JP2005047239A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording device which minimizes adhesion of ink mist occurring in a marginal area of a recording medium to a member enclosing the area, during execution of a "marginless recording", and prevents the recording medium from being soiled with the adherent mist. <P>SOLUTION: According to the structure of the ink jet recording device, a plurality of ribs 1402 are arranged in a recording head scanning direction and bear the recording medium 1703 under recording from below. Herein at least part of the ribs are formed such that a space portion A is formed at a location below the adjacent ribs. By virtue of this formation, the ink mist F occurring at the time of recording of the marginal area of the recording medium is released via the space portion A formed below the ribs 1402. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to so-called “marginless recording” in which recording is performed without providing a margin on a recording medium.

  In general, in an ink jet recording apparatus, a platen is provided at a position facing a recording head and performing recording by the recording head. When the platen supports the recording medium conveyed thereon, the recording head that ejects ink and the surface of the recording medium can be regulated to an appropriate positional relationship. On the platen, ribs serving as support members for the recording medium are arranged in the scanning direction of the recording head. In practice, the recording medium is conveyed while being substantially in line contact with and supported by the tops of the ribs. With such a configuration, the slidability and stability in conveying the recording medium can be controlled to some extent. The plurality of ribs are arranged at appropriate intervals with respect to a sufficient width region in the scanning direction of the recording head so as to be compatible with recording media having various widths.

  On the other hand, in recent inkjet recording apparatuses, high-quality recording approaching so-called silver salt photographs is becoming possible. Accordingly, in order to obtain a texture similar to that of a silver salt photograph, there is an increasing demand for a glossy recording medium and “borderless recording” for the recording medium. Therefore, in recent years, an ink jet recording apparatus having such a function has also been provided. Here, “borderless recording” is to realize a printing mode in which margins are not provided on the four sides as in a normal silver halide photograph, for example, and in the inkjet recording apparatus described below, the four sides of the recording medium are also realized. It is shown that recording is performed on the entire surface of the recording medium so that no margin is generated. Further, in this specification, a case where recording is performed so that no margin is generated on a part of the four sides, for example, two sides, is included in the “marginless recording”.

  When performing such “borderless recording”, it is desirable to eject ink to some extent also in the area outside the edge of the recording medium. This is because there is a slight error in the conveyance of the recording medium, and the recording medium itself also has a size variation due to an error in cutting accuracy at the time of manufacture, and always always records accurately to the end position of the recording medium. This is because it is difficult. Therefore, in general, ink is ejected to a sufficient area so that a blank is not generated at the edge of the recording medium even if some error or variation occurs.

  The ink ejected to the area outside the edge of the recording medium is desirably collected. For this reason, for example, for recording in the areas that are the front end and the rear end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, a notch is provided in the platen with a predetermined width along the scanning direction of the recording head, and A method of collecting ink by providing an ink absorber below the notch is employed. For recording at the right end and the left end in the width direction of the recording medium, that is, the direction in which the recording head scans, the ejection port array of the recording head is provided at positions corresponding to the left and right ends of the recording medium to be conveyed. A method is employed in which a notch is provided in the platen in a range corresponding to the above, and an ink absorber is provided below the platen. In this way, the ink ejected outside the four edges of the recording medium can be collected without contaminating the inside of the apparatus main body.

  FIG. 17A is a diagram for explaining “marginless recording” performed using the above-described configuration. Here, a state is shown in which the carriage 1704 is scanned in the left-right direction in the drawing with respect to the recording medium 1703 and recording is performed on the left end portion of the recording medium.

  In the drawing, a plurality of ribs 1702 having a predetermined height are provided on a platen 1701. The recording medium 1703 is conveyed in the front direction of the drawing by being in contact with and supported by the ribs 1702. The recording medium 1703 is conveyed by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown).

  The carriage 1704 moves and scans in the direction of arrow A and in the opposite direction in the figure with the recording head 1705 mounted. For example, even when the end of the recording medium is lifted, the end portion of the carriage 1704 is formed obliquely as shown in the figure so as not to catch the end. Although the recording head 1705 appears to be mounted on the left end of the carriage 1704 in the drawing, it is actually mounted approximately at the center, and the left and right sides of the carriage are symmetrical with respect to the recording head 1705. Yes.

  Reference numeral 1706 denotes an ink discharge port array disposed in the recording head 1705. Although schematically shown here, the six ejection port arrays 1706 shown in the figure include, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (LM), and light cyan ( LC) shows six types of ink ejection port arrays. In each color, a plurality of ejection ports that eject ink of the same color are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface to form an ejection port array 1706 for one color. Although not shown in the drawing, each discharge port is provided with a heater which is an electrothermal conversion element in an ink path communicating therewith. Then, bubbles can be generated in the ink using the thermal energy generated by the heater, and the ink can be discharged from each discharge port by the pressure of the bubbles.

  When ejection is performed outside the end 1708 of the recording medium 1703 for “marginless recording”, a predetermined recording operation subsequent to recording on the recording medium 1703 is performed even on a predetermined area P where no recording medium exists. Do. That is, the carriage 1704 continues to move in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and at the same time, the discharge port 1706 of the recording head 1705 discharges based on predetermined data. The ink ejected here generally proceeds as indicated by an arrow I and is collected by an ink absorber 1709 installed in a notch portion of the platen 1701. Note that the data for ejection performed in the region P can be, for example, the data of the last column or raster in each scan, or the data of several columns or rasters following the column or raster.

  After the ejection to the region P, the carriage 1704 is decelerated and stopped as short as possible for the purpose of shortening the recording time as much as possible. In the figure, an arrow S indicates a distance to decelerate and stop. After stopping, the carriage 1704 starts to move in the direction of arrow A and performs the next recording scan.

  As described above, when performing “marginless recording” with a normal inkjet recording apparatus, the size of the image to be recorded is slightly larger than the size of the recording medium in order to prevent margins from being generated at the end of the recording medium. The ink is discharged to the area outside the edge of the recording medium as well as inside the edge of the recording medium. The ink that has been ejected outside the end portion and has not landed on the recording medium is generally absorbed by an absorber provided in the platen and collected.

JP 2002-192714 A

  However, recent ink jet recording apparatuses have been designed with a smaller amount of ink droplets to be ejected in order to achieve higher image quality. It has been confirmed that the reduction in the amount of ink droplets causes a problem of ink mist (hereinafter also simply referred to as mist) in “marginless recording”.

  For example, assume that the size of the smallest main ink droplet used in a certain ink jet recording apparatus is about 2 pl. Here, the main ink droplet substantially forms a dot on the recording medium, and becomes a basic factor considered in the image design of the recording head or the recording apparatus. However, in the ejection operation of the recording head, there are micro ink droplets called small satellites that cannot be controlled and are generated separately from the main ink droplets or ejected together with the main ink droplets. As described above, when the main ink droplet having a small volume of about 2 pl is to be discharged outside the edge of the recording medium at an initial discharge speed of about 15 m / s, the satellite generated here has a lower speed, and It will be affected by air resistance. According to the experiments by the inventors of the present application, it was confirmed that the satellite cannot reach the ink absorber provided in the platen under the above conditions. Such ink droplets that do not reach the ink absorber become mist that floats inside the recording apparatus. In addition, when the initial velocity of the main ink droplet is about 10 m / s which is smaller, the main ink droplet may be mist depending on the flight distance to reach the ink absorber.

