JP2001030481A - Ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record on an entire face in a breadthwise direction of a recording sheet without a mount by forming a hole in a platen at a position opposite to a recording range of a recording head. SOLUTION: A hole 20a is formed in a platen 20 of a recording position at a position (recording range) opposite to a recording head 2. Ink overflowing a recording sheet is discharged to the hole 20a formed in the platen 20. Accordingly images can be recorded on an entire face of the recording sheet without the ink adhering to the platen 20. In order to absorb the ink discharged to the hole 20a, an ink absorber 28 is set on a bottom of the hole 20a. Moreover, the platen 20 is formed lower or the downstream side (platen 20c) than the upstream side (platen 20b) in a transfer direction via the hole 20a so as to prevent the recording sheet from falling in the hole 20a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording an image over the entire width of a recording sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to perform recording on the entire surface of a recording sheet, measures have been taken to improve the ink ejection accuracy and the conveyance accuracy of the recording sheet. There is a problem that the ink is left or protrudes from the recording sheet and adheres to the ink inside the ink jet recording apparatus. As a method of improving this, there is a method of recording by sticking to a backing sheet slightly larger than a recording sheet to be recorded.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional ink jet recording apparatus, a mount must be set when recording on a recording sheet, and since the mount used for recording has ink attached thereto. If used as it is, ink will adhere to the recording sheet. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the mount, which is inconvenient in terms of work, and at the same time, when performing continuous recording using an automatic conveyance device or the like, the same number of mounts as the number of records is required, and the cost for recording is high. There was a problem.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording without a margin in the width direction of a recording sheet without using a mount.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a typical configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a carriage capable of mounting a recording head for recording an image by discharging ink on a recording sheet, Transport means for transporting the recording sheet, and a platen opposed to the recording head for holding the recording sheet, wherein the platen is provided with a hole at a position facing the recording range of the recording head. I do.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a platen according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the platen according to the present embodiment. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit, a recording unit, and a discharge unit. Hereinafter, each will be described.

(Conveying Means) First, the recording sheet P is inserted between the upper guide 13 and the lower guide 14 in the conveying direction. The rotation of the drive motor 19 is transmitted to the conveyance roller 15 provided on the chassis 7, and the recording sheet P is pressed by the conveyance roller 15 and the pinch roller 16 provided at a position facing the conveyance roller 15,
Conveyed.

(Recording means) The recording means comprises a platen 20, a carriage 3, a recording head 2, a belt 10, a guide shaft 8 and a guide rail 9. The carriage 3 is a chassis 7
It is slidably mounted on a guide shaft 8 and a guide rail 9 provided above. When the recording sheet P is being conveyed on the platen 20 as described above, the recording head 2 loaded on the carriage 3 scans in the main scanning direction on the recording sheet P via the belt 10 by the rotation of the drive motor 11, An image is recorded on the recording sheet P by discharging ink.

[0009] Attempting to print over the entire width of the recording sheet P may cause ink to protrude from the width direction of the recording sheet P. However, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the position (recording range) of the platen 20 at the recording position facing the recording head 2.
Is provided with a hole 20a. With the recording means having the above-described structure, the ink protruding from the recording sheet P can be used as a platen.
An image can be recorded on the entire surface of the recording sheet P without being attached to the platen 20 by being ejected to the hole 20 a provided in the 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, an ink absorber 28 is provided at the bottom of the hole 20a to absorb the ink discharged into the hole 20a.
Was provided. Further, since the colors of the normal inks are black, red, green and blue, the absorber changes to black if a large number of recordings are made. Therefore, by setting the color of the ink absorber 28 to black from the beginning, the stain can be camouflaged.

The recording sheet P is transported along the upper surface of the platen 20b on the upstream side, and when transported over the hole 20a, the leading end of the recording sheet in the transport direction is not supported. Tip slightly lowers. However, since the platen 20 has a structure in which the downstream side (platen 20c) in the transport direction is formed lower than the upstream side (platen 20b) across the hole 20a, the platen 20 is transported without dropping into the hole 20a.

(Ejecting means) After the desired recording is completed, the drive motor 19 is rotated by an ejecting roller provided on the chassis 7.
18 and the spur train 17 provided on the guide rail 9, and the recording sheet P is discharged out of the ink jet recording apparatus.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the platen according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Recording Means) As shown in FIG. 4, the platen 29 according to this embodiment has a side 27 parallel to the main scanning direction of the hole 29a.
a, 27b, the upstream side 27a faces upward, and the downstream side 27b
Has a structure bent downward. Recording sheet P has hole 29
When the recording sheet P is conveyed over the recording sheet P, the leading end of the recording sheet in the conveying direction is not supported, and therefore, the recording sheet P is slightly lowered due to its own weight. However, the recording sheet P is conveyed along the upper surface of the platen 29b on the upstream side, and the side 27a provided at the boundary with the hole 29a is bent upward.
The leading end of the recording sheet P can be lifted upward. Also, a side 27b provided at the boundary between the platen 29c and the hole 29a on the downstream side
Is bent downward, the leading end of the recording sheet P is guided onto the platen 29c on the downstream side, so that the recording sheet P is conveyed without falling into the hole 29a.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a platen according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a platen according to the embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Recording means) As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of gears 21 as rotating members are rotatably supported by a shaft 21a in parallel with the main scanning direction on the downstream side of the hole 30a in the conveying direction. When the recording sheet P is conveyed and reaches the position A in FIG. 5, the leading end of the recording sheet P is slightly lowered by its own weight. At this time, the leading end of the recording sheet P collides with the gear 21, and the gear 21 rotates by the force of conveying the recording sheet P,
The leading end of the recording sheet P is lifted upward, and is guided to the platen 30c on the downstream side. Therefore, the leading end of the recording sheet P is conveyed without falling into the hole 30a.

