Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a liquid ejecting device including an ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid such as ink to a medium.

For example, <CIT> discloses a printing apparatus (one example of a liquid ejecting device) configured to eject a liquid such as ink toward a medium to perform printing on the medium.

This printing apparatus includes a groove-shaped ink receiving portion (one example of a liquid receiving groove) and a supporting member (one example of a cover member). The ink receiving portion is configured to receive ink permeating through to the back side of the medium and dripping down, of the ink ejected to the medium from a recording head (one example of an ejecting unit). The supporting member has flexibility and is configured to cover an opening of the ink receiving portion. The supporting member can be positioned in a switchable manner between a support position (one example of a closed position) at which the supporting member is disposed between the medium and the ink receiving portion in the vertical direction, and a retracting position (one example of an open position) at which the supporting member is retracted from the support position. The supporting member supports the medium in a state of being disposed at the support position.

However, in the printing apparatus described in <CIT>, when the cover member such as the supporting member is disposed at the retracting position (open position), both end portions are disposed at positions close to each other, and hence, a portion between both end portions droops. As the cover member droops for a long period of time, deformation such as a fold may be created at the lower end portion of the drooping portion.

When deformation such as a fold is created at the cover member, both sides of a portion of the cover member that is recessed due to the deformation such as a fold are shaped in a raised manner and into a wavy shape when the cover member covers the liquid receiving groove. This raised portion causes the medium to be elevated. When the medium is elevated, this leads to a problem in which inconvenience occurs such that the printing position is shifted on the medium or the medium comes into contact with the recording head. Thus, there is a demand for a liquid ejecting device that is less likely to cause deformation such as a fold to occur in the cover member even when the cover member is repeatedly switched between the closed position and the open position.

Document <CIT> discloses an inkjet printhead that selectively ejects ink and a spittoon with a door mechanism that receives ink ejected from the printhead during purging.

A liquid ejecting device that solves the problem described above includes an ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid to a medium, a liquid receiving section including a liquid receiving groove opposed to the ejecting unit, and a roll body wound with a cover member having flexibility, in which the cover member is configured to be displaced, by being pulled out from the roll body, to a closed position to close an opening of the liquid receiving groove, and is configured to be displaced, by being wound around the roll body, to an open position to open the opening of the liquid receiving groove.

Below, an embodiment of a liquid ejecting device will be described with reference to the drawings.

In <FIG>, on the assumption that a liquid ejecting device <NUM> is disposed on a horizontal plane, the direction of gravity is indicated as the Z-axis, and directions along the horizontal plane are indicated as the X-axis and the Y-axis. The X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are perpendicular to each other. In the following description, the direction along the X-axis is also referred to as a scanning direction X because this direction is a direction in which an ejecting unit <NUM> described later is caused to scan. In addition, the direction along the Z-axis is also referred to as a vertical direction Z. The direction along the Y-axis is a transport direction in which a medium M is transported at a printing position at which printing is performed on the medium M, and hence, is also referred to as a transport direction Y1. In addition, the direction along the X-axis is the width direction of the medium M, and hence, is also referred to as a width direction X.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes the ejecting unit <NUM> configured to eject ink serving as one example of a liquid on the medium M. The liquid ejecting device <NUM> is an ink-jet printing apparatus configured such that the ejecting unit <NUM> ejects ink to the medium M to perform printing on the medium M. The liquid ejecting device <NUM> is, for example, a textile printing device configured to perform printing on the medium M such as a long fabric. The textile printing device is, for example, a digital-type textile printing device in which the ejecting unit <NUM> ejects ink to the medium M such as a fabric based on print data. The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a support portion <NUM> configured to support the medium M. In addition, the liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a liquid receiving section <NUM> including a liquid receiving groove <NUM> opposed to the ejecting unit <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid receiving section <NUM> is configured as a portion of the support portion <NUM>. In other words, the liquid ejecting device <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a gutter-platen type textile printing device in which the support portion <NUM> (platen) includes the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. Note that the liquid receiving section <NUM> may be constituted by a member other than the support portion <NUM>.

The liquid receiving section <NUM> includes a liquid receiving groove <NUM> provided at a portion opposed to the ejecting unit <NUM>. That is, the liquid receiving section <NUM> includes the liquid receiving groove <NUM> provided below a printing region that is a region in which the ejecting unit <NUM> moves in the scanning direction X at the time of printing. Of ink ejected from the ejecting unit <NUM> and landing on the medium M, the liquid receiving groove <NUM> receives a liquid such as ink that has permeated through the medium to the back surface side of the medium M and then dripped down. When the medium M is a thin fabric or a fabric with a relatively large gap between fibers, the ink is more likely to permeate through to the back surface side of the medium M. In addition, even if the medium M is of the same type, when the amount of ink ejected per unit area of the medium M is large, the ink is more likely to pass through to the back surface side of the medium M. The liquid receiving groove <NUM> includes an opening slightly larger than the printing region of the ejecting unit <NUM> in the scanning direction X and the transport direction Y1. Thus, from among the ink ejected from the ejecting unit <NUM> toward the medium M, ink landing on the front surface of the medium M and then passing through to the back surface side and ink ejected outside of the medium M without landing on the medium M are stored in the liquid receiving groove <NUM>.

The liquid ejecting device <NUM> may include a base <NUM> having a column and beam structure, and a housing <NUM> supported by the base <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a transport device <NUM> configured to transport the medium M, and a printing unit <NUM> configured to perform printing on the medium M. The transport device <NUM> and the printing unit <NUM> are supported by the base <NUM>. The base <NUM> is supported by the leg portion <NUM> at the floor surface. The housing <NUM> covers a scanning region that is a region where a carriage <NUM> and the ejecting unit <NUM> move in the scanning direction X at the time of printing.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the transport device <NUM> transports the medium M in the transport direction D1 indicated by the arrow in <FIG>. The direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in <FIG>) perpendicular to the transport direction D1 of the medium M is the width direction X. The width direction X is also the scanning direction X in which the carriage <NUM> moves. In the present embodiment, the scanning direction X and the transport direction Y are directions intersecting each other (for example, perpendicular to each other), and each intersects (for example, are each perpendicular to) the vertical direction Z. Note that the transport direction D1 of the medium M changes depending on positions on the transport path as indicated by the arrow with the solid line in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the transport device <NUM> includes a feeding unit <NUM>, a transport unit <NUM>, and a winding unit <NUM>. The feeding unit <NUM> feeds the medium M from a first roll <NUM>. The feeding unit <NUM> includes a roll-body supporting shaft <NUM> configured to rotatably support the first roll <NUM> in which the medium M is wound in a roll form, and a feed motor <NUM> configured to output power for rotating the first roll <NUM> in a forward and rearward direction. For example, the medium M fed from the feeding unit <NUM> is guided by an arc-surface shaped guide plate <NUM>, and is fed to the transport unit <NUM>.

