JP2005280205A - Recorder and liquid ejector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a platen from being so deformed that a distance to a recording head becomes uneven over a main scanning direction at the time of fitting the platen at a side frame. <P>SOLUTION: The recorder is constituted by fitting an end part of the platen which regulates a distance between a printing paper and the recording head, at a side frame left 68a. A fitting means to the side frame left 68a of the platen is equipped with a tongue piece part 65g formed in a window hole 65f at the platen 65; positioning parts 68b and 68d for supporting the platen 65 thereby regulating the distance to the recording head 100; and a side frame side fixing part 68b which has a predetermined interval to the platen 65 in a state with the platen 65 supported by the positioning parts 68b and 68d, and is joined to the tongue piece part 65g. A base end 65h of the tongue piece part 65g is disposed not at a recording region outside at the platen 65, but at a recording region inside, namely, at a high-rigidity side, so that a deformation amount of the platen 65 is suppressed to a minimum. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus typified by a fax machine, a printer, and the like, and in particular, a recording head for recording on a recording medium, and a shape having a surface facing the recording head and extending in the main scanning direction. And a platen that defines the distance between the recording head and the recording medium by supporting the recording medium, and a side frame that is disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the platen and supports the platen. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus. The present invention also relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus.
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus uses an ink jet recording head, and is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine that discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. And a device that ejects a liquid corresponding to the application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head to an ejected medium corresponding to a recording medium, and adheres the liquid to the ejected medium. .
In addition to the recording head, as a liquid ejecting head, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED) Examples thereof include an ejection head, a bioorganic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and a sample ejection head as a precision pipette.

  Hereinafter, an ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus will be described as an example. The ink jet printer includes a recording head that ejects ink droplets on a printing sheet as an example of a recording medium, in a carriage that is reciprocated in the main scanning direction. The printing paper is supported by a platen provided to face the recording head, and the platen defines an interval (paper gap: hereinafter referred to as “PG”) from the recording head. And this platen is attached to the side frame which comprises the base | substrate of an apparatus like the sheet | seat guide frame described in patent document 1, for example.

JP 2001-180061 A

By the way, since the platen regulates the distance between the printing paper and the recording head, when the platen is attached to the side frame, the distance from the recording head is required to be uniform in the main scanning direction.
However, for example, when the platen is attached to the side frame with screws, it tends to be in a state where stress is applied to the platen, and as a result, the platen is deformed and the PG is moved in the main scanning direction. May not be uniform.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that when the platen is attached to the side frame, the platen has a non-uniform distance from the recording head in the main scanning direction. It is to prevent deformation.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium, and has a shape that has a surface facing the recording head and that extends in the main scanning direction. A recording apparatus comprising: a platen that defines a distance between the recording head and a recording medium by supporting a medium; and a side frame that is disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the platen and supports the platen. The means for attaching the platen to the side frame has a base end and a free end inside a window hole formed in a surface facing the recording head in the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the platen. A tongue piece formed so that the base end is inside the recording area of the recording head and the free end is outside the recording area; and the platen in the platen A positioning part formed on the side frame that defines the distance between the platen and the recording head by supporting the vicinity of the hole, and is outside the recording area with respect to the positioning part in the main scanning direction, In the direction intersecting the surface of the platen facing the recording head, the positioning portion is formed on the side frame so as to have a predetermined distance from the platen while supporting the platen, and the tongue A side frame-side fixing portion that is joined by a piece and joining means is provided.

  According to the above aspect, the platen that defines the distance between the recording medium and the recording head is formed with the window hole and the tongue piece is formed in the window hole, while the side frame that supports the platen has the platen and A positioning part that defines a distance from the recording head and a side frame side fixing part that is joined to the tongue piece part are formed, and the tongue piece part and the side frame side fixing part are joined by a joining means. Thus, the platen can be attached to the side frame. Here, when the platen is attached to the side frame, in order to prevent the platen from being lifted from the positioning part that supports the platen and to appropriately define the distance between the recording head and the platen, the side frame side fixing part is In the state where the positioning portion supports the platen, it is formed so as to have a predetermined distance from the platen. That is, when the tongue piece portion and the side frame side fixing portion are joined, the positioning portion and the platen are brought into a pressure contact state.