Although a plurality of gears 21 are provided, a single gear long in the main scanning direction may be provided in parallel with the main scanning direction. A roller may be used instead of the gear.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a platen according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing the operation principle of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Recording Means) As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of gears 21 as rotating members are rotatably supported by a shaft 21a in parallel with the main scanning direction on the downstream side of the hole 31a in the conveying direction. In the third embodiment, the gear 21 is rotatably supported, but in this embodiment, the gear 21 is fixed to the shaft 21a and connected to an electrically operable motor 22.

When recording is started upon recording an image (S1)
The conveyance unit is driven to start conveyance of the recording sheet P (S
2), the recording sheet P is transported until it reaches the position A
(S3).

Upon reaching the position A, the motor 22 is driven to rotate the gear 21 in the transport direction so as to lift the leading end of the recording sheet P upward (S4). Then, the recording sheet P is transported on the platen 31c on the downstream side in the transport direction,
The rotation of the gear 21 is maintained until the position of FIG.
(S5) When it reaches, the motor 22 is stopped and the rotation of the gear 21 is stopped (S6). With the above operation, the recording sheet P is placed in the hole 31.
conveyed without falling into a.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of the platen according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Recording means) A plate 24, which is an inclined member, is provided downstream of the hole 32a of the platen 32 in the transport direction. The plate 24 is configured to be rotatable in the transport direction by a shaft 23. Board 24
May be provided alone or in plurals.

First, as shown in FIG. 9, the recording sheet P is conveyed along the upper surface of the platen 32b on the upstream side, and
When the recording sheet P is conveyed over the recording sheet P, the leading end of the recording sheet in the conveying direction is not supported, and thus the recording sheet P slightly lowers due to its own weight. However, as shown in FIG.
When the sheet reaches the plate 24, the leading end of the recording sheet P rides on the plate 24, and the plate 24 rotates in the conveying direction, and is conveyed without falling into the hole 32a. After the recording sheet P has passed, the plate 24 returns to its original position by its own weight and prepares for the next conveyance. Although the inclined member is a plate, it may be a comb-shaped member.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, a sixth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views of the platen according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Recording Means and Conveying Means) A tray 25 which is a shielding member for shielding the holes 33a in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording sheet is provided. The tray 25 is moved from the position of the boundary C between the platen 33 and the hole 33a on the upstream side in the transport direction shown in FIG.
And the platen 33c on the downstream side in the transport direction. The tray 25 is connected to an electrically operable motor 26. The platen 33 is designed so that the platen 33 on the upstream side of the hole 33a and the platen 33c on the downstream side are made lower by the thickness of the tray 25 so as to have the same height.

The recording sheet P passes through the holes 33a (C → D) together with the tray 25 while being stacked on the tray 25, and
conveyed without falling into a. When the tray 25 arrives at the position D, the recording sheet P continues to be transported further downstream, and the tray 25 returns to the position C based on information on the distance from C to D.

When the tray 25 reaches the position D, the holes 33
a, which is detected on the downstream side of the motor
It is also possible to reverse the tray 25 to the position C by operating the tray 26 in reverse.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, since the hole is formed at the position facing the recording area of the recording head of the platen, the width of the recording sheet can be maintained without contaminating the platen with ink. It is possible to record on the entire surface in the direction.

The platen on the downstream side has a structure lower than that of the platen on the upstream side. With such a structure, the recording sheet can be conveyed without falling into the hole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a platen according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a platen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a platen according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a platen according to a third embodiment and a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a platen according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a platen according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation principle of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a platen according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a platen according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a platen according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a platen according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] [Explanation of symbols]

 P: recording sheet 1: ink jet recording apparatus 2: recording head 3: carriage 7: chassis 8: guide shaft 9: guide rail 10: belt 11: drive motor 13: upper guide 14: lower guide 15: transport roller 16: pinch roller 17 ... spur train 18 ... discharge roller 19 ... drive motor 20, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 ... platen 20a29a, 30a, 31a, 32a, 33a ... hole 21 ... gear 21a ... plural shafts 22 ... motor 23 ... shaft 24… plate 25… tray 26… motor 27a, 27b… are 28… ink absorber

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A carriage on which a recording head for recording an image by ejecting ink onto a recording sheet can be mounted, a conveying unit for conveying the recording sheet, and a platen opposed to the recording head for holding the recording sheet. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the platen has a hole at a position facing a recording range of the recording head. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platen is formed higher on the upstream side in the transport direction than on the downstream side with the hole interposed therebetween. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a side parallel to the main scanning direction of the hole of the platen is bent upward on the upstream side and downward on the downstream side. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotating member that rotates in a conveying direction downstream of the hole of the platen in the conveying direction and below a recording sheet conveying surface. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined member rotatably supported in the conveying direction, provided at a position downstream of the platen hole in the conveying direction and below the recording sheet conveying surface. apparatus. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shielding member that shields the hole in synchronization with conveyance of the recording sheet. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ink absorber for absorbing ink is provided at a bottom of the hole. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ink absorber is black.