Wipe unit and ink-jet recording apparatus including the same

A wipe unit cleans a recording head having an ink discharge surface on which an ink discharge opening that discharges an ink onto a recording medium opens. The wipe unit includes a wiper and a collecting tray. The wiper wipes off an ink forcibly extruded from the ink discharge opening. The collecting tray is arranged under the wiper. The collecting tray collects the ink wiped off with the wiper. The collecting tray includes a discharge port and a plurality of ribs. The discharge port discharges the collected ink downward, and the plurality of ribs are arranged so as to surround a peripheral area of the discharge port and arranged with a predetermined interval from one another in a circumferential direction of the discharge port.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of priority from, corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-065169 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 29, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

As a recording apparatus such as a facsimile, a copier, and a printer, an ink-jet recording apparatus that forms an image by discharging an ink is widely used for a reason that it can form a high-resolution image.

A typical ink-jet recording apparatus generally performs a recovery process that forcibly extrudes an ink having increased viscosity in an ink discharge opening from an ink discharge opening and wipes off the ink with a wiper. In view of this, the ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head that discharges the ink onto a paper sheet (recording medium) and a wipe unit that cleans the recording head.

The wipe unit includes a wiper and a collecting tray. The wiper wipes off the forcibly extruded ink. The collecting tray is arranged under the wiper and collects the ink wiped off with the wiper. The collecting tray includes a discharge port that discharges the collected ink. The ink discharged from the discharge port is accumulated in a waste ink container.

There is proposed an ink-jet recording apparatus that performs a recovery process of a recording head with a wipe unit.

SUMMARY

A wipe unit according to one aspect of the disclosure cleans a recording head having an ink discharge surface on which an ink discharge opening that discharges an ink onto a recording medium opens. The wipe unit includes a wiper and a collecting tray. The wiper wipes off an ink forcibly extruded from the ink discharge opening. The collecting tray is arranged under the wiper. The collecting tray collects the ink wiped off with the wiper. The collecting tray includes a discharge port and a plurality of ribs. The discharge port discharges the collected ink downward, and the plurality of ribs are arranged so as to surround a peripheral area of the discharge port and arranged with a predetermined interval from one another in a circumferential direction of the discharge port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an embodiment of the disclosure with reference to the drawings.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 21, a description will be given of an inkjet-type printer100(ink-jet recording apparatus) that includes a wipe unit19according to one embodiment of the disclosure. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the printer100has a printer main body1inside which a sheet feed cassette2as a paper sheet housing portion is arranged in a lower side. The sheet feed cassette2internally houses paper sheets P as an exemplary recording medium. The sheet feed cassette2has a downstream in a paper sheet conveyance direction, that is, an upper side on a right side of the sheet feed cassette2inFIG. 1, in which a paper feeder3is arranged. This paper feeder3separates and sends out the paper sheets P one by one toward the upper right side of the sheet feed cassette2inFIG. 1.

The printer100internally includes a first paper sheet conveyance passage4a. With regard to the sheet feed cassette2, the first paper sheet conveyance passage4ais located in the upper right side, which is a paper feeding direction of the sheet feed cassette2. The first paper sheet conveyance passage4aconveys the paper sheet P fed from the sheet feed cassette2perpendicularly upward along a side surface of the printer main body1.

In a downstream end of the first paper sheet conveyance passage4ain the paper sheet conveyance direction, a registration roller pair13is located. Additionally, a first conveyance unit5and a recording unit9are arranged immediately close to a downstream of the registration roller pair13in the paper sheet conveyance direction. The paper sheet P fed from the sheet feed cassette2reaches the registration roller pair13passing through the first paper sheet conveyance passage4a. The registration roller pair13corrects oblique feeding of the paper sheet P and feeds the paper sheet P toward the first conveyance unit5by measuring timing with the ink discharging operation executed by the recording unit9.

In a downstream (left side inFIG. 1) of the first conveyance unit5in the paper sheet conveyance direction, a second conveyance unit12is arranged. The paper sheet P where an ink image has been recorded by the recording unit9is transmitted to the second conveyance unit12, and the ink discharged onto a surface of the paper sheet P is dried while the paper sheet P passes through the second conveyance unit12.

