Liquid jetting apparatus

Abstract

There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head which has a liquid jetting surface on which a plurality of nozzles are open to jet the liquid; a wiper which moves, relative to the liquid jetting surface, in a wiping direction along the liquid jetting surface, while being brought in contact with the liquid jetting surface, to wipe the liquid adhered on the liquid jetting surface; a wiper moving mechanism which moves the wiper in a direction orthogonal to the liquid jetting surface to approach to or separate from the ink jetting surface; a stopper which makes contact with the wiper which is separated from the ink jetting surface; and an impact-absorbing member which is formed in the wiper or the stopper and absorbs impact generated in a case that the wiper collides with the stopper.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid jetting apparatus which jets liquid, comprising:
 a liquid jetting head which has a liquid jetting surface on which a plurality of nozzles are open to jet the liquid; 
 a wiper which moves, relative to the liquid jetting surface, in a wiping direction along the liquid jetting surface, while being in contact with the liquid jetting surface, to wipe the liquid adhered on the liquid jetting surface; 
 a wiper moving mechanism which moves the wiper in a moving direction orthogonal to the liquid jetting surface to approach to or separate from the ink jetting surface; 
 a stopper which makes contact with the wiper being separated from the ink jetting surface in the moving direction; and 
 an impact-absorbing member which is formed in the wiper or the stopper to absorb an impact generated by a collision between the wiper and the stopper. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a biasing mechanism which biases the wiper toward the stopper. 
 
     
     
       3. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the wiper is formed of an elastic material; and 
 wherein the impact-absorbing member is formed integrally with the wiper. 
 
     
     
       4. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 3 ;
 wherein a protruding portion is formed in an end surface of the wiper to protrude from the end surface of the wiper; and 
 wherein the protruding portion of the wiper makes contact with the stopper as the impact-absorbing member. 
 
     
     
       5. The liquid jetting apparatus according  claim 4 ;
 wherein the protruding portion of the wiper has a side portion and a contact portion which is different from the side portion and which makes contact with the stopper; and 
 wherein the liquid jetting apparatus further comprising a regulating member which makes contact with the side portion of the protruding portion and which regulates bending of the protruding portion generated in a case that the protruding portion makes contact with the stopper. 
 
     
     
       6. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a wiper holder which holds the wiper, wherein the regulating members are formed integrally with the wiper holder. 
 
     
     
       7. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 4 ;
 wherein the protruding portion has a contact portion which makes contact with the stopper, and a connection portion which connects the wiper with the contact portion, which has a width which is smaller than that of the contact portion, and which has a shape to be recessed with respect to the wiper and the contact portion; and 
 wherein the liquid jetting apparatus further comprising regulating member which is arranged to sandwich the connection portion and which regulates bending of the protruding portion generated in a case that the protruding portion makes contact with the stopper. 
 
     
     
       8. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the regulating members and the connection portion are arranged to form a gap therebetween. 
 
     
     
       9. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 8 ;
 wherein the gap is formed to have a width which is enough narrow to exert a capillary force on the liquid entered in the gap. 
 
     
     
       10. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 3 ;
 wherein a stepped portion or a recess portion is formed to extend, in a side portion of the impact-absorbing member which is different from a contact portion of the impact-absorbing member which makes contact with the stopper, toward the contact portion; and a valley-shaped edge is formed by the stepped portion or the recess portion on the side portion of the impact-absorbing member. 
 
     
     
       11. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 10 ;
 wherein a groove which communicates with the valley-shaped edge of the impact-absorbing member is formed in the stopper. 
 
     
     
       12. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 3 ;
 wherein a stepped portion or a recess portion is formed to extend, in a side portion of the impact-absorbing member which is different from a contact portion making contact with the stopper, toward an end portion of the impact-absorbing member which makes contact with the stopper, 
 wherein a valley-shaped edge is formed by the stepped portion or the recess portion on the side portion of the impact-absorbing member, 
 wherein a groove which communicates with the valley-shaped edge of the impact-absorbing member is formed in the stopper, and 
 wherein the gap, the valley-shaped edge and the groove are communicate with each other to form a liquid passage through which the liquid adhered to the wiper flows. 
 
     
     
       13. The liquid jetting apparatus according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the impact-absorbing member is formed of an elastic material; and 
 wherein a hole which penetrates in the wiping direction is formed in the impact-absorbing member. 
 
     
     
       14. A liquid jetting apparatus, comprising:
 a liquid jetting head including a liquid jetting surface;   a wiper which moves, relative to the liquid jetting surface, in a wiping direction along the liquid jetting surface, while being in contact with the liquid jetting surface, to wipe liquid adhered to the liquid jetting surface;   a wiper support plate that supports a back surface of the wiper;   a bottom plate extending from the wiper support plate below the wiper to receive the liquid wiped by the wiper;   a foam to absorb the liquid wiped by the wiper, the foam disposed on the bottom plate and spaced laterally from the wiper support plate; and   a stopper directly below the wiper and supported by the bottom plate.   
     
     
       15. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the back surface of the wiper includes a first planar surface, and wherein the bottom plate includes a second planar surface that is perpendicular to the first planar surface. 
     
     
       16. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a wiper holder disposed between the wiper support plate and the back surface of the wiper. 
     
     
       17. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
 a wiper driver configured to move the wiper in upward and downward directions with respect to the bottom plate, such that the wiper is movable between a wiping position at which the wiper is brought in contact with the liquid jetting surface, and a waiting position at which the wiper and the liquid jetting surface are separated, wherein the wiper contacts the stopper when the wiper is in the waiting position; and   an impact-absorbing member formed in the wiper or the stopper to absorb an impact generated by a collision between the wiper and the stopper when the wiper is moved to the waiting position.   
     
