JP2006082418A - Recording medium carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize discharge performance even if the stiffness of recording media is different. <P>SOLUTION: The recording medium carrier comprises a section for holding the original winding of a recording medium, and carry rollers for carrying the recording medium up to the platen in an image recorder by imparting a propulsive force thereto on the downstream side of the original winding holding section, and a section for discharging the recording medium after recording an image on the downstream side of the platen. The discharge section can alter the inclination angle of the recording medium in the discharge passage in correspondence with stiffness of the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium conveying apparatus, and more particularly to a recording medium conveying apparatus that conveys a recording medium corresponding to image recording.

An image recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer is equipped with a recording medium conveying apparatus that conveys a recording medium corresponding to image recording (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). This recording medium transport apparatus is provided with a main volume holding section for holding the original volume of the recording medium on the upstream side of the platen that is the image recording area of the image recording apparatus, and after image recording on the downstream side of the platen. A discharge section for discharging the recording medium is provided.
Here, if the recording medium floats on the platen, the distance between the recording head and the recording medium is not uniform, and as a result, the image quality deteriorates. Therefore, the recording medium transporting apparatus places the recording medium along the platen. However, it is transported while maintaining flatness.
JP 2000-326572 A JP 2003-137464 A

However, there are cases where images are recorded on different types of recording media with a single ink jet printer. However, since the stiffness of each type of recording medium varies, the recording medium may float on the platen depending on the stiffness. is there. In particular, when ejecting a recording medium after image recording, for example, if the recording medium is strong, the recording medium can be smoothly ejected without applying tension when ejecting, but the recording medium is weak. If the tension is not applied at the time of discharging, buckling occurs due to the conveyance resistance to the recording medium when the platen is removed. Due to this buckling, the recording medium is rubbed against the ejection surface of the recording head, so that there is a high possibility of jamming.
For this reason, if the conveyance path is formed so that the recording medium is inclined downward with respect to the traveling direction when the platen is withdrawn, tension is applied by the weight of the recording medium. However, if a stiff recording medium is transported by such a transport path, the recording medium may rise from the platen due to the maintenance of the shape when the recording medium hangs down, and may rub against the ejection surface of the recording head, resulting in a jam. high.

  An object of the present invention is to stabilize discharge even when the stiffness of a recording medium is different.

The recording medium conveying apparatus according to the invention of claim 1
An original volume holding unit for holding an original volume of the recording medium;
A conveying roller that applies a driving force to the recording medium on the downstream side of the original winding holding unit, and conveys the recording medium to a platen of an image recording apparatus;
A discharge section for discharging the recording medium after image recording on the downstream side of the platen,
The discharge unit is characterized in that the inclination angle in the discharge path of the recording medium can be changed in accordance with the stiffness of the recording medium.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the discharge section changes the inclination angle of the discharge path to an angle corresponding to the stiffness of the recording medium, so that an angle suitable for each type of recording medium can be set as the inclination angle. . As a result, the inclination angle can be changed to an angle at which tension is applied to a recording medium with weak stiffness, and the inclination angle can be changed to an angle at which flatness can be maintained without rising from the platen with respect to a strong recording medium. . Therefore, even if the stiffness of the recording medium is different, the discharge performance is stabilized.

A second aspect of the present invention provides the recording medium conveying apparatus according to the first aspect,
The discharge part is
The tilt angle can be changed so that the recording medium is parallel to the platen with respect to the stiff recording medium, and the recording medium is relative to the platen with respect to the stiff recording medium. The tilt angle can be changed to be vertical.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a strong recording medium is conveyed, the inclination angle is changed so that the recording medium is parallel to the platen. A discharge path having no inclination is formed. Thus, if there is no inclined portion, it is possible to prevent a stiff recording medium from floating from the platen.
On the other hand, when a recording medium with weak stiffness is conveyed, since the inclination angle is changed so that the recording medium is perpendicular to the platen, the recording medium on the downstream side of the platen is tensioned by its own weight. Will be granted. In this way, if tension is applied to a recording medium that is weak, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of buckling and to stabilize the discharge performance as a result.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium conveying apparatus according to the second aspect,
A winding unit is provided that winds up the recording medium below the discharge unit when the tilt angle is changed so that the recording medium is vertical.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the winding unit winds the recording medium below the discharging unit, it is possible to wind the recording medium while applying tension to the recording medium that is weak. Generally, a recording medium that is weak is used frequently. However, if the recording medium is wound in this way, the handling becomes easy.

