Patent ID: 8746839
Filing Date: 2014-06-10
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A fluid ejection apparatus that ejects a fluid from a nozzle provided in an ejection head, the apparatus comprising: a nozzle opening surface in which the nozzle is provided; and a fluid removal unit that removes fluid adhering to the nozzle opening surface, wherein the fluid removal unit includes: an approximately plate-shaped wiper member formed from an elastic material; a relative movement unit that causes the wiper member to move relative to the nozzle opening surface from one end of the nozzle opening surface to the other end of the nozzle opening surface by causing at least one of the ejection head and the wiper member to move while in a state where the wiper member makes contact with the nozzle opening surface and elastically deforms; and a splash catching member, having an approximate plate shape, that is erected in front of the wiper member when the wiper member moving relative along the nozzle opening surface separates from the nozzle opening surface and returns to its original shape, the splash catching member catching objects that had been adhering to the nozzle opening surface and that are scattered by the wiper member, and a guide part that is connected to the splash catching member such that the ejecting head depresses the guide part to cause the splash catching member to enter a withdrawn state in which the splash catching member does not interfere with the nozzle opening surface in the stage before the wiper member makes contact with the nozzle opening surface.