  FIGS. 17A and 17B are schematic diagrams for specifically explaining the problem of mist generated in the region where ejection is performed outside the end portion as described above. This figure shows a case where recording is performed in the vicinity of the left end 1708 of the recording medium 1703 in “rimless recording”. Specifically, the carriage 1704 on which the recording head 1705 is mounted is in a direction opposite to the direction A in the figure. , The ink protrudes from the left end 1708 of the recording medium 1703 by the area P and ejects ink.

  Out of the ejected ink droplets I in the region P to be ejected and ejected, minute ink droplets (satellite) other than the main ink droplets are sprinkled up by air resistance and do not reach the ink absorber 1709 directly, but become a floating mist F. . At the same time as the generation of mist F, the carriage 1704 moves by a distance S while decelerating and stops. Until the recording head passes through the regions P and S and stops, the upper portion of the ink absorber 1709 in the region P is a substantially closed space by the ink absorber 1709, the carriage 1704, and the ribs 1702 on both sides. . Therefore, the mist F that floats and floats is confined in the substantially closed space and contaminates the wall surface forming the space. In particular, as indicated by reference numeral 1713, the mist adhering to the top of the left rib 1702 causes a problem of being transferred and contaminated on the back surface of the recording medium when a recording medium having a larger width is conveyed. It is.

  To solve this problem, for example, a method of causing the ink absorber 1709 to absorb the generated satellite as much as possible by raising the position of the ink absorber 1709 and further bringing it closer to the recording head can be considered. However, this configuration shortens the distance between the transported recording medium 1703 and the ink absorber 1709, and if the leading end or the trailing end of the recording medium is slightly lifted or undulated, it causes contact between the two. Therefore, there is a concern that the recording medium is contaminated.

  In addition, for example, the user can set the size of the area P to be ejected outside the short part, and the size of the area P in which mist is generated can be further reduced. At the same time, there is a risk that margins will occur on the recording medium due to transport errors.

  Furthermore, in a recording apparatus using a recording head capable of ejecting a plurality of ink droplets of different sizes, a method that does not use the minimum volume main ink droplet (2 pl) that is likely to generate mist when performing “marginless recording”. Some have been adopted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, by providing a sensor for detecting a gap between the platen and the recording head, a distance from the recording head to the ink absorber is obtained, and when this distance is large, an executable recording mode is set. A technique is disclosed that limits and prevents ejection of relatively small ink droplets of about 2 pl. However, when such recording with small ink droplets and “marginless recording” cannot be applied at the same time, the so-called “marginless photographic recording without margin” that has been required in recent years cannot be realized. End up.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to use ink mist generated in an end area of a recording medium in a member surrounding the area in “edgeless recording”. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of suppressing the adhesion and preventing the recording medium from being contaminated by the adhered mist.

  Therefore, in the present invention, a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium by moving and scanning while ejecting ink, and a plurality of supports that are arranged in the scanning direction of the recording head and support the recording medium being recorded from below. In order to perform recording with no margin at the end of the recording medium in the scanning direction of the recording head, ink is also ejected to at least the end of the recording medium and the area outside the end. In the ink jet recording apparatus, a space is present at least in a lower part of the plurality of support members, and a space formed between the support members adjacent to each other is opened through the space. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, the ink mist generated when recording the end region of the recording medium is released through the space portion formed at least under a part of the support member (rib). It is possible to prevent the recording medium from being contaminated by adhering to the recording medium, and to prevent the recording medium from being contaminated by the adhering mist.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In this specification, “record” is not only formed when significant information such as characters and figures is formed, but also manifested so that human beings can perceive it visually. Regardless of whether or not the image, pattern, pattern or the like is widely formed on the recording medium, or the medium is processed.

  Here, the “recording medium” is not only paper used in a general printing apparatus, but also wide, such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc. that can accept ink. Shall also say.

  Further, the term “ink” should be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of “recording” described above. When applied to a recording medium, it forms an image, a pattern, a pattern, etc., or processes the recording medium. A liquid that can be used in the above processing (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a coloring material in ink applied to a recording medium).

[Device main unit]
1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording method. In FIG. 1, the outline of the apparatus main body M1000 of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an exterior member including a lower case M1001, an upper case M1002, an access cover M1003, and a discharge tray M1004, and a chassis M3019 ( (See FIG. 2).

  The chassis M3019 is composed of a plurality of plate-shaped metal members having a predetermined rigidity, forms a skeleton of the recording apparatus, and holds each recording operation mechanism described later.

  The lower case M1001 forms a substantially lower half part of the exterior of the apparatus main body M1000, and the upper case M1002 forms a substantially upper half part of the exterior of the apparatus main body M1000. The hollow body structure which has the storage space which stores the. An opening is formed in each of the upper surface portion and the front surface portion of the apparatus main body M1000.

  Further, one end of the discharge tray M1004 is rotatably held by the lower case M1001, and the opening formed on the front surface of the lower case M1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation. Therefore, when executing the recording operation, the discharge tray M1004 is rotated to the front side to open the opening, so that the recording medium can be discharged from the recording medium and the discharged recording media are sequentially stacked. It has come to be able to do. The paper discharge tray M1004 stores two auxiliary trays M1004a and M1004b, and the support area of the recording medium can be expanded or reduced in three stages by pulling each tray forward as necessary. It is like that.

  One end of the access cover M1003 is rotatably held by the upper case M1002, and an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. The access cover M1003 is accommodated inside the main body by opening the access cover M1003. It is possible to replace the recording head cartridge H1000 or the ink tank H1900. Although not specifically shown here, when the access cover M1003 is opened and closed, the protrusion formed on the back surface rotates the cover opening and closing lever, and the rotation position of the lever is detected by a micro switch or the like. Thus, the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected.

  On the upper surface of the rear part of the upper case M1002, a power key E0018 and a resume key E0019 are provided so that they can be pressed, and an LED E0020 is provided. When the power key E0018 is pressed, the LED E0020 lights up and recording is possible. This is to inform the operator. Further, the LED E0020 has various display functions such as informing the operator of a printer trouble or the like by changing the blinking method or color. As a method for notifying the operator, a buzzer E0021 (FIG. 7) can also be sounded. When the trouble is solved, the recording is resumed by pressing the resume key E0019.

[Recording mechanism]
Next, the recording operation mechanism in the present embodiment that is housed and held in the printer apparatus main body M1000 will be described.

  As a recording operation mechanism in the present embodiment, the recording medium automatically fed into the apparatus main body and the recording medium sent one by one from the automatic feeding unit M3022 and the automatic feeding unit to a predetermined recording position. And a conveyance unit M3029 for guiding the recording medium from the recording position to the discharge unit M3030, a recording unit for performing desired recording on the recording medium conveyed to the recording position, and a recovery unit for performing recovery processing on the recording unit and the like And M5000. Details of the transport unit M3029 will be described later with reference to FIGS. A platen described in detail with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 and a plurality of ribs formed thereon are provided below the region of the transport unit M3029 that is scanned by the recording head of the recording unit. In FIG. 2, the detailed illustration of the transport unit M3029 is omitted.

