JP2000118065A - Image recording method and image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent staining of a recording sheet which may occur when a redundant ink drop is stuck thereto and to achieve good image recording. SOLUTION: There is disclosed a method for image recording wherein an ink drop is ejected, from a print head 200 that is intermittently moved in a direction of a rotational shaft of a rotating cylinder 100, to a recording sheet 1 which is fixedly held on a holding face of the rotating cylinder 100 and the cylinder 100 is rotated in a main scanning direction, then an image is recorded. While a image is recorded on the recording sheet 1 held on the holding face of the cylinder 100, the print head 200 is not moved at a timing when the recording sheet 1 is existing on a printing position of the print head 200. The print head 200 is moved in the direction of the rotational shaft of the cylinder 100 at a timing when the recording sheet 1 is not existing on the printing position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image recording method and 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]

In contrast to these conventional techniques, the inventor of the present invention has provided a recording sheet fixedly held on a holding surface of a rotating cylinder, intermittently in the direction of the rotation axis of the cylinder. A method of recording an image by ejecting ink droplets from a print head that moves to a position where the rotation of the cylinder serves as a main scan. However, in this method, if the print head is intermittently moved at a timing when the recording sheet is present at the print position of the print head, it may cause extra ink droplets to adhere to the recording sheet, possibly due to the impact of the intermittent movement, It was found that the image quality could be degraded. In particular, it has been found that when an on-demand type print head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel is used, it is easy to cause extra ink droplets to adhere to the recording sheet and to deteriorate the image quality.

An object of the first invention is to solve the above problem, and it is necessary to suppress an unnecessary ink droplet from adhering to a recording sheet and to contaminate the recording sheet, and to suppress such deterioration of image quality. is there.

In the mechanism for moving the print head in the direction of the rotation axis of the cylinder, the print head needs to be accurately moved to a predetermined position. However, when a resin belt or a rubber belt is used, there is a problem that accuracy unevenness easily occurs due to elastic deformation or aging, and when a steel belt is used, rust is generated.

The second object of the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an image recording method and an image recording apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of unevenness in the accuracy of the movement of a print head and enabling satisfactory image recording. It is to be.

[0013]

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, an ink droplet is ejected onto a recording sheet fixedly held on a holding surface of a rotating cylinder from a print head that moves intermittently in the rotation axis direction of the cylinder. Thereby, in the image recording method in which the rotation of the cylinder is a main scan and an image is recorded, while an image is recorded on a recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder, the image is recorded at a print position of the print head. The image recording wherein the print head does not move at a timing when a recording sheet exists, and the print head is moved in a rotation axis direction of the cylinder at a timing when the recording sheet does not exist at a print position of the print head. Method. ].

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent extra ink droplets from adhering to the recording sheet and to contaminate the recording sheet, thereby suppressing deterioration in image quality. The printing position is a position where ink droplets adhere and are printed when ink droplets are ejected from the print head.

According to a second 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; a cylinder rotating means for rotating the cylinder; a print head for discharging ink droplets; Print head moving means for intermittently moving in the direction of the rotation axis, and intermittently moving by the print head moving means to a recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder rotated by the cylindrical rotating means. In an image recording apparatus that records an image by ejecting ink droplets from the print head and rotating the cylinder as main scanning, the print head moving means includes a recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder. While the image is being recorded on the print head, the print head is moved at a timing when the recording sheet exists at the print position of the print head. Without, in the timing when the recording sheet is not present in the printing position of the print head, the image recording apparatus characterized by moving the print head in the direction of the rotation axis of the cylinder. ].

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent extra ink droplets from adhering to the recording sheet and to contaminate the recording sheet, thereby suppressing deterioration in image quality.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the printing head moving means includes a stepping motor, a carriage for fixedly holding the print head, a stainless steel belt having the carriage fixed to a part thereof, The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a stainless steel pulley fixed to a motor shaft of the stepping motor that directly rotates a belt. ].

According to a fourth 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; a cylinder rotating means for rotating the cylinder; a print head for ejecting ink droplets; A carriage that fixedly holds the print head, a stainless steel belt having the carriage fixed to a part thereof, and a stainless steel pulley fixed to a motor shaft of the stepping motor that directly rotates the stainless steel belt. The stepping motor rotates a motor shaft of a recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder rotated by the cylinder rotating means, thereby moving the print while recording an image on the recording sheet. By ejecting ink droplets from a head, the rotation of the cylinder is used as a main scan, and an image is recorded. Location. ].

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, by using a stepping motor, the amount of movement of the print head is determined by the number of pulses, thereby performing simple and highly accurate constant movement control. Can be. In addition, the use of stainless steel pulleys and stainless steel belts of the same material can minimize slippage, and can also standardize the tension of the stainless steel belt, improve the movement accuracy, minimize variations, The image resolution can be increased, and good image recording can be stably performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording sheet held on the holding surface of the cylinder by discharging ink droplets from the print head in accordance with image data corresponding to color separation image data. And recording a color proof image corresponding to the color separation image data.
The image recording device according to claim 4. ].

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the second or third aspect is provided.
In the case of quoting, it is possible to suppress the contamination of the recording sheet with unnecessary ink droplets, and to suppress the deterioration of the image quality.
It is possible to suppress a misrecognition at the time of proofreading, to create a color proof that can perform good proofreading, and when citing claim 3 or 4, it is possible to increase the image resolution and to stably obtain a good image record. Therefore, it is possible to create a color proof that can perform good proofing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method as described above, wherein the holding surface of the cylinder is substantially cylindrical, the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical surface is substantially the rotation axis, and the print head comprises: The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image recording apparatus is an on-demand type print head in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink droplets are arranged in parallel. ].

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

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the cylinder rotates around the axis of the cylinder while the recording sheet is fixedly held on the cylindrical holding surface.
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 droplet is not so constant, the positional accuracy of the ink droplet ejected from the print head and recorded on the image recording surface of the recording sheet Can be very high. Therefore, a very high-definition image with very high reproducibility can be recorded.

The holding surface for fixedly holding the recording sheet 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 at a position 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).

In addition, "to rotate substantially about the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical surface" means that the rotation is made around the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical surface as a rotation axis, and eccentricity (distance of the rotation axis with respect to the cylindrical axis) is recorded. The image quality 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.

As a form in which the cylinder holds the recording sheet fixedly, a form in which the cylinder holds the recording sheet fixedly by electrostatic attraction, a form in which the cylinder holds the recording sheet fixedly by 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 restricted 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 seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus according to the above-mentioned paragraph, 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 6, wherein an image is recorded on the surface. ].

Hereinafter, the invention according to claim 7 will be described in detail.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the print head ejects ink droplets upward or horizontally to record an image on the image recording surface of the recording sheet held by the cylinder, The positional accuracy of ink droplets ejected from the print head and recorded on the image recording surface of the recording sheet can be further improved. Therefore, a very high-definition image with very high reproducibility can be recorded.

When a color proof is created, a color proof that can be used well by proofreading 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 a large one that holds 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 proofing can be created while reducing the cost of the proof.

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 an eighth aspect of the 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 plurality of nozzles are arranged on the cylinder axis. 7. The width in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged side by side in a direction substantially parallel to the width of the plurality of nozzles is smaller than the image recording width.
Or the image recording device according to claim 7. ].

Hereinafter, the invention according to claim 8 will be described in detail.

In the invention described in claim 8, the plurality of nozzles are arranged side by side in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, so that 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 a ninth aspect is characterized in that it has a regulating means for regulating a position of the print head in a direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis. The image recording device according to claim 6, wherein ].

According to the ninth aspect of 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 may be any as long as it restricts the position of the print head in the direction perpendicular to the cylinder 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 a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel for each color of color separation halftone image data. The image recording device according to any one of the above. ].

According to the tenth 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 an image can be recorded at a higher speed.

According to an eleventh 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 6, further comprising: a pressing roller configured to press. ].

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

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding means feeds a recording sheet onto the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder without rubbing an image recording surface. Item 12. The image recording apparatus according to Item 11. ].

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording sheet which can be fed without rubbing the image recording surface, and is capable of recording a high density image such that a large amount of ink is absorbed per unit area. 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 thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding means comprises: a guide for guiding a back surface of the recording sheet;
13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a feed roller pair for feeding a recording sheet. ].

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording sheet which can be fed without rubbing the image recording surface, and is capable of recording a high density image such that a large amount of ink is absorbed per unit area. 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 fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to any one of the sixth to thirteenth 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 fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the recording sheet can be discharged without rubbing the image recording surface, so that 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.

[0060]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of an image recording method and an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. In addition,
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. In the following description, there may be a description explaining the meaning of the term, but it is merely to explain the meaning of the term in the embodiment, and the meaning of the term of the present invention is not limited to this description. .

The image recording apparatus of this embodiment is a color proof creating apparatus capable of recording a color proof image by discharging ink droplets on 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. And the feeding roller 410 is
The uppermost recording sheet 1 of the plurality of recording sheets 1 deposited
It is designed to be fed from.

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,
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 continuous tone while rotating the cylinder 100 at a constant speed as main scanning while holding the recording sheet 1 on the holding surface of the cylinder 100. A print head 200 based on the obtained continuous tone image data
A 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 holding surface of the cylinder 100 by discharging ink droplets from the cylinder.

The color proof creating 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 of the distance between the holding surface and the cylindrical surface is 0.0.
It is less than 5 mm. And this cylinder 100
Are arranged so that the cylinder axis of the cylinder surface is horizontal and rotate about this cylinder 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
The ink droplets in the vertical direction only for the pixels that require ink recording.
Is discharged.

Further, a quadrangular carriage guide 245 for guiding the print head 200 in the cylinder axis direction 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 the carriage guide 245 is swingably fitted. The carriage guide 245 is fitted over a pulley 250 fixed to the motor shaft of the motor 240 and a pulley 270 held rotatably. Belt 260
The carriage 230 is fixed to a part of the motor 2.
By rotating the pulley 250 by the carriage 40, the carriage guide 245 guides the carriage 230, and moves the carriage 230 in the direction of the cylinder axis of the cylinder 100 so that the print head 200 is always positioned vertically above the cylinder axis of the cylinder 100. It is moved over a width wider than the image recording width.

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 at a predetermined position on the holding surface. The recording of a part of the image in the image recording area and the movement of the print head 200 by the motor 240 in the direction of the cylindrical axis of the cylinder 100 are alternately performed, and the image of the entire image recording area of the recording sheet 1 is formed. Record. At this time, the interval between the print head 200 and the recording sheet 1 is restricted 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 performed by suctioning the ink in the nozzles 220 from the ink droplet discharge direction of the print head 200, the cleaning is cleaning the ink droplet discharge surface of the print head 200 by a wiper or the like, and the capping is performed by cleaning the ink of the print head. This is to cover the droplet ejection surface 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, the discharge guide 350 guides the back surface of the recording sheet 1 from the side of the cylinder 100 to the discharge tray 310, so that the recording sheet 1 released from being fixedly held by the cylinder 100 is moved by gravity. , Discharge tray 3
Lead to 10. Then, the recording sheet 1 is discharged to the discharge tray 310 with the image recording surface facing up.

The discharge tray 310 holds 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 indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1, and stores 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 is provided with a recording sheet, such as a heater provided inside the cylinder 100, an infrared lamp at a position facing the discharge guide 350, or an infrared lamp 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.

In this embodiment, as shown in a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a part of the color proof creating apparatus shown in FIG. 4, a stepping motor is used as the motor 240, so that the moving amount of the print head 200 is determined by the number of pulses. be able to.

Pulley 250, pulley 270 and belt 2
Numeral 60 is made of stainless steel, the same coefficient of friction is used by using the same stainless steel, the slip can be eliminated as much as possible, the rust does not occur, the durability is improved, and vibration during driving can be achieved. It can be suppressed as long as possible. Belt tension can also be standardized, which can increase product stability.

The pulley 2 is attached to the motor shaft of the motor 240.
50 is fixed, and non-uniformity in operation accuracy and stop accuracy can be reduced as much as possible by directly connecting the pulley 250 to the motor shaft of the stepping motor without using a coupling and a speed reduction mechanism (gear head). . Further, the carriage 230 moves while being guided by the carriage guide 245, and the carriage guide 245 can stably hold the carriage 230 to prevent the belt 260 from bending.

While an image is being recorded on the recording sheet 1 held on the holding surface of the cylinder 100, the print head 20
0, that is, the area from the leading end 1a to the trailing end 1b of the recording sheet 1 in the rotation direction of the cylinder 100 (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4). At the timing of passing the position, the print head 200 is not moved, and ink droplets are ejected according to the image data.
Timing when the recording sheet 1 does not exist at the print position of 0,
That is, at the timing when the area from the rear end 1b to the front end 1a of the recording sheet 1 in the rotation direction of the cylinder 100 passes through the print position of the print head 200, the print head 200 is moved in the rotation axis direction of the cylinder 100. The image is recorded on the recording sheet 1 by not discharging the ink droplet. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary ink droplets from adhering to the recording sheet 1 and to contaminate the recording sheet 1 and to suppress deterioration in image quality due to intermittent movement, to perform high-speed and high-accuracy image recording, and to perform calibration with less erroneous recognition. A color proof can be created that can be used.

After the image formation is completed, the carriage 230 is moved in the direction of the cylinder axis of the cylinder 100, the print head 200 is moved above the maintenance section 600, and sucking, cleaning, and capping are performed.

The print head 200 can be arranged in four rows or two rows in the column axis direction as shown in FIG. 5 by changing the head arrangement, for example, so that the carriage 230 in the intermittent feed direction can be used. The width can be changed, and the size can be reduced by reducing the width in the intermittent feed direction.

