to the driving electrode in the invention) is an electrode formed in series at the front end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 20 and a wire contact surface (upper surface in FIG. 3) that is a side in the stacking direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 20, and connects a wiring pattern of the flexible cable 22, which is a wire member, with the individual internal electrodes 40. The portion at the wire contact surface side of the individual external electrode 43 is continuously formed toward the front end side on the base end portion 20b. The common external electrode 42 is an electrode formed in series at the base end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 20, the wire contact surface, and a fixing plate-attached surface (lower surface in FIG. 3) which is the opposite surface in the stacking direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 20, and connects the wiring pattern of the flexible cable 22 with the common internal electrodes 39. The portion at the wire contact surface side of the common external electrode 42 is continuously formed slight ahead of the end portion of the individual external electrode 43 toward the base end surface side and the portion at the fixing plate-attached surface is continuously formed slightly ahead of the front end surface of the vibrator toward the base end side.

The base end portion 20b is a non-operating portion that does not extend/contract even if the piezoelectric bodies 41 in the active region A operate. A flexible cable 22 is disposed on the wire contact surface of the base end portion 20b, such that the individual external electrode 43 and the common external electrode 42 and the flexible cable 22 are electrically connected, above the base end portion 20b. Accordingly, a driving signal is supplied to the individual external electrode 43 through the flexible cable 22.

The channel unit 17 is formed by bonding a nozzle plate 24 to a surface of a channel forming base plate 23 and bonding a vibration plate 25 to the other surface of the channel forming base plate 23. A reservoir 26 (common liquid chamber), an ink supply hole 27, a pressure chamber 28, a nozzle connection hole 29, and nozzles 30 are disposed in the channel unit 17. Accordingly, a series of ink channel is formed from the ink supply hole 27 to the nozzles 30 through the pressure chamber 28 and the nozzle connection hole 29, corresponding to the nozzles 30, respectively.

The nozzle plate 24 is a thin plate made of metal, such as stainless steel, having a plurality of nozzles 30 bored at a pitch corresponding to dot formation density (for example, 180 dpi) in a line. The nozzles 30 are disposed in lines and a plurality of nozzle lines (nozzle groups) is disposed on the nozzle plate 24, and for example, one nozzle line is composed of 180 nozzles 30. The surface where ink is ejected from the nozzles 30 of the nozzle plate 24 corresponds to the nozzle formation surface in the invention.

The vibration plate 25 has a double structure where an elastic layer 32 is stacked on the surface of a support plate 31. In the embodiment, the vibration plate 25 is a composite plate member manufactured by using a stainless steel plate, which is a kind of metal plate, as the support plate 31 and laminating a resin film on the support plate 31 as the elastic film 32. A diaphragm portion 33 changing the area of the pressure chamber 28 is disposed on the vibration plate 25. Further, a compliance portion 34 sealing a portion f the reservoir 26 is disposed on the vibration plate 25.

The diaphragm portion 33 is manufactured by partially removing the support plate 31 by etching or the like. That is, the diaphragm portion 33 is composed of an island portion 35 where the front end surface of the free end portion 20a of the piezoelectric vibrator 20 is bonded, and a thin elastic portion surrounding the island portion 35. The compliance portion 34 is manufactured by removing the support plate 31 in the region opposite the open surface of the reservoir 26 by etching or the like, similar to the diaphragm portion 33, and has a function as a damper absorbing a pressure change in liquid stored in the reservoir 26.

Accordingly, since the front end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 20 is bonded to the island portion 35, it is possible to change the volume of the pressure chamber 28 by extending/contracting the free end portion 20a of the piezoelectric vibrator 20. A pressure change in the ink in the pressure chamber 28 is caused by the change in volume. Accordingly, the recording head 2 ejects the ink from the nozzles 30 by using the pressure change.

The cover member 45 is a member protecting the sides of the channel unit 17 and the sides of the head case 15 and manufactured by a plate member having electrical conductivity, such as stainless steel. In the embodiment, a portion of the cover member 45 is in contact with the edge of the nozzle formation surface, with the nozzles 30 of the nozzle plate 24 exposed, and is electrically connected to the nozzle plate 24. The cover member 45 is grounded and connected in contact to the nozzle plate 24 in order to prevent a driving IC from being damaged or the nozzle plate 24 from being charged, for example, due to static electricity generated from the recording paper 6 and transmitted through the nozzle plate 24.

Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 1 is described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the printer 1. An external device 50 is an electronic device that handles an image, such as a computer or a digital camera. The external device 50 is connected with the printer 1 such that communication is allowable, and transmits print data according to an image or the like to the printer 1 to print an image of a text on a recording medium, such as the recording paper 6, in the printer 1.