  On the other hand, since the tongue piece is formed to have a base end and a free end in the window hole, the base end is deformed when joined to the side frame side fixing portion. Thus, stress is generated in the platen. Here, when the base end is disposed outside the recording area in the window hole, stress is generated at the extreme end in the longitudinal direction of the platen, that is, a large stress is applied to a portion where the restraint state is weak and easily deformed. As a result, the deformation of the platen increases and the variation of PG increases. However, according to the above aspect, since the base end of the tongue piece is disposed inside the recording area in the window hole, stress is generated on the side on which the platen has high rigidity (the side on which the restraint is strong). By doing so, deformation of the platen, that is, variation in PG can be minimized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a second window hole is formed in the vicinity of a base end of the tongue piece portion of the platen.
According to the above aspect, since the second window hole is formed in the vicinity of the base end of the tongue piece, it is possible to absorb the deformation of the base end, and thus effectively reduce the deformation of the platen. Can be made.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head for recording on a recording medium, a shape having a surface facing the recording head and extending in a main scanning direction, and supporting the recording medium by supporting the recording medium. A recording apparatus comprising: a platen that defines a distance between a head and a recording medium; and a side frame that is disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the platen and supports the platen, wherein the platen is attached to the side frame. The attachment means supports a tongue piece formed inside a window hole formed in a surface facing the recording head in the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the platen, and the vicinity of the window hole in the platen. A positioning part formed on the side frame for defining a distance between the platen and the recording head, and the positioning part supporting the platen The side plate is formed on the side frame so as to have a predetermined distance from the platen in a direction intersecting the surface of the platen facing the recording head, and is joined to the tongue piece by a joining means. And a maximum bending stress generated in the platen when the platen side fixing part and the tongue piece part are joined by the joining means, and the platen is sub-scanned. It is characterized by the fact that the stress is curved in the direction.

  The platen is long in the main scanning direction, and when a bending stress is generated in the main scanning direction, the deformation amount in the main scanning direction, that is, the variation in PG between the recording head and the recording medium increases. However, according to the above aspect, when the attachment means for attaching the platen to the side frame is the maximum bending stress generated in the platen when the tongue piece portion and the side frame side fixing portion are joined by the joining means, Since the platen is configured to have a stress that causes the platen to bend in the sub-scanning direction, variations in PG can be suppressed to a minimum, and therefore deterioration in recording quality can be effectively prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, ribs extending in the sub-scanning direction are arranged at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction on the surface of the platen facing the recording head. It is characterized by having prepared.
According to the above aspect, since the ribs extending in the sub-scanning direction are provided at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction on the surface of the platen facing the recording head, the ribs are used to suppress deformation of the platen as much as possible. Even when the maximum stress is applied in the sub-scanning direction, the rib can counter the stress, and the deformation of the platen can be further suppressed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto the ejected medium, a surface that faces the liquid ejecting head, and a shape that extends in the main scanning direction to support the ejected medium. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a platen that defines a distance between the liquid ejecting head and a medium to be ejected; and side frames that are disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the platen and support the platen. The attachment means to the side frame has a base end and a free end inside a window hole formed in a surface facing the liquid jet head in the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the platen, and the base in the window hole A tongue portion formed such that an end is inside a liquid ejecting area of the liquid ejecting head and the free end is outside the liquid ejecting area; A positioning portion formed on the side frame for defining a distance between the platen and the liquid ejecting head by supporting the vicinity of the window hole in the liquid ejection area with respect to the positioning portion in the main scanning direction. In the direction intersecting the surface of the platen facing the liquid ejecting head, the side frame is formed on the side frame so as to have a predetermined distance from the platen when the positioning unit supports the platen. In addition, the tongue piece portion and the side frame side fixing portion joined by the joining means are provided.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described.
1. Schematic configuration of inkjet printer
2. Platen mounting structure
A description will be given in this order with reference to the drawings.
<1. General configuration of inkjet printer>
Hereinafter, a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 1 as an embodiment of a “recording apparatus” and a “liquid ejecting apparatus” according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the printer 1, FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the printer 1, and FIG.

  In FIG. 1, ink droplets as an example of “liquid” are ejected onto printing paper (mainly cut sheet paper: hereinafter referred to as “paper P”) as an example of “recording medium” and “ejection medium”. The printer 1 that performs recording is configured such that an apparatus main body 1a and an optional paper feeding unit (hereinafter referred to as "OPT unit") 3 can be connected to the apparatus main body 1a. The apparatus main body 1a has a paper feed section, a recording section, a paper discharge section, and the like (details will be described later). On the other hand, the OPT unit 3 supplies set sheets P one by one toward the upper apparatus main body 1a. A paper feed unit (not shown) for paper is provided.

  This printer 1 has a paper feed tray 200 in the apparatus main body 1a and a paper feed tray 300 in the OPT unit 3, and a large number of sheets P (500 sheets in this embodiment) are placed in both paper feed trays. It can be set in a stacked state. On the apparatus main body 1a side, a manual paper feed port 202 capable of manually feeding paper P of an arbitrary size is provided above the paper feed tray 200. Further, on the OPT unit 3 side, the paper feed tray 300 is provided so as to be detachable from the OPT unit 3, and the paper P can be set while being detached from the OPT unit 3.

