Head washing device and inkjet printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9895895-B2
Application number	US-201515323103-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2015
Priority date	Jul 3, 2014
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

In order to effectively wash wiping members, a washing station which is a head washing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including a wiping unit, a storage tank, and a washing unit. The wiping unit includes wipers which are wiping members for wiping an ejection surface of an inkjet head. In the storage tank, washing solution for washing the wiping unit is stored. The washing unit washes the wipers in the washing solution of the storage tank.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A head washing device, comprising:
a wiping unit including a wiping member for wiping an ejection surface of an inkjet head for ejecting ink;
a storage tank for storing a washing solution for washing the wiping unit; and
a washing unit for washing the wiping member in the washing solution of the storage tank,
wherein the washing unit includes a washing member whose at least a portion is immersed in the washing solution of the storage tank and which comes into contact with the ejection surface of the inkjet head and the wiping member and washes the ejection surface and the wiping member.

2. The head washing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller for controlling the wiping unit such that the wiping unit wipes the ejection surface, after the washing member washes the ejection surface.

3. The head washing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the wiping member has a contact portion which is in contact with the ejection surface of the inkjet head, and
the contact portion is exposed from the washing solution of the storage tank when the wiping member wipes the ejection surface, and is immersed in the washing solution of the storage tank when the washing unit washes the wiping member.

4. The head washing device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
an automatic level adjustment mechanism capable of changing a position of a solution level of the washing solution of the storage tank.

5. The head washing device according to claim 3 , wherein
the wiping unit has a first drive mechanism for moving the wiping member between a first position where the contact portion is exposed from the washing solution of the storage tank and a second position where the contact portion is immersed in the washing solution of the storage tank.

6. The head washing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the washing unit includes a second drive mechanism for rotating or vibrating the washing member.

7. The head washing device according to claim 6 , wherein
the second drive mechanism is magnetically coupled with the washing member with a wall of the storage tank interposed therebetween, and rotates or vibrates the washing member.

8. An inkjet printer, comprising:
the inkjet head; and
the head washing device according to claim 1 .

9. The inkjet printer according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a supporting member configured to support the inkjet head and extend along a scan direction,
wherein the inkjet head is movable along the supporting member, in a scan part for performing ink ejection and an extension part deviated from the scan part, and
the head washing device washes the ejection surface of the inkjet head positioned in the extension part.

10. The inkjet printer according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a supporting member configured to support the inkjet head and extend along a scan direction,
wherein the inkjet head is movable along the supporting member, in a scan part for performing ink ejection and an extension part deviated from the scan part, and
the head washing device washes the ejection surface of the inkjet head positioned in the extension part.

Assignees

• Mimaki Eng Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohnishi Masaru

Classifications

• B41J2/16535 Primary

  using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B41J2002/16567

  using ultrasonic or vibrating means · CPC title

• B41J2002/16558

  Using cleaning liquid for wet wiping · CPC title

• B41J2/16541

  Means to remove deposits from wipers or scrapers · CPC title

• B41J2/16552

  using cleaning fluids · CPC title