Liquid discharge apparatus

There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including a head including a nozzle surface having a plurality of liquid discharge holes formed thereon, the nozzle surface being directed downward, a liquid receiving part including a liquid receiving surface directed downward to oppose the nozzle surface and configured to receive liquid discharged from the liquid discharge holes, a base, a first blade attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed upward to wipe the nozzle surface, a second blade attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed downward to wipe the liquid receiving surface, and a moving mechanism configured to move the base in a predetermined advancing direction between the head and the liquid receiving part. The base is provided with a prevention structure configured to prevent the liquid wiped off by the first blade flowing to the second blade.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-262874, filed on Nov. 30, 2011, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present invention relate to a liquid discharge apparatus which discharges ink from a head to a recording medium, thereby forming an image.

BACKGROUND

An inkjet recording apparatus includes a head which has a plurality of liquid discharge holes formed on a nozzle surface provided at a lower surface and discharges ink to a recording medium e.g. a sheet, thereby performing printing. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a cap which, when not performing an image forming operation, seals the nozzle surface from a lower side to thus prevent a contact with an atmosphere, thereby preventing the ink in the liquid discharge holes from being dried.

When the ink is attached to the nozzle surface and the cap, it is desired to remove the attached ink. A known inkjet recording apparatus performs a wiping operation of wiping off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface and an upper surface of the cap. Specifically, this apparatus includes a wiper unit which slides horizontally in a conveyance direction of a recording medium between the nozzle surface and the cap, and the wiper unit includes a first upper blade which slides on the nozzle surface and a second lower blade which slides on the upper surface of the cap. During the wiping operation, the first blade contacts the nozzle surface and the second blade contacts the upper surface of the cap, thereby wiping off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface and the upper surface of the cap at one time.

SUMMARY

According to the above-described inkjet recording apparatus including the wiper unit, a mechanism to move the first blade is also used to move the second blade, so that the apparatus cost is reduced. However, the ink wiped by the first blade may flow down the second blade. Since the ink flowing down the second blade may not be wiped by the second blade, an effect of the wiping operation is deteriorated.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a liquid discharge apparatus having a wiper unit in which ink wiped by a first blade does not flow down a second blade.

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including a head, a liquid receiving part, a base, a first blade, a second blade and a moving mechanism. The head includes a nozzle surface having a plurality of liquid discharge holes formed thereon and being directed downward. The liquid receiving part includes a liquid receiving surface which is directed upward to oppose the nozzle surface and configured to receive liquid discharged from the liquid discharge holes. The first blade is attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed upward to wipe the nozzle surface. The second blade is attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed downward to wipe the liquid receiving surface. The moving mechanism is configured to move the base in a predetermined advancing direction between the head and the liquid receiving part. The base is provided with a prevention structure configured to prevent liquid wiped off by the first blade from flowing to the second blade.

According to the above configuration, the liquid wiped off by the first blade is prevented from flowing down the second blade by the prevention structure. Thereby, the liquid is securely wiped off by the second blade, so that an effect of the wiping operation can be improved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, illustrative embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the below descriptions, an upper and a lower indicate directions along a vertical direction. Also, ink is exemplified as a specific example of liquid.

As shown inFIG. 1, an inkjet recording apparatus1includes a housing10having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an upper part of a top plate of the housing10is provided with a sheet discharge part11. The housing10includes therein a head4which discharges black ink downward onto a sheep P, a conveyance unit5which horizontally conveys the sheet P and then sends the same to the sheet discharge part11, and a feeder unit6which feeds the sheet P. The housing10further includes a controller100which controls operations of respective mechanisms and electric circuits in the housing10at a position in an upper part thereof which does not interfere with the head4.

The conveyance unit5is a mechanism which conveys the sheet P from the left to the right inFIG. 1. In the below descriptions, a direction along which the sheet P is conveyed in a printing region is referred to as a sub-scanning direction and a direction which is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction in a horizontal plane is referred to as a main scanning direction.

