JP2007168105A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder in which parallel conveyance in two rows can be carried out easily even for recording sheets of different width by enhancing selectivity of the width of a conveyance passage sharply at the time of parallel conveyance. <P>SOLUTION: A guide for regulating the position in the width direction perpendicularly intersecting the conveyance direction of a recoding medium arranged in the conveyance passage of the recoding medium leading to a section for discharging a recorded recoding medium from a recoding medium loading section has a pair of outer guides disposed at the outermost portion in the width direction in order to regulate the position of the recoding medium in the width direction at one end thereof, and at least one inner guide disposed between a pair of outer guides for regulating the other end of the recoding medium. The problem is solved by providing a transfer means moving at least two of the pair of outer guides and the inner guide independently and continuously in the width direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of an image recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, and more particularly, to an image recording apparatus capable of obtaining high productivity by conveying in parallel even recording media of different sizes as required. .

  In various image recording apparatuses such as an ink jet printer, as one method for improving production capacity, a recording medium is transported as a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as a width direction) (hereinafter referred to as parallel transport). It is known to perform image recording (drawing) and post-processing after image recording in this parallel transport state.

As a matter of course, in order to output an appropriate print, it is necessary to make the position in the width direction of the recording medium appropriate when recording an image.
Therefore, various regulation guides for regulating the position of the recording medium in the width direction have been proposed in correspondence with image recording apparatuses that perform image recording by parallel conveyance.

  Specifically, a groove that regulates the position of one end of the recording medium (end in the width direction) is formed on both ends in the width direction, and is fixed to the support plate so as to be positioned at the center in the width direction. A fixed guide, and a pair of movable guides located on both sides in the width direction of the fixed guide, wherein a groove for regulating the position of the other end of the recording medium is formed on the inner side in the width direction. There is known an image recording apparatus having a regulation guide in which a plurality of attachment portions for attaching the image sensor are arranged in parallel in the width direction on a support plate, and the movable guide is configured to be detachable in the width direction (for example, see Patent Document 1). .

  In addition, a central guide located at the center in the width direction having a groove for restricting the position of one end of the recording medium at both ends in the width direction, and a groove for restricting the position of the other end of the recording medium in the width direction , Two movable guides that are located on both sides in the width direction of the central guide and are movable in the width direction, and a direction in which the central guide is substantially perpendicular to the conveyance surface of the recording medium (hereinafter referred to as the up-down direction). An image recording apparatus having a regulation guide including a retraction mechanism that retreats the central guide from the conveyance surface by the movable guide by moving to () is also known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2003-260839 A JP 2003-261249 A

  In the regulation guide described in Patent Document 1, the user can place the movable guide at a position where the mounting portion on the support plate is arranged by attaching and detaching the movable guide. Can not be placed. Therefore, there is a problem that the width of the transport path can be set only to a predetermined width, and the degree of freedom of the print size is low. In addition, when changing the width of the transport path, the user has to manually move the movable guide, resulting in poor work efficiency.

  Further, the regulation guide described in Patent Document 2 performs parallel conveyance corresponding to recording media of various sizes (widths) by a central guide and a pair of movable guides whose position can be adjusted in the width direction. Can do. However, the movable guides of the regulation guide can be adjusted only to positions targeted for each other around the central guide. That is, in this regulation guide, only recording media having the same width can be transported in parallel, and there are problems such as a low degree of freedom in print size in parallel transport.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and to provide an image recording apparatus capable of easily carrying a plurality of recording media of different sizes (widths) in parallel.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image recording unit, a supply unit for supplying a recording medium from a recording medium loading unit to the image recording unit, and a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit. A conveying unit that conveys the recording medium, and a regulation guide that is disposed in a conveyance path of the recording medium from the loading unit to the discharge unit and regulates the position of the recording medium in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, The restriction guide includes a pair of outer guides arranged at the outermost part in the width direction for restricting a position in the width direction of one end of the recording medium, and a guide part for restricting the position in the width direction. At least one inner guide disposed between the pair of outer guides on both sides of the direction, and at least two of the pair of outer guides and the inner guides are independent of each other. Said To provide an image recording apparatus characterized by comprising moving means for continuously moving in the direction.

  Further, the outer guide has a plurality of outer passage portions that regulate the position in the width direction of one end portion of the recording medium in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface of the recording medium, and the inner guide further includes: At positions corresponding to one outer passage portion of the outer guide in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance surface, inner passage portions that regulate the position in the width direction of one end portion of the recording medium are provided on both sides in the width direction, Further, the recording medium conveyance path in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance surface is regulated, and the recording medium is guided to one outer passage portion of the outer guide and the inner passage portion of the inner guide corresponding to the outer passage portion. It is preferable to have a route changing means.

  Here, the path changing unit is provided integrally with the transport roller pair disposed immediately upstream of the transport guide, and regulates the transport path of the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to the transport surface. It is preferable to comprise a guide guide and a swinging means for swinging the pair of conveying rollers and the guide guide.

  The path changing means is provided at the upstream end of the outer guide and the inner guide, and the guide guide swings the upstream end in a direction perpendicular to the conveying surface with the outer guide or the inner guide as a fulcrum. It is also preferable that

  Further, it is preferable that the moving means continuously moves at least the pair of outer guides in the width direction independently of each other.

  According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration, there is provided moving means that enables at least two of the pair of outer guides and at least one inner guide to move continuously in the width direction independently of each other. Thus, at the time of parallel conveyance, the widths of the conveyance paths of at least two parallel conveyances can be arbitrarily set independently. Further, it is not necessary for the user to manually change the width of the transport path, and the width of the transport path can be easily changed. Therefore, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, parallel conveyance can be easily performed even for recording papers having various different widths.

  Hereinafter, the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of an example of an ink jet printer using the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
The ink jet printer 10 (hereinafter referred to as the printer 10) shown in FIG. 1 performs not only image recording by ink jet on the recording paper S, but also surface treatment for realizing back printing and photo-equivalent quality as necessary. Prints out and prints, and basically has a recording paper supply unit 12, a back printing unit 14, an image recording unit 16, a surface treatment unit 18, a cutting unit 20, and a discharge unit 22. Configured. The printer 10 also has a control unit 24 that controls and manages the operation of the entire printer 10.
In addition to the illustrated members, the printer 10 includes various members of known printers such as a pair of conveying rollers, a guide roller, a guide member, and a sensor for detecting the recording paper S, as necessary. Of course, it may be arranged.

  The recording paper supply unit 12 is a part that supplies the recording paper S as a recording medium to the back printing unit 14, and includes a first loading unit 30, a second loading unit 32, a sheet paper loading unit 34, guide rollers 36 and 38, It has a guillotine cutter 40, a paper feed roller 44, and two transport roller pairs 50 (50a and 50b).