  The recording unit includes a carriage M4001 that is movably supported by a carriage shaft M4021, and a recording head cartridge H1000 that is detachably mounted on the carriage M4001.

[Recording head cartridge]
3 to 5 are an external perspective view and an exploded configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the recording head cartridge used in the recording unit.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a recording head cartridge H1000 according to this embodiment includes an ink tank H1900 that stores ink, and a recording head H1001 that discharges ink supplied from the ink tank H1900 from nozzles according to recording information. Have. The recording head H1001 adopts a so-called cartridge system that is detachably mounted on the carriage M4001.

  In the recording head cartridge H1000 of the present embodiment, for example, black (K), light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), and cyan (C) are used as ink tanks in order to enable high-quality color recording with a photographic tone. , Magenta (M) and yellow (Y) independent ink tanks H1900 are prepared. As shown in FIG. 4, each is detachable from the recording head H1001.

  As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 5, the recording head H1001 includes a recording element substrate H1100, a first plate H1200, an electric wiring substrate H1300, a second plate H1400, a tank holder H1500, a flow path forming member H1600, It comprises a filter H1700 and a seal rubber H1800.

  In the recording element substrate H1100, a plurality of recording elements for ejecting ink to one side of the Si substrate and electric wiring such as Al for supplying power to each recording element are formed by a film forming technique. A plurality of corresponding ink channels and a plurality of ejection ports H1100T are formed by photolithography, and ink supply ports for supplying ink to the plurality of ink channels are formed to open on the back surface. . The recording element substrate H1100 is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200, and an ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink to the recording element substrate H1100 is formed therein. Further, a second plate H1400 having an opening is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200, and the electric wiring substrate H1300 is electrically connected to the recording element substrate H1100 via the second plate H1400. Is held to be connected. The electrical wiring substrate H1300 applies an electrical signal for ejecting ink to the recording element substrate H1100. The electrical wiring substrate H1300 is located at an end portion of the electrical wiring and corresponds to the electrical wiring from the main body. An external signal input terminal H1301 for receiving a signal is provided, and the external signal input terminal H1301 is positioned and fixed on the back side of a tank holder H1500 described later. The ejection port H1100Т forms six ejection port arrays according to the six types of ink described above. Each row forms a staggered row in which the two ejection port rows are shifted from each other by a predetermined amount, and an ink volume of about 2 pl is ejected from each ejection port.

  On the other hand, a flow path forming member H1600 is fixed to the tank holder H1500 that detachably holds the ink tank H1900 by, for example, ultrasonic welding to form an ink flow path H1501 extending from the ink tank H1900 to the first plate H1200. ing. In addition, a filter H1700 is provided at an end of the ink flow path H1501 that engages with the ink tank H1900 on the ink tank side so that entry of dust from the outside can be prevented. Further, a seal rubber H1800 is attached to the engaging portion with the ink tank H1900 so that ink can be prevented from evaporating from the engaging portion.

  Further, as described above, the tank holder portion composed of the tank holder H1500, the flow path forming member H1600, the filter H1700, and the seal rubber H1800, the recording element substrate H1100, the first plate H1200, the electric wiring substrate H1300, and the second The recording head H1001 is configured by bonding the recording element portion formed of the plate H1400 by bonding or the like.

[carriage]
Next, the carriage M4001 on which the recording head cartridge H1000 is mounted will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage M4001 is engaged with the carriage M4001 and engaged with the carriage cover M4002 for guiding the recording head H1001 to a predetermined mounting position on the carriage M4001, and the tank holder H1500 of the recording head H1001. And a head set lever M4007 that presses the recording head H1001 to set it at a predetermined mounting position.

  That is, the head set lever M4007 is provided on the upper portion of the carriage M4001 so as to be rotatable with respect to the head set lever shaft, and a spring-set head set plate (not shown) is engaged with the recording head H1001. And is configured to be mounted on the carriage M4001 while pressing the recording head H1001 by this spring force.

  Further, a contact flexible printed cable (see FIG. 7, hereinafter referred to as a contact FPC) E0011 is provided at another engagement portion of the carriage M4001 with the recording head H1001, and the contact portion on the contact FPC E0011 and the recording head H1001 are provided. The provided contact portion (external signal input terminal) H1301 is in electrical contact so that various information for recording can be exchanged and power can be supplied to the recording head H1001.

  Here, an elastic member such as rubber (not shown) is provided between the contact portion of the contact FPC E0011 and the carriage M4001, and the contact portion and the carriage M4001 are connected by the elastic force of the elastic member and the pressing force by the headset lever spring. It is designed to enable reliable contact. Further, the contact FPC E0011 is connected to a carriage substrate E0013 mounted on the back surface of the carriage M4001 (see FIG. 7).

[Scanner]
The recording apparatus in the present embodiment can also be used as a reading apparatus by mounting a scanner on the carriage M4001 instead of the above-described recording head cartridge H1000.

  This scanner moves in the main scanning direction together with the carriage M4001 on the printer side, and reads the original image fed instead of the recording medium in the course of movement in the main scanning direction. By alternately performing the reading operation and the document feeding operation in the sub-scanning direction, it is possible to read one document image information.

  6A and 6B are perspective views showing the scanner M6000 upside down in order to explain the schematic configuration of the scanner M6000.

  As shown in the figure, the scanner holder M6001 has a substantially box shape, and an optical system and a processing circuit necessary for reading are accommodated therein. Further, when the scanner M6000 is mounted on the carriage M4001, a reading unit lens M6006 is provided at a portion facing the document surface, and reflected light from the document surface is converged on the internal reading unit by the reading unit lens M6006. Therefore, the original image is read. On the other hand, the illumination unit lens M6005 has a light source (not shown) inside, and light emitted from the light source is irradiated onto the document via the illumination unit lens M6005.

  A scanner cover M6003 fixed to the bottom of the scanner holder M6001 is fitted so as to shield the inside of the scanner holder M6001, and a louver-shaped grip portion provided on the side surface improves the detachable operability to the carriage M4001. Yes. The outer shape of the scanner holder M6001 is substantially the same as that of the recording head H1001, and it can be attached to and detached from the carriage M4001 by the same operation as that of the recording head cartridge H1000.

  The scanner holder M6001 is provided with a substrate having a reading processing circuit stored therein, and a scanner contact PCB connected to the substrate is exposed to the outside. When the scanner M6000 is mounted on the carriage M4001, the scanner contact PCB M6004 comes into contact with the contact FPC E0011 on the carriage M4001 side, and the substrate is electrically connected to the control system on the main body side via the carriage M4001. It is like that.

[Configuration of electrical circuit]
Next, the electrical circuit configuration in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration example of an electrical circuit in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment.

  The electrical circuit of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is mainly configured by a carriage substrate (CRPCB) E0013, a main PCB (Printed Circuit Board) E0014, a power supply unit E0015, and the like.

  Here, the power supply unit E0015 is connected to the main PCB E0014 and supplies various driving powers.

