JP2002254738A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device preventing lifting of a recording medium and friction between the recording medium and a recording head. SOLUTION: In the image forming device which forms the image on the recording medium by discharging ink from the recording head, are provided with a discharge roller for feeding the recording medium on a downstream side from the recording head in the feeding direction of the recording medium, a driven roller rotating, accompanying the discharge roller, and a recording medium supporting member guiding the recording medium on the downside stream side from the discharge roller in the feeding direction of the recording medium. The recording medium supporting member is arranged on the same line as the driven roller along the feeding direction of the recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus, which is an image forming apparatus, forms (records) characters, images, etc. (collectively, "images") by discharging ink from a recording head onto a recording medium. It is configured. Note that the recording medium is a plain paper, a thin recording medium made of resin which is a substitute for the plain paper, a postcard, a letter, a label, or the like, which can form an image with ink and has a relatively small thickness. Say things.

[0003] The ink jet recording apparatus can easily make the recording head relatively small, can record a high-definition image on the recording medium at high speed, has a low running cost,
The non-impact method has advantages such as low noise and easy recording of a color image using multicolor inks.

An ink jet recording apparatus feeds a recording medium to a platen facing a recording head by a feeding section, and records an image on the recording medium with the recording head while supporting the back surface of the recording medium with the platen. The recording medium on which an image has been formed is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by a discharge unit provided on the downstream side in the recording medium transport direction.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional ink jet recording apparatus 1.
It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of the transport roller 36, the pinch roller 37, the spur 42, the discharge roller 41, and the recording medium P, which constitute the recording medium discharge unit 4. . FIG.
Since 0 is a schematic diagram, the magnitude relationship between the transport roller 36 and the pinch roller 37 is different from FIG. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 10.

In FIGS. 8 to 11, a recording medium P
Are loaded on the feeding unit 2, and are fed one by one from the uppermost recording medium to the recording head 7 by the feeding roller 22. Recording medium P fed from feeding device 2
Is a transport roller 36 driven by a drive source (not shown).
And is pinched by the pinch roller 37, and conveyed to a recording start position on the platen 34.

The recording head 7 is detachably attached to the carriage 50. The carriage 50 is supported by a guide shaft 81 and is configured to reciprocate in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P. That is, the recording head 7 performs image formation (recording) on the transported recording medium P while moving in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P.

The discharge roller 41 is driven by receiving the rotational force of the transport roller 36 via the transmission roller 40. The discharge roller 41 has a plurality of roller portions 41a made of a plurality of elastomers or rubbers in the width direction for transporting the recording medium P.

The spur 42 is in pressure contact with the roller 41a. The spur 42 has a plurality of radially-pointed projections so that the ink of the recorded image does not transfer in order to roll on the recording surface of the recording medium after recording.

The recording medium P has a discharge roller 4 at its leading end.
The sheet is conveyed while being pinched by the conveying roller 36 and the pinch roller 37 until the sheet is pinched between the roller 1 and the spur 42. Is done.
Then, the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 100 and housed.

On the upper surface of the platen 34, a rib 34a is formed so as to protrude along the transport direction of the recording medium P. The plurality of ribs 34a are arranged in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium. Spur 4 on the downstream side of rib 34a
2 are provided. By arranging the ribs 34a of the platen 34 and the spurs 42 on the same straight line in the transport direction of the recording medium, the undulation of the recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as the recording medium P) generated when the recording medium P is applied with ink. , "Cock ring") at the top of the spur 42 and rib 3
4a. Between the ribs 34a,
Cockling of the recording medium can be generated downward, and the amount of floating above the recording medium P in the recording area can be minimized.

The cockling is regularly formed on the recording medium P by the ribs 34a.
The distance between the head and the recording head 7 becomes uneven. However, since the height of the rib 34a is known in advance, an image is formed normally by ejecting ink from the recording head 7 in consideration of the height.

Such cockling is particularly likely to occur when a dye color ink which is a penetrating system is solidly recorded on a recording medium. For this reason, in order to perform stable image recording in the ink jet recording apparatus, the influence of cockling must be eliminated as much as possible by the above-described method, and the distance between the recording medium P and the recording head must be kept constant. .