The conveyance unit5includes a platen50and conveyance rollers51,51aarranged at both sides of the platen50. The sheet P to which a conveyance force is applied by the conveyance roller51at an upstream side in a conveyance direction is conveyed with being supported on an upper surface of the platen50. The sheet P having passed to the platen50is applied with a conveyance force by the conveyance roller51aat a downstream side in the conveyance direction and is sent to the sheet discharge part11by a guide52and feeding rollers53positioned between the conveyance roller51aand the sheet discharge part11. A guide shaft15extending in the main scanning direction is provided between the conveyance roller51at the upstream side in the conveyance direction and the head4. The guide shaft15guides sliding of a wiper unit2(described later). In the meantime, the guide shaft15may be provided between the conveyance roller51aat the downstream side in the conveyance direction and the head4.

The feeder unit6includes a sheet feeding tray60and a sheet feeding roller61, and three guides62and feeding rollers63arranged between the sheet feeding roller61and the conveyance unit5. The sheet feeding roller61picks up the uppermost sheet P in the sheet feeding tray60and conveys the same to an upstream side of the conveyance unit5by the guides62and the feeding rollers63.

The head4is a line head having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and extending in the main scanning direction and a lower surface thereof is formed as a nozzle surface40having a plurality of liquid discharge holes through which ink is discharged. A periphery of a lower end portion of the head4is attached with an annular elastic member41which can be moved up and down. A liquid receiving member7is provided below the nozzle surface40. When a printing operation is not performed on a sheet P, the elastic member41is lowered, so that a lower end thereof contacts the liquid receiving member7. Although the head4can be moved up and down, the head is not moved up when a printing operation is performed, and the head is moved up when a wiping operation is performed.

As shown inFIGS. 2A to 2C, the platen50includes a pair of door members55,55made of resin. The door members55,55are supported at one end portions thereof with shafts56parallel with the nozzle surface40of the head4and extending in the main scanning direction, so that the door members can rotate in opposite directions. The platen50is rotated between an opposing position (FIG. 2A) at which the door members55,55are positioned in a horizontal plane and oppose the nozzle surface40, and a non-opposing position (FIG. 2B) at which the door members55,55are directed downward and do not oppose the nozzle surface40. At the opposing position of the door members55,55, the sheet P passes to upper surfaces of the door members55,55, and, at this state, the ink is discharged from the head4, so that a printing operation is performed on the sheet P.

An elevating member70having the liquid receiving member7on an upper surface thereof is provided below the platen50. When performing a printing operation on the sheet P, the elevating member70is positioned below a conveyance path of the sheet P and is retracted from the conveyance path so that it does not interfere with the printing operation (FIG. 2A). As shown inFIG. 2B, at the non-opposing position of the door members55,55, a passage through which the elevating member70can pass is formed between the door members55,55. At a complete elevated state where the elevating member70completely elevates the liquid receiving member7(shown inFIG. 2C), the liquid receiving member7approaches the nozzle surface40.

As shown inFIG. 3, the elastic member41is supported to a holder42. The holder42is moved up and down relative to the head4via an intermediate gear43by a motor M. At the complete elevated state of the elevating member70, the elastic member41and the holder42are moved down by the motor M and a lower end portion of the elastic member41is positioned below the nozzle surface40and contacts the liquid receiving member7.

In a case where a printing operation is not performed for a long time, if the nozzle surface40is left exposed, the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40is dried. As a countermeasure, in such a case where a printing operation is not performed for a long time, the elastic member41is moved down to bring the lower end portion into contact with the liquid receiving member7, so that a seal space S1is formed between the nozzle surface40and the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7. Thereby, the nozzle surface40is prevented from being exposed. That is, in this illustrative embodiment, the liquid receiving member7is used as a cap for preventing ink from being dried.

Also, after a predetermined number of times of printings or predetermined time of printing, the controller100performs a maintenance operation for keeping/restoring the ink discharge characteristic of the head4. The maintenance operation is an operation of discharging the ink through the liquid discharge holes of the nozzle surface40. The maintenance operation includes a purge operation in which a negative pressure is generated in the seal space S1by a suction pump (not shown) to thus discharge remaining ink and foreign materials in the liquid discharge holes to a liquid receiving surface72, which is an upper surface of the liquid receiving member7. The liquid receiving member7is provided with a duct71through which the ink flows and the ink is collected into a waste liquid tank76(refer toFIG. 9) through the duct71. The liquid receiving member7is made of glass or metal such as stainless steel which does not absorb liquid or absorbs little liquid.