  The carriage substrate E0013 is a printed circuit board unit mounted on the carriage M4001 (FIG. 2). The carriage substrate E0013 functions as an interface for exchanging signals with the recording head through the contact FPC E0011. In addition, the encoder sensor E0004 is moved along with the movement of the carriage M4001. Is detected from the encoder scale E0005 and the encoder sensor E0004, and the output signal is output to the main PCB E0014 through a flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E0012.

  The main PCB E0014 is a printed circuit board unit that controls driving of each part of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and includes a paper edge detection sensor (PE sensor) E0007, an ASF (automatic paper feeder) sensor E0009, a cover sensor E0022, and a parallel interface. (Parallel I / F) E0016, serial interface (serial I / F) E0017, resume key E0019, LED E0020, power key E0018, buzzer E0021, etc. have I / O ports on the board. Furthermore, a motor (CR motor) E0001 that is a drive source for main-scanning the carriage M4001, a motor (LF motor) E0002 that is a drive source for transporting the recording medium, the rotation operation of the recording head, and the recording medium In addition to being connected to a motor (PG motor) E0003 that is also used for paper feeding operation to control these driving, it has a connection interface with ink end sensor E0006, GAP sensor E0008, PG sensor E0010, CRFFC E0012, and power supply unit E0015. .

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main PCB E0014. In the figure, E1001 is a CPU, and the CPU E1001 has a clock generator (CG) E1002 connected to an oscillation circuit E1005 inside, and generates a system clock by its output signal E1019. Further, it is connected to the ROM E1004 and ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) E1006 through the control bus E1014, and controls the ASIC E1006, the input signal E1017 from the power key E0018, and the resume key E0019 according to the program stored in the ROM E1004. Ink connected to the built-in A / D converter E1003 by detecting the state of the input signal E1016, the cover detection signal E1042, and the head detection signal (HSENS) E1013, and further driving the buzzer E0021 by the buzzer signal (BUZ) E1018. While detecting the state of the end detection signal (INKS) E1011 and the temperature detection signal (TH) E1012 by the thermistor, other Performs seeds logic operations and makes conditional decisions to controls driving of the ink jet recording apparatus.

  Here, the head detection signal E1013 is a head mounting detection signal input from the recording head cartridge H1000 via the flexible flat cable E0012, the carriage substrate E0013, and the contact flexible print cable E0011, and the ink end detection signal E1011 is an ink ed sensor. An analog signal output from E0006 and a temperature detection signal E1012 are analog signals from a thermistor (not shown) provided on the carriage substrate E0013.

  E1008 is a CR motor driver, which uses a motor power source (VM) E1040 as a drive source, generates a CR motor drive signal E1037 in accordance with a CR motor control signal E1036 from the ASIC E1006, and drives the CR motor E0001. E1009 is an LF / PG motor driver, which uses a motor power source E1040 as a drive source, generates an LF motor drive signal E1035 according to a pulse motor control signal (PM control signal) E1033 from the ASIC E1006, and drives the LF motor thereby At the same time, a PG motor drive signal E1034 is generated to drive the PG motor E0002.

  E1010 is a power supply control circuit that controls power supply to each sensor having a light emitting element in accordance with a power supply control signal E1024 from the ASIC E1006. The parallel I / F E0016 transmits the parallel I / F signal E1030 from the ASIC E1006 to the parallel I / F cable E1031 connected to the outside, and transmits the signal of the parallel I / F cable E1031 to the ASIC E1006. The serial I / F E0017 transmits the serial I / F signal E1028 from the ASIC E1006 to the serial I / F cable E1029 connected to the outside, and transmits the signal from the cable E1029 to the ASIC E1006.

  On the other hand, a head power supply (VH) E1039, a motor power supply (VM) E1040, and a logic power supply (VDD) E1041 are supplied from the power supply unit E0015. Also, a head power ON signal (VHON) E1022 and a motor power ON signal (VMOM) E1023 from the ASIC E1006 are input to the power supply unit E0015, and control ON / OFF of the head power E1039 and the motor power E1040, respectively. The logic power supply (VDD) E1041 supplied from the power supply unit E0015 is voltage-converted as necessary, and then supplied to each part inside and outside the main PCB E0014.

  The head power signal E1039 is smoothed on the main PCB E0014 and then sent to the flexible flat cable E0011 to be used for driving the recording head cartridge H1000.

  E1007 is a reset circuit that detects a decrease in the logic power supply voltage E1041, supplies a reset signal (RESET) E1015 to the CPU E1001 and the ASIC E1006, and performs initialization.

  The ASIC E1006 is a one-chip semiconductor integrated circuit, and is controlled by the CPU E1001 through the control bus E1014. The above-described CR motor control signal E1036, PM control signal E1033, power supply control signal E1024, head power supply ON signal E1022, and motor power supply ON. In addition to outputting the signal E1023 and the like and exchanging signals with the parallel I / F E0016 and serial I / F E0017, the PE detection signal (PES) E1025 from the PE sensor E0007 and the ASF detection signal (ASFS from the ASF sensor E0009) ) E1026, GAP detection signal (GAPS) E1027 from the sensor (GAP) sensor E0008 for detecting the gap between the recording head and the recording medium, and PG detection signal (PGS) E1032 from the PG sensor E0010 Detects the state, and transmitted to the CPU E1001 through the control bus E1014 data representing the state, CPU E1001 based on the input data performs a flashing LEDE0020 controls the driving of an LED drive signal E1038.

  Further, the state of the encoder signal (ENC) E1020 is detected to generate a timing signal, and the head control signal E1021 is used to interface with the printhead cartridge H1000 to control the printing operation. Here, the encoder signal (ENC) E1020 is an output signal of the CR encoder sensor E0004 inputted through the flexible flat cable E0012. The head control signal E1021 is supplied to the recording head H1000 via the flexible flat cable E0012, the carriage substrate E0013, and the contact FPC E0011.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of ASIC E1006.
In the figure, the connection between each block shows only the flow of data related to the control of the head and each mechanism component, such as recording data and motor control data. Such control signals, clocks, and control signals related to DMA control are omitted in order to avoid complications described in the drawings.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral E2002 denotes a PLL controller. As shown in FIG. 9, a clock (CLK) E2031 and a PLL control signal (PLLON) E2033 output from the CPU E1001 are supplied to most of the ASIC E1006. (Not shown).

  Reference numeral E2001 denotes a CPU interface (CPU I / F). The reset signal E1015, a soft reset signal (PDWN) E2032 output from the CPU E1001, a clock signal (CLK) E2031, and a control signal from the control bus E1014 Controls register read / write for each block as described, supplies clocks to some blocks, accepts interrupt signals (not shown), and outputs an interrupt signal (INT) E2034 to the CPU E1001 Then, the occurrence of an interrupt in the ASIC E1006 is notified.

  Reference numeral E2005 denotes a DRAM having areas such as a reception buffer E2010, a work buffer E2011, a print buffer E2014, and a development data buffer E2016 as recording data buffers, and a motor control buffer E2023 for motor control. Furthermore, the buffer used in the scanner operation mode has areas such as a scanner take-in buffer E2024, a scanner data buffer E2026, and a send buffer E2028 that are used in place of the recording data buffers.

  The DRAM E2005 is also used as a work area necessary for the operation of the CPU E1001. That is, E2004 is a DRAM control unit, which switches between access from the CPU E1001 to the DRAM E2005 by the control bus and access from the DMA control unit E2003 to the DRAM E2005, which will be described later, and performs a read / write operation to the DRAM E2005.

