JP2003260839A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a mechanism for limiting the widthwise direction positions of recording media having various widths, and to improve processing ability of an image recording apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A guide mechanism 4 comprises a fixed guide member 61 for limiting end positions of two sheets of paper 21, 31 disposed in two rows on the side adjacent with each other, and movable guide members 62, 63 disposed with the fixed guide member 61 interposed for limiting the end positions of two sheets of the paper 21, 31 on the side opposite to the ends with the positions limited by the fixed guide member 61. The mechanism 4 is used for the image recording apparatus. The positions of the movable guide members 62, 63 are changed according to the width of the papers 21, 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet printers print by spraying liquid ink onto paper. As an ink jet printer, a pair of guide members in which a long sheet is arranged near both ends in the width direction on a carrier table provided so as to face a print head having a large number of nozzles capable of ejecting ink Generally, the position is regulated, and the image is printed by being sequentially conveyed from the leading end. Further, as the print head, a print head that can print by ejecting ink while reciprocating along a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction is often used.

Here, in such a printer, there is a case where the processing capability is improved by printing almost simultaneously on the papers arranged in two rows so as to face the print head. In this case, the widthwise positions of the sheets arranged in two rows are regulated separately by the pair of guide members arranged so as to correspond to them. The pair of guide members can be moved separately from each other in the width direction of the sheet, and for sheets of different widths,
The position of the paper in the width direction is regulated so that the center position of the paper in the width direction is aligned (centered).

Further, an ink receiving portion for receiving ink ejected from the paper when borderless printing is performed on the paper is provided on a carrier table for supporting the paper facing the print head. It may be provided. Here, in order to properly perform borderless printing on papers of various widths, the transport table is provided with a large number of ink receivers corresponding to the vicinity of both ends of the papers of various widths. Parts are often provided.

By the way, in such a printer, the print head is moved forward or backward along the width direction of the paper.
When printing on the paper arranged in rows,
The image is printed only when the print head is in the position facing the paper, and the image is not printed when the print head is in the position facing the paper without facing the paper.

[0006]

Here, in such a printer, a pair of guide members that can be moved separately along the width direction of the paper are provided for each of the paper arranged in two rows. The mechanism for regulating the widthwise position of the sheet becomes complicated. In addition, when the distance between the papers arranged in two rows is large, there is a time when the print heads face each other between the papers when the print heads move forward or backward, and the image is not printed. It will be long. Therefore, the processing capability of the printer is reduced.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of simplifying a mechanism for regulating the widthwise positions of recording media having various widths.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of improving the processing capacity by shortening the time during which an image is not recorded because the image recording section is located between the recording media. That is.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a recording medium conveying means for conveying a recording medium, and one end in the width direction of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means. A fixed first position regulating member for regulating the position of the portion, and a position of an end portion opposite to the end portion of the recording medium whose position is regulated by the first position regulating member. A second position restricting member movable in the width direction of the recording medium, the first position restricting member, and the second position restricting member.
The image recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit while the position of the position regulating member is regulated.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first position regulating member for regulating the position of the one end portion in the width direction of the recording medium is fixed, and the position of the recording medium is regulated by the first position regulating member. Since only the second position restricting member for restricting the position of the end opposite to the end is movable in the width direction of the recording medium, both the first and second position restricting members are of the recording medium. The mechanism for restricting the position of the recording medium in the width direction can be simplified as compared with the case of being movable in the width direction.

Here, the image recording apparatus of claim 1 is an ink jet printer in which an image recording unit prints by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and the image recording unit is configured to print on a recording medium of various widths. In the case where the blank printing is performed, the position of the one end of the recording medium regulated by the first position regulating member is the same for the recording mediums of any widths. Therefore, the ink receiving portion is provided near the end. In other words, it can be used as a common ink receiving portion for any recording medium of various widths. Therefore, the number of ink receiving portions provided in the ink jet printer can be reduced, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention, the conveying means conveys a plurality of recording mediums arranged substantially in parallel to each other, and the image recording section has a recording medium conveying direction. An image is recorded while reciprocating along a direction perpendicular to the two, and the two first position regulating members provided corresponding to two recording media forming an adjacent pair form the pair. It is characterized in that the positions of the one ends in the width direction on the sides of the two recording media which are close to each other are regulated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the positions of the one widthwise one ends of the two recording media forming a pair on the side close to each other are regulated by the fixed first position regulating member, so that the two recording media forming a pair are paired. In the case where the recording medium is aligned at the center and the widthwise positions thereof are regulated, and when the positions of the widthwise one ends of the pair of recording media on the same side are regulated by the fixed first position regulating member, respectively. Unlike the above, the distance between two recording media forming a pair becomes constant, and if the constant distance is set to be short, the image recording unit can be moved forward and backward. It is possible to shorten the time during which an image is not recorded at the positions facing each other between the recording media (i.e., the idling distance moved between the recording media without recording the image). Therefore, the processing capability of the image recording device can be improved.

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, the conveying means conveys a plurality of recording media arranged substantially in parallel to each other, and the two recording media form an adjacent pair. At least one of the two first position regulating members and the two second position regulating members provided correspondingly is integrally formed as one member.

