JP2000117955A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To raise a treating speed by a method wherein spreading of ink is inhibited by drying quickly a discharged ink drop, and drying of the ink printed on a recording sheet is accelerated. SOLUTION: A cylinder 100 wherein a recording sheet is fixedly held on a holding surface, and a printing head which discharges an ink drop, are provided. In an image recorder wherein an image is recorded on a recording sheet held on the holding surface of the cylinder 100 by an ink drop discharged from a printing head, a heater is provided on the holding surface part of the cylinder 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a color separation halftone original film image data, a photo halftone original image data and a solid image halftone original image data have been separated by a device called DTP, not by cutting and pasting a color separation halftone original film. From the image data such as, cut and paste on the image data, to create a color separation halftone document image data, using a device called an imagesetter to create a color separation halftone document film from this color separation halftone document image data, A printing plate is directly created by a device called CTP.

The proofing work performed by such a system using DTP includes not only a method of creating a color separation screen original film from color separation screen original image data and a method of forming a color proof from the color separation screen original film, DD that creates a color proof directly from color separation net document image data
CP has recently taken place.

In this DDCP, a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is LE based on color separation screen original image data.
Exposure by D or laser light, etc., to create a color proof, based on color separation screen original image data, to create a color proof by ink transfer printing method, based on color separation screen original image data, There is one that creates a color proof by an inkjet printing method.

[0005] In the case of producing a color proof by exposing a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material,
There is a problem that it is necessary to use a processing liquid or a waste liquid of the processing liquid is generated. Further, in the ink transfer printing method, there is a problem that an ink sheet after transferring the ink is generated as a waste material.

[0006] On the other hand, those using the ink jet printing method record images by ejecting minute droplets of ink onto a recording sheet such as paper.
High-speed printing is possible, it is inexpensive, and there is little generation of waste liquid and waste material.

[0007] DDCPs using such an ink-jet printing method include Y (yellow), M
(Magenta), C (cyan) and K (black)
2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet printer provided with a print head is known. This ink jet printer has a cylinder holding a recording sheet on a holding surface, and a plurality of print heads provided with only one nozzle, and constantly ejects droplets from the nozzle at regular intervals, A continuous type of recording an image by deflecting the ejected droplets so that the image is recorded on the image recording surface of the recording sheet held in a cylinder, or is prevented from hitting the recording sheet. Met.

Although not for DDCP, Y, M,
An ink jet printer having a print head for each of the C and K colors. A single print head is provided with a plurality of nozzles, and these nozzles are used to print images on a recording sheet conveyed by a belt at high speed. Some records are also known. Note that the on-demand method is a method of recording an image corresponding to image data on a recording sheet by ejecting or not discharging a droplet according to image data.

[0009]

An image recording apparatus has a cylinder for holding a recording sheet fixedly on a holding surface, and a print head for ejecting ink droplets, and ink droplets ejected from the print head. Therefore, in the case of recording an image on a recording sheet held on the holding surface of the cylinder, there is a problem that the ink for recording the image on the recording sheet bleeds, or the drying of the ink takes a long time and the processing speed is slow.

[0010] For this reason, for example, there is a type in which hot air is applied to the image recording surface of a recording sheet to dry the ink. However, the hot air dries the nozzles of the print head, which may cause ink clogging. Further, there is a type in which a heater or the like is provided inside the cylinder to heat the entire cylinder, a recording sheet is wound around the heated cylinder to record an image, and the heated cylinder is used to dry the sheet. There is a problem that the cylinder is heated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and by drying an ejected ink droplet quickly, ink bleeding is suppressed, drying of the ink printed on a recording sheet is promoted, and processing speed is reduced. The purpose is to raise.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a cylinder for fixedly holding a recording sheet on a holding surface; and a print head for ejecting ink droplets. In an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder,
An image recording apparatus, wherein a heater is provided on a holding surface of the cylinder. ].