In this operation, however, in most cases, all ink is not introduced into the duct71and ink remains on the liquid receiving surface72. In this case, a medium of the remaining ink is evaporated, so that the ink becomes thickening ink. At this state, when the liquid receiving member7seals the nozzle surface40, the thickening ink absorbs water from the air in the seal space S1. That is, the thickening ink serves as a drying agent. By this phenomenon, when the water is absorbed from the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40, a discharge defect of the ink from the head4may be caused.

In order to prevent the defect, the inkjet recording apparatus1of this illustrative embodiment is provided at a side of the head4with a wiper unit2which wipes off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40and also the ink remaining on the liquid receiving surface72, as shown inFIG. 4. In the below descriptions, a predetermined advancing direction along which the wiper unit2is advanced to wipe off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40and the liquid receiving surface72is referred to as the front. Also, an operation of wiping off the ink is referred to as a wiping operation.

(Overall Configuration of Wiper Unit)

As shown in the perspective view ofFIG. 5, the wiper unit2includes a support holder20configured by a pair of metal plates spaced from each other, a base3made of resin which is provided at a tip end portion of the support holder20and opposes the nozzle surface40of the head4, and an engaging piece21which is positioned at a base end portion side of the support holder20with respect to the base3. The support holder20and the engaging piece21are provided with an engaging part22into which the guide shaft15is engaged, and a gap SU is formed between the base3and the engaging part22. In the meantime, the engaging piece21is connected at a lower end portion thereof to a driving mechanism having a ball screw, for example, and is applied with a moving force in a direction along the guide shaft15. That is, the moving mechanism which advances the wiper unit2is configured by the driving mechanism and the guide shaft15.

As shown in the sectional view ofFIG. 6, the base3has a first receiving chamber30has an opening upper part which is opened upwardly and a second receiving chamber31which is provided at the rear of the first receiving chamber30and has an opening lower part which is opened downwardly. A lower surface of the first receiving chamber30is formed with a through-hole32and a cylindrical part32protruding downward so as to surround the through-hole32. An internal space of the cylindrical part32extends continuously from the through-hole32. In the first receiving chamber30, a first blade8is attached to be directed upward. In the second receiving chamber31, a second blade80is attached to be directed downward. That is, the first blade8is positioned more forward than the second blade80in the advancing direction of the wiper unit2, and the through-hole32and the cylindrical part33are also positioned at more forward than the second blade80.

An upper end portion of the first blade8is moved with contacting the nozzle surface40of the head4, thereby wiping off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40. A lower end portion of the second blade80is moved with contacting the liquid receiving surface72, thereby wiping off the ink remaining on the liquid receiving surface72. Both the blades8,80are made of a flexible material such as rubber such that the nozzle surface40of the head4and the liquid receiving surface72are not damaged.

In the first receiving chamber30, a liquid receiving space35is formed which receives the ink wiped off by the first blade8. A front end of the opening part of the first receiving chamber30is positioned more forward than a front face of the first blade8and a rear end of the opening part is positioned more rearward than the front face of the first blade8. Thereby, ink on the nozzle surface40, which has been wiped off by the first blade8, is securely received in the liquid receiving space35. Then, the received ink passes through the through-hole32and the inside of the cylindrical part33and is then discharged to the liquid receiving surface72of the liquid receiving member7.

Thereby, ink is prevented from flowing to the second blade80. That is, the through-hole32and the cylindrical part33, which are positioned more forward than the second blade80in the advancing direction of the wiper unit2, and the liquid receiving space35configure the structure of preventing ink from flowing to the second blade80. As described above, since the through-hole32and the cylindrical part33are positioned more forward than the second blade80, ink on the liquid receiving member7is securely wiped off upon the wiping operation, so that it is possible to improve the effect of the wiping operation.

Also, the through-hole32and the cylindrical part33oppose a center portion of the liquid receiving member7in a width direction, which is orthogonal to the advancing direction of the wiper unit2. Therefore, the ink having passed through the through-hole32and the cylindrical part33comes down to the center portion of the liquid receiving member7in the width direction. If the ink comes down to an end portion of the liquid receiving surface72in the width direction, the ink is not surely received on the liquid receiving surface72, so that the ink may flow down from the liquid receiving surface72. However, since the ink comes down to the center portion of the liquid receiving surface72in the width direction, there is less concern about this problem.

