Inkjet printer

This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-070625 filed on Mar. 31, 2017, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-145689 filed on Jul. 27, 2017. The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to inkjet printers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Inkjet printers are well known to include an ink head having a plurality of nozzles to perform predetermined printing operations on a recording medium by an inkjet technique. Such an inkjet printer is provided with a capping unit for enabling the nozzles to eject ink appropriately. The capping unit has a cap for covering a nozzle surface containing the nozzles when printing is not performed.

The capping unit forms a sealed space by covering the nozzle surface with the cap. By operating a suction pump connected to the capping unit under the condition where the sealed space is formed, ink with an increased viscosity is forcibly sucked out of the nozzles. That is, the ink is forcibly discharged from the nozzles (hereinafter this operation is also called a “suction operation”). This can prevent clogging of the nozzles.

For example, JP 2010-30061 A discloses an inkjet printer in which a nozzle surface is covered by a cap with the nozzle surface being pressed upward by moving the cap upward. In the example shown in JP 2010-30061 A, the cap is attached to the ink head appropriately because a constant force is applied from the cap to the nozzle surface.

In the inkjet printer disclosed in JP 2010-30061 A, the carriage on which the ink head is mounted is configured to be capable of shifting vertically with respect to a first guide member and a second guide member that support the carriage. When performing a printing operation on a recording medium, the carriage is shifted downward to shorten the distance between the ink head and the recording medium. Here, in order to perform high-quality printing, it is necessary to keep the distance constant between the ink head and the recording medium during printing. The carriage that mounts the ink head disclosed in JP 2010-30061 A is, however, not supported on the first guide member and the second guide member in a vertically immovable manner. This means that the carriage can shift vertically relative to the guide rails if vibrations occur in the inkjet printer or the carriage itself moves at high speed during printing. If the carriage can shift vertically, it is impossible to keep the distance constant between the recording medium and the ink head, which is mounted on the carriage, degrading the quality of printing.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide inkjet printers that maintain printing quality and, moreover, do not reduce hermeticity of a sealed space between a cap and a nozzle surface.

An inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an ink head including a nozzle opening, a head plate holding the ink head, and a cap attachable to the ink head to close the nozzle opening, wherein the head plate is elastically deformable, and the cap contacting the ink head to close the nozzle opening causes the head plate to deform.

An inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an ink head including a nozzle opening, a carriage including a main plate and a head plate holding the ink head, a cap attachable to the ink head to close the nozzle opening, and a guide rail along which the carriage moves, wherein the guide rail and the main plate are vertically immovable relative to each other, the guide rail is elastically deformable, the cap contacting the ink head to close the nozzle open in causes the guide rail to deform.

An inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a platen on which a recording medium is to be placed, the platen extending along a main scanning direction, a guide rail disposed above the platen and extending along the main scanning direction, an ink head including a plurality of nozzles to eject ink onto the recording medium and a nozzle surface in which the nozzles are provided, a carriage including a main plate and a head plate, the main plate vertically sandwiching the guide rail and being in a fixed relative vertical positional relationship with the guide rail, the head plate including an opening in which the ink head is fitted, and the carriage provided slidably on the guide rail, a cap attachable to and detachable from the ink head so as to cover the nozzle surface, and defining a sealed space between the cap and the nozzle surface when attached to the ink head, a suction device that sucks fluid from inside the sealed space, and a shifter causing the cap to shift between a capping position, at which the cap covers the nozzle surface, and a separate position, at which the cap is spaced apart from the nozzle surface. When the cap is positioned at the capping position, the cap pushes a portion of the head plate upward with the ink head so that the cap pushes the ink head upward to a maintenance position that is higher than a standard position at which the ink head ejects the ink onto the recording medium.

In inkjet printers according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the carriage provided slidably on the guide rail includes the main plate, which is in a fixed relative vertical positional relationship with the guide rail, and the head plate, which includes an opening in which the ink head is fitted. Thus, during printing, the relative vertical positional relationship is kept constant between the ink head and the guide rail, and therefore, the distance between the ink head and the recording medium is kept constant. As a result, it is possible to obtain high-quality printed materials. Moreover, when the cap is at the capping position, the cap pushes a portion of the head plate upward with the ink head, and thus pushes the ink head upward to the maintenance position, which is higher than the standard position. When the cap pushes the ink head upward to the maintenance position, the cap applies a constant or substantially constant force to the ink head. As a result, the cap is attached to the ink head more reliably, and the hermeticity of the sealed space between the cap and the nozzle surface is increased. If the cap is attached and detached repeatedly, the cap or the like can be worn away. Consequently, the fitting of the cap to the ink head may become inadequate, so the hermeticity of the sealed space may become insufficient. However, because the cap pushes the ink head upward to the maintenance position, a constant force is applied from the cap to the ink head even when wearing has occurred in the cap or the like. As a result, the hermeticity of the sealed space will not be reduced.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention make it possible to provide inkjet printers that maintain the quality of printing and, moreover, do not reduce the hermeticity of the sealed space between the cap and the nozzle surface.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an inkjet printer, a portion of which is cut away, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a portion of an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view illustrating an ink head according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a capping unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4 , illustrating an ink head that is positioned at a maintenance position.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating an ink head unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is moving toward a compressible body.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating an ink head unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that has come into contact with the compressible body.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating an ink head unit and a compressible body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that are sliding against each other.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ink head according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is positioned at a standard position.

