JP2002347260A - Printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device and ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention suppresses ink consumption, reduces running cost, can perform an ink suction operation in a short time, and can maintain good print quality of an ink jet recording apparatus. It is an object to provide a mechanism maintenance / recovery device and an inkjet recording device. A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to the present invention includes:
Sealing means (10) for sealing a predetermined nozzle, negative pressure generating means (14) for setting the inside of the sealing means to a negative pressure state,
Moving means for sweeping the sealing means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to suction of residual ink in a nozzle and discharge of bubbles and foreign matter in the nozzle in order to perform normal ink ejection. The present invention relates to a structure of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording apparatus, a carriage including a head is in a home position when the apparatus is in a resting state. Clogging may occur due to adhesion of foreign matter. In addition, air bubbles may be generated inside the nozzles to cause an air damper phenomenon, thereby preventing normal ink ejection. For this purpose, drying, air entrapment and foreign substances are prevented by the cap means that comes into contact with the nozzle surface, and foreign substances, thickened ink and air bubbles are sucked from the head by the negative pressure generating means connected to the cap means, thereby removing them from the head. It is designed to discharge. Hereinafter, a configuration of a conventional printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device that performs such an ink suction operation will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view showing the configuration of an ink head in an ink jet recording apparatus. In the figure, the ink filled from a supply port 2 flows to a common liquid chamber 3 formed in a frame 1, and further a plurality of fluid resistance portions 4.
, And flows into the individual pressurized liquid chambers 5. Here, for example, when the volume of the liquid chamber changes due to the application of an external force due to driving of a piezo or the like, the ink in the pressurized liquid chamber 5 has a smaller resistance than the nozzle 6 having a smaller resistance than flowing back to the fluid resistance portion 4 which is upstream. Side, which is jetted by an ink jet and printed on a recording medium.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of a conventional printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device. In FIG.
As described above, air may enter from the supply port 2 side or the nozzle 6 side, or air dissolved in the ink itself may generate bubbles due to thermal expansion. Since the air bubbles 8 generated or mixed in the nozzle 6 cannot be discharged only by driving the pressurized liquid chamber 5, the suction cap 10 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 9 and communicates with the atmosphere release valve 1.
By driving the suction pump 14 with the nozzle 2 closed, a negative pressure is applied to all the nozzles 6 of the head from the suction tube 13, and the waste ink is discharged from all the nozzles 6 together with the ink in all the pressurized liquid chambers 5. It is discharged to the tank 15. As described above, the cap means in the conventional printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device seals the area covering all the nozzles of the head nozzle, and sucks the ink in the pressurized liquid chamber from all the nozzles,
Bubbles, thickened ink and foreign matter mixed in the nozzle were discharged.

[0005]

However, since the closed suction area covers all the nozzles, the negative pressure is uniformly applied to all the nozzles. Therefore, the negative pressure applied to the individual nozzles is dispersed and weakened. Would. Therefore, in order to secure a high suction pressure, the capacity of the negative pressure generating means must be increased, and the suction mechanism is not only large but also requires a large amount of energy to drive the suction mechanism. There was a problem that the cost was high. In addition, since ink must be sucked from all nozzles, ink is also sucked from nozzles in a normal state where suction is not necessary, so that even unnecessary ink is sucked and discarded. However, there is also a problem that the consumption cost of the container and the size of the container for processing the sucked waste liquid are increased, so that the cost of the waste container and the size of the container are increased. Further, even if the ink suction operation is performed, if the bubbles or foreign matter cannot be completely removed, the suction operation must be repeated many times until a normal state is obtained, resulting in a waste of time. Was.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and can suppress ink consumption, reduce running costs, and perform ink suction operation in a short time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus capable of maintaining the print quality well.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ink jet recording apparatus which scans a printing surface of a recording medium and discharges ink from a nozzle of an ink jet head to a desired position on the printing surface of the recording medium to perform recording. A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to the present invention, which performs an ink suction operation of suctioning residual ink in nozzles to secure an ink flow path of the inkjet head and stabilizes ejection of the inkjet head, It is characterized by comprising sealing means for sealing the nozzle, negative pressure generating means for bringing the inside of the sealing means into a negative pressure state, and moving means for sweeping the sealing means. Therefore, since the ink suction operation can be selectively performed only on the nozzles that are the target of the ink suction operation, unnecessary ink is not suctioned, so that ink consumption can be suppressed, and running costs can be reduced.
The ink suction operation can be performed in a short time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus which scans a printing surface of a recording medium and discharges ink from a nozzle of the ink jet head to a desired position on the printing surface of the recording medium to perform recording. A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device that performs an ink suction operation of sucking residual ink in the nozzles to secure the flow path and stabilizes the ejection of the inkjet head forms a plurality of nozzle groups by dividing all the nozzles, It is characterized in that it has a sealing means for sealing each nozzle group and a negative pressure generating means for setting the inside of the sealing means to a negative pressure state. Therefore, since the ink suction operation can be selectively performed only on the nozzle group to be subjected to the ink suction operation, unnecessary ink is not suctioned, and the ink consumption can be suppressed.
The running cost can be reduced, and the ink suction operation can be performed in a short time.