On the other hand, in recent years, there is an apparatus using black ink as a pigment-based ink in order to improve the density of a black image. Such a pigment-based ink requires a considerable amount of time for drying and fixing after being discharged onto a recording medium. For this reason,
While the ink of the recording medium discharged earlier is not completely dried, the leading end of the recording medium discharged next rubs the dry ink of the recording medium discharged earlier,
The image of the recording medium discharged earlier may be disturbed.
Such a phenomenon that disturbs the image of the recording medium discharged earlier is called "smear".

As a countermeasure against the smear, there is an apparatus in which a recording medium support 47 is provided in the paper discharge unit 4 shown in FIG.

The recording medium support 47 supports the recording medium P after recording and extends the time from when the ink is discharged to the recording medium P to when it reaches the discharge tray 200. When the ink discharged on the recording medium discharged earlier dries, the subsequent recording medium is landed to prevent smear.

A plurality of the conventional recording medium supports 47 are arranged in a direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as “width direction of the recording medium”). The recording medium support 47 projects from the platen 34 to the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium, or is stored on the platen 34 side.

The plurality of recording medium supports 47 guide the recording medium P above the horizontal plane in the recording area while projecting from the platen 34, and give the recording medium a stiffness due to its own weight to support it. As a result, it is possible to lengthen the time from image formation to landing on the discharge tray 200.

[0019]

However, since the conventional recording medium support 47 is provided between the spurs 42, the cock ring having a downwardly convex shape formed in the recording area is lifted. In some cases, the cockling was broken. For this reason, the recording medium may have an upwardly convex shape between the spurs 42 and may be largely lifted upward in the recording area. As a result, the recording medium may come into contact with the recording head 7 or the carriage 50 and rub against the recording surface, or the recording head 7 (particularly, the ink ejection surface) may be damaged.

The recording medium support 47 is configured so that when the recording head 7 forms an image on the recording medium, the recording medium P projects from the platen 34 when the leading end of the recording medium P passes the spur 42. ing. For this reason, the leading end of the recording medium support 47 vigorously contacts the recording medium,
There is also a risk that the image formation may be disturbed by affecting the image formation in the recording area.

Further, a plurality of recording medium supports 47 are provided in the width direction of the recording medium, and each has a separate structure. Therefore, the recording medium support 47
Had become expensive.

[0022]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head. A discharge roller that conveys the recording medium downstream of the recording head with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, a driven roller that rotates following the discharge roller, and the discharge roller that conveys the recording medium in the conveyance direction. A recording medium support member that guides the recording medium on the downstream side,
Wherein the recording medium support member is disposed on the same straight line as the driven roller along the recording medium transport direction.

According to the above arrangement, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus which does not disturb a recorded image due to smear, suppresses occurrence of lifting of a recording medium, and does not cause friction between the recording medium and a recording head. Can be.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 101. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet recording apparatus 101 of FIG. 1 cut along the transport direction of the recording medium.

Ink jet recording apparatus (image forming apparatus) 1 having an automatic feeding device for automatically feeding a recording medium
Reference numeral 01 includes a feeding unit 2, a conveying unit 3, a discharging unit 104, a carriage unit 5, a cleaning unit 6, and the like. Hereinafter, these will be described in order by dividing them into items. The same parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Feeding Unit) The feeding unit 2 has a structure in which a pressure plate 21 for stacking the recording medium P and a feeding roller 22 for feeding the recording medium P are attached to a base 20. I have. A movable side guide 23 that regulates the width direction of the recording medium P is provided on the pressure plate 21 so as to be movable in the width direction of the recording medium P. The pressure plate 21 is rotatable about a pressure plate rotation shaft 38 connected to the base 20. Further, the pressure plate 21 is separated from the feed roller 22 by a pressure plate spring 24.
Has been energized.

A separation pad 25 made of a material having a large coefficient of friction, such as artificial leather, for preventing double feeding of the recording medium P is provided on a portion of the pressure plate 21 facing the feed roller 22. Further, the base 20 covers a corner portion in one direction of the recording medium P, and a separation claw 26 for separating the recording medium P one by one, a thick recording medium in which the separation claw 26 cannot be used, and the like. A bank 27 integrally formed with the base 20 for separation, a switching lever 28 for switching the separation claw 26 so that the separation claw 26 does not operate in the plain paper position and a separation lever 26 in the thick paper position, the pressure plate 21 and the feeding roller 22 A release cam 29 or the like for releasing the contact is provided.

