JP2013001070A - Inkjet recording device and maintenance method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An ink jet recording apparatus capable of suppressing a decrease in ink removal performance when a moving speed of a recording head is variable is provided.
A recording head that moves from a recording area to a non-recording area at a selected moving speed, wherein the recording head includes a plurality of chips, a plurality of ejection openings, a strip-shaped wiping member 31, and a wiping operation. A conveyance mechanism 35 that conveys the member 31 along a conveyance path that faces a plurality of chips in a non-recording area, and the wiping member 31 that is positioned in the conveyance path when the conveyance mechanism 35 is conveying the wiping member 31. A contact member 33 that pushes up a part and contacts a plurality of chips; and a control unit that sets the transport speed of the wiping member 31 and transports the wiping member 31 to the transport mechanism 35. The time required for a part of the wiping member 31 to pass through the contact member 33 is the same as the time required for the recording head 9 to move the length in the transfer direction for one chip at the selected moving speed. Set the transport speed to be shorter or shorter. To.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink from a recording head onto a recording medium, and a maintenance method for the ink jet recording apparatus.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, a structure in which a plurality of chips are arranged on the bottom surface of a recording head and ejection openings (nozzles) are formed on the surface of each chip is known. In the ink jet recording apparatus having such a structure, if ink adheres to the surface of each chip (hereinafter referred to as a face surface), normal ejection may be hindered. In particular, it becomes difficult to remove inks that are reactive with each other, ink mixed with a reaction liquid, or ink solidified using ultraviolet rays, microwaves, heat, or the like. As a maintenance method for removing ink adhering to the face surface, a method of wiping ink by rubbing the face surface with a wiper is known. In addition, an ink-absorbing porous belt-shaped wiping member, that is, a so-called web is conveyed while a part thereof is pressed against the face surface to absorb ink (see Patent Document 1). In the case of the web-based method, accumulated ink adhering to the face surface, particulate debris and paper fiber traces that produce unwanted lines of ink on the recording medium can be removed. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the wetting and spreading of the ink after rubbing the face surface that has occurred when the wiper is used, and to wipe the ink thickened by heating or evaporation, which is difficult to wipe with the wiping mechanism. Therefore, the maintenance method using the web can more effectively maintain and recover the ejection.

JP 2004-202773 A

  In some inkjet recording apparatuses, the recording head moves at a movement speed selected from a plurality of movement speeds determined in advance according to the recording mode. In such an ink jet recording apparatus, when the maintenance is performed by the web while moving the recording head at the selected moving speed, depending on the moving speed, there is a possibility that a plurality of locations on the face surface may contact the same location on the web. . In this case, since the ink adhering to a plurality of locations on the face surface is wiped off at the same location on the web, there is a concern that ink removal may be insufficient.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of suppressing a drop in ink removal performance when the moving speed of the recording head is variable, and a maintenance method for the ink jet recording apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is selected from a plurality of predetermined moving speeds from a recording area where ink is ejected onto a recording medium to a non-recording area adjacent to the recording area. A recording head that moves at a moving speed, and is formed on the bottom surface of the recording head adjacent to each other along the moving direction of the recording head, and formed on the plurality of chips, and ejects the ink A recording head having a plurality of ejection openings, a strip-shaped wiping member for wiping ink adhering to the plurality of chips, and the wiping member facing the plurality of chips in the non-recording area. A transport mechanism that transports along the transport path; and when the transport mechanism transports the wiping member, a part of the wiping member that is positioned in the transport path is pushed up, and the plurality of tips are An abutting member to be brought into contact with, and a control unit that sets a conveying speed of the wiping member and causes the conveying mechanism to convey the wiping member at the set conveying speed, and the control unit includes the wiping member The time required for the part of the recording head to pass through the contact member is the time required for the recording head to move the length in the transport direction for one chip at the selected moving speed. The conveyance speed is set to be the same or shorter.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the maintenance method of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is selected from a plurality of predetermined moving speeds from a recording area where ink is ejected to a recording medium to a non-recording area adjacent to the recording area. A plurality of chips arranged at the bottom surface of the recording head adjacent to each other along a moving direction of the recording head; and the ink formed on the plurality of chips. In a maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a recording head comprising a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink; and a strip-shaped wiping member for wiping ink adhering to the plurality of chips. In parallel to the first step of transporting along the transport path facing the plurality of chips in the non-recording area, A second step of pushing up a part of the wiping member located in the conveyance path by the abutting member to abut against the plurality of chips, and in the first step, the part of the wiping member The time it takes for the recording head to pass through the contact member is the same as or shorter than the time it takes for the recording head to move the length in the transport direction for one chip at the selected moving speed. The conveyance speed of the said wiping member is set so that it may become.