According to the third aspect, since the number of parts of the mechanism for regulating the widthwise position of the recording medium can be reduced, the mechanism can be further simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print head unit of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in the vicinity of the inkjet printing unit of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a guide mechanism of the ink jet printer shown in FIG.

Inkjet printer 1 shown in FIG.
Includes a guide mechanism 4, a conveyance roller unit 5, an inkjet printing unit 6, and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 30.
It has a pressure bonding roller unit 7, a cutting unit 8, and a discharge roller unit 9. In addition, in the housing 30,
The winding portions 22 and 32, in which the long sheets 21 and 31 are wound in a roll shape, are arranged adjacent to each other. here,
The winding parts 22 and 32 are rotatably held on the supply roller 3 around the axis center together with the pair of reel plates 23 and 33 arranged at both ends thereof. Further, as will be described later, the operation of each part of the inkjet printer 1 is controlled by the controller 20 arranged in the housing 30.

The guide mechanism 4 is arranged between the winding portions 22 and 32 and the conveying roller unit 5, and the winding portion 2 is provided.
After being unwound from the sheets 2 and 32, the sheets 21 and 31 are arranged in two rows parallel to each other and conveyed to regulate the respective positions in the width direction. The detailed structure of the guide mechanism 4 will be described later.

The transport roller unit 5 is the controller 2
It has drive roller pairs 5a and 5b driven by motors 15a and 15b controlled by 0, and is for conveying the papers 21 and 31 before being cut by the cutting unit 8, respectively. That is, the transport roller unit 5 unwinds the papers 21 and 31 from the winding portions 22 and 32, respectively, and transports them to the downstream side, and sequentially passes the inkjet printing unit 6 and the cutting unit 8.

The ink jet printing unit 6 has a print head portion 11, a carrier 12 and a suction fan 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the print head unit 11 includes a head block 44, a carriage 45 for supporting the head block 44, and a reciprocating motion of the carriage 45 in the main scanning direction (width direction of the papers 21, 31). And a moving mechanism 49 for moving. In addition, the moving mechanism 49,
An annular belt 46 for holding the carriage 45, and rollers 47 and 48 around which the annular belt 46 is stretched are included.

The head block 44 is a flat plate-like member, and has yellow (yellow), magenta (magenta), cyan (blue-green), and cyan (blue-green) on the surface (lower surface in FIG. 2) facing the papers 21 and 31. It has a large number of ejection nozzles (not shown) capable of ejecting color inks such as black. Therefore, the head block 44 is the controller 2
Based on a signal from 0, a desired color is ejected by ejecting color inks from a large number of ejection nozzles toward the front surface (upper surface in FIG. 1) of the papers 21 and 31 conveyed along the sub-scanning direction. Images can be printed. Here, the head block 44 holds the paper 21,
Printing is performed by ejecting ink while reciprocating along the main scanning direction so as to face any of 31. The head block 44 may have a discharge nozzle that discharges only black ink, and may print a black and white image.

The carriage 45, which supports the head block 44, is reciprocated along the main scanning direction by the moving mechanism 49. The carriage 45 is held by an annular belt 46, as shown in FIG. Further, the annular belt 46 is spanned by rollers 47 and 48 which are rotatable around rotary shafts (not shown) fitted and inserted in the respective axial center positions. Here, the rollers 47 and 48 are arranged in the printable area (see FIG. 2) of the inkjet printing unit 6.
(See) and are arranged at intervals larger than the width.
The annular belt 46 is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction, which is the conveyance direction of the papers 21 and 31.

Here, the roller 47 is a driving roller that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and the roller 48 is a driven roller that is rotated by the rotation of the roller 47 being transmitted through the annular belt 46. It's Laura. Therefore, when the roller 47 is rotated, the annular belt 46 also rotates in the same direction. Then, when the roller 47 is rotated in one direction by a predetermined angle, the rotation direction is changed, and this time, the roller 47 is rotated in the opposite direction by a predetermined angle, and the rotation direction is changed again. After that, this operation is repeated, and as the roller 47 rotates, the annular belt 46 moves back and forth, so that the carriage 45
Can reciprocate along the main scanning direction between both ends in the width direction of the printable area. Here, the predetermined angle of the roller 47 corresponds to the distance over which the carriage 45 reciprocates along the main scanning direction between both widthwise ends of the printable area.

The print head section 11 of the ink jet printing unit 6 is for ejecting liquid ink from nozzles dot by dot to print on the papers 21 and 31, and may be a piezo jet system, a thermal jet system or any other type. Any method may be adopted.

The carrying table 12 has a paper supporting surface having the same height as the carrying surfaces of the papers 21 and 31, and is for supporting the papers 21 and 31 carried by the carrying roller unit 5. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the transport base 12 is provided with recesses 51a to 54a and recesses 51b to 54b which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center position in the width direction. Recesses 51a to 54a and recesses 51b to 54b
Is an ink receiving portion that extends along the transport direction of the papers 21 and 31 for receiving ink ejected from the papers 21 and 31 when borderless printing is performed on the papers 21 and 31. Here, for example, a discharge mechanism (not shown) capable of automatically discharging the ink stored in the recesses 51a to 54a and the recesses 51b to 54b, or the recesses 51a to 54a and the recesses 51b to the transport base 12, is provided.
An absorbing member (not shown) such as a sponge capable of absorbing the ink stored in 54b is provided. The ink receiving portion provided on the carrier 12 does not necessarily have to be a recess, but may be a through hole.