The printer 1 of the embodiment includes a transport mechanism 8, a carriage moving mechanism 7, a linear encoder 10, a recording head 2, a mist collecting unit 13, and a printer controller 51.

The printer controller 51 is a control unit for controlling the parts of the printer. The printer controller 51 includes an interface (I/F) unit 54, a CPU 55, a memory unit 56, a driving signal generating unit 57, and a collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58. The interface unit 54 transmits/receives state data of the printer, including sending print data or a print instruction to the printer 1 from the external device 50 or receiving the state information of the printer 1 with the external device 50. The CPU 55 is a calculation processing unit for controlling the entire printer. The memory unit 56 is an element storing data that is used for programs or various controls of the CPU 55 and includes a ROM, a RAM, and NVRAM (Nonvolatile Memory Element). The CPU 55 controls the units in accordance with the programs stored in the memory unit 56.

The CPU 55 functions as a timing pulse generating unit that generates a timing pulse PTS from an encoder pulse EP output from the linear encoder 10. Accordingly, the CPU 55 controls transmission of print data in synchronization with the timing pulse PTS or generation of a driving signal COM by the driving signal generating unit 57. Further, the CPU 55 generates a timing signal, such as a latch signal LAT on the basis of the timing pulse PTS and outputs the timing signal to a head control unit 53 of the recording head 2. The head control unit 53 controls the supply of an ejection pulse DP (see FIG. 5) of the driving signal COM for the piezoelectric vibrator 20 of the recording head 2 on the basis of a head control signal (print data and timing signal) from the printer controller 51.

The collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58 functions as a power source generating a voltage that is applied to the mist absorbent material 14 of the mist collecting unit 13. Accordingly, as a negative voltage (implying a voltage showing a negative value as a whole, also partially including a plus case) is applied to the mist absorbent material 14, the mist absorbent material 14 is negatively charged. The collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58 is controlled to be turned on/off by the CPU 55. In detail, when the recording head 2 moves above the mist collecting unit 13 and the nozzle formation surface is opposite the mist absorbent material 14 (both overlap each other in surface parallel with the nozzle formation surface), the collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58 is switched on. Accordingly, a voltage is applied to the mist absorbent material 14. On the other hand, when the recording head 2 moves to the ink ejection region of the platen 5 and the nozzle formation surface is not opposite the mist collecting unit 13 (not overlapping in a plan view), the collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58 is switched off. Accordingly, a voltage is not applied to the mist absorbent material 14.

The driving signal generating unit 57 generates an analog voltage signal on the basis of the waveform data relating to the waveform of the driving signal. Further, the driving signal generating unit 57 generates a driving signal COM by amplifying the voltage signal. The driving signal COM is supplied to the piezoelectric vibrator 20 that is a pressure generating unit of the recording head 2 when printing is performed on the recording medium (during recording or ejecting), and is a series of signals including at least one or more of ejection pulses DP shown in FIG. 5, for example, within a unit period that is a repeated period. The ejecting-driving pulse DP makes the piezoelectric vibrator 20 perform a predetermined operation to eject liquid-state ink from the nozzles 30 of the recording head 2.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing an example of the configuration of the ejection pulse DP included in the driving signal COM. The vertical axis indicates potential and the horizontal axis indicates time in FIG. 5. Further, the ejection pulse DP includes an expansion factor p1 for expanding the pressure chamber 28 by changing the potential of the positive side from standard potential (intermediate potential) Vb to the maximum potential (maximum voltage) Vmax, an expansion-maintaining factor p2 for maintaining the maximum potential Vmax for a predetermined time, a contraction factor p3 for rapidly contracting the pressure chamber 28 by changing the potential at the negative side from the maximum potential Vmax to the minimum potential (minimum voltage) Vmin, a contraction-maintaining (damping-holding) factor p4 for maintaining the minimum potential Vmin for a predetermined time, and a restoring factor p5 for restoring the potential from the minimum potential Vmin to the standard potential Vb. The ejection pulse DP of the embodiment has a positive voltage waveform overall because the minimum potential (minimum voltage) Vmin is 0 or more, but may partially show a negative value due to the relationship with the bias voltage applied to the common external electrode 42, for example. In this configuration, the voltage of the ejection pulse DP becomes positive as a whole.

