Patent Description:
As known in the art, a maintenance device includes a moisturizing cap and a suction cap. The moisturizing cap contacts a discharge face in which a discharge port is disposed to retain moisture of a liquid in the discharge port. The liquid is discharged from the discharge port. The suction cap is disposed in the moisturizing cap and contacts the discharge face to suck the liquid from the discharge port. When the moisturizing cap retains the moisture of the liquid in the discharge port, the suction cap is moved to a separated position away from the discharge face to be on standby. When the suction cap sucks the liquid from the discharge port, the suction cap is moved relative to the moisturizing cap so that the suction cap is in contact with the discharge face.

<CIT> discloses a maintenance device including the moisturizing cap that contacts the discharge face facing downward to retain moisture of a liquid in the discharge port, and the suction cap disposed in the moisturizing cap. A suction cam as a mover for suction that raises and lowers the suction cap relative to the moisturizing cap is disposed in the moisturizing cap. A moisture-retention cam as a mover for moisture-retention raises the moisturizing cap to cap the discharge face with the moisturizing cap and retain the moisture of the liquid in the discharge port. The suction cam raises the suction cap relative to the moisturizing cap to cap the discharge face with the suction cap and suck the liquid from the discharge port.

Document <CIT> discloses a liquid discharge apparatus with a maintenance device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

However, the maintenance devices described above may increase the number of components and the mechanical complexity, causing the device cost to increase.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a liquid discharge device with an improved maintenance device according to claim <NUM>.

As a result, according to the present disclosure, the number of components of the maintenance device can be reduced, and the configuration of the maintenance device can be simplified, thereby reducing the device cost.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is described below. In this embodiment, an inkjet recording apparatus serves as a liquid discharge apparatus including a maintenance device. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below.

A basic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment is described. <FIG> is a schematic side view of a part of the inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is a schematic view of the inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> as viewed in the direction indicated by arrow A in <FIG>.

The inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a serial type apparatus, and includes a sheet feeding device <NUM> that feeds a rolled sheet <NUM>, which is a recording medium, and a liquid discharge device <NUM> that discharges a liquid onto the rolled sheet <NUM>. A cut sheet may be used as the recording medium.

As illustrated in <FIG>, heaters 30A and 30B are disposed upstream and downstream from the liquid discharge device <NUM> in a conveyance direction of the rolled sheet <NUM> indicated by arrow CD in <FIG> to heat the rolled sheet <NUM>, respectively. A drying fan heater <NUM> faces the heater 30B disposed downstream from the liquid discharge device <NUM> in the conveyance direction to blow hot air onto the rolled sheet <NUM> so as to quickly dry ink as a liquid on the rolled sheet <NUM>.

The liquid discharge device <NUM> includes a carriage <NUM> and a plurality of liquid discharge heads <NUM> mounted on the carriage <NUM>. The liquid discharge head <NUM> discharges ink as a liquid. The carriage <NUM> is reciprocally movable in a main scanning direction (i.e., the width direction of the rolled sheet <NUM>). The liquid discharge head <NUM> discharges liquid droplets toward the rolled sheet <NUM> in the direction indicated by dotted arrows <NUM> in <FIG>. A platen <NUM> as a guide faces the carriage <NUM>. The platen <NUM> may also include a heater to heat the rolled sheet <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the carriage <NUM> is held movably in the main scanning direction by a guide rod <NUM> which laterally bridges between side plates of the inkjet recording apparatus <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> reciprocates in the main scanning direction when a main scanning motor as a driving source is driven.

The plurality of liquid discharge heads <NUM> mounted on the carriage <NUM> includes a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction (i.e., the conveyance direction of the rolled sheet <NUM>) perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The liquid discharge head <NUM> discharges a liquid downward from the nozzles as a plurality of discharge ports.

Ink is supplied to a head tank of the liquid discharge head <NUM> via a supply tube from ink cartridges <NUM> which are replaceably installed on one side (left side in <FIG>) of an apparatus body of the inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> in the main scanning direction. A maintenance device <NUM> is disposed on the other side (right side in <FIG>) of the apparatus body in the main scanning direction. The maintenance device <NUM> maintains and recovers the state of the nozzles of the liquid discharge head <NUM>.

