JP2006007704A - Ink-jet recorder and ink-jet recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to reduce the deterioration of image quality caused by the satellite and/or ink mist generated at discharging the ink from a recording head. <P>SOLUTION: The satellite and/or ink mist are made to be moved out of a recording area by blowing a wind generated by a blowing mechanism between a face surface of the recording head and a platen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method using the ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus having means for collecting satellites and mist generated when ink is ejected from a recording head, and a method thereof.

  In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, recording apparatuses having functions such as printers, copiers, and facsimiles are widely connected as output devices for composite electronic devices and workstations including computers and word processors in offices and general homes. . As the recording apparatus, an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, a thermal system, and the like are widespread. Among them, the inkjet system is not only a paper, an OHP sheet, and a film, but also a medium such as cloth, cardboard, ceramics, and metal. Can also be recorded. Furthermore, since printing is possible not only on flat media but also on uneven media, curved surfaces, and edges, it is widely used not only as a commonly used printer but also as a business printer. Note that an ink jet recording apparatus forms an image by ejecting liquid droplets from a nozzle using an electrothermal conversion element or an electromechanical conversion element.

  In particular, in an ink jet recording apparatus, the recording head can be easily downsized, the noise is low because it is a non-impact method, and it is easy to record a color image using multicolor ink. It has advantages such as low running cost and high-definition image recording at high speed. Furthermore, an ink jet recording head that ejects ink using thermal energy is subjected to a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching deposition or sputtering, and the electrothermal transducer, electrode, liquid channel wall, ceiling, and the like formed on a substrate. By forming a plate or the like, a product having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (discharge outlet arrangement) can be manufactured, and further downsizing (miniaturization) can be achieved.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, when ink droplets are ejected from a recording head, droplets smaller than the main droplet are ejected simultaneously with the main droplet. When a small droplet ejected simultaneously with the main droplet lands on the recording medium, dots having a size smaller than the main droplet are formed near the main droplet landed on the recording medium. Small droplets that are ejected at the same time as the main droplet, which are dots that land near the main droplet, are called satellites. Image quality deteriorates due to the landing of satellites at locations other than the main droplets. Further, mist-like ink droplets may be generated that are smaller than the ink droplets that become satellites. This mist-like ink droplet is called ink mist. The ink mist is caused to flow in the airflow in the vicinity of the recording head when ink is ejected, and drifts in the apparatus, so that the inside of the apparatus becomes dirty or the image quality is deteriorated by adhering to the recording medium. When satellites or ink mist land on the recording medium, there are problems such as noise generated in the image and density unevenness and color change in the halftone image. In order to suppress degradation of image quality due to these satellites and ink mist, it is necessary to reduce the amount of satellites and ink mist carried outside the image area and attached to the recording medium.

As a method for reducing the adhesion of satellites and ink mist to the recording medium, a configuration has been devised in which negative pressure means for collecting and dispersing the satellites and ink mist is provided near the recording head and the recording medium (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228620 provides a means for generating an air pressure lower than the air pressure near the ink discharge port as the carriage moves at a position not facing the recording medium of the carriage, so that the carriage is lowered from the vicinity of the ink discharge port. A configuration is disclosed in which an airflow is generated to a place of atmospheric pressure, and satellites and ink mist floating between the recording head surface and the platen are caused to flow outside the image area. Further, in Patent Document 2, a fan and a filter for sucking and collecting satellites and ink mist are provided on the carriage, and air is circulated in a direction parallel to the carriage by using an operation in the main scanning direction of the carriage. A configuration for collecting ink mist is disclosed. Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which a fan that blows air is provided between a recording medium and a discharge unit of a recording head in a carriage, and generated satellites and ink mist are dispersed in an unrecorded area by the fan. Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a configuration for controlling whether or not a fan provided in the vicinity of a recording head and a recording medium is driven according to the ink ejection speed.
JP 2001-113733 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-025007 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-166173

  However, the technique described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 carries satellites and ink mist floating between the recording head and the platen due to a pressure difference generated as the carriage moves. It is not sufficient and cannot be completely removed. For this reason, there are problems such as image noise caused by satellites and ink mist floating on a white background, and density unevenness and change in color tone in a halftone image. Further, when the frequency of use increases, satellites and ink mist sucked out due to a difference in atmospheric pressure adhere to the outer wall of the flow path, so that the function is lowered. Further, although the technique described in Patent Document 2 is effective in collecting ink mist, it does not support bidirectional printing of a carriage and has a problem that high-speed printing cannot be achieved. Furthermore, although the technology described in Patent Document 3 improves the image unevenness by blowing and collecting satellites and ink mist, it is generated due to fluctuations in the ink temperature depending on the environmental temperature where the inkjet recording apparatus is installed. Since the amount of satellites and ink mist to be used is different, it is necessary to send a wind suitable for each condition, but this is not done.