  According to the present invention, according to the moving speed of the recording head, the conveyance speed of the wiping member is set so that the plurality of chips do not contact the same portion of the wiping member. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the ink adhering to each chip is wiped off at the same location of the wiping member, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in ink removal performance.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the inkjet recording device of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a recovery unit. It is a side view which shows the structure of a wiping unit. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical control structure of the inkjet recording device shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a recovery process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a recording process. It is a side view which shows the operation | movement content of the recording head and wiping unit in wiping operation | movement.

  First, the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described.

(Schematic configuration of inkjet recording apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 1C is a diagram showing an internal mechanism of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

  The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment reciprocally moves the recording head 9 in the main scanning direction S (see FIG. 1A) orthogonal to the conveyance direction T (see FIG. 1A) of the recording medium P, thereby displaying an image. This is a serial scan type printer to be formed. In this ink jet recording apparatus, the recording medium P is wound around the spool 6 and the carriage unit 2 reciprocates along the guide shaft 8 extending in the main scanning direction S. A recording head 9 is mounted on the carriage unit 2. The recording head 9 ejects ink at a timing based on the position signal obtained by the encoder 7 during the reciprocal movement of the carriage unit 2.

(Configuration of recording head)
A plurality of chips 11 to 16 are provided on the bottom surface of the recording head 9 shown in FIG. The plurality of chips 11 to 16 are arranged adjacent to each other along the main scanning direction S (the moving direction of the recording head 9). On the surfaces of the chips 11 to 16, a plurality of ejection ports 17 that eject inks of different color tones (including color and density) are formed for each chip. In this embodiment, black (Bk), light cyan (Lc), cyan (C), light magenta (Lm), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) ink are used. Each ejection port 17 communicates with an ink introduction portion 23. Ink is ejected from the ejection port 17 from the ink introduction part 23 via an ink flow path (not shown) inside the recording head 9. Ink is supplied to the ink introduction unit 23 from an ink tank (not shown) through a tube (not shown).

(Configuration of recovery unit)
The carriage unit 2 stops at the home position and the back position adjacent to the recording area as necessary before or during recording. The recording area is an area in which the platen 42 that supports the recording medium P is disposed, and the recording head 9 ejects ink onto the recording medium P. The home position is a non-recording area adjacent to one end of the recording area on the main scanning direction S side, and the back position is a non-recording area adjacent to the other end of the recording area. As shown in FIG. 1C, the recovery unit 23 is disposed at the home position, and the wiping unit 30 is disposed at the back position.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recovery unit 23. The recovery unit 23 is provided with a plurality of caps 27 that are supported by a lifting mechanism (not shown) so as to be lifted and lowered. Each cap 27 rises at the time of non-recording, and protects the ejection port 17 by covering the ejection port 17. Each cap 27 covers the ejection port 17 when ink is sucked from the ejection port 17. Each cap 27 descends to avoid interference with the recording head 9 during the recording operation. By the lowering of the cap 27, it is possible to store the pre-discharged ink. The recovery unit 23 is provided with a rubber wiper 26 that wipes off ink adhering to the face surface. The wiper 26 contacts the face surface while moving in a direction W (see FIG. 2) perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