Here, the guide mechanism 4 which will be described later in detail.
As can be seen from FIG. 3, the paper 21 conveyed by the drive roller pair 5a of the conveyance roller unit 5 has an end portion near the center position in the width direction of the conveyance table 12, that is, the paper 2
The position in the width direction is regulated so that the position of the end portion on the side close to the sheet 31 arranged in parallel with 1. Therefore, regardless of the width of the paper 21, the width-direction position of the edge of the paper 21 near the center position of the conveyance table 12 in the width direction is the same. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, a sheet 21 having a width A (hereinafter, referred to as “sheet 21A”) has a width B, an end portion near the center position in the width direction of the carrier 12, 21B ”, which is an end portion near the center position in the width direction of the carrier 12 and a paper 21 having a width C (hereinafter, referred to as“ paper 21 ”).
The respective positions of the papers 21A to 21C are regulated so that the positions of the end portions of the carriage 12 (referred to as “C”) near the center position in the width direction of the carriage 12 match.

Similarly, the sheet 31 conveyed by the drive roller pair 5b of the conveying roller unit 5 is close to the end portion near the center position in the width direction of the conveying table 12, that is, the sheet 21 arranged in parallel to the sheet 31. The position in the width direction is regulated so that the positions of the end portions on the side where they are aligned match. Therefore, the paper 31
Irrespective of the width, the width direction position of the edge of the sheet 31 near the center position of the conveyance table 12 in the width direction is the same. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, a sheet 31 having a width A (hereinafter referred to as “sheet 31
A)) near the center position in the width direction of the carrier 12, and a sheet 31 having a width B (hereinafter referred to as “sheet 31B”) near the center position in the width direction of the carrier 12 and width. C
The respective positions of the sheets 31A to 31C are regulated so that the positions of the edges of the sheet 31 (hereinafter, referred to as “sheet 31C”) having the same are near the center position in the width direction of the transport base 12.

Here, the concave portion 51 formed in the carrier 12.
The a to 54a and the recesses 51b to 54b are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise end portions of the sheets 21A to 21C or the sheets 31A to 31C, respectively. That is, the recesses 51a and the recesses 52a are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 21A, and the recesses 51a and the recesses 53a are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 21B. The recess 51a and the recess 54a are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 21C. Similarly, the recess 51b and the recess 52b are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise end portions of the sheet 31A, and the recess 51b and the recess 53b are arranged.
Are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both end portions in the width direction of the sheet 31B, and the concave portions 51b and the concave portions 54b are formed on the sheet 3
It is arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of 1C.

As described above, the recess 51a is formed by the papers 21A to 21A.
21C corresponds to the end of the carrier 12 near the center position in the width direction, and the recess 51b corresponds to the center of the carrier 12 in the width direction for any of the sheets 31A to 31C. It corresponds to the end near the position. That is,
The recess 51a is used as a common ink receiving portion when borderless printing is performed on the sheets 21A to 21C, and the recess 51b is common when borderless printing is performed on the sheets 31A to 31C. It is used as an ink receiving part.

Further, in the region of the carrier 12 where the concave portions 51a to 54a and the concave portions 51b to 54b are not formed,
A large number of circular suction holes 55 are formed. The number, shape, and arrangement of the suction holes 55 can be changed arbitrarily.

The suction fan 13 is arranged at a position facing the print head unit 11 with the conveyance path of the papers 21 and 31 interposed therebetween, and on the conveyance table 12 via a suction hole 55 formed in the conveyance table 12. It is for adsorbing the sheets 21 and 31. Therefore, the paper 21 facing the print head unit 11,
31 is sucked by the suction fan 13 disposed on the back surface (lower surface in FIG. 1) side, and is closely contacted and carried on the carrier 12 so that the distance between the head 31 and the print head unit 11 becomes constant. ing. This is to prevent the occurrence of a printing defect due to a change in the distance from the print head unit 11 when the papers 21 and 31 are curled and a part of the papers 21 and 31 greatly separates from the transport table 12. .
It should be noted that the suction fan 13 does not necessarily have to be arranged below the transport table 12, and the sheet 2 can be properly placed on the transport table 12.
If 1 and 31 can be adsorbed, the configuration and arrangement can be arbitrarily changed.

The pressure roller unit 7 is for holding the papers 21 and 31 conveyed between the ink jet printing unit 6 and the cutting unit 8. Here, by arranging the pressure roller unit 7 between the inkjet printing unit 6 and the cutting unit 8, it is possible to properly perform the image printing by the inkjet printing unit 6 and the cutting of the papers 21 and 31 by the cutting unit 8. Is possible.