  The present invention has been made based on the above viewpoint, and an object of the present invention is to use the wind speed or the air volume obtained from the wind feed mechanism provided in the carriage in the carriage moving direction between the recording head face surface and the platen. On the other hand, by flowing in the vertical direction, satellites and ink mist, which are main causes of image quality deterioration, are carried out of the image area. In particular, when there is a large amount of satellites and ink mist, or when the environment temperature where the inkjet recording device is installed is high, the wind speed or volume of the wind from the wind feed mechanism is switched to a higher level, and the occurrence of satellites and ink errors is relatively low. When the ambient temperature at which the inkjet recording apparatus is installed is low, the image quality is prevented from being deteriorated due to image noise or density unevenness by switching the air speed or air volume from the air feed mechanism to a low level or stopping. In particular, switching may not be performed when the ambient temperature is the same in the amount of satellites or ink mist generated. In addition, by collecting satellites and ink mist by the collection means that collects the wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism, satellites and ink mist do not adhere to the outer wall and carriage peripheral members in the machine, and the frequency of use has increased. Even in this case, the function is not deteriorated, and a stable and high-quality image can be formed at high speed.

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges a plurality of ink droplets from a discharge port of a recording head and performs recording during a reciprocating movement of the carriage, and sends air between a recording head face surface provided on the carriage and a platen. It has a wind feed mechanism and means for detecting the environmental temperature where the ink jet recording apparatus is installed, and the wind speed or the volume of the wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism is switched according to the detected environmental temperature. And

  According to the present invention, since the collected satellite and ink mist are collected by the collecting means by the air discharged from the air blowing means controlled according to the situation where satellites and ink mist are generated, the outer wall and carriage peripheral member in the apparatus are collected. Satellites and ink mist do not adhere to the surface, and even when the frequency of use of the apparatus increases, the recovery function does not deteriorate, and a stable and high-quality image can be formed at high speed. In particular, the amount of satellite and ink mist generated differs depending on the environmental temperature where the ink jet recording apparatus is installed. Therefore, it is possible to significantly improve the image quality by switching the driving conditions of the blowing means according to the environmental temperature. Become.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

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

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes an apparatus main body including a paper conveyance system unit. This apparatus performs recording on a relatively large recording sheet (recording medium). Reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage which is mounted and moved with twelve recording heads 5, whereby the recording head 5 can scan the recording paper. That is, the carriage 1 is guided and supported by the guide shaft 33 so as to be movable along the guide shaft 33, and can be reciprocated by a driving force transmitted through the belt 34. In addition to the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks used, a total of six colors including light cyan and light magenta for the purpose of reducing graininess are used, and the recording speed is improved. For this purpose, two recording heads are used for one color ink.

  Reference numerals 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D denote a recovery mechanism that includes a cap and performs a suction operation using a pump (not shown) of each recording head 5 as a driving source, and protects the recording head when the recording head is not used. Reference numeral 31 denotes a preliminary ejection ink receiving box that receives ink ejected by the preliminary ejection operation of each recording head 5, and 32 denotes a wiping mechanism for performing a wiping operation of the ejection port surface of each recording head 5.

  In the above apparatus configuration, when receiving the recording data from the host apparatus, the carriage 1 moves in a direction (main scanning direction) along the guide shaft 33 so as to record on a recording sheet sent by a paper transport unit (not shown). Thus, each recording head 5 is scanned, and an image for one band is recorded on the recording paper. Then, the recording paper is transported by the paper transport unit for one band in the direction orthogonal to the carriage 1 (sub-scanning direction). An encoder film 35 for detecting the movement position of the carriage 1 is disposed along the movement path of the carriage 1, and an encoder sensor mounted on the carriage 1 knows the position of the carriage based on a signal for detecting this. be able to. The movement of the carriage 1 to the home position is controlled based on the position detection of the encoder.

