Method for maintenance of liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus

[0414]Next, modification examples of this embodiment will be described.

of Wiping Processing

[0415]FIG. 21A is a view illustrating wiping processing for a forward path according to a first modification example. Further, FIG. 21B is a view illustrating wiping processing for a backward path according to the first modification example. Only a part of the liquid discharge head 16 and only a part of a wiping member 70 are shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B.

[0416]In the wiping processing shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, the wiping member 70 is made to reciprocate over the entire length of the liquid discharge head 16 in the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 16 to wipe the entire liquid discharge surface 30 two times.

[0417]Since the number of times of contact between the wiping member 70 and the liquid discharge surface 30, the nozzles 280 shown in FIG. 5, and the inside of the nozzles 280 is further increased in the wiping processing shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, adhering materials present on the liquid discharge surface 30, the nozzles 280, and on the inside

[0421]FIG. 22A is a view illustrating wiping processing for a forward path according to a second modification example. FIG. 22B is a view illustrating wiping processing for a backward path according to the second modification example.

[0422]In the wiping processing shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, a wiping member 70E, which has a diameter or a total length shorter than the entire length of the liquid discharge head 16 in a lateral direction YA, is used and the wiping member 70E is made to reciprocate at least one time over the entire length of the liquid discharge head 16 in the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 16 to wipe the entire liquid discharge surface 30 one times.

[0423]In the wiping processing shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, the wiping member 70E is made smaller than the wiping member 70 shown in FIG. 8 and the like and the effects of the wiping processing are maintained. Reference numeral 90C shown in FIG. 22A denotes the trajectory of an arbitrary point on a wiping su