METHOD FOR SUCTION PURGE OF SOLID INK-JET PRINTER

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of an air leak even without increasing a press force of a cap more than required by melting a stagnant ink in a solid state, then separating an ink-jet head from the cap, butting the ink-jet head again with the cap and carrying out suction purge. ;SOLUTION: An ink tank 4 of an ink-jet head 1 is moved to a purge unit 10 and an orifice face 2 is butted to a cover 12 of a purge cap 11. A press force of an ink-jet head 1 can be eased by a cap spring 13 formed of an elastic member such as a leaf spring or the like. When a solenoid 17 is moved left, a purge frame 15 rotates in the counterclockwise direction about a fulcrum 18 because of a tensile force of a spring 14. At this time, a waste ink 30 sucked and stored in the purge cap 11 is discharged outside, so that the purge cap is brought into a state in which the purge cap can suck ink again.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1999,JPO