JP2020049760A - Liquid treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid treatment apparatus capable of applying highly accurate treatment to a workpiece.SOLUTION: In a carriage 2 on which a head unit 21 is mounted, reciprocating in a scanning direction is controlled by a movement control section 71 and lifting in a vertical direction is controlled by a lifting control section 72. The movement control section 71 executes jet time movement control for reciprocating the carriage 2 in the scanning direction within a printing area P when a workpiece W is conveyed by a conveyance roller 13. The lifting control section 72 executes jet time lifting control for lifting a lower stage frame 201 mounted with the head unit 21 thereon in the vertical direction so that a distance along the vertical direction between the head unit 21 and the workpiece W is within a prescribed reference range over the entire area of the printing area P when the carriage 2 is reciprocated in the printing area P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid processing apparatus, such as an ink jet printer, for performing a predetermined process by ejecting a liquid from a head unit to a work.

  As a liquid processing apparatus for performing a process of injecting a liquid onto a predetermined work, for example, in an ink jet printer, a head unit that injects a small amount of ink (liquid) to a printing target is used. When the workpiece is transported in a predetermined transport direction and the head unit ejects ink while reciprocating in a scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction, characters and images are formed on the workpiece.

  Patent Document 1 discloses the above-described ink jet printer. This printer includes a carriage on which a head unit is mounted. The carriage is reciprocated in the scanning direction at the time of executing the ejection processing of the head unit that ejects ink to the work. Further, the carriage is configured to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction. The position of the carriage in the vertical direction is set by moving the carriage up and down so that the head unit is at a height position corresponding to the thickness of the work. After setting the vertical position of the carriage, the head unit ejects ink while reciprocating in the scanning direction with the movement of the carriage, whereby an image is formed on the work.

JP 2005-67105A

  During the execution of the ejection process of the head unit, the work conveyed in the conveyance direction may have undulations or the like, and irregularities due to the undulations may occur on the ejection surface of the work on which ink is ejected. When the carriage is reciprocated in the scanning direction in a state where the work has irregularities due to waving or the like, the vertical distance between the head unit and the work is not constant in the scanning direction. In such a case, high-precision processing cannot be performed on the work, and the quality of an image formed on the work may be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid processing apparatus capable of performing a high-precision process on a workpiece.

  A liquid processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, a transport unit that transports a predetermined workpiece in a transport direction, a head unit that performs an ejection process that injects liquid from above onto the workpiece transported by the transport unit, A carriage having a mounting portion on which the head unit is mounted, a carriage reciprocally movable in a scanning direction parallel to a width direction of the work orthogonal to the transport direction, and a carriage extending in the scanning direction; A carriage guide that guides movement in a scanning direction and sets an ejection processing area that is a moving range of the carriage when the ejection processing is performed; a moving mechanism that reciprocates the carriage in the scanning direction; An elevating mechanism for vertically moving the mounting part on which the unit is mounted, a movement control unit for controlling the moving mechanism, and a control unit for controlling the elevating mechanism And a control device including a lift controller. The movement control unit performs a movement control during ejection that reciprocates the carriage in the scanning direction within the ejection processing area when the workpiece is transported by the transport unit. When the carriage is reciprocating within the ejection processing area, a distance along the vertical direction between the head unit and the work is a predetermined reference value over the entire area of the ejection processing area. Injection elevating control for raising and lowering the mounting portion in the vertical direction so as to fall within the range is executed.

  According to this liquid processing apparatus, in the carriage on which the head unit is mounted, the reciprocating movement in the scanning direction is controlled by the movement control unit, and the elevation in the vertical direction is controlled by the elevation control unit. The movement control unit performs ejection-time movement control for reciprocating the carriage in the scanning direction within the ejection processing area when the workpiece is transported by the transport unit. When the carriage is reciprocating within the ejection processing area, the elevation control unit controls the distance between the head unit and the work in the vertical direction to fall within a predetermined reference range over the entire ejection processing area. In addition, the control unit performs injection vertical movement control for raising and lowering the mounting unit in the vertical direction. Thus, even if the carriage is reciprocated in the scanning direction in a state in which the work conveyed by the conveyance unit has irregularities due to waving or the like, the head is moved along with the vertical movement of the mounting unit. The unit is moved up and down, and the vertical distance between the head unit and the work is set within a predetermined reference range over the entire ejection processing area. For this reason, the liquid processing apparatus can perform highly accurate processing on the workpiece.

  Further, there is a case where a foreign matter or the like is attached to the work transported by the transport unit. If foreign matter or the like is attached to the work as described above, the head unit may be damaged by contact with the foreign matter or the like on the work when the carriage reciprocates in the ejection processing area. is there. In the elevating control at the time of injection of the elevating control unit, the vertical distance between the head unit and the work is within a predetermined reference range. When the vehicle passes through a portion where the adhesion occurs, the mounting portion is raised. Thus, contact of the head unit with foreign matter on the work can be avoided, and damage to the head unit can be prevented.

  In the above liquid processing apparatus, the lifting mechanism is connected to a stepping motor and a rotor of the stepping motor, and is engaged with the mounting portion, and rotates integrally with the rotor, so that the mounting portion is moved. And an elevating member that moves up and down. The elevation control unit includes a control signal generation unit that generates a pulse-like control signal, and a drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal that rotates the rotor by a predetermined step angle every time the control signal is input. And a part.

  In this aspect, the amount of vertical movement of the mounting portion on which the head unit is mounted can be adjusted based on the step angle when the rotor of the stepping motor rotates. Thus, the amount of elevation of the mounting unit, that is, the amount of elevation of the head unit, can be adjusted with high accuracy based on the step angle of the rotor.

  The liquid processing apparatus further includes a detection sensor that is disposed on the mounting unit and that outputs a signal corresponding to a distance along the vertical direction between the head unit and the workpiece transported by the transport unit. It may be a configuration. The elevation control unit moves the mounting unit up and down in the vertical direction based on a signal output from the detection sensor in the injection elevation control.