In a downstream of the second conveyance unit12in the paper sheet conveyance direction and adjacent to a left side surface of the printer main body1, a decurler unit14is located. The paper sheet P where the ink has been dried by the second conveyance unit12is fed to the decurler unit14. Then, a curling caused in the paper sheet P is corrected.

In a downstream (upper side inFIG. 1) of the decurler unit14in the paper sheet conveyance direction, a second paper sheet conveyance passage4bis located. When duplex recording is not performed, the paper sheet P having passed through the decurler unit14is discharged onto a paper-sheet discharge tray15, which is located outside the left side surface of the printer100, from the second paper sheet conveyance passage4b.

In an upper portion of the printer main body1and over the recording unit9and the second conveyance unit12, an inverting conveyance path16for performing duplex recording is located. When duplex recording is performed, the paper sheet P having passed through the second conveyance unit12and the decurler unit14after a termination of recording on a first surface is fed to the inverting conveyance path16through the second paper sheet conveyance passage4b. Then, the conveyance direction of the paper sheet P fed to the inverting conveyance path16is switched for recording on a second surface, and the paper sheet P is fed rightward while passing through the upper portion of the printer main body1. The paper sheet P is fed to the first conveyance unit5again in a state where the second surface faces upward through the first paper sheet conveyance passage4aand the registration roller pair13.

Under the second conveyance unit12, the wipe unit19and a cap unit50are arranged. The wipe unit19horizontally moves under the recording unit9when a purge, which will be described later, is executed to wipe off the ink extruded from ink discharge openings of recording heads and collects the wiped off ink. The cap unit50horizontally moves under the recording unit9when ink discharge surfaces of the recording heads are capped, and further moves upward to be mounted on lower surfaces of the recording heads.

The recording unit9includes a head housing10and line heads11C,11M,11Y and11K held in the head housing10as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3. These line heads11C to11K are supported at a height where a predetermined interval (for example, 1 mm) is formed with respect to a conveying surface of a first conveyance belt8stretched over a plurality of rollers including a drive roller6and a driven roller7. In these line heads11C to11K, a plurality (here, three) of recording heads17ato17care arrayed in staggered along a paper sheet width direction (direction of arrow BB′) perpendicular to the paper sheet conveyance direction (direction of arrow A).

As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, ink discharge surfaces F for the recording heads17ato17cinclude ink discharge regions R where multiple ink discharge openings18(seeFIG. 2) are arrayed. InFIGS. 4 and 5, since the recording heads17ato17chave the identical shape and configuration, the recording heads17ato17care illustrated by one figure.

Four color (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) inks stored in respective ink tanks (not illustrated) are supplied to the recording heads17ato17c, which constitute the respective line heads11C to11K, for the respective colors of the line heads11C to11K.

Corresponding to image data received from an external computer or similar unit, each of the recording heads17ato17cdischarges an ink from the ink discharge openings18toward the paper sheet P, which is conveyed while being suctioned and held to the conveying surface of the first conveyance belt8, by a control signal from a control unit110(seeFIG. 1) that controls the whole printer100. This forms a color image, where inks in four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are superposed, on the paper sheet P on the first conveyance belt8.

In this printer100, the ink is forcibly discharged from the ink discharge openings18of all the recording heads17ato17c, and the ink discharge surfaces F are wiped off with wipers35ato35c, which will be described later, in preparation for the next printing operation, when printing starts after stopping for a long period of time and between printing operations, in order to clean the ink discharge surfaces F of the recording heads17ato17c.

Next, a detailed description will be given of the cap unit50and the wipe unit19, and a structure in a peripheral area.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the first conveyance unit5is housed in a housing frame70. The first conveyance unit5is configured to be liftable in an up and down direction by a conveyance elevating mechanism (not illustrated) made of, for example, an elevating driving source and a gear train. The first conveyance unit5is arranged at an elevated position (position inFIG. 6) when in the printing operation and is close to the ink discharge surfaces F of the recording heads17ato17c. The first conveyance unit5is arranged at a descended position (position inFIG. 7) when in a recovery operation and in a capping operation, which are described later, of the recording heads17ato17c.

The cap unit50is configured to be movable back and forth between a first position (position inFIG. 8) immediately under the recording unit9and a second position (position inFIG. 7) where the cap unit50is retreated in a horizontal direction (direction of arrow A) from the first position as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8. When the cap unit50is arranged in the first position, the first conveyance unit5is arranged in the descended position. As illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the cap unit50is configured to be liftable in the up and down direction at the first position.

