Seiko I Infotech Inc.

Seiko Instruments Inc

Hiroaki Kambe

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.

Inkjet printer

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.

Ink cartridge

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.

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Chiba, Japan

Hiroaki Kambe