The transport unit <NUM> transports, along the transport direction Y1, the medium M fed from the feeding unit <NUM>. The transport unit <NUM> includes a transport roller pair <NUM> and a guide roller <NUM> disposed at positions upstream and downstream, respectively, with the support portion <NUM> interposed therebetween in the transport direction Y1. Specifically, the transport roller pair <NUM> is disposed at a position upstream of the support portion <NUM> in the transport direction Y1. The guide roller <NUM> is disposed at a position downstream of the support portion <NUM> in the transport direction Y.

The transport roller pair <NUM> transports, in the transport direction Y1, the medium M fed from the feeding unit <NUM>. A driving roller <NUM> and a driven roller <NUM> form a pair to configure the transport roller pair <NUM>. The driven roller <NUM> is biased in a direction toward the driving roller <NUM>. The transport unit <NUM> includes a transport motor <NUM> serving as a driving source for the transport roller pair <NUM>. As the driving roller <NUM> rotates with the power of the transport motor <NUM>, the medium M is sent downstream in the transport direction Y1 in a state of being nipped (interposed) by the transport roller pair <NUM>.

The guide roller <NUM> includes an upper end located at substantially the same height as the nipping position of the transport roller pair <NUM>. The medium M is nipped by the transport roller pair <NUM>, passes through the outer peripheral surface of the guide roller <NUM>, and is would by the winding unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> performs velocity control of the transport motor <NUM> to control the rotational speed of the transport roller pair <NUM>. In addition, the control unit <NUM> also controls the winding speed at which the winding unit <NUM> winds the medium M. Thus, predetermined tension is applied to a portion of the medium M that is disposed between the transport roller pair <NUM> and the guide roller <NUM>. With this tension, the medium M is kept in a state of extending in a substantially horizontal manner between the transport roller pair <NUM> and the guide roller <NUM>. The guide roller <NUM> guides, to the winding unit <NUM>, the medium M after printing. Note that the transport unit <NUM> may include one or a plurality of other rollers provided along the transport path.

The winding unit <NUM> winds the medium M after printing. The medium M fed from the feeding unit <NUM> is transported by the transport unit <NUM>. In the process in which the medium M passes through the printing position located above the liquid receiving groove <NUM>, an image or the like is printed on the medium M with ink droplets ejected from the ejecting unit <NUM>.

The winding unit <NUM> includes a rotation supporting shaft <NUM> configured to rotatably support the second roll <NUM>, and a winding motor <NUM> serving as a driving source of the winding unit <NUM>. With the winding motor <NUM> being driven, the second roll <NUM> winds the medium M after printing. A tension bar <NUM> configured to come into contact with the medium M and apply tension to the medium M is disposed between the guide roller <NUM> and the winding unit <NUM>. The winding unit <NUM> winds, around the second roll <NUM>, the medium M to which tension is applied by the tension bar <NUM>. Note that the tension bar <NUM> is supported by a pair of arms <NUM>. In each of the pair of arms <NUM>, a top end is coupled to a corresponding end portion of the tension bar <NUM> in the width direction X, and a base end portion is supported rotatably relative to the leg portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the printing unit <NUM> includes the ejecting unit <NUM> described above. The liquid ejecting device <NUM> according to the present example is of a serial-printing type. In a case of the serial-printing type, the printing unit <NUM> includes the carriage <NUM> on which the ejecting unit <NUM> is mounted. The carriage <NUM> reciprocates in the scanning direction X intersecting the transport direction Y of the medium M. When the carriage <NUM> reciprocates in the scanning direction X, the printing unit <NUM> ejects ink from the ejecting unit <NUM> toward the medium M in at least one of forward movement and backward movement of the reciprocating carriage <NUM>.

The ejecting unit <NUM> is mounted on the carriage <NUM> in a posture in which the ejecting unit <NUM> is opposed to the support portion <NUM>. The ejecting unit <NUM> ejects a liquid toward the medium M supported by the support portion <NUM>.

In addition to the carriage <NUM> and the ejecting unit <NUM>, the printing unit <NUM> includes: a guide shaft <NUM> configured to guide the carriage <NUM> along a scanning path; a carriage motor <NUM> serving as a driving source for the carriage <NUM>; and a power transmission mechanism <NUM> configured to transmit power of the carriage motor <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>. The power transmission mechanism <NUM> is, for example, a belt-type power transmission mechanism. Specifically, the power transmission mechanism <NUM> includes a pair of pulleys <NUM> (see <FIG>), and a timing belt <NUM> looped around the pair of pulleys <NUM>. One of the pulleys <NUM> is coupled to the output shaft of the carriage motor <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> is fixed at a portion of the timing belt <NUM>.

The carriage <NUM> is configured to reciprocate along the guide shaft <NUM> in the scanning direction X with driving of the carriage motor <NUM>. The ejecting unit <NUM> performs printing on the medium M supported by the support portion <NUM> in the process in which the carriage <NUM> moves in the scanning direction X. In a case of the serial-printing type, a printing operation and a transport operation are alternatively performed to print a character or an image on the medium M. In the printing operation, the ejecting unit <NUM> ejects a liquid in the process of moving, thereby performing printing for one line (one scanning). In the transport operation, the transport device <NUM> transports the medium M to the next printing position.

The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a maintenance device <NUM> configured to perform maintenance of the ejecting unit <NUM>. The maintenance device <NUM> is disposed at a position opposed to the ejecting unit <NUM> disposed at a home position indicated by the long dashed double-short dashed line in <FIG>, the home position being a stand-by position when printing is not performed. The maintenance device <NUM> includes a cap <NUM> configured to move between a capping position at which the device is brought into contact with a nozzle surface 62A (see <FIG>) of the ejecting unit <NUM> and a retracting position (illustrated in <FIG>) spaced apart from the nozzle surface 62A.

The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a liquid supply unit (not illustrated) configured to supply the ejecting unit <NUM> with a liquid such as ink. The ejecting unit <NUM> includes a nozzle 62N (see <FIG>) configured to eject the liquid such as ink supplied from the liquid supply unit. A liquid accommodation unit is constituted by, for example, a liquid cartridge mounted by a user in a detachable state, or a liquid tank that a user refills with a liquid such as ink. The carriage <NUM> is coupled to the liquid supply unit through a tube (not illustrated). The liquid such as ink is supplied to the ejecting unit <NUM> through a tube. For example, the liquid supply unit supplies the ejecting unit <NUM>, through corresponding tubes, with a plurality of colors of ink including cyan, magenta, yellow, and black for forming a color. Note that the ejecting unit <NUM> is also referred to as a printing head.

A cover unit <NUM> including a cover member <NUM> configured to open and close an opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is attached to the support portion <NUM>. The cover unit <NUM> is of a winding type configured to wind up the cover member <NUM>. Detailed configuration of this cover unit <NUM> will be described later.