The following operations are generated, when the ejection pulse DP is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 20. First, as the piezoelectric vibrator 20 is contracted by the expansion factor p1, the pressure chamber 28 expands to the maximum volume corresponding to the maximum potential Vmax from the standard volume corresponding to the standard potential Vb. Accordingly, a meniscus exposed to the nozzles 30 is attracted to the pressure chamber. The expansion of the pressure chamber 28 is kept in the application period of the expansion-maintaining factor p2. When the contraction factor p3 is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 20, following the expansion-maintaining factor p2, the piezoelectric vibrator 20 extends and the pressure chamber 28 correspondingly rapidly contracts from the maximum volume to the minimum volume corresponding to the minimum potential Vmin. The ink in the pressure chamber 28 is pressurized by the rapid contraction of the pressure chamber 28, such that several pl to several tens of pl of ink is ejected from the nozzles 30. The contraction of the pressure chamber 28 is maintained for a short time in the application period of the contraction-maintaining factor p4, and then the restoring factor p5 is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 20, such that the pressure chamber 28 is restored to the standard volume corresponding to the standard potential Vb from the volume corresponding to the minimum potential Vmin.

The printer 1 of the invention has a feature in that it collects the mist created by ejecting the ink droplets, using that the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles 30 of the recording head 2 are positively charged by driving the piezoelectric vibrator 20 by applying the driving signal COM (ejection pulse DP). In detail, the printer 1 negatively charges the mist absorbent material 14 such that the mist is actively adsorbed to the mist absorbent material 14, by applying a negative voltage (the negative side more than the potential of the ink ejection region of the platen 5) to the mist absorbent 14 of the mist collecting unit 13 by using the collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views illustrating collection of mist. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view partially showing the recording head 2.

As described above, the nozzle plate 24 is grounded through the cover member 45 (FIG. 2) and the platen 5 is also grounded, such that there is no electric field between the platen 5 and the nozzle plate 24. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the driving pulse DP of the driving signal COM, that is, a positive voltage is applied to the individual external electrode 43 of the piezoelectric vibrator 20, negative charges are induced around the piezoelectric vibrator 20, in the ink in the pressure chamber 28, by electrostatic induction, because the piezoelectric vibrator 20 and the pressure chamber 28 are insulated by an elastic layer 32 of the vibration plate 25. Further, positive charges are induced in the ink around the nozzle 30, opposite the piezoelectric vibrator 20. Some of the positive charges move to the nozzle plate 24, but the positive charges remain in the ink ejected from the nozzles 30. Further, the ink ejected from the nozzles 30 is more positively charged by the Lenard effect while scattering toward the recording paper 6 on the platen 5. Further, the ink is positively charged by friction when passing through the channel in the recording head 2, in addition to Lenard effect. As described above, in the printer 1 of the invention, the ink ejected from the nozzles 30 is actively positively charged by setting the platen 5 to have the same potential as the nozzle plate 24 (particularly, the nozzles 30) or the ink in the pressure chamber 28 such that an electric field is not generated between the nozzle plate 24 and the platen 5.

Accordingly, the ink droplet ejected from the nozzles 30 is separated into a main droplet at the front and a satellite droplet (sub-droplet) behind the main droplet, until the ink droplet lands on the recording paper 6. Some or all of the satellite droplets decrease in speed by viscous resistance of the air and change into mist, failing to reach the recording paper 6. Since there is no electric field between the nozzle plate 24 and the platen 5, electrostatic induction is prevented from being generated in the ink, such that the satellite droplets or the mist also have positive charges. The mist floats around the nozzle plate 24 and is moved with the recording head 2 by the negative pressure generated by the movement of the recording head 2. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the recording head 2 moves up to above the mist collecting unit 13 across the ink ejection region of the platen 5 and the maximum recording width and the nozzle formation surface is opposite the mist absorbent material 14, a negative voltage is applied to the mist absorbent material 14, such that the mist absorbent material 14 is negatively charged. Therefore, the mist having the positive charges floating around the recording head 2 is adsorbed and collected to the mist absorbent material 14 by an electrostatic force. Further, as described above, when the recording head 2 moves to the ink ejection region of the platen 5 and the nozzle formation surface is not opposite the mist absorbent material 14, a voltage is not applied to the mist absorbent material 14. Accordingly, charging of the mist absorbent material 14 does not influence the ejected ink while the ink is ejected onto the recording paper 6 from the recording head 2. Further, since a voltage is not applied to the absorbent material 14 until the nozzle formation surface becomes opposite the mist absorbent material 14, the mist is prevented from adhering to the end portions in the width direction of the recording paper 6 while the recording head 2 moves toward the mist collecting unit 13.

It is possible to more reliably collect mist created by ejecting ink by using the configuration described above, such that less mist adheres to the components in the printer (for example, easily chargeable components, such as the driving motor, the driving belt, and the linear scale). As a result, a breakdown due to the adhering mist is prevented and durability and reliability of the printer 1 are improved.