  Although not shown, each recording head 5 has 1296 ejection openings arranged at a density of 1200 dpi (dots / inch) in the sub-scanning direction, and ink communicating with each ejection opening. In the liquid path, an electrothermal converter for locally heating the ink to cause film boiling and ejecting the ink by the pressure is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system circuit in this embodiment. In this embodiment, reference numeral 300 denotes a main control unit. The main control unit 300 includes a CPU 301 that executes processing operations such as calculation, control, determination, and setting, and a ROM 302 that stores a control program to be executed by the CPU 301. A RAM 303 used as a recording data buffer, a work area for processing by the CPU 301, an input / output port 304, and the like.

  The input / output port 304 is connected to the drive motors 305, 306, and 307 such as the transport motor (LF motor) 312, the carriage motor (CR motor) 313, and the printhead 5, and the printhead. Sensors such as a head temperature sensor (head temperature detecting means) 314 that detects the temperature of the ink, a home position sensor 310 that detects the home position of the carriage 1, and an environmental temperature sensor 315 that detects the environmental temperature in which the inkjet recording apparatus is installed Is connected. Further, the main controller 300 is connected to a host computer (not shown) via an interface circuit 311.

  The ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor 315 sends the detected value to the input / output port 304, and when a signal is sent to each drive circuit, the drive circuit of the discharge fan 7 mounted on the carriage 5 that is the wind feed mechanism 6 308 controls the wind speed and air volume of the discharge fan 7 to send a predetermined wind between the face surface 15 of the recording head 5 and the platen 9. When the printing is completed, a signal is received from the input / output port 304, and the drive circuit 308 stops the discharge fan 7. Further, when the control related to printing enters the input / output port 304 from the main controller 300 and a signal is sent to each drive circuit, the drive circuit 309 of the recovery fan 12 mounted on the recovery means 10 controls the recovery fan 12 to control the recording head. The wind that has passed through the face surface 15 and the platen 9 is collected. When printing is completed, a signal is received from the input / output port 304, and the drive circuit 309 stops the recovery fan 12.

(Carriage configuration)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carriage 1 including the wind feed mechanism 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The carriage 1 has a twin head configuration in which two recording heads 5 are mounted. A wind feed mechanism 6 provided in the carriage 1 is equipped with a discharge fan 7 for converting rotational energy into wind power, and is sent through a duct 8.

  Further, the wind feed mechanism 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view centering on the duct portion of the wind feed mechanism. The wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism 6 is sent between the face surface 15 of the recording head 5 and the platen 9 via the duct 8. The direction of the air sent is configured to be sent in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage. Moreover, the wind speed sent is preferably 0.5 m / sec to 7 m / sec. Further, the voltage value applied to the discharge fan 7 in order to adjust the wind speed or the amount of wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism 6 is controlled by the environmental temperature detected by the environmental temperature sensor 315.

  The exhaust fan 7 used in the wind feed mechanism can function without any problem even with a sirocco fan as shown in FIG. 5 or an axial fan as shown in FIG. It is preferable to use a sirocco fan that can stably form a necessary wind speed, particularly when moving satellites or ink mists under a situation where the rotational speed of the discharge fan 7 is low.

  Thus, the wind sent from the wind feed mechanism 6 through the duct 8 between the face surface 15 of the recording head 5 and the platen 9 does not adversely affect the landing accuracy of the main droplets forming the image, and the image quality. Only satellites and ink mist, which are the main factors that reduce the image quality, can be blown out of the image area.

(Recovery means (1))
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the recovery means 10 for recovering the wind sent between the face surface 15 of the recording head 5 and the platen 9 from the wind feed mechanism 6 via the duct 8. Satellites and ink mist floating between the face surface 15 of the recording head 5 and the platen 9 are carried to the opening 11 of the collecting means 10 by the wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism 6. The recovery means 10 has a configuration that converts rotational energy and sucks wind, and the recovery fan 12 forms an airflow through which the wind flows in the direction of the arrow 14. Therefore, the satellite and ink mist carried to the opening 11 of the collecting means 10 are carried in the direction of the arrow 14 along the air flow of the collecting means 10 and collected by the filter 13 provided in the middle.