  A suction pump 29 is connected to each cap 27. The suction pump 29 sucks and removes dust, fixed matter, bubbles, etc. existing in the discharge port 17 or the ink flow path by generating a negative pressure in a state where the cap 27 covers the discharge port 17. In the present embodiment, the suction pump 29 supports the tube 28 having flexibility, a member formed with a curved surface that holds at least a part of the tube 28, a roller that can press the tube 28, and the roller. A tube pump having a rotatable roller support. In the suction pump 29, the roller rotates in a predetermined direction, so that the roller rotates while crushing the tube 28. Along with the rotation of the roller, a negative pressure is generated inside the tube 28, and ink is drawn into the tube 28 from the discharge port 17 through the cap 27 by this negative pressure. The ink drawn into the tube 28 is transferred toward a waste ink absorber (not shown).

  The suction pump 29 can perform not only the above-described suction recovery operation but also an operation of discharging the ink stored in the cap 27 by preliminary discharge. Specifically, the suction pump 29 is driven when the ink stored in the cap 27 reaches a predetermined amount, thereby transferring the ink drawn into the tube 28 to the waste ink absorber.

(Wiping unit)
Ink adhering to the surfaces of the chips 11 to 16 may contain components that are difficult to wipe with the wiper 26 of the recovery unit 23 described above. As an example of this component, a low-molecular alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol (IPA), a ketone such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), an ester such as ethyl acetate, a low-boiling solvent that easily volatilizes, and a polymer for dispersing a pigment Etc. Ink that is likely to agglomerate due to weak dispersibility of the pigment is difficult to wipe off with the wiper 26. Such an ink is considered to be able to be wiped off with the wiper 26 without much difference in initial viscosity from that of a general ink. However, since the viscosity is more likely to rise than general ink during evaporation, it is difficult to remove the ink by wiping as compared to general ink. In addition, for inks that have functionality due to changes that occur due to evaporation, such as phase changes accompanying evaporation or heating, or dispersion destruction due to increase in concentration due to evaporation, solidification results as described above. The recovery is much worse than the rise.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment, when it is difficult to wipe ink with the wiper 26, or when the ink residue after wiping is easily solidified, the ink is wiped with the wiping unit 30. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the wiping unit 30. As shown in FIG. 3A, the wiping unit 30 includes a belt-like wiping member 31, a transport mechanism 35 that transports the wiping member 31, and an abutting member 33 that is positioned in the transport path of the transport member 31. .

  The wiping member 31 is made of porous urethane foam or melamine foam, or a nonwoven fabric using polyolefin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, or the like. The wiping member 31 contains an impregnating liquid. The impregnating liquid here is a liquid composed of water, a surfactant, a solvent and the like.

  The transport mechanism 35 transports the transport member 31 along a transport path that faces the chips 11 to 16. The transport mechanism 35 includes a supply roller 34 around which the wiping member 31 is wound in a roll shape, a take-up roller 32 for winding the wiping member 31, and various types of devices disposed between the supply roller 34 and the take-up roller 32. It is composed of rollers.

  The abutting member 33 pushes up a part of the wiping member 31 by moving up when the recording head 9 is moving right above the wiping unit 30 (see FIG. 3B). A part of the pushed up wiping member 31 comes into contact with the face surface of the recording head 9. In this state, the transport mechanism 35 transports the wiping member 31. Thereby, the ink adhering to the face surface is absorbed by the wiping member 31. After this wiping operation is completed, the contact member 33 is lowered. Subsequently, when the winding roller 32 winds the wiping member 31, the portion of the wiping member 31 that does not absorb ink is fed out from the supply roller 34. Such a wiping operation can be performed every recording operation for one line, but can also be performed after performing a several-line recording operation. In this embodiment, the recovery unit 23 and the wiping unit 30 are used in combination as a configuration for wiping off ink adhering to the surfaces of the chips 11 to 16. However, in this invention, the structure using only the wiping unit 30 may be sufficient.

