Cleaning device and ink-jet printer
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsHiroshi Wanibuchi, Atsushi Nishioka, Toshiyuki Sasaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head has a first wiping member for wiping a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head and a second wiping member for wiping the first wiping member, and a lever driving mechanism for moving the first wiping member between a retracted position located away from the nozzle surface and a wiping position for wiping the nozzle surface. The second wiping member is formed of an elastic body and is arranged within a moving path of the first wiping member, so that it contacts with the first wiping member for only a limited period, whereby reducing in wear of these wiping members.
Claims24
A cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head, comprising:
- a first wiping member for wiping said nozzle surface;
- a cleaner lever for supporting said first wiping member;
- a lever driving mechanism moving said first wiping member between a retracted position located away from said nozzle surface and a wiping position for wiping said nozzle surface;
- and
- a flat plate form second wiping member formed of an elastic body arranged within a moving path of said first wiping member so as to contact with said first wiping member.
A cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head, comprising:
- a first wiping member for wiping said nozzle surface;
- a cleaner lever for supporting said first wiping member;
- and
- a lever driving mechanism moving said first wiping member between a retracted position located away from said nozzle surface and a wiping position for wiping said nozzle surface;
- wherein said lever driving mechanism includes:
- a rotary driving source;
- a gear train to be driven by said rotary driving source;
- a friction type clutch lever which is frictionally engaged with one of gears constituting said gear train by means of a predetermined biasing force and is arranged coaxially with said gear;
- cam mechanism converting rotation of said clutch lever into movement of said cleaner lever;
- and
- a tooth portion formed on said clutch lever which engges with said gear train when said clutch lever is in a predetermined rotational angular range.
A cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head, comprising:
- a lock lever for locking said ink-jet head at a predetermined position;
- and,
- a lever driving mechanism for moving said lock lever between a locking position for fixing said ink-jet head and an unlocking position away from said ink-jet head, wherein said lever driving mechanism includes:
- a rotary driving source;
- a gear train to be driven by said rotary driving source;
- a friction type clutch lever which is frictionally engaged with one of gears constituting said gear train by means of a predetermined biasing force and is arranged coaxially with said gear;
- cam mechanism for converting rotation of said clutch lever into movement of said lock lever;
- and
- a tooth portion formed on said clutch lever which engages with said gear train when said clutch lever is in a predetermined rotational angular range.
A cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head, comprising:
- a first wiping member for wiping said nozzle surface;
- a cleaner lever for supporting said first wiping member;
- a lock lever for locking said ink-jet head at a predetermined position;
- and
- a lever driving mechanism which moves said first wiping member between a retracted position located away from said nozzle surface and a wiping position for wiping said nozzle surface, and moves said lock lever between a locking position for fixing said ink-jet head and an unlocking position away from said ink-jet head, wherein
- said lever driving mechanism includes:
- a rotary driving source;
- a gear train to be driven by said rotary driving source;
- a friction type clutch lever which is frictionally engaged with one of gears constituting said gear train by means of a predetermined biasing force and is arranged coaxially with said gear;
- a first cam mechanism for converting rotation of said clutch lever into movement of said cleaner lever;
- and
- a second cam mechanism for converting rotation of said clutch lever into movement of said lock lever.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.