In the above configuration, when the feeding section 2 is in the standby state, the release cam 29 presses the pressure plate 21 to the pressure plate spring 24.
Is pushed down to a predetermined position against the urging force of Thus, the contact between the pressure plate 21 and the feed roller 22 is released. In this state, when the driving force of the transport roller 36 is transmitted to the feed roller 22 and the release cam 29 by a gear or the like, the release cam 29 separates from the pressure plate 21. As a result, the pressure plate 21 is raised by the urging force of the pressure plate spring 24 to bring the recording medium P into contact with the feed roller 22.
The recording medium P is picked up and fed with the rotation of the feeding roller 22, separated by the separation claw 26, and sent to the transport unit 3.

The feed roller 22 and the release cam 29 rotate until the recording medium P is fed into the transport section 3, and are again in a standby state in which the contact between the recording medium P and the feed roller 22 is released, and the transport roller 36 is released. The driving force from is cut off.

(Conveying Unit) The conveying unit 3 includes a conveying roller 36 for conveying the recording medium P, a pinch roller 37, a PE sensor 32, and the like. A pinch roller 37 that rotates following the conveyance roller 36 is in contact with the conveyance roller 36. Pinch roller 37
Are rotatably held by the pinch roller guide 30. The pinch roller guide 30 includes a pinch roller spring 31.
The pinch roller 37 is pressed against the conveying roller 36 to generate a conveying force for the recording medium P. Further, the transport unit 3 to which the recording medium P is transported
An upper guide 33 for guiding the recording medium P and a platen (recording medium guide member) 34 are disposed at the entrance of the recording medium P.
The upper guide 33 is provided with a PE sensor lever 35 for transmitting the leading and trailing edge detections of the recording medium P to the PE sensor 32.

In the above configuration, the recording medium P sent to the transport section 3 is guided by the platen 34, the upper guide 33, and the pinch roller guide 30, and is transported by the transport rollers 36.
And a pinch roller 37. At this time, the leading end of the transported recording medium P is detected by the PE sensor lever 35, and the recording position of the recording medium P is obtained. Then, a roller pair 36,
When the recording medium P is rotated by the rotation of the platen 34,
Conveyed above.

The recording head (image forming means) 7 has a detachable ink tank and a carriage 5.
It is an ink jet recording head that can be attached to and detached from.
The recording head 7 can apply heat to the ink by a heater or the like. Then, the ink causes film boiling due to the heat, and ink is ejected from the nozzles 70 of the recording head 7 by a pressure change caused by the growth or shrinkage of bubbles due to the film boiling, and an image is formed on the recording medium P.

(Carriage section) The carriage section 5 has a carriage 50 to which the recording head 7 can be attached and detached. The carriage 50 has a guide shaft 8 for reciprocatingly scanning the carriage 50 in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P.
1 and a guide rail 82 that holds the rear end of the carriage 50 and maintains a gap between the recording head 7 and the recording medium P. The guide shaft 81 and the guide rail 82 are attached to the chassis 8. Also, the carriage 50
, A timing belt 83 is fixed. And
The carriage 50 is moved by a carriage motor (not shown) attached to the chassis 8 driving the timing belt 83. This timing belt 83
The idle pulley 84 stretches and is supported. Further, the carriage 50 includes a flexible substrate 56 for transmitting a signal from an electric substrate (not shown) to the recording head 7.

In the above configuration, when an image is formed on the recording medium P, the recording medium P is transported to a row position (a position in the transport direction of the recording medium P) where the image is to be formed by the pair of rollers 36 and 37. The carriage 50 is moved to a row position where the image is formed (a position intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P) by a carriage motor (not shown), and the recording head 7 is opposed to the image forming position. Then, the electric board 9
The recording head 7 ejects ink toward the recording medium P based on the signal from the recording medium P to form an image.

The attachment / detachment of the recording head 7 to / from the carriage 50 and the attachment / detachment of the ink tank to / from the recording head 7 are performed by pressing an operation key (not shown) to move the carriage 50 to a predetermined position.

