Patent Publication Number: US-9421778-B2

Title: Liquid discharge apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-066016, filed on Mar. 27, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to liquid discharge apparatuses discharging liquid. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In liquid discharge apparatuses including a liquid jet head jetting a liquid, if some of the liquid adheres to and remains on a liquid jet surface in which a plurality of nozzles of the liquid jet head are arranged, then some problems will occur such as impeding liquid jet from each nozzle to give rise to jet defection, etc. Therefore, ordinary liquid discharge apparatuses include a wiper adapted to wipe off the liquid adhering to the liquid jet surface of the liquid jet head. 
     For example, there are known ink jet printers including a recording head to jet ink while moving in a scanning direction, and a wiper to wipe off the ink adhering to an ink jet surface (facing surface) of the recording head. 
     Further, in such an ink jet printer, there may be a problem that when the wiper has wiped off the ink adhering to the ink jet surface of the recording head, part of the ink remains adhering and sticking to a lateral surface of the recording head. Therefore, there are known ink jet printers further including a scraper to remove the ink adhering to the lateral surface of the recording head. The scraper is integrated with a cap to cover the ink jet surface of the recording head. Along with raising and lowering the cap, the scraper moves up and down along the lateral surface of the recording head with only a little interspace left between the scraper and the lateral surface of the recording head. The scraper scrapes off the thickened ink accumulated above a certain height on the lateral surface of the recording head. 
     SUMMARY 
     In such an ink jet printer as mentioned above, in order for the scraper to scrape off the thickened ink accumulated on the lateral surface of the recording head, it is necessary to move the scraper along the lateral surface of the recording head. When a configuration should be provided particularly for that purpose, then the number of components would increase so as to complicate the configuration of the apparatus. In this respect, there is also a known configuration in which the scraper is integrated with the cap, and driven to move up and down together with the cap. In this configuration, however, it is possible for the scraper to scrape only at a particular timing for the cap to move up and down. That is, because it is not possible to drive the scraper independently, there is only a limited timing for the scraper to clean the lateral surface of the recording head. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present teaching to provide a liquid discharge apparatus capable of removing the liquid adhering to a lateral surface of a liquid jet head without moving a cleaning member. 
     According to an aspect of the present teaching, there is provided a liquid discharge apparatus configured to discharge liquid, including: a liquid jet head including a liquid jet surface in which a plurality of nozzles is formed, and being configured to move in a scanning direction; 
     a head movement unit configured to supply the liquid jet head with a power for moving the liquid jet head in the scanning direction; 
     a wiper configured to wipe off the liquid adhered to the liquid jet surface of the liquid jet head by moving relative to the liquid jet head; and 
     a cleaning member formed of a material of absorbing the liquid, provided within a range for the liquid jet head to move in the scanning direction, and configured to contact with the liquid adhering to a lateral surface of the liquid jet head by a movement of the liquid jet head in the scanning direction. 
     According to the present teaching, the cleaning member is provided within the range for the liquid jet head to move in the scanning direction. Then, if the liquid jet head moves in the scanning direction to reach the position of providing the cleaning member, then on this occasion, the cleaning member contacts with the liquid adhering to lateral surface of the liquid jet head. By virtue of this, the cleaning member absorbs and removes the ink adhering to the lateral surface of the liquid jet head when the wiper wipes the liquid jet surface. According to the present teaching, because it is possible for the cleaning member to contact with the liquid adhering to the lateral surface of the liquid jet head by moving the liquid jet head, it is not necessary to move the cleaning member, and thus the configuration therefor is not needed. 