In addition, there is provided negative pressure state control means for controlling whether or not to release the negative pressure state inside the sealing means by the negative pressure generating means according to whether or not the nozzle or nozzle group performs an ink suction operation. Accordingly, the ink suction operation can be selectively performed only on the nozzle or the nozzle group to be subjected to the ink suction operation.

Further, by providing a negative pressure varying means for varying the value of the negative pressure by the negative pressure generating means, the value of the suction negative pressure is selectively changed for each nozzle, so that an appropriate value is provided according to the degree of clogging of the nozzle. An ink suction operation can be performed. For example, wasteful ink consumption can be suppressed by mainly performing an ink suction operation with a high suction negative pressure for a specific nozzle.

Further, by providing a negative pressure frequency varying means for varying the number of times of negative pressure generation by the negative pressure generating means, the number of suction times can be selectively changed for each nozzle, so that an appropriate ink can be provided in accordance with the degree of nozzle clogging. The number of suction operations can be performed,
For example, it is possible to reduce unnecessary ink consumption by repeatedly performing ink suction operation on specific nozzles in a focused manner, and to supplement the suction capacity by the number of times. A recording device can be provided.

Further, by providing the nozzle closing means for closing the nozzles other than the predetermined nozzle sealed by the sealing means, it is possible to prevent the suction negative pressure from being applied to the pressurized liquid chamber of the nozzles other than the sealed nozzle. Erroneous suction of air can be prevented.

[0013] In addition, since the wiping means for wiping the nozzle surface before the closing means is swept by the moving means is provided, airtightness with the nozzle surface can be ensured even if the sealing means is swept. it can. Since the wiping means is provided independently of the sealing means, the wiping means and the sealing means can independently operate as needed independently. Further, since the wiping means and the sealing means are formed as an integral structure, the ink suction operation and the wiping operation can be performed as one operation, so that the control and the moving mechanism can be simplified.

Furthermore, the relative position between the nozzle and the sealing means is shifted by sweeping the sealing means having a predetermined angle with respect to the nozzle row in which the longitudinal direction of the sealing means is linearly arranged by the moving means. Thus, it is possible to switch the nozzle to be subjected to the ink suction operation with a simple configuration.
Further, by changing the predetermined angle to increase or decrease the number of nozzles that can be sealed by the sealing means, the number of nozzles to be subjected to the ink suction operation performed at one time can be selectively and arbitrarily set. Further, the moving means sweeps the sealing means having a predetermined angle with respect to the nozzle row in which the longitudinal direction of the sealing means is linearly arranged in a direction other than the direction of the nozzle row, and in a direction perpendicular to the direction. Is desirable.

[0015] Further, by providing the rotating means for moving the sealing means in an arc shape, the nozzle to be subjected to the ink suction operation can be switched in a small space.