  The DMA control unit E2003 receives a request (not shown) from each block, and in the case of a write operation, an address signal or a control signal (not shown), and write data E2038, E2041, E2044, E2053, E2055, E2057. Are output to the DRAM control unit E2004 to perform DRAM access. In the case of reading, read data E2040, E2043, E2045, E2051, E2054, E2056, E2058, and E2059 from the DRAM control unit E2004 are transferred to the request source block.

  E2006 is an IEEE 1284 I / F, which performs a bidirectional communication interface with an external host device (not shown) through a parallel I / F E0016 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001. Data received from the I / F E0016 (PIF reception data E2036) is transferred to the reception control unit E2008 by DMA processing, and data stored in the transmission buffer E2028 in the DRAM E2005 when reading the scanner (1284 transmission data (RDPIF) E2059) Is transmitted to the parallel I / F by DMA processing.

  E2007 is a universal serial bus (USB) I / F, and performs a bidirectional communication interface with an external host device (not shown) through the serial I / F E0017 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001. During recording, the reception data (USB reception data E2037) from the serial I / F E0017 is transferred to the reception control unit E2008 by DMA processing, and when stored in the scanner, data stored in the transmission buffer E2028 in the DRAM E2005 (USB transmission data (RDUSB)) E2058) is transmitted to the serial I / F E0017 by DMA processing. The reception control unit E2008 writes the reception data (WDIF) E2038) from the I / F selected from the 1284 I / F E2006 or USB I / F E2007 to the reception buffer write address managed by the reception buffer control unit E2039. Include.

  E2009 is a compression / decompression DMA controller, which receives received data (raster data) stored in the receiving buffer E2010 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001, and receives the received buffer read address managed by the received buffer control unit E2039. The data (RDWK) E2040 is compressed / expanded in accordance with the designated mode, and written in the work buffer area as a recording code string (WDWK) E2041.

  E2013 is a recording buffer transfer DMA controller, which reads the recording code (RDWP) E2043 on the work buffer E2011 under the control of the CPU E1007 via the CPU I / F E2001, and sets each recording code in the order of data transfer to the recording head cartridge H1000. The data are rearranged to an appropriate address on the print buffer E2014 and transferred (WDWP E2044). Reference numeral E2012 denotes a work clear DMA controller, which designates work fill data (WDWF) for an area on the work buffer that has been transferred by the recording buffer transfer DMA controller E2013 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001. E2042 is repeatedly written.

  E2015 is a recording data expansion DMA controller, and the recording written and rearranged on the print buffer is triggered by the data expansion timing signal E2050 from the head controller E2018 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001. The code and the development data written on the development data buffer E2016 are read out, and the development record data (RDHDG) E2045 is written into the column buffer E2017 as column buffer write data (WDHDG) E2047. Here, the column buffer E2017 is an SRAM that temporarily stores transfer data (development recording data) to the recording head cartridge H1000, and a handshake signal (not shown) between the recording data expansion DMA controller E2015 and the head control unit E2018. ) Is shared and managed by both blocks.

  E2018 is a head control unit that controls the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001 to interface with the printhead cartridge H1000 or the scanner via a head control signal, and also a head drive timing signal from the encoder signal processing unit E2019. Based on E2049, a data expansion timing signal E2050 is output to the recording data expansion DMA controller.

  During recording, the developed recording data (RDHD) E2048 is read from the column buffer in accordance with the head drive timing signal E2049, and the data is output to the recording head cartridge H1000 as the head control signal E1021.

  In the scanner reading mode, the take-in data (WDHD) E2053 input as the head control signal E1021 is DMA-transferred to the scanner take-in buffer E2024 on the DRAM E2005. Reference numeral E2025 denotes a scanner data processing DMA controller. Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001, the acquisition buffer read data (RDAV) E2054 stored in the scanner acquisition buffer E2024 is read and subjected to processing such as averaging. The processed data (WDAV) E2055 is written into the scanner data buffer E2026 on the DRAM E2005.

  E2027 is a scanner data compression DMA controller. Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001, the processed data (RDYC) E2056 on the scanner data buffer E2026 is read and compressed, and compressed data (WDYC) E2057 is read. Write and transfer to the send buffer E2028.

  An encoder signal processing unit E2019 receives an encoder signal (ENC) and outputs a head drive timing signal E2049 according to a mode determined by the control of the CPU E1001, and also the position and speed of the carriage M4001 obtained from the encoder signal E1020. Is stored in a register and provided to the CPU E1001. Based on this information, the CPU E1001 determines various parameters in the control of the CR motor E0001. Reference numeral E2020 denotes a CR motor control unit which outputs a CR motor control signal E1036 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001.

  E2022 is a sensor signal processing unit that receives detection signals E1033, E1025, E1026, and E1027 output from the PG sensor E0010, PE sensor E0007, ASF sensor E0009, and GAP sensor E0008, and is determined by the control of the CPU E1001. In addition to transmitting the sensor information to the CPU E1001 according to the selected mode, it outputs a sensor detection signal E2052 to the DMA controller E2021 for LF / PG motor control.

  The LF / PG motor control DMA controller E2021 reads a pulse motor drive table (RDPM) E2051 from the motor control buffer E2023 on the DRAM E2005 and outputs a pulse motor control signal E1033 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001. In addition to outputting, depending on the operation mode, a pulse motor control signal E1033 is output using the sensor detection signal as a control trigger.

  E2030 is an LED control unit that outputs an LED drive signal E1038 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001. Further, E2029 is a port control unit that outputs a head power ON signal E1022, a motor power ON signal E1023, and a power control signal E1024 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001.

[Recorder operation]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above.
When the apparatus main body M1000 is connected to the AC power source, first, in step S1, a first initialization process of the apparatus is performed. In this initialization process, an electrical circuit system such as a ROM and a RAM is checked to confirm whether the recording apparatus can operate normally.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the power key E0018 provided on the upper case M1002 of the apparatus main body M1000 is turned on. If the power key E0018 is not pressed, monitoring is continued until the power key E0018 is pressed. .

  When the power key E0018 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S3, where a second initialization process is performed. In the second initialization process, various drive mechanisms and print heads of the printing apparatus are checked. That is, when initializing various motors and reading head information, it is confirmed whether the apparatus can operate normally.

  In step S4, an event is waited for. That is, the recording device of this embodiment is monitored for command events from the external I / F, panel key events by user operations, internal control events, and the like, and processing corresponding to the events when these events occur. Execute.

  For example, when a recording command event is received from the external I / F in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5, and when a power key event is generated by a user operation, the process proceeds to step S10. If this occurs, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S5, the recording command from the external I / F is analyzed to determine the type of the specified recording medium, the size of the recording medium, the recording quality, the paper feeding method, and the like, and data representing the determination result is stored in the recording apparatus. Stored in the RAM E2005, and the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S6, paper feeding is started by the paper feeding method specified in step S5, the recording medium is sent to the recording start position, and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, a recording operation is performed. Here, the recording data sent from the external I / F is temporarily stored in the recording buffer, and then the CR motor E0001 is driven to start the movement of the carriage M4001 in the main scanning direction and is stored in the print buffer E2014. The supplied recording data is supplied to the recording head H1001, recording for one line is performed, and when the recording operation for the recording data for one line is completed, the LF motor E0002 is driven and the LF roller M3001 is rotated to record the recording medium. Are sent in the sub-scanning direction. Thereafter, the above operation is repeatedly executed, and when the recording of one page of recording data from the external I / F is completed, the process proceeds to step 8.