The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) configured to control the transport device <NUM> and the printing unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a display unit <NUM> serving as one example of a notification unit. A menu and various types of messages or the like that let a user know the state of the liquid ejecting device <NUM> are displayed on the display unit <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> according to the present example is also used to display a message or the like that prompts maintenance in accordance with the degree of contamination of the cover member <NUM>. Note that the notification unit is not limited to the display unit <NUM>. For example, the notification unit may be configured to cause a sound to be generated from a sound generating unit to notify a user of various types of information, or may be configured to perform communication from a serve device to a communication terminal device such as a smartphone to notify a user of various types of information.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a detector <NUM> configured to detect a state of the front surface of the cover member <NUM>. Based on a detection result by the detector <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> causes the display unit <NUM> to make a notification of the state of the front surface of the cover member <NUM>.

The detector <NUM> is provided, for example, at the carriage <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The detector <NUM> is, for example, a camera or a sensor. The sensor may be an image sensor. When the detector <NUM> is a camera or an image sensor, the detector <NUM> takes an image of the front surface of the cover member <NUM> pulled out and brought into a close state in which the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is covered. That is, in a state in which the medium M does not exist above the cover member <NUM> in the close state, an image of the front surface of the cover member <NUM> is taken by the detector <NUM> while the carriage <NUM> is being moved in the scanning direction X. At this time, image pick-up is performed to the entire region of the front surface of the cover member <NUM> in the scanning direction X or a representative region of the half or more of the entire region. The representative region may be, for example, a region that is a portion of the cover member <NUM> in the width direction X including the central portion thereof. The central portion is a region through which a plurality of types of the media M having different width sizes pass in common, and is a region in which the frequency of ejection of ink is high. When contamination exceeding a certain threshold value is detected in the representative region, the control unit <NUM> determines that a maintenance timing for the cover member <NUM> has arrived. This maintenance timing may include at least one of a cleaning timing or a replacement timing. The threshold value that defines the cleaning timing is assumed to be a first threshold value. When the degree of contamination exceeds a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value, or when the degree of contamination exceeds the first threshold value even after cleaning is performed, a replacement timing for the cover member <NUM> or the cover unit <NUM> has arrived.

The control unit <NUM> may acquire data of an image obtained from the detector <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may perform image analysis processing based on the image data to determine the degree of contamination of the cover member <NUM>. When the degree of contamination exceeds the first threshold value, the control unit <NUM> may display, on the display unit <NUM>, a message or the like that prompts maintenance such as cleaning. When the degree of contamination does not fall below the second threshold value even after cleaning is performed (that is, when the degree of contamination exceeds the second threshold value), the control unit <NUM> may display, on the display unit <NUM>, a message or the like that prompts replacement of the cover member <NUM> or the cover unit <NUM>. Note that the first threshold value is a value indicating the degree of contamination greater than the second threshold value.

The printing type of the liquid ejecting device <NUM> is not limited to the serial-printing type, and may be a line-printing type. In a case of the line-printing type, the ejecting unit <NUM> is constituted by a line head including nozzles 62N, and the number of the nozzles 62N being set so that a liquid can be ejected at the same time over the entire region, in the width direction, of the medium M transported by the transport device <NUM>. The ejecting unit <NUM> of the line-printing type ejects a liquid at the same time over the entire region in the width direction of the medium M and toward the medium M transported by the transport device <NUM> at a predetermined transport velocity, thereby printing an image or the like on the medium M.

Next, the support portion <NUM> and the cover unit <NUM> according to a first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the support portion <NUM> is disposed at a position opposed to the ejecting unit <NUM>. The support portion <NUM> includes a support face 70A (see <FIG>) configured to support the medium M. The medium M transported above the support portion <NUM> is supported by the support face 70A.

The ejecting unit <NUM> ejects a liquid such as ink to the medium M supported by the support face 70A of the support portion <NUM> to print an image on the medium M. The medium M is, for example, a fabric. When the medium M is a fabric, the liquid such as ink ejected toward the medium M is more likely to pass through gaps between fibers of the fabric, and permeate through to the back surface side of the medium M. For example, when the support portion (platen) is of a type having a support face configured to support, from the back surface, a portion of the printing region of the medium M on which ink is ejected, the liquid such as ink permeating through to the back surface of the medium M makes the support face contaminated. In this case, the back surface of the medium M that is supported by the support face is made contaminated with the liquid such as ink.

Thus, the present embodiment employs the support portion <NUM> of the gutter-platen type including the liquid receiving groove <NUM> provided at a portion corresponding to the printing region to which ink is ejected. The opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is located at a position opposed to the movement region when the ejecting unit <NUM> performs printing, and has an area including a liquid ejection region to which a liquid is ejected from the ejecting unit <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid receiving groove <NUM> includes an opening having an area extending over a region longer than the dimension LH of the ejecting unit <NUM> in the transport direction Y1. Of ink landing on the medium M at the time of printing, a waste liquid Li such as waste ink that permeates through the medium M to the back surface side of the medium and then drips down is stored in the liquid receiving groove <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes a holding unit <NUM> rotatably holding a roll body <NUM> wound with the cover member <NUM> having flexibility. The holding unit <NUM> is disposed at an inner wall of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> of the support portion <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, a portion of the inner wall portion of the support portion <NUM> that is upstream in the transport direction Y1 includes a step portion having a step shape, and the holding unit <NUM> is fixed at the upper surface of the step portion. The upper end of the holding unit <NUM> is located below the support face 70A in the vertical direction Z. In addition, an upper portion of the holding unit <NUM> is opened.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is configured to be displaced, by being pulled out from the roll body <NUM>, to a closed position to close the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>, and is configured to be displaced, by being wound around the roll body <NUM>, to an open position to open the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is configured to be displaced, by being pulled out from the roll body <NUM>, to the closed position to close the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is configured to be displaced, by being wound around the roll body <NUM>, to the open position to open the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> may be a member having flexibility. For example, the cover member <NUM> is constituted by a roll screen, mesh, or the like. The material of the cover member <NUM> may be a metal or synthetic resin used in a resin fiber, provided that the member is in a form of a wire or the like that has flexibility. In addition, the structure is not limited to the mesh or net structure, and a sheet made of synthetic resin may be used. The cover unit <NUM> includes a rod-shaped handle <NUM> fixed at the tip portion of the cover member <NUM>. The support portion <NUM> includes an engagement target portion <NUM> configured to engage with the handle <NUM> by hooking the handle <NUM> on it for the purpose of holding the cover member <NUM> at the time of pulling it out. The engagement target portion <NUM> is disposed at a position downstream of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> in the transport direction Y1.