The cap unit50is arranged at the second position (position inFIG. 6) when in the printing operation and in the recovery operation. The cap unit50is configured to move upward in the first position (positions inFIGS. 8 and 9) to cap the recording heads17ato17cwhen in the capping operation. The cap unit50is configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from the wipe unit19at the second position as described later. The move of the cap unit50in the horizontal direction and in the up and down direction is performed by the wipe unit19moving in a state of being coupled to the cap unit50.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the cap unit50includes a cap tray51made of a sheet metal, a pair of tray side plates52formed at both ends in the paper sheet width direction (direction of arrow BB′) of the cap tray51, twelve cap portions53in depressed shapes arranged on a top surface of the cap tray51, and four height direction positioning protrusions54.

The cap portions53are arranged at positions corresponding to the recording heads17ato17c. In view of this, the cap unit50moving upward at the first position as illustrated inFIG. 9causes the respective cap portions53to cap the ink discharge surfaces F of the respective recording heads17ato17c. The height direction positioning protrusions54perform positioning of the cap tray51in a height direction by abutting on the head housing10of the recording unit9when the cap unit50is moved up to a side of the recording unit9in order to cap the recording heads17ato17c. Between lower portions at both ends of the cap portions53in a longitudinal direction (direction of arrow BB′) and the cap tray51, cap springs55made of compression springs are arranged. The cap springs55hold contacting states between the cap portions53and the ink discharge surfaces F in a constant manner.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 11, the wipe unit19is configured to be movable back and forth between the first position (position inFIG. 11) immediately under the recording unit9and the second position (position inFIG. 7) where the wipe unit19is retreated in the horizontal direction (direction of arrow A) from the first position. When the wipe unit19is arranged in the first position, the first conveyance unit5is arranged at the descended position. As illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12, the wipe unit19is configured to be liftable in the up and down direction at the first position.

The wipe unit19is arranged at the second position when in the printing operation. The wipe unit19is configured to move upward at the first position (position inFIG. 11) when in the recovery operation and the capping operation.

As illustrated inFIGS. 12 and 13, the wipe unit19is configured of a rectangular shaped wiper carriage31to which a plurality of the wipers35ato35care secured and a support frame40that supports the wiper carriage31.

On end edges, which oppose a direction of an arrow AA′, on a top surface of the support frame40, rail portions41aand41bare formed. Rollers36located at four corners of the wiper carriage31abut on the rail portions41aand41b, and thus, the wiper carriage31is slidably supported in the direction of the arrow BB′ with respect to the support frame40.

Outside the support frame40, a wiper carriage moving motor45for moving the wiper carriage31in the horizontal direction (direction in arrow BB′) and a gear train (not illustrated) that engages with rack teeth (not illustrated) of the wiper carriage moving motor45and the wiper carriage31are mounted. The wiper carriage moving motor45rotating in positive and negative directions causes the gear train to rotate in the positive and negative directions, and thus, the wiper carriage31reciprocates in the horizontal direction (direction in arrow BB′).

The wipers35ato35care elastic members (rubber member made of, for example, EPDM) for wiping off the ink extruded from the ink discharge openings18of the respective recording heads17ato17c. The wipers35ato35care brought into pressure contact with wipe-off start positions outside the ink discharge regions R (seeFIG. 5) where the ink discharge openings18open from an approximately perpendicular direction. The move of the wiper carriage31wipes off the ink discharge surfaces F including the ink discharge regions R in a predetermined direction (direction in arrow B inFIG. 12).

The four wipers35aare arranged at approximately regular intervals, and similarly, the four wipers35band the four wipers35care also arranged at respective approximately regular intervals. The wipers35aand35care arranged at positions corresponding to the recording heads17aand17c(seeFIG. 3) that constitute the respective line heads11C to11K. The wipers35bare arranged at positions corresponding to the recording heads17b(seeFIG. 3) that constitute the respective line heads11C to11K. The wipers35bare secured by being shifted by a predetermined distance in a direction (direction of arrow AA′) perpendicular to a moving direction of the wiper carriage31with respect to the wipers35aand35c.