Invention of Claim 4 is a recording-medium conveying apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
A control unit is provided for controlling the discharge unit such that the tilt angle is an angle corresponding to the stiffness of the recording medium.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the control unit controls the discharge unit to obtain an inclination angle corresponding to the stiffness of the recording medium, it is possible to automatically change the inclination angle of the discharge path.

  According to the present invention, the tilt angle can be changed to an angle at which a tension is applied to a recording medium with weak stiffness, and the tilt angle is set to an angle at which flatness can be maintained without rising from the platen for a strong recording medium. Therefore, even if the stiffness of the recording medium is different, the discharge performance is stabilized.

  Hereinafter, a recording medium conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an image recording apparatus 1 equipped with a recording medium conveying apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 1 includes a case 3 for storing the recording medium conveyance device 2, a platen 4 that is supported on the upper part of the case 3 and supports the recording media P and Q horizontally from below, A recording head 5 is provided above the platen 4 and ejects ink onto a recording medium P supported by the platen 4.

  In the recording medium transport device 2, two original winding holding portions 21 and 22 for holding the original windings P1 and Q1 of the recording media P and Q are arranged along the vertical direction. Here, of the two original winding holding units 21 and 22, the upper original winding holding unit 21 has the original winding P1 of the recording medium P stronger than the recording medium Q held in the lower original winding holding unit 22. Is supposed to hold.

  Here, the stiffness of the recording medium will be explained. In terms of social wisdom, “koshi” is one of the indices for evaluating the strength of how much the bending force does not bend, and its quantitative property is comparative. It stays in the relative range. The method of measuring the firmness quantitative value is performed, for example, by a method as shown in FIG. First, each type of recording medium R is prepared with the same size (for example, A4 size). The various recording media are placed on a horizontal table 100. At this time, the recording medium R is arranged on the table 100 so that substantially half of the recording medium R in the longitudinal direction protrudes from the table 100. At this time, the portion of the recording medium R that protrudes from the base 100 hangs down due to its own weight. If the horizontal distance from the tip to the table 100 is X and the vertical distance from the tip to the top surface of the table 100 is Y with respect to the recording medium R in the suspended state, the quantitative value = Y / X. become. For example, if the recording medium is almost stiff, such as tarpaulin, X is small, and the quantitative value approaches ∞. If the recording medium is stiff, such as coated paper, Y is small. The quantitative value approaches 0.

  With such a measuring method, the strength of the recording media P and Q is determined. As shown in FIG. 1, the original volume P1 of the strong recording medium P is held by the higher-level original volume holding unit 21, and the stiffness is increased. The original volume Q1 of the weak recording medium Q is held in the lower original volume holding section 22.

The lower original winding holding unit 22 includes an unwinding unit 23 for unraveling the original winding Q1 according to the feed amount of the recording medium Q, a dancer roller 24 that moves up and down by the unwound recording medium Q, and a recording medium. A guide roller 25 for guiding Q from the original volume Q1 to the dancer roller 24 is provided. The original winding holding unit 22 is unitized and is detachable from the case of the image recording apparatus 1.
The upper original winding holding portion 21 is provided with an oil damper 26 that applies load torque to the original winding P1 of the recording medium P.

  The recording medium conveyance device 2 is provided with a conveyance roller 6 that imparts a propulsive force to the recording media P and Q and conveys the recording medium P and Q on the upstream side of the platen 4. A guide portion 7 for guiding the recording media P and Q from the original winding holding portions 21 and 22 to the conveyance roller 6 is provided on the upstream side of the conveyance roller 6.

  The guide portion 7 is provided with an entry angle changing member 71 that changes the entry angle with respect to the transport roller 6 while supporting the recording media P and Q from below. The approach angle changing member 71 is configured to rotate with one end portion on the transport roller 6 side as a rotation axis. Further, the other end portion of the approach angle changing member 71 is formed in an arc shape at the corner portion.

  The guide portion 7 is provided with an adjusting member 72 that is disposed below the conveying roller 6 and adjusts the inclination angle of the approach angle changing member 71. The leading end of the adjustment member 72 is connected to the other end of the approach angle changing member 71. On the other hand, the base end portion of the adjustment member 72 is rotated while moving along the horizontal direction. When the proximal end portion of the adjustment member 72 moves in the horizontal direction, the distal end portion of the adjustment member 72 is connected to the other end portion of the entry angle change member 71, and thus the entry angle change member 71 rotates. In the present embodiment, the base end portion of the adjustment member 72 is stopped at three locations within the movement range so that the entry angle by the entry angle changing member 71 is changed in three stages.