  In this aspect, when the carriage is reciprocating within the ejection processing area, the distance between the head unit and the work in the vertical direction is detected by the detection sensor. The lifting control unit can raise and lower the mounting unit on which the head unit is mounted based on an output signal from the detection sensor.

  In the above liquid processing apparatus, the detection sensors are arranged at both ends of the mounting section in the scanning direction.

  In this aspect, when the carriage is moving to one side in the scanning direction in the ejection processing area, the distance between the head unit and the work in the up-down direction is equal to one end of the mounting portion in the scanning direction. It is detected by the arranged detection sensor. Similarly, when the carriage is moving to the other side in the scanning direction in the ejection processing area, the distance along the vertical direction between the head unit and the work is arranged at the other end in the scanning direction of the mounting portion. Is detected by the detected sensor. The elevating control unit can move the mounting unit on which the head unit is mounted up and down in the vertical direction based on output signals from the respective detection sensors arranged at both ends of the mounting unit in the scanning direction.

  The liquid processing apparatus described above may further include a maintenance mechanism that performs a maintenance process on the head unit. In the carriage guide, a maintenance area adjacent to the ejection processing area on one side in the scanning direction is set as an area where the maintenance processing is performed. The movement control unit executes maintenance movement control for moving the carriage in the scanning direction within the maintenance area when the ejection processing by the head unit is stopped. The elevation control unit moves the mounting unit up and down in the vertical direction so that the maintenance mechanism can perform the maintenance process on the head unit when the carriage is moving within the maintenance area. Execute the elevating control at the time of maintenance.

  In this aspect, when the ejection processing by the head unit is stopped, the elevation control unit executes the maintenance elevation control for vertically moving the mounting unit up and down while the carriage is moving in the maintenance area. This enables the maintenance mechanism to execute a maintenance process on the head unit.

  In the above liquid processing apparatus, the maintenance mechanism is pressed against the head unit in a state where the carriage is disposed at a purge position set at one end in the scanning direction in the maintenance area. A purge mechanism for performing a purge process for sending out the liquid; and a state in which the carriage is disposed at a cleaning position separated from the purge position on the other side in the scanning direction within the maintenance area. A cleaning mechanism for performing a cleaning process for cleaning the head unit; and a cleaning mechanism after the cleaning process in a state where the carriage is disposed at a cap position in the maintenance area, which is located on the other side in the scanning direction with respect to the cleaning position. A cap that covers the head unit Comprising a cap mechanism for performing the up process, the. The movement control unit moves the carriage in the maintenance area in the maintenance movement control such that the carriage is arranged in the order of the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position. The elevation control unit sequentially lowers the mounting unit each time the carriage is disposed at the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position in the maintenance elevation control.

  In this aspect, the elevation control unit sequentially lowers the mounting unit every time the carriage that moves in the scanning direction in the maintenance area is disposed at the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position. Accordingly, the maintenance process for the head unit including the purge process, the cleaning process, and the cap process is appropriately performed at each of the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the liquid processing apparatus which can perform a highly accurate process with respect to a workpiece | work can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a front view of the image forming apparatus with an outer cover removed. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the image forming apparatus with an outer cover removed. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a carriage provided in the image forming apparatus. It is a side view of a carriage. It is a rear view of a carriage. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus, illustrating a lifting mechanism. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus, illustrating a lifting mechanism. It is a figure which shows the raising / lowering drive motor of a raising / lowering mechanism schematically. It is a figure showing a detection sensor. It is a side view of the actuator of a detection sensor. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state of movement of a carriage during a jetting process by a head unit. FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating an operation of the carriage in a first maintenance area, and is a diagram illustrating an operation when a purge process is performed. FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating an operation of the carriage in a first maintenance area, and is a diagram illustrating an operation when a cleaning process is performed. FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating the operation of the carriage in the first maintenance area, and is a diagram illustrating the operation when the cap processing is performed.

[Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an image forming apparatus as an ink jet printer to which the liquid processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a front view of the image forming apparatus 1 with the outer cover 102 removed, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the image forming apparatus 1 with the outer cover 102 removed. . In FIGS. 1 to 4 and later figures, front, rear, left, right, up and down directions are indicated, but this is for convenience of description, and does not intend to limit the directions in any way.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus that performs printing processing such as printing and printing on various works W such as paper sheets, resin sheets, and cloth materials of various sizes by an inkjet method. This is an image forming apparatus suitable for a printing process on the work W. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a base frame 101 with casters, and an apparatus main body 11 mounted on the base frame 101 and executing the printing process (image forming process).

  The apparatus main body 11 includes a work transfer path 12, a transfer roller 13, a plurality of pinch roller units 14, and the carriage 2. The work transport path 12 is a transport path extending in the front-rear direction for loading the work W to be subjected to the printing process into the apparatus main body 11 from the rear side and unloading the work W from the front side. The transport roller 13 is a roller that extends in the left-right direction and generates a driving force for intermittently feeding the workpiece W in the workpiece transport path 12. In other words, the transport roller 13 is rotated about a predetermined axis extending in the left-right direction, and moves the work W in the forward direction so that the work W passes through an image forming position facing the head unit 21 (image forming unit). (Conveying section) (conveying direction). The pinch roller unit 14 includes a pinch roller 140 that is disposed to face the transport roller 13 from above and forms a transport nip with the transport roller 13. The plurality of pinch roller units 14 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction along the transport roller 13.

  The carriage 2 has a unit for performing a printing process on the work W mounted thereon, and reciprocates on the base frame 101 in a scanning direction (lateral direction) parallel to the width direction of the work W orthogonal to the conveying direction of the work W. It is a mobile object that can move. Above the base frame 101, a carriage guide 15 provided with a guide rail 15H for guiding the reciprocating movement of the carriage 2 is provided so as to extend in the left-right direction along the scanning direction. A timing belt 16 </ b> A is attached to the carriage guide 15 so as to be able to move around in the left-right direction. The carriage 2 has a fixed portion for the timing belt 16A, and is guided by the guide rail 15H as the timing belt 16A rotates forward or backward by driving a moving drive motor 16B (FIG. 13 described later). While moving in the left-right direction (scanning direction). The timing belt 16A and the moving drive motor 16B constitute a moving mechanism 16 that reciprocates the carriage 2 in the left-right direction (scanning direction).