A thin member9having a sheet shape and extending in the upper-lower direction is attached on a front wall of the first receiving chamber30. The thin member9has an inclined part at an upper end portion thereof, which is inclined rearward as proceeding upward. An upper end of the inclined part90is positioned above the upper surface of the first receiving chamber30and is positioned below the tip end of the first blade8. That is, the inclined part90is not directly contacted to the nozzle surface40but is close to the nozzle surface. A lower end of the thin member9is positioned below the lower end of the cylindrical part33.

As shown inFIG. 6, an ink droplet44attached to the nozzle surface40is wiped off not only by the first blade8but also by the upper end of the inclined part90of the thin member9. Thereby, it is possible to wipe off more ink, compared to a configuration where the ink is wiped off only by the first blade8.

The ink flows to the lower end of the thin member9along the thin member9. Since the lower end of the thin member9is positioned below the lower end of the cylindrical part33, the ink flowing down the thin member9is prevented from being splashed on the liquid receive surface72. Thereby, the effect of surely dropping the ink onto the liquid receiving surface72is improved.

As shown inFIG. 5, the lower end of the thin member9is provided with a main apex part91, which opposes the center portion of the liquid receiving member7in the width direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the wiper unit2, and two sub-apex parts92,92which are positioned at both sides of the main apex part91in the width direction of the liquid receiving member7. Since the main apex part91opposes the center portion of the liquid receiving member7, the ink flowing down the main apex part91is surely received onto the liquid receiving surface72. Also, the ink wiped off by the thin member9is widely dropped from the main apex part91and the sub-apex parts92over the width direction of the liquid receiving member7. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the concern that the ink is intensively dropped onto one position of the liquid receiving surface72and the ink is thus excessively spread or scattered.

As shown inFIG. 6, the upper end of the second blade80is attached to an intermediate plate86which is provided to move up and down in the second receiving chamber31, and a spring86is provided between the intermediate plate86and an upper wall of the second receiving chamber31. By the spring85, the second blade80is pressed to the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7. That is, the dedicated member for pressing the second blade80to the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7is provided, so that it is possible to shorten the second blade80, compared to a configuration where the second blade80is pressed to the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7only by elasticity of the second blade80itself. Thereby, it is possible to make the entire wiper unit2small. Also, the pressing force is increased and the pressing state becomes stable, compared to the configuration where the second blade80is pressed to the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7by the elasticity of the second blade80itself. Also, since the second blade80can move up and down by the spring85, it is possible to absorb the vibration which is received from the liquid receiving surface72upon the wiping operation.

In the meantime, as shown inFIG. 7A, if the second blade80is bent when contacting the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7, the effect of wiping off the liquid is decreased. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 7B, it is necessary to press the second blade80such that a lower edge line RL of the second blade80contacts the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7. Also, it is advantageous that a contact angle θ between the second blade80and the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7is small. Also, the nozzle surface40is directed downward, and thus, ink is dropped therefrom. On the other hand, the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7is directed upward, and thus, ink is apt to remain on the upper surface. Therefore, it is advantageous that the second blade80contact the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7to thus wipe off the ink with the pressing force larger than the force with which the first blade8contacts the nozzle surface40. Hence, it is advantageous to press the second blade80by the spring85.

As shown in the bottom view ofFIG. 8, a bottom side of the first receiving chamber30is provided with a rib34so as to surround the periphery of the cylindrical part33and the through-hole32. A rear wall part34aof the rib34is provided between the through-hole32and the second blade80. Although the ink discharged from the cylindrical part33is dropped onto the liquid receiving surface72, a part of the ink may flow along the bottom side of the first receiving chamber30from a side portion of the cylindrical part33. However, the part of the ink is blocked by the rib34and is dropped onto the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7along the rib34. Thereby, it is possible to further prevent the ink from flowing down the second blade80.

Also, the rib34surrounds the periphery of the cylindrical part33and the through-hole32, so that the ink flowing along the bottom side of the first receiving chamber30from the side portion of the cylindrical part33is prevented from flowing to the outside of the rib34. In particular, the ink being directed toward the second blade80is blocked by the rear wall part34a. That is, the ink is surely dropped onto the liquid receiving surface72and can be further prevented from flowing to the second blade80.