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image is recorded on a recording sheet by ink droplets ejected from the print head, the print head is less likely to be adversely affected by heat, and the recording sheet is less wastefully heated. The ink printed on the surface can be dried quickly, the processing speed can be improved, and discoloration after image recording is completed can be suppressed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method as described above, wherein the holding surface of the cylinder is provided with an electrostatic attraction sheet for fixedly holding the recording sheet on the holding surface of the cylinder by electrostatic attraction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: ].

According to the second aspect of the present invention, with a simple structure,
The recording sheet can be fixedly held on the holding surface of the cylinder. In addition, it is preferable that the heat retention of the electrostatic adsorption sheet is high.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the electrostatic suction sheet includes the heater. ].

According to the third aspect of the present invention, with a simple structure,
While fixedly holding the recording sheet on the holding surface of the cylinder,
The ink printed on the recording sheet can be dried quickly with less wasteful heating, thereby improving the processing speed and suppressing discoloration after completion of image recording.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an on-demand system in which the cylinder has a substantially cylindrical holding surface and the print head has a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink droplets. An image of a recording sheet fixedly held on a holding surface of the rotating cylinder, comprising a cylinder rotating means for rotating the cylinder about a substantially axis of the cylindrical surface. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is recorded on the recording surface by discharging ink droplets from the print head. ].

Hereinafter, the fourth aspect of the present invention will be described in detail.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the cylinder is fixedly holding the recording sheet on the cylindrical holding surface, the cylinder rotates around the column axis of the cylindrical surface substantially. The image recording surface of the recording sheet passes through a predetermined position in a predetermined direction. Accordingly, the distance between the leading end of the print head and the image recording surface of the recording sheet can be made very small, and the accuracy of the mounting position and direction of the print head with respect to the image recording surface of the recording sheet can be made extremely high. Therefore,
Even when using an on-demand print head provided with a plurality of nozzles in which the ejection direction of the ink droplets is not very constant, the positional accuracy of the ink droplets ejected from the print head and recorded on the image recording surface of the recording sheet is extremely low. Can be higher. Therefore, a very high-definition image with very high reproducibility can be recorded.

The holding surface for holding the recording sheet fixedly may be an outer peripheral surface of a cylinder or a hollow cylinder, and may be an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. And when the holding surface is the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, it is desirable to hold the image recording surface of the recording sheet so that it faces outward, and when a hollow cylinder is used and the holding surface is the inner peripheral surface of this cylinder, It is desirable to hold the recording sheet so that the image recording surface faces inward, but it is not limited to these.

The cylindrical axis and the cylindrical surface are a cylindrical axis and a cylindrical surface in a geometric sense, and the cylindrical axis is a straight line.
The cylindrical surface is a surface formed by a straight line parallel to the cylinder axis and passing through a circumference on a plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis.

Further, the holding surface is a surface of a portion where the recording sheet is held in the area for holding the recording sheet, and the holding surface is substantially a cylindrical surface. The location where the recording sheet is held may be substantially a cylindrical surface, and the other areas may be concave or substantially non-cylindrical, such as not being present, or substantially not. It may be a cylindrical surface. Further, the recording sheet may be held at all points in the area for holding the recording sheet, but for example, the recording sheet such as a groove, a hole, a slit, or a hole is not held in a part of the area for holding the recording sheet. Even if the location is provided, the location for holding the recording sheet in the area for holding the recording sheet may be a substantially cylindrical surface.

The holding surface is substantially cylindrical when the variation in the distance of the holding surface with respect to the cylinder axis is within a range where the quality of the recorded image does not substantially matter. The variation in the distance of the surface to the cylinder axis is
It is preferably within 0.5 mm or less.
It preferably falls within 3 mm or less (particularly 0.1 mm or less).

[0026] The term "substantially rotating around the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical surface" means that the image rotates around the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical surface as a rotation axis and records eccentricity (distance of the rotation axis with respect to the cylindrical axis). Is within a range in which the image quality does not substantially matter, and the eccentricity is preferably within 0.5 mm or less, and more preferably within 0.3 mm or less (especially 0.1 mm or less).

The direction of the axis of the cylinder is preferably substantially horizontal, but may be vertical or oblique.