However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and may be modified in various ways on the basis of the aspects described in claims.

For example, although the first embodiment exemplifies the configuration that negatively charges the conductive mist absorbent material 14 by applying a negative voltage to the mist absorbent material 14, in relation to the mist collecting unit 13, the invention is not limited thereto and an element showing a negative polarity in a triboelectric series may be used as the mist absorbent material 14. In this case, a sponge made of silicon, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride may be used as the mist absorbent material 14. According to this configuration, since the mist absorbent material 14 itself is negatively charged, a power source, such as the collecting unit application voltage generating unit 58, is not necessary, such that it is possible to achieve an effect of collecting mist with a simpler configuration.

Further, although it is exemplified in the embodiments that the mist is collected by positively charging the ink ejected from the nozzles 30, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, negatively charging the ejected ink may be considered in a configuration that ejects ink from the nozzles 30 of the recording head 2 by driving a pressure generating unit by applying a negative voltage (a voltage having a negative value as a whole) to the electrode of the pressure generating unit, under the assumption that there is no electric field between the nozzle plate 24 and the platen 5. In this case, it is possible to collect mist to the mist absorbent material 14, as in the embodiments, by charging the mist absorbent material 14 with a polarity (that is, positive in this case) opposite to the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrode of the pressure generating unit.

Further, although the embodiments exemplify the so-called longitudinal vibration type of piezoelectric vibrator 20 as a pressure generating unit, the invention is not limited thereto and may use a so-called flexural vibration type of piezoelectric vibrator. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the waveform of the driving signal (ejection pulse DP) becomes a waveform with the direction of potential changed, that is, an upside-down waveform. Further, a configuration using a pressure generating unit driven by receiving a voltage, such as a heater element generating a pressure change by bumping ink by generating heat or an electrostatic actuator generating a pressure change by moving a separation wall of a pressure chamber by using an electrostatic force, may also be applied to the invention.

Further, as long as it is a liquid ejecting apparatus that can control ejection of liquid by using a pressure generating unit, the invention is not limited to a printer and may also be applied to a variety of ink jet type of recording apparatuses, such as a plotter, a facsimile, and a copy machine, or a liquid ejecting apparatus other than the recording apparatuses, such as a display manufacturing apparatus, an electrode manufacturing apparatus, and a chip manufacturing apparatus. Accordingly, in the display manufacturing apparatus, liquid having color materials of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) is ejected from a color material ejecting head. Further, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus, a liquid-state electrode material is ejected from an electrode material ejecting head. In the chip manufacturing apparatus, liquid of a bioorganic material is ejected from a bioorganic material ejecting head.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.2011-037780, filed Feb. 24, 2011 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid ejecting head that has a nozzle formation surface where nozzles ejecting liquid are formed and a pressure generating unit driven by an applied driving signal and generating a pressure change in a liquid in a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles, and ejects the liquid toward a landing target from the nozzle by driving the pressure generating unit;a driving signal generating unit that generates a driving signal for driving the pressure generating unit;a support unit that is disposed with a gap from the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head and supports the landing target in ejecting; anda droplet collecting unit that is disposed outside an ejection region of the support unit where the liquid is ejected onto the landing target from the liquid ejection head,wherein the ejection region of the support unit includes a conductive material and is set at the same potential as the nozzles, the nozzle formation surface, or the liquid in the pressure chamber, andthe droplet collecting unit is set to have a more negative polarity than the ejection region.

2. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid ejecting head that has a nozzle formation surface where nozzles ejecting liquid are formed and a pressure generating unit driven by an applied driving signal and generating a pressure change in a liquid in a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles, and ejects the liquid toward a landing target from the nozzle by driving the pressure generating unit;a driving signal generating unit that generates a driving signal for driving the pressure generating unit;a support unit that is disposed with a gap from the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head and supports the landing target in ejecting; anda droplet collecting unit that is disposed outside an ejection region of the support unit where the liquid is ejected onto the landing target from the liquid ejection head,wherein the ejection region of the support unit includes a conductive material and is set at the same potential as the nozzles, the nozzle formation surface, or the liquid in the pressure chamber, andthe droplet collecting unit is set to have a polarity opposite to the voltage applied to the driving electrode when the pressure generating unit is driven.

3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the droplet collecting unit has an absorbent material that absorbs droplets.

4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the absorbent material has conductivity and is charged when a voltage is applied.

5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a voltage is applied to the absorbent material, only when the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head and the droplet collecting unit are opposite each other.

6. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the absorbent material is implemented by an element having a negative polarity in a triboelectric series.

7. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the droplet collecting unit is disposed outside the end portion of a landing target which has the allowable maximum width, outside an ejection region.