JP2001260372A - Ink jet image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that an added length of a printing scanning width of an ink carriage and a width of a maintenance unit is required as a necessary minimum width in a conventional serial type ink jet image-forming apparatus because the maintenance unit is set outside a printing scanning range of the ink carriage. SOLUTION: The maintenance unit 4 is arranged below a platen 5 in the printing scanning range of the ink carriage 2. The platen 5 has an opening part 5a formed to a part opposite to the maintenance unit 4. Maintenance to the recording head 1 by the maintenance unit 4 is carried out through the opening part. The maintenance unit 4 is formed into a hexagonal prism freely rotatable about a shaft 40. A lid part 41, a wiping process part 42, a purging process part 43, a prime process part 44 and a capping part 45 are set to each of five of six outer peripheral faces of the maintenance unit. One of the faces is selectively positioned to the opening part 5a. When printing is carried out, the lid part 41 is fitted in the opening part 5a thereby shutting the opening part 5a, so that an upper face (recording medium transfer face) of the lid part is made even to smoothly transfer a recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a serial type ink jet image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a serial type ink jet image forming apparatus which is mounted on an ink carriage which can reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium conveyed along a platen. A print head that discharges ink toward the print medium, and a maintenance unit that performs maintenance of an ink discharge unit of the print head, and moves the print head to a position facing the maintenance unit to perform the maintenance. The present invention relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus for performing the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet type image forming apparatus in which an image is formed by ejecting ink from a recording head toward a recording medium, nozzles of the recording head are clogged by a solidified ink or foreign matter such as paper dust. It is easy to perform image formation with these foreign substances attached.
These foreign substances may hinder the ejection of the ink and may cause a deterioration in image quality. Therefore, in order to prevent such a problem, an ink jet type image forming apparatus includes a wiping process of a recording head (wiping the head surface), a purging process (ejection of ink from the head), a priming process (a negative operation of the head). A maintenance unit is mounted to perform maintenance such as pressure suction, sucking out bubbles and dust together with ink, and capping (capping the head to prevent drying). As shown in FIG. 9, in a so-called serial type inkjet image forming apparatus in which an ink carriage 2 on which a recording head 1 is mounted reciprocates to form an image on a recording medium, a maintenance unit 101 is conventionally used.
Was installed at the end of the apparatus outside the print scanning range of the ink carriage 2.

[0003]

However, as described above, the maintenance unit 101 is connected to the ink carriage 2 as described above.
10, the required minimum width of the image forming apparatus needs to be equal to the print scanning width of the ink carriage plus the width of the maintenance unit, as shown in FIG. Was invited. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a serial-type inkjet image forming apparatus that is smaller than a conventional type while mounting a maintenance unit having a conventional function. It is.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ink carriage which is mounted on an ink carriage which is reciprocally movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of a recording medium conveyed along a platen. A print head that discharges ink toward a medium, and a maintenance unit that performs maintenance of an ink discharge unit of the print head.
In the inkjet image forming apparatus for performing the maintenance by moving the recording head to a position facing the maintenance unit, the maintenance unit is provided within a print scanning range of the recording head. It is configured as a forming device. As a result, the required minimum width of the apparatus becomes equal to the print scanning width of the ink carriage, and it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus as compared with the conventional image forming apparatus.
Here, in order to minimize the time lag from the end of the maintenance process to the start of printing, it is desirable that the maintenance unit be provided at or near the printing start position of the recording head.

An opening is formed at the maintenance unit mounting position of the platen, and the maintenance unit is provided with one or a plurality of maintenance units for performing a maintenance process of an ink ejection unit of the recording head, and an opening of the platen. The maintenance unit is pressed against the recording head via the opening of the platen during the maintenance, and the maintenance unit is closed during the printing process by the recording head. If the cover is configured to close the opening of the platen, the maintenance unit installed below the platen enables maintenance processing of the recording head, and at the time of printing, the opening is closed and the original platen is closed. The recording medium is It can be transported smoothly without that could get caught in the mouth. In addition, the maintenance unit can rotate or swing around a predetermined rotation axis,
A plurality of surfaces are formed on the outer periphery in the direction of rotation, and the one or more maintenance parts and the lid part are provided on the plurality of surfaces, respectively. If the maintenance unit is configured to be selectively positioned at the platen opening position by rotation or swinging of the maintenance unit, various types of maintenance processing can be realized in a small space.