Both the first loading unit 30 and the second loading unit 32 are loaded with a recording paper roll Sr formed by winding a long recording paper S around a core material, and after a cutter 40 described later, the back printing unit 14 (and It is sent to each subsequent part). When the recording paper S has an ink receiving layer, the recording paper S is wound with the ink receiving layer facing outside.
Since the first loading unit 30 and the second loading unit 32 have the same configuration except for the positions in the printer 10, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the following description will be made on the first loading unit 30. As a representative example.

The first loading unit 30 (second loading unit 32) has a rotation direction that coincides with the feeding direction of the recording paper S (that is, the axial direction is perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), and is separated by a predetermined interval in the transport direction. Two flange rotation rollers 46 and a feed roller pair 52 are arranged.
The feed roller pair 52 is a known conveyance roller pair. Further, both the flange rotation roller 46 and the feed roller pair 52 are engaged with a known rotational drive source (not shown), and are rotated in the normal direction (feeding direction) or reverse (rewinding direction).

In the printer 10 of the illustrated example, the recording paper roll Sr has the flange F in a state of being sandwiched (clamped in the axial direction) by two disc-shaped flanges F having a cylindrical portion Fc inserted into the core. By being mounted on the two flange rotation rollers 46, the printer 10 (the first loading unit 30 and the second loading unit 32) is loaded at a predetermined position. The outer diameter of the flange F is larger than the corresponding maximum diameter recording paper roll Sr.
When a print is created by two rows of parallel conveyance described later, the recording paper roll Sr sandwiched between the flanges F is placed on the flange rotation roller 46 in the axial direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1). Place two in a row.

  In the first loading unit 30 (second loading unit 32), the flange F is rotated by the flange rotation roller 46, and the recording sheet S is conveyed by the feed roller 52 in synchronization with the recording sheet S from the recording sheet roll Sr. Send out. At this time, the flange F also acts as a guide member for feeding the recording paper S.

  In the present invention, the method for loading the recording paper roll Sr is not limited to this, and a magazine is used in which the recording paper roll Sr is rotatably supported at the center and accommodates the recording paper roll Sr. All the roll paper loading methods implemented by various printers, such as a method for loading the paper into a predetermined loading position, can be used.

  The recording sheet S of the recording sheet roll Sr loaded in the first loading unit 30 is guided by the guide roller 36, and the recording loaded in the second loading unit 32 through the cutter 40 to the back printing unit 14 to the recording unit 16. The recording paper S of the paper roll Sr is guided by the guide roller 38 and is conveyed (sent out) from the back printing unit 14 to the recording unit 16 through the cutter 40 in the same manner.

The cutter 40 is a known guillotine cutter. Here, the cutter 40 does not cut the recording paper S for each print, but is set in advance as when stopping the movement of the printer 10 when printing is interrupted (finished) for each print. The recording sheet S is cut at a predetermined timing (or selected).
That is, in the printer 10 of the illustrated example, when a print is created using the recording paper S of the recording paper roll Sr, the back printing by the back printing unit 14 and the image recording unit 16 is performed with the long recording paper S as it is. Image recording and surface treatment (if necessary) in the surface treatment unit 18 are performed, and then the cutting unit 20 performs cutting to obtain a print P for each sheet.

Therefore, when creating a print using the recording paper S of the recording paper roll Sr, the first loading unit 30 is similar to a known printer using a recording medium wound in a roll shape (so-called roll paper). Alternatively, the recording paper S is sent out from the recording paper roll Sr that is used by the second loading unit 32, and the leading end is placed at a predetermined position (for example, the image recording unit 16 through a guide roller 36 or 38, the cutter 40, etc.). The most upstream conveying roller pair).
When the recording paper S is cut by the cutter 40 and the cut recording paper S is not used in the subsequent print creation, the flange rotation roller 46 and the feed roller 52 are reversed to place the recording paper S at a predetermined position. Rewind until At this time, the flange F also functions as a guide for properly winding the recording paper S around the recording paper roll Sr.

The sheet paper loading unit 34 is a part for loading the cut sheet-shaped recording paper S that has been cut into a predetermined size in advance.
The cut sheet-like recording paper S is accommodated in a known cassette 48 used in various printers, and the cassette 48 is loaded at a predetermined position of the sheet paper supply unit 34, so that it is loaded at a predetermined position of the printer 10. Is done. In the illustrated example, in the case of having an ink receiving layer, the recording paper S is stored in the cassette 48 with the ink receiving layer facing down.
The recording paper S accommodated in the cassette 48 is taken out from the cassette 48 and conveyed by a paper feed roller 44 which is a half-moon roller (D roller) whose side peripheral surface is cut out in a flat shape, and further, a pair of conveyance rollers 50. And supplied to the back printing unit 14 by a conveyance guide (not shown).

In the printer 10 of the illustrated example, the recording paper S is not particularly limited, and is plain paper (plain paper), ink jet recording paper having a mat-like or glossy ink-receiving layer on the surface, and ink receiving made of thermoplastic resin particles. Inkjet recording paper having a pigment ink solvent absorbing layer under the ink layer and the ink receiving layer (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-35050, etc.) and ink jet recording paper having an ink-philic thermoplastic resin layer as the ink receiving layer Various known recording paper S (image receiving paper (image receiving medium)) such as inkjet recording paper for photographic image quality printing can be used.
The thermoplastic resin used for inkjet recording paper for photographic image quality printing includes polyacrylic ester, polycarbonate, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polybutadiene, poly (meth) acrylic acid, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate. , Polyesters, polyamides, polyethers, copolymers thereof and the like. Among them, polyacrylic ester copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-acrylic acid ester copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid ester A copolymer, SBR latex, etc. are illustrated suitably.

  Here, as will be described later, the image recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to an ink jet printer, and depending on the image recording method, a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material, a heat-sensitive recording material, a photosensitive heat-developable recording material, and a thermoplastic resin. Various recording media such as electrophotographic recording paper for photographic quality printing having a layer as an image receiving layer can be used.

Further, the printer 10 (image recording apparatus) of the present invention is not limited to using such a roll paper and a cut sheet in combination. Even if only the roll paper is used, only the cut sheet is used. It may be.
When roll paper is used, it is not cut into individual prints at the end, but the recording paper S is cut immediately after being pulled out from the recording paper roll to form a cut sheet, and then back printing or image recording is performed. It may be what you do.