  The printing process is performed in such a manner that the conveyance roller 13 and the pinch roller unit 14 intermittently feed the work W, and the carriage 2 moves in the left-right direction while the work W is stopped, and scans the work W. A platen 121 (FIGS. 2 and 4) provided with a function of sucking the work W is disposed below the passage of the carriage 2 in the work transfer path 12. That is, an image forming position for the work W is arranged on the platen 121. At the time of the printing process, the carriage 2 performs the printing scan in a state where the work W is attracted to the platen 121.

  The device main body 11 is covered by an outer cover 102. A side station 103 is disposed in a region on the right side of the outer cover 102. Inside the side station 103, an immobile ink cartridge shelf 17 that holds an ink cartridge (not shown) that stores ink for printing (a predetermined liquid) is accommodated.

  The front part of the side station 103 is a first retreat area 104 serving as a retreat space for the carriage 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a left frame 105 and a right frame 106 are erected on the base frame 101 at intervals corresponding to the work transport path 12 in the left-right direction. When divided by the work area, an area between the left and right frames 105 and 106 is a print area P (ejection processing area) which is a moving range of the carriage 2 when the print processing is executed.

  The carriage guide 15 has a lateral width longer than the print area P, and the carriage 2 can move to the right outside and the left outside of the print area P. The right end side (one end side in the scanning direction) of the carriage guide 15, that is, an area adjacent to the print area P on the right side (one side in the scanning direction) is a first maintenance area M1 (first maintenance area). It is. Further, the left end side (the other end side in the scanning direction) of the carriage guide 15, that is, an area adjacent to the print area P on the left side (the other side in the scanning direction) is a second maintenance area M2 (a second maintenance area M2). Area). When the printing process is stopped, the carriage 2 retreats to the first maintenance area M1 or the second maintenance area M2. When the printing process is stopped, a maintenance process including a purge process, a cleaning process, and a cap process, which will be described later, is performed in a state where the carriage 2 is disposed in the first maintenance area M1. Further, when the printing process is stopped, the user performs maintenance of the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the carriage 2 is disposed in the second maintenance area M2.

  On the rear side of the base frame 101, there is provided a delivery unit 107 for accommodating a delivery roll Wa, which is a wound body of the work W to be subjected to print processing. The feeding unit 107 feeds the work W while applying a predetermined tension to the work W with the tension roller 109A. Further, on the front side of the base frame 101, there is provided a winding unit 108 for storing a winding roll Wb which is a wound body of the work W after the printing process. The winding unit 108 includes a drive source (not shown) that rotationally drives the winding shaft of the winding roll Wb, and winds the work W while applying a predetermined tension to the work W with the tension roller 109B.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a head unit 21 that forms an image by performing an ejection process (printing process) for ejecting ink (liquid) from above onto a workpiece W transported by the transport roller 13, The liquid supply unit 3 that supplies ink from the ink cartridge to the head unit 21 is mounted. FIG. 4 shows an example in which two head units 21 and eight liquid supply units 3 are mounted on the carriage 2. That is, four liquid supply units 3 are provided to supply cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks per head unit 21. The carriage 2 reciprocates in the left-right direction along the carriage guide 15. The liquid supply units 3 may be filled with inks of different colors, and the two head units 21 may eject a maximum of eight colors of ink.

[Carriage configuration]
FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of the carriage 2 provided in the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 6 is a side view of the carriage 2, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the carriage 2. FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of the image forming apparatus 1 and illustrate the lifting mechanism 60. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating the lifting drive motor 61 of the lifting mechanism 60.

  The carriage 2 includes a carriage frame 20 as a head holding body that holds the head unit 21. The carriage frame 20 includes a lower frame 201 located at a lowermost position, an upper frame 202 arranged at an interval above the lower frame 201, a rack 203 assembled on the upper surface of the upper frame 202, and a And a rear frame 204 mounted on the rear surface.

  The lower frame 201 constitutes a mounting portion on which the head unit 21 is mounted on the carriage frame 20. The lower frame 201 and the upper frame 202 are connected by a connecting post 205 extending vertically. The rear frame 204 is provided with guide posts 206 extending in the vertical direction. The rear frame 204 is provided with a lifting mechanism 60 that raises and lowers the linked body of the lower frame 201 and the upper frame 202 in a vertical direction perpendicular to the direction in which the workpiece W is transported and the direction in which the workpiece W is scanned.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the elevating mechanism 60 includes an elevating drive motor 61, a drive shaft 62 extending downward from the elevating drive motor 61 and having a screw portion, and a nut portion 63 attached to the lower frame 201. including. The lifting drive motor 61 is a drive source for vertically moving a connected body of a lower frame 201 on which the head unit 21 is mounted and an upper frame 202 connected to the lower frame 201 via a connection support 205. . The lifting drive motor 61 is constituted by a stepping motor, and includes a rotor 611 and a stator 612 as shown in FIG. One end of the drive shaft 62 is connected to the rotor 611 of the elevating drive motor 61, and is engaged with the nut 63 of the lower frame 201 at a screw portion provided at the other end. The drive shaft 62 is an elevating member that rotates the rotor 611 of the elevating drive motor 61 integrally in both forward and reverse directions to raise and lower the lower frame 201 engaged via the nut portion 63 in the vertical direction. is there. When the drive shaft 62 rotates in accordance with the forward or reverse rotation of the lift drive motor 61, the linked body of the lower frame 201 and the upper frame 202 moves up and down (moves) while being guided by the guide posts 206. )can do.

  The head unit 21 is mounted on the lower frame 201 as described above. Since the linked body of the lower frame 201 and the upper frame 202 can be moved up and down as described above, the height position of the head unit 21 with respect to the work W in the up and down direction can be adjusted.