On the top surface of the support frame40, a collecting tray44for collecting a waste ink wiped off from the ink discharge surfaces F with the wipers35ato35care arranged. The waste ink collected in the collecting tray44is accumulated in a waste ink tank93, which will be described later. A structure of a peripheral area of the collecting tray44will be described later.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the wipe unit19is housed in a carriage80having a cross-sectional surface in a U shape, and is arranged under the cap unit50at the second position. The wipe unit19integrally moves with the carriage80when moving in the horizontal direction (direction of arrow AA′) as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 11, and moves in the up and down direction with respect to the carriage80when moving in the up and down direction as illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12.

The carriage80is configured of a carriage bottom plate81(seeFIG. 14) made of a sheet metal and a pair of carriage side plates82located standing at both ends of the carriage bottom plate81in the paper sheet width direction (direction in arrow BB′). The wipe unit19is placed on the carriage bottom plate81. The carriage side plates82are configured to be slidable with respect to carriage support rails (not illustrated) of the printer main body1. The carriage side plate82has a top surface on which a rack82ahaving rack teeth is formed as illustrated inFIG. 14. The rack82ais engaged with a gear85a. The gear train including the gear85ais coupled to a carriage driving source (not illustrated) made of a motor. The carriage driving source rotating in the positive and negative directions causes the gear train to rotate in the positive and negative directions, and thus, the carriage80reciprocates between the first position and the second position. The gear train including the gear85aand the carriage driving source constitute a unit horizontal move mechanism85that moves the cap unit50and the wipe unit19in the horizontal direction.

The carriage80internally includes a unit elevating mechanism60that moves the wipe unit19in the up and down direction as illustrated inFIG. 14. The unit elevating mechanism60includes wires61aand61b, a winding up pulley62that rolls up the wires61aand61b, pulleys63aand63bthat changes directions of the wires61aand61b, and a winding up drive motor (winding up driving source)64.

The wire61ais mounted on a lower portion of the wipe unit19in the direction of the arrow A′ from the winding up pulley62via the pulley63a. The wire61bis mounted on a lower portion of the wipe unit19in the direction of the arrow A from the winding up pulley62via the pulleys63aand63b. Each of the wires61aand61b, the winding up pulley62, the pulleys63aand63bare located one each on both sides (front side and far-side with respect to paper surface ofFIG. 14) in the direction of the arrow BB′. A pair of the winding up pulleys62are secured at both ends of one rotation shaft65. A rotation shaft gear (not illustrated) that engages with a gear train (not illustrated) coupled to the winding up drive motor64is secured to the rotation shaft65. The winding up drive motor64rotating in the positive and negative directions causes the winding up pulley62to rotate in the positive and negative directions.

The wipe unit19includes a plurality of coupling pins42that extend upward as illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15. The tray side plate52of the cap unit50has a lower surface on which coupling holes52a(seeFIG. 15) are formed at positions corresponding to the coupling pins42. The coupling pins42and the coupling holes52aconstitute a coupling mechanism that couples or uncouples the cap unit50to or from the wipe unit19.

In a state where the wipe unit19is moved down at the second position (state inFIG. 14, state of being arranged at a first height position), the coupling pins42are not inserted in the coupling holes52aas illustrated inFIG. 15, and therefore, the wipe unit19is not coupled to the cap unit50(uncoupled). Meanwhile, when the wipe unit19is moved up at the second position (being arranged at a second height position higher than the first height position), the coupling pins42are inserted into the coupling holes52aas illustrated inFIG. 16, and therefore, the wipe unit19is coupled to the cap unit50. This integrates the cap unit50with the wipe unit19to ensure the move in the horizontal direction and the up and down direction.

At the second position, a cap supporting portion (not illustrated) that supports the cap unit50in a state where the wipe unit19is not coupled to the cap unit50(uncoupled state) is located. At the second position, a lid member (not illustrated) is located. The lid member protects the cap portions53by closely contacting the cap portions53of the cap unit50in a state where the wipe unit19is not coupled to the cap unit50(state except in capping operation (in printing operation and in recovery operation)). The lid member (not illustrated) closely contacts the cap portions53from above to prevent foreign objects such as dust and paper dust from accumulating on top surfaces (surfaces closely contact ink discharge surfaces F) of the cap portions53, and reduces a lack of water content caused by the water content inside the cap portions53being vaporized.

Next, a detailed description will be given of a structure in a peripheral area of the collecting tray44.

As illustrated inFIG. 12, the collecting tray44is arranged under the wipers35ato35cto collect the ink wiped off with the wipers35ato35c. As illustrated inFIG. 17, the collecting tray44has a top surface on which a groove21and a pair of tray surfaces22are located. The groove21is arranged in the center in the direction of the arrow BB′ and extends in the direction of the arrow AA′. The pair of tray surfaces22are arranged at both sides in the direction of the arrow BB′ with the groove21interposed in between to receive the ink. The tray surfaces22incline downward toward the groove21.

As illustrated inFIGS. 17 and 18, a discharge port23that discharges the collected ink downward is located in the center of the groove21. As illustrated inFIGS. 19 and 20, the discharge port23is coupled to an ink discharge path24through which the ink passes. The ink discharge path24has a downstream end to which an upstream end of a discharge tube91is connected. The discharge tube91includes a pump92that suctions the ink. The discharge tube91has a downstream end at which the waste ink tank (waste ink container)93that accumulates the ink is located.

The groove21has a bottom surface21athat is formed to incline downward toward the discharge port23. The ink wiped off from the ink discharge surfaces F with the wipers35ato35cand dropped onto the tray surfaces22, after flowing on the tray surfaces22toward the groove21, flows in the groove21toward the discharge port23. Then, the ink is suctioned by the pump92, passes through the discharge tube91, and is accumulated in the waste ink tank93.

The groove21includes two screw stop portions21bin cylindrical shapes. The screw stop portion21bis secured to the support frame40with a screw28. The screw stop portion21bhas an upper portion on which a lid portion21cfor preventing the ink from dropping into the screw stop portion21bis located.

Here, in this embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 18, the collecting tray44has a top surface on which a plurality of ribs25are located with a predetermined interval from one another in a circumferential direction of the discharge port23so as to surround a peripheral area of the discharge port23. The ribs25are formed so as to project upward from the top surface of the collecting tray44.

The ribs25include a plurality of inner ribs25aand a plurality of outer ribs25b. The plurality of inner ribs25aare arranged in a peripheral area of the discharge port23so as to form a circular shape with a predetermined interval from one another in the circumferential direction. The plurality of outer ribs25bare arranged outside the inner ribs25aso as to form a circular shape with a predetermined interval from one another in the circumferential direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 21, the inner ribs25aand the outer ribs25bare arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. In other words, the inner ribs25aare arranged so as to oppose clearances between the adjacent outer ribs25b, and the outer ribs25bare arranged so as to oppose clearances between the adjacent inner ribs25a. In view of this, the ink that has passed through the clearances between the outer ribs25bcollides against the inner ribs25a. That is, the ink does not flow in a straight line to reach the discharge port23, but meanders to reach the discharge port23. The outer rib25bhas a length L1 in a longitudinal direction (circumferential direction) that is formed larger than a distance L2 between the inner ribs25a.

The inner ribs25ainclude a plurality of first ribs25cand a plurality of second ribs25d. The plurality of first ribs25care located in the direction of the arrow AA′ with respect to the discharge port23. The plurality of second ribs25dare located in the direction of the arrow BB′ with respect to the discharge port23. A part of the inner ribs25adoubles as the first rib25cand the second rib25d. A first clearance S1between the first ribs25cis smaller than a second clearance S2between the second ribs25d.

In other words, between the inner ribs25aadjacent in the circumferential direction, a clearance S is formed. A plurality of the clearances S include a plurality of the first clearances S1and a plurality of the second clearances S2. The plurality of first clearances S1are located in the direction of the arrow AA′ with respect to the discharge port23. The plurality of second clearances S2are located in the direction of the arrow BB′ with respect to the discharge port23. The first clearance S1is smaller than the second clearance S2.

As illustrated inFIG. 20, the inner ribs25ahave top surfaces on which a cover member29that covers a region surrounded by the plurality of ribs25is located. The cover member29is formed of a rectangular-shaped sheet made of crystalline resin such as PET.

As illustrated inFIG. 18, the tray surfaces22include four column-shaped supporting portions26and two positioning protrusions27. The supporting portions26support the cover member29. The positioning protrusions27are for positioning the cover member29. In this embodiment, the positioning protrusions27are located on top surfaces of a part (two) of the supporting portions26. The top surface of the supporting portion26is arranged at a height position identical to that of the top surface of the inner rib25a.

