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(11) | EP 1 982 836 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | Flushing position controller incorporated in ink-jet recording apparatus and flushing method used for the same |
(57) Flushing regions (13A,13B) for receiving ink droplets to be ejected when flushing
signal is supplied to a recording head (5) are provided in both of non-print regions
situated at both sides of print region in order to prevent throughput during the flushing
operation from deteriorating. A guide member (20A) having a slant surface is disposed
between the recording head and an ink absorbing member (14) to which the ink landed
on the slant surface flows in order to reduce in size of the ink absorbing member.
A porous sheet member closely faced to nozzle orifices of the recording head for receiving
the ink droplets ejected therefrom is provided in order to prevent undesired mist
of fine ink droplets from generating. A plurality of plate members closely faced to
the nozzle orifices are provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the flight
direction of the ink droplets in order to prevent the undesired mist from generating.
The flushing operation is performed so as to prevent solidification of the ejected
ink.
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