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 4 , illustrating an ink head according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention that is positioned at a maintenance position.

Hereinbelow, inkjet printers according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The preferred embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the present invention. The parts and components that exhibit the same effects are denoted by the same reference symbols, and repetitive description thereof may be omitted as appropriate.

First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an inkjet printer 10 (hereinafter simply “printer 10 ”), a portion of which is cut away, according to the present preferred embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the printer 10 performs printing on a recording medium 12 . The recording medium 12 may be, for example, recording paper. The recording medium 12 is, however, not limited to the recording paper. Other than paper materials such as plain paper and printing paper for inkjet printers, examples of the recording medium 12 include sheets and films made of resin such as polyvinyl chloride and polyester, and fabrics such as woven fabric and nonwoven fabric.

In the following description, the terms “left,” “right,” “up,” and “down” respectively refer to left, right, up, and down as defined based on the perspective of the operator facing the printer 10 . A direction toward the operator relative to the printer 10 is defined as “frontward,” and a direction away from the operator relative to the printer 10 is defined as “rearward.” Reference characters F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, rear, left, right, up, and down, respectively. Reference character Y in the drawings represents the main scanning direction. In the present preferred embodiment, the main scanning direction Y is a lateral direction, i.e., a left-to-right/right-to-left direction. The main scanning direction Y extends along the width of the recording medium 12 . Reference character X in the drawings represents the sub-scanning direction. The sub-scanning direction X is a direction that crosses the main scanning direction Y (for example, a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction Y in plan view). In the present preferred embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is a front-to-rear/rear-to-front direction. The sub-scanning direction X extends along the length of the recording medium 12 . It should be noted, however, that these directional terms are merely provided for convenience in illustration and should not be construed as limiting.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the printer 10 includes a platen 14 on which the recording medium 12 is to be placed. The platen 14 extends along the main scanning direction Y. The platen is provided with cylindrically shaped grit rollers 16 that define a moving mechanism. The grit rollers 16 are buried in the platen 14 in such a manner that their upper surfaces are exposed. The grit rollers 16 are driven by a feed motor (not shown).

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a guide rail 18 is disposed above the platen 14 . The guide rail 18 is disposed parallel or substantially parallel to the platen 14 . The guide rail 18 extends along the main scanning direction Y. The guide rail 18 is vertically elastically deformable. For example, a portion of the guide rail 18 that is positioned above later-described caps 51 A to 51 D (see FIG. 2 ) may be vertically elastically deformable. It is also possible that the portion of the guide rail 18 that is positioned above the caps 51 A to 51 D (see FIG. 2 ) and another portion thereof (for example, a portion thereof that is positioned leftward, or a portion thereof that is positioned rightward, relative to the portion that is positioned above the caps 51 A to 51 D) may be configured to be vertically elastically deformable. Alternatively, it is possible that the portion of the guide rail 18 that is positioned above the caps 51 A to 51 D (see FIG. 2 ) may be vertically elastically deformable and the just-described other portion may be vertically elastically deformable. A plurality of pinch rollers 20 are disposed at regular or substantially regular intervals below the guide rail 18 . The pinch rollers 20 are opposed to the grit rollers 16 . The pinch rollers 20 are configured in such a manner that their vertical positions are able to be set according to the thickness of the recording medium 12 . The recording medium 12 is pinched between the pinch rollers 20 and the grit rollers 16 . The grit rollers 16 and the pinch rollers 20 are capable of transporting the recording medium 12 in the sub-scanning directions X while pinching the recording medium 12 therebetween. The guide rail 18 includes an engaging portion 22 protruding frontward.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the printer 10 includes an ink head unit 30 . The ink head unit 30 is disposed above the platen 14 . As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the ink head unit 30 includes a plurality of ink heads 32 A, 32 B, 32 C, and 32 D, and a carriage 31 (see FIG. 1 ). The plurality of ink heads 32 A to 32 D are mounted on the carriage 31 . The carriage 31 includes a main plate 34 and a head plate 36 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a recessed portion 31 A, which is recessed frontward, is provided in a lower portion of the main plate 34 . The engaging portion 22 of the guide rail 18 engages with the recessed portion 31 A. The recessed portion 31 A vertically sandwiches the engaging portion 22 of the guide rail 18 . The main plate 34 is in a fixed relative vertical positional relationship with the guide rail 18 . In other words, the main plate 34 does not move upward or downward relative to the guide rail 18 . The carriage 31 is movable in the main scanning directions Y along the guide rail 18 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a portion of a drive belt 24 , which extends along the main scanning direction Y, is secured to an upper portion of the main plate 34 . The drive belt 24 is a looped endless belt. The drive belt 24 is connected to a scan motor (not shown) and is driven to rotate by the scan motor. As the drive belt 24 travels, the carriage 31 moves in a main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 18 . The ink head unit 30 (see FIG. 2 ) is allowed to be movable in the main scanning directions Y along the guide rail 18 with the carriage 31 .

