JP2007276178A - Recording device and liquid ejection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recording device 100 using an oscillator 300, which can smooth rotational driving of a carriage driving roller 132 by an actuator 400. <P>SOLUTION: The ink-jet recording device 100 is provided with a carriage section 130 and a recording head 164. The carriage section 130 is formed of: the carriage driving roller 132 driven for rotation about a rotating shaft orthogonal to a predetermined carrying direction; a carriage driven roller 134 energized toward the carriage driving roller 132 to press a recording sheet 170 to the carriage driving roller 132 while being rotated in interlock with the same; and a piezoelectric plate 322 for expanding/contracting upon application thereto periodically variable pressure. The carriage section 130 is provided with the actuator 400 for driving the carriage driving roller 132 for rotation. The recording head 164 ejects ink to the recording sheet 170 when located at a location opposed to the recording sheet 170 carried by the carriage section 130. Herein, an interval between the actuator 400 and the carriage driving roller 132 is electrically insulated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus that record an image on the surface of a recording medium by conveying the recording medium and discharging ink or liquid.

Devices called piezoelectric actuators, ultrasonic motors, and the like are known. The following Patent Document 1 describes the structure of an ultrasonic motor that drives an annular output member from the inside. Thereby, an ultrasonic motor capable of outputting a desired driving torque is provided. Further, as an application of the ultrasonic motor, Patent Document 2 below describes that the ultrasonic motor is used as a photosensitive member transport unit in an electrophotographic apparatus. However, Patent Document 2 only describes that an ultrasonic motor is used, and does not describe a specific configuration. Further, Patent Document 3 below describes that a paper to be conveyed can be conveyed by being pressed against a traveling wave type ultrasonic motor by a plate or a curved mold rib. Thereby, it is supposed that a sheet-like paper can be reliably conveyed using an ultrasonic motor. Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5 below describe a technique for improving the durability of a piezoelectric actuator by reinforcing the surface of a portion that abuts against a drive target in another type of piezoelectric actuator. .
JP 2004-166479 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-053452 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-20482 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-077331 JP 2005-253277 A

  By the way, in the actuator as described above, the piezoelectric element itself is formed of a piezoelectric material such as an oxide. However, the member that directly contacts the driven object is often formed of a metal material in consideration of bending strength, wear resistance, and the like. Further, such a metal member often serves as a connection terminal that supplies driving power to the actuator or has the same potential as any of the connection terminals.

  On the other hand, a member driven by an actuator in a recording apparatus is often formed of a metal material from the viewpoint of strength and workability. However, a metal member assembled in the recording device for the purpose of performing a mechanical function is electrically connected to the ground potential for the purpose of preventing charge accumulation due to friction and dust adsorption due to the accumulated charge. Combined with

  As described above, there may be some potential difference between the contact portion of the actuator and the member to be driven. For this reason, when the actuator comes into contact with the object to be driven, the potential may change at any of the terminals on the actuator side, or the voltage applied to the actuator may be limited to avoid a change in potential.

  In addition, there may be a period in which the operating actuator is slightly separated from the drive target. For this reason, if there is a potential difference between the actuator and the object to be driven, electrical noise is generated with physical contact or separation. For this reason, the characteristics of the piezoelectric element which is considered to have little electromagnetic influence are not utilized.

  Therefore, for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, as a first embodiment of the present invention, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a conveyance drive roller that is rotationally driven around a rotation axis that is orthogonal to a predetermined conveyance direction, and a sheet that is urged toward the conveyance drive roller Including a conveyance driven roller that is rotated while pressing a recording material on the conveyance driving roller, and a piezoelectric material layer that expands and contracts by applying a periodically changing voltage. Recording that discharges ink to the recording medium at a position facing the recording medium that is conveyed by the conveyance section and a conveyance section that includes an actuator that abuts at least part of the movement and rotationally drives the conveyance driving roller. There is provided a recording apparatus including a head, wherein the actuator and the conveyance drive roller are electrically insulated. As a result, the member that contacts the drive target on the actuator side is prevented from being connected to the ground via the conveyance drive roller or the like, and the potential on the actuator side is stabilized. Accordingly, the operation of the actuator is stabilized. Moreover, since the specification of the actuator is not limited, the actuator can be efficiently operated by a desired driver circuit. In addition, since the generation of noise due to the intermittent operation of the actuator and the conveyance drive roller is prevented, the surrounding electronic devices are not affected. Therefore, it is possible to take advantage of the feature that the actuator using the piezoelectric material is free from unnecessary electromagnetic radiation. In addition, as a structure of the conveyance drive roller, there are a structure that is driven in direct contact with the actuator and a structure that is driven through a member that transmits a rotational driving force. The effect is effective.

