Liquid ejection apparatus, capping device, and installation device for liquid absorber

Abstract

A capping device provided in a liquid ejection apparatus having a liquid ejection head is provided. The liquid ejection head has a nozzle-forming surface in which a nozzle for ejection liquid is formed. The capping device includes a cap, a liquid absorber, and a fixing member. The cap is capable of contacting the liquid ejection head in such a manner as to encompass the nozzle. The liquid absorber is accommodated in the cap. The fixing member fixes the liquid absorber accommodated in the cap to the cap. The fixing member is arranged in the cap such that an upper end of the fixing member is at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the liquid absorber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a cap of a printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3b-3b of FIG. 3A, showing a state in which an ink absorber is accommodated in the cap of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4b-4b of FIG. 4A, showing a state in which an ink absorber is accommodated in the cap of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view illustrating a cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5b-5b of FIG. 5A, showing a state in which an ink absorber is accommodated in the cap of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating a cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6b-6b of FIG. 6A, showing a state in which an ink absorber is accommodated in the cap of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a cap according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7b-7b of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a plan view illustrating a cap according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view showing a fixing member according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8b-8b of FIG. 8A, showing a state in which an ink absorber is accommodated in the cap of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating a fixing member according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a side view showing a state in which an ink absorber is held by the fixing member of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the fixing member of FIG. 9A holding the ink absorber is installed in the cap;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view illustrating a fixing member according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10B is a side view showing a state in which an ink absorber is held by the fixing member of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the fixing member of FIG. 10A holding the ink absorber is installed in the cap;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an inkjet printer according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of the printer of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14A is a perspective view illustrating an installation device main body of the printer of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14B is a side view showing a state in which an ink absorber is held by the installation device main body of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 14C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the installation device main body of FIG. 14A holding the ink absorber is installed in a cap recess;

FIG. 15A is a perspective view illustrating an installation device main body according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15B is a side view showing a state in which an ink absorber is held by the installation device main body of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the installation device main body of FIG. 15A holding the ink absorber is installed in a cap recess;

FIG. 16A is a perspective view illustrating an installation device main body according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16B is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink absorber is inserted into an insertion portion of the installation device main body of FIG. 16A; and

FIGS. 16C and 16D are cross-sectional views showing a state in which the installation device main body of FIG. 16A holding the ink absorber is installed in a cap recess.

Claims

1. A capping device provided in a liquid ejection apparatus having a liquid ejection head, the liquid ejection head having a nozzle-forming surface in which a nozzle for ejection liquid is formed, the capping device comprising: a cap capable of contacting the liquid ejection head in such a manner as to encompass the nozzle;a liquid absorber accommodated in the cap; anda fixing member for fixing the liquid absorber accommodated in the cap to the cap,wherein the fixing member is arranged in the cap such that an upper end of the fixing member is at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the liquid absorber.

2. The capping device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is arranged in the cap such that the upper end of the fixing member is lower than the upper surface of the liquid absorber.

3. The capping device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the fixing member is locked to the liquid absorber such that the liquid absorber is prevented from moving upward.

4. The capping device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing member includes a piercing portion that pierces the liquid absorber.

5. The capping device according to claim 4, wherein the piercing portion has a barb portion that extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the piercing portion pierces the liquid absorber.

6. The capping device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid absorber has a recess or a hole that allows insertion of the piercing portion when the piercing portion pierces the liquid absorber.

7. The capping device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid absorber is fixed to the cap by the fixing member after being locked by the fixing member.

8. A liquid ejection apparatus comprising a liquid ejection head and a capping device the liquid ejection head having a nozzle-forming surface in which a nozzle for ejection liquid is formed, wherein the capping device includes: a cap capable of contacting the liquid ejection head in such a manner as to encompass the nozzle;a liquid absorber accommodated in the cap; anda fixing member for fixing the liquid absorber accommodated in the cap to the cap,wherein the fixing member is arranged in the cap such that an upper end of the fixing member is at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the liquid absorber.

9. An installation device for installing a liquid absorber in a cap of a liquid ejection apparatus, the liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head having a nozzle-forming surface in which nozzle for ejecting liquid is formed, the cap being capable of contacting the liquid ejection head in such a manner as to encompass the nozzle, the installation device comprising a main body, wherein the installation device main body includes: a holding portion for holding the liquid absorber in the cap; and a fixing portion for fixing the installation device main body to the cap in a state where the holding portion holds the liquid absorber.

10. The installation device according to claim 9, wherein the holding portion is displaced to selectively switching between a state for holding the liquid absorber and a state not for holding the liquid absorber.

11. The installation device according to claim 10, wherein the holding portion includes at least a pair of holding pieces, and wherein the holding pieces grip the liquid absorber when the holding portion is in the state for holding the liquid absorber.

12. The installation device according to claim 9, wherein the holding portion includes an insertion portion into which the liquid absorber is permitted to slid.

13. The installation device according to claim 12, wherein the direction in which the liquid absorber is slid into the insertion portion intersects the direction in which the installation device main body is inserted into the cap.

14. The installation device according to claim 9, wherein the fixing portion is locked to the cap when the installation device main body is inserted in the cap.