The back printing unit 14 is printed on the back surface of the recording paper S (non-image recording surface (the back surface of the ink receiving layer in the case of the recording paper S having an ink receiving layer)) by a dot impact printer or the like, for example. Back print). Alternatively, reverse printing may be performed by an ink jet printer or a thermal printer.
The contents of the back print are not particularly limited, and examples include various types of information standardized in photographic prints.

The image recording unit 16 is a part for recording an image on such a long recording sheet S and a cut sheet-shaped recording sheet S by ink jet, and the regulation guide 54 and the recording sheet S from upstream to downstream. A recording unit 56 for recording an image, and a drying means 58. Further, a pair of conveyance rollers 50 c is disposed upstream of the regulation guide 54, a pair of conveyance rollers 50 d is disposed between the regulation guide 54 and the recording unit 56, and a conveyance roller pair 50 e is disposed between the recording unit 56 and the drying unit 58. , Respectively.
In the illustrated example, the printer 10 performs image recording (print creation) in single-line conveyance in which only one recording sheet S is conveyed, and two recording sheets S in the conveyance direction (in the case of a long recording sheet S). This is an apparatus capable of recording an image with two sheets of paper conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction). By enabling such parallel conveyance, the production capacity of the printer 10 can be improved.

A regulation guide 54 disposed upstream of the recording unit 56 (between the conveyance roller pair 50c and the conveyance roller pair 50d) regulates the position in the width direction of the recording sheet S conveyed to the recording unit 56 that records an image by inkjet. Thus, a predetermined position is set.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the conveyance roller pair 50c, the regulation guide 54, and the conveyance roller pair 50d. 2A is a plan view (viewed from the top in FIG. 1), FIG. 2B is a front view showing only the regulation guide (a view in the same direction as FIG. 1), and FIG. The right side in the figure as viewed from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording paper S is the upper side). In FIG. 2C, the conveyance roller pairs 50c and 50d are omitted to clearly show the configuration.

Both the conveyance roller pair 50c and the conveyance roller pair 50d are a conveyance roller pair including a lower drive roller 60 (rotation drive source not shown) and an upper driven roller 62, and all the rollers are divided in the width direction. Divided roller (comb roller).
The driving roller 60 of the conveying roller pair 50c and the driving roller 60 and the driven roller 62 of the conveying roller pair 50d are pivotally supported by the frames 64a and 64b, and the driven roller 62 of the conveying roller pair 50c is a bracket 82 described later. Is pivotally supported. This will be described in detail later.

  The restriction guide 54 basically includes a fixed guide 68 fixed at a predetermined position in the width direction, two variable width guides 70 and 72 disposed on both sides of the fixed guide 68 in the width direction, a screw shaft 74 and 75 and a guide shaft 76. In the illustrated example, the fixed guide 68 corresponds to the inner guide, and the variable width guides 70 and 72 correspond to the outer guide, respectively.

The screw shafts 74 and 75 extend in the width direction and are rotatably supported by the frames 64a and 64b. Further, the screw shafts 74 and 75 are rotated by different rotational driving sources (not shown).
The screw shaft 74 is a screw shaft in which a screw is cut from the position of the fixed guide 68 to the position of one frame 64a. The screw shaft 75 is a screw shaft in which a screw is cut from the position of the fixed guide 68 to the position of the other frame 64b. As will be described later, the variable width guide 70 and the variable width guide 72 are screwed into the screw shaft 74 and the screw shaft 75, respectively.
The guide shaft 76 is a rod-shaped member that extends in the width direction and is fixed to the frames 64a and 64b.

The fixed guide 68 is a central side in the width direction of each recording sheet S (hereinafter, this direction is simply referred to as “inside” and the opposite direction is referred to as “outside”) when the recording sheets S are conveyed in parallel in two rows to record an image. It is a guide member that regulates the position of the end.
In the illustrated example, the fixed guide 68 includes slit-like passage portions (inner passage portions) 68a and 68b through which the inner ends of the two recording papers S transported in parallel pass, one end is opened and one end is closed. The cross section has a substantially H-shaped cross section.
The fixed guide 68 is fixed at a predetermined position in the width direction of the conveyance path of the recording paper S in a state where the H-shape is shown in the conveyance direction and the open ends of the passage portions 68a and 68b are directed outward.
Note that the position of the fixed guide 68 is not limited to the position in the illustrated example, and various positions can be used as long as the position is between the variable width guide 70 and the variable width guide 72 such as the center in the width direction.

On the other hand, the variable width guides 70 and 72 both have the positions of the end portions in the width direction of one sheet of recording paper S when transported in a single row and the two widths of the recording sheets S when transported in parallel. It is a guide member that regulates the position of the outer end.
The variable width guide 70 is a slit-shaped passage portion (outer passage portion) in which one end portion of the recording paper S (one end portion in the case of single row conveyance and the outer end portion in the case of parallel conveyance) passes and one end is closed and the other end is closed. ) 70a and 70c having a rib 70r as a center, and a guide part 78 having a substantially E-shaped cross section, and an engaging part 80 provided on the guide part 78 (above the E letter). And is disposed on the side of the passage portion 68 a of the fixed guide 68.
The other variable width guide 72 has the same configuration as the variable width guide 70, and has a cross section in which passage portions 72a and 72c through which the end of the recording paper S passes are stacked around the rib 72r. It has a substantially E-shaped guide part 79 and an engaging part 81 provided on the guide part 79, and is disposed on the passing part 68 b side of the fixed guide 68.
Both of the variable width guides 70 and 72 show the E-shape in the transport direction, the open end of the passage portion is directed inward, and the two passage portions are in a direction perpendicular to the transport surface of the recording paper S (hereinafter, the vertical direction). And the fixed guide 68 is arranged in the width direction (outside in the width direction of the fixed guide 68).

  In the illustrated example, as a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B exemplifying the variable width guide 70, the fixed guide 68 and the variable width guides 70 and 72 are located upstream of the respective passing portions. The end portion has a shape that gradually widens toward the upstream side, and is easily and reliably inserted into the recording paper S passage portion.

In the engaging portion 80 of the variable width guide 70, a screw hole 80a to be screwed into the screw shaft 74, a guide hole 80b in which one end of the screw shaft 75 where the screw is not cut is weakly slidably inserted and a guide shaft 76 is inserted. A guide hole 80c into which a part of the guide hole is weakly slidably contacted is formed.
On the other hand, the engaging portion 81 of the variable width guide 72 has a screw hole 81a screwed into the screw shaft 75, a guide hole 81b through which one end of the screw shaft 74 that is not screwed is slidably inserted, and a guide. A guide hole 81c through which a part of the shaft 76 is weakly slidably contacted is formed.