(Cleaning Unit) The cleaning unit 6 (see FIG. 1) includes a pump 60 for cleaning the recording head 7, a cap 61 for suppressing the drying of the recording head 7,
A drive switching arm 62 that selectively switches the transmission of the driving force from the transport roller 36 to the feeding unit 2 and the pump 60.
And so on. At times other than feeding of the recording medium and cleaning of the recording head 7, the drive switching arm 62 fixes a planetary gear (not shown) that rotates about the axis of the transport roller 36 at a predetermined position. No driving force is transmitted to the feeding unit 2 and the pump 60. Carriage 5
When the drive switching arm 62 is moved in the direction of arrow A by the movement of 0, the planetary gears become free, so that the planetary gears move in accordance with the forward and reverse rotation of the transport roller 36. When the transport roller 36 rotates forward, the driving force is transmitted to the feeding unit 2, and when the transport roller 36 rotates reversely, the driving force is transmitted to the pump 60.

(Discharge Unit) The discharge unit 104 will be schematically described.
The transmission roller 40 is in contact with the transport roller 36 and the discharge roller shaft 41. Therefore, the driving force of the transport roller 36 is transmitted to the discharge roller shaft 41 via the transmission roller 40. Further, a spur (driven roller) 42 is provided so as to abut on the discharge roller 41a of the discharge roller shaft 41, and is driven to rotate by the discharge roller 41a. In spur 42,
The cleaning roller 44 is rotatably contacted. The spur 42 radially has a plurality of projections 42a having sharp tips so that the ink of the recorded image does not transfer in order to roll on the recording surface of the recording medium after recording.

With the above configuration, the recording medium P on which an image has been formed by the carriage unit 5 is conveyed by being sandwiched between the discharge roller shaft 41 and the spur 42, and discharged to the discharge tray 100 (see FIG. 1).

Next, the transport unit 3 and the discharge unit 10 of the present embodiment
4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As described above, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet recording apparatus 101 of FIG. 1 taken along the transport direction of the recording medium. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the transport unit 3 and the discharge unit 104 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the positional relationship among the transport roller 36, the pinch roller 37, the discharge roller shaft 41, the spur 42, the recording medium support (recording medium support member) 102, and the recording medium P. is there.
Since FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, the magnitude relationship between the transport roller 36 and the pinch roller 37 is different from FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

In FIG. 4, a rib 34a is provided on the upper surface of the platen 34 so as to extend in the direction in which the recording medium P is transported. The plurality of ribs 34a are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the recording medium P. The rib 34a, the spur 42, and the recording medium support 102 are arranged on the same straight line along the transport direction of the recording medium (in the width direction of the recording medium). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, when the recording medium support 102 is receiving the recording medium, the cockling generated at the time of recording efficiently reduces the ribs 34.
It becomes a downward convex shape between a.

Next, the recording medium support 102 will be described.

In FIG. 3, the recording medium support 102
Are provided near the discharge roller shaft 41 in the width direction of the recording medium P. Three recording media support 10
2 are integrally connected by a connecting member 103 to form a recording medium support member 105. The recording medium support member 105 is supported on the platen 34 by a guide support mechanism (not shown). The recording medium support member 105, that is, the recording medium support 102, moves obliquely between a retracted position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3 and a recording medium support position indicated by a solid line. Note that the three recording medium supports 102 need not be integrated, and may be supported by the plantain 34, respectively.

The recording medium support 102 is a platen 3
When the recording medium P protrudes from the recording medium 4, the recording medium P is guided and supported above the horizontal plane in the recording area. That is, the recording medium P is guided above the position where the discharge roller 41a conveys the recording medium P. The transport roller 36 and the pinch roller 37, and the discharge roller shaft 41 and the spur 42
The recording head 7 is disposed so as to keep an appropriate distance between the recording medium P and the recording head 7 in the recording area of the recording medium P.

After the leading end of the recording medium P has passed the spur 42, the recording medium P is supported along the upper inclined surface 102c of the recording medium support 102, and is supported at the downstream uppermost end 102a.
The recording medium of A4 width size is a recording medium support 10
2-1 and 102-2. The recording medium having the A3 width size is the recording medium support 102-1, 102-.
2,102-3. In each case, the recording medium P is stiffened so that the vicinity of the center of the recording medium P is lowered by its own weight.

As shown in FIG. 4, in order to give a stiffness to the recording medium P of A3 width size, the uppermost downstream end portion 102a of the recording medium support 102-2 is connected to another recording medium support 102. -1 and 102-3 are disposed at a position slightly lower than the uppermost end on the downstream side, but need not necessarily be lowered.

Next, the operation of the recording medium support 102 will be described.