  Next, the printer 1 has a face-down (hereinafter abbreviated as “Fd”) sheet discharge port 500 for discharging the recorded sheet P toward the front side of the apparatus at the upper part of the apparatus main body 1a. On the contrary, it has a face-up (hereinafter abbreviated as “Fu”) paper discharge port 600 for discharging toward the rear side of the apparatus. On the Fd paper discharge port 500 side, a cover 150 is provided that can be opened toward the front side of the apparatus by rotating about a rotation axis provided on the front side of the apparatus.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cover 150 is opened. In the opened state, the cover 150 functions as a paper discharge stacker that stacks the paper P discharged from the Fd paper discharge port 500. In the closed state, the external appearance of the upper part of the apparatus is configured and the function of preventing entry of dust and the like into the apparatus is achieved. Further, on the Fu paper discharge port 600 side, a paper discharge stacker 601 is provided in an inclined posture, and the paper P discharged from the Fu paper discharge port 600 is sequentially stacked on the paper discharge stacker 601 in an inclined posture. The

  Next, the paper transport path of the printer 1 will be outlined with reference to FIG. The printer 1 conveys the sheet P obliquely from the lower front side of the apparatus toward the upper rear side of the apparatus, performs ink jet recording on the sheet P on the inclined conveyance path, and obliquely upwards (forwards) the recorded sheet P. Side (Fd paper discharge port 500)) or rear side (Fu paper discharge port 600)). In addition, the printer 1 reverses the paper P on which ink-jet recording has been performed on the front surface and transports it to the recording unit with the back surface facing up in order to perform ink-jet recording on both the front and back surfaces of the paper P. It has a reversal path.

More specifically, the paper conveyance path of the printer 1 includes a paper feeding unit 2, a recording unit 11, a face-down (Fd) discharge unit 5, a face-up (Fu) discharge unit 6, and a paper reversing unit 4. Generally composed. Although not shown in FIG. 2, a paper feeding unit that feeds paper to the recording unit 11 is further added by mounting the above-described OPT unit 3 below the paper feeding unit 2. A roller 61 and a roller 62 in FIG. 2 are for feeding the paper P from the OPT unit 3 to the apparatus main body 1a.
Hereinafter, each configuration of the paper transport path will be described. In the following, the upstream side of the paper transport path is simply referred to as “upstream side”, and the downstream side of the paper transport path is simply referred to as “downstream side”.

[Paper Feed Unit 2]
The paper feed unit 2 includes a hopper 203, a manual feed tray 201, a pickup roller 25, a paper feed roller 21, and a reverse roller 23. The hopper 203 supports a plurality of sheets P set in the sheet feeding tray 200 (FIG. 1) in a stacked state, and swings about the rotation shaft 203a, thereby causing the sheets P to be picked up by the pickup roller 25. Press contact. The pickup roller 25 has an outer peripheral surface made of a high friction material (for example, a rubber material), and presses the paper P and rotates to feed the uppermost paper P to the paper feeding roller 21 and the reverse roller 23 on the downstream side. . Note that a manual feed tray 201 having an edge guide 201 a is provided above the hopper 203, and the paper P set on the manual feed tray 201 is also sent downstream by the pickup roller 25.

The paper feed roller 21 and the reverse roller 23 are formed of a high friction material on the outer peripheral surface, and the paper feed roller 21 is rotationally driven in a rotational direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2) for feeding the paper P downstream. On the other hand, the reverse roller 23 is rotationally driven in a rotational direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) that returns the paper P to the upstream side. The uppermost sheet P delivered from the hopper 203 by the pickup roller 25 is nipped between the sheet feeding roller 21 and the reverse roller 23, and the sheet feeding roller 21 rotates to cause the first drive on the downstream side. It is fed to the roller 28. The reverse roller 23 is provided so as to be able to switch between a state in which it is pressed against the paper feed roller 21 (the state shown in FIG. 2) and a state in which it is separated (not shown). It fulfills the function of separating the uppermost sheet P on the hopper 203 to be printed from the next and subsequent sheets P that are to be double fed. At this time, the reverse roller 23 rotates in a direction to return the paper P to the upstream side, thereby reliably ensuring that the next and subsequent paper P to be fed is fed at the nip point between the paper feed roller 21 and the reverse roller 23. stop. On the other hand, after the leading edge of the sheet P is nipped between the first driving roller 28 and the first driven roller 29, the conveying operation of the sheet P by the first driving roller 28 is not hindered, that is, a conveying load (back tension). ) Is separated from the paper feed roller 21.
In the following, for a roller pair that applies a conveyance force to the paper P, a conveyance load (mainly a force that tries to pull the paper P) applied to the paper P on the upstream side of the roller pair is referred to as “back tension”. Conversely, the conveyance load applied to the paper P on the downstream side (mainly, the force that pushes the paper P back from the downstream side to the upstream side) is referred to as “front tension”.

[Recording unit 11]
The recording unit 11 provided on the downstream side of the paper feeding unit 2 includes a first driving roller 28 and a first driven roller 29 (hereinafter, this roller pair is referred to as a “first roller pair” as necessary) and “liquid. An ink jet recording head (hereinafter referred to as “recording head”) 100 as an example of an “ejecting head”, a platen 65, a second driving roller 32 and a second driven roller 33 (hereinafter, this roller pair is referred to as a “second roller” as necessary. A roller pair), an auxiliary roller 35, a third drive roller 36, and a third driven roller 37 (hereinafter, this roller pair is referred to as a "third roller pair" if necessary). .