  The sirocco fan as shown in FIG. 5 and the axial fan as shown in FIG. It is preferable to use a sirocco fan that can stably form a necessary wind speed, particularly when collecting satellites and ink mist under a condition where the rotational speed of the recovery fan 12 is low.

  The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The image evaluation method in the embodiment will be briefly described below.

  In the image evaluation method, the duty ratio of an output image is varied from 10% to 100% and output, and the degree of occurrence of image unevenness due to mist or satellite is visually evaluated as follows.

Image unevenness ○: Good image quality without image unevenness ○ to Δ: Very little image unevenness is observed Δ: Slight image unevenness is observed ×: Image unevenness is observed over the entire image XX: Whole image Severe image unevenness is observed For image unevenness, it is difficult to observe whether or not there is unevenness in the image that is generally output on the market if it is an image of ○ level or ○ to Δ level or more. Level, and a sufficiently satisfactory image can be output.

(Example conditions)
Carriage linear velocity: 50 (inch / sec)
Carriage one-way travel distance: 36 (inch)
Image forming method: 1-pass reciprocating direction printing In Comparative Example 1, an image to be printed in a three-environment temperature environment of 15 ° C., 23 ° C., and 30 ° C. with the power of the discharge fan 7 mounted on the carriage 1 turned off. The degree of image unevenness when the duty was changed from 10% to 100% was evaluated. Table 1 shows evaluation results of image unevenness in Comparative Example 1. When an image with an image duty of 10%, 90%, and 100% is output at an environmental temperature of 15 ° C., an image with an image duty of 20% and 80% is output with a good image quality with no image unevenness. In this case, the image irregularity is observed from ◯ to Δ level, and when an image with an image duty of 30% is output, the image irregularity is observed to be Δ level, and the image duty is 40% and 70%. % Is output at an x level where image unevenness is observed over the entire image, and when an image with an image duty of 50% and 60% is output, severe image unevenness is observed throughout the image. The image quality when the exhaust fan 7 is not driven at the level is very poor and is not acceptable for the market.

  At an environmental temperature of 23 ° C., when an image with an image duty of 100% is output, it is a ○ level that is a good image quality without image unevenness, and when an image with an image duty of 10%, 80%, and 90% is output, When an image with an image duty of 20% is output from a circle where a slight image unevenness is observed, and when an image with an image duty of 20% is output, an image with an image duty of 30% and 70% is observed when the image has a slight image unevenness. Is output at an X level where image unevenness is observed over the entire image, and when an image with an image duty of 40%, 50% or 60% is output, severe image unevenness is observed over the entire image. The image quality tends to deteriorate with respect to the environmental temperature of 15 ° C.

  Further, when the same evaluation was performed at an environmental temperature of 30 ° C., when an image with an image duty of 100% was output, the image unevenness was observed only slightly, and the level was from ◯ to Δ, and the image duty was 10% and 80%. When a 90% image is output, a slight level of image unevenness is observed. When an image with an image duty of 20% and 30% is output, image unevenness is observed over the entire image. When an image with an image duty of 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% is output, it is an xx level where severe image unevenness is observed in the entire image, and the ambient temperatures are 15 ° C and 23 ° C. , Image quality tends to deteriorate.

比較例２では、環境温度１５℃、２３℃及び３０℃の３環境において、キャリッジ１に搭載されている排出ファン７の電源に８Ｖ電圧を印加することで、風速２．０ｍ／ｓｅｃを記録ヘッドフェース面１５とプラテン９の間に流し、印刷する画像デューティを１０％から１００％まで変化させた時の画像ムラ度合いを評価した。表２は、比較例２における画像ムラの評価結果である。環境温度１５℃では、画像デューティ１０％、２０％、３０％、４０％、７０％、８０％、９０％、１００％の画像を出力した場合は、画像ムラのない良好な画質である○レベルであり、画像デューティ５０％、６０％の画像を出力した場合は、ごく僅かに画像ムラが観察される○から△レベルであり、排出ファン７を駆動させることで画像品質が格段に向上する。