     According to the present teaching, by causing the cleaning movement unit to move the cleaning member in a direction parallel to the lateral surface of the liquid jet head, it is possible to reliably remove the liquid adhering to the lateral surface of the liquid jet head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present teaching; 
         FIGS. 2A to 2C  are front views of an ink jet head and a maintenance unit, wherein  FIG. 2A  shows a state in purging,  FIG. 2B  shows a state in starting to wipe an ink jet surface, and  FIG. 2C  shows a state in wiping the ink jet surface; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the ink jet head and an ink receiving member; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a maintenance process; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an ink jet head and a maintenance unit according to a modification of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an ink jet head, a flushing receiving member, and a cleaning member according to another modification; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic plan view of a printer according to still another modification; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of an ink jet head, a cleaning member, and a cleaning movement unit according to still another modification; and 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of an ink jet head, a maintenance unit, a cleaning member, and a cleaning movement unit according to still another modification. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinbelow, an embodiment of the present teaching will be explained. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , a printer  1  (the liquid discharge apparatus of the present teaching) includes a platen  2 , an ink jet head  3 , a holder  4 , a paper feed roller  5 , a paper discharge roller  6 , a maintenance unit  7 , an ink receiving member  8 , a controller  9 , etc. Further, the respective directions of front, rear, left and right depicted in  FIG. 1  are defined as “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right” of the printer. Further, the near side of the page of  FIG. 1  is defined as “upper” or “up”, while the far side of the page is defined as “lower” or “down”. The following explanation will use each directional term of the front, rear, left, right, upper or up, and lower or down as appropriate. 
     &lt;Schematic Configuration of the Printer&gt; 
     A sheet of recording paper P as a recording medium is positioned on the upper surface of the platen  2 . Further, above the platen  2 , two guide rails  11  and  12  are provided parallel to a left-right direction (to be also referred to below as a scanning direction). 
     The ink jet head  3  (the liquid jet head of the present teaching) includes a carriage  13 , a sub-tank  14 , and an ink jet unit  15 . The carriage  13  is configured to be movable in the scanning direction along the two guide rails  11  and  12  in an area facing the platen  2 . The carriage  13  is connected to an endless drive belt  16 , and a head drive motor  17  (the head movement unit of the present teaching) drives the drive belt  16  to move the carriage  13  in the scanning direction. 
     The sub-tank  14  is mounted on the carriage  13 . A tube joint  18  is provided on the upper surface of the sub-tank  14 , and connected with four ink supply tubes  19  connected with the holder  4 . Four ink cartridges  20  are installed in the holder  4  in an exchangeable manner to respectively retain four types of ink (black, yellow, cyan and magenta). Then, the sub-tank  14  is supplied with the four types of ink retained respectively in the four ink cartridges  20  via the four ink supply tubes  19 . 
     The ink jet unit  15  is fitted below the sub-tank  14 . The ink jet unit  15  has a plurality of nozzles  21  formed in the lower surface thereof. Further, the lower surface of the ink jet unit  15 , where the plurality of nozzles  21  are formed, is referred to as an ink jet surface  15   a  (see  FIGS. 2A to 2C , and  FIG. 3 : corresponding to the liquid jet surface of the present teaching). The ink jet unit  15  jets the inks supplied from the sub-tank  14  from the plurality of nozzles  21 , respectively. The plurality of nozzles  21  are aligned to form four nozzle rows which correspond to the four types of ink. 
     The paper feed roller  5  and the paper discharge roller  6  are driven synchronously with each other to rotate by a transport motor (not depicted). The paper feed roller  5  and the paper discharge roller  6  cooperate to transport the recording paper P positioned on the platen  2  in a frontward direction (to be also referred to below as a conveyance direction). 
     The maintenance unit  7  is arranged in an end position on the right side (to be also referred to as a maintenance position A) within the range for the ink jet head  3  to move in the scanning direction. The maintenance unit  7  includes a cap member  23 , a suction pump  24 , a wiper  25 , etc. The maintenance unit  7  carries out operations such as suction purge and the like for maintaining and recovering the jet function of the plurality of nozzles  21  of the ink jet head  3 . Details of the maintenance unit  7  will be explained later on. 
     The ink receiving member  8  is arranged in an end position on the left side (to be also referred to as a flushing position B) within the range for the ink jet head  3  to move in the scanning direction. The ink receiving member  8  is formed of a material capable of absorbing the inks (a porous material, for example). The ink receiving member  8  is configured to absorb the ink and the like jetted from the plurality of nozzles  21  in flushing the ink jet head  3 . The ink receiving member  8  may be formed of a member of which surface includes a plurality of fine grooves. In this case, the ink is drawn into the grooves by the capillary force. Details of the ink receiving member  8  will also be explained later on. 