Accordingly, by rotating the variable width guide 70 by the screw shaft 74 and the variable width guide 72 by rotating the screw shaft 75, the variable width guide 72 is continuously approached / separated from the fixed guide 68 independently of each other according to the rotation direction, The distance between the variable width guide 70 and the variable width guide 72, the distance between the variable width guide 70 and the fixed guide 68, and the distance between the variable width guide 72 and the fixed guide 68 can be continuously adjusted.
As will be described later, in the illustrated example, both the single-line conveyance and the parallel conveyance correspond to the recording sheets S of various widths. In parallel conveyance, two types of recording sheets S having different widths can be used. Transport is possible.
The restriction guide 54 uses a portion where the screw shaft 75 is not cut as a guide shaft of the variable guide 70 and uses a portion where the screw shaft 74 is not cut as a guide shaft of the variable guide 72. Accordingly, the guide shaft 76 may be omitted. In this case, the restriction guide 54 can be configured more simply.

In the regulation guide 54 of the illustrated example, the fixed guide 68 and the variable width guides 70 and 72 include a passage portion 68 a and 68 b of the fixed guide 68, a passage portion 70 a of the variable width guide 70, and a passage portion of the variable width guide 72. 72a is arranged at the same position in the vertical direction.
The fixed guide 68 is fixed below a plane connecting the passage portion 70c of the variable width guide 70 and the passage portion 72c of the variable width guide 72.

  That is, in the regulation guide 54, when two conveying paths are formed in the vertical direction and two rows are parallelly conveyed, the fixed guide 68 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). In the lower conveyance path, a recording sheet S is passed through the passage portion 68a of the fixed guide 68 and the passage portion 70a of the variable width guide 70, and the passage portion 68b of the fixed guide 68 and the passage portion 72a of the variable width guide 72 are connected. Then, the other recording sheet S is regulated in the width direction, positioned in the width direction, and conveyed to the downstream recording unit 56. Note that the passage portions 68a and 68b of the fixed guide 68 serve as reference positions for positioning the recording paper S during parallel conveyance.

  On the other hand, when carrying a single row, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the passage portion 70c of the variable width guide 70 and the variable width guide 72 are arranged on the upper conveyance path without the fixed guide 68. The passage portion 72c regulates the position in the width direction of one recording sheet S, positions it in the width direction, and conveys it to the downstream recording unit 56.

Here, as described above, since the variable width guides 70 and 72 are configured to be independently movable continuously in the width direction, the positions of the variable width guides 70 and 72 can be moved within the respective movable ranges. By adjusting the position to an arbitrary position, it is possible to cope with recording sheets S of various widths (sizes) regardless of single-line conveyance or parallel conveyance.
Further, since the variable width guides of the variable width guide 70 and the variable width guide 72 can be moved continuously in the width direction independently of each other, for example, a recording medium that is symmetrically conveyed during parallel conveyance is shown in FIG. ) And (B), even if the recording papers have different widths, or the recording papers having the same width as shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and (B), By adjusting the positions of the variable width guides in the width direction, parallel conveyance can be performed simultaneously.

  In the illustrated printer 10, the pair of conveyance rollers 50 c arranged upstream of the regulation guide 54 regulates the conveyance path in the vertical direction of the recording paper S and uses the fixed guide 68 to pass through the fixed guide 68. Lower parallel conveyance path (hereinafter referred to as parallel path for convenience) in which the position in the width direction of the recording sheet S is regulated by the sections 68a and 68b, the passage part 70a of the variable width guide 70, and the passage part 72b of the variable width guide 72. Or the upper single-row transport in which the position in the width direction of the recording sheet S is regulated by the passage portion 70c of the variable width guide 70 and the passage portion 72c of the variable width guide 72 without using the fixed guide 68. It also serves as a route changing means for guiding to a transport route (same as a single row route).

As described above, the driving roller 60 below the conveying roller pair 50c is pivotally supported by the frames 64a and 64b.
On the other hand, the driven roller 62 above the conveying roller pair 50c is pivotally supported in the long hole 82a of the bracket 82 disposed inside the frames 64a and 64b. The bracket 82 is rotatably supported by the driving roller 60 (rotating shaft 60a) by the hole 82b.

A guide guide 83 is fixed to the bracket 82.
The guide guide 83 is made up of two rectangular guide plates each having a comb-like concavo-convex shape on the long side. The two guide plates that form the guide guide 83 are inserted into the divided portion of the conveyance roller pair 50c with the comb teeth portion on the upstream side with the longitudinal direction aligned with the width direction, and the conveyance roller pair 50c. Is fixed to the bracket 82 so that the conveyance path of the recording paper S conveyed by the above is sandwiched in the vertical direction with a slight gap. Further, the two guide plates are fixed to the bracket 82 so that the plate surface is parallel to the conveyance surface of the recording paper S by the conveyance roller pair 50c.

A pin 82c is fixed to the upper portion of the bracket 82 so as to protrude inward. The lever 82 is engaged with the pin 82c.
The lever 84 is a substantially rectangular plate and is pivotally supported by a pin 84c at the center so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the vertical direction. Slotted cuts 84a and 84b are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The pin 82c of the bracket 82 is inserted / engaged with the lower cut 84b. The pin 84c is fixed to the bracket 64a, for example.

A solenoid 86 is engaged with a notch 84 a above the lever 84.
The solenoid 86 is a known solenoid that pushes out the rod-shaped piston 86a from a predetermined state and accommodates it in the predetermined state from the pushed state. The piston 86a is disposed so as to push the piston 86a downstream in the conveyance direction of the recording paper S, and a pin 86b is fixed to the tip of the piston 86a. The pin 86b is inserted / engaged with a notch 84a above the lever 84.

In the illustrated example, in the steady state (the state where the piston 86a is not pushed out), as shown in FIGS. 2 (B) and 6 (A), the parallel path (the lower transport path using the fixed guide 68). The fixed guide 68 and the variable width guides 70 and 72 are arranged so that is a conveyance path of the recording paper S by the conveyance roller pair 50c and the conveyance roller pair 50d.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6A, the guide guide 83 composed of a guide plate parallel to the transport path by the transport roller pair 50c is in a state of guiding the recording paper S to the parallel path, and the transport roller pair 50c. The recording sheet S transported from is guided by the guide guide 83 and is regulated in position in the width direction through the parallel path below the regulation guide 54 (fixed guide 68, variable width guides 70 and 72). The paper is supplied to the conveyance roller pair 50d, conveyed, and conveyed to the downstream recording unit 56 (the reference guide 102).