The ink permeating through to the back surface of the medium M, for example, drops down, and is stored in the liquid receiving groove <NUM> as the waste liquid Li. The medium M is not supported at a portion corresponding to the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. Thus, the medium M is transported in a state of being slightly lifted away from the upper surface of the support portion <NUM>. When tension is not applied, the medium M that is not supported at the back surface thereof droops. When the medium M droops, droplets of ink or the like ejected from the ejecting unit <NUM> do not land at desired locations, which results in positional shift of dots. Thus, tension is applied to the medium M during transport such that the medium M does not droop. In addition, with this tension, the medium M is transported while the substantially horizontal posture is being kept in a state in which the medium M is slightly lifted upward from the surface of the opening of the support portion <NUM>. At this time, a feeding operation by the transport roller pair <NUM> and a winding operation by the winding unit <NUM> are controlled, and a tension applying function of the tension bar <NUM> is utilized, whereby the tension is adjusted at an appropriate value.

Note that the cover member <NUM> that has been pulled out is disposed at the same height as the opening surface of the support portion <NUM> or at a height slightly lower than the opening surface. Thus, the medium M is transported in a state of being slightly lifted upward away from the upper surface of the cover member <NUM>. In <FIG> or the like, the gap between the cover member <NUM> and the medium M is illustrated in a slightly exaggerated manner. However, the gap falls, for example, within a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. Thus, even when the relatively heavy medium M slightly droops, the medium M is supported by the cover member <NUM>. In addition, the gap between the medium M and the nozzle surface 62A of the ejecting unit <NUM> falls, for example, within a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. The narrower the gap, the higher the accuracy of printing location. However, the gap is set to a gap value necessary to avoid contact between the medium M and the nozzle surface 62A of the ejecting unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the amount of pulling out of the cover member <NUM> may be adjustable. As illustrated in <FIG>, a recessed portion <NUM> used to hook each of both end portions of the handle <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> is provided at each of both end portions, in the width direction X, of the support portion <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, there are four recessed portions <NUM> between the holding unit <NUM> and the engagement target portion <NUM>. By hooking the handle <NUM> on one of the four recessed portion <NUM> and the engagement target portion <NUM> selected by a user, it is possible to adjust the amount of closing by which the opening of the cover member <NUM> is covered. In this example, depending on positions at which the handle <NUM> is hooked, it is possible to select one of a state in which the cover member <NUM> covers approximately <NUM>/<NUM> of the opening area of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>, a state in which the cover member <NUM> covers approximately <NUM>/<NUM> of the opening area of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>, a state in which the cover member <NUM> covers approximately <NUM>/<NUM> of the opening area of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>, and a state in which the cover member <NUM> covers approximately whole of the opening area of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. That is, the closed position is not limited to a position at which the entire opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is closed by the cover member <NUM> but also includes a position at which a portion of the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is closed by the cover member <NUM>.

The height positions of the recessed portions <NUM> and the engagement target portion <NUM> are set such that the cover member <NUM> is located horizontally in a state in which the handle <NUM> is hooked, and the cover member <NUM> is disposed at a position lower than the support face 70A. Thus, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> at the closed position is located below the back surface of the medium M supported by the support face 70A.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the holding unit <NUM> includes a rotary shaft <NUM>, and a pair of tubular-shaped guiding portions <NUM> configured to rotatably support the rotary shaft <NUM>. The holding unit <NUM> includes an extending portion <NUM> provided in a state of extending in the width direction X between the pair of guiding portions <NUM>. The extending portion <NUM> is formed so as to be slightly longer than the length of the roll body <NUM> in the width direction X. The extending portion <NUM> includes a drawing slit <NUM> through which the cover member <NUM> is pulled out. The handle <NUM> is fixed at the tip portion of the cover member <NUM> in a state in which the cover member <NUM> passes through the drawing slit <NUM>. The handle <NUM> is larger in size than the opening of the drawing slit <NUM>. Thus, the extending portion <NUM> functions as a stopper at the winding direction side for the handle <NUM>.

The extending portion <NUM> covers a portion, in the circumferential direction, of the roll body <NUM>. Thus, the entire region, in the width direction X, of the other portion of the roll body <NUM> in the circumferential direction is exposed to the outside. Note that, when the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM> does not need to be exposed, the holding unit <NUM> may include a tubular-shaped housing covering the entire circumference of the roll body <NUM> except for the portion of the drawing slit <NUM>, instead of the extending portion <NUM>.

In addition, the holding unit <NUM> is configured such that a spring (not illustrated) is accommodated within the guiding portion <NUM>. This spring biases the cover member <NUM> in a winding direction. Thus, a user holds the handle <NUM> to pull out the cover member <NUM> from the roll body <NUM> by resisting the biasing force of the spring. In addition, when the user returns the cover member <NUM> into the open position, the cover member <NUM> is wound up into the roll body <NUM> with the biasing force of the spring. Note that the spring may be a mainspring or a torsion coil spring or the like.

Next, description will be made of operation of the cover unit <NUM> of the liquid ejecting device <NUM>.

From the open position at which the cover member <NUM> is wound around the roll body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is pulled out from the roll body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> to be disposed at the closed position at which the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is closed. In this manner, in a state in which the cover member <NUM> is disposed at the closed position, a user sets the medium M at the liquid ejecting device <NUM>. No tension is applied to the medium M during the setting operation. This leads to a possibility that a portion of the medium M that corresponds to the opening of the support portion <NUM> droops. However, the drooping portion of the medium M is supported by the cover member <NUM>. Thus, even when the medium M gets slack and droops during the setting operation, the drooping portion does not fall into the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. During the setting operation, this make it possible to prevent the medium M from being contaminated with the waste liquid Li such as waste ink within the liquid receiving groove <NUM>.

Once the medium M is set, printing to the medium M starts. Since tension is applied to the medium M during printing, the medium M supported by the support face 70A is transported in a state of being slightly lifted upward away from the upper surface of the cover member <NUM>. In addition, when the medium M is of a type in which ink is more likely to permeate through to the back surface of the medium M or when a printing condition in which ink is more likely to permeate through to the back surface of the medium M is employed, a user winds up the cover member <NUM> into the roll body <NUM> after the setting operation ends, in order to prevent the cover member <NUM> from being excessively contaminated with the ink. In this case, printing is performed on the medium M in an open state in which the cover member <NUM> does not close the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. In other words, printing is performed on the medium M in a state in which the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is opened.

The serial-printing type liquid ejecting device <NUM> is configured such that a printing operation for one line (one scanning) and a transport operation are alternatively performed to print a character or an image on the medium M. In the printing operation, the ejecting unit <NUM> ejects ink in the process of moving. In the transport operation, the transport device <NUM> transports the medium M to the next printing position. For example, when the medium M is of a type in which ink is more likely to permeate through to the back surface of the medium M or when a printing condition in which ink is more likely to permeate through to the back surface of the medium M is employed, it is possible to prevent the cover member <NUM> from being excessively contaminated with the ink because the cover member <NUM> is in the open state. After printing, the ink permeating through to the back surface of the medium M is collected into the liquid receiving groove <NUM>.