     The controller  9  (the controller of the present teaching) includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) including various control circuits, etc. Subject to programs stored in the ROM and with the ASIC, the controller  9  carries out various processes such as printing on the recording paper P, and the like. In the printing process, for example, based on a print command input from an external device such as a PC or the like, the controller  9  controls the ink jet unit  15 , the head drive motor  17 , and the like, to print images and the like on the recording paper P. Further, it controls the suction pump  24  and the like of the maintenance unit  7  to carry out the maintenance operation such as the suction purge and the like. 
     &lt;Details of the Maintenance Unit&gt; 
     Next, a detailed configuration of the maintenance unit  7  will be explained.  FIGS. 2A to 2C  are front views of the ink jet head  3  and the maintenance unit  7 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2C , the maintenance unit  7  includes the cap member  23 , the suction pump  24 , and the wiper  25 . 
     The cap member  23  is formed of rubber, synthetic resin, or the like. The cap member  23  is held by a cap lift holder  26  thereunder. A cap drive portion  27  including a motor and the like drives the cap lift holder  26  to move up and down. By virtue of this, the cap member  23  moves up and down together with the cap lift holder  26 . A tube  29  connects the suction pump  24  to the cap member  23 . 
     When the ink jet head  3  has moved to the maintenance position A of  FIG. 1 , the ink jet surface  15   a  of the ink jet head  3  comes into such a state as to face the cap member  23  vertically, as depicted in  FIGS. 2A to 2C . From this state, when the cap drive portion  27  drives the cap lift holder  26  to move upward, then the cap member  23  also moves upward simultaneously. Then, the cap member  23  is attached tightly to the ink jet surface  15   a  of the ink jet head  3  to cover the plurality of nozzles  21 . In this state, by actuating the suction pump  24  to depressurize the inside of the cap member  23 , the inks are sucked and forcibly discharged from the plurality of nozzles  21 . By virtue of this, from the ink jet unit  15 , there are discharged foreign substances, air bubbles, high viscosity inks due to drying, and the like inside the ink jet unit  15  (this operation is called the suction purge). It is possible to perform a pressurized purge in which the ink in the nozzles  21  is pressurized to forcibly discharge the ink from the nozzles  21 , by using a pressure pump in place of the suction pump  24 . 
     The wiper  25  is a plate-like member formed of a flexible material such as rubber, synthetic resin or the like. The wiper  25  is arranged on the left side of the cap member  23  to assume a posture parallel to the up-down direction. Further, the wiper  25  is driven to move up and down by a wiper drive portion  28  including a motor and the like. As depicted in  FIGS. 2B and 2C , when the leading end of the wiper  25  is positioned above the ink jet surface  15   a  of the ink jet head  3 , and when the ink jet head  3  moves in the scanning direction, then the wiper  25  moves relative to the ink jet surface  15   a  to wipe the ink jet surface  15   a.    
     While no particular limitation is imposed on the timing for the wiper  25  to wipe the ink jet surface  15   a , an explanation will be made below on a wiping process after the suction purge described above. As depicted in  FIG. 2B , after the suction purge is finished, the cap drive portion  27  moves the cap member  23  downward to separate the cap member  23  from the ink jet surface  15   a . At this time, a part of the ink Ia discharged in the suction purge is adhering to the ink jet surface  15   a  immediately after being separated from the cap member  23 . 
     In order to wipe off the ink Ia adhering to the ink jet surface  15   a , first, the wiper drive portion  28  moves the wiper  25  upward. At this time, the leading end of the wiper  25  moves up to a position above the lower end of the carriage  13  of the ink jet head  3 . In this state, when the ink jet head  3  moves leftward, then first, as depicted in  FIG. 2B , the leading end of the wiper  25  contacts with a left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . When the ink jet head  3  further moves leftward, then the leading end of the wiper  25  comes to bend while in contact with the ink jet surface  15   a , and moves rightward relative to the ink jet surface  15   a . By virtue of this, the wiper  25  wipes off the ink Ia adhering to the ink jet surface  15   a.    
     Further, the ink Ia, which was wiped off from the ink jet surface  15   a  by the wiper  25 , is now adhering to the wiper  25 . While a large part of this ink comes to drop downward along the wiper  25  due to the gravity, a part of the ink still remains on the leading end of the wiper  25 . Then, the next time the wiper  25  wipes the ink jet surface  15   a , as depicted in  FIG. 2B , the leading end of the wiper  25  may come to contact with the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  immediately before the wiping. In this case, as depicted in  FIG. 2C , an ink Ib remaining on the wiper  25  may come to adhere to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . 