At this time, a dedicated drive source may be used for rotationally driving the maintenance unit. For example, if a drive source for transporting a recording medium or a drive source for an ink carriage is used, the number of parts is reduced. It is possible to further reduce the size and cost of the device. In this case, since the maintenance unit and each drive source are connected by a simple drive train, when a drive source for transporting the recording medium is used, the rotation axis of the maintenance unit is parallel to the moving direction of the recording head. When a drive source for the ink carriage is used, it is desirable that the rotation axis of the maintenance unit be perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording head. When a drive source for transporting the recording medium or a drive source for the ink carriage is used for rotating the maintenance unit, it is necessary to connect the drive train only when rotating the maintenance unit.
For example, it is conceivable that the ink carriage is disconnected / connected in conjunction with the movement of the ink carriage outside the printing area or the up / down movement of the maintenance unit. Alternatively, the drive train may be disconnected / connected by an electromagnetic clutch.

The plurality of maintenance units may be individually provided on a plurality of surfaces formed on the maintenance unit. However, two or more of the plurality of maintenance units are shared, and the plurality of maintenance units are provided on the maintenance unit. If they are collected on one formed surface, it is not necessary to rotate the maintenance unit every time the type of maintenance processing changes, so that the time for maintenance processing can be reduced.
Various types of the maintenance unit such as a capping unit, a prime processing unit, a purge processing unit, and a wiping processing unit are conceivable.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
The following embodiments are examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1) In an ink jet image forming apparatus Z1 according to Embodiment 1, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, an ink carriage 2 having a recording head 1 integrated therewith is provided with an ink carriage holding shaft. 3 is a serial type ink jet image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording medium by reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium along the direction 3, and a maintenance unit 4 for maintaining the recording head 1 is Ink carriage 2
Are arranged below a platen constituting a conveying surface of the recording medium within a print scanning range of the recording medium. By arranging the maintenance unit 4 within the print scanning range of the ink carriage 2 as described above, the required minimum width of the image forming apparatus becomes equal to the print scanning width of the ink carriage 2 as shown in FIG. It is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus as compared with a conventional image forming apparatus. In order to minimize the time lag between the end of the maintenance process and the start of printing, it is desirable that the maintenance unit 4 is provided at a position as close as possible to the printing start position of the recording head 1.

Hereinafter, the present inkjet image forming apparatus Z1 will be described.
The configuration of the maintenance unit 4 and its related parts, which is a feature point of, will be described in more detail. FIG. 3 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of the vicinity of the mounting position of the maintenance unit 4. 4 and 5 are a schematic configuration diagram of the maintenance unit 4 and a cross-sectional view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the platen 5 constituting the recording medium transport surface has an opening
a is formed, and maintenance processing of the recording head 1 is performed by the maintenance unit 4 through the opening 5a. As shown in FIG. 4, the maintenance unit 4 is formed in a hexagonal column shape rotatable about a shaft 40, and five of its six outer peripheral surfaces are respectively provided with a lid 41 and a wiping member. A processing unit 42, a purge processing unit 43, a prime processing unit 44, and a capping unit 45 are provided. Further, a hollow pipe 46 as shown in FIG. 5 is inserted in the center of the maintenance unit 4, and the hollow pipe 46, the purge processing section 43, and the prime processing section 44 communicate with communication holes 47, respectively. 48. A negative pressure generator 49 and a waste liquid tank 50 are connected to the hollow pipe 46.

Here, the lid 41 is formed in a shape matching the opening 5a formed in the platen 5.
When the lid 41 is fitted into the opening 5a, the upper surface of the platen 5 becomes flush, and there is no problem in transporting the recording medium. The wiping unit 42 is made of an elastic material such as silicon rubber, and rubs against the surface of the recording head 1 to remove foreign matter such as paper dust and dust. Further, the purge processing unit 43
Is to discharge ink from the nozzles of the recording head 1 while sealing the periphery of the recording head 1. The ejected ink is suctioned by the negative pressure generator 49 through the communication hole 47 and the hollow pipe 46 so that the waste liquid tank 5 is discharged.
Sent to 0. Further, the prime processing unit 44 seals the periphery of the recording head 1, activates the negative pressure generating device 49 to suck the nozzles of the recording head 1, and sucks out bubbles and dusts together with ink. The sucked ink and the like are sent to the waste liquid tank 50 through the communication hole 48 and the hollow pipe 46. In addition, the capping unit 45
Is to seal (cap) the periphery of the recording head 1 to prevent drying.