  The first drive roller 28 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), and the first driven roller 29 is in contact with the first drive roller 28 and driven to rotate. In the present embodiment, two first driven rollers 29 are supported on the downstream side (upper side in FIG. 3) of the driven roller holder 26 as shown in FIG. 3, and the driven roller holder 26 is in the main scanning direction (see FIG. 3). 4 in the horizontal direction of 3). Here, the rotation center of the first driven roller 29 is disposed downstream of the rotation center of the first drive roller 28 in the conveying direction, so that the tangent line at the nip point of both rollers is directed to the platen 65. Has been. Accordingly, the sheet P that has passed through the first roller pair is pressed against the platen 65 and is prevented from being lifted from the platen 65. A pressing member 82 that presses the paper P toward the platen 65 is provided in the vicinity of the downstream side of the first driven roller 29 in one driven roller holder 26. The pressing member 82 functions to prevent the sheet P from lifting from the platen 65, which will be described later.

  Next, on the downstream side of the first roller pair, the recording head 100 is provided on the upper side of the paper conveyance path, and the platen 65 is provided on the lower side of the paper conveyance path so as to face the recording head 100. Here, the sheet conveyance path in the recording unit 11 has an inclination angle as illustrated, and in the present embodiment, the sheet conveyance path is configured to have an inclination angle of about 60 ° with respect to the horizontal plane. . Accordingly, the platen 65 and the recording head 100 are provided in an inclined posture as illustrated. The recording head 100 is provided below the carriage 101, and the carriage 101 is provided so as to pass through a carriage guide shaft 103 extending in the main scanning direction (front and back direction in FIG. 2), and is guided by the carriage guide shaft 103. Receiving power from a driving means (not shown) reciprocates in the main scanning direction. The mounting structure of the platen 65 will be described in detail later.

In the platen 65, a platen surface (a surface facing the recording head 100 in the platen 65) 65c protrudes toward the recording head 100 and extends in the sub-scanning direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. Ribs 65a and second ribs 65b (hereinafter collectively referred to as “ribs” as appropriate) are formed at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction, and the sheet P has a distance from the recording head 100 by the ribs. Be regulated. The platen 65 is formed with a long hole 65e extending in the main scanning direction. The long hole 65e is provided to more appropriately detect the size (width dimension) of the paper P. That is, an optical sensor (not shown) that detects a reflection component of light emitted toward the platen 65 is provided on the surface of the carriage 101 that faces the platen 65, and the reflectance between the paper P and the platen 65 is provided. By using the difference, the width dimension of the paper P can be detected. However, when the paper P and the platen 65 are the same color, the width dimension of the paper P cannot be detected appropriately. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the radiated light is radiated toward the long hole 65e, thereby making it possible to detect the width dimension of the paper P more accurately.
Note that the rib is divided into the upstream side and the downstream side by the elongated hole 65e, so that the first rib 65a located near the downstream side of the first drive roller 28 and the downstream side of the first rib 65a are located. The second rib 65b constitutes a rib for supporting the paper P.

  Further, an auxiliary rib 66 extending in the sub-scanning direction is provided between the two adjacent ribs 65b and 65b. The height of the protrusion from the platen surface 65c is lower than that of the rib 65b. Therefore, between the two adjacent ribs 65b, 65b, the corrugated valley portion (cockling) valley formed on the paper P is supported by the auxiliary rib 66, and the degree of depression of the valley portion is small. Thus, the PG is made uniform to prevent the recording quality from being deteriorated, and the valley is not in contact with the platen surface 65c that is soiled by the scattering of the ink mist. Pollution can be prevented.

  Here, when the sheet P is lifted from the platen 65 in the recording unit 11, the recording quality deteriorates due to the sheet P rubbing against the recording head 100 or the distance from the recording head 100 (paper gap: PG). To do. In particular, in the present embodiment, the sheet reversing unit 4 is configured to be able to record the sheet P on the second surface by curving and reversing the sheet P recorded on the first surface. There is a case where the sheet P on which the recording is performed tends to be warped in a bowl shape so that the sheet P is convex with the first side facing up. In this case, when the second surface and the recording head 100 face each other, the side edge or the tip of the second surface is lifted from the platen 65, which may cause head rubbing or PG change. Therefore, in order to prevent the sheet P from being lifted from the platen 65, a pressing member 82 is provided. The pressing member 82 is provided so as to be swingable when viewed from the side of the paper transport path, and is configured to press the paper P toward the platen 65 by an urging means (not shown). Therefore, the undulating shape in the main scanning direction is formed by the pressing member 82 and the first rib 65a, and the side end portion is curved (curled) toward the platen surface 65c. This improves the apparent rigidity of the paper P, prevents head rubbing and PG changes, and prevents the recording quality from deteriorating.