Examples of the form in which the cylinder fixedly holds the recording sheet, such as the form in which the cylinder fixedly holds the recording sheet by electrostatic attraction, the form in which the cylinder fixedly holds the recording sheet by means of a magnet, And a mode in which the cylinder holds the recording sheet fixedly by vacuum suction, but is not limited thereto.

The distance between the print head and the recording sheet is preferably regulated to 1 cm or less, and more preferably to 2 mm or less (particularly 1 mm or less).

The color proof image corresponding to the color separation network image data is a color proof image that simulates a printed matter created from the color separation network image data. Further, the image data corresponding to the color separation network image data may be image data corresponding to the color separation network image data, and is not limited to the color separation network image data itself. The continuous tone original image data input to the halftone image processing device that generates the color separation halftone image data, and the continuous tone processing device that converts the color separation halftone image data into the continuous tone image data. The image data may be continuous tone image data obtained by converting the decomposed net image data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the cylindrical axis of the cylinder is substantially horizontal, and the print head ejects ink droplets downward from a position above the recording sheet to record an image on the recording sheet. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an image is recorded on the surface. ].

Hereinafter, the invention according to claim 5 will be described in detail.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the cylinder axis of the cylinder is substantially horizontal, and the print head ejects ink droplets downward from a position above the recording sheet to form an image on the recording sheet. Since the image is recorded on the recording surface, the print head ejects ink droplets in the upward or horizontal direction to record the image on the image recording surface of the recording sheet held by the cylinder. , And the positional accuracy of ink droplets recorded on the image recording surface of the recording sheet can be increased. Therefore, a very high-definition image with very high reproducibility can be recorded.

Therefore, when creating a color proof,
A color proof that can be used well by calibration can be created. Further, the cylinder axis of the cylinder is substantially horizontal, and the print head ejects ink droplets downward from a position above the recording sheet to record a color proof image on the image recording surface of the recording sheet. Even if the cylinder is large, holding a large size recording sheet for color proofing, the horizontal cross-sectional area of the structural material to increase the accuracy between the cylinder and the printhead may be small, A color proof that can be favorably used by calibration can be created while reducing the cost of the entire creation apparatus.

It is to be noted that the cylindrical axis of the cylinder is substantially horizontal,
It is sufficient that the horizontal cross-sectional area of the structural material for increasing the accuracy between the cylinder and the print head is small, and it is sufficient that the position accuracy of the ink droplets is higher. Absent. The angle of the axis of the cylinder with respect to the horizontal plane is preferably 20 ° or less, and more preferably 5 ° or less (especially 1 ° or less).

Further, discharging ink droplets downward means that:
It is sufficient that the ink droplet is ejected in a downward direction so as to increase the positional accuracy of the ink droplet, and it is not necessary to be completely vertically downward. The angle of the direction in which the ink droplets are ejected with respect to the vertically downward direction is preferably equal to or less than a half-perpendicular angle, and more preferably equal to or less than 20 ° (particularly, equal to or less than 5 °).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a moving means for moving the print head in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis over at least an image recording width, wherein the print head has a plurality of nozzles. The width of the plurality of nozzles arranged side by side in a direction substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis is smaller than the image recording width. Image recording device. ].

Hereinafter, the invention according to claim 6 will be described in detail.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of nozzles are juxtaposed in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, the height and direction of the plurality of nozzles with respect to the image recording surface are different. Variations can be easily reduced, and the width at which the plurality of nozzles are juxtaposed is narrower than the image recording width.
Compared to arranging a plurality of nozzles in parallel over the image recording width, it is easier to create a print head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged with necessary accuracy, and the holding means connects the print head to the cylindrical shaft. Can move across the image recording width in a direction parallel to the image recording area, so that images can be recorded over the entire image recording area of the recording sheet, and at a lower cost than arranging multiple print heads to cover the entire image recording width. , Easy to achieve high precision.

As described above, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced while a higher quality image can be recorded.