As shown in FIG. 3, the maintenance unit 4 has one end of the swing arm 11 whose axis 40 is orthogonal to the moving direction of the ink carriage 2 (the left-right direction in FIG. 3B). It is rotatably attached to.
The swing arm 11 is swingably mounted around a rotation shaft 11 a near the end opposite to the maintenance unit 4. A gear 11b is formed at the rotation shaft side end of the swing arm 11, and a gear 21a attached to the output shaft of the vertical motor 21 is formed on the gear 11b.
Are engaged. The up / down motor 21 is a dedicated motor for moving the maintenance unit 4 up and down. The swing arm 11 swings by the forward / reverse rotation of the up / down motor 21 and the maintenance unit 4 is raised. / Descend. The above maintenance unit 4
Is held at the raised position during the printing process and the maintenance process, so that the lid portion 4 is used during the printing process.
1 is fitted into the opening 5a of the platen 5, and at the time of the maintenance processing, one of the other maintenance parts 42 to 45 is pressed against the recording head 1 via the opening 5a. Further, when shifting from the printing process to the maintenance process, when shifting to a different maintenance process, or when shifting from the maintenance process to the printing process, the maintenance unit 4 is temporarily lowered and rotated in that state. The required surface is positioned so as to face the recording head 1.

Here, the rotation of the maintenance unit 4 is performed by a drive motor 22 of the ink carriage 2. That is, the driving force of the driving motor 22 of the ink carriage 2 is supplied to the maintenance unit 4 by the motor pinion A, the pulley B, the belt 23, the pulley C,
It is configured to be transmitted via a belt 24 or the like. Here, the pulley B is movable in the axial direction.
Further, it is urged away from the motor pinion A, and when the maintenance unit 4 is at the raised position, transmission of rotation with the motor pinion A is shut off. When the maintenance unit 4 is lowered, the switching arm 12 having a wedge-shaped cross section integrally attached to the swing arm 11 is also lowered, and the pulley B is pushed by the switching arm 12 so that the motor pinion A
Move in the direction of and engage with it. That is, the driving force of the driving motor 22 of the ink carriage 2 is transmitted to the maintenance unit 4 only when the maintenance unit 4 is at the lowered position.

Subsequently, the present inkjet image forming apparatus Z
1 will be briefly described. During the printing process, the maintenance unit 4 is held at the ascending position with the lid 41 positioned at the opening 5a of the platen 5. In this state, the opening 5a of the platen 5 is closed by the lid 41, and the upper surface (recording medium transport surface) is flush with the recording medium, so that the recording medium is not caught by the opening 5a smoothly. Conveyed. When a predetermined maintenance time comes, the ink carriage 2 is moved upward above the platen opening 5a. At this time, the up / down motor 21 is driven at a predetermined timing, and the maintenance unit 4 is lowered. At the same time, the switching arm 12 is lowered to engage the pulley B with the motor pinion A, thereby driving the ink carriage 2. The rotation of the driving motor 22 is transmitted to the maintenance unit 4. As a result, the maintenance unit 4 is rotated, but a predetermined maintenance unit (any of 42 to 45) is further opened by the opening 5a.
When the motor 21 comes to a position opposite to the above, the up / down motor 21 is driven in the reverse direction, the maintenance unit 4 is raised, and at the same time, the transmission of the driving force of the driving motor 22 is cut off and its rotation stops. As a result, a predetermined maintenance section is pressed through the opening 5a against the recording head 1 of the ink carriage 2 stopped at the position of the platen opening 5a. In this state, the maintenance processing (purge processing, Priming, etc.).

As described above, in the inkjet image forming apparatus Z1 according to the first embodiment, since the maintenance unit 4 is disposed within the print scanning range of the ink carriage 2, the required minimum width of the image forming apparatus is This becomes equal to the print scanning width of the ink carriage 2, and it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus as compared with the conventional image forming apparatus. In addition, an opening 5a is formed in the platen 5 to press the maintenance units 42 to 45 of the maintenance unit 4 against the recording head 1 at the time of maintenance, but this opening 5a is closed by the lid 41 of the maintenance unit 4 during printing. The recording medium is smoothly conveyed without being caught in the opening 5a because the top surface is flush with the upper surface. Further, the maintenance unit 4 is formed in a rotatable hexagonal column shape, and the lid 41, the wiping processing part 42 as a maintenance part, the purge processing part 43, the prime processing A portion 44 and a capping portion 45 are provided, and their respective surfaces are selectively positioned toward the opening 5a (recording head 1) by the rotation of the maintenance unit 4, so that various types of maintenance can be performed in a small space. Processing can be realized. Further, the maintenance unit 4 is driven by using the driving motor 22 of the ink carriage 4.
Since the rotary drive is performed, the number of parts can be reduced, and further downsizing of the apparatus and cost reduction can be achieved.