  Next, the carriage 101 is not mounted with an ink cartridge in this embodiment, and the recording head from the ink cartridge 105 mounted on the ink cartridge mounting frame 110 via an ink tube not shown in FIG. The ink is supplied to 100. Each color ink cartridge 105 is mounted with an IC chip 107 that holds information about each ink cartridge. The IC chip 107 has a built-in storage device that stores fixed information such as ink color, as well as fluctuation information such as the remaining amount of ink. Each IC chip 107 is connected to a receiving antenna (not shown). On the other hand, a carriage 101 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction has a transmitting antenna (not shown) that transmits a radio signal to the receiving antenna. The antenna substrate 109 provided with () is erected substantially vertically.

  The antenna substrate 109 is opposed to the IC chip 107 of one ink cartridge 105 among a plurality of ink cartridges 105 arranged in the main scanning direction when the carriage 101 moves in the main scanning direction. To do. By communicating with the IC chip 107, various information stored in the IC chip 107 can be transmitted to a control unit of the printer 1 (not shown).

  Next, a second roller pair is provided on the downstream side of the recording head 100, and the paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording head 100 is conveyed downstream by the rotation of the second roller pair. Further, an auxiliary roller 35 is provided on the upstream side of the second roller pair, thereby further preventing the sheet P from being lifted from the platen 65. The second driven roller 33 and the auxiliary roller 35 are in contact with the recording surface of the paper P on which the ink droplets are discharged. It is composed of rollers.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the second roller pair is arranged such that the arrangement position in the main scanning direction coincides with the rib formation position. In addition, among the plurality of auxiliary rollers 35, the auxiliary roller indicated by the reference numeral 35 c is positioned so as to be approximately in the middle of two adjacent ribs and is in contact with the recording surface of the paper P. The contact point is provided so as to be located slightly below the top of the rib (that is, overlaps with the rib as viewed from the side of the sheet conveyance path). Therefore, when the paper P swells by absorbing ink droplets, the stretched portion escapes between two adjacent ribs, and as a result, a regular wavy state (cockling) is formed on the paper P. Is done. That is, a cock ring is formed which has a crest at the rib position and a trough at the auxiliary roller 35c, thereby making the distance between the paper P and the recording head 100 extremely uneven, or between the rib and the rib. Thus, the problem that the paper P is lifted and rubbed against the recording head 100 is prevented. In addition, the apparent rigidity in the transport direction is increased by the formation of the cock ring, and even if front tension is generated, the effect that the paper P does not easily lift (is difficult to bend) in the recording head 100 can be achieved. .

  Next, a third roller pair including a third drive roller 36 and a third driven roller 37 is provided downstream of the second roller pair. The third roller pair functions to assist the sheet conveying force exerted by the upstream second roller pair to reliably convey the recorded sheet P to the downstream side, and between the second roller pair. By forming a curved posture on the paper P, the paper P is smoothly bent and reversed.

[Face Down (Fd) Discharge Unit 5]
Next, the Fd discharge unit 5 provided on the downstream side of the recording unit 11 includes a bending roller 37, an Fd discharge drive roller 41, and an Fd discharge driven roller 43, and the recording of the paper P on which recording has been performed. By reversing the curve with the surface facing inward, the paper P is discharged with the recording surface down.
More specifically, on the downstream side of the third roller pair, the sheet P conveyed from the recording unit 11 by the third roller pair is switched to either the face-down (Fd) discharge path or the face-up (Fu) discharge path. An Fd / Fu switching member 503 is provided. The Fd discharge route is a paper discharge route for discharging the paper P from the Fd paper discharge port 500 (FIG. 1), and the Fu discharge route is a paper discharge route for discharging from the Fu paper discharge port 600 (FIG. 1).

  The Fd / Fu switching member 503 switches the traveling direction of the paper P sent from the recording unit 11 to the downstream side by swinging about the swing shaft 503a. The Fd / Fu switching member 503 is provided outside the curve reversal path in the Fd discharge path, and the sheet P is curved and reversed by the curved surface 503b.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the Fd / Fu switching member 503 switches the traveling direction of the paper P sent from the recording unit 11 to the downstream side to the Fd discharge path. The leading edge of the paper P sent from the recording unit 11 to the downstream side comes into contact with a smooth curved surface 503 b formed on the Fd / Fu switching member 503. The leading edge of the sheet P advances while contacting the curved surface 503b and the guide member 505 provided on the downstream side of the curved surface 503b, and is eventually nipped by the Fd discharge driving roller 41 and the Fd discharge driven roller 43, By rotation, the paper is discharged from the Fd paper discharge port 500 (FIG. 1) toward the front of the apparatus (the direction indicated by the arrow “Fd”).

  Note that the stack lever 509 is disposed near the side edge position of the paper P (in this embodiment, the side edge positions of the A4 size and B5 size) at the paper discharge port 500. The stack lever 509 is attached so as to be swingable about the rotation shaft 41 a of the Fd discharge driving roller 41, and functions to hold down the paper P discharged from the Fd paper discharge port 500 from above.

  When the paper P is discharged through the Fd discharge path, the paper P is bent into a substantially U shape with the recording surface inside and discharged. Accordingly, when the paper is discharged while proceeding through the Fd discharge path, the sheets P stacked on the paper discharge stacker 150 (FIG. 1) are stacked in order in the page order, which is convenient for the user. improves.