In Comparative Example 2, the recording head has a wind speed of 2.0 m / sec by applying an 8 V voltage to the power supply of the discharge fan 7 mounted on the carriage 1 in three environments of 15 ° C., 23 ° C., and 30 ° C. The degree of image unevenness when the duty of an image to be printed was changed from 10% to 100% by flowing between the face surface 15 and the platen 9 was evaluated. Table 2 shows the evaluation results of image unevenness in Comparative Example 2. At an environmental temperature of 15 ° C., when an image with an image duty of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% is output, it is a good image quality with no image unevenness. When an image with an image duty of 50% or 60% is output, the image unevenness is observed only slightly, and the level is from ◯ to Δ. By driving the discharge fan 7, the image quality is remarkably improved.

  In addition, when the same evaluation was performed at an environmental temperature of 23 ° C., when images with an image duty of 10%, 20%, 30%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% were output, there was no image unevenness. If the image quality is ◯ level and an image with an image duty of 40%, 50%, or 60% is output, the image unevenness is observed slightly, and the level is from ◯ to △ level, and the discharge fan 7 is driven. Although the image quality is remarkably improved, the image quality tends to be slightly deteriorated with respect to the environmental temperature of 15 ° C.

  Further, when the same evaluation was performed at an environmental temperature of 30 ° C., when an image with an image duty of 10%, 20%, 30%, 80%, 90%, and 100% was output, the image quality was excellent without image unevenness. When an image with a certain ○ level is output and an image duty of 40% and 70% is output, a slight image unevenness is observed. When an image with an image duty of 50% and 60% is output from ○ to △ Is a Δ level where slight image unevenness is observed, and although the image quality is remarkably improved by driving the discharge fan 7, the image quality tends to deteriorate with respect to the environmental temperatures of 15 ° C and 23 ° C. In addition, even in an image that is generally output on the market, a satisfactory image cannot be output.

実施例では、環境温度が１５℃以下の範囲内ではキャリッジ１に搭載されている排出ファン７の電源に８Ｖ電圧を印加することで風速２．０ｍ／ｓｅｃを記録ヘッドフェース面１５とプラテン９の間に流す。また、環境温度が１５℃より大きく、且つ３０℃より小さい範囲内では排出ファン７の電源に１０Ｖ電圧を印加することで風速２．５ｍ／ｓｅｃを記録ヘッドフェース面１５とプラテン９の間に流す。更に、環境温度が３０℃以上の範囲内では１２Ｖ電圧を印加することで風速３．０ｍ／ｓｅｃを記録ヘッドフェース面１５とプラテン９の間に流す。この設定条件において、印刷する画像デューティを１０％から１００％まで変化させた時の画像ムラ度合いを環境温度１５℃、２３℃及び３０℃の３環境において評価した。表３は、実施例１における画像ムラの評価結果である。３環境全てにおいて画像デューティ１０％、２０％、３０％、４０％、７０％、８０％、９０％、１００％の画像を出力した場合は、画像ムラのない良好な画質である○レベルであり、画像デューティ５０％、６０％の画像を出力した場合は、ごく僅かに画像ムラが観察される○から△レベルであり、排出ファン７を駆動させることで画像品質が格段に向上する。

In the embodiment, when the environmental temperature is within a range of 15 ° C. or less, the wind speed of 2.0 m / sec is applied to the power supply of the discharge fan 7 mounted on the carriage 1 to set the wind speed of 2.0 m / sec between the recording head face 15 and the platen 9. Shed in between. When the ambient temperature is higher than 15 ° C. and lower than 30 ° C., a wind speed of 2.5 m / sec is caused to flow between the recording head face 15 and the platen 9 by applying a 10 V voltage to the power supply of the exhaust fan 7. . Further, when the environmental temperature is within a range of 30 ° C. or higher, a wind speed of 3.0 m / sec is caused to flow between the recording head face surface 15 and the platen 9 by applying a 12 V voltage. Under these setting conditions, the degree of image unevenness when the image duty to be printed was changed from 10% to 100% was evaluated in three environments of 15 ° C., 23 ° C., and 30 ° C. Table 3 shows the evaluation results of image unevenness in Example 1. When images with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% of image duty are output in all three environments, the image quality is good with no image unevenness. When an image with an image duty of 50% or 60% is output, the image unevenness is observed slightly, and the level is from ◯ to Δ, and the image quality is remarkably improved by driving the discharge fan 7.