  Further, as one embodiment, in the recording apparatus, the actuator includes a longitudinal vibration element that periodically expands and contracts in a direction including a component that is parallel to and intersects with the surface of the drive target, and a stretching motion from the longitudinal vibration element. The contact portion displaces the drive target by periodically transmitting an expansion / contraction motion to the drive target, and rotationally drives the transport drive roller. As a result, a driving mechanism for driving the transport driving roller can be formed with a simple structure, which contributes to the downsizing and cost reduction of the recording apparatus.

  Furthermore, in another embodiment, in the recording apparatus, the actuator is periodically expanded and contracted at a phase different from that of the longitudinal vibration element in which the actuator displaces the contact portion in a direction including a component parallel to the surface of the drive target. The bending vibration element further includes a bending vibration element that is simultaneously driven by the longitudinal vibration element and the bending vibration element to displace a circle or an ellipse on a plane perpendicular to the surface to be driven. Thereby, a conveyance drive roller can be rotationally driven efficiently.

  In another embodiment, in the recording apparatus, a region of the surface of the transport driving roller that is in contact with the contact portion of the actuator is covered with an insulating material. This effectively insulates between the actuator and the transport drive roller. In addition, since the insulating material is mounted on the conveyance drive roller side, the actuator and its drive circuit can be widely selected regardless of the specifications.

  As another embodiment, in the recording apparatus, a peripheral surface having a diameter larger than that of the conveyance drive roller, coaxially mounted on the end of the conveyance drive roller, and covered with an insulating material is provided. A driven rotor that is driven to rotate by an actuator and is driven to rotate integrally with the transport driving roller can be obtained. Thereby, since the conveyance drive roller is driven via the large-diameter driven rotor, the conveyance drive roller can be operated with high rotational torque. Further, it is possible to suppress the influence of the load variation applied to the transport driving roller on the actuator.

  Further, as a second embodiment of the present invention, a conveyance drive roller that is driven to rotate about a rotation axis that is orthogonal to a predetermined conveyance direction, and a sheet-like recording material that is urged toward the conveyance drive roller is conveyed and driven. A conveyance driven roller that is rotated while being pressed against the roller, and a piezoelectric material layer that expands and contracts when a voltage that changes periodically is applied, and abuts at least a part of the expansion and contraction motion that occurs in the plane including the piezoelectric material layer A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a transport unit including an actuator that rotationally drives the transport drive roller; and a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto the recording object at a position facing the recording object transported by the transport unit. A liquid ejecting apparatus in which the actuator and the conveyance drive roller are electrically insulated is provided. Thereby, the above-described effects can be enjoyed also in various liquid ejecting apparatuses.

  Note that the summary of the invention described above does not enumerate all necessary features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a mechanism formed on a lower case 110 by removing an upper case of an ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in the figure, at the rear of the ink jet recording apparatus 100, a paper feed unit 120 rises. The paper feeding unit 120 includes a paper support 122 that supports the recording paper 170 from the rear, and a side support 124 and a slide support 126 that position side edges of the recording paper 170 on both sides of the paper support 122. Here, the side support 124 is fixed to a side end portion of the paper support 122. On the other hand, the slide support 126 can be slid and moved on the paper support 122 and is in close contact with the side edge of the recording paper 170 even when the recording paper 170 having a different width is loaded. Although not shown in the drawing, a feeding unit that takes in the recording paper 170 loaded on the paper support 122 into the ink jet recording apparatus 100 one by one is provided near the lower end of the paper support 122.

  A frame 112 stands upright on the lower case 110 over substantially its entire width. A carriage 160 is disposed on the front surface of the frame 112. The carriage 160 can move horizontally along the guide portion 116 that is a part of the frame 112. A timing belt 146 stretched around a pair of pulleys 148 is disposed between the carriage 160 and the frame 112, and a part of the timing belt 146 is coupled to the back surface of the carriage 160. Further, since at least one of the pulleys 148 is rotationally driven by a carriage motor, the timing belt 146 travels horizontally between the pulleys 148. Therefore, the carriage 160 reciprocates horizontally as the timing belt 146 travels.