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , each of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D preferably has a structure such that its front-to-rear length is longer than its left-to-right length. All the ink heads 32 A to 32 D preferably have the same or substantially the same shape and dimensions. Each of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D includes a plurality of first nozzles 33 X lined up along the sub-scanning direction X, a plurality of second nozzles 33 Y lined up along the sub-scanning direction X, and a nozzle surface 33 Z including the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y provided therein. The first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y eject ink onto the recording medium 12 . The inside of the first nozzles 33 X and the inside of the second nozzles 33 Y are set to be a negative pressure (i.e., a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure). It should be noted that because the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y are very small in size, the plurality of first nozzles 33 X and the plurality of second nozzles 33 Y are depicted by straight lines in FIG. 3 . In the present preferred embodiment, each of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D includes two kinds of nozzles, the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y. However, it is also possible that each of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D may include one kind of nozzles, or may include three or more kinds of nozzles.

The ink heads 32 A to 32 D are movable with the carriage 31 along the guide rail 18 in the main scanning directions Y. Herein, the vertical position of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D when the ink heads 32 A to 32 D move over the platen 14 or a later-described capping unit 50 is defined as a standard position L 1 (see FIG. 6 ). The standard position L 1 represents the vertical position of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D when the ink heads 32 A to 32 D eject ink onto the recording medium 12 . It should be noted that, as will be described later, the caps 51 A to 51 D push at least a portion of the head plate 36 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D, such that the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are pushed upward from the standard position L 1 to a maintenance position L 2 (see FIG. 6 ), which is a higher position than the standard position L 1 . The vertical height difference L 3 (see FIG. 6 ) between the maintenance position L 2 and the standard position L 1 preferably is, for example, about 0.01 mm to about 1 mm (preferably about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm). When the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are not in contact with the caps 51 A to 51 D, the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are positioned at the standard position L 1 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the head plate 36 extends frontward from a lower portion of the main plate 34 . The ink heads 32 A to 32 D are mounted on the head plate 36 . As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the head plate 36 includes a plurality of openings 38 A, 38 B, 38 C, and 38 D, which are lined up along the main scanning direction Y. Each of the openings 38 A to 38 D preferably has a front-to-rear length longer than a left-to-right length. All the openings 38 A to 38 D preferably have the same or substantially the same shape and dimensions. The openings 38 A to 38 D are located at positions that are aligned with respect to the sub-scanning direction X. The ink heads 32 A to 32 D are fitted respectively in the openings 38 A to 38 D. When viewed from below, the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y are positioned inside each of the openings 38 A to 38 D. The first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y are exposed outside through each of the openings 38 A to 38 D. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the nozzle surfaces 33 Z are positioned downward relative to the head plate 36 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the printer 10 includes a capping unit 50 . The capping unit 50 is disposed on a side member 15 positioned to the right of the platen 14 . The capping unit 50 is disposed downward relative to the ink head unit 30 . The capping unit 50 performs a suction operation. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the capping unit 50 includes a plurality of caps 51 , 51 B, 51 C, and 51 D, a shifting table 56 , a compressible body 57 , a shifting mechanism 70 , and a suction pump 64 . The shifting table 56 is an example of the shifting body. The suction pump 64 is an example of the suction device. The suction pump 64 sucks out the fluid (such as air or ink) inside a later-described sealed space 50 S. The suction pump 64 sucks out the ink contained in the first nozzles 33 X (see FIG. 3 ) and the ink contained in the second nozzles 33 Y (see FIG. 3 ). The suction pump 64 also sucks out the ink contained in the caps 51 A to 51 D.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the caps 51 A to 51 D are provided on the shifting table 56 . The caps 51 A to 51 D are attached respectively to openings 59 A to 59 D in the shifting table 56 . The caps 51 A to 51 D are lined up along the main scanning direction Y. Each of the caps 51 A to 51 D preferably has a front-to-rear length longer than a left-to-right length. All the caps 51 A to 51 D preferably have the same or substantially the same shape and dimensions. The caps 51 A to 51 D are attachable to and detachable from the respective ink heads 32 A to 32 D so as to cover the respective nozzle surfaces 33 Z (see FIG. 3 ) of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D. The phrase “to cover the nozzle surfaces 33 Z” means to include cases where at least the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y are entirely covered, not just cases where each of the entire nozzle surfaces 33 Z is covered. Because the cap 51 A has the same structure as those of the caps 51 B to 51 D, the following description illustrates only the cap 51 A.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the cap 51 A includes a lip portion 52 , an absorber 53 , a main unit case 54 , and an ink flow passage 55 (see also FIG. 6 ). The cap 51 A is provided to be attachable to and detachable from the ink head 32 A so as to cover the nozzle surface 33 Z (see FIG. 3 ). As illustrated in FIG. 6 , a sealed space 50 S is provided between the cap 51 A and the nozzle surface 33 Z when the cap 51 A is attached to the ink head 32 A.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the lip portion 52 opens upwardly. The lip portion 52 is disposed inside the main unit case 54 . The lip portion 52 is provided in the main unit case 54 so as to be contactable with the nozzle surface 33 Z (see FIG. 3 ). When the lip portion 52 is in contact with to the nozzle surface 33 Z, the sealed space 50 S is provided between the lip portion 52 and the nozzle surface 33 Z. That is, when the cap 51 A is at a capping position H 1 (see FIG. 2 ), the lip portion 52 is in contact with the nozzle surface 33 Z with the lip portion 52 being compressed by the nozzle surface 33 Z. The inside of the sealed space 50 S is brought to a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure by the suction pump 64 sucking the fluid inside the sealed space 50 S. The lip portion 52 is preferably made of an elastically deformable material. The lip portion 52 has flexibility. The lip portion 52 is preferably made of rubber, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the lip portion 52 is formed in a frame shape (for example, in an elliptical shape) in plan view. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , a through-hole 52 H is located in a lower portion of the lip portion 52 . The through-hole 52 H is in communication with the ink flow passage 55 .

