Ink-jet head maintenance device, ink-jet recording device and ink-jet head maintenance method

A maintenance device for an ink-jet head having a head substrate on a surface of which orifices for ejecting ink droplets are formed in an array having a direction, comprising:

• a removal unit comprising a suction assembly which is disposed in a position that faces the surface of the head substrate having said orifices formed thereon and does not come into contact with the head substrate, and which has formed therein, on a surface opposite said head substrate surface on which said orifices are formed, a suction port elongated in a direction parallel to an orifice array direction in said ink-jet head, and a blowing member which is disposed adjacent to the suction assembly and has formed therein, on the surface opposite said head substrate surface on which said orifices are formed, a blowing port elongated in the direction parallel to the orifice array direction in said ink-jet head;
• a suction pump which draws air from inside said suction assembly;
• and
• a blowing pump which feeds air to the blowing member.

A maintenance device for an ink-jet head having a head substrate on a surface of which orifices for ejecting ink droplets are formed in an array having a direction, comprising:

• a removal unit comprising a suction assembly which is disposed in a position that faces the surface of the head substrate having said orifices formed thereon and does not come into contact with the head substrate, and which has formed therein a suction port elongated in a direction parallel to an orifice array direction in said ink-jet head, and a moving mechanism which moves said at least one suction port on said suction assembly in a direction perpendicular to the orifice array direction;
• and
• a suction pump which draws air from inside said suction assembly;
• wherein said moving mechanism moves said suction port as said suction port aspirates air or ink or both with said suction pump.

An ink-jet recording device comprising:

• an ink-jet head having a head substrate on a surface of which orifices for ejecting ink droplets are formed in an array having a direction;
• and
• an ink-jet head maintenance device comprising:
• a removal unit comprising a suction assembly which is disposed in a position that faces the surface of the head substrate having said orifices formed thereon and does not come into contact with the head substrate, and which has formed therein, on a surface opposite said head substrate surface on which said orifices are formed, a first suction port and a second suction port, each being slit-like and elongated in a direction parallel to an orifice array direction and mutually parallel and spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the orifice array direction;
• and
• a suction pump which draws air from inside said suction assembly.

A method for maintaining an ink-jet head having a head substrate on a surface of which orifices for ejecting ink droplets are formed in an array having a direction, comprising the steps of:

• discharging ink from said orifices so as to wet with said ink the surface of the head substrate on which said orifices are formed;
• making a suction assembly that has a suction port elongated in a direction parallel to an orifice array direction and draws in air from said suction port approach a position that does not come into contact with the orifices on the head substrate surface having the orifices formed therein;
• and
• aspirating from said suction port air or ink or both, and thereby drawing off deposits from a periphery of said orifices on the head substrate.

A method for maintaining an ink-jet head having a head substrate on a surface of which orifices for ejecting ink droplets are formed in an array having a direction, comprising the steps of:

• discharging ink from said orifices so as to wet with said ink the surface of the head substrate on which said orifices are formed;
• making a suction assembly that has a suction port elongated in a direction parallel to an orifice array direction and draws in air or ink or both from said suction port approach a position that does not come into contact with the orifices on the head substrate surface having the orifices formed therein;
• and
• aspirating from said suction port air or ink or both, and simultaneously moving said suction port in the direction perpendicular to the orifice array direction.