Further, as another invention, there is a feature in an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the above-described printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to the present invention comprises a sealing means for sealing a predetermined nozzle, a negative pressure generating means for setting the inside of the sealing means to a negative pressure, and a sweeping movement of the sealing means. Moving means.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) of the same figure is a bottom view, and (b) of the same figure is a vertical sectional view. In addition,
12 and 13 indicate the same components. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the suction port 10 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 9 and communicates therewith.
The suction pump 14 is driven with 2 closed. Therefore, a negative pressure is applied to the two nozzles 6 of the head from the suction tube 13, and only the ink in the pressurized liquid chamber 5 communicating with the two nozzles is discharged from the nozzle 6 to the waste ink tank 15. In the present embodiment, the number of nozzles sucked by the suction cap 10 for performing the ink suction operation is two, but it is not necessary to limit to this. Further, the suction cap 1 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present embodiment.
0 is movable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1, and by moving, the nozzles 6 to be suctioned are sequentially replaced, and air bubbles and foreign substances (not shown) remaining in the respective pressurized liquid chambers 5 are sucked out. Go. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform the ink suction operation only for the specific nozzle to be suctioned, and to perform suction from all the conventional nozzles because the number of nozzles to be subjected to the ink suction operation is small. A negative pressure smaller than the required negative pressure may be used. Further, the negative pressure applied to each nozzle can be equal to or higher than that of the conventional nozzle, so that the capacity of the suction pump 14 can be lower than the conventional one.

A nozzle closing portion 16 is provided around the surface of the suction cap 10 in the first embodiment which is in contact with the nozzle surface, as shown in FIG. Therefore, only the nozzles to be subjected to the ink suction operation by the suction cap 10 are sealed. The nozzle closing portion 16 has a semicircular cross section, and is made of an elastic material so that a nip surface can be easily formed by contact pressure with the nozzle surface.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an ink suction operation in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. Suction cap 1 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present embodiment shown in FIG.
0 turns ON / OFF the suction pump (not shown) when traveling in the moving direction from left to right in the figure, and turns ON (open) the operation of the air release valve (not shown) at the corresponding timing. ), OFF (closed)
It is possible to control whether or not to perform the ink suction operation on the nozzles that have been moved to the ink suction operation enabled state. Note that the operation of the suction pump is turned on after the air release valve is turned off (closed), and when the ink suction operation at the nozzle that has been subjected to the ink suction operation is completed, the operation of the suction pump is turned off and then the air is released. Release valve is ON
(Open). That is, the time during which the air release valve is OFF is set longer than the time during which the operation of the suction pump is ON.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another ink suction operation in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. When the suction cap 10 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus of the present embodiment shown in the drawing moves in the moving direction from left to right in the drawing, the operation of a suction pump (not shown) is turned ON and OFF.
By causing the suction negative pressure to be generated to a large level, a small level, and a multilevel of 0, for example, and turning the operation of the air release valve (not shown) ON (open) and OFF (closed) at the corresponding timing, The value of the suction negative pressure can be changed for each nozzle.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another ink suction operation in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. When the suction cap 10 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present embodiment shown in the drawing moves in the moving direction from left to right in the drawing, the operation of a suction pump (not shown) is turned ON and OFF.
F, and the number of ink suction operations is set to, for example, 0, 1,
The number of times of the ink suction operation can be changed for each nozzle by turning the air release valve (not shown) ON (open) and OFF (closed) at the timing corresponding to the multi-level operation twice. .

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. The nozzle closing portion 17 provided on the suction cap 10 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3 seals all the nozzles other than the nozzle for which the suction cap 10 performs the ink suction operation. . Accordingly, the suction negative pressure from the suction cap 10 travels from the target nozzle through the fluid resistance 4 of the channel to the common liquid chamber 3 and further reaches the pressurized liquid chamber 5 from the fluid resistance 4 of the adjacent or nearby channel. It is possible to prevent air from being sucked from the outside of the nozzle 6 communicating with the pressurized liquid chamber 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. In the drawing, the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present embodiment includes a wiper blade portion 18 for wiping in advance before the suction cap 10 sweeps the nozzle surface 9 and wiping off attached foreign matter, drying and thickening ink, and the like. Have. The wiper blade section 18 performs wiping in advance before the suction cap 10 sweeps the nozzle surface 9, and adheres foreign matters,
Suction cap 1 by wiping thickened ink etc.
In addition to enhancing the airtightness and airtightness of the suction cap 10, it is possible to improve the running property, thereby preventing the foreign matter from damaging the contact surface of the suction cap 10. In this embodiment, the wiper blade section 18 and the suction cap 10 are independent, and can operate independently.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 7, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 indicate the same components. The wiper blade section 18 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is integrally formed with the suction cap section 10, and the wiper blade section 18 is attached to the suction cap 10 in the running direction before the wiper blade section 18. The operation and operation of the present embodiment are the same as those of the third embodiment, and will not be described here.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. The suction cap 10 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is long in the direction of the angle θ between the nozzle row 7 in which the nozzles 6 are arranged in a straight line and the center line 19 of the suction cap 10. The structure is such that only a limited number of the nozzles are sucked. That is, by traveling in the movement direction shown in the drawing, the position of the nozzle 6 to be suctioned moves sequentially, and suction can be performed for all nozzles. By changing the angle θ, it is possible to change the number of nozzles 9 to be subjected to the ink suction operation performed at one time. Further, the moving direction of the suction cap 10 is not limited to the moving direction in the figure, and if there is room in space, a direction at an angle to the nozzle row 7 or the same direction as the nozzle row 7 (first embodiment). ).

FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. The suction cap 10 in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present embodiment shown in FIG. In the state of the leftmost position (represented by a solid line) in the drawing, only the leftmost nozzle 6 of the nozzle row 7 is targeted for the ink suction operation, and this moves in the moving direction, that is, the right side in the drawing and moves sequentially. By that
The oblong suction cap 10, which is long in the radiation direction, moves the target nozzle sequentially to the right (represented by a dashed line), so that suction can be performed for all nozzles. It is assumed that the length of the rectangular shape of the suction cap 10 is set to such a length that the ink suction operation can be performed on all the nozzles 6 when the arm 21 rotates.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. In the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. A suction cap 22 is provided. The example shown in the figure is an example in which eight individual suction caps 22 are provided. Each of the individual suction caps 22 has an individual suction tube valve 23 that opens and closes independently, and each tube communicates with a collecting pipe part 24. The collecting pipe section 24 has the atmosphere release valve 12 and can be opened and closed appropriately. Further, the collecting pipe section 24 is connected to the suction pump 14 so that a suction negative pressure is applied. According to the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus of this embodiment having such a configuration, the atmosphere release valve 12 is closed, the suction pump 14 performs a suction operation, and the individual suction tube valve 23 is opened. The negative pressure is applied to the nozzle 6 subjected to the ink suction operation, and only the ink in the pressurized liquid chamber 5 communicating with the nozzle 6 subjected to the ink suction operation is performed from the nozzle 6. Waste ink tube 25
Through a waste ink tank (not shown). On the other hand, since the negative pressure is not applied to the nozzle 6 from the individual suction cap 22 in which the individual suction tube valve 23 is closed, the ink suction operation is not performed. The individual suction tube valve 22
When the air release valve 12 is also opened, the ink suction operation is not performed because the individual suction cap 22 is at atmospheric pressure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the above-mentioned printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus. As shown in FIG.
1 is cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, black B
Four ink cartridges 102 each containing ink of each color of K, and four recording heads 10 each having a plurality of nozzles and supplied with ink from each ink cartridge 2
3, a carriage 104 on which an ink cartridge 102 and an inkjet head 103 are mounted, and paper feed trays 105a and 105b for storing recording paper and a manual feed table 1.
Transport roller 1 for transporting the recording paper from 06 to the printing unit 107
08, and a discharge roller 110 for discharging the printed recording paper to the discharge tray 109. When printing the image data sent from the host device on the recording paper, the carriage 104 scans along the carriage roller 111 and prints the recording head 103 on the recording paper sent to the printing unit 107 by the transport roller 108. A character or an image is recorded by ejecting ink from the nozzles according to the image data. By mounting the above-described printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device in such an ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to increase a negative pressure value per one nozzle, to perform a reliable ink suction operation, and thus to obtain a high quality image. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of realizing recording can be provided.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and needless to say, various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope of the claims.