In the above example, the drive train between the drive motor 22 and the maintenance unit 4 is connected / disconnected by moving the pulley B in conjunction with the vertical movement of the maintenance unit 4. However, for example, an electromagnetic clutch is provided on the drive train and the maintenance unit 4
The electromagnetic clutch may be turned ON / OFF according to the vertical movement of the electromagnetic clutch. The vertical movement of the maintenance unit 4 may use, for example, a solenoid instead of the motor 21. Further, in the above example, since the driving force of the driving motor 22 is transmitted to the maintenance unit 4 in a simple drive train, the shaft 4 of the maintenance unit 4 is perpendicular to the moving direction of the ink carriage 2 (that is, the driving However, if a drive train that changes the direction of the rotation axis by 90 degrees is used, the direction of the axis of the maintenance unit 4 can be made parallel to the direction of movement of the ink carriage 2. Is also possible.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above,
Although the drive motor 22 of the ink carriage 2 is used for driving the maintenance unit 4 to rotate, the maintenance unit 4 can be driven to rotate using, for example, the driving force of a paper feed motor that conveys a recording medium. Hereinafter, FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the ink jet image forming apparatus Z2 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the maintenance unit 4 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) has its shaft 40 in the moving direction of the ink carriage 2 (FIG. 6B). Left and right directions)
It is rotatably attached to one end side of the swing arm 13 so as to be parallel to. The oscillating arm 13 is connected to the rotating shaft 1 near the end opposite to the maintenance unit 4.
It is attached so as to be swingable about 3a. Further, a solenoid 25 is connected to the end of the swing arm 13, and the solenoid 25 is connected to the solenoid 25 by the solenoid 25.
3 swings, and the maintenance unit 4 moves up / down. As in the first embodiment, the maintenance unit 4 is held at the raised position during the printing process and the maintenance process, so that the lid 41 is fitted into the opening 5a of the platen 5 during the printing process. During the maintenance process, one of the other maintenance units 42 to 45 is pressed against the recording head 1 via the opening 5a. Further, when shifting from the printing process to the maintenance process, when shifting to a different maintenance process, or when shifting from the maintenance process to the printing process, the maintenance unit 4 is used.
Is temporarily lowered, and rotated in that state, so that the required surface is positioned so as to face the recording head 1.

Here, the rotation of the maintenance unit 4 is performed by a paper feed motor 26 for transporting the recording medium. That is, the driving force of the paper feed motor 26 is applied to the maintenance unit 4 by the motor pinion A,
It is configured to be transmitted through a pulley E, belts 27 and 28, and the like. The driving force of the paper feed motor 26 is transmitted to the transport roller 30 via a motor pinion A, gears B, C, and D. Here, the pulley E is movable in the axial direction and is urged in a direction away from the motor pinion A. Normally, transmission of rotation with the motor pinion A is interrupted. The above-described ink carriage 2 that has overrun on the paper feed motor 26 side.
Is pushed in the direction of the motor pinion A and meshes with it. The gear C is movable in the axial direction and meshes with the gears B and D while being urged in a direction away from the paper feed motor 26. However, the gear C overruns on the paper feed motor 26 side. When pushed by the ink carriage 2, the gears B and D are disengaged from each other.

Subsequently, the present inkjet image forming apparatus Z
The maintenance processing procedure in 2 will be briefly described. During the printing process, the maintenance unit 4 is held at the ascending position with the lid 41 positioned at the opening 5a of the platen 5. In this state, the opening 5a of the platen 5 is closed by the lid 41, and the upper surface (recording medium transport surface) is flush with the recording medium, so that the recording medium is not caught by the opening 5a smoothly. Conveyed. When a predetermined maintenance time comes, the ink carriage 2 is first overrun toward the paper feed motor 26, and is temporarily stopped while the pulley E and the gear C are pushed toward the paper feed motor 26. At this time, the drive train between the paper feed motor 26 and the transport roller 30 is disconnected, and the drive train between the paper feed motor 26 and the maintenance unit 4 is connected. In this state, the solenoid 25
As a result, the maintenance unit 4 is lowered, the paper feed motor 26 is driven by a predetermined amount, and a predetermined maintenance section (any of 42 to 45) is positioned at a position facing the opening 5a. Thereafter, after the ink carriage 2 is moved to the position of the platen opening 5a,
The maintenance unit 4 is raised by the solenoid 25. As a result, a predetermined maintenance section is pressed against the recording head 1 of the ink carriage 2 through the opening 5a, and maintenance processing (purge processing, prime processing, etc.) is performed in this state.