(Electrical control configuration)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical control configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. A programmable peripheral interface (hereinafter referred to as PPI) 101 shown in FIG. 4 receives a recording information signal including a command signal (command) and recording data sent from the host computer 100. The PPI 100 transfers the received command signal and recording information signal to the MPU (microprocessing unit) 102 (control unit), and sends status information of the apparatus to the host computer 100 as necessary. Further, the PPI 101 performs input / output with the console 106 and receives a signal input from the sensor group 107. The console 106 includes a setting input unit for the user to make various settings on the apparatus, a display unit for displaying a message to the user, and the like. The sensor group 107 includes a home position sensor that detects that the carriage unit 102 or the recording head 9 is located at the home position, a capping sensor, and the like.

  The MPU 102 controls each component according to a control program stored in a control ROM (Read Only Memory) 105 (storage unit). A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 temporarily stores signals and various data received by the PPI 101 and is used as a work area of the MPU 102. The font generation ROM 104 stores pattern information such as characters and records corresponding to the code information, and outputs various pattern information corresponding to the input code information. The print buffer 121 stores the recording data expanded in the RAM 103 or the like. The print buffer 121 has a capacity for M line recording. In addition to the control program, the control ROM 105 stores fixed data corresponding to data used in the control process (for example, data for determining the necessity of wiping execution according to the main part of the present embodiment). Yes. Each component described above is controlled by the MPU 102 via the address bus 117 and the data bus 118.

  The capping motor 113 is a drive source for the cap 27, the wiper holder 25, and the suction pump 29. The motor drivers 114, 115, and 116 individually drive the capping motor 113, the carriage motor 3, and the paper feed motor 5 according to the control of the MPU 102.

  The sheet sensor 109 detects the presence or absence of the recording medium P, that is, whether or not the recording medium P has been transported to the recording area. The head driver 111 drives a heat generating portion (not shown) of the recording head 9 according to the recording information signal. The power supply unit 120 includes an AC adapter and a battery as a drive power supply device.

  In this embodiment, when the host computer 100 transmits data to the PPI 101 via a parallel port, an infrared port, a network, or the like, a required command is added to the head portion of the data. Examples of the command include the type of the recording medium P, the size of the recording medium P, the recording quality, the paper feed path, and whether or not the object is automatically determined. When a configuration for applying a treatment liquid for improving the fixability of ink on a recording medium is employed, information for determining whether or not to apply the ink may be transmitted as a command. The types of the recording medium P include, for example, types such as plain paper, OHP sheet, and glossy paper, and further types of special recording media such as transfer film, cardboard, and banner paper. Examples of the size of the recording medium P include A0 size, A1 size, A2 size, B0 size, B1 size, and B2 size. The recording quality includes draft, high quality, medium quality, specific color enhancement, monochrome / color type, and the like. The paper feed path can be determined according to the form and type of the recording medium feeding means provided in the apparatus, and includes, for example, ASF (automatic sheet feeder), manual feed, paper feed cassette 1, paper feed cassette 2, and the like.

  In accordance with these commands, the apparatus reads data necessary for recording from the control ROM 105 and records based on those data. The data includes, for example, the number of printing passes when performing the above-described multi-pass printing, the ink ejection amount per printing medium unit area, the printing direction, and the like. In addition, the mask type for data thinning applied when performing multi-pass printing, the driving conditions of the recording head 9 (for example, the shape of the driving pulse applied to the heat generating portion, the application time, etc.), the dot size, and the recording medium Conveyance conditions and carriage speed are also included.

  Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described.

(Recovery processing)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recovery process procedure for cleaning the recording head 9.

  First, after the primary power is turned on, the apparatus is activated by turning on the secondary power (soft-on) that makes the printer function actually executable or inputting a recording start command from the host computer 100 (step S1). When the apparatus is activated, the MPU 102 reads the current time Ta (step S2). Thereafter, the MPU 102 reads the time Tb at which the previous recovery process was performed (step S3). Then, the MPU 102 calculates a cleaning interval T that is an elapsed time from time Tb to time Ta. The cleaning interval T can be calculated by knowing the current time Ta using a calendar function provided by the MPU 102 or other appropriate means, and reading the value of Tb stored in the register area of the RAM 103. Alternatively, a timer such as a programmable interval timer (PIT) can be used, and the cleaning interval T can be known by resetting / restarting the timer every time cleaning is performed.

