US 12,343,996 B2
Cleaning method for discharging head
Kazuyoshi Tanase, Matsumoto (JP)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/174,798.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-029111 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0311516 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 2/165 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/16508 (2013.01) [B41J 2/16511 (2013.01); B41J 2/16535 (2013.01); B41J 2/16538 (2013.01); B41J 2/16502 (2024.05)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning method for a discharging head of a printing apparatus,
the printing apparatus including:
the discharging head configured to discharge liquid onto a medium moving relative to the discharging head,
a first cleaning part configured to clean the discharging head, and
a second cleaning part configured to clean the discharging head,
the discharging head including:
a head body including a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge the liquid are opened, the nozzle surface including a first end edge and a second end edge and the plurality of nozzles being positioned between the first end edge and the second end edge,
a first cover member attached to the head body and covering the first end edge, and
a second cover member attached to the head body and covering the second end edge,
the nozzle surface including a first boundary being a boundary with the first cover member and a second boundary being a boundary with the second cover member,
the first boundary and the second boundary extending in a first direction,
the second cleaning part including:
a second wiping member configured to absorb the liquid and
a second holding unit configured to hold the second wiping member,
the first cleaning part including:
a first wiping member made of a material with lower absorbability for the liquid than that of the second wiping member and
a first holding unit configured to hold the first wiping member,
the method comprising:
a nozzle surface wiping step for wiping the first cover member, the nozzle surface, and the second cover member by the first wiping member, with the discharging head and the first cleaning part moving relative to each other; and
a second cover member cleaning step for cleaning the second cover member by the second wiping member, with the discharging head and the second cleaning part reciprocating relative to each other along the first direction, wherein
the second cover member cleaning step includes a second boundary cleaning step for cleaning a region including the second boundary by the second wiping member.