The maintenance device <NUM> is provided corresponding to each liquid discharge head <NUM>, and includes a moisturizing cap <NUM> that caps a nozzle face 4a (see <FIG>) serving as a discharge face of the liquid discharge head <NUM> to prevent moisture evaporation of ink in the liquid discharge head <NUM>. The maintenance device <NUM> further includes, e.g., a dummy discharge receptacle <NUM> to receive ink discharged in dummy discharge in which ink not contributing to image formation is discharged to discharge thickened ink. A suction cap <NUM> is disposed in each moisturizing cap <NUM>. A suction pump <NUM> as a suction device is connected to each suction cap <NUM>. While the nozzle face 4a of the liquid discharge head <NUM> is capped by the suction cap <NUM>, the nozzle face 4a is sucked by the suction pump <NUM> to remove the thickened ink adhering to a wall surface of the nozzle and adhering around a discharge opening of the nozzle. The ink sucked by the suction pump <NUM> is stored in a waste liquid tank <NUM>.

The inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> drives the liquid discharge head <NUM> in response to an image signal while moving the carriage <NUM> in the main scanning direction to discharge ink droplets onto the rolled sheet <NUM> fed from the sheet feeding device <NUM>, thus forming an image. In the present embodiment, the heaters 30A and 30B heat the rolled sheet <NUM> to quickly dry the ink adhering to the rolled sheet <NUM>, thereby preventing the image from deteriorating. Further, in the present embodiment, the drying fan heater <NUM> blows hot air to the ink on the rolled sheet <NUM>, thereby quickly drying the ink on the rolled sheet <NUM> and sufficiently preventing the image from deteriorating.

<FIG> is a schematic view of the suction cap <NUM> and the moisturizing cap <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the moisturizing cap <NUM> has a frame shape in which the entire bottom and top are open, and a holder <NUM> that holds the suction cap <NUM> is disposed so as to pass through a bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> has a shape slightly narrower than the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap <NUM>, and substantially closes the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap <NUM>. The holder <NUM> includes a first holding portion 21a that faces the moisturizing cap <NUM> from below and holds the moisturizing cap <NUM> via a spring <NUM> as an elastic member so as to raise and lower the moisturizing cap <NUM>. The suction cap <NUM> is held so as to be placed on an upper face of the holder <NUM> (i.e., a second holding portion 21b).

A cam <NUM> as a mover is in contact with a bottom surface of the holder <NUM>. A worm 41a of a worm gear is formed on a motor shaft of a cam motor <NUM> that rotates the cam <NUM>. A worm wheel 42a formed on a cam shaft of the cam <NUM> meshes with the worm 41a. In the present embodiment, the cam <NUM> and the cam motor <NUM> construct an elevator <NUM> to raise and lower the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the suction cap <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, since the suction cap <NUM> is disposed inside the moisturizing cap <NUM>, the maintenance device <NUM> can be downsized as compared with a case in which a suction cap is disposed outside the moisturizing cap <NUM>, thereby downsizing the entire inkjet recording apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> are schematic views of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the suction cap <NUM> that move up and down. <FIG> illustrates a decapping state in which neither the moisturizing cap <NUM> nor the suction cap <NUM> caps the nozzle face 4a. <FIG> illustrate a moisture-retentive capping state in which the moisturizing cap <NUM> caps the nozzle face 4a, and <FIG> illustrates a suction capping state in which the suction cap <NUM> caps the nozzle face 4a.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the decapping state, a capping end 11d (i.e., a first capping end) of the moisturizing cap <NUM> that contacts the nozzle face 4a is positioned higher than a capping end 12d (i.e., a second capping end) of the suction cap <NUM>. When the cam motor <NUM> is driven to rotate the cam <NUM> from the decapping state, the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the suction cap <NUM> are raised.