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the absorber 53 is disposed inside the lip portion 52 . The absorber 53 is disposed upward relative to the through-hole 52 H. The absorber 53 is disposed downward relative to a top end 52 T of the lip portion 52 . The absorber 53 is made of a porous material that is capable of absorbing ink. An example of the absorber 53 is a sponge.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the ink flow passage 55 is formed in the main unit case 54 . The ink flow passage 55 is positioned below the through-hole 52 H. The ink flow passage 55 extends vertically. A suction tube 65 is connected to the main unit case 54 of the cap 51 A. The suction tube 65 is in communication with the ink flow passage 55 . The suction tube 65 is connected to the suction pump 64 (see FIG. 2 ).

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the suction pump 64 is disposed inside the side member 15 (see FIG. 1 ). The suction pump 64 is disposed rightward relative to the capping unit 50 . The suction pump 64 is connected to the caps 51 A to 51 D via the suction tube (see FIG. 6 ). The suction pump 64 sucks the air inside the sealed space 50 S (see FIG. 6 ) so that the ink contained inside the first nozzles 33 X and the ink inside the second nozzles 33 Y of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are discharged out of the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y. Thus, the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y are prevented from clogging. The ink discharged out of the first nozzles 33 X and the second nozzles 33 Y is sucked by the suction pump 64 and reserved in a waste ink tank, which is not shown in the drawings. Note that the suction pump 64 sucks out the air contained in the sealed space 50 S when the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are positioned at the maintenance position L 2 (see FIG. 6 ). Here, when the suction pump 64 is carrying out the suction operation, it is preferable that the ink heads 32 A to 32 D be positioned at the maintenance position L 2 , but it is also possible that the ink heads 32 A to 32 D be positioned slightly downward relative to the maintenance position L 2 (but upward relative to the standard position L 1 ) due to the elastic restoration force of the guide rail 18 or the head plate 36 .

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the shifting mechanism 70 is provided with the shifting table 56 . In association with movements of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D (i.e., the ink head unit 30 ), the shifting mechanism 70 shifts the shifting table 56 in the main scanning directions Y as well as upward and downward directions. This enables the caps 51 A to 51 D provided on the shifting table 56 to shift in the main scanning directions Y and in the upward and downward directions, between a capping position H 1 (see FIG. 2 ), at which the caps 51 A to 51 D respectively cover the nozzle surfaces 33 Z, and a separate position H 2 (see FIG. 7 ), at which caps 51 A to 51 D are spaced apart from the nozzle surfaces 33 Z. As will be described later, when the caps 51 A to 51 D are at the capping position H 1 , the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are at the maintenance position L 2 . The shifting mechanism 70 includes a support base 60 and a spring 63 .