The cutting unit 8 has a movable blade 8a arranged on the same side as the print head 11 with respect to the papers 21 and 31.
And a fixed blade 8b arranged so as to face the movable blade 8a with the sheets 21 and 31 interposed therebetween. The movable blade 8a and the fixed blade 8b are both rectangular blades having a width slightly larger than the printable area of the inkjet printing unit 6. Therefore, the sheets 21 and 31 arranged in two rows
Can be cut at almost the same time. The moving blade 8a is moved by the motor 16 controlled by the controller 20.
It can be moved toward or away from the fixed blade 8b, and the printed sheets 21 and 31 that have been conveyed from the upstream side of the conveyance path are moved along the width direction by the interaction with the fixed blade 8b. Can be cut. By cutting in this way, the printed sheets 21 and 31 are divided into a predetermined length.

The discharge roller unit 9 is the controller 2
It has a pair of drive rollers 9a and 9b driven by motors 17a and 17b controlled by 0, and conveys the printed papers 21 and 31 after being cut by the cutting unit 8, respectively, and from the discharge port 30a. Let it drain. In addition,
Like the drive roller pairs 5a and 5b of the transport roller unit 5, the drive roller pairs 9a and 9b of the discharge roller unit 9 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the main scan direction in the printable area.

The controller 20 performs predetermined processing on the image signal supplied from an input interface (not shown) and supplies a print signal containing image data corresponding to the image to be printed to the ink jet printing unit 6. Further, the controller 20 supplies a drive signal corresponding to a desired carry amount to the carry roller unit 5 and the discharge roller unit 9 at a suitable carry timing, and at the same time, sets the print timing in the inkjet printing unit 6 and the cut timing in the cutting unit 8. Can be controlled.

Next, the detailed structure of the guide mechanism 4 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, in FIG.
1A and the sheet 31A are conveyed.

The guide mechanism 4 includes a guide support plate 60, a fixed guide member 61, and two movable guide members 62 and 63.
And driven rollers 65 and 66.

The fixed guide member 61 is the guide support plate 60.
Is arranged at the center position in the width direction of the lower surface of the. The center position of the guide support plate 60 in the width direction and the center position of the carrier 12 in the width direction are arranged so as to correspond to each other. The fixed guide member 61 is a guide support plate 6 for the papers 21 and 31.
It is a member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for restricting the position of the end portion near the center position in the width direction of 0. On both end surfaces in the width direction of the fixed guide member 61, a groove portion 61 extending along the longitudinal direction thereof is formed.
a and 61b are formed respectively. Here, the groove 6
1a is formed on the side surface of the fixed guide member 61 on the side where the sheet 21 is conveyed, and the groove 61b is formed on the side surface of the fixed guide member 61 on the side where the sheet 31 is conveyed. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the fixed guide member 61 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is a substantially "D" shape. Therefore,
The ends of the papers 21 and 31 near the center position in the width direction of the guide support plate 60 have groove portions 61 of the fixed guide member 61.
By being conveyed while being inserted into a or in the groove portion 61b of the fixed guide member 61, the widthwise position of the end portion of the paper 21, 31 is regulated.

Further, the lower surface of the guide support plate 60 is provided with mounting portions 71a, mounting portions 72a to 74a, and mounting portions 72b to 74b, which are recesses extending along the transport direction of the sheets 21 and 31. Here, the mounting portion 71a is disposed near the center position in the width direction of the guide support plate 60, and the mounting portions 72a to 74a and the mounting portions 72b to 74b are respectively the sheets 21A to 21A.
C and the sheets 31A to 31C are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of the ends of the guide support plates 60 on the outer side in the width direction. That is, the mounting portions 72a to 74a and the mounting portions 72b to 74b are arranged on the lower surface of the guide support plate 60 so as to sandwich the mounting portion 71a.

Here, on the side surface of the fixed guide member 61 on the guide support plate 60 side, a protrusion 61c extending along the longitudinal direction thereof is formed. The width of the protruding portion 61c of the fixed guide member 61 is equal to that of the mounting portion 71 of the guide support plate 60.
It is almost the same as the width of a. Therefore, the fixed guide member 61
The fixed guide member 61 can be attached to the guide support plate 60 by inserting the entire protruding portion 61c into the attachment portion 71a. That is, the fixed guide member 61
Are detachably attached to the guide support plate 60.

The movable guide members 62 and 63 are used for the paper 21,
It is a member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for restricting the position of the end portion on the opposite side of the end portion of the fixed guide member 61 of 31. Grooves 62a, 63a extending in the longitudinal direction are formed on the side surfaces on the inner side in the width direction of the movable guide members 62, 63.
Are formed respectively. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of each of the movable guide members 62 and 63 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is substantially a U-shape. In addition, the movable guide member 6
The second groove portion 62a is formed so as to face the groove portion 61a of the fixed guide member 61, and the groove portion 63a of the movable guide member 63 is formed so as to face the groove portion 61b of the fixed guide member 61.

The movable guide members 62 and 63 can be attached to and detached from the mounting portions 72a to 74a and the mounting portions 72b to 74b, respectively, as described later. Therefore, the movable guide members 62, 63 are
The fixed guide member 61 can be disposed so as to sandwich the lower surface of the guide support plate 60 so as to correspond to the respective widths. Therefore, the ends of the papers 21 and 31 on the outer side in the width direction of the guide support plate 60 are conveyed while being fitted and inserted into the groove portions 62a of the movable guide member 62 or the groove portions 63a of the movable guide member 63. , 31 in the width direction are restricted.