  In step S8, the LF motor E0002 is driven, the paper discharge roller M2003 is driven, and paper feeding is repeated until it is determined that the paper has been completely fed from the recording apparatus. When the recording is completed, the recording medium is completely discharged onto the discharge tray M1004a.

  In step S9, it is determined whether or not the recording operation for all the pages to be recorded has been completed. If pages to be recorded remain, the process returns to step S5, and then the above steps S5 to S9 are performed. Repeat the operation. When the recording operation for all the pages to be recorded is completed, the recording operation is terminated at this point, and the process proceeds to step S4 to wait for the next event.

  On the other hand, in step S10, a printer termination process is performed to stop the operation of the recording apparatus. That is, in order to cut off the power of various motors and heads, the power is turned off, and then the power is turned off and the process proceeds to step S4 to wait for the next event.

  In step S11, event processing other than the above is performed. For example, processing corresponding to a recovery command from various panel keys or an external I / F or a recovery event that occurs internally is performed. After the process is completed, the process proceeds to step S4 and waits for the next event.

  The process described with reference to FIG. 10 includes a process related to “marginless recording” in each embodiment of the present invention to be described later. Specifically, it will be described as processing relating to the recording operation after step S5 according to the event determination in step S4, or processing relating to other events after step S11. The processing shown in FIG. 10 is executed by the control circuit described with reference to FIGS. However, the processing of “marginless recording” shown in FIG. 10 or the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a form, and may be executed by a host device such as a host computer, or may be recorded with the host device. In the recording system having the apparatus, the host apparatus and the recording apparatus may partially execute each other.

[Recording area]
FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration and operation of the recording unit and the conveyance unit when “marginless recording” is performed by the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. In the figure, the recording medium 1703 is conveyed from right to left. A conveying roller M3001 and a pinch roller M3002 are provided on the upstream side of the platen 1701 with respect to the conveying direction, and the recording medium 1703 is sandwiched between the roller pair constituted by the two rollers with an appropriate pressure. However, it is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller M3001. On the other hand, a discharge roller M2003 and a spur M2004 that generate a conveyance force of the recording medium 1303 are provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, similarly to the roller pair.

  During recording, recording is performed by the recording head H1001 in the state of being held by these two roller pairs in most areas of the recording medium 1703. In this case, the conveyance and the recording position accompanying the conveyance are ensured with a certain level of accuracy. However, when recording the leading end portion of the recording medium 1703 or the trailing end portion as shown in FIG. 11, the recording medium 1703 is supported by only one of the pair of rollers. The accuracy of the recording position accompanying the conveyance is also lowered. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when recording is performed with only one roller pair being supported, the number of recording elements that are actually ejected is limited, or the conveyance amount of the recording medium 1703 is reduced. The method is taken. By doing so, it is possible to make it difficult for the decrease in the conveyance accuracy of the front and rear end regions to appear in the recorded image as much as possible.

  An ink absorber 1709 for absorbing ink ejected from the end of the recording medium 1703 is provided inside the notch provided in the platen 1701.

  FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing in detail the positional relationship between the platen 1701, the ribs 1702 provided on the platen 1701, and the ink absorber 1709 provided below the platen 1701. In particular, FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a recording state of a left end portion of a medium 1703. Note that FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ in FIG.

  In FIG. 12, the recording medium is conveyed from the back to the front of FIG. 12A and from the top to the bottom of FIG. 12B, and the recording head H1001 is scanned in the left and right directions in FIG. The absorber 1709 arranged in the notch portion of the platen 1701 extends at least the width of the recording medium 1703 in the scanning direction of the recording head H1001. Then, when recording is performed on the front end portion and the rear end portion of the recording medium 1703, the ink ejected outside the end portion of the recording medium 1703 can be absorbed in an area extending across the width of the recording medium.

  Further, in the area located at the left and right ends of the recording medium 1703 in the recording area and adjacent to the rib 1702, the notch made in the platen 1701 is larger than the central part, and the width of the ink absorber 1709 (conveyance) (Length in the direction) is partially widened. When the left and right end portions of the recording medium 1703 are recorded, the wide portion of the ink absorber 1709 captures the ink that protrudes from the end portion and is ejected. Note that the width of the ink absorber in this portion is larger than the width of the ejection port array of each color in the recording head H1001. With this configuration, when recording the left and right ends of the recording medium, it is possible to reliably capture the ejected ink droplets even when recording is performed using all the ejection openings.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the ink absorber 1709 is disposed such that its upper surface is located at a position lower than the surface of the platen 1701. This is to prevent the recording medium 1703 from touching the ink absorber 1709 even if it touches the upper surface of the platen 1701. In the present embodiment, the position is lowered by about 1 mm.

  By the way, in the case of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment that can handle recording media of a plurality of sizes, the right end is fixed at the same position for all sizes, but the left end is on the platen 1701 according to the width of the recording medium 1703. The position of is different. Therefore, in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, a portion where the width of the ink absorber is set wide as described above is provided at a plurality of locations according to the size of the corresponding recording medium. In FIG. 12, the left end portions of recording media 1703a (2L size), 1703b (postcard size) and 1703c (L size) having different sizes are shown as recorded portions. Each left end is supported by a rib 1702b.

  A plurality of the ribs 1702 of this embodiment are arranged on the platen 1701 at predetermined positions, but can be divided into two ribs 1702a and 1702b from the height. The rib 1702a has a height from the platen surface and supports a portion other than the end of the recording medium 1703. The rib 1702b that supports the end of the recording medium 1703 has a height b and is set higher than the rib 1702a. In this way, by providing a slight difference in height depending on the position to be supported, the recording medium to be conveyed is slightly lifted at the end and slightly distorted into a concave shape as a whole. Such a posture is considered to be useful for more stable conveyance.

  However, as described above, the higher ribs 1702b are provided at positions corresponding to the end portions of the recording media of a plurality of sizes. As a result, the high ribs 1702b and the low ribs 1702a are irregularly mixed. Yes. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 12A, the difference in size between the L-size recording medium 1703a and the postcard-size recording medium 1703b is not so large, and the left end portions of both are also located close to each other. Therefore, the rib 1702b that supports the left end portion of the L-size recording medium 1703a and the rib 1702b that supports the left end portion of the postcard-size recording medium 1703b are positioned adjacent to each other among the plurality of ribs 1702. On the other hand, the 2L size recording medium 1703a, which is the second largest after the postcard size, has a relatively large difference from the postcard size, and some low ribs 1702a are arranged between the left end portions of both. For example, if the size of the next largest recording medium after the 2L plate size is A4 size, the A4 size recording medium is also provided on the left side of the rib 1702a that supports the left end of the 2L plate size recording medium 1703a as shown in the figure. Further, several ribs 1702a for supporting the left side are arranged, and the rib 1702b for finally supporting the left end portion of the A4 size is the leftmost rib.