As described above, the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> that contacts the nozzle face 4a is positioned higher (closer to the nozzle face 4a) than the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM>. Accordingly, as illustrated in <FIG>, the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> comes into contact with the nozzle face 4a before the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM>. When the cam motor <NUM> is stopped in the state illustrated in <FIG>, the moisturizing cap <NUM> retains moisture of ink in the nozzles with the suction cap <NUM> separated from the nozzle face 4a. Since the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap <NUM> is closed by the holder <NUM> with almost no clearance, ink in the nozzles can be prevented from drying. A slider such as a rubber material that slides on the inner wall surface of the moisturizing cap <NUM> may be disposed at the rim of the second holding portion 21b of the holder <NUM> to seal the clearance of the bottom opening 11c between the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the holder <NUM>.

In the suction cap <NUM>, ink discharged from the nozzles during the ink suction may adhere to the inside or the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM>. If the suction cap <NUM> is in contact with the nozzle face 4a in the moisture-retentive capping state, the ink adhering to the capping end 12d may be transferred to the nozzle face 4a to stain the nozzle face 4a. In particular, if the suction cap <NUM> keeps contact with the nozzle face 4a for a long time, the ink adhering to the capping end 12d evaporates on the nozzle face 4a. As a result, a mark of the suction cap <NUM> so-called cap mark may be formed on the nozzle face 4a.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, only the moisturizing cap <NUM> is in contact with the nozzle face 4a, and the suction cap <NUM> is separated from the nozzle face 4a to retain the moisture of the ink in the nozzles. Accordingly, ink adhering to the suction cap <NUM> does not adhere to the nozzle face 4a during the moisture retention, thereby preventing the nozzle face 4a from being stained with the ink.

When the suction cap <NUM> sucks ink from the nozzles, the cam motor <NUM> is driven from the state illustrated in <FIG>, and the holder <NUM> is raised by the cam <NUM>. As a result, the spring <NUM> is compressed and deformed, and the suction cap <NUM> held by the holder <NUM> is raised relative to the moisturizing cap <NUM> (specifically, relative to the side wall of the moisturizing cap <NUM>). Then, as illustrated in <FIG>, the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM> comes into contact with the nozzle face 4a, thereby establishing the suction capping state.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the single elevator <NUM> raises and lowers the moisturizing cap <NUM>, and raises and lowers the suction cap <NUM> relative to the moisturizing cap <NUM>. Thus, the maintenance device <NUM> has fewer components than a maintenance device including an elevator that raises and lowers the moisturizing cap <NUM> and another elevator that raises and lowers the suction cap <NUM> relative to the moisturizing cap <NUM>. Further, the maintenance device <NUM> has a simpler configuration than a maintenance device including an elevator that raises and lowers the moisturizing cap <NUM> and another elevator that raises and lowers the suction cap <NUM> relative to the moisturizing cap <NUM>. As a result, the cost of the maintenance device <NUM> can be reduced.

<FIG> are schematic views of the suction cap <NUM> and the moisturizing cap <NUM>, illustrating a dimensional relation between the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM>. In <FIG>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> is viewed in the sub-scanning direction, and in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> is viewed in the main scanning direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the moisturizing cap <NUM> is in contact with the vicinity of the edge of the nozzle face 4a. As illustrated in <FIG>, the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM> is separated from each other by a gap D2 in the transverse direction of the liquid discharge head <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM> is separated from each other by a gap d2 in the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head <NUM>. As described above, the gaps are disposed between the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM> in both the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, even when ink is sucked from nozzles 4c by the suction cap <NUM>, the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> is in contact with the nozzle face 4a. When the maintenance device <NUM> transitions to the decapping state illustrated in <FIG> after a suction operation, the suction cap <NUM> is separated from the nozzle face 4a, and then the moisturizing cap <NUM> is separated from the nozzle face 4a. When the suction cap <NUM> is separated from the nozzle face 4a, ink adhering to the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM> may be transferred to the nozzle face 4a. If there is no gap between the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM>, the ink transferred to the nozzle face 4a may adhere to the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM>. However, in the present embodiment, there are the gaps (i.e., the gaps D2 and d2) between the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM>. Accordingly, the ink transferred from the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM> to the nozzle face 4a is prevented from adhering to the moisturizing cap <NUM>, thereby preventing the moisturizing cap <NUM> from being stained with the ink.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the gaps D2 and d2 between the capping end 12d of the suction cap <NUM> and the capping end 11d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> are shorter than distances D1 and d1 from the nozzle 4c to the edge of the nozzle face 4a, respectively. With such a dimensional relation, the suction cap <NUM> can cap all the nozzles 4c.

