Patent ID: 6109725
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A wiping mechanism for wiping an ink ejection side surface of an ink jet head for effecting recording by ejection of ink through ejection outlets, said mechanism comprising:a wiper for wiping the ejection side surface; andchanging means for changing a positional relation of said wiper and the ink jet head along a path of reciprocating movement of the ink let head but outside a recording area of the ink let head between a non-wiping position and a wiping position,wherein the changing means cooperates with a carriage for moving the ink jet head relative to a recording medium so that the wiper is in the non-wiping position when the ink let head has been turned by the carriage at a first point outside the recording area so that motion of the ink let head is not impeded by the wiper during image recording, and to cause the wiper to change from the non-wiping position to the wiping position when the ink let head is turned by the carriage at a second point further away from the recording area than the first point, so that wiping of the election side surface can be effected.