なお、以上の実施例１、比較例１及び比較例２の説明から明らかなように、複数のインク吐出口を備える記録ヘッドを有するインクジェット記録装置であれば、同一又は異なる色彩のインクを用いて記録するカラー記録装置、あるいは同一色彩で異なる濃度で記録する階調記録装置、さらには、これらを組み合わせた記録装置の場合にも、同様に本発明を適用することができ、同様の効果を達成し得るものである。さらに、本発明は、記録手段とインクタンクを一体化した交換可能なインクジェットカートリッジを用いる構成、記録手段とインクタンクを別体にし、その間をインク供給用のチューブ等で接続する構成など、記録手段とインクタンクの配置構成がどのような場合にも同様に適用することができ、同様の効果が得られるものである。

As is clear from the description of Example 1, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 above, if the ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head having a plurality of ink discharge ports, ink of the same or different color is used. The present invention can be similarly applied to a color recording device for recording, a gradation recording device for recording at different densities in the same color, and a combination of these, and achieves the same effect. It is possible. Further, the present invention provides a recording means including a configuration using a replaceable ink jet cartridge in which the recording means and the ink tank are integrated, a configuration in which the recording means and the ink tank are separated and connected between them by a tube for supplying ink, etc. The present invention can be similarly applied to any arrangement of the ink tanks, and the same effect can be obtained.

  In addition, the present invention brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus that uses a recording unit that discharges ink using thermal energy, among other ink jet recording systems.

1 is a top view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system circuit concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the carriage provided with the wind feed mechanism concerning embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the carriage provided with the wind feed mechanism concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the sirocco fan with which the wind feed mechanism concerning embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a perspective view of the axial fan provided in the wind feed mechanism concerning embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a collecting unit that collects wind sent between the face surface of the recording head and the platen through a duct from a wind feeding mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

1 Carriage 2 Device body (including transport system unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Recording head 6 Air feed mechanism 7 Exhaust fan 8 Duct 9 Platen 10 Collection | recovery means 11 Opening part of collection | recovery means 12 Collection | recovery fan 13 Filter 14 Direction of wind flow of collection | recovery means 15 Recording head face surface 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D Recovery Mechanism 31 Preliminary discharge ink receiving box 32 Wiping mechanism 33 Guide shaft 34 Belt 35 Encoder film 300 Main control unit 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
304 I / O Port 305 LF Motor Drive Circuit 306 CR Motor Drive Circuit 307 Recording Head Drive Circuit 308 Ejection Fan Drive Circuit 309 Recovery Fan Drive Circuit 310 Home Position Sensor 311 Interface Circuit 312 LF Motor 313 CR Motor 314 Head Temperature Sensor 315 Environmental temperature sensor

Claims (10)

  In an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges a plurality of ink droplets from a discharge port of a recording head and performs recording when the carriage reciprocates, a wind feed mechanism that sends air between a recording head face surface and a platen provided in the carriage; And means for detecting an environmental temperature in which the ink jet recording apparatus is installed, and the wind speed or the amount of wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism is switched according to the detected environmental temperature. apparatus.   In an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges a plurality of ink droplets from a discharge port of a recording head and performs recording during a reciprocating movement of a carriage, if the detected environmental temperature is equal to or higher than a specified value, the wind speed of the wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the air volume is increased and smaller than a specified value, the air volume is decreased or stopped.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a wind direction discharged from the wind feed mechanism is a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the carriage.   4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of predetermined values of the detected environmental temperature are set.   5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of specified values include at least one value in a range of 15 ° C. to 30 ° C. 5.   6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a collecting means for collecting the wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism.   7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating wind discharged from the wind feed mechanism is a mechanism for converting rotational energy into wind power.   8. The ink jet recording according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the recording means is an ink jet recording means provided with an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. apparatus.   9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording means causes the ink to be ejected from an ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by heat energy applied by the electrothermal transducer.   10. An ink jet recording method for forming an image using an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges a plurality of ink droplets from a discharge port of a recording head and performs recording during reciprocation of a carriage. An ink-jet recording method comprising forming an image using a recording apparatus.

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