In the above embodiment, the entire bottom portion of the moisturizing cap <NUM> is open. Alternatively, in another embodiment, a part of the bottom portion of the moisturizing cap <NUM> may be open, and the holder <NUM> may pass through the bottom opening 11c as illustrated in <FIG>. Even with such a configuration, the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the suction cap <NUM> can be raised and lowered by the same operation as the operation described with reference to F<FIG>to <FIG>. Preferably, a slider that slides on the outer wall surface of the holder <NUM> is disposed at the rim of the bottom opening 11c of the moisturizing cap <NUM> to seal the clearance of the bottom opening 11c between the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the holder <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the first holding portion 21a that holds the moisturizing cap <NUM> is disposed outside the moisturizing cap <NUM>. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the first holding portion 21a may be disposed inside the moisturizing cap <NUM>. In such a case, for example, the moisturizing cap <NUM> has a held portion projecting from the inner wall surface of the moisturizing cap <NUM>, and the spring <NUM> is disposed between the held portion of the moisturizing cap <NUM> and the first holding portion 21a of the holder <NUM> disposed inside the moisturizing cap <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the cam <NUM> is disposed outside the moisturizing cap <NUM>, and the holder <NUM> penetrates the moisturizing cap <NUM> and contacts the cam <NUM> disposed outside the moisturizing cap <NUM>. The moisturizing cap <NUM> having such a configuration can be prevented from being upsized, and the maintenance device <NUM> including the moisturizing cap <NUM> can be prevented from being complicated as compared with a case in which a cam is disposed inside the moisturizing cap <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a capping operation. When an image forming operation ends and the capping operation starts (step S1), a controller of the inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> determines whether to perform the suction operation (step S2). When the suction operation is not performed (No in step S2), the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to raise the holder <NUM> so that the moisturizing cap <NUM> contacts the nozzle face 4a, and to stop raising the holder <NUM> in the moisture-retentive capping state illustrated in <FIG> (step S7).

On the other hand, for example, when a user sets the maintenance device <NUM> to perform the suction operation at the end of the image forming operation via the control panel or the like of the inkjet recording apparatus <NUM> (Yes in step S2), the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to raise the holder <NUM> from the decapping state illustrated in <FIG>until the suction cap <NUM> comes into contact with the nozzle face 4a (step S3) to transition to the suction capping state illustrated in <FIG>.

When the maintenance device <NUM> reaches the suction capping state, the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to drive the suction pump <NUM> to perform the suction operation (step S4). When the suction operation ends, the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to perform a predetermined maintenance operation (step S5). Examples of the maintenance operation include a cleaning operation in which ink adhering to the nozzle face 4a is removed with a cleaning blade and a recovery operation in which ink meniscus is recovered. The maintenance device <NUM> performs the cleaning operation while the carriage <NUM> moves from a capping position (home position) to a position where the liquid discharge head <NUM> faces the dummy discharge receptacle <NUM>. That is, the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to lower the holder <NUM> to transition from the suction capping state illustrated in <FIG> to the decapping state illustrated in <FIG>, and then causes the carriage <NUM> to move to a position where the liquid discharge head <NUM> faces the dummy discharge receptacle <NUM>. At this time, the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to raise a cleaning blade disposed between the dummy discharge receptacle <NUM> and the moisturizing cap <NUM> and bring the cleaning blade into contact with the nozzle face 4a of the liquid discharge head <NUM> moving toward the dummy discharge receptacle <NUM> to remove ink adhering to the nozzle face 4a, thus performing the cleaning operation.

After the predetermined maintenance operation such as the cleaning operation is performed, the controller causes the liquid discharge head <NUM> to perform dummy discharge in which ink is discharged to the dummy discharge receptacle <NUM> (step S6). When the carriage <NUM> returns to the capping position (home position) again after the dummy discharge, the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to raise the holder <NUM>. When the moisturizing cap <NUM> comes into contact with the nozzle face 4a to transition to the moisture-retentive capping state illustrated in <FIG>, the controller causes the maintenance device <NUM> to stop raising the holder <NUM> (step S7). Thus, the maintenance device <NUM> completes the capping operation (step S8).