As illustrated inFIG. 20, the cover member29has two insertion holes29aformed at positions corresponding to the positioning protrusions27. The cover member29is placed on the top surfaces of the inner ribs25aand the top surfaces of the supporting portions26with the positioning protrusions27inserted into the insertion holes29a. The positioning protrusion27has an upper end to which a retaining member (not illustrated) that prevents the cover member29from moving upward is secured.

Next, a description will be given of the recovery operation of the recording heads17ato17cin the printer100of the embodiment. The recovery operation and the capping operation described below are executed by controlling operations of, for example, the recording heads17ato17c, the wipe unit19, the unit elevating mechanism60, the unit horizontal move mechanism85, the conveyance elevating mechanism, and the respective driving sources by a control signal from the control unit110(seeFIG. 1).

When the wipe unit19performs the recovery process of the recording heads17ato17c, the first conveyance unit5located facing the lower surface of the recording unit9(seeFIG. 1) is moved down as illustrated inFIG. 7from the state inFIG. 6. At this time, the wipe unit19is arranged at the first height position, and the wipe unit19is not coupled to the cap unit50.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, the carriage80is horizontally moved from the second position to the first position with the cap unit50being left at the second position, and thus, the wipe unit19is horizontally moved from the second position to the first position while being at the first height position.

Then, the unit elevating mechanism60moves up the wipe unit19as illustrated inFIG. 12. This brings the wipers35ato35cof the wipe unit19into pressure contact with the wipe-off start positions of the ink discharge surfaces F of the recording heads17ato17c.

Prior to a wiping operation, the ink is supplied to the recording heads17ato17c. The supplied ink is forcibly extruded (purged) from the ink discharge openings18(seeFIG. 2). This purging operation discharges ink having increased viscosity, foreign objects, and air bubbles inside the ink discharge openings18. At this time, the purge ink is extruded to the ink discharge surfaces F along shapes of the ink discharge regions R (seeFIG. 5) where the ink discharge openings18are.

Then, the wiping operation that wipes off the ink (purge ink) extruded to the ink discharge surfaces F is performed. Specifically, rotating the wiper carriage moving motor45in a normal direction from the state illustrated inFIG. 12horizontally moves the wiper carriage31in the direction of the arrow B as illustrated inFIG. 13to cause the wipers35ato35cto wipe off the ink extruded to the ink discharge surfaces F of the recording heads17ato17c. The waste ink wiped off with the wipers35ato35cis collected by the collecting tray44arranged in the wipe unit19.

Then, the unit elevating mechanism60(seeFIG. 14) moving down the wipe unit19to the first height position as illustrated inFIG. 11separates the wipers35ato35cdownward from the ink discharge surfaces F of the recording heads17ato17c. Then, the wiper carriage31is moved in a direction (direction of arrow B′) opposite to the wiping direction to return the wipe unit19in an original state.

The carriage80and the wipe unit19arranged at the first position are horizontally moved from the first position to the second position. This arranges the wipe unit19under the cap unit50. Thus, the recovery operation of the recording heads17ato17cis terminated.

The ink dropped onto the tray surfaces22of the collecting tray44, after flowing on the tray surfaces22toward the groove21, flows in the groove21toward the discharge port23. The ink passes through the clearances between the ribs25to reach the discharge port23, and the suction of the pump92causes the ink to pass through the discharge tube91and to be accumulated in the waste ink tank93.

Next, a description will be given of an operation (capping operation) to mount the cap unit50to the recording heads17ato17cin the printer100of the embodiment.

When the cap unit50caps the recording heads17ato17c, the first conveyance unit5located facing the lower surface of the recording unit9(seeFIG. 1) is moved down as illustrated inFIG. 7from the state inFIG. 6. At this time, the wipe unit19is arranged at the first height position, and the wipe unit19is not coupled to the cap unit50.

Then, the unit elevating mechanism60(seeFIG. 14) moves up the wipe unit19from the first height position to the second height position. In view of this, the coupling pins42are inserted into the coupling holes52aas illustrated inFIG. 16, and thus, the wipe unit19is coupled to the cap unit50.

Then, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the carriage80is horizontally moved from the second position to the first position, and thus, the cap unit50is horizontally moved from the second position to the first position with the cap unit50being coupled to the top surface of the wipe unit19.