It should be noted that a plurality of nozzles being juxtaposed in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axis means that the direction in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged and the cylinder axis are completely parallel. However, the direction in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged and the column axis may be approximately parallel to such an extent that variations in height and direction of the plurality of nozzles with respect to the image recording surface can be reduced. The deviation angle φ between the direction in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged and the direction of the cylinder axis is determined by the width of the plurality of nozzles arranged in the circumferential direction of the cylinder (the direction in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged). (W) from the center of the nozzle at one end to the center of the nozzle at the other end).

Φ <tan ⁻¹ (S / W) As a result, a high-quality image can be recorded without performing image processing for deforming the image. Further, it is preferable that the following expression is further satisfied.

Φ <tan ⁻¹ (0.3 × S / W) The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that “the print head has a restricting means for restricting a position of the print head in a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical axis. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein ].

According to the present invention, not only can the position of the print head in the direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylinder be regulated, but also the position of the print head in the cylinder axis direction can be easily regulated. It is easy to prevent the position of the image recorded on the recording sheet from being slightly shifted before and after the movement in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. Therefore, a higher quality image can be recorded.

The restricting means only needs to restrict the position of the print head in the direction perpendicular to the column axis. For example, a column-shaped guide provided in parallel with the cylinder axis of the cylinder; This guide is fitted, and a combination with a holding member that holds the print head, a guide groove provided in parallel with the cylindrical axis of the cylinder, and a holding member that fits in the guide groove and holds the print head. But not limited to these. Further, examples of the column shape include a prism shape such as a quadrangular prism shape, a column shape, and the like, but are not limited thereto.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding means for feeding a recording sheet onto the holding surface of the cylinder, and a recording sheet fed to the sheet feeding means on the holding surface of the cylinder. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a pressing roller configured to press. ].

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the recording sheet fed onto the holding surface of the cylinder is pressed against the holding surface of the cylinder by the pressing roller, the recording sheet is easily brought into close contact with the cylinder.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding means feeds the recording sheet onto the holding surface of the cylinder without rubbing the image recording surface. Item 10. The image recording apparatus according to Item 8. ].

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the recording sheet can be fed without rubbing the image recording surface, so that a high-density image recording that absorbs a large amount of ink per unit area can be easily formed. In addition, damage due to feeding can be prevented. Therefore, an image reproduced up to a high-density area with less flaws can be recorded.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding means includes: a guide for guiding a back surface of the recording sheet;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a feed roller pair that feeds a recording sheet. ].

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the recording sheet can be fed without rubbing the image recording surface, so that a high-density image recording that absorbs a large amount of ink per unit area can be easily recorded. In addition, damage due to feeding can be prevented. Therefore, an image reproduced up to a high-density area with less flaws can be recorded.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourth to tenth aspects, further comprising a sheet discharging means for discharging a recording sheet from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder without rubbing the image recording surface. Image recording device. ].

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the recording sheet can be discharged without rubbing the image recording surface, even a recording sheet which is easily damaged and capable of recording a high density image such that a large amount of ink is absorbed per unit area. In addition, damage due to discharge can be prevented. Therefore, an image reproduced up to a high-density area with less flaws can be recorded.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the above aspect, wherein the print head ejects ink droplets in accordance with image data corresponding to the color separation halftone image data, whereby the image recording surface of the recording sheet held by the cylinder 12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color proof image corresponding to the color separation image data is recorded. ].

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the ink printed on the recording sheet can be dried quickly and the processing speed can be improved, so that the productivity of the color proof is high and the discoloration after the image recording is completed can be suppressed. Therefore, color proofing can be performed on the image immediately after the completion of image recording, and a color proof with good workability and good proofing can be created.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, further comprising a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel for each color of the color separation image data. apparatus. ].

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel for each color of the color separation image data is provided. Since an image can be recorded at a higher speed even if the number of nozzles per one nozzle head is smaller than that provided with nozzles for all colors, the image recording speed is high.
Easy to create printheads. Therefore, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced while the color proof can be created more quickly.

[0058]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Also,
In the following description, there may be descriptions explaining the meanings of the terms. However, the explanations are for the purpose of describing the terms in the embodiments, and the meanings of the terms of the present invention are not limited to this description.

