Inkjet recording apparatus and cap for recording head

• US 20020158939A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shima, Takeaki
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16508 connected with the printer frame

Abstract

A cap for a recording head capable of covering a nozzle of the recording head in a securely enclosed state during sucking of ink is provided for an inkjet recording apparatus. The cap for the recording head includes an elastically deformable contact section and an abutting section. When a nozzle-forming surface of the recording head is pressed into contact with the contact section so that the contact section deforms to have a predetermined amount of deformation, the abutting section abuts against the nozzle-forming surface so as to restrict the deformation of the contact section. Therefore, the contact section cannot deform excessively, enabling to properly maintain the close contact to the nozzle-forming surface and preventing ink from being dried and increased in viscosity.

Claims

1. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:

a recording head including a nozzle for ejecting ink formed on a nozzle-forming surface opposing a recording medium; and

a cap for the recording head, which can be brought into and out of contact with the nozzle-forming surface and which covers the nozzle when abutting against the nozzle-forming surface, the cap comprising;

an elastically deformable contact section for forming an enclosed space for covering the nozzle by being pressed into contact with the nozzle-forming surface; and

an abutting section for abutting against the nozzle-forming surface of the recording head so as to restrict the amount of deformation of the contact section when the contact section is elastically deformed to have a predetermined amount of deformation by being pressed into contact with the nozzle-forming surface,

wherein the contact section and the abutting section are formed of a same member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abutting section has high stiffness, so that the abutting section is less deformable than the contact section.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap for the recording head has an ink absorber accommodated within the contact section, and

wherein when the contact section is pressed into contact with the nozzle-forming surface, the abutting section restricts elastic deformation of the contact section so as to form a clearance between the ink absorber and the recording head.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving means for bringing the cap for the recording head into and out of contact with the recording head; and

absorbing means for communicating with the contact section and also for generating a negative pressure in the enclosed space,

wherein when the contact section abuts against the nozzle-forming surface of the recording head by the moving means, the abutting section does not abut against the nozzle-forming surface, whereas when a negative pressure with at least a predetermined value is generated in the enclosed space by the absorbing means, the abutting section abuts against the nozzle-forming surface of the recording head together with the contact section.

5. A cap for a recording head, which can be brought into and out of contact with a nozzle-forming surface arranged in an inkjet recording apparatus and which covers a nozzle when abutting against the nozzle-forming surface, the cap comprising:

an elastically deformable contact section for forming an enclosed space for covering the nozzle by being pressed into contact with the nozzle forming surface; and

an abutting section for abutting against the nozzle-forming surface of the recording head so as to restrict the amount of deformation of the contact section when the contact section is pressed into contact with the nozzle-forming surface to elastically deform to have a predetermined amount of deformation.