[Face-up (Fu) discharge unit 6]
The Fu discharge section 6 provided downstream of the recording section 11 and at the rear portion (right side in FIG. 2) of the apparatus main body 1a includes a Fu discharge drive roller 45, a Fu discharge driven roller 47, and a Fu auxiliary roller 49. I have. When the paper P is discharged through the Fu discharge path, the Fd / Fu switching member 503 swings clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2 (not shown). As a result, a sheet conveyance path is formed in which the sheet P sent from the recording unit 11 to the downstream side proceeds straight and obliquely upward, and the sheet P sent from the recording unit 11 to the downstream side is connected to the Fu discharge drive roller 45 and Fu. The paper is nipped by the discharge driven roller 47 and is discharged from the Fu paper discharge port 600 (see FIG. 1) toward the rear of the apparatus (in the direction indicated by the arrow “Fu”) by the rotation of the Fu discharge driving roller 45.

  When the sheet P is discharged through the Fu discharge path, the sheet P is not formed in a curved state, and is discharged substantially straight from the recording unit 11 with the recording surface up. Therefore, by using the above Fu discharge path, it is possible to record easily and appropriately discharge even thick paper and stiff paper.

[Paper Inversion Unit 4]
The sheet reversing unit 4 provided at the rear part (right side in FIG. 2) of the printer 1 includes a roller group constituting the Fu discharge driving roller 45 and the Fu discharge unit 6 such as the Fu discharge driven roller 47, and further includes a guide. A driving roller 51, a movable guide driven roller 52, a guide driving roller 53, a guide driven roller 54, a reverse driving roller 55, a reverse driven roller 57, and a guide roller 59 are provided.

  The sheet reversing unit 4 presses the rear end portion of the sheet P that has traveled through the Fu discharge path so as to be substantially along the vertical direction, and the Fu discharge drive roller 45 and the guide drive roller 51 are counterclockwise in the drawing. By rotationally driving, the paper P is drawn into the paper reversing unit 4 without being discharged from the Fu paper discharge port 600 (FIG. 1). Then, the rear end portion of the sheet is nipped by the guide driving roller 51 and the movable guide driven roller 52, the Fu discharge driving roller 45 is driven in the reverse direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2), and the guide driving roller 51 is driven in the normal direction. (Counterclockwise in FIG. 2), the paper P is transported vertically downward (direction indicated by R) with the trailing edge of the paper P as the head. Incidentally, the paper P traveling through the paper reversing unit 4 has a traveling direction opposite to that at the time of recording on the first recording surface (first surface: front surface). That is, the side that was the leading edge at the time of the first recording is the trailing edge side, and the side that was the trailing edge is the leading edge side. ”And the rear end side will be expressed as“ sheet P rear end (R) ”.

  On the downstream side of the guide drive roller 51, there are provided a guide drive roller 53 that is rotationally driven, and a guide driven roller 54 that is driven and rotated in contact with the guide drive roller 51. Is nipped by the roller pair, and further conveyed downstream. On the downstream side of the guide drive roller 53, a large-diameter guide roller 59 is provided, and a curved reversal path having a substantially U shape with the guide roller 59 at the center is formed. A reversal drive roller 55 that is rotationally driven is provided on the side facing the guide roller 59, and the front end of the sheet P (by the reversal drive roller 55 and the reversal driven roller 57 that rotates in contact with the reversal drive roller 55). When the sheet R is nipped, the sheet P further proceeds along the curve reversal path.

When the leading edge (R) of the sheet P passes through the curved reversal path formed by the guide roller 59 and is nipped between the first drive roller 28 and the first driven roller 29, the sheet P has a second surface (back surface). In the above state, it is conveyed again to the recording head 100, and recording on the second surface is executed.
The above is the outline of the overall configuration of the printer 1.

<2. Platen mounting structure>
Hereinafter, the mounting structure of the platen 65 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting state of the platen 65, FIG. 5A is a partially enlarged perspective view of the left side frame 68, FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged perspective view of the platen 65, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of the mounting means for the platen 65, FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the platen 65, and shows the amount of deformation of the platen 65.