The color proof creating apparatus according to this embodiment is an image recording apparatus capable of recording a color proof image by discharging ink droplets onto an image recording surface of a recording sheet based on color separation halftone image data. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the color proof creating apparatus of this embodiment, with a part thereof cut away, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the internal structure thereof, and FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

As a recording sheet 1 on which an image is recorded by the color proof forming apparatus,
It is preferable that an ink absorbing layer having a large amount of ink absorbed per unit area is provided, thereby enabling good tone reproduction from high density to low density. The ink absorbing layer is preferably a void layer containing inorganic fine particles and a hydrophilic binder. Recording sheet 1
The back surface opposite to the image recording surface is formed as a slippery surface.

The sheet cassette 500 is capable of stacking and storing a plurality of recording sheets 1 so that the image recording surface faces upward. Then, a feeding roller 4 to be described later
10 are fed from the uppermost recording sheet 1 of the plurality of recording sheets 1 stacked.

In this color proof forming apparatus, the recording sheets 1 are taken out one by one from the sheet cassette 500, supplied to the cylinder 100, wound around the cylinder 100, and
Print head 20 on recording sheet 1 held by
0 records an image by discharging ink droplets, and the recording sheet 1 on which the image is recorded is discharged to the discharge tray 310. The color proof creating apparatus converts the color separation image data into a continuous tone while rotating the cylinder 100 at a constant speed as main scanning while holding the recording sheet fixedly on the holding surface of the cylinder 100. By ejecting ink droplets from the print head 200 based on the continuous tone image data obtained by
The color proof image corresponding to the color separation halftone image data is recorded on the image recording surface of the recording sheet 1 fixedly held on the 0 holding surface.

The color proof forming apparatus supplies the recording sheet 1 to the cylinder 100 from the sheet cassette 500 disposed below the cylinder 100 and the discharge tray 310. The color proof forming apparatus includes a feed roller 410 that feeds only one recording sheet stacked on the uppermost portion of the sheet cassette 500 while separating it by a difference in frictional force.
And a first transport roller pair 4 that transports the recording sheet 1 therebetween.
20, a first supply guide 430 for guiding the back side of the recording sheet 1, a second pair of conveyance rollers 440 for conveying the recording sheet 1 therebetween, a second supply guide 450 for guiding the back side of the recording sheet 1, and recording. A pressing roller 460 for pressing the sheet 1 against the cylinder 100 is provided, and the recording sheet 1 is transported from the sheet cassette 500 to the cylinder 100 while being turned upside down and fed.

Further, the cylinder 100 has a holding surface on the outer peripheral side for fixedly holding the recording sheet 1 wound around the recording sheet 1 with the image recording surface facing outward during image recording. The shape of the holding surface of the cylinder 100 is a cylindrical surface, and the variation in the distance of the holding surface with respect to the cylindrical axis is 0.0.
It is less than 5 mm. And this cylinder 100
Are arranged so that the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical surface is horizontal and rotate about this cylindrical axis, and the eccentricity is within 0.1 mm or less. The cylinder 100 is rotated at a constant rotation speed by a motor (not shown) during image recording.

The carriage 230 has a print head.
Is fixedly held. Also, print head 2
Reference numeral 00 denotes an on-demand type print head.
As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle head bases 211, 213, 21
5, 217 are provided, and each nozzle head table 21 is provided.
1, 213, 215 and 217 have two nozzle heads
Are provided. Then, the nozzle heads 221-2
Each of the nozzles has a plurality of nozzles 220 corresponding to the image recording width.
In the narrower range, all the deviation angles φ are φ <tan
^-1(0.3 × S / W)
They are arranged side by side in the column axis direction. These nozzles
220 is an on-demand type inkjet nozzle
To eject ink droplets only for pixels that require ink recording.
And ejects ink droplets in the vertical direction.
You.