  The liquid supply unit 3 is mounted on the upper frame 202. The eight liquid supply units 3 are supported by the upper frame 202 in a manner arranged in the rack 203 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid supply unit 3 includes a main body 30 having a tank 31 and a pump 32. The tank section 31 is an area that forms a space for temporarily storing ink supplied to the head unit 21 under a negative pressure environment. The pump unit 32 is a region that functions as a purge mechanism that operates during a pressure reducing process for forming the negative pressure environment and a purging process described below for cleaning the head unit 21. Further, the rear frame 204 is provided with a fixing portion for fixing to the timing belt 16A and the like.

  As described above, the lifting drive motor 61 of the lifting mechanism 60 is configured by the stepping motor, and includes the rotor 611 and the stator 612 (FIG. 10). The rotor 611 is a permanent magnet having a north pole and a south pole. The stator 612 includes an A-phase magnetic pole 613 around which the A-phase coil 613A is wound, a B-phase magnetic pole 614 around which the B-phase coil 614A is wound, and a / A-phase magnetic pole 615 around which the / A-phase coil 615A is wound. , And a / B-phase magnetic pole 616 wound with a / B-phase coil 616A. The B-phase magnetic pole 614 is at a position where the rotor 611 is rotated 90 degrees from the position of the A-phase magnetic pole 613. The / A-phase magnetic pole 615 is at a position where the rotor 611 is rotated 90 degrees from the position of the B-phase magnetic pole 614. The / B phase magnetic pole 616 is located at a position where the rotor 611 is rotated 90 degrees from the position of the / A phase magnetic pole 615.

  In the lifting drive motor 61, the A-phase magnetic pole 613 is excited by the drive current flowing through the A-phase coil 613A. The driving current flowing through the B-phase coil 614A excites the B-phase magnetic pole 614. The / A-phase magnetic pole 615 is excited by the drive current flowing through the / A-phase coil 615A. The / B-phase magnetic pole 616 is excited by the drive current flowing through the / B-phase coil 616A. The A-phase coil 613A and the / A-phase coil 615A are connected such that the drive current flowing through the A-phase coil 613A and the drive current flowing through the / A-phase coil 615A are in opposite directions. The B-phase coil 614A and the / B-phase coil 616A are connected such that the drive current flowing through the B-phase coil 614A and the drive current flowing through the / B-phase coil 616A are in opposite directions.

  In the lifting drive motor 61, the rotor 611 rotates in both forward and reverse directions by controlling the drive current flowing through the A-phase coil 613A, the B-phase coil 614A, the / A-phase coil 615A, and the / B-phase coil 616A. I do. When the rotor 611 rotates, the drive shaft 62 rotates integrally with the rotation. When the drive shaft 62 rotates, the lower frame 201 to which the nut portion 63 screwed with the screw portion of the drive shaft 62 is attached moves up and down.

[About the mechanism for detecting the position of the carriage in the scanning direction]
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a carriage position detecting mechanism 10 as a mechanism for detecting the position of the carriage 2 that reciprocates in the scanning direction (left-right direction) with the forward or reverse rotation of the timing belt 16A ( 6 and 7). The carriage position detection mechanism 10 includes an encoder sheet 10E and a position detection sensor 10S.

  The encoder sheet 10E is attached to the carriage guide 15 so as to extend linearly along the scanning direction (left-right direction). The encoder sheet 10E includes a first mounting portion H1 fixed to the right end, a second mounting portion H2 fixed to the left end, and a third mounting portion H2 connected to the second mounting portion H2 via a spring member S1. And an attachment portion H3. The first mounting portion H1 is fixed to a predetermined position in the first maintenance area M1 set on the carriage guide 15, and the third mounting portion H3 is fixed to a predetermined position in the second maintenance area M2. Thereby, the encoder sheet 10E is attached to the carriage guide 15 so as to extend from the first maintenance area M1 to the second maintenance area M2. In addition, a lower center portion of the encoder sheet 10E is supported by a plurality of support members H4 fixed to the carriage guide 15.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the encoder sheet 10E has a stripe pattern in which light transmitting portions E11 and light shielding portions E12 are alternately arranged in the left-right direction. The light transmitting unit E11 allows transmission of light from the light emitting unit L1 of the position detection sensor 10S to the light receiving unit R1. The light shielding unit E12 regulates transmission of light from the light emitting unit L1 to the light receiving unit R1.

  The position detection sensor 10S is a sensor attached to the rear frame 204 of the carriage 2. The position detection sensor 10S is a transmissive photosensor having a light-emitting unit L1 and a light-receiving unit R1 that are arranged to face each other with the upper end of the encoder sheet 10E interposed therebetween. Hereinafter, the transmission type photo sensor is referred to as a PI (Photo-interrupter) sensor. In the carriage position detection mechanism 10 including the position detection sensor 10S composed of a PI sensor, the position of the carriage 2 that reciprocates in the scanning direction (left and right direction) is determined by the position detection sensor 10S, It can be detected based on passing through the portion E12. When the position detection sensor 10S passes through the light transmitting portion E11 of the encoder sheet 10E, a high signal is output from the position detection sensor 10S. On the other hand, when the position detection sensor 10S passes through the light shielding portion E12 of the encoder sheet 10E, a Low signal is output from the position detection sensor 10S. By counting the High signal or the Low signal, the moving distance of the carriage 2 can be calculated, whereby the position of the carriage 2 reciprocating in the scanning direction (left and right direction) can be detected.

[About the mechanism that detects the distance between the head unit and the work]
The image forming apparatus 1 includes detection sensors 50A and 50B as a mechanism for detecting a vertical distance between the head unit 21 and the workpiece W transported by the transport roller 13 (see FIG. 5). The detection sensors 50A and 50B are disposed on the lower frame 201 of the carriage 2 so as to be able to move up and down together with the head unit 21. In the present embodiment, the detection sensors 50A and 50B are arranged at both ends of the lower frame 201 of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction (lateral direction). Hereinafter, the detection sensor disposed at the left end of the lower frame 201 is referred to as “first detection sensor 50A”, and the detection sensor disposed at the right end of the lower frame 201 is referred to as “second detection sensor 50B”.