Here, on the side surfaces of the movable guide members 62, 63 on the guide support plate 60 side, protrusions 62b, 63b extending along the longitudinal direction thereof are formed. The widths of the protrusions 62b and 63b of the movable guide members 62 and 63 are substantially the same as the widths of the mounting portions 72a to 74a and the mounting portions 72b to 74b of the guide support plate 60. Therefore, the entire protruding portion 62b of the movable guide member 62 is attached to the mounting portion 72.
The movable guide members 62, 63 can be attached to the guide support plate 60 by inserting the movable guide members 63 into the mounting portions 72b to 74b, or by inserting the entire protruding portion 63b of the movable guide member 63 into the mounting portions 72b to 74b. That is, the movable guide members 62 and 63 are provided so as to be attachable to and detachable from the guide support plate 60.

Therefore, when the movable guide member 62 is attached to the mounting portion 72a, the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 62 can regulate the positions of both ends of the paper 21A in the width direction, and the movable guide member 62 is attached. When attached to the portion 73a, the fixed guide member 6
1 and the movable guide member 62 can regulate the positions of both ends of the paper 21B in the width direction, and when the movable guide member 62 is attached to the attachment portion 74a, the paper 21 is fixed by the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 62.
The positions of both widthwise end portions of C can be regulated.

Similarly, when the movable guide member 63 is attached to the mounting portion 72b, the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 63 can regulate the positions of both ends of the sheet 31A in the width direction, and the movable guide member 63 is moved. When attached to the attachment portion 73b, the fixed guide member 6
1 and the movable guide member 63 can regulate the positions of both ends of the paper 31B in the width direction, and when the movable guide member 63 is attached to the attachment portion 74b, the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 63 cause the paper 31 to move.
The positions of both widthwise end portions of C can be regulated.

The driven roller 65 is arranged on the upstream side (lower side in FIG. 4) of the guide support plate 60 in the conveyance direction of the sheets 21 and 31, and the sheet 2 unwound from the winding portions 22 and 32.
This is for changing the conveying direction of Nos. 1 and 31 to a direction parallel to the guide mechanism 4.

The driven roller 66 faces the lower surface of the guide support plate 60, and is arranged between the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 62 and between the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 63. It includes two cylindrical roller portions 66a and a shaft member 66b in which the roller portions 66a are fitted and rotatably supported. And
The driven roller 66 is arranged so that the surface of the roller portion 66a comes into contact with the surfaces of the papers 21 and 31 conveyed in the guide mechanism 4. The driven roller 66 has a function of appropriately conveying the papers 21 and 31 that are conveyed while their positions in the width direction are regulated by the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 62 or the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide member 63. Have

Further, when the fixed guide member 61 is removed from the guide support plate 60, the sheets 21A-2 having widths AC are formed.
It is possible to convey a sheet that is wider than the 1C and the sheets 31A to 31C while controlling the positions of both ends in the width direction. That is, the movable guide member 62 is attached to the attachment portion 72a, and the movable guide member 63 is attached.
When the movable guide members 62 and 63 are mounted on the mounting portions 72a and 72b, respectively, when the sheet is attached to the mounting portion 72b, a sheet having a width substantially corresponding to the distance between the bottom surface of the groove portion 62a and the bottom surface of the groove portion 63a is attached. By the movable guide members 62, 63, it is possible to convey while regulating the positions of both widthwise end portions thereof. Similarly, the movable guide member 62 is attached to the attachment portion 73a, and
When the movable guide member 63 is attached to the attachment portion 73b, or when the movable guide member 62 is attached to the attachment portion 74.
When the movable guide member 63 is attached to the attachment portion 74b while being attached to the sheet a, it is possible to convey the wider sheet while restricting the positions of both ends in the width direction. As described above, the mounting portions 72a to 74a to which the movable guide member 62 is attached and the movable guide member 6
By changing the combination with the attaching portions 72b to 74b to which the sheet 3 is attached, it is possible to properly convey sheets of various widths.

As described above, according to the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the fixed guide member 61 for restricting the position of the end portion of the paper 21, 31 near the center position in the width direction of the guide support plate 60 is provided. It is fixed and paper 2
Since only the movable guide members 62 and 63 for regulating the positions of the end portions of the guide support plates 60 on the outer side in the width direction of 1 and 31 are movable in the width direction of the papers 21 and 31, the fixed guide member 61 and the movable guide members are movable. Compared with the case where both the guide members 62 and 63 are movable in the width direction of the sheets 21 and 31,
It is possible to simplify the mechanism for regulating the widthwise positions of the sheets 21 and 31.

Further, the sheets 21A to 21C and the sheet 31
When borderless printing is performed on A to 31C, the sheet 2 regulated by the fixed guide member 61
The positions of the end portions of the first and the third portions near the center position in the width direction of the transport table 12 are the same for the sheets of paper 21 and 31 having any width, and therefore, the concave portions 51a and 51b provided in the vicinity of the respective end portions.
Is used as a common ink receiving portion for both sheets 21 and 31. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of ink receiving portions provided on the carrier 12 of the inkjet printer 1, and thus it is possible to simplify the manufacturing process.