  After calculating the cleaning interval T, the MPU 102 determines whether or not the calculated cleaning interval T exceeds a specified threshold value U (step S5). When the cleaning interval T exceeds the threshold value U, the MPU 102 causes the recovery unit 23 to perform cleaning, that is, preliminary discharge or wiping. Thereafter, the MPU 102 replaces the contents of the time Tb with the time Ta (step S7), and enters the READY state (step S8).

(Recording process)
FIG. 6 shows a recording processing sequence.

  First, the MPU 102 determines whether or not the cap 27 is in a cap state covering the discharge port 17 based on the detection result of the capping sensor which is one of the sensor groups 107 (step 9). If it is in the cap state, the MPU 102 lowers the cap 27 to bring it into the cap open state (step S10).

  Next, the recovery process described above (see FIG. 5) is performed (step S11). Thereafter, a paper feeding operation for transporting the recording medium P to the recording start position is performed (step S12). The MPU 102 determines whether or not one line of data has been accumulated in the print buffer 121 (step S13). When data is accumulated, the MPU 102 causes the wiping unit 30 to perform a wiping operation (step S14). Hereinafter, the contents of the wiping operation will be described in detail.

  First, the MPU 102 selects a moving speed of the recording head 9 based on recording data from a plurality of predetermined moving speeds. Then, the MPU 102 sets the conveyance speed of the wiping member 31 according to the selected moving speed of the recording head 9. The control ROM 105 stores data in which a plurality of conveyance speeds individually correspond to a plurality of movement speeds, and the MPU 102 reads the conveyance speed corresponding to the selected movement speed from the data.

  In parallel with the movement of the recording head 9 from the recording area to the back position, the transport mechanism 35 transports the wiping member 31 and executes a series of wiping operations. This wiping operation may be performed every time several lines are recorded, or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of ink ejection by a dot count timer or the like. When the wiping operation is completed, the MPU 102 controls the motor driver 115 to cause the carriage motor 3 to move the carriage unit 2 to the recording area. Then, the MPU 102 controls the head driver 111 to cause the recording head 9 to perform a recording operation based on the data stored in the print buffer 105 (step S15). Further, the MPU 102 determines whether or not to discharge the recording medium P in accordance with the end of the recording data for one page of the recording medium, a discharge command, or the like (step S16). When the recording medium P is discharged, the recording medium P is discharged (step S22), and the recording process ends.

  After the recording operation for one line is completed, or when it is determined in step S13 that data storage has not been completed, the recording data storage standby time Tw is read through step S16 (step S17). The standby time Tw can be known by measuring the elapsed time from when it is determined in step S13 that data is not accumulated in the print buffer 13, for example, using a timer similar to that described above. The MPU 102 determines whether or not the standby time Tw exceeds the predetermined time Tcap (step S18). When the standby time Tw does not exceed the predetermined time Tcap, the MPU 102 determines whether or not the standby time Tw exceeds the predetermined time Ti (step S19). When the standby time Tw does not exceed the predetermined time Ti, the operation returns to step S13. After the end of recording for one line, the determination in step S13 is for the next line.

  In step S18, when the waiting time Tw exceeds the predetermined time Tcap, a cap operation for covering the discharge port 17 with the cap 27 is performed (step S19). Thereafter, the operation returns to the operation of step S13 and waits for the data to be accumulated in the print buffer 121.

  If it is determined in step S20 that the standby time Tw has exceeded the predetermined time Ti, the recording head 9 preliminarily ejects ink from the ejection port 17 to the wiping member 31 (step S21). Thereafter, the operation returns to the operation of step S13 and waits for the data to be accumulated in the print buffer 121. The relationship between the predetermined time Ti and the predetermined time Tcap is Ti> Tcap.

  Specific examples will be described below.