  The first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B output a signal corresponding to the distance in the vertical direction between the head unit 21 and the workpiece W transported by the transport roller 13. Further, the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B also have a function of detecting foreign matter or the like when the foreign matter or the like has adhered to the work W. The structure of the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B will be described with reference to FIGS. Each of the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B includes a main body 500, a detection unit 501, and an actuator 502.

  The main body 500 supports each member of the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B. The main body 500 is fixed to the lower frame 201.

  The detecting section 501 is arranged below the main body section 500. The detecting unit 501 outputs different pulse signals according to the swing angle of the actuator 502 around the shaft 502A. The detecting unit 501 has a light emitting unit 501A and a light receiving unit 501B. As shown in FIG. 11, a light-shielding portion 502C of the actuator 502 is arranged between the light-emitting portion 501A and the light-receiving portion 501B. The light emitting unit 501A emits detection light (not shown). The light receiving unit 501B receives the detection light emitted from the light emitting unit 501A.

  The actuator 502 is swingably supported by the detection unit 501. The actuator 502 has a shaft portion 502A, a contact portion 502B, and a light blocking portion 502C. The shaft portion 502A extends in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) and is rotatably supported at the lower end portion of the detection portion 501, and serves as a fulcrum for the swing of the actuator 502. The contact portion 502B extends forward and downward from the shaft portion 502A. The contact portion 502B has a curved distal end portion that can abut on the workpiece W as the detection unit 501 (head unit 21) moves up and down in the vertical direction. The light-shielding portion 502C is arranged on the opposite side of the shaft portion 502A from the contact portion 502B, and has a fan shape as shown in FIG. In the light shielding portion 502C, a plurality of elongated slits 502D opened at a predetermined angle are arranged. The plurality of slits 502D extend along the radial direction in the swing of the actuator 502 around the shaft portion 502A. In FIG. 12, the position of the emitted light emitted from the detection unit 501 is shown by a spot 501S. When the tip (curved portion) of the contact portion 502B comes into contact with the workpiece W and the actuator 502 swings in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12, the number of slits 502D corresponding to the swing angle of the actuator 502 causes the detection light at the spot 501S. To Penetrate. As a result, a pulse signal corresponding to the swing angle of the actuator 502 is output from the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B include the detection unit 501 and the actuator 502 has been described. However, the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B are similar to laser displacement meters and the like. It may be composed of another sensor capable of measuring the distance.

[Regarding control system of image forming apparatus]
Next, a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a block diagram of FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device 70. The control device 70 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a control program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU, and the like. The control device 70 controls the movement drive motor 16 </ b> B, which is a drive source for moving the carriage 2 in the scanning direction (left-right direction), by executing the control program stored in the ROM by the CPU. The controller controls a vertical drive motor 61 serving as a drive source for vertically moving the lower frame 201 on which the lower frame 21 is mounted. The control device 70 includes a movement control unit 71 and an elevating control unit 72, as shown in FIG.

  The movement control section 71 is a processing area where the control device 70 controls the movement drive motor 16B. The movement control unit 71 controls the driving of the movement drive motor 16B, thereby causing the timing belt 16A to circulate and reciprocate the carriage 2 in the scanning direction (left-right direction). The movement control unit 71 reciprocates the carriage 2 based on the detection result of the position detection sensor 10S that detects the position of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction (lateral direction). The movement control unit 71 executes ejection-time movement control that reciprocates the carriage 2 in the scanning direction (left-right direction) within the printing area P when the work W is carried on the platen 121 by the carrying roller 13.

  The elevating controller 72 is a processing area in which the controller 70 controls the elevating drive motor 61. The elevating control unit 72 controls the driving of the elevating drive motor 61 to rotate the drive shaft 62 that is integrally rotatable with the rotor 611 of the elevating drive motor 61, and the head unit 21 is mounted on the carriage 2. The lower frame 201 is moved up and down. The raising / lowering control unit 72 executes the raising / lowering control at the time of ejection for raising and lowering the lower frame 201 in the vertical direction when the carriage 2 is reciprocating in the printing area P. The lifting control unit 72 moves the lower frame 201 up and down so that the vertical distance between the head unit 21 and the work W falls within a predetermined reference range over the entire printing area P in the injection lifting control. Up and down in the direction. The elevating control unit 72 adjusts the lower frame 201 so that the vertical distance between the head unit 21 and the work W is constant at a predetermined reference value within the reference range over the entire printing area P. It is desirable to move up and down.

  In the present embodiment, when the carriage 2 is reciprocating in the print area P, the vertical distance between the head unit 21 and the workpiece W transported by the transport roller 13 is equal to the first and second distances. It is detected by the two detection sensors 50A and 50B. The elevation control unit 72 raises and lowers the lower frame 201 based on a signal output from the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B in accordance with the distance between the head unit 21 and the work W in the vertical direction. Up and down in the direction. Note that, as described above, the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B also have a function of detecting foreign matter or the like when the foreign matter or the like has adhered to the work W. For this reason, when the output signals from the first and second detection sensors 50A and 50B are signals corresponding to the distance including the foreign matter and the like, the elevation control unit 72 determines whether the foreign matter on the work W of the head unit 21 is large. The lower frame 201 is raised so as to avoid contact with the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a first detection sensor 50A is disposed at a left end of the lower frame 201, and a second detection sensor 50B is disposed at a right end of the lower frame 201. When the carriage 2 is moving leftward in the print area P by the movement control at the time of ejection of the movement control unit 71, the distance between the head unit 21 and the work W along the vertical direction is the first detection sensor. It is detected by 50A. Similarly, when the carriage 2 is moving rightward in the print area P by the movement control during ejection of the movement control unit 71, the distance along the up-down direction between the head unit 21 and the work W is equal to the first distance. It is detected by the second detection sensor 50B. The lift controller 72 mounts the head unit 21 on the basis of output signals from the detection sensors 50A and 50B disposed at both ends of the lower frame 201 in the scanning direction (left and right direction) in the injection lift control. The lower frame 201 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction.