Further, the fixed guide member 61 regulates the positions of the ends of the papers 21 and 31 near the center position in the width direction of the transport table 12, that is, the positions of the ends of the papers 21 and 31 that are close to each other. Unlike the case where the widthwise positions of the papers 21 and 31 are aligned by centering and the positions of the widthwise one ends of the papers 21 and 31 on the same side are restricted by the fixed guide member 61, respectively. If the distance between 21 and 31 is constant and this constant distance is set to be short, the head block 44 faces the papers 21 and 31 when the head block 44 moves forward and backward. It is possible to shorten the time period in which the image is not printed at the position where the image is printed (the idling distance moved between the sheets 21 and 31 without printing the image). Therefore, the processing capacity of the inkjet printer 1 can be improved.

Further, the fixed guide member 61 is
Since the guide support plate 60 is integrally formed as a common guide member for regulating the position of the end portion of the guide support plate 60 near the center position in the width direction, the guide mechanism for regulating the width direction positions of the sheets 21 and 31. The number of parts of 4 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to further simplify the guide mechanism 4 and reduce the manufacturing cost.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows the second aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in the vicinity of an inkjet printing unit of the inkjet printer according to the embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a guide mechanism of an inkjet printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The ink jet printer 101 of the second embodiment is different from the ink jet printer 1 of the first embodiment in that the ink jet printer 1 includes papers 21A to 21C and papers 31A to 31C.
Ends of the sheets 21 and 31 on the side close to each other (the carrier 12
In the ink jet printer 101, the sheets 21A to 21C and the sheets 31A to 31C are all conveyed to the transport base 112, while the guide mechanism 4 regulates the positions of the end portions in the vicinity of the center position in the width direction of the sheet. That is, the guide mechanism 104 regulates the position of the end (the end on the upper side in FIG. 5) close to one end of the guide mechanism 104. Since the other configurations of the inkjet printer 101 are the same as those of the inkjet printer 1 of FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the carrier table 112 has recesses 15 asymmetrically arranged with respect to the center position in the width direction.
1a to 154a and concave portions 151b to 154b are formed.

Here, a guide mechanism 104 (see FIG.
As can be seen from FIG. 5, the paper 21 conveyed by the drive roller pair 5a of the conveying roller unit 5 is
Is regulated so that the position of one end (the end on the upper side in FIG. 5) of the carrier table 112 and the end on the side close to each other match.
Therefore, regardless of the width of the paper 21, the transport table 1 for the paper 21
The position in the width direction of one end of 12 and the end on the side close to each other coincide. Similarly, the drive roller pair 5b of the transport roller unit 5
The paper 31 conveyed by means of the width direction so that the end of the side close to one end of the conveyance table 112, that is, the position of the end of the side close to the paper 21 arranged in parallel with the paper 31 coincides. The position is restricted. Therefore, irrespective of the width of the paper 31, the widthwise position of the end of the paper 31 on the side close to the one end of the carriage 112 coincides.

Here, the concave portion 1 formed on the carrier table 112
51a to 154a and the concave portions 151b to 154b are the papers 21A to 21C, respectively, as in the first embodiment.
Alternatively, the sheets 31A to 31C are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both ends in the width direction. That is, the recesses 151a and the recesses 152a are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 21A, and the recesses 151a and the recesses 153a are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 21B. The recess 151a and the recess 154.
“A” is arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 21C. Similarly, the recess 151b and the recess 15
2b is arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the sheet 31A, and the concave portions 151b and the concave portions 153b.
Are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 31B, and the recesses 151b and 154b are arranged so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise ends of the paper 31C.

As described above, the recess 151a is formed by the paper 21A.
21C, it corresponds to an end portion near one end portion of the conveyance table 112, and the concave portion 151b corresponds to the sheet 3
For any of 1A to 31C, it corresponds to the end of the carrier 12 near one end. That is, the recess 151
a is used as a common ink receiving portion when borderless printing is performed on the papers 21A to 21C, and the concave portion 1
51b is used as a common ink receiving portion when borderless printing is performed on the sheets 31A to 31C.

The guide mechanism 104, as shown in FIG.
It has a fixed guide support plate 161 having fixed guide portions 171, 172, a movable guide support plate 162 having movable guide portions 173, 174, and driven rollers 65, 166.

The fixed guide portions 171 and 1 are provided near one end of the lower surface of the fixed guide support plate 161 and near the center position in the width direction.
72 are provided. It should be noted that one end of the fixed guide support plate 161 described above corresponds to one end of the transport table 112 that is close to the end of the paper 21 when the ends of the paper 21 are regulated so as to coincide with each other. The fixed guide portions 171 and 172 are substantially rectangular parallelepiped projections for regulating the positions of the end portions of the fixed guide support plates 161 of the sheets 21 and 31 on the one end side. Fixed guide support plate 1 of fixed guide portions 171 and 172
Grooves 171a and 172a extending along the longitudinal direction are formed on the side surface of the other end side of 61, respectively. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the fixed guide portions 171 and 172 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is a substantially "U" shape.
Therefore, the end portions of the sheets 21 and 31 on the one end side of the fixed guide support plate 161 have the groove portions 1 of the fixed guide portions 171 and 172.
By being conveyed while being inserted into 71a and 172a, the widthwise positions of the edges of the papers 21 and 31 are regulated.