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are views for explaining a state in which a portion where mist adhesion is remarkable and a portion where the degree of mist attachment is light are generated according to the arrangement of the ribs described above. These drawings show a recording state similar to the scanning of the recording head in the “marginless recording” already described with reference to FIG. 17, and the types and arrangement of the ribs 1702 are specific to the present embodiment. Yes.

  FIG. 13A shows a state in which “marginless recording” is performed on the left end of the L-size recording medium 1703c described in FIG. As described above, the rib 1702b that supports the left end of the postcard-size recording medium 1703b is provided adjacent to the left side of the rib 1702b that supports the left end of the recording medium 1703c. It is close to the target. Therefore, when recording is performed with the carriage 1704 protruding from the left end of the L-size recording medium 1703c, the area surrounded by the two ribs 1702b, the bottom surface of the carriage 1704, and the ink absorber 1709 is relatively narrow. It becomes a closed space. As already described with reference to FIG. 17, when such a substantially closed space exists, mist particularly adheres to the top of the left rib 1702b.

  Specific numerical conditions in this embodiment are disclosed here. In the present embodiment, the flight distance (hereinafter referred to as the inter-paper distance) from the ejection port surface from which the ink I is ejected to the recording medium 1703c is 1.4 mm. The height of the higher rib 1702b from the surface of the platen 1701 is 2.0 mm, and the distance from the surface of the platen 1701 to the ink absorber is 1.0 mm. Therefore, the flying distance from the ejection port surface to the ink absorber 1709 is 4.4 mm, which is about three times the above-mentioned inter-paper distance. Furthermore, as already described, the amount of ink droplets ejected by the recording head 1705 applied in this embodiment is as small as about 2 pl. The above conditions are sufficient to generate a large amount of mist when “borderless recording” is performed on the recording medium 1703c.

  FIG. 13B shows a state in which “marginless recording” is performed on the left end of the 2L size recording medium 1703a described in FIG. As described above, on the left side of the rib 1702b that supports the left end of the recording medium 1703a, the low rib 1702a is disposed at a relatively distant position. Therefore, even when the bottom surface of the carriage 1705 exists above the space sandwiched between these two ribs, the left side of the region P where mist is generated has a relatively large space, and the left rib 1702a is connected to the left rib 1702a. Mist adhesion is considerably reduced.

  Note that the mist problem described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 13 does not basically occur on the right end side of the recording medium 1703 in this embodiment. As described above, since the right end side is the reference position for transporting the recording medium, all the ends of the recording medium of any size are at the same position. Therefore, there is nothing corresponding to the rib 1702b on the right side of the reference position that is the right end, and there is only a wall that is the end of the platen member instead, and the mist adhering to this wall becomes dirty on the paper again. Is not transferred.

  As described above, based on the state of mist adhesion in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the present inventors have found that the size of the substantially closed space formed by the arrangement conditions of the ribs 1702 is large for the mist adhesion. Focused on the involvement. Then, from the study of "how to release mist from a closed space", we came up with some examples that can achieve each effect.

  FIG. 14 shows a configuration example of the rib in the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a cross section in the vicinity of the region P when ejection is performed outside the end of the recording medium 1703. . In FIG. 14, reference numeral 1401 denotes a cross section of the platen 1701, and 1409 denotes a cross section of the ink absorber 1709. Reference numeral 1402 denotes a rib applied in the present embodiment, and a portion A is a gap as a space portion of the rib 1402. The ribs arranged on the platen are meaningful in that the apexes are in contact with the recording medium, and the shape of the portion other than the apexes is not limited with respect to the conveyance of the recording medium. Therefore, in this embodiment, this portion is provided with a gap A for preventing the mist from being blocked.

  When “marginless recording” is performed, out of the ejected ink droplets I in the region P, fine ink droplets (satellite) other than the main ink droplets do not reach the ink absorber due to air resistance and scatter as mist. I have already said that. It has also been described that this mist F contaminates ribs on the side surfaces of the space by being confined in the closed space for a relatively long time by the stop operation for reversing the carriage 1704. However, in the present embodiment, a mistake and F occurring in the space of the region P can flow out of the region P through the gap A to the outside. Therefore, the mist F does not adhere to the top of the rib 1402 as indicated by 1713 in FIG. 17 and does not contaminate the recording medium to be conveyed next.

FIG. 15 shows a structural example of the rib in the second embodiment of the present invention in the same manner as FIG.
In the drawing, the rib 1502 applied in the present embodiment has a gap A in the same manner as in the first embodiment, so that the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Yes. However, the rib 1502 of this embodiment is not formed by integral molding with the platen 1401 as in the first embodiment, but is formed by a separate member.

  Thus, the rib 1502 for forming the gap A characterizing the present invention does not necessarily have to be integrally formed with the platen. The material is not particularly limited, and there is no problem as long as it is convenient for forming the gap A. However, it can be said that a material that is not charged by friction with the recording medium passing therethrough is desirable.

FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of the rib and the ink absorber in the third example of the present invention in the same manner as in the above embodiment.
The feature of the present embodiment is not that the shape of the rib 1602 is characterized as in the above-described embodiment, but the portion of the ink absorber 1609 located under the rib 1602 is recessed to thereby form a gap. A is being generated.

  Thus, by forming the gap A in the ink absorber 1609 in the substantially closed space, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above-described embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is possible to effectively exert the effect both in the case where the recording scanning by the recording head is performed in both directions and in the case where the recording scanning is performed in one direction.

  In the above description, since the right end portion of the recording medium is the reference position, the description has been made mainly on the left end portion on the assumption that no mist problem occurs. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. Depending on the setting position of the recording medium and the relationship between the platen and the rib, a mist problem may occur at both the left and right ends. In such a case, the control method at the left end described above may be applied to the right end to obtain the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, in the above description, an inkjet recording head having a configuration that causes film boiling in a liquid using thermal energy generated by an electrothermal transducer is applied as a configuration capable of ejecting a small amount of ink with high density. Although described, this configuration is not intended to limit the present invention. Regardless of the method by which ink is ejected, it can be said that the configuration of the present invention is effective when the mist is generated by the ink that the recording head attempts to record on the recording medium, causing the problem of contamination.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the recording system has been described as a recording system in which a recording device is connected to the host computer. However, the recording system applicable to the present invention is not limited to the host computer, for example, recording to an interface device or a reader. The apparatus may be connected to the apparatus, or may be an apparatus including a single device (for example, a copying machine or a facsimile machine) including the above-described system.