The support base 60 is disposed below the shifting table 56 . The support base 60 supports the shifting table 56 . As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the support base 60 includes a plurality of support plates 61 A, 61 B, 61 C, and 61 D. The support plates 61 A to 61 D extend vertically. The support plates 61 A and 61 B are disposed frontward relative to the shifting table 56 . The support plates 61 C and 61 D are disposed rearward relative to the shifting table 56 . As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the support plates 61 A and 61 B are provided with respective guide grooves 62 . Each of the guide groove 62 guides the shifting table 56 . The guide groove 62 is inclined obliquely upward from the left to the right along the main scanning direction Y. The guide groove 62 includes a first portion 62 A extending laterally, a second portion 62 B extending obliquely rightward and upward from the right end of the first portion 62 A, and a third portion 62 C extending rightward from the right end of the second portion 62 B. The third portion 62 C is positioned upward relative to the first portion 62 A. Note that the support plates 61 C and 61 D, as well as the support plates 61 A and 61 B, are also provided with respective guide grooves 62 .

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the spring 63 is connected to the support base 60 and the shifting table 56 . An example of the spring 63 is a tension coil spring. The spring 63 urges the shifting table 56 obliquely leftward and downward.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the shifting table 56 preferably has a rectangular shape in plan view. The shifting table 56 is provided with a plurality of pins 58 A, 58 B, 58 C, and 58 D. The pins 58 A to 58 D protrude outward from the shifting table 56 . The pins 58 A and 58 B protrude frontward. The pins 58 C and 58 D protrude rearward. The pins 58 A to 58 D are respectively inserted into the respective guide grooves 62 of the support plates 61 A to 61 D. The pins 58 A to 58 D move within the guide grooves 62 .

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the compressible body 57 is capable of shifting integrally with the shifting table 56 . The compressible body 57 is an example of the compressible member. The compressible body 57 preferably has a quadrangular prism shape. In the present preferred embodiment, the compressible body 57 is provided on the shifting table 56 . The compressible body 57 is disposed rightward relative to the cap 50 D. The compressible body 57 is provided at the right end of the shifting table 56 . The compressible body 57 is compressible by the ink head unit 30 . In the present preferred embodiment, the compressible body 57 is disposed at a position such as to be compressible by the head plate 36 of the carriage 31 .

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the shifting table 56 is provided with an abutting piece 67 . The abutting piece 67 is capable of shifting integrally with the shifting table 56 . The abutting piece 67 preferably has an L-shape. The abutting piece 67 includes a first portion 67 A extending along the main scanning direction Y, and a second portion 67 B extending along the sub-scanning direction X. The first portion 67 A is contactable with the ink head unit 30 . In the present preferred embodiment, the first portion 67 A is disposed at a position such as to be contactable with the head plate 36 . The second portion 67 B is positioned rightward relative to a compressible surface 57 A of the compressible body 57 . Usually, the second portion 67 B does not come in contact with the ink head unit 30 .

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the printer 10 includes a position detecting sensor 80 to detect that the ink head 32 A is positioned at the maintenance position L 2 when the cap 51 A is at the capping position H 1 . The position detecting sensor 80 transmits the results of detection to a later-described reporter 82 . The printer 10 includes the reporter 82 to report that capping is inadequate if the position detecting sensor 80 does not detect that the ink head 32 A is positioned at the maintenance position L 2 when the cap 51 A is positioned at the capping position H 1 . Herein, the term “capping” means that the cap 51 A has been fitted onto the ink head 32 A. The reporter 82 may display the fact that capping is inadequate on a display screen (not shown) provided on the printer 10 by text, or may report the fact that capping is inadequate by sound (for example, warning sound). It should be noted that each of the caps 51 B to 51 D may also be provided with the position detecting sensor 80 and the reporter 82 that are similar to those described above.

The shifting table 56 is capable of shifting between the capping position H 1 (see FIG. 2 ) and the separate position H 2 (see FIG. 7 ) in the main scanning directions Y and in the upward and downward directions. The capping position H 1 corresponds to a position at which the shifting table 56 is disposed at the highest position (that is, the caps 51 A to 51 D are disposed at the highest position, see FIG. 2 ). The separate position H 2 corresponds to a position at which the shifting table 56 is disposed at the lowest position (that is, the caps 51 A to 51 D are disposed at the lowest position, see FIGS. 7 and 8 ). It should be noted that, herein, a position H 3 (see FIG. 9 ) at which the shifting table 56 is disposed at a position between the position H 1 and the position H 2 (that is, a position at which the sealed space 50 S is not provided) also corresponds to the separate position.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , when the head plate 36 is not pressing the compressible body 57 , the shifting table 56 is urged by the spring 63 obliquely leftward and downward, so the shifting table 56 is positioned at the position H 2 . When the head plate 36 moves rightward (in a direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 7 ) in association with the movement of the carriage 31 , the head plate 36 comes into contact with the compressible body 57 (see FIG. 8 ). At this time, the head plate 36 is in contact with the approximately upper 20% portion of the compressible body 57 . When the head plate 36 comes into contact with the compressible body 57 , the cap 51 A is positioned below the nozzle surface 33 Z of the ink head 32 A, the cap 51 B is positioned below the nozzle surface 33 Z of the ink head 32 B, the cap 51 C is positioned below the nozzle surface 33 Z of the ink head 32 C, and the cap 51 D is positioned below the nozzle surface 33 Z of the ink head 32 D. The nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are not in contact with the caps 51 A to 51 D. At this time, the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are positioned at the standard position L 1 (see FIG. 10 ).

Then, when the head plate 36 moves farther rightward, the compressible body 57 moves rightward because the compressible body 57 is pressed by the head plate 36 . As a result, the shifting mechanism 70 causes the shifting table 56 to move against the urging force of the spring 63 . More specifically, the pins 58 A to 58 D of the shifting table 56 move from the first portions 62 A toward the second portions 62 B within the guide grooves 62 . As a result, the shifting table 56 moves in a direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 8 (obliquely rightward and upward herein), and the shifting table 56 moves to the position H 3 , which is higher than the position H 2 (see FIG. 9 ). When the shifting table 56 moves from the position H 2 to the position H 3 , the compressible body 57 slides against the head plate 36 . This means that the contact area between the head plate 36 and the compressible body 57 gradually increases. Thus, because the compressible body 57 moves upward while the compressible body 57 and the head plate 36 are in contact with each other, abrasion may occur between the compressible body 57 and the head plate 36 . At this time, the relative positions between the caps 51 A to 51 D and the nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are not changed with respect to the main scanning direction Y. On the other hand, the relative vertical positions between the caps 51 A to 51 D and the nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are varied. Specifically, the caps 51 A to 51 D come closer to the nozzle surfaces 33 Z, and the gap between the nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and the caps 51 A to 51 D becomes smaller. At this time, the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are positioned at the standard position L 1 .

When the head plate 36 moves farther rightward, the head plate 36 pushes the compressible body 57 , so the pins 58 A to 58 D of the shifting table 56 move from the second portions 62 B toward the third portions 62 C within the guide grooves 62 . Consequently, the shifting table 56 moves further in a direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 9 , so that the shifting table 56 moves to the position H 1 , which is higher than the position H 3 . When the shifting table 56 moves to the position H 1 , in other words, when the caps 51 A to 51 D are at the capping position H 1 , the caps 51 A to 51 D pushes a portion of the head plate 36 from a standard position C 1 (see FIG. 6 ) to a push-up position C 2 (see FIG. 6 ) with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D, so as to push the ink heads 32 A to 32 D from the standard position L 1 (see FIG. 6 ) to the maintenance position L 2 (see FIG. 6 ). At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the top end 52 T of the lip portion 52 is elastically deformed and compressed. In other words, the top end 52 T of the lip portion 52 is compressed by the nozzle surface 33 Z. It should be noted that because the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are secured to the head plate 36 , the vertical height difference L 3 of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D between the maintenance position L 2 and the standard position L 1 is equal to the vertical height difference C 3 of the head plate 36 between the push-up position C 2 and the standard position C 1 when the guide rail 18 is not shifted upward. Here, the total force P 1 that is applied from the caps 51 A to 51 D through the ink heads 32 A to 32 D to the head plate 36 (that is, the force that pushes the head plate 36 upward) is greater than the gravitational force P 2 acting on the entirety of the carriage 31 , which includes the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and the head plate 36 . For example, P 1 ≥1.1P 2 (preferably P 1 ≥1.5P 2 ). In this way, the caps 51 A to 51 D are attached respectively onto the ink heads 32 A to 32 D, and the sealed spaces 50 S (see FIG. 6 ) are provided between the caps 51 A to 51 D and the nozzle surfaces 33 Z. At the time when the sealed space 50 S is formed, the head plate 36 is in contact with the approximately upper 50% portion of the compressible body 57 . At this time, the relative positions between the nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and the caps 51 A to 51 D are unvaried with respect to the main scanning direction Y, but the relative positions between the nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and the caps 51 A to 51 D are varied with respect to the vertical direction. For this reason, the caps 51 A to 51 D do not slide against the nozzle surfaces. Thus, when the caps 51 A to 51 D move from the separate position (the position H 2 ) to the capping position (the position H 1 ), wearing can occur only between the compressible body 57 and the head plate 36 .