The movable guide support plate 162 is arranged so as to face the lower surface of the fixed guide support plate 161, and the movable guide portions 173 and 173 are provided at both ends of the facing surface (the upper surface in FIG. 6). 174 are provided. The movable guide portions 173 and 174 are substantially rectangular parallelepiped protrusions for regulating the positions of the end portions of the papers 21 and 31 opposite to the end portions regulated by the fixed guide portions 171 and 172. On the side surface of the fixed guide support plate 161 of the movable guide portions 173 and 174 on the one end side, the groove portion 1 extending along the longitudinal direction thereof.
73a and 174a are formed. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the movable guide portions 173 and 174 is
It is almost U-shaped. In addition, the movable guide unit 1
The groove portion 173 a of 73 is the groove portion 17 of the fixed guide portion 171.
The movable guide portion 1 is formed so as to oppose to 1a.
The groove portion 174 a of the groove 74 is the groove portion 17 of the fixed guide portion 172.
It is formed so as to face 2a. Therefore, paper 2
The end portions of the fixed guide support plates 161 of the first and the other ends on the other end side are conveyed while being inserted while being inserted into the groove portion 173a of the movable guide portion 173 or the groove portion 174a of the movable guide portion 174. The widthwise position of the end portion of 31 is regulated.

Here, the movable guide support plate 162 is movable along the width direction of the fixed guide support plate 161. Therefore, the distance between the fixed guide portion 171 and the movable guide portion 173 and the distance between the fixed guide portion 172 and the movable guide portion 174 can be arbitrarily changed. That is, the positions of the movable guide portions 173 and 174 of the movable guide support plate 162 can be adjusted so as to correspond to the widths of the sheets 21 and 31. The movable guide support plate 162 is fixed to the fixed guide support plate 161 by a fastener (not shown) after its position is adjusted. Then, when the position is readjusted, the fixing by the fastener is released and moved.

The driven roller 166 is the fixed guide support plate 1.
61 facing the lower surface of 61, between the fixed guide part 171 and the movable guide part 173, and the fixed guide part 17
2 and the movable guide portion 174, two columnar roller portions 166a and a shaft member 166b in which the roller portion 166a is fitted and rotatably supported are included. The driven roller 166 is arranged on the side opposite to the fixed guide support plate 161 with respect to the movable guide support plate 162. Then, the driven roller 166 is configured such that the surface of the roller portion 166 a is conveyed in the guide mechanism 104 to the sheets 21, 31.
Is arranged so as to abut the surface of the. Driven roller 1
66 is a fixed guide part 171 and a movable guide part 17
3, or the fixed guide portion 172 and the movable guide portion 174 have a function of properly conveying the papers 21 and 31 whose widthwise positions are regulated.

A rectangular opening 162a larger than the roller portion 166a is formed in the movable guide support plate 162, and the roller portion 166a on the other end side of the fixed guide support plate 161 corresponds to the inside of the opening 162a. Are arranged as follows. Therefore, both of the two roller portions 166a can contact the papers 21 and 31 conveyed between the fixed guide support plate 161 and the movable guide support plate 162.

Also in the ink jet printer 101 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the fixed guide support plate 1 for the papers 21 and 31 is the same as in the first embodiment.
Fixed guide portions 171 and 172 for regulating the position of the end portion on the one end side of 61 are fixed, and for regulating the position of the end portion on the other end side of the fixed guide support plate 161 of the papers 21 and 31. Only the movable guide portions 173 and 174 have the paper 21,
Since it is movable in the width direction of 31, it is possible to simplify the mechanism for restricting the position of the paper 21, 31 in the width direction.

Further, the sheets 21A to 21C and the sheet 31
When borderless printing is performed on the sheets A to 31C, the position of the end portion of the sheet on the one end side of the transport table 112 regulated by the fixed guide portions 171 and 172 is set for the sheets 21 and 31 having any width. Therefore, the recesses 151a and 151b provided in the vicinity of the edge are used as a common ink receiving portion for any of the papers 21 and 31. Therefore, the inkjet printer 101
Since it is possible to reduce the number of ink receiving portions provided on the transport table 112, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