For example, when the medium M is of a type in which ink is less likely to permeate through to the back surface of the medium M or when a printing condition in which ink is less likely to permeate through to the back surface of the medium M is employed, printing is performed on the medium M with the cover member <NUM> being set at the closed position. The cover member <NUM> is disposed at a position spaced apart from and disposed below the medium M to which tension is applied, by a distance that falls, for example, within a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. Even when the medium M slightly droops during printing, the medium M is supported by the cover member <NUM>. This makes it possible to suppress a reduction in the accuracy of printing location due to drooping of the portion of the medium M that corresponds to the printing region.

When the cover member <NUM> is disposed at the closed position during printing, once printing ends, a user detaches the handle <NUM>, for example, from the engagement target portion <NUM>, and winds up the cover member <NUM> into the roll body <NUM>. The operation of winding the cover member <NUM> is performed with the rotary shaft <NUM> rotating using the biasing force of the spring such as a mainspring within the holding unit <NUM>. With this winding operation, the cover member <NUM> is switched from the closed position to the open position. When at the open position, the cover member <NUM> is held in a state of being wound around the roll body <NUM>. This makes it less likely to cause deformation such as a fold to occur in the cover member <NUM>.

In a state in which no medium M exists above the cover member <NUM> in the close state, the liquid ejecting device <NUM> captures an image of the front surface of the cover member <NUM> using the detector <NUM> while moving the carriage <NUM> in the scanning direction X. Based on a detection result by the detector <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> causes the display unit <NUM> to make a notification of the state of the front surface of the cover member <NUM>. Specifically, when the degree of contamination detected by the detector <NUM> exceeds the first threshold value, the control unit <NUM> causes the display unit <NUM> to display information (for example, a message) indicating that a cleaning timing has arrived, thereby making a notification of prompting a user to perform cleaning. Furthermore, when the degree of contamination detected by the detector <NUM> exceeds the second threshold value or when the degree of contamination exceeds the first threshold value even after cleaning is performed, a replacement timing for the cover member <NUM> or the cover unit <NUM> has arrived. In this case, the control unit <NUM> causes the display unit <NUM> to display information (for example, a message) indicating that a replacement timing has arrived, thereby notifying a user that a replacement timing arrives.

Thus, with the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effects.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, description will be made of a second embodiment of the support portion <NUM> and the cover unit <NUM>. Note that, in the second embodiment and each of the embodiments described below, the configurations of the support portion <NUM> and the cover unit <NUM> differ from those in the first embodiment described above, but other basic configurations of the liquid ejecting device <NUM> are similar to those in the embodiment described above.

The support portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a covering portion <NUM> configured to cover the upper side of the roll body <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> that constitute the cover unit <NUM>. The handle <NUM> includes a stopping portion <NUM> horizontally extending toward the upstream in the transport direction Y1, and also includes an engagement portion <NUM> extending downward in the vertical direction Z, in a state illustrated in <FIG>. In a state in which the cover member <NUM> is at the open position, the stopping portion <NUM> of the handle <NUM> is stopped at a tip portion, in the transport direction Y1, of the covering portion <NUM>. In addition, in a state in which the cover member <NUM> is at the closed position, the engagement portion <NUM> of the handle <NUM> is engaged with an engagement target portion 82A having a recessed shape and formed at the upper surface of an extending portion <NUM>.

In this second embodiment, the roll body <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> are covered with the covering portion <NUM> of the support portion <NUM>. This configuration makes it possible to suppress attachment, on the roll body <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM>, of droplets of ink that is not used in printing on the medium M and floats or spreads, from among the ink ejected from the nozzle 62N of the ejecting unit <NUM> during printing. For example, if ink is attached on the roll body <NUM>, when the cover member <NUM> is pulled out after this and is used, the cover member <NUM> is contaminated with ink. In this case, at the time of performing the setting operation for the medium M or at the time of printing performed in a state in which the cover member <NUM> is disposed at the closed position, it is possible to prevent the medium M from getting contaminated with ink even if the medium M comes into contact with the cover member <NUM>.

Thus, with the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The support portion <NUM> includes the covering portion <NUM> configured to cover the upper side of the holding unit <NUM> or the roll body <NUM> that constitute the cover unit <NUM>. It is possible to suppress attachment of ink during printing, on the holding unit <NUM> or the roll body <NUM>.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, description will be made of the configurations of the support portion <NUM> and the cover unit <NUM> according to a third embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover unit <NUM> includes a pressing portion <NUM> configured to press the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM>. The cover unit <NUM> includes an elastic member <NUM> configured to bias the pressing portion <NUM>. The pressing portion <NUM> presses the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM> with elastic force of the elastic member <NUM>. The pressing portion <NUM> is supported through the elastic member <NUM> relative to the inner wall portion of the support portion <NUM>. With this configuration, the pressing portion <NUM> is provided displaceably in the radial direction of the roll body <NUM> in a state of being biased in a direction toward the roll body <NUM>. This enables the pressing portion <NUM> to maintain the state of pressing the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM> even if the diameter of winding of the roll body <NUM> changes.

When pulling out the cover member <NUM>, a user pulls out the cover member <NUM> from the roll body <NUM> by resisting friction resistance between the pressing portion <NUM> and the roll body <NUM>. Thus, even when a user excessively applies force to pull out the cover member <NUM>, the pulling-out velocity for the cover member <NUM> is limited to an appropriate velocity. This enables the user to pull out the cover member <NUM> in a smooth manner. For example, when the roll body <NUM> is rotated at a fast speed, there is a possibility that ink attached on the roll body <NUM> is scattered over the surroundings with excessive centrifugal force. However, the cover member <NUM> is limited to an appropriate pulling-out velocity, which makes it possible to suppress scattering of ink from the roll body <NUM> over the surroundings at the time of pulling out.

Furthermore, with force of the pressing portion <NUM> pressing the roll body <NUM>, it is possible to squeeze or scrape off the ink attached on the roll body <NUM> at the time of rotating the roll body <NUM>. This makes it possible to suppress solidification of the ink attached on the cover member <NUM> as it is. When the ink attached on the cover member <NUM> wound into the roll body <NUM> is solidified, there is a possibility that the cover member <NUM> cannot be pulled out. However, as the pressing portion <NUM> removes ink from the cover member <NUM> in the process of pulling out or winding up the cover member <NUM>, a problem concerning an operation of pulling out the cover member <NUM> is less likely to occur even if the ink attached on the cover member <NUM> is solidified.

Thus, with the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes the pressing portion <NUM> configured to press the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM>. With this configuration, by using the pressing portion <NUM>, it is possible to suppress pulling out of the cover member <NUM> with abrupt force.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, description will be made of the configurations of the support portion <NUM> and the cover unit <NUM> according to a fourth embodiment.

