# US 8,465,121 B2 · Fluid ejecting apparatus and wiping method

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- Number: US 8,465,121 B2
- Document ID: US8465121B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/023,476
- Filed: 2011-02-08
- Published: 2011-08-11
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2010-02-10
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Yoichi Yamada; Masaru Kobashi; Kiyoteru Katsuki
- Inventors: Yoichi Yamada; Masaru Kobashi; Kiyoteru Katsuki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465121B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/16585: {for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads}
- B41J 2/16526: {by applying pressure only}
- B41J 2/16535: {using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence)}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A fluid ejecting apparatus includes: a fluid ejecting head in which nozzles that eject fluid are provided; a wiper that wipes a nozzle formation face, in which nozzle orifices of the nozzles are formed, in the fluid ejecting head; and a pressurization mechanism which changes the curvature of a concave liquid surface formed in the nozzle, in the nozzle by performing pressurization on the fluid in the fluid ejecting head at the time of the wiping.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising:
a fluid ejecting head in which nozzles that eject fluid are provided;
a wiper which wipes a nozzle formation face, in which nozzle orifices of the nozzles are formed, in the fluid ejecting head; and
a pressurization mechanism which changes the curvature of a concave liquid surface formed in the nozzle by performing pressurization on the fluid in the fluid ejecting head at the time of the wiping.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressurization mechanism performs the pressurization in such a manner that a position of a boundary of the liquid surface is fixed during pressurization and also a central area of the liquid surface is not swollen from the nozzle orifice.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
a water repellent treatment is carried out in the vicinity of the nozzle orifice of the nozzle, and
the pressurization mechanism performs the pressurization such that pressure of the fluid in the fluid ejecting head, the pressure serving as a back pressure of the liquid, becomes equal to or greater than pressure of gas which comes into contact with the liquid surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the concave liquid surface is formed in the nozzle such that the boundary of the liquid surface comes into contact with the nozzle orifice and also the central area of the liquid surface is drawn into the nozzle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a decompression mechanism which performs decompression on the fluid in the fluid ejecting head,
wherein the pressurization mechanism performs the pressurization such that the curvature of the liquid surface becomes smaller than that at the time of the decompression.

### Claim 6

A wiping method which wipes a nozzle formation face in which nozzle orifices of nozzles are formed, the nozzles being provided in a fluid ejecting head and ejecting fluid, the method comprising:
wiping the nozzle formation face in a state where curvature of a concave liquid surface formed in the nozzle is changed in the nozzle by pressurizing the fluid in the fluid ejecting head.