     After the ink Ib has come from the wiper  25  to adhere to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 , when a certain period of time has passed, the next chance comes for the wiper  25  to wipe the ink jet surface  15   a  again. On this occasion, when the leading end of the wiper  25  has contacted with the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 , the ink adhering to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  and being a little thickened comes to adhere to the wiper  25 . In this state, if the wiper  25  were to wipe the ink jet surface  15   a , then the thickened ink adhering to the wiper  25  would inversely come to adhere to the ink jet surface  15   a , and hence to inevitably cause jet defection again with the nozzles  21  which should have recovered its jet function through the suction purge. 
     Further, other than the above problem, if the carriage  13  moves while the ink Ib remains in adherence to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  as it is, then the ink is liable to drop from the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  during the moving. In this embodiment, however, in order to prevent these problems from happening, an aftermentioned cleaning portion  32  is used to remove the ink adhering to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . 
     &lt;Details of the Ink Receiving Member&gt; 
     Next, a detailed configuration of the ink receiving member  8  will be explained.  FIG. 3  is a front view of the ink jet head  3  and the ink receiving member  8 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the ink receiving member  8  has a flushing receiving portion  31  (the flushing receiving member of the present teaching) arranged along a horizontal plane, and a cleaning portion  32  (the cleaning member of the present teaching) extending upward from the left end of the flushing receiving portion  31 , and is approximately L-shaped in planar view. Further, under the ink receiving member  8 , an ink absorption member  33 , which is formed of a material capable of absorbing the ink in analogy with the ink receiving member  8 , is arranged in contact with the ink receiving member  8 . Further, the ink absorption member  33  has a larger volume and a larger capacity of absorbing the inks than the ink receiving member  8 . 
     In this embodiment, at an appropriate timing, the ink jet head  3  carries out an operation called flushing. The flushing mentioned here refers to a process of jetting the ink from each of the plurality of nozzles  21  a plurality of times toward the flushing receiving portion  31  of the ink receiving member  8 . While the flushing has various purposes, there are such reasons, for example, as to prevent the inks inside the nozzles  21  from drying, to shape up the meniscus inside the nozzles  21  after the suction purge, and the like. 
     In order for the ink jet head  3  to carry out the flushing, when the ink jet head  3  moves to the flushing position B of  FIG. 1 , the ink jet surface  15   a  of the ink jet head  3  comes to vertically face the flushing receiving portion  31  of the ink receiving member  8 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . In this state, the flushing receiving portion  31  receives the ink jetted from the plurality of nozzles  21  of the ink jet head  3 . Further, when the ink jet head  3  has moved to the flushing position B, the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  (the carriage  13 ) contacts with the cleaning portion  32 . By virtue of this, as depicted in  FIG. 2C , even when the ink Ib from the wiper  25  is adhering to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 , the cleaning portion  32  still absorbs the ink Ib on the left lateral surface  30 . 
     &lt;A Series of the Maintenance Processes for the Ink Jet Head  3 &gt; 
     Next, referring to the flowchart of  FIG. 4 , an explanation will be made on a series of the maintenance processes to be carried out by the controller  9 , related to recovery and maintenance of the ink jet head  3  from jet defection. Further, the symbol Si (i=1, 2, and 3) used in  FIG. 4  denotes each step number of the maintenance processes. 
     When there is a situation which is giving rise to jet defection of the nozzles  21  of the ink jet head  3 , or a situation which may give rise to jet defection because the inks have not been jetted for a while, then the controller  9  controls the maintenance unit  7  to carry out the suction purge (S 1 : purge process). Such situations can be taken as examples for which the suction purge is needed, that the ink jet head  3  has not been used for a certain period of time, the user has entered a command requiring the suction purge to be carried out from an operation panel (not depicted) of the printer  1 , etc. 