From this steady state, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the solenoid 86 pushes out the piston 86a, the piston 86a pushes the upper portion of the lever 84 downstream. As described above, since the lever 84 is pivotally supported by the pin 84c at the center, the lever 84 is tilted with the upper side being the downstream side and the lower side being the upstream side by the pushing force by the piston 86a.
Due to the inclination of the lever 84, the pin 82c on the upper portion of the bracket 82 is pushed upstream. As described above, the bracket 82 pivotally supports the driven roller 62 and is rotatably supported by the driving roller 60 (rotating shaft 60a). Inclined upstream. Due to the inclination of the bracket 82, as shown in FIG. 6B, the driven roller 62 that is pivotally supported by the long hole 82 a moves upstream along the driving roller 60 and is fixed to the bracket 82. The guide 83 is also inclined, and the conveyance path by the conveyance roller pair 50 c and the guide guide 83 is directed upward, and is directed to a single-line path that is an upper conveyance path that does not use the fixed guide 68.

Accordingly, the recording paper S conveyed from the conveyance roller pair 50c in this state is guided by the guide guide 83 and is positioned above the regulation guide 54 (as shown in FIG. 6B). 72), the position in the width direction is regulated, further supplied to the conveyance roller pair 50d, conveyed, and conveyed to the downstream recording unit 56 (the reference guide 102).
In order to ensure the recording paper S from the single row path of the regulation guide 54 to the conveyance roller pair 50d, a guide member for guiding the recording paper S from the single row path to the conveyance roller pair 50d may be provided.

In the present invention, the route changing means to the single row route and the parallel route is not limited to this, and various kinds of transfer route switching means can be used.
An example is shown in FIG.

The path changing means shown in FIG. 7 is a plate-shaped guide guide 88 (which regulates the vertical conveyance path of the recording paper S at the upstream end of each of the fixed guide 68 and the variable width guides 70 and 72. A flapper). In this example, the conveyance roller pairs 50c and 50d are all pivotally supported by the brackets 64a and 64b.
The guide guide 88 has a wedge shape whose thickness gradually decreases in one direction. The guide end 88 has a thin side (hereinafter, this side is the front end and the other end is the base end) on the upstream side, and a proximal end is provided by means such as a hinge. Are fixed to the fixed guide 68 and the variable width guides 70 and 72. Therefore, it can swing around the base end.
The fixed guide 68 is fixed to the upper portion of the upstream end portion, and the variable width guides 70 and 72 are fixed to the upstream end portions of the ribs 70r and 72r, respectively. That is, the guide guide 88 is fixed on the lower parallel path.

A plate-like arm 90 is fixed to the lower surface in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the guide guide 88. A pin 90 a is fixed to the lower end portion of the arm 90.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the pin 90a of the arm 90 extends in the width direction, and one pin 90a is fixed to the guide guide 88 of the fixed guide 68. The arm 90 fixed to the guide guide 88 of the width guide 70 and the arm 90 fixed to the guide guide 88 of the variable width guide 72 are all engaged.

  The lever 92 is a substantially rectangular plate and is pivotally supported by a pin 92c at the center so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the transport direction. Slotted cuts 92a and 92b are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The pin 90a of the arm 90 is inserted / engaged with the upstream cut 92a. The pin 92c is fixed to the bracket 64a, for example.

A solenoid 86 similar to the above is engaged with a cut 92 b on the downstream side of the lever 92. Specifically, the pin 86 b at the tip of the piston 86 a of the solenoid 86 is inserted / engaged with the cut 92 b on the downstream side of the lever 92.
The solenoid 86 and the lever 92 are not provided corresponding to the fixed guide 68 and the variable width guides 70 and 72, but only one.

Also in the example shown in FIG. 7, the fixed guide 68 so that the transport path of the recording paper S by the transport roller pair 50 c and the transport roller pair 50 d coincides with the parallel path (a lower transport path using the fixed guide 68). The variable width guides 70 and 72 are arranged.
As shown in FIG. 7B, in the steady state (the state where the piston 86a is not pushed out), the guide guide 88 fixed on the lower parallel path as described above is formed by the conveying roller pairs 50c and 50d. Parallel to the transport path. Accordingly, the recording sheet S conveyed from the pair of conveyance rollers 50c proceeds as it is, and the position in the width direction is regulated through the parallel path below the regulation guide 54 (fixed guide 68, variable width guides 70 and 72). Further, the toner is supplied to the conveyance roller pair 50d, conveyed, and conveyed to the downstream recording unit 56.

From this steady state, as shown in FIG. 7C, when the solenoid 86 pushes out the piston 86a, the piston 86a pushes the downstream side of the lever 92 upward. As described above, since the lever 92 is pivotally supported by the center 92c so as to be swingable, the lever 92 is inclined with the downstream side upward and the upstream side downward by the pushing force of the piston 86a.
Due to the inclination of the lever 92, the arm 90 engaging the pin 90 a with the notch 92 a formed at the upstream end of the lever 92 moves downward, and the guide guide 88 is fixed to the lower surface near the tip. However, the tip is inclined downward and the conveyance path is guided to the upper single row path.

  Here, as described above, the pin 90 a of the arm 90 is engaged with the arm 90 fixed to all the guides 88 of the fixed guide 68, the variable width guide 70, and the variable width guide 72. Therefore, by driving the solenoid 86, all the guides 88 of the fixed guide 68, the variable width guide 70, and the variable width guide 72 are inclined downward.

  Accordingly, the recording paper S conveyed from the conveying roller pair 50c in this state is guided by the guide guide 88 and is simply above the restriction guide 54 (variable width guides 70 and 72) as shown in FIG. The position in the width direction is regulated through the row conveyance path, and further, supplied to the conveyance roller pair 50d, conveyed, and conveyed to the downstream recording unit 56 (its reference guide 102).

In the illustrated example, the fixed guide 68 and the variable width guides 70 and 72 are arranged so that the transport path of the transport roller pairs 50c and 50d and the parallel path corresponding to the parallel transport are aligned, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not done.
Here, in consideration of the load applied to the recording paper S, it is preferable that the conveyance path regularly used in the regulation guide 54 coincides with the conveyance paths of the conveyance roller pairs 50c and 50d.

