Liquid ejecting head, method of cleaning the ejecting head, and liquid ejecting device
First Claim
1. A liquid discharge head having a liquid discharge surface with rows of liquid discharge holes for discharging liquid droplets, comprising;
- a cleaner formed of a cylindrical elastic material;
moving means for moving the cleaner relative to the liquid discharge surface while the cleaner is touching the liquid discharge surface; and
a cleaner having a peripheral surface for absorbing liquid inside the liquid discharge holes by a change in pressure inside the liquid discharge holes caused when the cleaner moves while touching the liquid discharge surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
On a liquid discharge head including an ink discharge surface (6) having rows of ink discharge holes (13) each for discharging different colors of ink, a cleaning roller (7) formed of a cylindrical elastic material touching the ink discharge surface (6) is moved relative to the ink discharge surface (6). This movement causes the pressure inside the ink discharge holes (13) to change and, as a result, the ink (15) inside the ink discharge holes (13) is absorbed. In this way, a ink discharge head, a method for cleaning thereof, and a ink discharge apparatus that do not damage the ink discharge surface (6) with the ink discharge holes (13) and that have improved effectiveness of cleaning the vicinity of the ink discharge holes (13) are provided.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A liquid discharge head having a liquid discharge surface with rows of liquid discharge holes for discharging liquid droplets, comprising;
-
a cleaner formed of a cylindrical elastic material;
moving means for moving the cleaner relative to the liquid discharge surface while the cleaner is touching the liquid discharge surface; and
a cleaner having a peripheral surface for absorbing liquid inside the liquid discharge holes by a change in pressure inside the liquid discharge holes caused when the cleaner moves while touching the liquid discharge surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for cleaning a liquid discharge head having a liquid discharge surface with rows of liquid discharge holes for discharging liquid droplets, the method comprising the steps of:
-
moving a cleaner formed of a cylindrical elastic material on a liquid discharge surface relative to the liquid discharge surface while the cleaner is touching the liquid discharge surface; and
absorbing liquid inside the liquid discharge holes by a change in pressure inside the liquid discharge holes caused by the cleaner moving while touching the liquid discharge surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A liquid discharge apparatus for discharging liquid droplets from rows of liquid discharge holes formed on a liquid discharge surface, comprising;
-
a liquid discharge head equipped with a cleaner formed of a cylindrical elastic material and moving means for moving the cleaner relative to the liquid discharge surface while the cleaner is touching the liquid discharge surface wherein the cleaner has a peripheral surface for absorbing liquid inside the liquid discharge holes by a change in pressure inside the liquid discharge holes caused by the cleaner moving while touching the liquid discharge surface; and
a head removal mechanism for fixing the liquid discharge head on a predetermined portion of the apparatus and for releasing the head from the main body of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification