JP2000238352A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To highly accurately determine a stop position of a recording medium- holding means in a simple constitution by setting to a positioning and stopping part of a positioning and stopping means for returning a recording medium to an initial position, a spring shiftable in a move direction of the holding means and a spring-holding means for preliminarily moving and holding the spring. SOLUTION: The ink jet recording apparatus has a discharging means including a discharging roller for discharging a recorded recording medium S. The recording medium S discharged from the discharging means is discharged to a recording medium-discharging and loading part 12d. In this case, a recording medium-holding member 14 is set which is rotatable in directions of arrows (a) and (b) centering a rotary shaft 14e set to a base member 12. The recording medium-holding member 14 is shiftable between a hold position where the means holds the discharged recording medium S before discharged to the loading part 12d and a retreat position where the means drops and places the recording medium S to the loading part 12d. The holding member 14 is held to the hold position by an urging force of a tensile spring 26 and moreover held to a constant position by a leaf spring 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to a method in which a recording medium discharged from a main body of an ink jet recording apparatus is dried before ink is discharged to a recording medium discharge mounting portion. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges the recording medium to a recording medium discharge placement unit later.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper, cloth, plastic sheet, O
2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium such as an HP sheet (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a “recording material”) can be equipped with a recording head using various recording methods, for example, a wire dot method, a thermal method, or an ink jet method. It is generally proposed as a recording device of various forms.

[0003] Among such recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording type recording apparatus (hereinafter, also referred to as an ink jet recording apparatus) which performs recording on a recording medium by discharging ink from a discharge port, that is, a nozzle, has a low noise. This is an impact recording method, and a high-density and high-speed recording operation is possible.

Generally, an ink jet recording apparatus includes a driving unit for driving a carrier on which a recording head is mounted, a conveying unit for conveying a recording medium, and a control unit for controlling the driving unit and the conveying unit.

On the other hand, as an energy generating element for generating energy used for discharging ink from a discharge port of a recording head, an element using an electromechanical converter such as a piezo element or irradiating an electromagnetic wave such as a laser is used. Heat is generated, and an ink droplet is ejected by the action of the generated heat, or a liquid is heated by an electrothermal transducer element having a heating resistor.

[0006] Among them, a recording head of an ink jet recording system in which ink is ejected as droplets using thermal energy can perform high-resolution recording because ejection ports can be arranged at a high density. It is. Above all, ink jet recording heads using electrothermal transducer elements as energy generating elements are easy to miniaturize, and have the advantages of IC technology and micro-fabrication technology, which have recently made remarkable advances in technology in the semiconductor field and improved reliability. This is advantageous because it can be fully utilized, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

As described above, the ink jet recording system is an excellent recording system having a simple structure, but there are some problems to be solved.

Generally, in a conventional recording apparatus, a recorded recording medium is configured to be discharged to a discharge tray. Such a configuration is widely used in an ink jet recording apparatus.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, ordinary recording, for example, a document or a table having a low recording density does not cause any problem, but if the recording density is high such as color image recording, the recorded recording is performed. When the medium is ejected, there has been a problem that the leading edge portion or the back surface of the recording medium rubs against the recording medium already placed on the ejection tray, and the image on the recording surface is disturbed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, a recording medium discharging and mounting unit U from which a recording medium S1 is discharged is provided with a rotation center portion 1.
4e, 15e, and a pair of recording medium holding members 14,
15 (only one recording medium holding member is shown in FIG. 12).

As shown, the recording medium holding member 14
The pivot shaft 14f extends so as to protrude from the pivot center portion 14e, and a shaft end is rotatably supported by a portion (not shown) of the base member 12. A tension spring 26 is attached to the rotating shaft 14f via an arm 14g, and urges the recording medium holding member 14 to be positioned at the holding position. The holding position of the recording medium holding member 14 is determined by the positioning portion 14h of the recording medium holding member 14 and the base member 1.
No. 2 positioning part 12h.

In order to position the recording medium holding member 14 at the retracted position, the recording medium holding member 14 is rotated against the force of the spring 26 by a cam (not shown). When the cam (not shown) is released to position the recording medium holding member 14 at the holding position, the recording medium holding member 24 is rotated by the force of the spring 26, and the positioning portion 14h is moved to the positioning portion 1
Stops after touching 2h.

For example, when the recording medium S1 is discharged by the discharge roller 9 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium S1 (on the near side in FIG. 6 in the present invention), the recording medium holding members 14, 15 are moved. As shown in FIG. 6, the recording medium S1 is held in a closed position, so that the recording medium S1 can be supported and held above the recording medium discharge mounting portion 12d.

In such a state, the recording medium discharging and placing section 1
The ink discharged onto the recording surface of the recording medium S already discharged onto 2d can be dried, and the disturbance of the image on the recording surface can be prevented. Thereafter, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are rotated in the directions of arrows a and b in FIG. 6 to be retracted so as to be separated from the recording medium S1.
The recording medium S held in the recording medium holding units 14 and 15
Is dropped onto the recording medium discharge mounting portion 12d. Then, when printing on the next recording medium S is started, before the recording medium S comes out from the discharge roller 9, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are rotated to positions where the recording medium S is held.

[0015]

However, in such a conventional example, after the recording medium holding member is located at the standby position and the recording medium is dropped onto the mounting portion, the recording medium holding member removes the recording medium. When returning to the holding position, there is a problem that a sound is generated by hitting the positioning stopper and noise is generated. In particular, if the recording medium holding member is made of a light and elastic member such as a mold, the recording medium holding member vibrates at the positioning position and the tapping sound occurs continuously.

In general, it is conceivable to put a member such as a sponge or the like that deforms and absorbs energy at the place where the member hits, in order to muffle the striking sound. As a result, the position where the recording medium holding member abuts due to the variation in the spring force and the biasing spring force, that is, the holding position of the recording medium holding member varies. The holding position of the recording medium holding member is very important in order to reliably hold the recording medium in accordance with various types of recording media such as paper and printing conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a low-noise ink jet recording apparatus which has a simple structure and can accurately determine the stop position of a recording medium holding means, and which has a positioning stop means. It is to provide a device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low-noise ink jet recording apparatus having a recording medium holding means using such a positioning stop means.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention cannot be controlled by stopping after moving a member holding a recording medium, such as a spring force or its own weight. In an ink jet recording apparatus having positioning stop means for returning to an initial position by using a force, a spring displaceable in a moving direction of the holding means at a positioning stop portion of the positioning stop means, and the spring is previously displaced and held. And a spring holding means that requires a certain force or more to deform the spring of the positioning stop means.

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a spring capable of being displaced in a moving direction of the holding means at a positioning stop portion of the positioning stopping means; and a spring holding means for preliminarily displacing and holding the spring. As both of them, a contact coil spring is provided for supporting the holding means so as to be deformable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the holding means.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the force which urges the holding means to the positioning stop portion in a state where the predetermined force or more is stationary and the frictional force for returning the holding means to the stop position are obtained. It is characterized in that the force is greater than a force capable of returning the holding means to the positioning stop position.

Still further, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, when the holding means comes into contact with the positioning means in the operation of returning the holding means to the initial position, the holding means may stop the positioning stop. Characterized in that it is smaller than the force for pressing the spring.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a recording medium discharge mounting portion for mounting the discharged recording medium, a holding position for holding the recording medium before being discharged to the recording medium discharge mounting portion, and Returning the holding unit to the holding position, wherein the holding unit holds the recording medium which is changeable from a holding state to a retracted position for placing the recording medium on the recording medium discharge placement unit. The spring is a force that cannot be controlled by being stopped in the middle of the spring force or its own weight or the like, and a spring that can be displaced in the moving direction of the holding means at the positioning stop portion, and a spring holding that displaces and holds the spring in advance. And means for applying a certain force or more to deform the spring of the positioning stop.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, both the spring which can be displaced in the moving direction of the holding means at the positioning stop portion, and the spring holding means which displaces the spring in advance and holds the spring, A contact coil spring is provided so as to be deformably supported in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the holding means.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the force equal to or more than the predetermined value is stationary, the force for urging the holding means to the positioning stop portion and the frictional force when returning the holding means to the stop position are larger. The holding force is not less than a force capable of returning the holding means to the positioning stop position.

Still further, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, when the holding force comes into contact with the positioning stop means in the operation of returning the holding means to the initial position, the holding means stops the positioning. It is characterized in that it is smaller than the force of pressing the spring of the part.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the recording head has an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for discharging ink.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the recording head discharges the ink toward the recording medium by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by heat energy applied by the electrothermal transducer. It is characterized by.

[0029]

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above, after the holding means for holding the recording medium is operated, it is controlled by stopping it during the spring force or its own weight. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a positioning stop means at the time of returning to the initial position using an impossible force, that is, hitting the positioning means with force, a spring displaceable in the moving direction of the holding means at the positioning stop part of the positioning stop means And a spring holding means for holding the spring by displacing the spring in advance, wherein the spring of the positioning and stopping means is deformably supported and deformed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the holding means. Requires a certain force or more, and the certain force or more urges the holding means to the positioning stop part in a stationary state, and returns the holding means to the stop position. When the holding means returns to the initial position when the holding means returns to the initial position, the force is greater than the frictional force at the time of returning the holding means to the positioning stop position, or the force exceeding the certain level. In this case, since the holding means is smaller than the force of pressing the spring of the positioning stop / stop portion, it is possible to make a simple configuration, and it is possible to accurately determine the stop position of the holding means for holding the recording medium, In addition, it is possible to eliminate the noise caused by the sound hitting the positioning stop when the holding means of the recording medium moves from the retracted position to the holding position, thereby achieving high-density and high-definition recording, and obtaining clear recording. Can be

[0030] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall structure of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG.
4 is a sectional side view showing the configuration of the recording medium discharge and mounting unit viewed from the N direction, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the configuration of the discharge mounting unit, showing a state in which the recording medium holding unit is at a holding position; FIG. 7 is a front view showing the configuration of the recording medium discharging unit, and FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of the recording medium discharge and mounting unit, showing a state in which the recording medium holding unit is moved to hold a small-sized recording medium.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the recording medium discharge and mounting unit is detached from or attached to the recording apparatus main body. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration for positioning the recording medium holding means.
FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing another configuration for positioning the recording medium holding means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a feeding roller 1 for feeding a recording medium S.
And a feed tray 2 on which a recording medium S made of paper, synthetic resin, or the like is placed, a transport roller 3 and a driven roller 4
A carriage 7 reciprocating along a guide shaft 5 and a guide rail 6, and a recording head 8 mounted on the carriage 7
A recording medium discharging means including a discharging roller 9 and a spur 10 for discharging the recorded recording medium S;
And a recording medium discharge and mounting unit U in which the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are integrated.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention thus configured, the recording medium S such as paper or synthetic resin placed on the feed tray 2 is fed from the uppermost recording medium S by the feed roller 1. The sheets are sequentially fed, separated one by one by a separating device (not shown), and fed.

The transport roller 3 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), and a driven roller 4 is pressed against the transport roller 3 and is driven to rotate. Then, the recording medium S fed by the feeding roller 1 is nipped by the conveying roller 3 and the driven roller 4, and is conveyed to a recording position where the ink jet recording head 8 serving as a recording unit faces.

As the recording means in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, an ink jet recording system for discharging ink from the recording head 8 for recording is used. That is, the recording head 8 includes a fine liquid ejection port (orifice or nozzle), a liquid path, an energy action section provided in a part of the liquid path, and a droplet forming energy applied to the liquid in the action section. Is provided.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the guide shaft 5 and the guide rail 6 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium S (hereinafter, referred to as "width direction").
The recording head 8 is mounted on a carriage 7 which is reciprocally movable along the guide shaft 5 and the guide rail 6.

A platen 16 is disposed at a position facing the recording head 8 via the conveyance path of the recording medium S. The platen 16 is sandwiched by the conveyance roller 3 and the driven roller 4 so that the recording head 8 faces. The back surface of the recording medium S conveyed to the position is supported by the platen 16.

Then, the recording head 8 is driven in synchronization with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 7, and ink droplets are ejected onto the surface of the recording medium S conveyed while being nipped by the conveying roller 3 and the driven roller 4. By doing so, an ink image can be formed. Further, the recording head 8 has an ink tank 11 integrally provided thereon and is configured to be detachable from the carriage 7.

The recording medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium S on which recording has been performed has a discharge roller 9 serving as a discharge rotating member which is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). And has a spur 10 which is pressed and rotated in accordance with the discharge roller 9.
Then, the recording medium S transported by the transport roller 3 and the driven roller 4 and on which the ink image is formed by the recording head 8 is nipped by the discharge roller 9 and the spur 10 and discharged outside the ink jet recording apparatus main body. It has become.

The recording medium S sandwiched between the discharge roller 9 and the spur 10 and discharged from the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus is, as shown in FIG. Before being discharged to the mounting portion 12d, the recording medium holding member 1 serving as a recording medium holding unit
4 and 15 and the recording medium holding members 1
The discharge is carried out while being held by 4 and 15.

The recording medium discharge and mounting unit U in which the recording medium discharge and mounting section 12d and the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are integrally formed as a unit is configured to be detachable from the ink jet recording apparatus main body. Have been.

As shown, the recording medium discharging and mounting unit U has a base member 12 constituting a frame, and one recording medium holding member 14 has a recording medium holding member holder serving as a moving means. 17, the recording medium S is movable with respect to the base member 12 in the width direction of the recording medium S in accordance with the size of the recording medium S discharged from the ink jet recording apparatus main body. Further, the other recording medium holding member 15 is
The recording medium S is fixed to the base member 12 in the width direction of the recording medium S to hold the reference side of the recording medium S.

Further, the recording medium discharging and mounting unit U includes:
A base member 13 for positioning and holding with respect to the ink jet recording apparatus main body, a recording medium holding member 14,
15 are provided.

In such a recording medium discharging and mounting unit U, the recording medium holding member holder 17 is provided with the base member 1.
2 is positioned by a positioning holding unit (not shown), and the user grips a handle 17a provided for the recording medium holding member holder 17 and operated for movement, and the arrow in FIG. It can move in the c and d directions.

As shown in FIG. 6, when discharging the large-sized recording medium S1, the recording medium holding member 1
4 is moved in the direction of arrow d in FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG. 8, when discharging the small-sized recording medium S2, the recording medium holding member 14 is moved in the direction of arrow c in FIG. Thus, the recording media S1 and S2 of large and small sizes can be held respectively.

The handle 17a is provided with a recess 17b so that the user can easily grip it.
Is formed so as to also serve as a guide for the recording medium S discharged from the ink jet recording apparatus main body. As shown in FIG. 5, the handle 17a is formed with a slope 17c that is inclined upward along the discharge direction of the recording medium S2 (leftward direction in FIG. 5).

Here, in the ordinary recording medium discharging operation, as shown by the recording medium S3 in FIG. 5, the recording medium S3 is discharged while being held by the recording medium holding members 14 and 15, but the recording medium S3 is recorded by the user. If the recording medium holding member 14 is not moved to a position corresponding to the size of the medium S,
In particular, when discharging the large-sized recording medium S1 shown in FIG. 6, the recording medium holding member 14 is set to the small-sized position shown in FIG. Comes into contact with the recording medium S4 in FIG.
As shown by, the recording medium S4 is guided along the slope 17c of the handle 17a and is discharged out of the ink jet recording apparatus main body.

Next, the opening / closing operation of the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 and the driving structure will be described. The recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are connected to a rotating shaft 14 provided on the base member 12.
e and 15e, and arrows a, shown in FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 6, the recording medium S discharged from the ink jet recording apparatus main body is moved before the recording medium S is discharged to the recording medium discharge mounting portion 12d, as shown in FIG. The holding position where the recording medium S is held and, as shown in FIG. 7, a retreat position where the recording medium S is dropped from the holding state to the recording medium discharge / placement unit 12 d by its own weight and placed thereon. It can be changed.

As shown in FIG. 3, a drive gear 20 is provided on a rotating shaft 9 a of the discharge roller 9, and the drive gear 20 is provided on a shaft 12 a provided on the base member 12.
And the idler gear 21 rotatably mounted on the gear. The drive gear 20 is provided with a one-way clutch (not shown). With a rotational driving force in the direction in which the discharge roller 9 rotates in the forward direction and discharges the recording medium S (the direction of the arrow e in FIG. 4), the one-way clutch operates. As a result, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the driving gear 20 to the idler gear 21.

The idler gear 21 is meshed with a torque limiter gear 22 having a built-in torque limiter. The torque limiter gear 22 is rotatably mounted on a cam shaft 23. When the discharge roller 9 rotates in the reverse direction to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow f in FIG. 4, a torque limiter clutch mechanism for rotating the cam shaft 23 in the direction indicated by the arrow g in FIG. 4 by a predetermined idling torque (slip torque) of the torque limiter is used. The gear 22 is provided.

The cam shaft 23 is rotatably held with respect to the base member 12 by a bearing (not shown) of the base member 12. Further, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are attached to the cam shaft 23 as shown in FIG. 7 are provided to move from the holding position shown in FIG. 7 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 7 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

On the other hand, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are provided with rotating shafts 14e and 15e, respectively.
The recording medium holding member 17 is rotatably held by a bearing (not shown) provided on the holder 17. A cam 2 is provided on the cam shaft 23 side of the rotating shafts 14e and 15e.
Cam surfaces 14d and 15d corresponding to 4 and 25 are provided, and the rotating shafts 14e and 15e are respectively brought into contact with the cam surfaces 14d and 15d fixed to the cam shaft 23 by the rotation of the cam shaft 23 to rotate the rotating shafts 14e and 15e. Rotate the recording medium holding members 14, 1
5 can be moved from the holding position shown in FIG. 6 to the retracted position shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 10 shows the recording medium holding member 1.
4 shows a configuration near the rotation center portion 14e, and such a configuration will be described below. As shown in the drawing, the recording medium holding member 14 is provided with a rotation shaft 14f extending to a rotation center portion 14e, and the shaft end thereof is rotatably mounted on a portion (not shown) of the base member 12. Supported. A tension spring 26 is attached to the arm 14
g and is urged so that the recording medium holding member 14 is located at the holding position. A leaf spring 27 is provided substantially in parallel with the rotating shaft portion of the recording medium holding member 14, and one end of the leaf spring 27 is
2 and the other end is provided so as to abut a spring stopper 12g extending from the base member 12 in a slightly deformed state.

The setting of the spring force of the leaf spring 27 is performed as follows. That is, in order to use the leaf spring 27 as a positioning stop member of the recording medium holding member 14, the recording medium holding member 14 in the stationary state is less than the force of pressing the leaf spring 27 via the abutting portion 14 h by the tension spring 26 or its own weight. Make it bigger. Further, the recording medium holding member 14
When the momentum (inertial force) when returning to the positioning stop position is applied, the leaf spring 27 in the stationary state is moved so that the leaf spring 27 separates from the spring stopper 12g and is further displaced.
The amount of the difference that the force of No. 7 is large is set to be smaller than the inertial force. Further, the recording medium holding member 1
Even when the leaf spring 27 is displaced by the inertial force of No. 4, the recording medium holding member 14 is further displaced by separating the leaf spring 27 from the spring stopper 12g so that the leaf spring 27 can be pushed back to the positioning stop position. In the state, the tension spring 26
And the weight of the recording medium holding member 14 is set so that the force of the leaf spring 27 is greater than the force pressing the leaf spring 27 and the frictional load for returning the recording medium holding member 14 to its original position.

(Embodiment 2) Further, FIG. 11 shows a configuration near the rotation center portion 14e of the recording medium holding member 14 in another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown, the recording medium holding member 14
The turning shaft 14f extends from the turning center 14e, and the shaft end is rotatably supported by a portion (not shown) of the base member 12. A tension spring 26 is attached to the rotation shaft 14f via an arm 14g, and urges the recording medium holding member 14 to be located at the holding position. Further, a close contact coil spring 28 is provided substantially in parallel with the rotation shaft 14f of the recording medium holding member 14, and both ends thereof are fixed to the base member 12 so as to be deformable. The abutting portion 14h on the recording medium holding member 14 abuts near the center of the close contact coil spring 28.

The setting of the spring force of the close contact coil spring 28 is performed as follows.

That is, in order to use the close contact coil spring 28 as a positioning stop member for the recording medium holding member 14, the recording medium holding member 14 abuts against the tension spring 26 or its own weight when the deformation force of the close contact coil spring 28 is at rest. Part 1
The initial tension is set so as to be greater than the force pressing the close contact coil spring 28 via 4h. Further, when the momentum (inertial force) when the recording medium holding member 14 returns to the positioning stop position is applied, the contact coil spring 28 in a stationary state is bent so that the contact coil spring 28 is bent and deformed at the center. 2
The difference that the force of No. 8 is large is set to be smaller than the inertial force. Further, even if the close contact coil spring 28 is deformed by the inertial force of the recording medium holding member 14,
In a state where the recording medium holding member 14 is deformed so as to be bent from the position where the close contact coil spring 28 is pressed so that the recording medium holding member 14 can be pushed back to the positioning stop position, the force of the tension spring 26 and the recording medium holding member 14 Is set such that the force of the close contact coil spring 28 is larger than the force of pressing the close contact coil spring 28 and the friction load for returning the recording medium holding member 14 to the original position.

Since the close contact coil spring 28 has its own initial tension corresponding to the initial displacement of the close contact coil spring 28, the structure and assembly of the positioning stop portion are easy.

Since the other recording medium holding member 15 is also configured identically under a symmetrical relationship, a detailed description refers to the above description and is omitted here.

The recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are attached to the base member 12 and the recording medium holding member holder 17 by rotating shafts 14e,
Concave portions 12b and 17b are formed so as to rotate in the directions of arrows a and b in FIG. Further, the base member 12 is formed with a concave portion 12c as a relief for the concave portion 17d when the recording medium holding member holder 17 moves according to the size of the recording medium S.

Next, the operation of discharging and holding the recording medium S by the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, when the recording medium S1 is discharged, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are discharged. Is set to the holding position, and the recording medium S
Hold. At this time, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are urged by an elastic member (not shown),
A force is applied in the i direction. The rotational driving force transmitted from the discharge roller 9 is held by a one-way clutch mechanism provided on the driving gear 20 so that the driving force is not transmitted.

Next, when the discharge is completed so that the recording medium S1 passes through the discharge roller 9, the discharge roller 9 is rotated reversely, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the idler gear 21 and the torque limiter gear 22. Then, the camshaft 23 is also rotated in the direction of arrow g in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the idling torque of the torque limiter gear 22.

As a result, the cams 24 and 25 fixed to the cam shaft 23 and the cam surfaces 14d and 15d fixed to the rotating shafts 14e and 15e of the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are brought into contact with each other. Cam surfaces 14d, 15d and rotating shaft 14
e and 15e are integrally rotated in the directions of arrows a and b in FIG.
Is moved to the retracted position shown in FIG.

In this manner, even after the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are completely moved to the retracted position, the driving force from the discharge roller 9 is transmitted, but when a predetermined torque or more is generated, the torque limiter gear 22 The drive system, the recording medium holding members 14, 15 and the like are prevented from being damaged due to slippage due to the provided torque limit clutch mechanism and overload.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are moved to the retracted positions, the recording medium S1 drops by its own weight in the direction of arrow j in FIG. It is placed on the recording medium discharge placement section 12d. Accordingly, the recording operation and the discharging operation to the recording medium S are completed in a state where the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 have been moved to the retreat positions shown in FIG.

When the recording operation on the next recording medium S starts, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 must be moved to the holding positions. At this time, an operation opposite to the operation of moving the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 to the retreat position is performed. In other words, by rotating the discharge roller 9 forward, a rotation operation in the opposite direction is performed by a series of operations. At this time, the cam is faster than the movement of the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 because the sound of the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 is increased so as not to reduce the throughput of the ink jet recording apparatus and to make the sound louder when the stepping motor that drives the discharge roller 9 is moved slowly. When the discharge rollers 9 are moved, that is, when the discharge rollers 9 are moved, the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 return by their own weight and the spring force of the close contact coil spring 27, so that they overshoot without stopping at the holding position. Then, the contact coil spring 27 returns to the holding position by the force in the opposite direction. At this time, since the recording medium holding members 14 and 15 are not abutted against the positioning portion, no hitting sound is produced and no noise is generated.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129, and US Pat.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in 740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the liquid (ink). Applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, thereby causing the electrothermal transducer to generate thermal energy, thereby causing the recording head to emit heat energy. This is effective because a film in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the driving signal can be formed one by one by causing film boiling on the heat acting surface. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The present invention also includes a configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region. It is. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or an electric connection with the apparatus main body or ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, or another heating element, or a combination thereof is used. Preheating means for performing heating by heating, preliminary ejection means for performing ejection different from recording, and the like.

The types and the number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided only for one color ink, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy by using the energy of the state change from the solid state of the ink to the liquid state, or to prevent the ink from evaporating, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is applicable even when an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 71260/1994, a configuration may be adopted in which a liquid sheet or a solid substance is held in a concave portion or a through hole of a porous sheet so as to face an electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also a copying apparatus combined with a reader and the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. And the like.

[0078]

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention configured as described above, after moving the holding means for holding the recording medium, the ink jet recording apparatus is required to have a spring force or its own weight. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a positioning stop means for returning to an initial position by using a force which cannot be controlled by being stopped halfway, a spring displaceable in a moving direction of the holding means at a positioning stop part of the positioning stop means, And a holding means for holding the spring by displacing the spring in advance, and a certain force or more is required to deform the spring of the positioning and stopping means. The stop position of the medium holding means can be determined with high precision, and the hitting sound to the positioning stop means when the holding means moves from the retracted position to the holding position. To be able to eliminate the sound, density and definition of recording can be achieved, a clean recording is obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a spring capable of being displaced in the moving direction of the member at the positioning stop portion; and a spring holding means for displacing and holding the spring in advance. Since both the contact coil springs are provided so as to be deformable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the holding means, the holding means of the recording medium is moved from the retracted position to the holding position by effectively utilizing the springs. It is possible to eliminate the noise due to the hitting sound to the positioning stop when moving.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the force for urging the holding means to the positioning stop portion when the force equal to or more than the predetermined value is in a stationary state, and when returning the holding means to the stop position. Since it is greater than the frictional force and greater than the force capable of returning the holding means to the positioning stop position, the member can be suitably operated, and noise due to hitting noise can be eliminated.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the holding force comes in contact with the positioning stop means in the operation of returning the holding means to the initial position, Since the force of pressing the spring of the positioning stop is smaller than that of the positioning stop, it is possible to eliminate the noise caused by the sound of the positioning stop.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a recording medium discharge mounting portion for mounting the discharged recording medium; and the recording medium before being discharged to the recording medium discharge mounting portion. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a holding position for holding the recording medium; and a holding unit for holding the recording medium, the holding means being capable of changing from a holding state to a retracting position for placing the recording medium on the recording medium discharge placement unit. The force for returning the means to the holding position is a force that cannot be stopped and controlled in the middle of a spring or its own weight or the like, and a spring that can be displaced in the moving direction of the holding means to the positioning stop portion, and the spring is previously displaced. And a spring holding means for holding the recording medium, and a certain force or more is required to deform the spring of the positioning stop, so that the stop position of the holding means for the recording medium can be determined accurately. To be able to eliminate the noise due to impact sound to the positioning stop means when the holding means for the recording medium is moved to the holding position from the retracted position, high density and high definition of recording can be achieved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, both the spring which can be displaced in the moving direction of the holding means at the positioning stop portion, and the spring holding means which displaces and holds the spring in advance. Is provided so that it can be deformably supported in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the holding means, so that the stop position of the holding means can be accurately determined by suitably using the spring.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the force for urging the holding means to the positioning stop portion and the friction at the time of returning the holding means to the stop position when the force equal to or more than the predetermined value is at a standstill are provided. Since the holding force is greater than the force that can return the holding means to the positioning stop position, the spring is effectively used to strike the positioning stop when the holding means of the recording medium moves from the retracted position to the holding position. Noise due to sound can be eliminated.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the holding force comes into contact with the positioning stop means in the operation of returning the holding means to the initial position, the holding means may perform the positioning. Since the force of pressing the spring of the stop unit is smaller than that of the holding unit, it is possible to eliminate the noise due to the hitting sound by the holding unit.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the recording head has an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy for discharging ink, the ink is discharged using the heat energy. As a result, high density and high definition of the recording can be achieved, and a clear recording can be obtained.

In an ink jet recording apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the recording head directs the ink toward the recording medium by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer. Because it discharges,
Higher density and higher definition of recording by the recording head can be achieved, and clear recording can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of a recording medium discharge and placement unit of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view as viewed from an N direction in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view as viewed from a direction B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a recording medium discharge and placement unit in the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which a recording medium holding unit is at a holding position.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a recording medium discharge and placement unit in the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which a recording medium holding unit is at a retract position.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a recording medium discharge and placement unit in the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which a recording medium holding unit moves to hold a small-sized recording medium. .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the recording medium discharge and mounting unit of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is detached or attached to the ink jet recording apparatus main body.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a positioning stop portion of a recording medium holding unit of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the positioning stop portion of the recording medium holding means in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 feed roller 2 feed tray 3 transport roller 4 driven roller 5 guide shaft 6 guide rail 7 carriage 8 recording head 9 discharge roller 10 spur 11 ink tank 12 base member 13 base member 14 recording medium holding member 15 recording medium holding member 16 Platen 17 Recording medium holding member holder 18 Cover member 19 Cover member 20 Drive gear 21 Idler gear 22 Torque limiter gear 23 Cam shaft 24 Cam 25 Cam 26 Spring 27 Leaf spring 28 Close coil spring

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus having a positioning stop means for returning to an initial position by using a force which cannot be controlled by being stopped halfway, such as a spring force or its own weight, after operating a recording medium holding means for holding a recording medium. An elastic member capable of being displaced in a moving direction of the holding means at a positioning stop portion of the positioning stopping means, and an elastic holding means for previously displacing and holding the elastic member; An ink jet recording apparatus, which requires a certain force or more to deform a member. 2. An elastic member capable of being displaced in a moving direction of the holding means at a positioning stop portion of the positioning stopping means, and a spring holding means for previously displacing and holding the spring, 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising another elastic member for supporting the deformable member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction. 3. The holding force is greater than a force for urging the holding means to a positioning stop portion of the positioning stop means in a stationary state and a frictional force for returning the holding means to a stop position. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the force is not less than a force capable of returning the means to the positioning stop position. 4. When the holding means comes into contact with the positioning stop means in the operation of returning to the initial position, the holding means causes the elastic member of the positioning stop part of the positioning stop means to return to the initial position. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure is smaller than a pressing force. 5. A recording medium discharge mounting portion on which a discharged recording medium is mounted, a holding position for holding the recording medium before the recording medium is discharged to the recording medium discharge mounting portion, and a holding state of the recording medium. And a holding means for holding a recording medium that can be changed to a retracted position for placing the recording medium on the recording medium discharge / placement section, wherein the force for returning the holding means to the holding position is a spring force or its own weight. A spring that is displaceable in the direction of movement of the holding means at the positioning stop, and a spring holding means for displacing and holding the spring in advance. An ink jet recording apparatus, which requires a certain force or more to deform the spring of the positioning stop. 6. A spring which is displaceable in the direction of movement of the holding means at the positioning stop portion, and a spring holding means which holds the spring by previously displacing the spring, wherein the spring is substantially orthogonal to the movement direction of the holding means. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a contact coil spring for supporting the coil spring so that the coil spring can be deformed in the direction in which the ink jet recording is performed. 7. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined force or more is larger than a force for urging the holding means to the positioning stop part in a stationary state and a frictional force for returning the holding means to the stop position. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the force is not less than a force that can be returned. 8. The force equal to or greater than a predetermined value is smaller than a force of the holding unit pressing the spring of the positioning stop unit when the holding unit comes into contact with the positioning stop unit in the operation of returning to the initial position. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 9. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording head has an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for discharging ink. 10. The recording head according to claim 9, wherein the recording head discharges the ink toward a recording medium by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer. Inkjet recording device.