[0031]

As described above, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which scans a recording medium printing surface and discharges ink from a nozzle of the ink jet head to a desired position on the recording medium printing surface to perform recording. The printing mechanism maintenance and recovery device according to the present invention performs an ink suction operation of suctioning residual ink in the nozzles to secure an ink flow path, and stabilizes ejection of the inkjet head.
It is characterized by having sealing means for sealing a predetermined nozzle, negative pressure generating means for making the inside of the sealing means a negative pressure state, and moving means for sweeping the sealing means. Therefore,
Since the ink suction operation can be selectively performed only on the nozzles to be subjected to the ink suction operation, unnecessary ink is not suctioned, so that ink consumption can be suppressed, the running cost can be reduced, and the running cost can be reduced. An ink suction operation can be performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus which scans a printing surface of a recording medium and discharges ink from a nozzle of the ink jet head to a desired position on the printing surface of the recording medium to perform recording. A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device that performs an ink suction operation of sucking residual ink in the nozzles to secure the flow path and stabilizes the ejection of the inkjet head forms a plurality of nozzle groups by dividing all the nozzles, It is characterized in that it has a sealing means for sealing each nozzle group and a negative pressure generating means for setting the inside of the sealing means to a negative pressure state. Therefore, since the ink suction operation can be selectively performed only on the nozzle group to be subjected to the ink suction operation, unnecessary ink is not suctioned, and the ink consumption can be suppressed.
The running cost can be reduced, and the ink suction operation can be performed in a short time.

Further, negative pressure state control means for controlling whether or not to release the negative pressure state inside the sealing means by the negative pressure generating means according to whether or not the nozzle or nozzle group performs the ink suction operation is provided. Accordingly, the ink suction operation can be selectively performed only on the nozzle or the nozzle group to be subjected to the ink suction operation.

Further, by providing a negative pressure variable means for changing the value of the negative pressure by the negative pressure generating means, the value of the suction negative pressure is selectively changed for each nozzle, and an appropriate value is provided in accordance with the degree of clogging of the nozzle. An ink suction operation can be performed, and wasteful ink consumption can be suppressed.

Further, by providing a negative pressure frequency varying means for varying the number of times of negative pressure generation by the negative pressure generating means, the number of suction times can be selectively changed for each nozzle, and an appropriate ink can be provided in accordance with the degree of nozzle clogging. The number of suction operations can be performed,
By suppressing wasteful ink consumption and supplementing the suction capability by the number of times, a small-sized and low-cost suction mechanism can be provided, and a small-sized and low-cost inkjet recording apparatus can be provided.

Further, by providing the nozzle closing means for closing the nozzles other than the predetermined nozzle sealed by the sealing means, it is possible to prevent the suction negative pressure from being applied to the pressurized liquid chamber of the nozzles other than the sealed nozzles. Erroneous suction of air can be prevented.

In addition, by providing the wiping means for wiping the nozzle surface in advance before the sealing means is swept by the moving means, airtightness with the nozzle surface can be ensured even if the sealing means is swept. it can. Since the wiping means is provided independently of the sealing means, the wiping means and the sealing means can independently operate as needed independently. Further, since the wiping means and the sealing means are formed as an integral structure, the ink suction operation and the wiping operation can be performed as one operation, so that the control and the moving mechanism can be simplified.

Further, the relative position between the nozzle and the sealing means is shifted by sweeping the sealing means having a predetermined angle with respect to the nozzle row in which the longitudinal direction of the sealing means is linearly arranged by the moving means. Thus, it is possible to switch the nozzle to be subjected to the ink suction operation with a simple configuration.
Further, by changing the predetermined angle to increase or decrease the number of nozzles that can be sealed by the sealing means, the number of nozzles to be subjected to the ink suction operation performed at one time can be selectively and arbitrarily set. Further, the moving means sweeps the sealing means having a predetermined angle with respect to the nozzle row in which the longitudinal direction of the sealing means is linearly arranged in a direction other than the direction of the nozzle row, and in a direction perpendicular to the direction. Is desirable.