The cover unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a cleaning unit <NUM> configured to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM> to clean the cover member <NUM>. The cleaning unit <NUM> has shape suitable for the cleaning function of squeezing or scraping the ink from the roll body <NUM>. The cleaning unit <NUM> also functions as one example of a pressing portion, as in the third embodiment. The cleaning unit <NUM> has, for example, a blade shape. One end portion (tip portion) of the cleaning unit <NUM> has a shape suitable for squeezing off or scraping off the ink from the roll body <NUM>. The other end of the cleaning unit <NUM> is located above the liquid receiving groove <NUM> in the vertical direction Z. The cleaning unit <NUM> has a width that makes it possible to press the entire region of the roll body <NUM> in the width direction X, and is comprised of a plate member having a slightly curved shape protruding downward. The other end portion (base end portion) of the cleaning unit <NUM> is located below the one end portion (tip portion) in the vertical direction Z.

In addition, the cleaning unit <NUM> presses the roll body <NUM> with elastic force of the elastic member <NUM>, as with the pressing portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. That is, the cleaning unit <NUM> is supported through the elastic member <NUM> relative to the inner wall portion of the support portion <NUM>. With this configuration, the cleaning unit <NUM> is provided displaceably in the radial direction of the roll body <NUM> in a state of being biased in a direction toward the roll body <NUM>. This enables the cleaning unit <NUM> to maintain the pressing state even if the diameter of winding of the roll body <NUM> changes.

The cleaning unit <NUM> includes guide plates 85A and 85B provided at the upper surface and the lower surface thereof and configured to guide, to the liquid receiving groove <NUM>, ink squeezed off from the roll body <NUM> or ink scraped off. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the upper surface of the cleaning unit <NUM> serves as the first guide plate 85A and the lower surface of the cleaning unit <NUM> serves as the second guide plate 85B.

In the process of pulling out the cover member <NUM> from the roll body <NUM>, the cleaning unit <NUM> is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM> with the biasing force of the elastic member <NUM>. With the cleaning unit <NUM>, the ink is squeezed off or scraped off from the roll body <NUM>. As this ink flows above the first guide plate 85A, this ink is guided to the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. In addition, in the process in which the cover member <NUM> is wound around the roll body <NUM>, the cleaning unit <NUM> is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM> with the biasing force of the elastic member <NUM>, thereby squeezing off or scraping off the ink from the roll body <NUM>. This ink flows along the second guide plate 85B, and is guided to the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to reliably guide the ink squeezed off or scraped off from the roll body <NUM> by the cleaning unit <NUM>, to the liquid receiving groove <NUM>.

Thus, with the fourth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The cleaning unit <NUM> configured to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll body <NUM> to clean the cover member <NUM> is provided. With this configuration, using the cleaning unit <NUM>, it is possible to clean the cover member <NUM>. It is possible to reduce an error in printing resulting from contamination due to transfer of ink to the medium M that may happen when the medium M is supported by the cover member <NUM> in a state in which the cover member <NUM> is contaminated with ink.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. In the fifth embodiment, the cover member <NUM> is pulled out and wound up with power of a driving source. The cover unit <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> serving as one example of a driving source configured to output power used to pull out and wind up the cover member <NUM>. Below, description will be made of two embodiments employing different systems for operating the cover member <NUM> with a driving force of the motor <NUM>. The fifth embodiment illustrated in <FIG> employs the system in which the roll body <NUM> is rotated with the driving force of the motor <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover unit <NUM> includes the motor <NUM> serving as one example of a driving unit configured to apply a driving force to the rotary shaft <NUM> of the holding unit <NUM>. An output shaft 92A of the motor <NUM> is coupled to one end portion of the rotary shaft <NUM>. The cover unit <NUM> includes a driving unit <NUM> configured to guide the cover member <NUM> in an open-close direction. The driving unit <NUM> includes a movement unit <NUM> and the motor <NUM> described above. The movement unit <NUM> includes a guide rod <NUM>, a pair of movable units <NUM>, and a pair of rails <NUM>.

The guide rod <NUM> is fixed at the tip portion of the cover member <NUM> in place of the handle <NUM> in each of the embodiments described above. The pair of movable units <NUM> are fixed at both end portions, in the width direction X, of the guide rod <NUM>. The pair of rails <NUM> are provided so as to extend in the transport direction Y1 at the upper surface of each of both side portions of the support portion <NUM> with the liquid receiving groove <NUM> being interposed between these side portions in the width direction X. The pair of movable units <NUM> engage with the pair of rails <NUM>, and are configured to reciprocate in the transport direction Y1 along the rail <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> is made of such a material and in such a form as to have enough tension for the tip portion of the cover member <NUM> to move downstream in the transport direction Y1 without much bending when being fed from the roll body <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> is constituted by, for example, mesh woven with a wire or resin fiber. For example, when the cover member <NUM> is made of cloth having high flexibility, the cover member <NUM> is bent at the time of being fed from the roll body <NUM>. This makes it impossible to move the tip end of the cover member <NUM> downstream in the transport direction Y1. When the cover member <NUM> is made of mesh or the like having higher rigidity than cloth, it is possible to move the tip portion of the cover member <NUM> downstream in the transport direction Y1 due to feeding from the roll body <NUM>.

As the control unit <NUM> causes the motor <NUM> to drive in a forward direction, the rotary shaft <NUM> rotates in a forward direction to cause the roll body <NUM> to rotate in a forward direction. This causes the cover member <NUM> to be sent out from the roll body <NUM>. Thus, the cover member <NUM> moves from the open position illustrated by the solid line in <FIG> to the closed position illustrated by the long dashed double-short dashed line in <FIG>.

In addition, as the control unit <NUM> causes the motor <NUM> to rotate in a rearward direction, the rotary shaft <NUM> rotates in a rearward to cause the roll body <NUM> to rotate in a rearward direction. This makes the cover member <NUM> wound around the roll body <NUM>. Thus, the cover member <NUM> moves from the closed position illustrated by the long dashed double-short dashed line in <FIG> to the open position illustrated by the solid line in <FIG>.

Thus, with the fifth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes: the holding unit <NUM> rotatably holding the roll body <NUM>; the movement unit <NUM> configured to move the tip portion of the cover member <NUM> pulled out from the roll body <NUM> held by the holding unit <NUM>; and the motor <NUM> serving as one example of a driving unit configured to apply a driving force to the rotary shaft <NUM> of the holding unit <NUM>. The motor <NUM> applies, to the rotary shaft <NUM>, a driving force used to pull out and wind up the cover member <NUM>. With this configuration, the motor <NUM> applies, to the rotary shaft <NUM>, a rotational driving force (torque) used to pull out and wind up the cover member <NUM>, which makes it possible to automate opening and closing of the cover member <NUM>. For example, this makes it possible to eliminate the cumbersome operation performed by a user to manually open and close the cover member <NUM> having a wide width, and it is possible to suppress pulling out of the cover member <NUM> with abrupt force, which can occur in a case of manual operation.

Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. The cover unit <NUM> includes the motor <NUM> serving as one example of a driving source configured to output power used to pull out and wind up the cover member <NUM>. The cover unit <NUM> according to the sixth embodiment employs a system in which the driving force of the motor <NUM> is applied to the movement unit <NUM> to move the tip portion of the cover member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover unit <NUM> includes the motor <NUM> and the driving unit <NUM>. The driving unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the movement unit <NUM> and a power transmission mechanism <NUM> configured to transmit the driving force of the motor <NUM> to the movement unit <NUM>. The movement unit <NUM> has a configuration basically similar to that in the fifth embodiment. That is, the movement unit <NUM> includes the guide rod <NUM>, the pair of movable units <NUM>, and the pair of rails <NUM>.

The power transmission mechanism <NUM> includes a pair of pulleys <NUM> and a timing belt <NUM> looped around the pair of pulleys <NUM>. One of the movable units <NUM> is fixed at a portion of the timing belt <NUM>. Furthermore, the other one of the pulleys <NUM> is coupled to the output shaft 92A of the motor <NUM>.

As the control unit <NUM> causes the motor <NUM> to rotate in the forward direction, the pair of movable units <NUM> move downstream along the pair of rails <NUM> in the transport direction Y1. This causes the guide rod <NUM> to move downstream in the transport direction Y1. Thus, the cover member <NUM> moves from the open position illustrated by the solid line in <FIG> to the closed position illustrated by the long dashed double-short dashed line in <FIG>.

In addition, as the control unit <NUM> causes the motor <NUM> to rotate in the rearward direction, the pair of movable units <NUM> move upstream along the pair of rails <NUM> in the transport direction Y1. This causes the guide rod <NUM> to move upstream in the transport direction Y1. At this time, the rotary shaft <NUM> is biased in the winding direction with elastic force of a spring such as a mainspring (not illustrated) within the holding unit <NUM>. Thus, the cover member <NUM> moves from the closed position illustrated by the long dashed double-short dashed line in <FIG> to the open position illustrated by the solid line in <FIG>.

Thus, with the sixth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The liquid ejecting device <NUM> includes: the holding unit <NUM> rotatably holding the roll body <NUM>; the movement unit <NUM> configured to move the tip portion of the cover member <NUM> pulled out from the roll body <NUM> held by the holding unit <NUM>; and the motor <NUM> serving as one example of a driving unit configured to apply a driving force to the movement unit <NUM>. The motor <NUM> applies, to the movement unit <NUM>, a driving force used to pull out and wind up the cover member <NUM>. With this configuration, the motor <NUM> applies, to the movement unit <NUM>, the driving force used to move in order to pull out and wind up the cover member <NUM>, which makes it possible to automate opening and closing of the cover member <NUM>. For example, this makes it possible to eliminate the cumbersome operation performed by a user to manually open and close the cover member <NUM> having a wide width, and it is possible to suppress pulling out of the cover member <NUM> with abrupt force, which can occur in a case of manual operation.

Next, a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. The seventh embodiment provides an example in which the cover member <NUM> is divided into a plurality of pieces.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> may be divided in the width direction X of the medium M. When the number of divisions is N, the cover member <NUM> is divided into N pieces in the width direction X, where the N represents a natural number not less than <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the N is three. That is, in the width direction X, the cover member <NUM> is divided into three cover members 76A to 76C. However, the number of divisions is not limited to three, and the number of divisions N may be set to any necessary number. For example, the number of divisions N may be two, four, five, six, or more.

The support portion <NUM> is provided with N pieces of cover units 75A to 75C, the number of which is equal to the number of cover members 76A to 76C that are divided into N pieces. In this example in which the cover member <NUM> is divided into three pieces, the support portion <NUM> includes three cover units 75A to 75C. The three cover units 75A to 75C can individually pull out the cover members 76A to 76C, and can also individually wind up the cover members 76A to 76C. The configurations of the plurality of cover units 75A to 75C are basically similar to the configuration of the cover unit <NUM> according to a first embodiment. That is, the cover unit 75A includes a roll body 77A wound with a first cover member 76A, and a holding unit 78A rotatably holding the roll body 77A. In addition, the cover unit 75B includes a roll body 77B wound with a second cover member 76B, and a holding unit 78B rotatably holding the roll body 77B. Furthermore, the cover unit 75C includes a roll body 77C wound with a third cover member 76C, and a holding unit 78C rotatably holding the roll body 77C. The cover members 76A to 76C each include a handle 79A to 79C fixed at the tip portion thereof.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the first cover member 76A located at the center in the width direction X has the widest width. In addition, the second cover member 76B and the third cover member 76C are disposed at corresponding sides, in the width direction X, of the first cover member 76A. Each of the width dimensions of the second cover member 76B and the third cover member 76C is set narrower than the width dimension of the first cover member 76A.

For example, the width dimension of the first cover member 76A may be set to match the width dimension of the medium M having the maximum width. The first cover member 76A may be positioned in the width direction X such that the center line of the width of the first cover member 76A matches the center line of the width of the medium M transported above the support portion <NUM>. In this case, the region where the first cover member 76A is disposed when being pulled out overlaps with the transport region of the medium M. That is, this makes it possible to dispose the first cover member 76A over substantially the entire region directly below the medium M even when the medium M has the maximum width size.

In a case of the medium M in which ink is more likely to permeate through to the back surface, the first cover member 76A is disposed at the open position, and the second cover member 76B and the third cover member 76C are disposed at the closed position. During printing, the carriage <NUM> moves in the scanning direction X. At this time, when airflow (wind) occurring due to wind pressure of the carriage <NUM> passes through the liquid receiving groove <NUM> and enters the back surface side of the medium M, the medium M flutters. When the medium M flutters (trembles) during printing, the landing position of droplets of ink ejected from the nozzle 62N of the ejecting unit <NUM> is shifted from the targeted position, which leads to a deterioration in accuracy in printing.

As a method of suppressing this type of fluttering of the medium M, the second cover member 76B and the third cover member 76C are disposed at the closed position. The first cover member 76A may be disposed at the closed position or the open position, whichever is possible. In a case of the medium M in which ink is more likely to permeate through to the back surface, the first cover member 76A is disposed at the open position. In a case of the medium M in which ink is less likely to permeate through to the back surface, the first cover member 76A is disposed at the closed position.

During printing, the carriage <NUM> moves in the scanning direction X. At this time, the airflow (wind) occurring due to wind pressure of the carriage <NUM> is blocked by the second cover member 76B and the third cover member 76C that are at the closed position, and its entrance into the liquid receiving groove <NUM> is suppressed. This makes it possible to suppress entrance of the airflow into the back surface side of the medium M to cause the medium M to flutter. As fluttering of the medium M is suppressed, the landing position of droplets (ink droplets) ejected from the nozzle 62N of the ejecting unit <NUM> is less likely to be shifted from the targeted position. This makes it possible to suppress a deterioration in accuracy of printing resulting from fluttering of the medium M. Thus, it is possible to perform printing on the medium M with high printing quality.