     
       18. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bottom plate includes a first surface directly below the wiper that abuts and extends directly from the wiper support plate, and a second surface positioned in a downward direction relative to the first surface, the foam disposed on the second surface such that the foam is separated in the downward direction from the wiper support plate. 
     
     
       19. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second surface is sloped and extends directly from the first surface in the downward direction. 
     
     
       20. A liquid jetting apparatus, comprising:
 a liquid jetting head which has a liquid jetting surface;   a wiper which moves, relative to the liquid jetting surface, in a wiping direction along the liquid jetting surface, while being in contact with the liquid jetting surface, to wipe the liquid adhered on the liquid jetting surface;   a wiper support plate that supports a back surface of the wiper, the wiper support surface having a bottom end;   a bottom plate extending from the bottom end of the wiper support plate to receive the liquid wiped by the wiper, the bottom plate including a first surface directly below the wiper that abuts and extends directly from the bottom end of the wiper support plate, and a second surface positioned in a downward direction relative to the first surface;   a foam on the second surface such that the foam is separated in the downward direction from the bottom end of the wiper support plate, the foam configured to absorb the liquid wiped by the wiper;   a stopper directly below the wiper and supported by the first surface;   a wiper driver configured to move the wiper in upward and downward directions with respect to the bottom plate, such that the wiper is movable between a wiping position at which an upper surface of the wiper is brought in contact with the liquid jetting surface, and a waiting position at which the wiper and the liquid jetting surface are separated, wherein the wiper contacts the stopper when the wiper is in the waiting position; and   an impact-absorbing member formed in the wiper or the stopper to absorb an impact generated by a collision between the wiper and the stopper when the wiper is moved to the waiting position.   
     
     
       21. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second surface is spaced laterally from the wiper support plate such that the foam is spaced laterally from the wiper support plate. 
     
     
       22. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a wiper holder disposed between the wiper support plate and the back surface of the wiper. 
     
     
       23. The liquid jetting apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second surface is sloped and extends directly from the first surface in the downward direction. 
     
     
       24. A liquid jetting apparatus, comprising:
 a liquid jetting head including a liquid jetting surface;   a wiper which moves, relative to the liquid jetting surface, in a wiping direction along the liquid jetting surface, while being in contact with the liquid jetting surface, to wipe liquid adhered to the liquid jetting surface;   a wiper holder holding the wiper and directly contacting the wiper;   a wiper support plate that supports a back surface of the wiper holder;   a bottom plate positioned below the wiper, the bottom plate extending from the wiper support plate in a direction from the back surface of the wiper holder toward a front surface of the wiper holder, the bottom plate disposed to be separated from both of a bottom end of the wiper holder and a bottom end of the wiper in a downward direction; and   a foam to absorb the liquid wiped by the wiper, the foam disposed on the bottom plate and spaced laterally from the wiper support plate, the foam disposed to be separated from the bottom end of the wiper holder in the downward direction.   
     
     
       25. A liquid jetting apparatus, comprising:
 a liquid jetting head including a liquid jetting surface;   a wiper which moves, relative to the liquid jetting surface, in a wiping direction along the liquid jetting surface, while being in contact with the liquid jetting surface, to wipe liquid adhered to the liquid jetting surface;   a wiper holder holding the wiper and directly contacting the wiper;   a wiper support plate that supports a back surface of the wiper holder;   a bottom plate extending from the wiper support plate below the wiper to receive the liquid wiped by the wiper, the bottom plate including a first surface directly below the wiper disposed to be separated from both of a bottom end of the wiper holder and a bottom end of the wiper in a downward direction and extending directly from the wiper support plate in a direction from the back surface of the wiper holder toward a front surface of the wiper holder, and a second surface positioned in a downward direction relative to the first surface;   a foam on the second surface such that the foam is separated in the downward direction from the bottom end of the wiper support plate, the foam disposed to be separated from the bottom end of the wiper holder in the downward direction, the foam configured to absorb the liquid wiped by the wiper.   
     
     
       26. The liquid jetting apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second surface extends from the first surface in the downward direction. 
     
     
       27. The liquid jetting apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:
 a cap configured to cover the liquid jetting surface; and   a housing where the cap is attached to move in an upward direction and the downward direction,   wherein the front surface of the wiper holder faces the cap in the direction from the back surface of the wiper holder toward the front surface of the wiper holder.   
     
     
       28. The liquid jetting apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
 a pump disposed at an outside of the housing; and   a tube connecting the cap and the pump,   wherein the tube comprises a first portion extending from the cap in the downward direction and a second portion extending toward the direction from the back surface of the wiper holder toward the front surface of the wiper holder in the housing.   
     
     
       29. The liquid jetting apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:
 a cap configured to cover the liquid jetting surface; and   a housing where the cap is attached to move in an upward direction and the downward direction,   wherein the front surface of the wiper holder faces the cap in the direction from the back surface of the wiper holder toward the front surface of the wiper holder.   
     
     
       30. The liquid jetting apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:
 a pump disposed at an outside of the housing; and   a tube connecting the cap and the pump,   wherein the tube comprises a first portion extending from the cap in the downward direction and a second portion extending toward the direction from the back surface of the wiper holder toward the front surface of the wiper holder in the housing.