[0083]

In the image recording method according to the first aspect and the image recording apparatus according to the second aspect, it is possible to prevent extra ink droplets from adhering to the recording sheet and to contaminate the recording sheet, thereby suppressing deterioration in image quality. .

In the image recording apparatus according to the third aspect and the image recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect, constant movement control can be performed easily and with high precision. By using a belt, slippage can be reduced as much as possible, there is no rust, durability is improved, and the tension of the stainless steel belt can be standardized, moving accuracy can be improved, and variations are minimized. In addition, the image resolution can be increased, and good image recording can be stably performed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a color proof that can be satisfactorily calibrated can be created.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a high-definition image with extremely high reproducibility can be recorded.

According to the image recording apparatus 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 a higher quality image can be recorded.

In the image recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect,
A better quality color proof can be created.

In the image recording apparatus according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced while an image can be recorded at a higher speed.

In the image recording apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, it is easy to bring the recording sheet into close contact with the cylinder.

The image recording apparatus according to the twelfth aspect can record an image reproduced even in a high-density area with few flaws.

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

[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 schematic perspective view of a part of the color proof creating device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a head arrangement of a print head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 recording sheet 100 cylinder 200 print head 230 carriage

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA11 EA16 HA33 2C059 AA05 AA22 AA26 2C480 CA01 CA02 CA40 CB03 DA03 DA23

Claims (14)

[Claims] An ink droplet is ejected from a print head that moves intermittently in a direction of a rotation axis of the cylinder onto a recording sheet fixedly held on a holding surface of the cylinder, thereby rotating the cylinder. As a main scan, in an image recording method for recording an image, while recording an image on a recording sheet held on the holding surface of the cylinder, at a timing when the recording sheet is present at a print position of the print head. An image recording method, wherein the print head is not moved, and the print head is moved in a rotation axis direction of the cylinder at a timing when a recording sheet does not exist at a print position of the print head. 2. A cylinder for fixedly holding a recording sheet on a holding surface, a cylinder rotating means for rotating the cylinder, a print head for discharging ink droplets, and an intermittently rotating the print head in the direction of the rotation axis. A print head moving means for moving, and ink drops from the print head intermittently moved by the print head moving means on a recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder rotated by the cylinder rotating means. In the image recording apparatus that records an image by ejecting the rotation of the cylinder as a main scan, the print head moving unit records the image on a recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder. At a timing when a recording sheet exists at a print position of the print head, the print head is not moved and the print head is not moved. The timing that the recording sheet does not exist in the print position, the image recording apparatus characterized by moving the print head in the direction of the rotation axis of the cylinder. 3. The print head moving means includes a stepping motor, a carriage for fixedly holding the print head, a stainless steel belt having the carriage fixed to a part thereof, and the stepping motor for directly rotating the stainless steel belt. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a stainless steel pulley fixed to the motor shaft. 4. A cylinder for fixedly holding a recording sheet on a holding surface, a cylinder rotating means for rotating the cylinder, a print head for ejecting ink droplets, a stepping motor, and the print head for fixing the print sheet. A carriage that holds the carriage, a stainless belt that partially fixes the carriage, and a stainless pulley that is fixed to a motor shaft of the stepping motor that directly rotates the stainless belt, and is rotated by the cylindrical rotating means. The stepping motor rotates the motor shaft on the recording sheet held on the holding surface of the cylinder to eject ink droplets from the print head moving while recording an image on the recording sheet. An image recording apparatus that records an image by rotating the cylinder as main scanning. 5. A recording sheet held on a holding surface of the cylinder by ejecting ink droplets from the print head in accordance with image data corresponding to the color separation screen image data. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a color proof image corresponding to the data is recorded. 6. The cylinder has a holding surface having a substantially cylindrical shape, a cylindrical axis of the cylindrical surface being substantially the rotation axis, and a plurality of printheads for ejecting ink droplets. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image recording apparatus is an on-demand type print head in which nozzles are juxtaposed. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, 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 6, wherein: 8. A moving means for moving the print head in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis at least over an image recording width, wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axis. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the width in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged side by side is smaller than the image recording width. 9. An image recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising regulating means for regulating a position of said print head in a direction perpendicular to said column axis. 10. The image according to claim 6, further comprising a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel for each color of the color separation image data. Recording device. 11. 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. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
The image recording device according to any one of the above. 12. An image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said sheet feeding means feeds a recording sheet onto the outer peripheral surface of said cylinder without rubbing an image recording surface. . 13. An image recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sheet feeding means has a guide for guiding the back side of the recording sheet, and a pair of feeding rollers for feeding the recording sheet. . 14. An image recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a sheet discharging means for discharging the recording sheet from the outer peripheral surface of said cylinder without rubbing the image recording surface.