  The elevation control unit 72 includes a control signal generation unit 721 and a drive signal generation unit 722, as shown in FIG. The control signal generator 721 generates a pulse-like control signal having a predetermined pulse rate. The pulse rate can be translated into the frequency of the control signal.

  The drive signal generator 722 generates a drive signal for rotating the rotor 611 of the elevating drive motor 61 composed of a stepping motor by a predetermined step angle every time the pulse-like control signal generated by the control signal generator 721 is input. Generate. Specifically, the drive signal generation unit 722 generates an A-phase coil 613A, a B-phase coil 614A, a / A-phase coil 615A, and a / B-phase coil based on the pulse-like control signal generated by the control signal generation unit 721. A drive current flowing through the coil 616A is generated as a drive signal.

  When the drive signal (drive current) generated by the drive signal generation unit 722 is input to each coil, the A-phase magnetic pole 613, the B-phase magnetic pole 614, the / A-phase magnetic pole 615, and the / B-phase magnetic pole 616 are excited. You. Thus, the rotor 611 of the lifting drive motor 61 rotates, and the drive shaft 62 connected to the rotor 611 rotates integrally with the rotation. When the drive shaft 62 rotates, the lower frame 201 to which the nut portion 63 screwed with the screw portion of the drive shaft 62 is attached moves up and down. The amount of vertical movement of the lower frame 201 on which the head unit 21 is mounted can be adjusted based on the step angle when the rotor 611 of the lifting drive motor 61 composed of a stepping motor rotates. Thus, the amount of elevation of the lower frame 201, that is, the amount of elevation of the head unit 21, can be adjusted with high accuracy based on the step angle of the rotor 611.

  As described above, in the carriage 2 on which the head unit 21 is mounted, the reciprocating movement in the scanning direction (horizontal direction) is controlled by the movement control unit 71, and the vertical movement is controlled by the elevation control unit 72. . As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the work W is conveyed onto the platen 121 by the conveyance roller 13, the movement control unit 71 controls the driving of the movement drive motor 16 </ b> B to move the timing belt 16 </ b> A orbitally. Injection movement control for reciprocating the carriage 2 in the left-right direction within the print area P is executed.

  When the carriage 2 is reciprocating in the print area P, the elevation control unit 72 controls the drive of the elevation drive motor 61 to rotate the drive shaft 62, thereby moving the lower frame 201 up and down. Injection elevating control is executed. The elevation control unit 72 moves the lower frame 201 in the vertical direction so that the vertical distance between the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 and the work W falls within a predetermined reference range over the entire printing area P. Up and down. Accordingly, even when the carriage 2 is reciprocated in the left-right direction in a state where the work W conveyed onto the platen 121 by the conveyance rollers 13 has irregularities WE1 caused by waving or the like, the vertical movement of the lower frame 201 The head unit 21 is moved up and down in accordance with the elevating operation in the direction, and the vertical distance between the head unit 21 and the work W is set within a predetermined reference range over the entire printing area P. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform high-precision printing processing (ejection processing by the head unit 21) on the work W.

  Further, there is a case where the attached matter WE2 such as a foreign substance is attached to the workpiece W transported onto the platen 121 by the transport roller 13. As described above, when the foreign matter WE2 is attached to the work W, the head unit 21 is attached to the work W when the carriage 2 is reciprocating within the print area P. There is a risk of being damaged by contact with the kimono WE2. In the elevating control at the time of injection by the elevating controller 72, the distance between the head unit 21 and the workpiece W along the up-down direction is within a predetermined reference range. For this reason, when the carriage 2 passes through a portion of the workpiece W where the deposit WE2 is adhered during the reciprocating movement in the left-right direction, the lower frame 201 is raised. Thus, the head unit 21 can be prevented from contacting the attached matter WE2 on the work W, and the head unit 21 can be prevented from being damaged.

[About the maintenance mechanism]
FIG. 15 is a front view illustrating the operation of the carriage 2 in the first maintenance area M1, and is a diagram illustrating the operation when the purge process is performed. FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating the operation of the carriage 2 in the first maintenance area M1, and is a diagram illustrating the operation when the cleaning process is performed. FIG. 17 is a front view illustrating the operation of the carriage 2 in the first maintenance area M1, and is a diagram illustrating the operation when the cap processing is performed.

  As described above, in the carriage guide 15, the first maintenance area M1 is set in an area adjacent to the print area P on the right side (one side in the scanning direction). When the printing process is suspended (when the ejection process by the head unit 21 is suspended), the carriage 2 retreats to the first maintenance area M1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a pump unit 32 (purge mechanism, FIG. 5) that performs a purge process as a maintenance mechanism that performs a maintenance process for the head unit 21 when the carriage 2 is disposed in the first maintenance area M1. , A cleaning mechanism 10A that performs a cleaning process, and a cap mechanism 10B that performs a cap process.

  An end frame 18 that regulates the position of the right end of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction is installed in the first maintenance area M1. The end frame 18 is a frame formed of a flat plate extending in the vertical direction. In the first maintenance area M1, a purge position at which a purge process is performed by the pump unit 32 is set at one end (right end) in the scanning direction. In the first maintenance area M1, a cleaning position where the cleaning process is performed by the cleaning mechanism 10A is set at a position apart from the purge position to the other side (left side) in the scanning direction. . Further, in the first maintenance area M1, a cap position at which the capping process is performed by the cap mechanism 10B is set at a position distant from the cleaning position to the other side (left side) in the scanning direction. .