The fixed guide portions 171 and 172 are both provided on the fixed guide support plate 161, and the movable guide portions 173 and 174 are both provided on the movable guide support plate 162, and the fixed guide portion 171 is provided. ,
Since the 172 and the movable guide portions 173 and 174 are integrally formed as a common guide member, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the guide mechanism 104 for regulating the widthwise positions of the sheets 21 and 31. Therefore, the guide mechanism 104 can be further simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the claims. Is possible. For example,
In the above-described first and second embodiments, the case where the sheets 21 and 31 having the same width are conveyed in two rows has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one sheet may be conveyed in one row. Alternatively, three or more sheets may be conveyed so as to form three or more rows. Further, in the above-described first embodiment, two sheets having different widths may be conveyed in two rows, or if two sheets are conveyed so as to form three or more rows, those sheets may be conveyed. The combination of the widths of the sheets can be arbitrarily changed. Note that the guide mechanism arbitrarily changes the position of the movable guide member so as to correspond to the vicinity of both widthwise end portions of the paper of each width in order to convey the paper of various widths while restricting the position in the width direction. It is preferable that the structure is possible. Further, when borderless printing is performed on sheets of various widths, it is necessary to previously provide an ink receiving portion on the transport table so as to accommodate sheets of various widths.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the fixed guide member 6 for restricting the positions of the edges of the sheets 21 and 31 near the center position in the width direction of the guide support plate 60, respectively.
1 has been described as being integrally formed as a common guide member, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The guide members for restricting the positions of the end portions of 31 may be formed by different members. Similarly, also in the above-described second embodiment, the fixed guide portions 171 and 172 for restricting the positions of both end portions of the sheets 21 and 31 are not necessarily provided to the fixed guide support plate 161 which is the same member. It is not necessary that the movable guide portions 173 and 174 are provided on the movable guide support plate 162 that is the same member, and the fixed guide portion and the movable guide portion are provided on separate members. May be.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the guide mechanism 4 is arranged between the winding portions 22 and 32 and the conveying roller unit 5 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide mechanism is not limited thereto. The position where the mechanism is arranged can be arbitrarily changed. Therefore, it may be arranged between the inkjet printing unit and the cutting unit, or may be arranged downstream of the cutting unit.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the head block 44 reciprocates over the entire width of the printable range for printing is described.
Not limited to this, the head block may be a line-shaped head block fixedly arranged over the entire width of the printable range.

Further, although the ink jet printer 1 is described in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink jet printer such as a photographic processing device which forms a latent image of an image by exposing a printing paper is used. It is also applicable to image recording devices other than printers.

[0073]

As described above, according to the first aspect, the first position regulating member for regulating the position of the one end portion in the width direction of the recording medium is fixed, and the first position regulating member is used. Since only the second position regulating member for regulating the position of the end portion of the recording medium whose position is opposite to the end portion of the recording medium is movable in the width direction of the recording medium, the first and second
The mechanism for restricting the position of the recording medium in the width direction can be simplified as compared with the case where both of the position restriction members are movable in the width direction of the recording medium.

Here, the image recording apparatus according to claim 1 is an ink jet printer in which the image recording unit performs printing by ejecting ink onto the recording medium, and the image recording apparatus has a frame for recording medium of various widths. In the case where the blank printing is performed, the position of the one end of the recording medium regulated by the first position regulating member is the same for the recording mediums of any widths. Therefore, the ink receiving portion is provided near the end. In other words, it can be used as a common ink receiving portion for any recording medium of various widths. Therefore, the number of ink receiving portions provided in the ink jet printer can be reduced, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the positions of the one widthwise one ends of the two recording media forming a pair on the side close to each other are regulated by the fixed first position regulating member, respectively. In the case where the recording medium is aligned at the center and the widthwise positions thereof are regulated, and when the positions of the widthwise one ends of the pair of recording media on the same side are regulated by the fixed first position regulating member, respectively. Unlike the above, the distance between two recording media forming a pair becomes constant, and if the constant distance is set to be short, the image recording unit can be moved forward and backward. It is possible to shorten the time during which an image is not recorded at the positions facing each other between the recording media (i.e., the idling distance moved between the recording media without recording the image). Therefore, the processing capability of the image recording device can be improved.

According to the third aspect, the number of parts of the mechanism for regulating the position of the recording medium in the width direction can be reduced, so that the mechanism can be further simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print head unit of the ink jet printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in the vicinity of an inkjet printing unit of the inkjet printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a guide mechanism of the inkjet printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in the vicinity of an inkjet printing unit of an inkjet printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a guide mechanism of an inkjet printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 101 Inkjet printer (image recording apparatus) 4, 104 Guide mechanism 5 Conveying roller unit (conveying means) 21, 31 Paper (recording medium) 44 Head block (image recording section) 51a to 54a, 51b to 54b Recess 61 fixed Guide member (first position regulating member) 62, 63 Movable guide member (second position regulating member) 151a to 154a, 151b to 154b Recessed portions 171 and 172 Fixed guide portion (first position regulating member) 173 and 174 Movable Guide part (second position regulating member)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C056 EA01 EA24 HA29 HA30 JC29                 2C059 AA12 AA16 DD07 DD13                 2C480 CA16 CA56 DA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transport unit for transporting a recording medium; a fixed first position regulating member for regulating the position of one end portion in the width direction of the recording medium transported by the transport unit; A second position restricting member movable in the width direction of the recording medium for restricting the position of the end opposite to the end of the recording medium whose position is restricted by the first position restricting member; An image recording device, comprising: an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit while its position is regulated by a position regulating member and the second position regulating member. apparatus. 2. The conveying means conveys a plurality of recording media arranged substantially parallel to each other, and the image recording section reciprocates along a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording media. While recording an image, the two first position regulating members provided corresponding to the two recording media forming an adjacent pair are close to each other in the two recording media forming the pair. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of the one end portion in the width direction is regulated. 3. The conveying means conveys a plurality of recording media arranged substantially in parallel to each other, and the two conveying media are provided so as to correspond to two adjacent recording media. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first position regulating member and the two second position regulating members is integrally formed as one member.