Also, as described above, the gap SU is formed between the base3of the wiper unit2and the engaging part22. The ink flowing along the bottom side of the first receiving chamber30from the side portion of the cylindrical part33is blocked by the rib34. Further, even though the ink overflows the rib34, the ink is prevented from flowing to the engaging part22by the gap SU. Thereby, the ink surely flows toward the liquid receiving surface72.

FIGS. 9A to 9Cand10A to10C show the wiping operation of the wiper unit2and a configuration of a surrounding portion of the liquid receiving member7, in which the head4shown inFIG. 1is seen from the sub-scanning direction. For convenience of illustration, the support holder20, the thin member9and the fitting piece21are not shown. The wiping operation is performed according to a program stored in the controller100.

At a front side of the liquid receiving member7and the elevating member70, a waste ink container75is provided. The waste ink container75receives ink wiped off by the second blade80and pushed from the liquid receiving member7. The ink in the waste ink container75is collected to the waste liquid tank76by a pump P. The waste liquid tank76is the same as a tank which collects the ink upon the purge operation.

Also, an ink absorbing member77is provided at a rear side of the liquid receiving member7, and the ink absorbing member77is covered with a mesh-type lid plate78. As described below, the second blade80which wipes the liquid receiving surface72opposes the lid plate78before the wiping operation starts.

The waste ink container75and the ink absorbing member77are moved up together with the liquid receiving member7.

In the meantime, during the wiping operation, the wiper unit2wipes off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40of the head4by the first blade8, returns to an original position of the wiping operation, and then, again advances and wipes off the ink remaining on the liquid receiving surface72by the second blade80.

That is, the wiper unit does not wipe off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40and the liquid receiving surface72at one time by the first blade8and the second blade80. The reasons are as follows.

(1) Since the nozzle surface40and the liquid receiving surface72have different coefficients of friction, the appropriate advancing speeds of the blades wiping off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40and the liquid receiving surface72are different. Specifically, the appropriate speed of the second blade80wiping off the ink remaining on the liquid receiving surface72is higher than that of the first blade8wiping off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40. If the speed of the second blade80wiping off the ink remaining on the liquid receiving surface72is slower, the ink is apt to spread on the liquid receiving surface72, so that the effect of the wiping operation is deteriorated.

(2) When the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40and the liquid receiving surface72is wiped off at one time, the advancing loads of both blades8,80are increased by friction between the nozzle surface40and the liquid receiving surface72.

When the purge operation by the suction pump ends, the elevating member70and the liquid receiving member7are moved down, as shown inFIG. 9A. A space for operating the wiper unit2is formed between the nozzle surface40of the head4and the liquid receiving surface72. At this time, a height position of the liquid receiving surface72is set as an initial position. A height of the nozzle surface40is a recording position when a printing operation is performed on a recording medium, and the nozzle surface40is located at a lower position than the tip end of the first blade8. The elastic member41is moved up and the lower end portion thereof is positioned in the same plane as the nozzle surface40or at a height higher than the nozzle surface40. Also, before the wiping operation, the wiper unit2is deviated from between the nozzle surface40and the liquid receiving member7.

Then, as shown inFIG. 9B, the head4is slightly moved up and reaches a head wiping position. The head wiping position is a height position at which the first blade9can wipe off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40. Also, the liquid receiving member7and the elevating member70are slightly moved up from the initial position, so that the liquid receiving surface72reaches a second position. At the second position, the liquid receiving surface72is below the lower end of the second blade80.

Then, the wiper unit2advances such that the first blade8wipes off the ink remaining on the nozzle surface40. During this wiping, the second blade80does not contact the liquid receiving surface72. As described above, the ink wiped off by the first blade8passes through the through-hole32and the cylindrical part33and is dropped onto the liquid receiving surface72at the front of the second blade80. The liquid receiving surface72is located at the second position elevated from the initial position, so that the dropped ink is reduced or prevented from being scattered.