     The controller  9  controls the head drive motor  17  to move the ink jet head  3  to the maintenance position A of  FIG. 1  and, as depicted in  FIG. 2A , to cause the ink jet surface  15   a  of the ink jet head  3  to face the cap member  23 . Next, the controller  9  controls the cap drive portion  27  to move the cap member  23  upward to cause the cap member  23  to appress the ink jet surface  15   a . By virtue of this, the plurality of nozzles  21  in the ink jet surface  15   a  come to be covered by the cap member  23 . In this state, the controller  9  actuates the suction pump  24  to depressurize the inside of the cap member  23 , so as to forcibly discharge the ink from the plurality of nozzles  21  of the ink jet head  3 . After the suction pump  24  is finished with the suction purge, the controller  9  controls the cap drive portion  27  to move the cap member  23  downward to be separated from the ink jet surface  15   a.    
     Next, after the suction purge is finished, as depicted in  FIG. 2B , the ink Ia is adhering to the ink jet surface  15   a . Therefore, the controller  9  causes the wiper  25  to wipe off the ink Ia adhering to the ink jet surface  15   a  (S 2 : wiping process). First, the controller  9  controls the wiper drive portion  28  to raise the wiper  25 . Next, it controls the head drive motor  17  to move the ink jet head  3  leftward. On this occasion, as depicted in  FIG. 2B , the leading end of the wiper  25  comes to contact with the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . Further, by moving the ink jet head  3  leftward, as depicted in  FIG. 2C , the leading end of the wiper  25  in a bent state is wiping off the ink Ia adhering to the ink jet surface  15   a . Further, on this occasion, as described earlier, it is possible for the ink Ib remaining on the wiper  25  before the wiping to adhere to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . 
     Because of the suction purge, and the wiping thereafter by the wiper  25 , it is possible for the meniscus of the ink in the plurality of nozzles  21  to be unstable. Therefore, in order to shape up the meniscus of the inks in each of the nozzles  21 , after the wiper  25  wipes the ink jet surface  15   a , the controller  9  successively causes the ink jet head  3  to carry out the flushing (S 3 ). That is, the controller  9  controls the head drive motor  17  to move the ink jet head  3  to the flushing position B of  FIG. 1  and, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , causes the ink jet surface  15   a  to face the flushing receiving portion  31  of the ink receiving member  8  (head movement process). In this state, the ink is jetted respectively from the plurality of nozzles  21  of the ink jet head  3  toward the flushing receiving portion  31  (flushing process). 
     Here, when the ink jet head  3  has moved to the flushing position B, the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  is in contact with the cleaning portion  32  of the ink receiving member  8 . Therefore, even when the ink is adhering to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 , the cleaning portion  32  still absorbs and removes the ink. When the printing is performed, the ink jet head is scanned within the region facing the recording paper P (a printing-scanning region, see  FIG. 1 ) to jet the ink onto the recording paper P. When the controller  9  determines that it is necessary to perform cleaning of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 , the ink jet head is moved to an adjacent region which includes the flushing position B and which is adjacent to the printing-scanning region in the scanning direction to perform cleaning of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . Then the cleaning portion  32  may be deformed by contacting the lateral surface  30  of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . If the cleaning portion  32  is deformed by contacting the lateral surface  30  of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  frequently, the cleaning portion  32  may deteriorate rapidly. Therefore, the controller may control the cleaning portion  32  such that only when the controller  9  determines it is necessary to perform cleaning of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 , the cleaning portion  32  may be deformed by contacting the lateral surface  30  of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . For example, when the flushing operation is performed, the cleaning portion  32  may be deformed by contacting the lateral surface  30  of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . Or, when a command to perform the cleaning of the lateral surface is input by the user, the cleaning portion  32  may be deformed by contacting the lateral surface  30  of the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . 
     As explained earlier, in this embodiment, the cleaning portion  32  is provided within the range for the ink jet head  3  to move in the scanning direction. The ink jet head  3  moves up to the position of the cleaning portion  32  for the cleaning portion  32  to contact with the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  (the carriage  13 ). On this occasion, the cleaning portion  32  absorbs and removes the ink adhering to the lateral surface of the carriage  13  when the wiper  25  wipes the ink jet surface  15   a . In this manner, because it is possible for the cleaning portion  32  to contact with the lateral surface of the carriage  13  by moving the ink jet head  3 , it is not necessary to move the cleaning portion  32 , and thus the configuration therefor is not needed. 
     Further, in this embodiment, because the cleaning portion  32  is located at an end position in the range for the ink jet head  3  to move in the scanning direction, when images and the like are printed on the recording paper P, the cleaning portion  32  does not come in the way when the ink jet head  3  jets the inks while moving leftward and rightward in a central part in the aforementioned movement range. 
     In this embodiment, when wiping the ink jet surface  15   a , first, the wiper  25  comes to contact with the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  (the carriage  13 ) and, in this state by moving the ink jet head  3  leftward, the wiper  25  wipes the ink jet surface  15   a . On this occasion, when the wiping is carried out this time with part of the ink wiped off previously still remaining on the wiper  25 , then the ink adhering to the wiper  25  may come to adhere to the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 . In this embodiment, after the wiper  25  is finished with the wiping, the ink jet head  3  is successively moved leftward up to the left end position (the flushing position B) in the movement range, so as to cause the cleaning portion  32  installed at the left end position to contact with the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 . By virtue of this, following the wiping by the wiper  25 , it is possible to simply clean the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  to which the ink may adhere in that wiping. 
     Further, in this embodiment, the flushing receiving portion  31  and the cleaning portion  32  are arranged in the same position (the flushing position B). Therefore, when the ink jet head  3  has moved up to the flushing position B for carrying out the flushing, the cleaning portion  32  contacts with the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  to remove the ink adhering to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . That is, it is possible for the cleaning portion  32  to clean the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  simultaneously with flushing the ink jet head  3 . 
     As described above, the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  (the carriage  13 ) to which the ink may adhere in the wiping is cleaned after the wiping by the wiper  25 . Therefore, it is possible to clean the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  before the ink on the left lateral surface  30  is solidified. Further, it takes a few seconds to finish cleaning the left lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  after the cleaning portion  32  contacts with the left lateral surface  30 . In this embodiment, it is possible for the cleaning portion  32  to clean the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  simultaneously with flushing the ink jet head  3 . Therefore, it is possible to reduce time as compared with the case in which cleaning by the cleaning portion  30  and flushing of the ink jet head  3  are performed separately. 
     The cleaning portion  32  is formed of a material capable of absorbing the ink. When the process is carried out a number of times to remove the ink adhering to the lateral surface of the ink jet head  3 , then it is predictable that the cleaning portion  32  may gradually become saturated such that the cleaning portion  32  cannot absorb the ink anymore. In this embodiment, therefore, the flushing receiving portion  31  and the cleaning portion  32  are integrated to construct the one ink receiving member  8 . Further, the ink receiving member  8  is connected with the ink absorption member  33 . That is, the flushing receiving portion  31  and the cleaning portion  32  are connected with the common ink absorption member  33 . First, the ink jetted into the flushing receiving portion  31  are absorbed into the ink absorption member  33  from the flushing receiving portion  31 . Further, because the cleaning portion  32  is also connected to the ink absorption member  33  in common use with the flushing receiving portion  31 , the ink absorbed by the cleaning portion  32  from the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  also flows into the ink absorption member  33 . That is, because the ink absorbed by the cleaning portion  32  flows into the ink absorption member  33  for absorbing the ink jetted in the flushing, the ink absorption function of the cleaning portion  32  is maintained for a long period of time. 
     Next, explanations will be made on a few modifications applying various changes to the above embodiment. However, the same reference numerals are assigned to the components of similar configurations to those in the above embodiment, and the explanation therefor will be omitted as appropriate. 
     &lt;First Modification&gt; 
     In the above embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 2B , before wiping the ink jet surface  15   a , the leading end of the wiper  25  has contacted with the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  of the ink jet head  3 ; therefore, part of the ink adheres to the left lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . However, the present teaching is not limited to such kind of embodiment. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , for example, the wiper  25  may contact with a lateral surface  40  of the ink jet unit  15  but not with the carriage  13  such that part of the ink may adhere to the lateral surface  40  of the ink jet unit  15 . Further, it is a matter of course that the cleaning portion  32  for cleaning the lateral surface  40  of the ink jet unit  15  is provided at such a height as to contact with the lateral surface  40  of the ink jet unit  15  when the ink jet head  3  has moved there. 