In the above-described embodiments, the "liquid discharge apparatus" includes the liquid discharge head or the liquid discharge device and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge liquid. The liquid discharge apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to a material onto which liquid can adhere or an apparatus to discharge liquid toward gas or into liquid.

The "liquid discharge apparatus" may further include devices relating to feeding, conveying, and ejecting of the material onto which liquid can adhere and also include a pretreatment device and an aftertreatment device.

The "liquid discharge apparatus" may be, for example, an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet by discharging ink, or a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus to discharge fabrication liquid to a powder layer in which powder material is formed in layers so as to form a three-dimensional object.

The "liquid discharge apparatus" is not limited to an apparatus that discharges liquid to visualize meaningful images such as letters or figures. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus that forms meaningless images such as meaningless patterns or an apparatus that fabricates three-dimensional images.

The above-described term "material onto which liquid can adhere" represents a material on which liquid is at least temporarily adhered, a material on which liquid is adhered and fixed, or a material into which liquid is adhered to permeate. Specific examples of the "material onto which liquid can adhere" include, but are not limited to, a recording medium such as a paper sheet, recording paper, a recording sheet of paper, a film, or cloth, an electronic component such as an electronic substrate or a piezoelectric element, and a medium such as layered powder, an organ model, or a testing cell. The "material onto which liquid can adhere" includes any material to which liquid adheres, unless particularly limited.

Examples of the "material onto which liquid can adhere" include any materials onto which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, construction materials (e.g., wall paper or floor material), and cloth textile.

Examples of the "liquid" include ink, treatment liquid, DNA sample, resist, pattern material, binder, fabrication liquid, and solution or liquid dispersion containing amino acid, protein, or calcium.

The liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus to relatively move the liquid discharge head and the material onto which liquid can adhere. However, the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to such an apparatus. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be a serial head apparatus that moves the liquid discharge head or a line head apparatus that does not move the liquid discharge head.

Examples of the liquid discharge apparatus further include: a treatment liquid applying apparatus that discharges a treatment liquid onto a paper sheet to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper sheet, for reforming the surface of the paper sheet; and an injection granulation apparatus that injects a composition liquid, in which a raw material is dispersed in a solution, through a nozzle to granulate fine particle of the raw material.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a bioprinter <NUM> as an example of the liquid discharge apparatus. The bioprinter <NUM> includes a loading table <NUM> on which a culture vessel such as a glass substrate is placed. The loading table <NUM> is supported by an elevator <NUM> so as to move in the vertical direction (i.e., the Z-axis direction). A liquid discharge head <NUM> is disposed above the loading table <NUM> to discharge liquid containing living tissues and cells. A carriage <NUM> holding the liquid discharge head <NUM> is held by a guide shaft <NUM> extending in the left-right direction of the bioprinter <NUM> in <FIG> (i.e., the X-axis direction) so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Both ends of the guide shaft <NUM> are held by front-rear guides <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction of the bioprinter <NUM> in <FIG> (i.e., the Y-axis direction which is perpendicular to the surface of the paper on which <FIG> is drawn) so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

The bioprinter <NUM> includes a Y-axis moving mechanism that moves the guide shaft <NUM> in the front-rear direction of the bioprinter <NUM> and an X-axis moving mechanism that moves the carriage <NUM> in the left-right direction of the bioprinter <NUM> in <FIG>. While controlling the elevator <NUM>, the Y-axis moving mechanism, and the X-axis moving mechanism, the controller causes the liquid discharge head <NUM> to discharge liquid containing living tissues and cells from a nozzle 204c to fabricate a biological composition, an organ, or the like. A maintenance device <NUM> is disposed at the home position where the carriage <NUM> stands by.

<FIG> is a schematic view of the maintenance device <NUM> of the bioprinter <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> used in the bioprinter <NUM> has a cylindrical shape, and a moisturizing cap <NUM> and a suction cap <NUM> also have a cylindrical shape. Since a discharge face 204a of the liquid discharge head <NUM> is a substantially conical inclined surface that tapers toward the nozzle 204c, a capping end 211d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> is a funnel-shaped inclined surface. As a result, the capping end 211d of the moisturizing cap <NUM> contacts the discharge face 204a of the liquid discharge head <NUM> without any clearance, thereby retaining moisture of the liquid in the nozzle 204c.

The "liquid discharge device" refers to a liquid discharge head integrated with functional components or mechanisms, i.e., an assembly of components related to liquid discharge. For example, the "liquid discharge device" includes a combination of the liquid discharge head with at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance device, and a main-scanning moving mechanism.

Here, the integrated unit may be, for example, a combination in which the liquid discharge head and a functional part(s) are secured to each other through, e.g., fastening, bonding, or engaging, and a combination in which one of the liquid discharge head and a functional part(s) is movably held by another. The liquid discharge head may be detachably attached to the functional part(s) or unit(s) each other.

Examples of the liquid discharge device include a liquid discharge device <NUM> in which a liquid discharge head <NUM> and a head tank <NUM> are integrated as a single unit, which is mounted on a carriage <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Alternatively, the liquid discharge head <NUM> and the head tank <NUM> coupled (connected) with a tube or the like may construct the liquid discharge device <NUM> as a single unit. Here, a unit including a filter may further be added to a portion between the head tank <NUM> and the liquid discharge head <NUM> of the liquid discharge device <NUM>. In another example, the liquid discharge device may be an integrated unit in which a liquid discharge head is integrated with a carriage.

As yet another example, the liquid discharge device is a unit in which the liquid discharge head and the main-scanning moving mechanism are combined into a single unit. The liquid discharge head is movably held by a guide that is a part of the main-scanning moving mechanism. The liquid discharge device may be an integrated unit in which the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main-scanning moving mechanism are integrated as a single unit.

In another example, the cap that forms a part of the maintenance device is secured to the carriage mounting the liquid discharge head so that the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance device are integrated as a single unit to form the liquid discharge device.

Further, in still another example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid discharge head <NUM> is coupled to tubes <NUM> so that the liquid discharge head <NUM> and the supply mechanism are integrated as a single liquid discharge device, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The main-scanning moving mechanism may be a guide only. The supply mechanism may be a tube(s) only or a loading device only.

The liquid discharge head is not limited in the type of pressure generator used. The pressure generator is not limited to the piezoelectric actuator (or a laminated piezoelectric element) described in the above-described embodiments, and may be, for example, a thermal actuator that employs an electrothermal transducer element, such as a thermal resistor, or an electrostatic actuator including a diaphragm and opposed electrodes.

In the present specification, the terms "image formation," "recording," "printing," "image printing," and "fabricating" used herein may be used synonymously with each other.

Claim 1:
A liquid discharge device (<NUM>) comprising:
a liquid discharge head (<NUM>) configured to discharge a liquid from a discharge port (4c); and
a maintenance device (<NUM>) comprising:
a moisturizing cap (<NUM>) configured to contact a discharge face (4a) of the liquid discharge head (<NUM>) with a first capping end (11d);
a suction cap (<NUM>) inside the moisturizing cap (<NUM>), the suction cap (<NUM>) configured to contact the discharge face (4a) with a second capping end (12d) to suck a liquid from the discharge port (4c) in the discharge face (4a),
wherein the maintenance device (<NUM>) further comprises:
a holder (<NUM>) including:
a first holding portion (21a) connected to the moisturizing cap (<NUM>) with an elastic member (<NUM>); and
a second holding portion (21b) contacting a base of the suction cap (<NUM>) to support the suction cap (<NUM>), wherein the maintenance device (<NUM>) further comprises a mover (<NUM>) configured to move the holder (<NUM>) to move the moisturizing cap (<NUM>) and the suction cap (<NUM>) toward and away from the discharge face (4a) in a contact-separation direction,
characterized in that
the mover (<NUM>) moves the moisturizing cap (<NUM>) to a first contact position at which the first capping end (11d) is in contact with the discharge face (4a) while the second capping end (12d) of the suction cap (<NUM>) is separated from the discharge face (4a), and
the mover (<NUM>) moves the suction cap (<NUM>) to a second contact position at which the second capping end (12d) is in contact with the discharge face (4a) while the first capping end (11d) of the moisturizing cap (<NUM>) is in contact with the discharge face (4a).