Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a print head that moves in a main scanning direction for ejecting ink from a nozzle, and a wiper blade that moves in a direction intersecting with the main scanning direction for wiping a nozzle surface of the print head on which the nozzle is formed. The wiper blade includes a wiping portion for effectively wiping the print head, and the nozzle surface has a wiping area divided into plural sections each having a width of the effective wiping portion and being partially overlapped with one another in the main scanning direction. When the print head is wiped by the wiper blade, the print head moves in the main scanning direction and the effective wiping portion is arranged at a wiping position corresponding to any one of the plural sections, and the print head is wiped at least twice while the wiping position is changed.

Abstract: Hitherto, the tip of a wiper blade is always brought into contact with a specific position of an inkjet head, and hence a wear amount of the tip of the wiper blade varies, and the life of the wiper blade is determined depending on cleaning performance at a position where the wear amount is large. Only a part of the wiper blade has a large wear amount, and the life is limited because of the deterioration in cleaning performance. To deal with this, the positions of the wiper blade and the print head are varied in a given area in wiping, to thereby prevent the tip of the wiper blade from being always brought into contact with a specific position of the inkjet head, and prevent a specific portion from being damaged due to a specific cause.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer having a structure in which a plurality of mounting structural portions for coupling a carriage to a Y-rail in a movable manner are provided on one side of the carriage, in order to improve image quality by preventing deterioration in landing accuracy of ink along with high-speed movement of the carriage, a weight is mounted on another side of the carriage so as to suppress vibration of the carriage and deterioration in landing accuracy of ink along with the vibration of the carriage. Thus, the image quality is improved.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a case in which is disposed a flexible ink bag containing ink. The ink bag has two opposed major surfaces, one of which is fixed to the case. Two regulation members are adhered to the other major surface and are spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the ink bag to define therebetween a deformable region which extends the full width of the ink bag and along which the ink bag deforms as the ink is consumed and the ink bag contracts. An ink end detection plate is adhered to the other major surface, adjacent one of the regulation members, and undergoes movement with the ink bag as it contracts to provide an indication of when the ink is nearly used up.

Abstract: To control deformation of an ink bag in an ink cartridge of an inkjet printer, for the purpose of consuming ink in the ink bag enlarged in terms of size and dimension with not being wasted. On a surface of the ink bag, sheet-like deformation regulation members are provided so as to sandwich a position desired to be deformed therebetween so that the ink bag can be deformed at a predetermined position when ink is consumed and the ink bag contracts.

Abstract: For an ink jet printer, a maintenance unit having a simple mechanism that ensures a stable well-closed condition is provided. According to the present invention, rigid contact portions are provided in order to maintain a distance between an ink jet head and a cap in the perpendicular direction when the ink jet head is attached to the cap.

Abstract: For an ink jet printer, a maintenance unit having a simple mechanism that ensures a stable well-closed condition is provided. According to the present invention, rigid contact portions are provided in order to maintain a distance between an ink jet head and a cap in the perpendicular direction when the ink jet head is attached to the cap.