  Further, the carriage 160 mounts an ink cartridge 162 containing ink, and suspends a recording head 164 on the bottom surface thereof. The recording head 164 ejects ink supplied from the ink cartridge 162 downward. Accordingly, the recording head 164 can eject ink at an arbitrary position downward while reciprocating with the carriage 160. On the other hand, a platen 140 is disposed below the reciprocating range of the carriage 160. The platen 140 supports a recording sheet 170 conveyed by a conveying unit 130 and a discharge unit 150, which will be described later, from below, and maintains a constant interval between the recording sheet 170 and the recording head 164. Therefore, on the platen 140, the recording head 164 can form an image by attaching ink to an accurate position on the recording paper 170.

  In addition, a conveyance unit 130 is disposed behind the platen 140, and a discharge unit 150 is disposed in front of the platen 140. The conveyance unit 130 includes a conveyance driving roller 132 that is rotationally driven, and a conveyance driven roller 134 that is rotated by the conveyance driving roller 132. The discharge unit 150 also includes a discharge driven roller 154 that is rotationally driven and a discharge driven roller 154 that is rotated with the discharge driven roller 154. However, in FIG. 1, the discharge driven roller 154 supported by the discharge unit frame 155 can be seen.

  The frame 112 has frame side portions 114 that extend forward at both ends thereof. The frame side portion 114 supports end portions of the transport driving roller 132 and the like, and also supplements the rigidity of the frame 112 itself. Further, a home position including a cap member 166 and the like is formed on the side portion of the platen 140. When the ink jet recording apparatus 100 is not operating, the carriage 160 moves to the home position, and the recording head 164 is covered with the cap member 166. This prevents clogging of the recording head 164 due to ink drying. Further, a control circuit 190 is mounted on the back surface of the frame 112. The control circuit 190 controls the operation of each unit of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 and also controls input / output of signals from / to the outside.

  Note that a driven rotor 138 is mounted on the transport driving roller 132 in the vicinity of the frame side 114 opposite to the home position. The driven rotor 138 is a disk-shaped member having a larger diameter than the conveyance drive roller 132, and is mounted coaxially with the conveyance drive roller 132 and rotates integrally with the conveyance drive roller 132. An actuator 400 described later drives the driven rotor 138 to rotate. As a result, the rotational torque of the transport drive roller 132 is improved, and the influence on the actuator 400 due to the fluctuation of the load applied to the transport drive roller 132 is suppressed. Further, a control circuit 190 is mounted on the back surface of the frame 112. The control circuit 190 controls the operation of each unit of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 and also controls input / output of signals from / to the outside.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 100, the frame 112 including the frame side portion 114 and the transport driving roller 132 are both formed of a metal material. The frame 112 is grounded in common with an electric circuit included in the ink jet recording apparatus 100, that is, a control circuit 190, a display device, a motor, and the like. On the other hand, the transport driving roller 132 is electrically coupled to the frame 112 and connected to the ground via the frame 112. This prevents the transport drive roller 132 from being charged by the friction between the members and the friction between the recording paper 170 and the transport drive roller 132. When the transport driving roller 132 is charged, ink particles or the like that have been ejected from the recording head 164 but have not adhered to the recording paper 170 are attracted. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conveyance path 200 of the recording paper 170 in the ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the recording paper 170 taken into the inside from the paper feeding unit 120 is first sandwiched between the transport driving roller 132 and the transport driven roller 134. In the transport unit 130, the actuator 400 fixed to the frame side portion 114 abuts on the driven rotor 138 attached to the transport drive roller 132 and rotationally drives it. On the other hand, the transport driven roller 134 is urged toward the transport driving roller 132 and is rotated by the transport driving roller 132. Accordingly, the recording paper 170 sandwiched between the transport driving roller 132 and the transport driven roller 134 is pressed against the rotating transport driving roller 132, moves according to the rotation, and is fed onto the platen 140.