  At the time of suspension of the printing process (at the time of suspension of the ejection process by the head unit 21), the movement control unit 71 controls the movement drive motor 16B, and moves the carriage 2 in the scanning direction (left and right direction) within the first maintenance area M1. Execute the movement control at the time of maintenance. Specifically, the movement control unit 71 moves the carriage 2 in the first maintenance area M1 so that the carriage 2 is arranged in the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position in the maintenance movement control. .

  When the carriage 2 is moving in the scanning direction (left-right direction) in the first maintenance area M1, the elevation control unit 72 controls the elevation drive motor 61, and the lower frame 201 on which the head unit 21 is mounted. Is performed at the time of maintenance for raising and lowering the vertical direction. The elevating control unit 72 controls the lower frame 201 so that the maintenance process (purge process, cleaning process, cap process) for the head unit 21 by the maintenance mechanism including the pump unit 32, the cleaning mechanism 10A, and the cap mechanism 10B can be performed. Is moved up and down. Specifically, in the elevation control during maintenance, the elevation control unit 72 sequentially lowers the lower frame 201 every time the carriage 2 is disposed at the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position.

  The maintenance process (purge process, cleaning process, cap process) for the head unit 21 by the maintenance mechanism including the pump unit 32, the cleaning mechanism 10A, and the cap mechanism 10B will be described in detail below.

<About the purge process>
When the printing process is stopped (when the ejection process is stopped by the head unit 21), the carriage 2 is moved in the scanning direction by the movement control at the time of maintenance of the movement control unit 71, and is moved in the scanning direction in the first maintenance area M1. It is arranged at the purge position set at the side end (right end) (FIG. 15). A drive motor 32M that applies a driving force to a pump unit 32 as a purge mechanism is attached to the end frame 18 located at the right end in the first maintenance area M1. The pump unit 32 executes a purge process for sending the pressurized ink to the head unit 21 by the driving force of the driving motor 32M in a state where the carriage 2 is disposed at the purge position in the first maintenance area M1. At the purge position, an ink receiving portion IS capable of collecting ink droplets ejected from the head unit 21 during execution of the purge process is disposed.

<About the cleaning process>
After the execution of the purging process, the carriage 2 is moved in the scanning direction by the movement control during movement of the movement control unit 71. Specifically, the carriage 2 is moved leftward along the carriage guide 15 toward the cleaning position in the first maintenance area M1 with the orbital movement of the timing belt 16A. By this movement, the carriage 2 is separated from the end frame 18 to which the drive motor 32M is attached.

  The cleaning mechanism 10A executes a cleaning process for cleaning the head unit 21 after the purge process in a state where the carriage 2 is disposed at the cleaning position in the first maintenance area M1 (FIG. 16). In executing the cleaning process, the cleaning mechanism 10A cleans the ink ejection surface 211 (liquid ejection surface) of the head unit 21 after the purge process.

  The cleaning mechanism 10A includes a holder 10A1 and a cleaning member 10A2 held by the holder 10A1. In the cleaning mechanism 10A, the cleaning member 10A2 contacts the ink discharge surface 211 of the head unit 21 to clean the ink discharge surface 211. In the present embodiment, when the cleaning process is performed by the cleaning mechanism 10 </ b> A, the carriage 2 moves to the left side (the other side in the scanning direction) by the movement control during maintenance of the movement control unit 71. That is, the cleaning mechanism 10A is fixedly disposed at the cleaning position, and the cleaning member 10A2 comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 that moves as the carriage 2 moves to the left side, whereby the ink The discharge surface 211 is cleaned.

  After execution of the purge process, the carriage 2 is moved leftward by the movement control during maintenance of the movement control unit 71 until the carriage 2 is separated from the end frame 18. Thereafter, the lower frame 201 on which the head unit 21 is mounted in the carriage 2 is lowered by the elevation control during maintenance of the elevation controller 72. In this state, the carriage 2 is moved leftward toward the cleaning position by the movement control during the maintenance of the movement control unit 71. When the cleaning member 10A2 comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 that moves as the carriage 2 moves, the ink ejection surface 211 is cleaned. As described above, the cleaning process can be performed on the head unit 21 by the movement of the carriage 2. Therefore, a structure for driving the cleaning mechanism 10A is unnecessary, and the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified.

<About cap processing>
After the execution of the cleaning process, the carriage 2 is moved in the scanning direction by the movement control during movement of the movement control unit 71. Specifically, the carriage 2 is further moved leftward along the carriage guide 15 along with the orbital movement of the timing belt 16A toward the cap position in the first maintenance area M1.

  In a state where the carriage 2 is arranged at the cap position in the first maintenance area M1 (FIG. 17), the cap mechanism 10B performs a cap process for covering the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 after the cleaning process.

  The cap mechanism 10B includes a mounting table 10B1 on which a cap placed on the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 is mounted, and a spring member 10B2 connected to the lower surface of the mounting table 10B1 so as to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction. In the carriage 2 arranged at the cap position, the lower frame 201 on which the head unit 21 is mounted is lowered by the elevation control during maintenance of the elevation controller 72. By the downward movement of the lower frame 201, the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 comes into contact with the cap mounted on the mounting table 10B1. At this time, the spring member 10B2 is compressed and deformed, and urges the mounting table 10B1 toward the ink ejection surface 211. Thereby, the cap mounted on the mounting table 10B1 is put on the ink ejection surface 211.

  In a state where the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 is covered with the cap, no ink clogging occurs within a certain period of time, and the purging process and the cleaning process are unnecessary. Therefore, when the printing process is restarted after the maintenance process is performed when the image forming apparatus 1 is stopped, it is possible to promptly shift to the printing process.

  As described above, the carriage 2 on which the head unit 21 is mounted can move to the first maintenance area M1 adjacent to the print area P on the right side. The head unit 21 performs a purging process by the pump unit 32, a cleaning process by the cleaning mechanism 10A, and a cap process by the cap mechanism 10B in a state where the carriage 2 is disposed in the first maintenance area M1.