In FIG. 3, the recording medium support 102
The rack 102b is formed at the lower part of the drive gear 48.
And are engaged. Each recording medium support 10
2, a drive gear 48 is provided. Each drive gear 48 is connected by a common drive shaft 49. The drive shaft 49 is driven by a drive motor (not shown). The rotation of the drive motor is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) based on the recording medium detection operation of the PE sensor 32. Rack 102b, drive gear 48, drive shaft 49, drive motor, control circuit, PE sensor 32
These constitute an operating section (operating means) 106. The three recording medium supports 102 are connected to the connecting member 10.
3, the drive gears may be integrally moved so that one drive gear meshes with one recording medium support.

When the drive motor 48 rotates the drive gear 48 via the drive shaft 49, the three recording medium supports 102 meshing with the drive gear 48 are integrally formed in the direction of arrow D (conveyance of the recording medium). Direction), and moves between the recording medium support position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3) and the retracted position (the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3).

The timing of the moving operation of the recording medium support 102 coincides with the above-described feeding operation of the feeding section 2, which projects from the platen 34 and moves to the recording medium supporting position, and the recording medium after the recording is completed. The platen 3
Return to the evacuation position of No. 4. Note that the protrusion may be performed after the recording medium P is transported from the feeding unit 2 to the recording unit. In other words, it suffices that it is before the recording by the recording head 7 starts. The timing of such protrusion / retreat is performed by a control circuit, and is controlled in synchronization with the size of the recording medium P and the recording area. Also, the recording medium support 10
The length of the protrusion 2 can be adjusted by the drive time of the drive motor of the operating section 106. Further, the operation unit 106 is not always necessary. The recording medium support 102 may be manually protruded and retracted.
Further, the recording medium support 102 may be fixed so as to protrude downstream of the spur 42. In this case, the recording medium support 102 may be formed integrally with the platen 34.

As described above, the platen rib 34a, the spur 42, and the recording medium support 102 are arranged on the same straight line along the transport direction of the recording medium P (in the width direction of the recording medium). Cockling generated by the platen rib 34a is hardly disturbed by the recording medium support 102.

In the case of special paper (thick paper) which is a thick recording medium in which cockling hardly occurs, since the rigidity of the thick paper itself is strong, it is necessary to project the recording medium support 102 from the platen 34 to support the thick paper. The thick paper may rise from the platen 34 and affect image formation. In such a case, the recording medium is ejected without projecting the recording medium support 102 from the platen 34.
According to this configuration, a high-quality image can be formed regardless of the thickness of the recording medium.

[Second Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 6, the discharge section 204 of the second embodiment has a discharge roller shaft 4
1, 41-1 and two spurs 42, 42-1 are provided. That is, on the downstream side of the discharge roller shaft 41 and the spur 42 of the first embodiment, a second discharge roller shaft 41-1 is provided.
A second spur 42-1 is provided which is pressed against and driven by the second discharge roller shaft 41-1. Second discharge roller shaft 4
The first and second spurs 42 are disposed at the same height as the discharge roller shaft 41 and the spur 42, respectively. The driving of the discharge roller shaft 41 by the transmission roller 40-1 is the same as in the first embodiment. To the discharge roller shaft 41-1. Since the nip position between the second discharge roller shaft 41-1 and the second spur 42-1 and the nip position between the discharge roller shaft 41 and the spur 42 are the same in the height direction, the transfer roller 36 and the pinch roller 37 From the nip position, the second discharge roller shaft 41-1
And the same surface as the recording surface up to the nip position of the spur 42-1. Therefore, the discharge unit 204 of the present embodiment can further stabilize the recording accuracy as compared with the first embodiment.

The recording medium support 102 is arranged on the same straight line as the second spur 42-1 along the recording medium transport direction (in the width direction of the recording medium).

The operation of the discharge unit 204 of the present embodiment is the first
The operation is substantially the same as the operation of the discharging unit 104 according to the embodiment,
The timing at which the recording medium support 102 projects from the platen 34 is such that the leading end of the recording medium P
It may be after passing through 1.

[Third Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 7, a discharge section 304 according to a third embodiment is configured such that a recording medium support (recording medium support member) 109 is projected / retracted by a discharge roller shaft. This is performed by reciprocating rotation in the direction of arrow E around 41.

