Patent ID: 7575296
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A liquid ejection apparatus ejecting a liquid from a nozzle opening surface of a liquid ejection head, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of wipers moving in a predetermined movement direction with respect to the liquid ejection head for wiping the liquid from the nozzle opening surface, wherein each of the wipers includes a blade for wiping the nozzle opening surface and a holder member for holding the blade, each of the wipers being movable in the movement direction in an operational area for wiping the nozzle opening surface, a first non-operational area that precedes the operational area, and a second non-operational area that follows the operational area; and a movement device having a single driver, for moving the wipers in the movement direction in such a manner that, under the condition that the driver is being operated at a constant driving speed, the moving speed of only one of each adjacent pair of the wipers is changed when the one of the adjacent wipers is passed from the first non-operational area to the operational area or from the operational area to the second non-operational area while the other one of the adjacent wipers is moving in the first or second non-operational area, wherein the movement device includes a lead screw rotated by the driver for moving the wipers in the movement direction, wherein the lead screw has a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, the first threaded portion having a feed pitch smaller than the feed pitch of the second threaded portion, and wherein each of the wipers is located in the first or second non-operational area when engaged with the first threaded portion but in the operational area when engaged with the second threaded portion.