  The front end of the recording paper 170 that has passed over the platen 140 eventually reaches the discharge unit 150 and is sandwiched between the discharge drive roller 152 and the discharge driven roller 154. Again, the discharge drive roller 152 is driven to rotate, and the discharge driven roller 154 is urged toward the discharge drive roller 152 and is rotated along with the discharge drive roller 152. Accordingly, the recording paper 170 sandwiched between the discharge drive roller 152 and the discharge driven roller 154 moves according to the rotation of the discharge drive roller 152 and is finally sent out of the ink jet recording apparatus 100.

  Here, the discharge drive roller 152 is rotationally driven by the drive gear 136 attached to the end of the transport drive roller 132 via the relay gear 180. That is, the relay gear 180 includes a large diameter gear 182 that meshes with the teeth 137 of the drive gear 136 and a small diameter gear 184 that meshes with the driven gear 156. Since the drive gear 136 rotates integrally with the conveyance drive roller 132, when the conveyance drive roller 132 is driven to rotate by the actuator 400, the discharge drive roller 152 also rotates at the same time. The large-diameter gear 182 has fewer teeth than the drive gear 136, but the driven gear 156 has more teeth than the small-diameter gear 184, and the driven gear 156 has a larger diameter than the discharge drive roller 152. The conveyance drive roller 132 and the discharge drive roller 152 move the recording paper 170 at substantially the same speed.

  As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus 100, the recording paper 170 is transported in the transport direction from the paper feeding unit 120 to the discharge unit 150. Accordingly, by alternately executing the reciprocating movement of the carriage 160 and the conveyance of the recording paper 170 to the above-described conveyance, the recording head 164 forms an image by ejecting ink to a desired area on the surface of the recording paper 170. it can. Although not shown, the transport drive roller 132 is equipped with an encoder scale that rotates integrally. On the other hand, an encoder sensor is disposed on the frame side portion 114, and the rotation amount or rotation speed of the conveyance drive roller 132 can be detected with high accuracy. Therefore, the function mounted on the control circuit 190 can perform feedback control of the operation amount, the operation speed, and the like of the actuator 400 to perform highly accurate conveyance control.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the vibrator 300 mounted on the actuator 400 that rotationally drives the transport driving roller 132 via the driven rotor 138 in the transport unit 130. As shown in the figure, the vibrator 300 is formed by fixing a reinforcing plate 310 and a pair of piezoelectric elements 320 that sandwich the reinforcing plate 310 together to a base plate 330 with screws 340.

  The reinforcing plate 310 is a single metal plate formed in the illustrated shape, and has a rectangular reinforcing portion 312 having substantially the same shape and dimensions as the piezoelectric element 320, and a contact protruding from one of the short sides of the reinforcing portion 312. Part 318. Further, from substantially the center of each long side of the reinforcing portion 312, a pair of arm portions 314 extending outward from the reinforcing portion 312, and a round hole 316 formed at the tip of each of the arm portions 314, and A long hole 317 is provided.

  Each of the piezoelectric elements 320 includes a piezoelectric material plate 322 having substantially the same shape and size as the reinforcing portion 312 of the reinforcing plate 310, a common electrode 329 formed over one surface of the piezoelectric material plate 322, and a piezoelectric material plate A central electrode 324 and side electrodes 321, 233, 235, and 237 are formed by dividing the other surface of the 322. Here, the center electrode 324 is formed over the entire length of the piezoelectric material plate 322 in the longitudinal direction. Further, the center electrode 324 is arranged at the center in the short side direction of the piezoelectric material plate 322. On the other hand, the side electrodes 321, 323, 325, and 327 are formed along the long side edges of the piezoelectric material plate 322, respectively. In other words, the side electrodes 321, 323, 325, and 327 are all formed so as to be biased laterally in the short side direction of the piezoelectric material plate 322. The central electrode 324 and the side electrodes 321, 233, 235, and 237 are formed separately from each other and are electrically independent. Therefore, when a voltage is applied between the common electrode 329 and any one of the electrodes, the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric material plate 322 in the region occupied by the side electrodes 321, 323, 325, and 327, and expands or contracts. .

  The piezoelectric element 320 formed as described above is bonded and integrated with the reinforcing plate 310 over the entire surface. Therefore, when the piezoelectric element 320 to which a voltage is applied is deformed, the reinforcing plate 310 is also deformed integrally. The reinforcing plate 310 integrated with the piezoelectric element 320 is fixed to the base plate 330 by a screw 340 inserted through a round hole 316 and a long hole 317 at the tip of the arm portion 314. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 320, both ends of the piezoelectric material plate 322 in the longitudinal direction are displaced. Further, although the common electrode 329 and the reinforcing plate 310 of the piezoelectric element 320 are separate members, they are in close contact with each other over a wide area, and are electrically at the same potential.