When the head plate 36 moves leftward (in a direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 2 ) from the state in which the shifting table 56 is positioned at the position H 1 , the pins 58 A to 58 D of the shifting table 56 move from the third portions 62 C toward the first portions 62 A within the guide grooves 62 . As a result, the shifting table 56 moves in a direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 2 (obliquely leftward and downward herein), that is, the shifting table 56 moves from the position H 1 to the position H 2 , so that the caps 51 A to 51 D are detached respectively from the ink heads 32 A to 32 D. Thus, the head plate 36 moves from the push-up position C 2 to the standard position C 1 . Accordingly, the ink heads 32 A to 32 D move from the maintenance position L 2 to the standard position L 1 . Note that during the time between the time immediately before the head plate 36 starts pressing the compressible body 57 and the time immediately after the head plate 36 finishes pressing the compressible body 57 , the nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are positioned respectively above the caps 51 A to 51 D. In other words, the relative positions between the nozzle surfaces 33 Z of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and the caps 51 A to 51 D are not changed with respect to the main scanning direction Y.

As thus far described, in the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, the carriage 31 provided slidably on the guide rail 18 includes the main plate 34 , which is in a fixed relative vertical positional relationship with the guide rail 18 , and the head plate 36 , which includes openings 38 A to 38 D in which the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are fitted. Accordingly, during printing, the relative vertical positional relationship is kept constant between the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and the guide rail 18 , and therefore, the distance between the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and the recording medium 12 is able to be kept constant. As a result, it is possible to obtain high-quality printed materials. Moreover, when the caps 51 A to 51 D are at the capping position H 1 , the caps 51 A to 51 D push a portion of the head plate 36 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and push the ink heads 32 A to 32 D upward to the maintenance position L 2 , which is higher than the standard position L 1 . When the caps 51 A to 51 D push the ink heads 32 A to 32 D upward to the maintenance position L 2 , the caps 51 A to 51 D apply a constant force to the ink heads 32 A to 32 D. As a result, the caps 51 A to 51 D are attached to the ink heads 32 A to 32 D more reliably, and the hermeticity of the sealed spaces 50 S between the caps 51 A to 51 D and the nozzle surfaces 33 Z is increased. If the caps 51 A to 51 D are attached and detached repeatedly, the caps 51 A to 51 D or the like can be worn away. Consequently, the fitting of the caps 51 A to 51 D to the ink heads 32 A to 32 D may become inadequate, and variations may occur in the hermeticity of the sealed spaces 50 S. However, because the caps 51 A to 51 D push the ink heads 32 A to 32 D upward to the maintenance position L 2 , a constant force is applied to the ink heads 32 A to 32 D even when wearing has occurred in the caps 51 A to 51 D or the like. As a result, the hermeticity of the sealed space 50 S is maintained.

In the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, the head plate 36 is vertically elastically deformable. This enables the caps 51 A to 51 D to easily push a portion of the head plate 36 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D.

In the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, the lip portion 52 is preferably made of an elastically deformable material. This prevents the lip portion 52 from applying an excessive force to each of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D. Moreover, because the lip portion 52 is in contact with the nozzle surface 33 Z with the lip portion 52 being compressed by the nozzle surface 33 Z, adhesion between the lip portion 52 and the nozzle surface 33 Z is enhanced, and the hermeticity of the sealed space 50 S is increased.

In the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, the shifting mechanism 70 causes the shifting table 56 provided with the caps 51 A to 51 D to shift along the main scanning direction Y and along upward and downward directions, to shift the caps 51 A to 51 D between the capping position H 1 and the separate position H 2 . Because the caps 51 A to 51 D are able to be shifted by shifting the shifting table 56 , the mechanism to shift the caps 51 A to 51 D is simplified, especially in cases where the printer 10 is furnished with a plurality of ink heads 32 A to 32 D and a plurality of caps 51 A to 51 D.

In the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, the compressible body 57 is pressed by the head plate 36 of the carriage 31 , such that the shifting table 56 is guided to the guide grooves 62 , and the caps 51 A to 51 D are shifted from the separate position H 2 to the capping position H 1 . Thus, the shifting table 56 provided with the caps 51 A to 51 D is able to be shifted and a portion of the head plate 36 can also be pushed upward using a single power source (scan motor) to move the carriage 31 . Moreover, the power source has a relatively high driving power, so the head plate 36 on which the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are mounted is able to be shifted upward easily.