In the figure, a gear 107 is formed at the center of rotation of the recording medium support 109, and meshes with the driving gear 48. A plurality of recording medium supports 109 are provided in the width direction of the recording medium, and a driving gear 48 is provided corresponding to each recording medium support 109. Each drive gear 48 is connected by a common drive shaft 49. The drive shaft 49 is driven by a drive motor (not shown). The rotation of the drive motor is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) based on the recording medium detection operation of the PE sensor 32. Gear 107, drive gear 48, drive shaft 4
9, a drive motor, a control circuit (not shown), the PE sensor 32, and the like constitute an operating unit (operating means) 108.

When the drive motor 48 rotates the drive gear 48 via the drive shaft 49, the recording medium support 109 with which the drive gear 48 meshes rotates in the direction of the arrow, and
It is set at a predetermined position when projecting / retreating. The other operations are the same as those of the discharge unit of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

Further, each of the embodiments described above relates to a serial type printing apparatus for moving a print head in the main scanning direction.
It has a configuration to which the present invention is applied. However, the present invention is directed to a full-line type recording apparatus that uses a recording head that extends over the entire area in the width direction of the recording sheet and continuously conveys the recording sheet while recording an image by the recording head. Can also be applied.

In each of the embodiments described above, an example using a so-called BJ type recording head among the ink jet types has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to various recording methods irrespective of the recording method of the recording head. As a recording method of the recording head, for example, in addition to the BJ method, a piezo method may be used, and a recording head of a method including various recording elements, such as a thermal transfer method, may be used instead of an ink jet method.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the recording medium is brought into contact with the recording head, an image being formed on the recording medium is not disturbed or the recording head is not damaged. In addition, the recording medium support increases the time required for the recording medium to drop onto the discharge tray, and does not disturb the image due to smear. Furthermore, cockling countermeasures based on the positional relationship between the platen ribs, paper discharge rollers, and spurs, smear countermeasures using the recording medium support,
Can be compatible at the same time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 cut along a transport direction of a recording medium.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a transport unit and a discharge unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a positional relationship among a transport roller, a pinch roller, a discharge roller shaft, a spur, a recording medium support, and a recording medium.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment, taken along a recording medium transport direction.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the third embodiment cut along a recording medium transport direction.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the overall configuration of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a discharge unit of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

P Recording medium 2 Feeding unit 3 Transport unit 5 Carriage unit 6 Cleaning unit 7 Recording head 34 Platen 34a Rib 41 Discharge roller shaft 41a Discharge roller 42 Spur (driven roller) 100 Discharge tray 101 Inkjet recording device 102, 109 Recording medium Support (recording medium support member) 102a, 109a Downstream-side uppermost end 102b Rack 102c Upper slope 103 Connecting member 104, 204, 304 Discharge unit 105 Recording medium support member 106, 108 Operating unit (operating means) 107 Gear

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 5/06 B65H 29/22 Z 29/22 B41J 3/04 101Z F-term (Reference) 2C056 HA29 HA30 2C058 AB17 AB18 AC07 AC11 AD01 AE02 AE09 AE11 AE14 AF25 AF31 AF37 AF45 AF63 DA09 2C059 DD05 DD13 DD19 DD21 3F049 AA10 CA03 CA31 DA12 LA07 LB03 LB05

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head, wherein the discharge roller conveys the recording medium downstream of the recording head with respect to the conveying direction of the recording medium. And a driven roller that rotates following the discharge roller; and a recording medium support member that guides the recording medium downstream of the discharge roller with respect to the transport direction of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus, wherein the medium supporting member is arranged on the same straight line as the driven roller along a conveying direction of the recording medium. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driven roller is a spur that rotates in contact with a recording surface of a recording medium. A platen for supporting the recording medium at a position facing the recording head, the platen being covered with a rib arranged on the same straight line as the driven roller along the recording medium conveyance direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of recording media in a width direction of the recording medium. 4. The recording medium supporting member according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium supporting member guides the recording medium above a position where the discharge roller conveys the recording medium. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium support member is displaceable along a recording medium transport direction. 6. An operation unit for displacing the recording medium support member, wherein the recording medium support member is moved by the operation unit in a conveying direction of the recording medium before the recording head forms an image on the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is displaced downstream with respect to the image forming apparatus. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording medium support member is capable of linearly reciprocating along a transport direction of the recording medium. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording medium support member is rotatable on a plane along a conveying direction of the recording medium. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the recording medium support members are arranged in a width direction of the recording medium. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of recording medium support members are formed integrally.