  Here, after the round hole 316 is screwed first, the screw 340 inserted through the elongated hole 317 is fastened, whereby the reinforcing plate 310 can be fixed without applying stress. In addition, the region where the screw hole 332 is formed in the base plate 330 is formed thicker than the central portion by the step 338. Therefore, even in a state of being fixed to the base plate 330, the piezoelectric element 320 is floating from the base plate 330 and can be freely deformed.

  In the base plate 330, a pair of elongated holes 331 and 336 formed in the same direction are formed in a thin portion sandwiched between the steps 338. The base plate 330 is positioned on a pedestal 410 (to be described later) by screws inserted through the long holes 331 and 336. Therefore, even after the positioning, the longitudinal direction of the long holes 331 and 336 can be displaced.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation when a periodically changing voltage is applied between the common electrode 329 and the central electrode 324 of the piezoelectric element 320 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when a voltage is applied via a central electrode 324 disposed at the center of the piezoelectric material plate 322, the piezoelectric element 320 vibrates so that its length in the longitudinal direction changes. Accordingly, the contact portion 318 of the reinforcing plate 310 also vibrates with an amplitude parallel to the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric material plate 322. In the following description, vibration generated by the voltage applied to the center electrode 324 is referred to as “longitudinal vibration”.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation when a periodically changing voltage is applied to the side electrodes 321, 323, 325, and 327 of the piezoelectric element 320 shown in FIG. 3. Here, of the four side electrodes 321, 323, 325, and 327, the side electrodes 321 and 325 and the side electrodes 323 and 327 that are located diagonally to each other are used as electrode pairs, and the electrodes that form each electrode pair A voltage that changes with the period of the in-phase is applied between the common electrode 329 and a voltage that changes with the period of the opposite phase with respect to the common electrode 329 is applied between the electrode pairs. As described above, since the side electrodes 321, 323, 325, and 327 are disposed at positions deviated from the center of the piezoelectric material plate 322, the piezoelectric material plate 322 undulates as a result of each electrode extending or contracting. Bend like so. As a result, the contact portion 318 of the reinforcing plate 310 vibrates with an amplitude substantially parallel to the short side of the piezoelectric material plate 322. In the following description, vibration generated by the voltage applied to the side electrodes 321, 233, 235, 237 is referred to as “flexural vibration”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the displacement of the contact portion 318 when the longitudinal vibration and the bending vibration are generated simultaneously. As shown in the figure, by appropriately setting the phase difference and amplitude difference between the longitudinal vibration and the bending vibration, the contact portion 318 rotates while drawing a substantially circular or elliptical trajectory. Thereby, the pressure is increased in the driving direction to increase the frictional force against the object to be contacted, and the frictional force is not applied because the object is separated in the counter-driving direction. Therefore, by bringing the contact portion 318 into contact with another member, for example, the driven rotor 138 shown in FIG. 2, in a partial section on the elliptical orbit, it can be driven in a specific direction. In addition, a desired driving force or driving speed can be selected by changing the shape of the elliptical orbit.

  In the vibrator 300, it is a portion between the arm portion 314 and the contact portion 318 in the reinforcing plate 310 that directly contributes to the displacement of the driven rotor 138 that is the driving target. However, by operating the side opposite to the contact part 318 symmetrically with respect to the arm part 314, the moments of inertia on both sides of the arm part 314 cancel each other, and a quiet and high-speed operation is realized.

  Here, as the frequency of the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 320, a frequency between the resonance frequencies of longitudinal vibration and bending vibration is appropriately selected. The voltage waveform is not particularly limited, and for example, a sine wave, a rectangular wave, a trapezoidal wave, a sawtooth wave, or the like can be employed.

  The characteristics of the piezoelectric element 320 vary depending on the size and shape of the piezoelectric material plate 322 and the division form of each electrode. That is, in the piezoelectric element 320, it is preferable that the resonance frequencies of longitudinal vibration and bending vibration are close to each other, and more specifically, the difference between the resonance frequencies is preferably 3% or less. If the difference between the resonance frequencies of both vibrations is greater than 3%, the resonance point of the longitudinal vibration and the resonance point of the bending vibration are greatly separated, and it becomes difficult to set a vibration frequency at which the amplitudes of both vibrations increase simultaneously.