In order to further enhance adhesion between the caps 51 A to 51 D and the ink heads 32 A to 32 D (i.e., in order to further increase the hermeticity of the sealed spaces 50 S), the printer 10 may be furnished with an elastic body that urges the ink heads 32 A to 32 D toward the caps 51 A to 51 D, against the total force P applied from the caps 51 A to 51 D through the ink heads 32 A to 32 D to the head plate 36 . An example of the elastic body is a spring. The elastic body urges the ink heads 32 A to 32 D downwardly. The elastic body may directly come in contact with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D to urge the ink heads 32 A to 32 D toward the caps 51 A to 51 D. The elastic body may directly come in contact with the carriage 31 to indirectly urge the caps 51 A to 51 D toward the ink heads 32 A to 32 D.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ink head 32 A according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention that is positioned at a maintenance position E 2 . In the present preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11 , the caps 51 A to 51 D push at least a portion of the guide rail 18 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D, such that the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are pushed upward from a standard position E 1 to a maintenance position E 2 , which is a higher position than the standard position E 1 . The force that pushes the caps 51 A to 51 D upward is transmitted to the ink heads 32 A to 32 D, the head plate 36 , and the recessed portion 31 A of the main plate 34 . The vertical height difference E 3 between the maintenance position E 2 and the standard position E 1 is, for example, about 0.01 mm to about 1 mm (preferably about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm). When the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are not in contact with the caps 51 A to 51 D, the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are positioned at the standard position E 1 .

When the shifting table 56 moves to the position H 1 (see FIG. 2 ), in other words, when the caps 51 A to 51 D are at the capping position H 1 , the caps 51 A to 51 D pushes a portion of the guide rail 18 from a standard position F 1 (see FIG. 11 ) to a push-up position F 2 (see FIG. 11 ) with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D, so as to push the ink heads 32 A to 32 D from the standard position E 1 (see FIG. 11 ) to the maintenance position E 2 (see FIG. 11 ). It should be noted that because the ink heads 32 A to 32 D are secured to the head plate 36 , the vertical height difference E 3 of the ink heads 32 A to 32 D between the maintenance position E 2 and the standard position E 1 is equal to the vertical height difference F 3 of the guide rail 18 between the push-up position F 2 and the standard position F 1 when the head plate 36 is not shifted upward.

With the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, when the caps 51 A to 51 D are at the capping position H 1 , the caps 51 A to 51 D push a portion of the guide rail 18 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D and push the ink heads 32 A to 32 D upward to the maintenance position E 2 . Thus, a portion of the guide rail 18 is able to be pushed upward by the force that pushes the caps 51 A to 51 D upward, so that the ink heads 32 A to 32 D can be pushed upward to the maintenance position E 2 , which is higher than the standard position E 1 . At this time, a constant force is applied from the caps 51 A to 51 D to the ink heads 32 A to 32 D. Therefore, the caps 51 A to 51 D are attached to the ink heads 32 A to 32 D more reliably, and the hermeticity of the sealed spaces 50 S between the caps 51 A to 51 D and the nozzle surfaces 33 Z is increased.

In the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, the guide rail 18 is vertically elastically deformable. For example, at least a portion of the guide rail 18 that is positioned above the caps 51 A to 51 D is vertically elastically deformable. This enables the caps 51 A to 51 D to easily push a portion of the guide rail 18 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D.

In the printer 10 according to the present preferred embodiment, the head plate 36 is vertically elastically deformable. This enables the caps 51 A to 51 D to push a portion of the guide rail 18 and a portion of the head plate 36 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D easily.

Hereinabove, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. It should be noted, however, that the foregoing preferred embodiments are merely exemplary and the present invention may be embodied in various other forms.

In the foregoing preferred embodiments, the shifting mechanism 70 preferably causes the shifting table 56 in the main scanning directions Y and the upward and downward directions, but this is merely illustrative. The shifting mechanism 70 may also cause the shifting table 56 only in the upward and downward directions. The shifting mechanism 70 may also cause the shifting table 56 in the main scanning directions Y, in the upward and downward directions, and in the sub-scanning directions X.

In the foregoing preferred embodiments, the printer 10 preferably includes the platen 14 on which the recording medium 12 is to be placed and to cause that recording medium 12 to be transferred by the grit rollers 16 in a sub-scanning direction X, but this is merely illustrative. For example, the printer 10 may also be a so-called flat-bed printer. Specifically, the printer 10 may be provided with a table capable of moving the recording medium 12 in the main scanning directions Y and sub-scanning directions X.

In the foregoing preferred embodiments, it is possible to use a configuration in which the caps 51 A to 51 D may push a portion of the head plate 36 and a portion of the guide rail 18 upward with the ink heads 32 A to 32 D, to push the ink heads 32 A to 32 D upward to the maintenance position L 2 (E 2 ).

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.