     &lt;Second Modification&gt; 
     In the above embodiment, the cleaning portion  32  and the flushing receiving portion  31  are formed from an integrated member, that is, formed as the ink receiving member  8 , while the ink absorption member  33  is connected to the ink receiving member  8 . However, the present teaching is not limited to such kind of configuration. As depicted in  FIG. 6  for example, a flushing receiving member  41  and a cleaning member  42  may be formed from different members. In such cases, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , it is preferable to also connect the cleaning member  42  to the ink absorption member  33  connected to the flushing receiving member  41 . Further, the cleaning member, the flushing receiving member, and the ink absorption member may be formed as an integrated member. For example, the ink absorption member  33  may be constructed into such a form as to include the cleaning portion  32  and the flushing receiving portion  31  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or part of the ink absorption member  33  may be constructed to function as a cleaning member. 
     &lt;Third Modification&gt; 
     The cleaning member need not be located in the same position (the flushing position B) as that in which the flushing receiving member is located. For example, when the wiper  25  wipes the ink jet surface  15   a  in such a direction (that is, the movement direction of the wiper  25  relative to the ink jet head  3 ) as opposed to the direction depicted in  FIG. 2B  in the above embodiment, then part of the ink may adhere to the right lateral surface of the carriage  13 . In this case, in order to be able to clean the right lateral surface of the ink jet head  3 , the cleaning member is preferably arranged in an end position on the right side in the movement range. 
     Further, the cleaning member need not necessarily be located in an end position in the range for the ink jet head  3  to move, but may be arranged in a central position according to the scanning direction. In such a case, however, in order for the ink jet head  3  not to come in the way when jetting the ink to the recording paper P, it is preferable to configure the cleaning member as capable of retreating back to a position without contact with the carriage  13  by being moved vertically relative to the ink jet head  3 . 
     &lt;Fourth Modification&gt; 
     It is not necessary for the cleaning member to clean the lateral surface of the ink jet head  3  by cooperatively carrying out the suction purge, the wiping of the ink jet surface  15   a  with the wiper  25  and the flushing, but the cleaning member may carry out the cleaning operation at any timing. For example, in the above embodiment, right after carrying out the wiping with the wiper  25 , the ink jet head  3  is moved to the flushing position for the cleaning member to carry out the cleaning simultaneously with the flushing. In contrast to this, the cleaning member may carry out the cleaning independently from other operations such as moving the ink jet head  3  to contact with the cleaning member, etc., at a right timing after some time has passed since the wiper  25  carried out the wiping. 
     &lt;Fifth Modification&gt; 
     In the above embodiment, the wiper  25  is fixed in position. Further, because of the movement of the ink jet head  3  in the scanning direction, the wiper  25  carries out the wiping in moving relative to the ink jet surface  15   a  in the scanning direction. In contrast to this, the ink jet surface  15   a  may be wiped by moving the wiper per se relative to the ink jet head  3  with a drive portion of an appropriate configuration including a motor and the like. 
     &lt;Sixth Modification&gt; 
     In the above embodiment, the wiper  25  contacts with a lateral surface of the ink jet head  3  (the carriage  13  or the ink jet unit  15 ) according to the scanning direction before wiping the ink jet surface  15   a  and, therefore, part of the ink adheres to that lateral surface. In contrast to this, depending on the configuration of the wiper  25 , part of the ink may adhere to a lateral surface of the ink jet head  3  according to the conveyance direction (the front-rear direction). 
     For example, even if the wiper  25  wipes in the scanning direction, part of the ink may still adhere to the lateral surface on the front or rear side of the ink jet head  3  (the carriage  13  or the ink jet unit  15 ) because of the wiper  25  also sweeps the ink in the front-rear direction when wiping off the same from the ink jet surface  15   a.    
     Further, when such a configuration is adopted that the wiper  25  is movable relative to the ink jet head  3 , then it is also possible for the wiper  25  to wipe not in the scanning direction but in the conveyance direction (the front-rear direction). In this manner, when the wiper  25  moves in the conveyance direction relative to the ink jet surface  15   a , then because the wiper  25  contacts with the lateral surface of the ink jet head  3  (the carriage  13  or the ink jet unit  15 ) on the front or rear side before wiping the ink jet surface  15   a , part of the ink is to adhere to either of those lateral surfaces. 