Example 1
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, detailed operations of the recording head 9 and the wiping unit 30 during the wiping operation (step S14) will be described. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the operation contents of the recording head 9 and the wiping unit 30 in the wiping operation.

  When one line of data is accumulated in the print buffer 121, the wiping operation is started. The MPU 102 selects the conveyance speed Vr of the wiping member 31 according to the moving speed Vc of the recording head 9. The conveyance speed Vr is set in advance so as to satisfy the following expression (1) for each moving speed of the recording head 9. In the formula (1), Wn represents the contact width between the conveying member 31 and any one of the chips 11 to 16 (see FIG. 3B). In other words, Wn is the width of the contact member 33. Wh is a chip width which is the length in the transfer direction of the recording head for one chip.

  Expression (1) is derived from the following expression (2). In Expression (2), Wh / Vc represents the time taken for the recording head 9 to move the chip width. On the other hand, Wn / Vr indicates the time taken for a part of the wiping member 31 pushed up by the contact member 33 to pass through the contact member 33. If the time Wn / Vr is equal to or shorter than the time Wh / Vc, each chip of the recording head 9 does not come into contact with the same portion of the wiping member 31. That is, the ink adhering to each chip of the recording head 9 is not wiped at the same location of the wiping member 31.

(Wn / Wh) Vc ≦ Vr (1)
Wh / Vc ≧ Wn / Vr (2)
When the chip width (Wh) of the recording head 9 is 0.315 cm, the contact width (Wn) of the wiping member 31 is 0.23 cm, and the moving speed Vc of the recording head 9 is 63.5 cm / s, this embodiment Then, the conveyance speed (Vr) of the wiping member 31 is 46.4 cm / s. The MPU 102 causes the transport mechanism 35 to transport the wiping member 31 at this transport speed (Vr).

  When the recording operation for one line is completed, the recording head 9 starts to move from above the platen 43 (recording area) toward a position (non-recording area) facing the wiping unit 30 (see FIG. 7A). . In parallel with the movement of the recording head 9, the contact member 33 rises (see FIG. 7B). When the contact member 33 rises to a height at which a part of the wiping member 31 is brought into contact with the chips 11 to 16 of the recording head 9, the transport mechanism 35 starts transporting the wiping member 31 (see FIG. 7C). . Immediately after that, since the recording head 9 arrives on the contact member 33, the wiping operation is started. The wiping member 30 is pushed up by the abutting member 33 during conveyance, and wipes ink by rubbing the surface of the chip of the recording head 9 that abuts. The conveyance speed of the wiping member 31 at this time is the conveyance speed set by the MPU 102. The transport mechanism 35 continues to transport the wiping member 31 until the recording head 9 passes through the contact member 33 (see FIG. 7D). After the recording head 9 passes through the contact member 33, the transport mechanism 35 stops the transport of the wiping member 31 (see FIG. 7E).

  Thereafter, the transport mechanism 35 rewinds the used wiping member 31 at a position facing the recording head 9 and reuses it for preliminary ejection. Specifically, after completion of the wiping operation, the transport mechanism 35 rewinds the wiping member 31 so that the used wiping member 31 is positioned on the contact member 33 (see FIG. 7F). At this time, the wiping member 31 is rewound while being tensioned by the winding roller 32. The transport mechanism 35 stops when the wiping member 31 is wound up, and the rewinding operation is thereby terminated. The recording head 9 preliminarily discharges the used wiping member 31 that has been rewound. After completion of the preliminary ejection, the transport mechanism 35 transports the used wiping member 31 so that the unused portion is positioned on the contact member 33 during the next wiping operation (see FIG. 7G).

  The above-described rewinding operation and retracting operation, the retreating operation of the wiping member 31, etc. may be performed simultaneously with other operations, and the recording operation may be executed during the rewinding operation. In this embodiment, the conveying direction of the wiping member 31 is opposite to the moving direction of the recording head 9, but the conveying direction of the wiping member 31 may be the same as the moving direction of the recording head 9.