In the above example, the drive train between the paper feed motor 26 and the maintenance unit 4 is connected by moving the pulley E by overrunning the ink carriage 2 toward the paper feed motor 26. For example, an electromagnetic clutch is provided on the drive train, and the electromagnetic clutch is turned on in accordance with the vertical movement of the maintenance unit 4.
/ OFF. The vertical movement of the maintenance unit 4 may use, for example, a motor instead of the solenoid 25. Further, in the above example, since the driving force of the paper feed motor 26 is transmitted to the maintenance unit 4 by a simple drive train, the shaft 4 of the maintenance unit 4
To be parallel to the moving direction of the ink carriage 2 (that is, to be parallel to the drive axis of the paper feed motor 26).
However, if a drive train that changes the direction of the rotation axis by 90 degrees is used, the direction of the axis of the maintenance unit 4 can be made orthogonal to the direction of movement of the ink carriage 2.

(Other Embodiments) In the maintenance unit 4 shown in the above example, one maintenance section is arranged on each surface on the outer periphery, but two or more maintenance sections are shared. It is also possible to combine them in one plane. This eliminates the need to rotate the maintenance unit 4 every time the type of maintenance processing changes, so that the maintenance processing time can be reduced. FIG.
Has a maintenance unit 4 having a three-sided structure, and a lid 41, a maintenance unit 51 having a common capping unit and a priming unit, and a maintenance unit having a common wiping unit and a purging unit. 5 shows an example in which a unit 52 is provided. FIG. 8 shows that the maintenance unit 4 has a two-sided configuration, and a lid 41 is provided on each side.
And a maintenance unit 53 in which a capping unit, a prime processing unit, a wiping processing unit, and a purge processing unit are shared.
Are provided. The maintenance section 53 shown in FIG. 8 has an elasticity so that the wiper 53a does not damage the nozzle surface of the recording head 1 when it is strongly pressed against the recording head 1 during capping or priming. It is supported by a spring 53b.

[0022]

As described above, the present invention is mounted on an ink carriage which can reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of a recording medium conveyed along a platen.
A recording head for discharging ink toward the recording medium,
A maintenance unit that performs maintenance of the ink ejection unit of the recording head, wherein the maintenance unit moves the recording head to a position facing the maintenance unit to perform the maintenance. Since it is configured as an inkjet image forming apparatus characterized in that it is provided within the print scanning range of the head, the required minimum width of the apparatus is equal to the print scanning width of the ink carriage. It is possible to reduce the size of the device. Here, in order to minimize the time lag from the end of the maintenance process to the start of printing, it is desirable that the maintenance unit be provided at or near the printing start position of the recording head.

An opening is formed at the maintenance unit mounting position of the platen, and the maintenance unit is provided with one or a plurality of maintenance units for performing a maintenance process of an ink discharge unit of the recording head, and an opening of the platen. The maintenance unit is pressed against the recording head via the opening of the platen during the maintenance, and the maintenance unit is closed during the printing process by the recording head. If the cover is configured to close the opening of the platen, the maintenance unit installed below the platen enables maintenance processing of the recording head, and at the time of printing, the opening is closed and the original platen is closed. The recording medium is It can be transported smoothly without that could get caught in the mouth. In addition, the maintenance unit can rotate or swing around a predetermined rotation axis,
A plurality of surfaces are formed on the outer periphery in the direction of rotation, and the one or more maintenance parts and the lid part are provided on the plurality of surfaces, respectively. If the maintenance unit is configured to be selectively positioned at the platen opening position by rotation or swinging of the maintenance unit, various types of maintenance processing can be realized in a small space.