  Here, regarding the arrangement position of the carriage 2 in the first maintenance area M1, the order of the purge position (FIG. 15), the cleaning position (FIG. 16), and the cap position (FIG. 17) from the right end to the left side. Lined up. That is, in the first maintenance area M1, the purge position is located at the outermost position, the cap position is located at the innermost position, and the cleaning position is located therebetween. The carriage 2 is moved toward the left side in the first maintenance area M1 through the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position by the movement control at the time of maintenance of the movement control unit 71, so that the purge processing and the cleaning are performed. The maintenance processing for the head unit 21 including the processing and the cap processing is appropriately executed.

  Further, the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position are collectively set in the first maintenance area M1. Therefore, when the maintenance process including the purging process, the cleaning process, and the cap process is performed on the head unit 21, the moving range of the carriage 2 is limited to the first maintenance area M1. As a result, the moving distance of the carriage 2 during the execution of the maintenance process can be shortened, and the time required for the maintenance process can be shortened.

  Further, as described above, in the carriage 2, the lower frame 201 on which the head unit 21 is mounted is configured to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction orthogonal to the left and right direction that is the scanning direction of the carriage 2. When the lower frame 201 is moved up and down by the elevation control at the time of maintenance of the elevation control unit 72, the height position of the head unit 21 is changed every time the carriage 2 is disposed at the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position. It is adjusted so that it becomes lower sequentially. Specifically, the height position of the ink ejection surface 211 of the head unit 21 is the highest in the height position H1 (FIG. 15) where the carriage 2 is located at the purge position, and the height position of the ink ejection surface 211 is that where the carriage 2 is located at the cleaning position. The height position is adjusted so as to become lower in the order of the height position H2 (FIG. 16) and the height position H3 (FIG. 17) arranged in the cap position. Thereby, the maintenance process for the head unit 21 including the purge process, the cleaning process, and the cap process is more appropriately performed.

1 Image forming device (liquid processing device)
10A Cleaning mechanism 10B Cap mechanism 13 Transport roller (transport section)
15 Carriage Guide 16 Moving Mechanism 16A Timing Belt 16B Moving Drive Motor 2 Carriage 20 Carriage Frame 201 Lower Frame (Mounting Unit)
21 Head unit 3 Liquid supply unit 30 Main unit 31 Tank unit 32 Pump unit (purge mechanism)
50A, 50B detection sensor 60 lifting mechanism 61 lifting drive motor (stepping motor)
611 Rotor 612 Stator 62 Drive shaft (elevating member)
63 Nut section 70 Control device 71 Movement control section 72 Elevation control section 721 Control signal generation section 722 Drive signal generation section P Printing area (ejection processing area)
M1 First maintenance area (maintenance area)

Claims (6)

A transport unit that transports a predetermined work in the transport direction,
A head unit that performs an ejection process of ejecting a liquid from above onto the workpiece transported by the transport unit,
A carriage having a mounting portion on which the head unit is mounted, and a carriage that can reciprocate along a scanning direction parallel to a width direction of the work orthogonal to the transport direction;
A carriage guide that extends along the scanning direction, guides movement of the carriage in the scanning direction, and sets an ejection processing area that is a movement range of the carriage when the ejection processing is performed;
A moving mechanism for reciprocating the carriage in the scanning direction;
An elevating mechanism for vertically moving the mounting unit on which the head unit is mounted,
A control device including a movement control unit that controls the moving mechanism and a lifting control unit that controls the lifting mechanism,
The movement control unit, when a workpiece is transported by the transport unit, executes a movement control during ejection that reciprocates the carriage in the scanning direction within the ejection processing area,
When the carriage is reciprocating within the ejection processing area, a distance along the vertical direction between the head unit and the work is a predetermined reference over the entire area of the ejection processing area. A liquid processing apparatus that performs a vertical control during injection that raises and lowers the mounting unit in the vertical direction so as to fall within a range. The lifting mechanism,
A stepper motor,
An elevating member that is connected to the rotor of the stepping motor and engages with the mounting portion, and rotates integrally with the rotor to raise and lower the mounting portion in the vertical direction,
The lifting control unit,
A control signal generation unit that generates a pulse-like control signal;
The liquid processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal for rotating the rotor by a predetermined step angle every time the control signal is input. Further provided is a detection sensor that is arranged on the mounting unit and that outputs a signal corresponding to the distance along the vertical direction between the head unit and the workpiece transported by the transport unit,
3. The liquid processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elevation control unit moves the mounting unit up and down in the vertical direction based on a signal output from the detection sensor in the injection elevation control. 4.   The liquid processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detection sensors are arranged at both ends of the mounting unit in the scanning direction. A maintenance mechanism for performing a maintenance process on the head unit,
In the carriage guide, as an area where the maintenance processing is performed, a maintenance area adjacent to the ejection processing area on one side in the scanning direction is set,
The movement control unit performs maintenance movement control for moving the carriage in the scanning direction within the maintenance area when the ejection processing is stopped by the head unit,
The elevation control unit moves the mounting unit up and down in the vertical direction so that the maintenance mechanism can perform the maintenance process on the head unit when the carriage is moving within the maintenance area. The liquid processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the apparatus performs lifting control during maintenance. The maintenance mechanism includes:
A purge mechanism that executes a purge process of sending out the pressurized liquid to the head unit in a state where the carriage is disposed at a purge position set at one end in the scanning direction in the maintenance area;
A cleaning mechanism that performs a cleaning process for cleaning the head unit after the purging process in a state where the carriage is disposed at a cleaning position that is separated from the purge position to the other side in the scanning direction within the maintenance region. When,
A cap for executing a cap process for covering the head unit after the cleaning process in a state where the carriage is disposed at a cap position on the other side in the scanning direction with respect to the cleaning position within the maintenance area. And a mechanism,
The movement control unit moves the carriage within the maintenance area so that the carriage is arranged in the order of the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position in the maintenance movement control.
The liquid according to claim 5, wherein the elevation control unit sequentially lowers the mounting unit every time the carriage is disposed at the purge position, the cleaning position, and the cap position in the maintenance elevation control. Processing equipment.