Further, the provision of the rotary moving means for moving the sealing means in an arc shape allows the nozzles to be subjected to the ink suction operation to be switched in a small space.

Further, as another invention, there is a feature in an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the above-described printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a suction cap according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an ink suction operation in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another ink suction operation in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another ink suction operation in the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view illustrating the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view illustrating a configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the configuration of a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view showing a configuration of an ink head in the ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; frame, 2; supply port, 3; common liquid chamber, 4; fluid resistance section, 5; pressurized liquid chamber, 6; nozzle, 7; nozzle row, 8;
Air bubbles, 9; nozzle surface, 10; suction cap, 11; open air tube, 12; open air valve, 13; suction tube, 14; suction pump, 15; waste ink tank, 16, 1
7; nozzle closing portion; 18; wiper blade; 19; cap center line; 20; center of rotation; 21; arm;
Individual suction cap, 23; Individual suction tube valve, 24;
Collecting pipe part, 25; waste ink tube.

Claims (16)

[Claims] An ink jet recording apparatus that scans a printing surface of a recording medium and discharges ink from a nozzle of the ink jet head to a desired position on the printing surface of the recording medium to perform recording, and secures an ink flow path of the ink jet head. In the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device for performing an ink suction operation for sucking residual ink in the nozzles to stabilize the ejection of the ink jet head, a sealing means for sealing the predetermined nozzle, and a negative pressure inside the sealing means. A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device, comprising: a negative pressure generating means for setting a state; and a moving means for sweeping the sealing means. 2. A negative pressure state control means for controlling whether or not to release a negative pressure state inside the sealing means by the negative pressure generation means according to whether or not the nozzle performs the ink suction operation. Item 2. A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to Item 1. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus which scans a printing surface of a recording medium and discharges ink from a nozzle of the ink jet head to a desired position on the printing surface of the recording medium to perform recording, and secures an ink flow path of the ink jet head. In a printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device that performs an ink suction operation for sucking residual ink in the nozzles to stabilize the ejection of the inkjet head, all the nozzles are divided to form a plurality of nozzle groups. 2. A printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device, comprising: a sealing means for sealing with a vacuum; and a negative pressure generating means for setting the inside of the sealing means to a negative pressure state. 4. A negative pressure state control means for controlling whether or not to release a negative pressure state inside the sealing means by the negative pressure generation means according to whether or not the nozzle group performs the ink suction operation. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to claim 3. 5. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to claim 1, further comprising a negative pressure changing unit that changes a value of the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating unit. 6. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a negative pressure frequency varying means for varying the number of negative pressures generated by said negative pressure generating means. 7. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising nozzle closing means for closing a nozzle other than a predetermined nozzle sealed by the sealing means. 8. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising wiping means for wiping a nozzle surface before the closing means is swept by the moving means. 9. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said wiping means is provided independently of said sealing means. 10. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said wiping means and said sealing means are formed in an integral structure. 11. The moving means for sweeping the sealing means having a predetermined angle with respect to a nozzle row in which the longitudinal direction of the sealing means is linearly arranged.
The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to any one of 2, 5 to 10. 12. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to claim 11, wherein the number of nozzles that can be sealed by the sealing means is increased or decreased by changing the predetermined angle. 13. The moving means for sweeping the sealing means having a predetermined angle with respect to a nozzle row in which the longitudinal direction of the sealing means is linearly arranged in a direction other than the direction of the nozzle rows. Item 13. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to Item 11 or 12. 14. The moving means sweeps the sealing means having a predetermined angle with respect to a nozzle row in which the longitudinal direction of the sealing means is linearly arranged in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the nozzle row. 14. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery device according to claim 13, which moves. 15. The printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating means for moving the sealing means in an arc shape. 16. An ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the printing mechanism maintenance / recovery apparatus according to claim 1.