A quadrangular carriage guide 245 for guiding the print head 200 in the direction of the cylinder axis of the cylinder 100 while regulating the position of the print head 200 in the direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylinder 100 is provided. The carriage 230 is provided with a hole into which a carriage guide 245 is swingably fitted. The carriage 230 is fitted over a pulley 250 fixed to the motor shaft of the motor 240 and a pulley 270 held rotatably. The carriage 230 is fixed to the belt 260, and the motor 240 rotates the pulley 250 so that the carriage guide 2
45 guides the carriage 230 to print head 20
The carriage 230 is moved in the direction of the cylinder axis of the cylinder 100 over a width wider than the image recording width so that 0 is always positioned vertically above the cylinder axis of the cylinder 100.

Further, ink containers 271 to 278 are provided on the ink container holding plate 280 for each of the nozzle heads 221 to 228. Then, the nozzle heads 221 to 22
8 and the corresponding ink containers 271 to 278, the nozzle heads 221 to 228 and the corresponding ink containers 271 to 278 are connected to the flexible pipes 291 and 292, respectively.
Connected through. The pipe 292 has one end connected to the carriage main body 230 and the other end connected through a tractor unit 295 fixed to the ink container holding plate 280.

In the color proof forming apparatus, the print head 200 ejects ink droplets while rotating the cylinder 100 fixedly holding the recording sheet 1 on the holding surface, thereby recording an image on the recording sheet 1. The recording of a part of the image in the area and the movement of the print head 200 in the cylindrical axis direction of the cylinder 100 by the motor 240 are alternately performed, and the image of the entire image recording area of the recording sheet 1 is recorded. At this time, the interval between the print head 200 and the recording sheet 1 is regulated to 1 mm or less.

After the image formation is completed, the motor 2
The rotation of the pulley 250 causes the carriage 230 to move in the cylindrical axis direction of the cylinder 100, and the print head 200 to move above the maintenance unit 600,
Sucking, cleaning and capping are performed.
The sucking is to suck the ink in the nozzle 220 from the ink droplet ejection direction of the print head 200,
The cleaning is to clean the ink droplet discharge surface of the print head 200 with a wiper or the like, and the capping is to cover the ink droplet discharge surface of the print head 200 with a cap.

The color proof forming apparatus includes a discharge guide 350 for separating the recording sheet 1 on which an image is recorded from the cylinder 100 and discharging the recording sheet 1, and a discharge tray 310 provided on the side of the cylinder 100. The recording sheet 1 having the image recorded by the cylinder 100 is discharged to a discharge tray 310.

Further, one end of the discharge guide 350 has a cylindrical shape.
00 but close to the cylinder 10
By guiding the back side of the recording sheet 1 from the side of the recording sheet 1 to the discharge tray 310, the recording sheet 1 released from the fixed holding by the cylinder 100 is guided to the discharge tray 310 by gravity. Then, the recording sheet 1 is discharged to the discharge tray 310 with the image recording surface facing up.

The discharge tray 310 has a plurality of recording sheets 1
Can be accommodated. In addition, the discharge tray 310
The recording sheet 1 is provided obliquely so that the height on the side of the cylinder 100 is increased, and accommodates the discharged recording sheet 1 obliquely.

The discharge tray 310 has a bat 330 which can be slid in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, and accommodates the discharged recording sheet 1 in a state where the bat 330 is slid out. . When the sheet cassette 500 is replaced, the recording sheet 1 cannot be supplied from the sheet cassette 500, so that the bat 330 can be pushed in.
Since the sheet cassette 500 is replaced, the sheet cassette 500 can be easily replaced.

The print head 200 may be provided with a recording sheet, for example, a heater may be provided inside the cylinder 100, an infrared lamp may be provided at a position facing the discharge guide 350, or an infrared lamp may be provided next to the print head 200. The structure is such that the recording sheet 1 is dried from the time when the ink droplets are ejected to the image recording surface of the first recording sheet 1 until the time when the recording sheet 1 is discharged to the discharge tray 310.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cylinder, and FIG. 5 is a view showing an electrostatic attraction sheet. In this color proof creating apparatus, an electrostatic suction sheet C containing a heater is provided on the peripheral surface of a cylinder 100. The electrostatic attraction sheet C is provided between the sheets 62 and 63 having high heat conductivity and conductivity between the heater wire 60 and the electrostatic attraction electrostatic wire 61. Also, the heater wire 6
The zeros and the electrostatic wires 61 are preferably arranged so as not to cause temperature unevenness and electrostatic unevenness. It is preferable that power is applied from the power supply 64 and that these are simultaneously turned on and off.

The electrostatic attraction sheet C is provided over the entire area of the holding surface of the cylinder 100. The cylinder 100 is rotated in the feeding direction, and the recording sheet 1 is pressed against the holding surface of the cylinder 100 by the pressing roller 460. Then, the recording sheet 1 is electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption sheet C by being brought into close contact with the electrostatic adsorption sheet C.
As a result, the recording sheet 1 is fixedly held on the surface of the electrostatic attraction sheet C by electrostatic attraction, and an image is recorded by the print head 200 in a state where the recording sheet 1 is electrostatically attracted. As in the case where the recording sheet 1 is mechanically fixed by the above, there is no trace or broken trace of the pressing claw on the recording sheet 1. In addition, since there is no chucking part or the like, the wheel balance of the cylinder 100 can be easily obtained, so that the rotation unevenness of the cylinder is reduced. Further, the distance between the print head 200 and the recording sheet 1 can be reduced.

Further, the recording sheet 1 can be fixedly held on the surface of the electrostatic attraction sheet C with a simple structure for applying a predetermined constant voltage from the power supply 64 to the electrostatic wire 61 of the electrostatic attraction sheet C. In this image recording apparatus, by rotating the cylinder 100 in the discharge direction, the discharge guide 350 can easily separate and discharge the stacked recording sheets 1 by electrostatic attraction. This is because one recording sheet 1 is electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption sheet C. For example, if two recording sheets 1 are fed in an overlapping manner, they are stacked by electrostatic adsorption. This is because the second recording sheet 1 is not sucked.

Then, the cylinder 100 is rotated in the recording direction opposite to the discharge direction, and an image is formed by ink droplets discharged from the print head 200 onto one recording sheet 1 electrostatically attracted to the top sheet C. To form Thus, the recording sheet 1 is dried by the heat generated by the heater wire 60 of the electrostatic attraction sheet C while forming an image on the recording sheet 1. As a result, the processing speed can be improved because the ink droplets printed on the recording sheet are dried quickly without causing an adverse effect of heat on the print head 200 and with little unnecessary heating of the cylinder 100. Discoloration after completion of image recording can be suppressed.

When the recording sheet 1 on which this image is recorded is discharged, the application of the voltage from the power supply 64 to the electrostatic wire 61 is interrupted, or the reverse voltage is applied to release the electrostatic attraction.
The cylinder 100 is rotated in the discharge direction, which is the reverse direction, and is separated from the rear end 1b of the recording sheet 1 by the discharge guide 350 and discharged.

As a result, the recording sheet 1 on which an image is recorded can be discharged smoothly and reliably with a simple configuration with a small number of parts.

When two or more recording sheets 1 are fed when the recording sheet 1 is electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of the electrostatic attraction sheet C by rotating the cylinder 100 in the feeding direction, this electrostatic attraction The second and subsequent recording sheets 1 superimposed by
By rotating the cylinder 100 in the discharge direction, the cylinder 100 can be separated and discharged easily. Thereafter, an image is formed by the print head 200 on one recording sheet 1 electrostatically adsorbed on the electrostatic adsorption sheet C. Therefore, the feeding mechanism is configured without increasing the accuracy of the separation mechanism, and even if the double feeding of the recording sheets 1 occurs, the unnecessary recording sheets 1 can be immediately recorded after being discharged, so that the recording operation is not hindered.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, a heater wire 60 and an electrostatic wire 61 are provided between sheets 62 and 63 having heat transfer and conductivity to form an electrostatic suction sheet C. The electrostatic suction sheet C is provided on the cylinder 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the electrostatic suction sheet C has only the electrostatic wire 61 therein, and the heater wire 60 is provided on the cylinder 100. 1 may be embedded inside.