  The present invention is used in an ink jet recording apparatus, particularly an ink jet recording apparatus that performs so-called “borderless recording” in which recording is performed without providing a margin on a recording medium.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the ink mist generated when recording the end region of the recording medium is released through the space formed in the lower part of the rib, so that it adheres to the rib. Contamination is suppressed, and further, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being contaminated by the attached mist.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus applicable to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the exterior member of the recording device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a recording head cartridge used in a recording apparatus applicable to the present invention is assembled. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the recording head cartridge shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the recording head shown in FIG. 4 as viewed obliquely from below. (A) And (b) is a perspective view shown upside down to show the configuration of a scanner cartridge that can be mounted on a recording apparatus applicable to the present invention instead of the recording head cartridge of FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an electrical circuit in a recording apparatus applicable to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a main PCB in the electric circuit illustrated in FIG. 7. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of ASIC among the main PCB shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a recording apparatus applicable to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration and operation of a recording unit and a conveyance unit when performing “marginless recording” with the recording apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. (a) And (b) is the figure which showed in detail the positional relationship of a platen, the rib provided on the platen, and the ink absorber provided in the platen lower part. (a) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the part with remarkable adhesion | attachment of mist and the part with a light degree of mist adhesion arise according to arrangement | positioning of a rib. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the rib in 1st Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the rib in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the rib and ink absorber in the 3rd Example of this invention. (A) And (b) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating concretely the problem of the mist generate | occur | produced in the area | region where discharge is performed out of the edge part of a recording medium.

Explanation of symbols

M1000 device main body M1001 lower case M1002 upper case M1003 access cover M1004 discharge tray M2003 paper discharge roller M2004 spur M3001 transport roller M3002 pinch roller M3019 chassis M3022 automatic feeding unit M3029 transport unit M3030 discharge unit M4001 carriage M4001 carriage carriage M4001 Carriage shaft M5000 Recovery unit M6000 Scanner M6001 Scanner holder M6003 Scanner cover M6004 Scanner contact PCB
M6005 Scanner illumination unit lens M6006 Scanner reading unit lens E0001 Carriage motor E0002 LF motor E0003 PG motor E0004 Encoder sensor E0005 Encoder scale E0006 Ink end sensor E0007 PE sensor E0008 GAP sensor (inter-paper sensor)
E0009 ASF sensor E0010 PG sensor E0011 Contact FPC (flexible printed cable)
E0012 CRFFC (flexible flat cable)
E0013 Carriage board E0014 Main PCB
E0015 Power supply unit E0016 Parallel I / F
E0017 Serial I / F
E0018 Power key E0019 Resume key E0020 LED
E0021 Buzzer E0022 Cover sensor E1001 CPU
E1002 OSC (CPU built-in oscillator)
E1003 A / D (A / D converter with built-in CPU)
E1004 ROM
E1005 Oscillator E1006 ASIC
E1007 Reset circuit E1008 CR motor driver E1009 LF / PG motor driver E1010 Power supply control circuit E1011 INKS (ink end detection signal)
E1012 TH (Thermistor temperature detection signal)
E1013 HSENS (Head detection signal)
E1014 Control bus E1015 RESET (Reset signal)
E1016 RESUME (resume key input)
E1017 POWER (Power key input)
E1018 BUZ (Buzzer signal)
E1019 Oscillator circuit output signal E1020 ENC (encoder signal)
E1021 Head control signal E1022 VHON (Head power ON signal)
E1023 VMON (motor power ON signal)
E1024 Power control signal E1025 PES (PE detection signal)
E1026 ASFS (ASF detection signal)
E1027 GAPS (GAP detection signal)
E1028 Serial I / F signal E1029 Serial I / F cable E1030 Parallel I / F signal E1031 Parallel I / F cable E1032 PGS (PG detection signal)
E1033 PM control signal (pulse motor control signal)
E1034 PG motor drive signal E1035 LF motor drive signal E1036 CR motor drive signal E1037 CR motor drive signal E1038 LED drive signal E1039 VH (head power supply)
E1040 VM (motor power supply)
E1041 VDD (logic power supply)
E1042 COVS (Cover detection signal)
E2001 CPU I / F
E2002 PLL
E2003 DMA controller E2004 DRAM controller E2005 DRAM
E2006 1284 I / F
E2007 USB I / F
E2008 Reception control unit E2009 Compression / decompression DMA
E2010 Receive buffer E2011 Work buffer E2012 Work area DMA
E2013 Recording buffer transfer DMA
E2014 Print buffer E2015 Print data expansion DMA
E2016 Development data buffer E2017 Column buffer E2018 Head control unit E2019 Encoder signal processing unit E2020 CR motor control unit E2021 LF / PG motor control unit E2022 Sensor signal processing unit E2023 Motor control buffer E2024 Scanner capture buffer E2025 Scanner data processing DMA
E2026 Scanner data buffer E2027 Scanner data compression DMA
E2028 Sending buffer E2029 Port controller E2030 LED controller E2031 CLK (clock signal)
E2032 PDWM (software control signal)
E2033 PLLON (PLL control signal)
E2034 INT (interrupt signal)
E2036 PIF received data E2037 USB received data E2038 WDIF (received data / raster data)
E2039 Reception buffer controller E2040 RDWK (Reception buffer read data / raster data)
E2041 WDWK (work buffer write data / record code)
E2042 WDWF (Workfill data)
E2043 RDWP (work buffer read data / record code)
E2044 WDWP (Sort recording code)
E2045 RDHDG (data for recording development)
E2047 WDHDG (column buffer write data / development record data)
E2048 RDHD (column buffer read data / development record data)
E2049 Head drive timing signal E2050 Data development timing signal E2051 RDPM (pulse motor drive table read data)
E2052 Sensor detection signal E2053 WDHD (capture data)
E2054 RDAV (acquisition buffer read data)
E2055 WDAV (data buffer write data / processed data)
E2056 RDYC (data buffer read data / processed data)
E2057 WDYC (send buffer write data / compressed data)
E2058 RDUSB (USB transmission data / compressed data)
E2059 RDPIF (1284 transmission data)
H1000 recording head cartridge H1001 recording head H1100 recording element substrate H1100T discharge port H1200 first plate H1201 ink supply port H1300 electric wiring substrate H1301 external signal input terminal H1400 second plate H1500 tank holder H1501 ink flow path H1600 flow path forming member H1700 Filter H1800 Seal rubber H1900 Ink tank 1401 Platen cross section 1402 Rib 1409 Ink absorber cross section 1502 Rib 1602 Rib 1701 Platen 1702a Height a rib 1702b Height b rib 1703 Recording medium 1703a 2L size recording medium 1703b Postcard size recording medium 1703b Recording medium 1703c L-size recording medium 1704 Carriage 1705 Recording head 1 706 Discharge port array 1708 Recording medium end 1709 Ink absorber

Claims (5)

In order to perform recording with no margin at the end of the recording medium in a direction in which the recording head scans, using a recording head that performs recording on the recording medium by moving and scanning while discharging ink, at least the recording medium In an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges ink to an end portion and an area outside the end portion,
The recording head has a plurality of support members that are arranged with a space in the scanning direction to support the recording medium being recorded from the opposite side of the recording head, and at least some of the plurality of support members A space is provided on the opposite side of the portion that supports the recording medium, and the space between the support member adjacent to the at least some of the support members is continuous through the space. An ink jet recording apparatus.   The plurality of support members are provided on the opposite side of the portion that supports the recording medium and extending in parallel with the recording scanning direction of the recording head, and the end portions of the recording medium and regions outside the end portions The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an ink absorbing member for absorbing ink ejected from the recording head.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape of at least a part of the support member is determined so as to form the space portion.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least part of the plurality of support members is formed as a member independent of a platen integrally including the remaining support members.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a shape of the ink absorbing member is determined so as to form the space portion.

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