As shown in FIG. 4, the platen 65 that has a shape extending in the main scanning direction and defines the distance between the recording head 100 and the paper P by supporting the paper P is disposed on both sides of the platen 65 in the main scanning direction. The side frame right 67 and the side frame left 68 are supported.
In the present embodiment, attachment means for minimizing deformation of the platen 65 is provided on the side frame left 68 side. Hereinafter, the attachment means will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the attachment means includes a base end 65 h and a base end 65 h in the inside of a window hole 65 f formed in a surface (platen surface 65 c) facing the recording head 100 in the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the platen 65. In addition to the free end 65k, the base end 65h of the window hole 65f is on the inner side (right side in FIGS. 5 and 6) of the recording area of the recording head 100, and the free end 65k is on the outer side of the recording area (FIGS. 5 and 6). In the left side frame 65, which defines the distance between the platen 65 and the recording head 100 by supporting the tongue piece portion 65 g formed on the left side) and the vicinity of the window hole 65 f in the platen 65. Positioning portions 68b and 68d and the positioning portions 68b and 68d in the main scanning direction are outside the recording area and in a direction intersecting the platen surface 65c. The positioning portions 68b and 68d are formed on the left side frame 68 so as to have a predetermined distance a (see FIG. 7) with the platen 65 in a state where the 65 platen is supported, and the tongue piece 65g and the joining means (this embodiment) Then, the side frame side fixing | fixed part 68a joined by the screw | thread) is provided and comprised.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), a side frame left 68 formed of a metal plate is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the frame surface and outward in the recording area in the main scanning direction. A side frame side fixing portion 68a is formed so as to form a tongue piece. In addition, a screw hole 68e through which the screw 70 shown in FIG. 4 is inserted is formed in the side frame side fixing portion 68a. Positioning portions 68b and 68d for supporting the vicinity of the window hole 65f of the platen 65 by the end surfaces of the metal plate material are formed on both sides of the side frame side fixing portion 68a in the sub-scanning direction, and the positioning portions 68b and 68d are A gap between the platen 65 and the recording head 100 is defined by supporting the platen 65 in contact with the back surface of the platen 65.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the side frame side fixing portion 68a is positioned so as to have a predetermined distance a from the platen 65 when the positioning portions 68b and 68d support the platen 65 (see FIG. 7 shows a state in which the side frame side fixing portion 68a and the tongue piece portion 65g are not joined by the screw 70, and the positioning portions 68b and 68d simply support the platen 65. This is because when the platen 65 is mounted on the left side frame 68 and the platen 65 is lifted from the positioning portions 68b and 68d, the distance (PG) between the platen 65 and the recording head 100 cannot be accurately defined. Therefore, as will be described in detail later, when the side frame side fixing portion 68a and the tongue piece portion 65g are joined by the screw 70, the base end 65h of the tongue piece portion 65g and its vicinity are elastically deformed, whereby the tongue piece The portion 65g is adjacent to and joined to the side frame side fixing portion 68a. As a result, the platen 65 and the positioning portions 65b and 68d come into pressure contact.
The protruding portion 68c formed between the side frame side fixing portion 68a and the positioning portion 68b is fitted into a hole 65m formed in the platen 65, so that the position of the platen 65 with respect to the left side frame 68 is more reliably secured. Fulfills the functions specified in

  Next, referring back to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the platen 65, a window hole 65f is formed at the end in the longitudinal direction, and further, a tongue piece 65g having a screw hole 65j is formed therein. . The tongue piece 65g has a base end 65h on the inside of the recording area in the window hole 65f and a free end 65k on the outside of the recording area. Then, the base end 65h and the vicinity thereof are elastically deformed downward to join the side frame side fixing portion 68a. A second window hole 65d extending in the sub-scanning direction is formed in the vicinity of the base end 65h, more specifically, between the base end 65h and the second rib 65b.

  When the platen 65 is attached to the left side frame 68 by the attachment means as described above, the base end 65h and the vicinity thereof are elastically deformed as described above. However, this elastic deformation, that is, stress that causes deformation of the platen 65 is caused. Depending on the state of occurrence, for example, the platen 65 bends in the main scanning direction, which causes variations in the distance (PG) between the paper P and the recording head, resulting in a decrease in recording quality. However, the above configuration is configured to prevent the deformation of the platen 65 that makes the PG remarkably non-uniform in this way.

More specifically, FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a state in which the base end 65h of the tongue piece 65g is disposed outside the recording area in the window hole 65f, unlike the present embodiment. When the base end portion 65g is arranged outside the recording area of the window hole 65a as described above, the end portion of the platen 65 sinks downward as shown in the figure, and this causes a stress that causes the platen 65 to bend in the main scanning direction. In particular, a portion in the vicinity of the first rib 65a is lifted, which causes a significant variation in PG. This is because the end portion of the platen 65 is easily deformed because the restrained state is weak, and when the maximum stress is generated on the side where such deformation is easily caused, the platen 65 is greatly deformed.
On the other hand, when the base end 65h of the tongue piece 65g is arranged inside the recording area in the window hole 65f as in the present embodiment, the maximum stress is generated on the side having high rigidity (the side on which the restraint state is strong). Thus, deformation of the platen 65 can be minimized, that is, variation in PG can be minimized.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the positions of the positioning portions 68b and 68d and the base end 65h are close to each other in the main scanning direction, and the positioning portions 68b and 68d are positioned on both sides of the base end 65h in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the maximum bending stress generated in the platen 65 is a stress that curves the platen 65 in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, this prevents the platen 65 from being greatly curved in the main scanning direction, and the variation in PG in the main scanning direction can be minimized. Further, in such a stress generation state, since the rib 65b extending in the sub-scanning direction is formed on the platen surface 65c, it is possible to counter the stress that causes the platen 65 to bend in the sub-scanning direction. Can be further prevented.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second window hole 65d is formed, so that the stress that causes the platen 65 to be bent in the sub-scanning direction can be relieved. The deformation of the platen 65 can be prevented.