When the first blade8wipes the nozzle surface40entirely, the head4is further moved up from the head wiping position, as shown inFIG. 9C, so that the nozzle surface40reaches a head retreat position. At the head retreat position, the height position of the nozzle surface40is higher than the tip end of the first blade8. The wiper unit2stops after the nozzle surface40and is positioned above the waste ink container75. The elevation member70is moved up, so that the liquid receiving surface72and the upper surface of the waste ink container75reaches a dropped ink suction position from the second position, and the waste ink container75is positioned just below the cylindrical part33of the wiper unit2. The pump P is used to suction the ink, which remains in the liquid receiving space35of the base3and can be dropped from the cylindrical part33, into the waste liquid tank76. Since the ink has a viscosity, the ink may remain in the liquid receiving space35even after the wiper unit2has passed the nozzle surface40. Considering a case where such remaining ink is dropped from the base3, the ink is received in the waste ink container75.

Then, as shown inFIG. 10A, the elevating member7is moved down, so that the liquid receiving surface72and the upper surface of the waste ink container75reach the second position from the dropped ink suction position. Thereby, a return passage of the wiper unit2is formed and the wiper unit2is returned along the guide shaft15. While the wiper unit2is returned, the first blade8is separated from the nozzle surface40and the second blade80is separated from the liquid receiving surface72, so that the blades do not wipe off the ink.

At a state where the wiper unit2is returned completely, as shown inFIG. 10B, the elevation member70is moved up, so that the liquid receiving surface72and the upper surface of the lid plate78reach the dropped ink suction position from the second position. The second blade80of the wiper unit2contacts the lid plate78, so that the tip end portion thereof is cleaned by the ink absorbing member77. If the ink is attached to the tip end portion of the second blade80, the ink on the upper surface of the liquid receiving member7cannot be sufficiently wiped off. Therefore, the tip end portion of the second blade80is cleaned in advance.

After the cleaning is completed, the liquid receiving member7and the lid plate78are moved down by a predetermined distance from the state shown inFIG. 10B. After the wiper unit2advances by a predetermined distance, the wiper unit2stops. The stopped position is outside an area where the ink droplet44can be dropped from the nozzle surface40(refer toFIG. 10C). That is, the second blade80starts the ink wiping from the site where the ink cannot dropped, so as to prevent the ink from remaining without being completely wiped off.

The elevating member70is again moved up, so that the liquid receiving surface72reaches a third position higher than the second position, as shown inFIG. 10C. The third position is a height position at which the tip end of the second blade80contacts the liquid receiving surface72at the state shown inFIG. 7B. The height may be substantially same as the dropped ink suction position. Then, the wiper unit2is again advanced to wipe off the ink remaining on the liquid receiving surface72. When the second blade80passes the liquid receiving surface72, the ink wiped off by the second blade80is received in the waste ink container75and flows into the waste liquid tank76. Thereby, the wiping operation ends.

After the wiping operation ends, the pump P is used to suction the ink attached to the second blade80into the waste liquid tank76, as shown inFIG. 9C. Then, the liquid receiving member7and the waste ink container75are lowered to retreat from the wiper unit2, and the head4is lowered until the nozzle surface40reaches the height position of the recording position.

By the configuration and operation of the wiper unit2, it is possible to effectively reduce or prevent the ink on the nozzle surface40wiped off by the first blade8from flowing to the second blade80.

In the above illustrative embodiment, the first blade8is provided between the front end of the opening part of the first receiving chamber30and the rear end thereof. However, instead of this configuration, the first blade8may be provided at the rear end of the opening part, and the wiped off ink may be received in the liquid receiving space35, as shown with the dotted-dashed line inFIG. 6.

Also, in the inkjet recording apparatus1of the above illustrative embodiment, the liquid receiving member7is also used as a cap for sealing the nozzle surface40. However, instead of this configuration, the cap may be used as the liquid receiving member. Also, the liquid receiving member7and the cap may be separately provided.

Also, in the inkjet recording apparatus1of the above illustrative embodiment, the ink is discharged onto the liquid receiving surface72upon the purge operation. However, instead of this configuration or in addition to this configuration, a flushing operation of driving the head4based on flushing data different from the image data and thus forcibly discharging the ink through a part or all of the liquid discharge holes may be performed, and the ink may be discharged onto the liquid receiving surface72upon the flushing operation.

In the above illustrative embodiment, the inkjet recording apparatus1is a monochrome type recording apparatus which uses only black ink. However, the inventive concept of the present invention can be also applied to a recording apparatus which uses three-color inks of cyan, yellow and magenta, like a general color printer.