In the illustrated example, the variable width guides 70 and 72 (outer guides) provided on the outer side in the width direction are provided with two passing portions in the vertical direction, and have two transport paths in the vertical direction. This invention is not limited to this, For example, you may have three conveyance paths in an up-down direction.
For example, the variable width guides 70 and 72 are provided with three passing portions in the vertical direction, and are positioned between the fixed guide 68 (inner guide) in the width direction and each variable width guide, and on the conveyance surface by the fixed guide 68. Two second inner guides having passage portions for the recording paper S on both sides in the width direction may be arranged at positions where the recording paper S is not applied, so that three rows can be conveyed in parallel. With such a configuration, a single row path using only the variable width guides 70 and 72, a two-row parallel path using the fixed guide 68, and a three-row parallel using the two second inner guides. Three types of conveyance with the path are possible.
Note that at least one of the two second inner guides may be configured to be movable in the width direction.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the regulation guide that regulates the position in the width direction of the recording paper S, the pair of outer guides are arranged with respect to the inner guide fixed at a predetermined position therebetween. Since it is configured to be independently movable in the width direction and continuously movable in the width direction, the widths of the parallel path and the single row path can be arbitrarily set. Accordingly, recording paper of various widths (sizes) can be handled regardless of single-line conveyance or parallel conveyance, and recording papers having different widths can be simultaneously conveyed in parallel at the time of parallel conveyance. Further, by providing a moving means for moving the pair of outer guides, it is not necessary for the user to manually move the guides, and it is possible to easily cope with recording sheets of various widths (sizes).

In the illustrated example, as a preferable mode, in the regulation guide for regulating the position in the width direction of the recording paper, a plurality of conveyance paths are formed in the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface of the recording paper). Since single row conveyance and parallel conveyance are performed, it is possible to easily cope with various types of conveyance forms, and the degree of freedom of the recording form of the image recording apparatus using parallel conveyance can be greatly improved.
Similarly, in the illustrated example, the position reference guide (the fixed guide 68 in the illustrated example) is fixed without moving, and thus is not affected by the guide position error caused by this movement, that is, By positioning the recording sheet S with high accuracy, it is possible to perform proper image recording without any error in the recording position.

As described above, the recording unit 56 is disposed downstream of the regulation guide 54 (conveying roller pair 50d).
The recording unit 56 includes a known inkjet recording unit 100 that uses an inkjet recording head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) and a reference guide 102 that regulates the vertical position of the recording paper S. A known full-color image is recorded.

The image recording (drawing) method by the recording unit 100 may be a known method performed by an ink jet printer, and is not particularly limited.
Therefore, the recording unit 100 uses a line head having a nozzle row (a row of nozzles that eject ink droplets) longer than the recording paper S having the maximum width, and the line head matches the nozzle row in the width direction. It is also possible to perform so-called FWA (Full Width Array) type image recording, in which image recording is performed while the recording paper S is continuously conveyed (scanned conveyance). Alternatively, the recording unit 100 mounts a small recording head on a carriage (scanning unit) with a nozzle row aligned with the conveyance direction of the recording sheet S, and conveys the recording sheet S while conveying the recording sheet S intermittently. In this state, image recording of a so-called PWA (Partial Width Array) method may be performed in which image recording is performed by scanning the recording head in the width direction in a state where the recording is stopped.
Therefore, when the recording unit 100 performs image recording by the FWA method, the conveyance of the recording paper S by the conveyance roller pairs 50c to 50e (and 50f described later) is continuous, and the recording unit 100 is in the PWA mode. In the case of performing image recording by the method, the conveyance of the recording paper S by the conveyance roller pairs 50c to 50e (and 50f described later) is intermittent.

The reference guide 102 simply supports the recording sheet S from below and regulates the vertical position of the recording sheet S to a predetermined position (the interval between the recording head and the recording sheet S is a predetermined interval). Alternatively, or further, a suction hole is provided on the upper surface of the reference guide 102 (the conveyance surface of the recording paper S = the position reference surface), and the recording paper S is prevented from being lifted by means of suction from the inside. The recording sheet S may be reliably and accurately regulated at a predetermined position.
The means for preventing the recording paper S from floating in the reference guide 102 is not limited to suction, and various known methods such as a method using static electricity can be used. Further, the reference guide 102 may not only support the recording paper S at a predetermined position but also transport the recording paper S using a known transporting means such as a belt conveyor. Further, the reference guide 102 is a groove formed according to the width of the corresponding recording sheet S in order to prevent contamination by ink when creating a so-called borderless print in which an image is recorded to the end of the print. You may have a shape-like ink receiver.

A drying unit 58 is disposed downstream of the reference guide 102 (and the recording unit 100).
The drying means 58 is for drying the ink of the recording paper S on which an image is recorded by inkjet. The drying means 58 is not particularly limited, and various known means such as a method using a heater, a method of blowing air with a fan, and a method of using a heater and a fan together can be used.
The pair of conveying rollers 50e disposed between the reference guide 102 and the drying unit 58 can be brought into contact with and separated from each other, and separated as necessary to prevent adhesion of undried ink.

  In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the image recording method is not limited to inkjet, and a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material is used as recording paper, and the silver salt photographic light-sensitive material is exposed imagewise with recording light such as a light beam. After the latent image is recorded, an image recording method in which a wet development process is performed, an image recording method by electrophotography, an image recording method by thermal recording, a photosensitive thermal development recording material as a recording paper, and a recording light such as a light beam Various known image recording methods such as an image recording method in which a photosensitive heat-developable recording material is exposed imagewise to record a latent image and then subjected to heat development can be used.

The recording paper S from which the ink has been dried by the drying means 58 is conveyed to the surface treatment unit 18 by the conveyance roller pairs 50f and 50g. Incidentally, a loop forming portion of the recording paper S is formed between the conveying roller pairs 50f and 50g. This will be described in detail later.
When the surface treatment unit 18 uses, as the recording paper S, an inkjet recording paper for photographic image quality printing having the ink receiving layer made of the above-described thermoplastic resin particles or an ink-philic thermoplastic resin layer as the ink receiving layer. The ink receiving layer (thermoplastic resin) is subjected to a surface treatment.

In the case of using other recording paper S, basically, the surface treatment in the surface treatment unit 18 is unnecessary, and therefore preferably a nip roller 120 described later is separated from the surface treatment belt 114. The surface treatment unit 18 conveys the material downstream without performing any treatment.
However, as a matter of course, the recording paper S other than the inkjet recording paper for photographic image quality printing may be subjected to the surface treatment described later as needed.

In the surface treatment unit 18, the surface treatment belt 114 is used, and the surface (ink receiving layer) of the recording paper S is brought into contact with the surface, pressed / heated, and then cooled to perform the surface treatment of the recording paper S. Do.
In the illustrated example, the surface treatment unit 18 includes a heating roller 116, a roller 118, a nip roller 120, and a cooling unit 122 in addition to the surface treatment belt 114. The surface treatment belt 114 is an endless belt and is stretched around the heating roller 116 and the roller 118.