  In the case of a configuration in which different color ink is ejected from the ejection port of the recording head for each chip as in this embodiment, when the ink attached to the plurality of chips is wiped off at the same location on the wiping member during maintenance, Ink removal performance is reduced, and color mixing problems may occur.

  However, in this embodiment, the ink adhered to the chips 11 to 16 is not wiped off at the same location of the wiping member 31 by transporting the wiping member 31 at the above-described transport speed (Vr: 46.4 cm / s). Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in ink removal performance and avoid a problem of color mixing. Furthermore, since the conveyance speed set in the present embodiment is the lowest level at which the ink adhering to the plurality of chips is not wiped at the same location of the wiping member 31, the use width of the wiping member 31 is short. As a result, the wiping member 31 can be used efficiently.

(Example 2)
In the present embodiment, the conveyance speed of the wiping member 31 is different from that in the first embodiment. As in Example 1, the chip width (Wh) of the recording head 9 is 0.315 cm, the contact width (Wn) of the wiping member 31 is 0.23 cm, and the moving speed Vc of the recording head 9 is 63.5 cm /. s. In this embodiment, the conveyance speed (Vr) of the wiping member 31 is 50.0 cm / s. Since this transport speed is faster than that of the first embodiment, the ink adhering to the chips 11 to 16 is not wiped at the same location of the wiping member 31, and the color mixing problem can be avoided as in the first embodiment. Further, since the relative speed of the wiping member 31 with respect to the recording head 9 is increased, the ink attached to the surfaces of the chips 11 to 16 is wiped with a stronger force. As a result, the cleaning effect is further enhanced as compared with the first embodiment.

9 Recording head 31 Wiping member 33 Contact member 35 Conveying mechanism

Claims (4)

A recording head that moves at a moving speed selected from a plurality of predetermined moving speeds from a recording area in which ink is ejected onto a recording medium to a non-recording area adjacent to the recording area, the bottom surface of the recording head A plurality of chips arranged adjacent to each other along the moving direction of the recording head, and a plurality of ejection ports that are formed in the plurality of chips and eject the ink,
A strip-shaped wiping member for wiping off ink adhering to the plurality of chips;
A transport mechanism for transporting the wiping member along a transport path facing the plurality of chips in the non-recording area;
An abutting member that pushes up a part of the wiping member located in the conveying path and abuts against the plurality of chips when the conveying mechanism is conveying the wiping member;
A control unit that sets a conveyance speed of the wiping member, and causes the conveyance mechanism to convey the wiping member at the set conveyance speed;
The control unit is configured so that the time required for the part of the wiping member to pass through the contact member is the length of the recording head in the transfer direction for one chip at the selected moving speed. An ink jet recording apparatus that sets the transport speed so as to be the same as or shorter than the time taken to move the ink. A storage unit storing data in which the plurality of transport speeds individually correspond to the plurality of movement speeds;
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit reads a transport speed corresponding to the selected moving speed from the data, and causes the transport mechanism to transport the wiping member at the read transport speed.   3. The inkjet recording according to claim 1, wherein the recording head moves from the recording area to the non-recording area when a predetermined time has elapsed after starting to eject the ink from the plurality of ejection openings. apparatus. A recording head that moves at a moving speed selected from a plurality of predetermined moving speeds from a recording area where ink is ejected onto a recording medium to a non-recording area adjacent to the recording area, A plurality of chips arranged adjacent to each other along a moving direction of the recording head; and a plurality of ejection ports that are formed in the plurality of chips and eject the ink; In a maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus having a strip-shaped wiping member for wiping ink adhering to a chip,
A first step of conveying the wiping member along a conveyance path facing the plurality of chips in the non-recording area;
In parallel with the first step, there is a second step in which a part of the wiping member located in the transport path is pushed up by a contact member and brought into contact with the plurality of chips,
In the first step, the time required for the part of the wiping member to pass through the abutting member is determined so that the recording head moves in the transfer direction for one chip at the selected moving speed. A maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the conveying speed of the wiping member is set so as to be the same as or shorter than the time taken to move the length.