The unit elevating mechanism60moves up the wipe unit19and the cap unit50as illustrated inFIG. 9. The rotation of the winding up drive motor64(seeFIG. 14) is stopped at the point when the cap portions53of the cap unit50are brought into a close contact with the ink discharge surfaces F of the recording heads17ato17c, and thus, the capping of the cap unit50to the recording heads17ato17ccompletes.

In this embodiment, as described above, the plurality of ribs25, which are arranged so as to surround the peripheral area of the discharge port23and arranged with the predetermined interval from one another in the circumferential direction of the discharge port23, are located on the top surface of the collecting tray44. With this, even when foreign objects or similar object drop on the collecting tray44, the plurality of ribs25can reduce the foreign objects or similar object flowing into the discharge port23, thereby ensuring reduced clogging of the discharge port23due to the foreign objects or similar object. This ensures reduced overflow of the ink from the collecting tray44.

As described above, the ribs25include the plurality of inner ribs25aand the plurality of outer ribs25blocated outside the inner ribs25a. With this, the inner ribs25acan stop the foreign objects or similar object that has slipped through the clearances between the outer ribs25b, thereby ensuring further reducing the foreign objects or similar object flowing into the discharge port23.

As described above, the inner ribs25aand the outer ribs25bare arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. This ensures colliding the foreign objects or similar object that has slipped through the clearances between the outer ribs25bagainst the inner ribs25a, thereby ensuring effectively reducing the foreign objects or similar object flowing into the discharge port23.

As described above, on the top surfaces of the inner ribs25a, the cover member29, which covers the region surrounded by the plurality of inner ribs25a, is located. This ensures reducing the foreign objects or similar object directly getting into the discharge port23from above, thereby ensuring further reduced clogging of the discharge port23due to the foreign objects or similar object.

As described above, the top surfaces of the collecting tray44include the supporting portions26, which support the cover member29, and the positioning protrusions27, which position the cover member29. This ensures stably supporting the cover member29and reduced position shift of the cover member29.

As described above, the first clearance S1located in the direction of the arrow AA′ with respect to the discharge port23is smaller than the second clearances S2located in the direction of the arrow BB′ with respect to the discharge port23. On this collecting tray44, the ink dropped on the tray surfaces22flows on the tray surfaces22toward the groove21. Then, while a part of the ink (ink dropped in centers of the tray surfaces22in direction of arrow AA′) passes through the second clearances S2, the most part of the ink passes through the first clearances S1after flowing in the groove21in the direction of the arrow AA′ toward the discharge port23. In view of this, the most part of the foreign objects or similar object flow toward the first clearances S1. Therefore, the first clearance S1being smaller than the second clearance S2ensures more effectively stopping the foreign objects or similar object.

For example, while in the above-described embodiment, it has been described an example that performs the recovery operation of the recording heads17ato17cby using only the ink (purge ink), the recovery operation of the recording heads17ato17cmay be performed by using the ink and a cleaning liquid.

While in the above-described embodiment, it has been described an example that locates the inner ribs25aand the outer ribs25bin the peripheral area of the discharge port23, the disclosure is not limited to this. Only the inner ribs25amay be located in the peripheral area of the discharge port23. The plurality of ribs25may be additionally located outside the outer ribs25b.

Exemplary Embodiment of the Disclosure

In order to achieve the above-described object, a wipe unit according to a first aspect of the disclosure is a wipe unit that cleans a recording head having an ink discharge surface on which an ink discharge opening that discharges an ink onto a recording medium opens. The wipe unit includes a wiper that wipes off an ink forcibly extruded from the ink discharge opening and a collecting tray that is arranged under the wiper and collects the ink wiped off with the wiper. The collecting tray includes a discharge port that discharges the collected ink downward, and a plurality of ribs arranged so as to surround a peripheral area of the discharge port and arranged with a predetermined interval from one another in a circumferential direction of the discharge port.

Effect of the Disclosure

With the wipe unit according to the first aspect of the disclosure, the collecting tray includes the plurality of ribs arranged so as to surround the peripheral area of the discharge port and arranged with the predetermined interval from one another in the circumferential direction of the discharge port. With this, even when foreign objects or similar object drop on the collecting tray, the plurality of ribs can reduce the foreign objects or similar object flowing into the discharge port, thereby ensuring reduced clogging of the discharge port due to the foreign objects or similar object. This ensures reduced overflow of the ink from the collecting tray.