The surface treatment belt 114 is a belt having a very high surface (outer surface) smoothness. The heating roller 116 is a known heating roller that generates heat at a temperature corresponding to the heat treatment of the recording paper S. The cooling unit 122 cools the recording paper S conveyed to the surface treatment belt 114 by contacting and cooling the surface treatment belt 114 from the inner surface. Further, the nip roller 120 presses the recording paper S against the surface processing belt 114 by contacting and pressing the surface processing belt 114 at a position corresponding to the heating roller 116, and the recording paper S is pressed together with the surface processing belt 114. Nipped and conveyed.
The heating means in the heating roller 116 and the cooling means in the cooling unit 122 are not particularly limited, and all known means can be used. The nip roller 120 may also have a heating means.

As is clear from FIG. 1, the recording paper S on which an image is recorded by inkjet is conveyed to the surface processing unit 18 with the image forming surface facing the surface processing belt 114.
In the surface processing unit 18, first, the recording paper S is nipped and conveyed by the surface processing belt 114 (heating roller 116) and the nip roller 120, so that the surface (ink receiving layer) of the recording paper S is placed on the surface of the surface processing belt 114. While abutting and pressing, the recording paper S is heated by the heating roller 116.
By this heating / pressing, the recording paper S is conveyed by the surface treatment belt 114 in a state where the ink receiving layer made of the thermoplastic resin is melted and weakly adhered to the surface treatment belt 114. In the surface treatment unit 18, the recording sheet S is cooled by the cooling unit 122 during the conveyance, and the melted ink receiving layer is solidified.
The cooled recording paper S is peeled off from the surface treatment belt 114 at a turn-back portion by the roller 118, and is supplied to the downstream conveying roller pair 50h.

The ink receiving layer (thermoplastic resin) of the recording paper S is thus pressed against the surface treatment belt 114 and heated / melted to be in a sticking state, and then cooled / solidified, whereby the surface of the surface treatment belt 114 is obtained. The property is transferred. As described above, the surface treatment belt 114 has a very high surface smoothness. Therefore, the recording paper S to which the surface property of the surface treatment belt 114 is transferred has a high surface smoothness and good glossiness, and a print having the same quality as a silver salt photographic print can be obtained.
Further, according to the surface treatment of the recording paper S, by selecting the surface property of the surface treatment belt 114, various types of treatment such as matte (roughening) treatment as well as the treatment of imparting such glossiness. Surface treatment can be performed.

In the printer 10, the heating condition and / or the cooling condition in the surface treatment unit 18 can be adjusted, and thereby the glossiness imparted to the surface of the recording paper S (print) can be adjusted.
In the illustrated example, the recording paper S is peeled from the surface treatment belt 114 by using a so-called stiffness of the recording paper S. Therefore, preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper from the surface treatment belt 114 is formed by reducing the diameter of the roller 118 that stretches the surface treatment belt 114 at a position where the recording paper S is discharged from the surface treatment unit 18. The peelability of S can be improved.

  The recording paper S that has been subjected to the surface treatment in the surface treatment unit 18 or the recording paper S that has passed through the surface treatment unit 18 is then conveyed to the cutting unit 20 by a pair of conveyance rollers 50h and 50i. Note that a portion for forming a loop of the recording paper S is formed between the conveying roller pairs 126 and 128. This will be described in detail later.

The cutting unit 20 is supplied from the first loading unit 30 and the second loading unit 32 using a cutter 130 which is a known guillotine cutter, and an image is recorded by the inkjet in the image recording unit 16, and surface treatment is performed as necessary. The long recording paper S subjected to the surface treatment in the section 18 is cut in the width direction to form one print (cut out one print at a time).
In the printer 10, the cutting unit 20 is not limited to cutting only the long recording paper S (roll paper). For example, when using the cut sheet-shaped recording paper S supplied from the sheet paper loading unit 34, the cutting unit 20 cuts the leading / rear ends (conveying direction) of the recording paper S according to the output print size. The front / rear edge of the recording paper S for creating a so-called borderless print in which an image is recorded to the edge may be cut.

Here, in the printer 10 of the illustrated example, the cutting unit 20 has only the cutter 130 and cuts the recording paper S only in the width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, when the recording unit 56 records two or more images in the width direction and performs so-called multi-sided in the width direction, the cutting unit 20 has a cutting means for cutting the recording paper S such as a slitter in the transport direction. May be.

  As described above, the conveyance roller pair that conveys the recording paper S from the image recording unit 16 to the surface processing unit 18 and the conveyance roller pair 50f and 50g that conveys the recording paper S from the surface processing unit 18 to the cutting unit 20. Between 50h and 50i, there is a loop forming portion for forming a loop of the recording paper S (deflection of the recording paper S).

In the surface treatment unit 18, the recording paper S is conveyed / cooled in a state where the ink receiving layer of the recording paper S is heated / melted and is weakly adhered to the surface treatment belt 114, and the surface treatment is performed.
Therefore, when the conveyance of the recording paper S is stopped in the surface processing unit 18, an overheating or overcooling state occurs, and as a result, the surface treatment becomes uneven and print unevenness or the like occurs. Therefore, the conveyance of the recording paper S cannot be stopped during the processing in the surface processing unit 18.
Furthermore, when a load fluctuation occurs in the conveyance of the recording paper S such as pushing the recording paper S into the surface processing unit 18 or pulling it from the surface processing unit 18 while the recording paper S is being processed by the surface processing unit 18, The recording paper S in a state of being stuck to the processing belt 114 is displaced, and gloss unevenness is also generated.

However, when the recording unit 100 performs image recording by the PWA method, the conveyance of the recording sheet S is intermittent. Even when the recording unit 100 performs image recording by the FWA method, the conveyance speed (scanning conveyance speed) corresponding to the image recording by the recording unit 100 and the conveyance speed corresponding to the surface treatment by the surface processing unit 18 are different. There are cases.
On the other hand, since the cutting unit 20 uses the guillotine cutter 130, it is necessary to stop the conveyance of the recording paper S at the time of cutting.

Correspondingly, in the printer 10, when printing is performed using the long recording paper S (roll paper) supplied from the first loading unit 30 and the second loading unit 32, the recording paper S is used. It is not necessary to stop the leading edge of the recording paper by the pair of conveying rollers 50g to stop the conveyance of the recording paper S in the surface processing unit 18, and the load is not applied to the conveyance of the recording paper S in the surface processing unit 18. After a loop of the recording paper S is formed between the conveyance roller pairs 50f and 50g, conveyance by the conveyance roller pair 50g is started, and the recording paper S is conveyed to the surface processing unit 18.
Further, when printing is performed using the long recording paper S, the leading edge of the recording paper S is stopped by the pair of transport rollers 50i, and similarly to the above, it is not necessary to stop the transport at the surface processing unit 18. In addition, after forming a loop of the recording paper S in an amount that does not cause a load fluctuation between the conveyance roller pairs 50i and 50h, conveyance by the conveyance roller pair 50i is started and recording is performed on the cutting unit 20 (guillotine cutter 130). The paper S is conveyed.