A discharge unit 8 that forms a discharge path for the recording media P and Q is provided on the downstream side of the platen 4 in the recording medium conveyance device 2. The discharge portion 8 includes a discharge guide portion 81 that supports the recording media P and Q from below to form a discharge path, and a discharge guide drive that rotates about one end of the discharge guide portion 81 on the platen 4 side as a rotation axis. A portion 82 (see FIG. 3) is provided.
The discharge guide portion 81 is rotated by the discharge guide drive portion 82 so as to be switched between two positions, a horizontal position (solid line portion in FIG. 1) and a vertical position (one-dot chain line portion in FIG. 1). Thus, the discharge unit 8 changes the inclination angle in the discharge path of the recording media P and Q in accordance with the stiffness of the recording media P and Q.

  Here, the inclination angle is an angle with respect to the surface of the platen 4 when the recording media P and Q pass the discharge guide portion 81, that is, the horizontal plane. For example, the first inclination angle α1 when the discharge guide portion 81 is in the horizontal position is 0 degree. Further, the second inclination angle α2 in the vertical position is 90 degrees. These inclination angles are changed according to the stiffness of the recording media P and Q. The first inclination angle α1 is used for a recording medium (for example, coated paper, glossy paper, polycarbonate, backing glossy vinyl chloride, PET, YUPO, etc.) in which the above-described quantitative value (Y / X) is 0 or more and less than 4. The second inclination angle α2 is used for a recording medium (for example, tarpaulin, vinyl chloride sheet, etc.) having a quantitative value of 4 or more.

In addition, the surface of the discharge guide portion 81 is formed in an arc shape so as to protrude upward while being positioned lower than the surface of the platen 4, so that the recording media P and Q are smoothly conveyed. In addition, it is preferable.
A winding unit 9 that winds up the recording medium Q when the inclination angle of the discharge path is changed to 90 degrees is provided below the discharge unit 8.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main control configuration in the image recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the image recording apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 10 that controls each drive unit. The control unit 10 includes an input unit 12 to which an instruction from an operator is input, an unwinding unit 23, a recording head 5, a conveyance roller 6, a winding unit 9, a discharge guide driving unit 82, and a storage. The part 13 is electrically connected. In addition to the above, each drive unit of the image recording apparatus 1 is connected to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 controls various devices in accordance with a control program and control data written in the storage unit 13.
The control data includes, for example, angle data in which the first inclination angle α1 and the second inclination angle α2 are associated with the type of recording medium.

Next, the operation of the recording medium conveyance device 2 of the present embodiment will be described.
First, in the case of transporting the recording medium Q, the operator pulls out the recording medium Q from the original winding Q1 held by the higher-order original winding holding unit 21 to a position where it can be conveyed by the conveying roller 6. At this time, the operator inputs the type of the recording medium Q from the input unit 12. With this input, the control unit 10 determines the inclination angle of the discharge path based on the angle data in the storage unit 13 and the input content. For example, if the first inclination angle α1 is selected, the control unit 10 controls the discharge guide driving unit 82 to rotate the discharge guide unit 81 so that the discharge path is inclined at the first inclination angle α1, Stop. When the recording medium Q is tilted at the first inclination angle α 1 in this way, the recording medium Q is discharged through a discharge path in which the recording medium Q is parallel to the platen 4.
In addition, the operator moves the adjustment member 72 horizontally so that the inclination angle of the entry angle changing member 71 of the guide portion 7 becomes an angle corresponding to the recording medium Q.

  When the movement of the adjustment member 72 and the adjustment of the discharge unit 8 are completed, the operator inputs an image recording start instruction from the input unit 12. Based on the input, the control unit 10 controls the recording head 5 and the conveyance roller 6 to record an image by ejecting ink onto the recording medium Q while intermittently feeding the recording medium Q. The recording medium Q on which the image is recorded is placed on a table (not shown) while maintaining a horizontal state along the discharge unit 8.