  The composition of the piezoelectric material plate 322 is not particularly limited, and lead zirconate titanate (PZT (registered trademark)), crystal, lithium niobate, barium titanate, lead titanate, lead metaniobate, polyvinylidene fluoride, zinc niobate Preferred examples include lead and lead scandium niobate. Moreover, the material of each electrode can be formed by nickel, gold, or the like by a method such as plating, sputtering, vapor deposition, or thick film printing. Further, as a material of the reinforcing plate 310, phosphor bronze can be preferably exemplified.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the structure of the actuator 400 including the vibrator 300 having the structure and function as described above. As shown in the figure, an actuator 400 includes the vibrator 300 and a pedestal 410 that elastically supports the vibrator 300.

  As described above, the base plate 330 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the long holes 331 and 336 by positioning with screws (not shown) inserted into the long holes 331 and 336. However, on the base 410, the base plate 330 is biased toward the contact portion 318 side of the vibrator 300 by the spring 446 inserted between the spring guide 442 on the base 410 side and the spring guide 334 on the base plate 330 side. Is done. Note that the spring guides 442 and 334 also abut when the vibrator 300 is largely retracted, and also serve as a bump stop that prevents extreme displacement. The spring guide 442 is fixed to the pedestal 410 by a locking piece 440 fixed by a screw 444.

  The pedestal 410 includes a pair of terminals 430. Each terminal 430 has a pair of terminals and is coupled to the electrodes of the piezoelectric element 320 by lead wires (not shown). Thereby, a favorable electrical connection with the outside can be obtained for the elastically supported vibrator 300. Further, the pedestal 410 has screw holes at its four corners and can be fixed to other members by screws 420.

  By supplying the actuator 400 including the pedestal 410 as described above, the elastically supported vibrator 300 can be easily mounted and a good contact state with respect to the driven body can be obtained. In addition, by using the mounting screw holes of the base 410, the vibrator 300 itself can be easily mounted and electrically connected.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the drive mechanism 500 for the conveyance drive roller 132 by the actuator 400. As shown in the figure, the driven rotor 138 is attached to a portion near the end of the transport driving roller 132. In addition, the actuator 400 fixed to the frame side portion 114 of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 causes the contact portion 318 to contact the peripheral surface of the driven rotor 138. As shown in the figure, the driven rotor 138 has a larger diameter than the conveyance drive roller 132, so that the recording paper 170 can be conveyed with a larger rotational torque by driving the peripheral surface of the driven rotor 138 by the actuator 400. it can.

  FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a contact portion between the actuator 400 and the driven rotor 138 in the driving mechanism 500. As shown in the figure, the peripheral surface of the driven rotor 138 is covered with an insulating material layer 139. Therefore, the contact portion 318 of the actuator 400 contacts the driven rotor 138 via the insulating material layer 139. Therefore, although both the abutting portion 318 and the driven rotor 138 are formed of a metal material, both are electrically insulated.

  Note that as the material of the insulating material layer 139, various ceramics, resins, elastomers, and the like can be widely selected. However, in light of the purpose of precisely controlling the rotation of the transport drive roller 132, the insulating material layer 139 may be selected from a material having high deformation strength, excellent wear resistance, and a high surface friction coefficient. preferable. Moreover, as a method of forming the insulating material layer 139, it should be appropriately selected depending on the material, but application, welding, adhesion, and the like can be widely selected.

  As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus 100, the conveyance drive roller 132 and the contact portion 318 of the actuator 400 are electrically insulated. Accordingly, the potential of the common electrode 329 in the actuator 400 is stabilized. In addition, since the actuator 400 can be driven by a full-bridge driver circuit in which the potential of the common electrode 329 varies, a high driving force can be generated efficiently. Further, since noise due to electrical contact between the contact portion 318 and the conveyance drive roller 132 is not generated, the device itself can be accurately controlled, and electromagnetic influences on other circuits in the ink jet recording apparatus 100 can be achieved. Never give.