  The configuration described above is an example, and any configuration may be used as long as the maximum bending stress generated in the platen 65 is a stress that causes the platen 65 to bend in the sub-scanning direction. That is, when ink jet recording is performed, the generation of stress that causes a curve in the main scanning direction that greatly changes the distance (PG) between the recording head 100 and the paper P, which is extremely important in maintaining recording quality. Any configuration can be used as long as the configuration can prevent the above.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the printer according to the invention. The perspective view which shows the attachment state of a platen. The partial expansion perspective view of a side frame and a platen. The perspective view of the attachment means of a platen. The side view of the attachment means of a platen. The partial expansion perspective view of a platen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer, 1a apparatus main body, 2 paper supply part, 3 option paper supply unit, 4 inversion part, 5 face down (Fd) discharge part, 6 face up (Fu) discharge part, 11 recording part, 28 1st drive roller , 29 1st driven roller, 32 2nd driving roller, 33 2nd driven roller, 35 Auxiliary roller, 36 3rd driving roller, 37 3rd driven roller, 65 platen, 65a 1st rib, 65b 2nd rib, 65c Platen Surface, 65d second window hole, 65e oblong hole, 65f window hole, 65g tongue piece, 65h base end, 65j screw hole, 65k free end, 68 side frame left, 68a side frame side fixing part, 68b positioning part, 68c Protruding part, 68d Positioning part, 68e Screw hole, 69 Side frame right, 70 Screw, 82 Pressing member, 82a pressing portion, 82b rotating shaft, 83 contact roller, 100 inkjet recording head, 500 Fd discharge port, 600 Fu discharge port, P printing paper

Claims (5)

A recording head for recording on a recording medium;
A platen having a surface facing the recording head and extending in the main scanning direction, and defining a distance between the recording head and the recording medium by supporting the recording medium;
A side frame disposed on both sides of the platen in the longitudinal direction and supporting the platen,
The means for attaching the platen to the side frame has a base end and a free end inside a window hole formed in a surface facing the recording head in the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the platen. A tongue portion formed so that the base end is inside the recording area of the recording head and the free end is outside the recording area;
A positioning part formed on the side frame for defining the distance between the platen and the recording head by supporting the vicinity of the window hole in the platen;
In the main scanning direction, the platen is outside the recording area with respect to the positioning unit, and the platen is in a state where the positioning unit supports the platen in a direction intersecting the surface of the platen facing the recording head. The side frame is formed on the side frame so as to have a predetermined interval, and includes a side frame side fixing portion joined by the tongue piece and joining means.
A recording apparatus. In Claim 1, the 2nd window hole is formed near the base end of the tongue piece part in the platen.
A recording apparatus. A recording head for recording on a recording medium;
A platen having a surface facing the recording head and extending in the main scanning direction, and defining a distance between the recording head and the recording medium by supporting the recording medium;
A side frame disposed on both sides of the platen in the longitudinal direction and supporting the platen,
A tongue piece portion formed inside a window hole formed in a surface facing the recording head in the vicinity of the longitudinal end portion of the platen, the means for attaching the platen to the side frame,
A positioning part formed on the side frame for defining the distance between the platen and the recording head by supporting the vicinity of the window hole in the platen;
In the state in which the positioning portion supports the platen, the tongue is formed on the side frame so as to have a predetermined distance from the platen in a direction intersecting the surface of the platen facing the recording head. A side frame-side fixing part that is joined by a piece and a joining means, and
When the platen side fixing portion and the tongue piece portion are joined by the joining means, the maximum bending stress generated in the platen is configured to be a stress that curves the platen in the sub-scanning direction.
A recording apparatus. 4. The rib according to claim 1, wherein ribs extending in the sub-scanning direction are provided at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction on a surface of the platen facing the recording head.
A recording apparatus. A liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid onto the ejected medium;
A platen having a surface facing the liquid ejecting head and extending in the main scanning direction, and defining a distance between the liquid ejecting head and the ejected medium by supporting the ejected medium;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: side frames disposed on both sides of the platen in the longitudinal direction and supporting the platen;
The attachment means of the platen to the side frame has a base end and a free end inside a window hole formed in a surface facing the liquid jet head in the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the platen, and the window hole A tongue piece formed so that the base end is inside the liquid ejecting region of the liquid ejecting head and the free end is outside the liquid ejecting region;
A positioning part formed on the side frame for defining a distance between the platen and the liquid jet head by supporting the vicinity of the window hole in the platen;
The main scanning direction is outside the liquid ejecting region with respect to the positioning unit, and the positioning unit supports the platen in a direction intersecting the surface of the platen facing the liquid ejecting head. A side frame side fixing portion that is formed on the side frame so as to have a predetermined distance from the platen and is joined by the tongue piece portion and a joining means,
A liquid ejecting apparatus.

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