At this time, a dedicated drive source may be used for rotationally driving the maintenance unit. For example, if a drive source for transporting a recording medium or a drive source for an ink carriage is used, the number of parts is reduced. It is possible to further reduce the size and cost of the device. In this case, the rotation axis of the maintenance unit is set to be parallel to the moving direction of the recording head when a driving source for conveying the recording medium is used, and when the driving source for the ink carriage is used. If the rotation axis of the unit is perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording head, the maintenance unit and each drive source can be connected by a simple drive train. Further, the plurality of maintenance units may be individually provided on a plurality of surfaces formed on the maintenance unit. However, two or more of the plurality of maintenance units are shared and formed on the maintenance unit. If they are integrated on one surface, it is not necessary to rotate the maintenance unit every time the type of maintenance processing changes, so that the time for maintenance processing can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic attachment position of a maintenance unit 4 in an inkjet image forming apparatus Z1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a required minimum width in the inkjet image forming apparatus Z1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of the vicinity of a mounting position of a maintenance unit 4 in the inkjet image forming apparatus Z1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the maintenance unit 4;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the maintenance unit 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of the vicinity of a mounting position of a maintenance unit 4 in an inkjet image forming apparatus Z2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a maintenance unit 4 ′ which is a modification of the maintenance unit 4.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a maintenance unit 4 ″ which is a modified example of the maintenance unit 4.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic attachment position of a maintenance unit 101 in an inkjet image forming apparatus according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a required minimum width in the conventional inkjet image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording head 2 ... Ink carriage 4 ... Maintenance unit 5 ... Platen 5a ... Opening 41 ... Lid 42 ... Wiping processing part 43 ... Purge processing part 44 ... Prime processing part 45 ... Capping part 22 ... Driving motor 26 ... Paper Feed motor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shoji Kimura 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Ryosuke Sugiyama 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor Dai Horinaka 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka F-term (reference) 2C056 EA14 EA23 EC11 EC12 EC22 EC23 EC24 EC34 EC54 EC57 FA10 HA56 HA60 JA04 JA13 JB02 JB04 JB08 JC13 JC20 JC23

Claims (12)

[Claims] A recording head mounted on an ink carriage which is reciprocally movable in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of a recording medium conveyed along a platen, and which discharges ink toward the recording medium; And a maintenance unit that performs maintenance of the ink ejection unit.
In the inkjet image forming apparatus for performing the maintenance by moving the recording head to a position facing the maintenance unit, the maintenance unit is provided within a print scanning range of the recording head. Forming equipment. 2. The ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance unit is provided at or near a print start position of the recording head. 3. An opening is formed in the platen at a position where the maintenance unit is mounted. The maintenance unit includes one or a plurality of maintenance units for performing a maintenance process of an ink ejection unit of the recording head, and a platen of the platen. And a lid for closing the opening,
At the time of the maintenance, the maintenance section of the maintenance unit is pressed against the recording head via the opening of the platen, and at the time of printing processing by the recording head, the opening of the platen is closed by the lid of the maintenance unit. 3. The ink-jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink-jet image forming apparatus is separated. 4. The maintenance unit is rotatable or swingable around a predetermined rotation axis, and has a plurality of surfaces formed on its outer periphery in a rotation direction, and the one or more surfaces are formed on the plurality of surfaces. 4. The maintenance part and the lid part are provided, respectively, and the one or more maintenance parts and the lid part are selectively positioned at the platen opening position by rotation or swing of the maintenance unit. Inkjet image forming apparatus. 5. The maintenance unit is mounted so that a rotation axis thereof is parallel to a moving direction of the recording head, and the rotation or swing driving is performed by a driving source for conveying the recording medium. 5. The inkjet image forming apparatus according to 4. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said maintenance unit is mounted such that a rotation axis thereof is orthogonal to a moving direction of said recording head, and its rotation or swing driving is performed by a driving source of said ink carriage. Image forming device. 7. The ink-jet image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a drive train between the drive source and the maintenance unit is connected by moving the ink carriage out of a print area. apparatus. 8. The ink-jet image according to claim 5, wherein a drive train between the drive source and the maintenance unit is configured to be disconnected / coupled in conjunction with a vertical movement of the maintenance unit. Forming equipment. 9. The ink-jet image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a drive train between the drive source and the maintenance unit is configured to be disconnected / connected by an electromagnetic clutch. 10. The inkjet image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of maintenance units are individually provided on a plurality of surfaces formed on the maintenance unit. 11. The maintenance unit according to claim 2, wherein:
The inkjet image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein at least one of the plurality is shared and provided on one surface formed in the maintenance unit. 12. The ink-jet printer according to claim 4, wherein the maintenance unit comprises one or more of a capping unit, a prime processing unit, a purge processing unit, and a wiping processing unit. Image forming device.