Further, the conveyance speeds of the conveyance roller pairs 50g and 50h are controlled so as to coincide with the conveyance speed of the recording paper S in the surface treatment unit 18 so as not to cause a load fluctuation in the conveyance of the recording paper S in the surface treatment unit 18. The
Furthermore, the conveyance of the conveyance roller pairs 50 i and 50 j is intermittent conveyance according to the driving of the guillotine cutter 130.

The recording sheet S, that is, the print cut by the cutting unit 20 (guillotine cutter 130) is discharged to the discharge unit 22 by the pair of conveying rollers 50j and 50k.
The discharge unit 22 sorts (sorts) the prints one by one using an orthogonal conveyance belt (belt conveyor) 132 that conveys the paper in FIG. The print is discharged and stacked on the orthogonal conveyance belt 132 of the discharge unit 22 by the conveyance roller pair 50k. The orthogonal conveyance belt 132 conveys the print stack in the back direction by one print (size in the width direction) and conveys the unprinted portion of the belt when one print is stacked. A discharge position from the roller pair 50k. The orthogonal conveyance belt 132 sorts the prints for each item by repeating this stacking / conveyance.

  In the printer 10 of the illustrated example, the regulation guide 54 has an inner guide (fixed guide 68 in the illustrated example) fixed at a predetermined position in the width direction, and a pair of outer guides (variable width guides 70 and 72 in the illustrated example). ) Are configured to be continuously movable in the width direction independently of each other, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner guide and one outer guide are continuously independent in the width direction. Such as a configuration in which the other outer guide is fixed, or a configuration in which all three guide members are continuously movable in the width direction independently of each other. It is only necessary that at least two of the outer guides can move continuously in the width direction independently of each other in the width direction. Thereby, since the width of the conveyance path can be arbitrarily set, even when recording papers having different widths can be simultaneously conveyed in parallel conveyance. Also, it is possible to easily cope with recording paper of various widths.

  In the above example, the regulation guide 54 has a plurality of conveyance paths in the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface of the recording paper), and is conveyed by single-line conveyance and parallel conveyance such as two or three rows. Although the path is configured to be switchable, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to have only one transport path in the vertical direction. In this case, the regulation guide may be one corresponding only to the parallel conveyance as in Patent Document 1, or the inner guide may be configured to be movable in the vertical direction as in Patent Document 2 to be arranged in parallel. You may enable it to respond | correspond to conveyance and single row conveyance.

  The image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

For example, in the illustrated printer 10, the regulation guide 54 is disposed between the pair of conveyance rollers 50 c and 50 d immediately upstream of the recording unit 56, but the present invention is not limited to this and the recording is not limited thereto. Regulation guides can be arranged at various locations in the transport path from the paper supply unit to the print discharge unit.
For example, the regulation guide 54 may be disposed immediately upstream of the cutter 40 or the cutter 130 of the printer 10 to suppress cut bending. In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the number of restriction guides is not limited to one, and a plurality of restriction guides may be arranged in one image recording apparatus.

1 is a conceptual diagram of an example of an ink jet printer using an image recording apparatus of the present invention. 2A and 2B are schematic views of a restriction guide for the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a front view, and FIG. It is the schematic for demonstrating the effect | action of the control guide shown in FIG. 2, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view. It is the schematic for demonstrating the effect | action of the control guide shown in FIG. 2, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view. It is the schematic for demonstrating the effect | action of the control guide shown in FIG. 2, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view. (A) And (B) is the schematic for demonstrating the effect | action of the control guide shown in FIG. It is another example of the restriction | limiting guide used with the image recording device of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a top view, (B) and (C) are front views.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 (Inkjet) printer 12 Recording paper supply part 14 Back printing unit 16 Image recording part 18 Surface treatment part 20 Cutting part 22 Ejection part 24 Control part 30 1st loading part 32 2nd loading part 34 Sheet paper loading part 36,38 Guide Roller 40, 130 Cutter 44 Feed roller 50 (50a-50k) Conveying roller pair 52 Feed roller pair 54 Restriction guide 56 Recording unit 58 Drying means 60 Driving roller 62 Driven roller 68 Fixed guide 70, 72, Variable width guide 74, 75 Screw shaft 76 Guide shaft 78, 79 Guide portion 80, 81 Engagement portion 82 Bracket 83, 88 Guide guide 84, 92 Lever 86 Solenoid 90 Arm 96 Second variable width guide 100 Recording means 102 Reference guide 114 Surface treatment belt 116 Heating roller 118 Laura 120 Nip roller 122 Cooling unit 132 Orthogonal conveying belt

Claims (5)

From the image recording unit, the supply unit for supplying the recording medium from the recording unit loading unit to the image recording unit, the conveying unit for conveying the recording medium on which the image is recorded by the image recording unit to the discharge unit, and the loading unit A regulation guide that is disposed in a conveyance path of the recording medium that reaches the discharge unit and regulates the position of the recording medium in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction;
The restriction guide includes a pair of outer guides arranged at the outermost part in the width direction for restricting a position in the width direction of one end of the recording medium, and a guide part for restricting the position in the width direction. Having at least one inner guide disposed between the pair of outer guides on both sides in the width direction;
The image recording apparatus further comprises moving means for continuously moving at least two of the pair of outer guides and inner guides independently of each other in the width direction. The outer guide has a plurality of outer passage portions that regulate the position in the width direction of one end portion of the recording medium in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface of the recording medium,
Further, the inner guide has a width that restricts the position of one end of the recording medium in the width direction at a position corresponding to one outer passage of the outer guide in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface. On both sides of the direction,
Further, the recording medium conveyance path in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance surface is regulated, and the recording medium is guided to one outer passage portion of the outer guide and the inner passage portion of the inner guide corresponding to the outer passage portion. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a path changing unit that performs the operation.   A pair of conveyance rollers disposed immediately upstream of the conveyance guide; and a guide guide that is provided integrally with the conveyance roller pair and regulates the conveyance path of the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance surface. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a swinging unit configured to swing the conveying roller pair and the guide guide.   The path changing means is a guide guide provided at an upstream end portion of the outer guide and the inner guide and swinging the upstream end portion in a direction perpendicular to the conveying surface with the outer guide or the inner guide as a fulcrum. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit continuously moves at least the pair of outer guides in the width direction independently of each other.

Images