Inkjet image forming apparatus comprising a nozzle cleaning unit and method of using the same
Provided is an inkjet image forming apparatus and method. The inkjet image forming apparatus comprises an inkjet head comprising a nozzle unit with a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected, at least one wiper cleaning the nozzle unit, a mount part on which the wiper is installed, and elastic members elastically biasing the wiper in a direction where the wiper can contact the nozzle unit, wherein the wiper installed on the mount part can be tilted in a longitudinal direction thereof.
1. An inkjet image forming apparatus comprising:
an inkjet head comprising a nozzle unit with a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected;
at least one wiper cleaning the nozzle unit;
a mount part on which the wiper is installed; and
elastic members elastically biasing the wiper in a direction where the wiper can contact the nozzle unit,
wherein the wiper installed on the mount part can be tilted in a longitudinal direction thereof.
2. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wipers are installed on the mount part to be spaced a predetermined distance from one another in a transverse direction thereof, and each of the plurality of wipers can be independently tilted in the longitudinal direction.
3. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wipers are installed on the mount part to be spaced a predetermined distance from one another in a transverse direction thereof and to be tilted in the transverse direction.
4. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wiper is an elastic blade for elastically contacting the nozzle unit.
5. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wiper is a rotating roller for contacting the nozzle unit.
6. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inkjet head is a shuttling inkjet head that reciprocates in a transverse direction of a sheet of paper.
7. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle unit has a length corresponding to a width of a sheet of paper, and the inkjet head is a line printing inkjet head that ejects ink at a fixed position to the sheet of paper.
8. An inkjet image forming apparatus comprising:
an inkjet head comprising a nozzle unit with a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected;
a plurality of wipers cleaning the nozzle unit;
a mount part on which the plurality of wipers are installed; and
elastic members for elastically biasing the plurality of wipers in a direction where the plurality of wipers can contact the nozzle unit,
wherein the plurality of wipers installed on the mount part can be tilted in a transverse direction thereof.
9. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of wipers are elastic blades elastically contacting the nozzle unit.
10. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of wipers are rotating rollers contacting the nozzle unit.
11. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the inkjet head is a shuttling inkjet head that reciprocates in a transverse direction of a sheet of paper.
12. The inkjet image forming apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the nozzle unit has a length corresponding to a width of a sheet of paper, and the inkjet head is a line printing inkjet head that ejects ink at a fixed position to the sheet of paper.
13. A method of cleaning an inkjet head of an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:
ejecting ink through a nozzle unit;
installing a plurality of wipers on a mount part, the wipers being tiltable in a longitudinal direction of the mount part;
cleaning the nozzle unit with the plurality of wipers; and
elastically biasing the plurality of wipers in a direction where the plurality of wipers can contact the nozzle unit.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of wipers are rotating rollers contacting the nozzle unit.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the nozzle unit has a length corresponding to a width of a sheet of paper.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of elastically biasing the plurality of wipers further comprises the step of:
elastically contacting the nozzle unit with the plurality of wipers, wherein the plurality of wipers are elastic blades.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of wipers are tiltable in a transverse direction of the mount part.