On the other hand, in the case of transporting the recording medium P, the operator can transport the recording medium P from the original winding P1 held by the lower original winding holding portion 22 by the conveying roller 6 via the guide roller 25 and the dancer roller 24. The recording medium Q is pulled out to a proper position. At this time, the operator inputs the type of the recording medium P from the input unit 12. With this input, the control unit 10 determines the inclination angle of the discharge path based on the angle data in the storage unit 13 and the input content. For example, if the second inclination angle α2 is selected, the control unit 10 controls the discharge guide driving unit 82 to rotate the discharge guide unit 81 so that the discharge path is inclined at the second inclination angle α2, Stop. When the recording medium Q is tilted at the second inclination angle α2 in this way, the recording medium Q is discharged through a discharge path in which the recording medium Q is perpendicular to the platen 4.
In addition, the operator moves the adjustment member 72 horizontally so that the inclination angle of the entry angle changing member 71 of the guide portion 7 becomes an angle corresponding to the recording medium P.

  When the movement of the adjustment member 72 and the adjustment of the discharge unit 8 are completed, the operator inputs an image recording start instruction from the input unit 12. Based on the input, the control unit 10 controls the recording head 5, the transport roller 6, the unwinding unit 23, and the winding unit 9, and ejects ink onto the recording medium P while intermittently feeding the recording medium P to generate an image. Record. The recording medium P on which the image is recorded is wound up by the winding unit 9 while hanging vertically along the discharge unit 8.

  As described above, according to the recording medium conveyance device 2 of the present embodiment, the discharge unit 8 changes the inclination angle of the discharge path to an angle corresponding to the stiffness of the recording media P and Q. An angle suitable for each type can be set as the inclination angle. As a result, the tilt angle can be changed to an angle at which tension is applied to the recording medium Q having weak stiffness, and the tilt angle is set to an angle at which the flatness can be maintained without floating from the platen 4 for the strong recording medium P. Can be changed. Therefore, even if the stiffness of the recording media P and Q is different, the discharge performance is stabilized.

Further, when the strong recording medium P is conveyed, the inclination angle is changed so that the recording medium P is parallel to the platen 4, so that there is no inclination at the position immediately downstream of the platen 4. A discharge path is formed. Thus, if there is no inclined portion, it is possible to prevent the stiff recording medium P from floating from the platen 4.
On the other hand, when the recording medium Q having low stiffness is conveyed, the inclination angle is changed so that the recording medium Q is perpendicular to the platen 4, and therefore the recording medium Q on the downstream side of the platen Tension is applied by its own weight. In this way, if tension is applied to the recording medium Q that is weak, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of buckling and to stabilize the discharge performance as a result.

Since the winding unit 9 winds the recording medium Q having a low stiffness below the discharge unit 8, it is possible to wind the recording medium Q with tension applied thereto. Generally, the recording medium Q that is weak is used frequently, but if it is wound in this way, it becomes easy to handle.
Furthermore, since the control unit 10 controls the discharge unit 8 to obtain an inclination angle corresponding to the stiffness of the recording media P and Q, it is possible to automatically change the inclination angle of the discharge path.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.
For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the tilt angle is changed in two stages has been described as an example. However, if the relationship between the type of recording medium and the tilt angle adapted to each type is used as angle data, each type of It becomes possible to change to the optimum inclination angle individually. The inclination angle α _n for each type is calculated as α _n = atan (Y / X) based on the quantitative value (Y / X) of each type.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with a recording medium conveying apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for describing stiffness of a recording medium conveyed by the recording medium conveying apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main control configuration in the image recording apparatus 1 in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

2 Recording Medium Conveying Device 4 Platen 6 Conveying Roller 8 Discharging Unit 21, 22 Original Roll Holding Unit P, Q Recording Medium

Claims (4)

An original volume holding unit for holding an original volume of the recording medium;
A conveying roller that applies a driving force to the recording medium on the downstream side of the original winding holding unit, and conveys the recording medium to a platen of an image recording apparatus;
A discharge section for discharging the recording medium after image recording on the downstream side of the platen,
The recording medium transporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge section is capable of changing an inclination angle in the discharge path of the recording medium in accordance with the stiffness of the recording medium. The recording medium conveying apparatus according to claim 1,
The discharge part is
The tilt angle can be changed so that the recording medium is parallel to the platen with respect to the stiff recording medium, and the recording medium is relative to the platen with respect to the stiff recording medium. A recording medium conveying apparatus characterized in that the inclination angle can be changed to be vertical. The recording medium conveying apparatus according to claim 2,
A recording medium conveying apparatus comprising: a winding unit that winds up the recording medium below the discharge unit when an inclination angle is changed so that the recording medium is vertical. In the recording-medium conveyance apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
A recording medium conveying apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the discharge unit so that the inclination angle is an angle corresponding to the stiffness of the recording medium.

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