[0083]

In the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image is recorded on a recording sheet by ink droplets ejected from the print head, the print head is hardly adversely affected by heat. The amount of wasteful heating is small, the ink printed on the recording sheet can be dried quickly, the processing speed can be improved, and discoloration after completion of image recording can be suppressed.

According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
The recording sheet can be fixedly held on the holding surface of the cylinder with a simple structure.

According to the image recording apparatus of the third aspect,
With a simple structure, the ink printed on the recording sheet can be dried quickly with less unnecessary heating while the recording sheet is fixedly held on the holding surface of the cylinder. Discoloration after completion can be suppressed.

According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
Highly reproducible and high-definition images can be recorded.

In the image recording apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
Highly reproducible and high-definition images can be recorded.

According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
The cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced while higher quality images can be recorded.

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention,
Higher quality images can be recorded.

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention,
It is easy to make the recording sheet adhere to the cylinder.

According to the image recording apparatus of the ninth aspect,
An image reproduced to a high density with few scratches can be recorded.

The image recording apparatus according to the tenth aspect of the present invention can record an image reproduced to a high density area with less flaws.

The image recording apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention can record an image reproduced up to a high-density area with few flaws.

In the image recording apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, color proofing can be performed on an image immediately after image recording is completed, and a color proof with good workability and good proofing can be created.

In the image recording apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the color proof can be created at a higher speed, and the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view in which a part of a color proof creating device is cut away.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the internal structure of the color proof creating device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the print head viewed from its discharge direction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cylinder.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an electrostatic suction sheet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment in which a heater and a top sheet covering the heater are provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the cylinder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 recording sheet 42 squeeze roller 43 separation claw 100 cylinder 200 print head C electrostatic attraction sheet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA01 EA04 EA11 EC12 EC29 FA02 FA10 FC06 HA28 HA29 HA38 HA46 HA60 JA01 JB04 JC20 KC02

Claims (13)

[Claims] An ink jet head for ejecting ink droplets on a holding surface of the cylinder; and a print head for ejecting ink droplets on the holding surface of the cylinder. In an image recording apparatus that records an image on a held recording sheet, the cylindrical holding surface portion includes:
An image recording apparatus comprising a heater. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said holding surface of said cylinder is electrostatically attracted to said holding surface.
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electrostatic attraction sheet for fixedly holding the recording sheet on the holding surface of the cylinder. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrostatic attraction sheet includes said heater. 4. The on-demand type print head, wherein the cylinder has a substantially cylindrical holding surface, and wherein the print head is provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets in parallel. A cylinder rotating means for rotating the cylinder substantially around a circular axis of the cylindrical surface, wherein the print head is provided on an image recording surface of a recording sheet fixedly held on a holding surface of the rotating cylinder; The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is recorded by discharging ink droplets from the image recording apparatus. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical axis of the cylinder is substantially horizontal, and the print head ejects ink droplets downward from a position above the recording sheet to record an image on an image recording surface of the recording sheet. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. A print head having a moving means capable of moving the print head at least over an image recording width in a direction parallel to the cylindrical axis, wherein the plurality of nozzles are substantially aligned with the cylindrical axis. The width in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged side by side in a direction parallel to
6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the width is smaller than the image recording width. 7. An image recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising regulating means for regulating a position of said print head in a direction perpendicular to said cylindrical axis. 8. A sheet feeding means for feeding a recording sheet onto the holding surface of the cylinder, and a pressing roller for pressing the recording sheet fed to the sheet feeding means against the holding surface of the cylinder. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: 9. An image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said sheet feeding means feeds the recording sheet onto the holding surface of said cylinder without rubbing the image recording surface. . 10. An image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said sheet feeding means has a guide for guiding a back surface of the recording sheet, and a pair of feeding rollers for feeding the recording sheet. . 11. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a sheet discharging means for discharging the recording sheet from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder without rubbing the image recording surface. 12. The color separation tone image is printed on an image recording surface of a recording sheet held by the cylinder by causing the print head to eject ink droplets in accordance with image data corresponding to color separation halftone image data. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color proof image corresponding to data is recorded. 13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel for each color of the color separation image data.