     In this manner, when cleaning the lateral surface of the ink jet head  3  on the front or rear side, the cleaning member is arranged to contact with one or both of the lateral surfaces of the ink jet head  3  on the front and rear sides. For example, in  FIG. 7 , two cleaning members  52   a  and  52   b  are arranged respectively in positions on the front side and on the rear side of the flushing receiving member  51 . By virtue of this, when the ink jet head  3  has moved to the flushing position B, the lateral surface of the ink jet unit  15  on the front side comes to contact with the cleaning member  52   a  whereas the lateral surface of the ink jet head  3  on the rear side comes to contact with the cleaning member  52   b . Therefore, the two lateral surfaces on the front and rear sides are cleaned simultaneously. 
     &lt;Seventh Modification&gt; 
     In order to easily remove the ink adhering to a lateral surface of the ink jet head  3 , the cleaning member may move relative to that lateral surface while being in contact with the lateral surface of the ink jet head  3 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , a cleaning member  62  is linked to a cleaning movement unit  63  to vertically move the cleaning member  62 . With the cleaning member  62  being in contact with the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 , the cleaning movement unit  63  minutely vibrates the cleaning member  62  in the up-down direction parallel to the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13 . That is, in addition to moving the ink jet head  3  to cause the cleaning member  62  to contact with the lateral surface  30  so that the cleaning member  62  absorbs the ink adhering to the lateral surface  30 , the cleaning movement unit  63  further moves the cleaning member  62  relative to the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 . By virtue of this, even when the thickened ink is caked or solidly attached on the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 , it is still possible to reliably remove that ink. Further, it is possible to use a motor, a cylinder or the like as the actuator of the cleaning movement unit  63 . Further, because it is sufficient for the cleaning member  62  to move to the extent of minute vibration, it is also possible to use a piezoelectric actuator. Further, the cleaning movement unit  63  may also move the cleaning member  62  in the front-rear direction. 
     Alternatively, in  FIG. 8 , the cleaning movement unit  63  may move the cleaning member  62  in the left-right direction orthogonal to the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 . When the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  contacts with the cleaning member  62 , even with a small pressing force against the cleaning member  62 , it is still possible to reliably remove the ink adhering to the lateral surface  30  by moving the cleaning member  62  in the left-right direction so as to intensively press the cleaning member  62  against the carriage  13 . 
     &lt;Eighth Modification&gt; 
     In the above seventh modification, the cleaning member  62  is configured to contact with the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 . However, the present teaching is not limited to such a configuration but, for example, the cleaning member  62  may be configured to face the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3  at an interval across a slight gap. In such a configuration, when the cleaning member  62  can contact with the ink adhering to the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 , then it is possible for the cleaning member  62  to absorb the ink adhering to the lateral surface  30 . In other words, the cleaning member  62  may be configured not to contact with the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 , but to face the lateral surface  30  at an interval across such a slight gap as contactable with the ink adhering to the lateral surface  30  of the ink jet head  3 . In such a case, it is still possible for the cleaning member  62  to absorb the ink adhering to the lateral surface  30 . 
     &lt;Ninth Modification&gt; 
     In the embodiment, the ink jet head  3  is moved to the flushing position B at which the ink jet head  3  faces the flushing receiving portion  31 . During the flushing operation, the ink is jetted from the ink jet head  3  toward the flushing receiving portion  31 . However, the present teaching is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the ink jet head  3  may be moved to a facing position at which the ink jet head  3  faces the cap member  23 . During the flushing operation, the ink may be jetted from the ink jet head  3  toward the cap member  23 . In this case, as depicted in  FIG. 9 , the cleaning member  62  and the cleaning movement unit  63  may be provided between the wiper  25  and the cap member  23 . In this case, during the flushing operation in which the ink is jetted from the ink jet head  3  toward the cap member  23 , it is possible to clean the lateral surface  30  of the carriage  13  (the ink jet head  3 ) by moving the cleaning member  62  vertically by the cleaning movement unit  63 . 
     In the embodiment and its modifications described above, the present teaching is applied to an ink jet printer which jets ink to recording paper to print images and the like thereon. However, the present teaching may also be applied to any liquid discharge apparatus used for various purposes other than printing images and the like. For example, it is also possible to apply the present teaching to liquid discharge apparatuses which jet an electrically conductive liquid to a substrate to form a conductive pattern on a surface of the substrate.