Furthermore, the material of the plurality of cover members 76A to 76C may vary depending on the location thereof in the width direction X. For example, by making the first cover member 76A at the center using a material (mesh or the like) without a dense structure, when ink is permeated through the medium M to the back surface, the ink is dropped into the liquid receiving groove <NUM> even in a state in which the first cover member 76A closes the liquid receiving groove <NUM>.

The cover members 76B and 76C at both sides may be made of a material with a dense structure. With this configuration, by disposing the cover members 76B and 76C at the closed position, it is possible to suppress fluttering of the medium M that occurs as an airflow, generated from the wind pressure of the carriage <NUM> at the time when carriage <NUM> moves in the scanning direction X, passes through the inside of the liquid receiving groove <NUM> and travels around to the back side of the medium M. This makes it possible to perform printing on the medium M with high printing quality.

Thus, with the seventh embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The cover member <NUM> is divided in the width direction X of the medium M. With this configuration, selectively pulling out from the roll body <NUM> a cover member corresponding to a region including the liquid receiving groove <NUM> desired to be covered from among the plurality of cover members 76A to 76C that are divided makes it possible to partially cover the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. For example, in a case of the serial-type liquid ejecting device <NUM>, it is possible to suppress fluttering of the medium M that occurs as an airflow, generated from the wind pressure at the time when the carriage <NUM> moves, passes through the liquid receiving groove <NUM> and travels around to the back side of the medium M. Thus, it is possible to perform printing on the medium M with high printing quality.

Next, an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. The eighth embodiment provides an example in which the cover member <NUM> includes a heater <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, a plurality of the heaters <NUM> having a line shape extending in the transport direction Y1 are disposed at intervals in the width direction X. Note that the heater <NUM> may have any shape. For example, the heater <NUM> may be constituted by a heater line extending in a spiral shape at the front surface or the back surface of the cover member <NUM>, or may be constituted by a heater line having a wire shape in which a plurality of crank-shaped wiring portions are repeated. The heater line may be disposed uniformly in a region of the cover member <NUM> opposed to the medium M. In addition, the density of wiring lines of the heater <NUM> may vary depending on locations such that the density of the heater <NUM> at the central portion in the width direction X is denser than that at both end portions. By setting the density of wiring lines of the heater <NUM> so as to be uniform or so as to be denser at the central portion in this manner, it is possible to uniformly dry the ink attached on the medium M.

The control unit <NUM> determines whether the printing condition is set such that ink is less likely to dry, based on printing condition information or print data. When determining that the printing condition is set such that ink is less likely to dry, the control unit <NUM> may energize the heater <NUM> to heat the medium M during printing. In addition, the control unit <NUM> may control a heating temperature of the heater <NUM> based on a type of the medium M or other printing condition information. For example, when the medium M (fabric) is made of fiber vulnerable to heat, the control unit <NUM> may reduce a heating temperature of the heater <NUM>, and when the medium M is made of fiber strong to heat, the control unit <NUM> may increase a heating temperature of the heater <NUM>. Here, it may be possible to employ a configuration of acquiring a printing duty based on print data to control the heater <NUM> in accordance with the printing duty. Note that the printing duty represents a numerical value (%) expressed as a ratio of the amount of ejection of ink from the ejecting unit <NUM> per unit area of the medium M with the maximum value being <NUM>%.

In addition, the control unit <NUM> may always energize all the heaters <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> to heat the medium M. Furthermore, the control unit <NUM> may selectively energize the heater <NUM> located within a region of the medium M in the width direction X of the cover member <NUM> to heat the medium M. With this configuration, by using the heater <NUM> to heat only the region necessary to heat the medium M, it is possible to achieve both effective drying by heat and a reduction in power consumption.

Thus, with the eighth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The cover member <NUM> includes the heater <NUM> configured to heat the medium M. With this configuration, when the cover member <NUM> is at the closed position, it is possible to accelerate drying of a liquid such as ink ejected to the medium M by heat of the heater <NUM> provided at the cover member <NUM> disposed at the opposite side from the ejecting unit <NUM> with respect to the medium M.

Next, a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. The ninth embodiment provides an example in which the heater <NUM> is provided at the division-type cover members 76A to 76C described in the seventh embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the heater <NUM> is provided at the division-type cover members 76A to 76C such that the density of wiring lines per unit area is uniform. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the heater <NUM> is disposed at substantially equal intervals in the width direction X. The shape of the wiring line of the heater <NUM> may be a spiral shape or zig-zag form. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is divided into three cover members 76A to 76C in the width direction X. However, the number of divisions N may be set to any necessary number including two, four, five, six, or more, as in the seventh embodiment.

The heater <NUM> can be switched on or off for each of the divided cover members 76A to 76C. By switching on the heater <NUM> that overlaps with the medium M in the width direction X, the control unit <NUM> causes ink landing on the medium M to dry. In addition, by switching off the heater <NUM> not overlapping with the medium M, the control unit <NUM> suppresses hitting of heat against the nozzle surface 62A of the ejecting unit <NUM>.

Thus, with the ninth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following effect. (<NUM>) The divided cover members 76A to 76C include the heater <NUM> configured to heat the medium M. With this configuration, it is possible to accelerate drying of the medium M on which ink is ejected from the ejecting unit <NUM>. In addition, selectively pulling out any of the plurality of divided cover members 76A, 76B, and 76C makes it possible to partially cover the opening of the liquid receiving groove <NUM>. For example, in a case of the serial-type liquid ejecting device <NUM>, it is possible to suppress fluttering of the medium M that occurs as a result of the wind pressure at the time when the carriage <NUM> moves.

Note that the embodiments described above can be modified as in the following modification examples. Furthermore, an example obtained by combining the above-described embodiments and any of the modification examples described below on an as-necessary basis can be used as a further modified example, and an example obtained by combining the modification examples described below with each other on an as-necessary basis can be used as a further modified example.

Below, description will be made of technical concepts together with effects understood from the embodiments and the modification examples described above.

Claim 1:
A liquid ejecting device comprising:
an ejecting unit (<NUM>) configured to eject a liquid to a medium;
a liquid receiving section (<NUM>) including a liquid receiving groove (<NUM>) opposed to the ejecting unit; and
a roll body (<NUM>) wound with a cover member (<NUM>) having flexibility, wherein
the cover member:
is configured to be displaced, by being pulled out from the roll body, to a closed position to close an opening of the liquid receiving groove, and is configured to be displaced, by being wound around the roll body, to an open position to open the opening of the liquid receiving groove.