  In the above embodiment, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 has been described. However, the liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to this. Specifically, the LCD color filter manufacturing apparatus, the organic EL electrode forming apparatus, the biochip manufacturing sample ejecting head may be exemplified by a liquid ejecting head. In addition, the conveying device in such an apparatus conveys a circuit board, an optical recording medium, a preparation, and the like.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. In addition, it is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view showing a structure of an ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conveyance path 200 of a recording paper 170 in the ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a vibrator 300. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a longitudinal vibration operation of a vibrator 300. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a bending vibration operation of a vibrator 300. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a locus of displacement of a contact portion 318 of a vibrator 300. 5 is a plan view showing a structure of an actuator 400 that elastically supports a vibrator 300 with respect to a base 410. FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a driving mechanism 500 of a conveyance driving roller 132 by an actuator 400. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a part of a drive mechanism 500.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Inkjet recording device, 110 Lower case, 112 frame, 114 frame side part, 116 Guide part, 120 Paper feed part, 122 Paper support, 124 Side support, 126 Slide support, 130 Conveyance part, 132 Conveyance drive roller, 134 Conveyance driven Roller, 136 driving gear, 138 driven rotor, 139 insulating material layer, 140 platen, 146 timing belt, 148 pulley, 150 discharging unit, 152 discharging driving roller, 154 discharging driven roller, 155 discharging unit frame, 156 driven gear, 160 Carriage, 162 Ink cartridge, 164 Recording head, 170 Recording paper, 180 Relay gear, 182 Large diameter gear, 184 Small diameter gear, 190 Control circuit, 200 Conveyance path, 300 Vibrator, 31 Reinforcement plate, 312 Reinforcement part, 314 Arm part, 316 Round hole, 317, 331, 336 Long hole, 318 Contact part, 320 Piezoelectric element, 322 Piezoelectric material plate, 321, 323, 325, 327 Side electrode, 324 Center Electrode, 329 Common electrode, 330 Base plate, 332 Screw hole, 334, 442 Spring guide, 338 Step, 340, 420, 444 Screw, 400 Actuator, 410 Base, 430 Terminal, 440 Locking piece, 446 Spring, 500 Drive mechanism

Claims (6)

A conveyance drive roller that is driven to rotate about a rotation axis that is orthogonal to a predetermined conveyance direction, and conveyance that is energized toward the conveyance drive roller and is rotated while pressing a sheet-like recording material against the conveyance drive roller. A driven roller and a piezoelectric material layer that expands and contracts when a voltage that changes periodically is applied, and abuts on at least a part of the expansion and contraction motion that occurs in the plane including the piezoelectric material layer to rotationally drive the transport driving roller. A transport unit with an actuator;
A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head that discharges ink to the recording material at a position facing the recording material conveyed by the conveyance unit;
A recording apparatus in which the actuator and the conveyance drive roller are electrically insulated.   The actuator includes a longitudinal vibration element that periodically expands and contracts in a direction including a component parallel to and intersects with a surface to be driven, and a contact portion that transmits the expansion and contraction movement from the longitudinal vibration element; The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion periodically transmits the expansion and contraction motion to the driving target to displace the driving target and rotationally drive the transport driving roller. The actuator further includes a bending vibration element that periodically expands and contracts at a phase different from that of the longitudinal vibration element, which displaces the contact portion in a direction including a component parallel to the surface of the drive target.
3. The recording according to claim 2, wherein the contact portion is simultaneously driven by the longitudinal vibration element and the bending vibration element and is displaced on a trajectory forming a circle or an ellipse on a surface orthogonal to the surface of the drive target. apparatus.   The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a region in contact with the contact portion of the actuator is covered with an insulating material on the surface of the drive target.   The drive target has a larger diameter than the transport drive roller, is coaxially mounted on the end of the transport drive roller, and rotates around a peripheral surface covered with an insulating material as a drive target by the actuator. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording apparatus is a driven rotor that is driven to rotate integrally with the conveyance driving roller. A conveyance drive roller that is driven to rotate about a rotation axis that is orthogonal to a predetermined conveyance direction, and conveyance that is energized toward the conveyance drive roller and is rotated while pressing a sheet-like recording material against the conveyance drive roller. A driven roller and a piezoelectric material layer that expands and contracts when a voltage that changes periodically is applied, and abuts on at least a part of the expansion and contraction motion that occurs in the plane including the piezoelectric material layer to rotationally drive the transport driving roller. A transport unit with an actuator;
A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto the recording object at a position facing the recording object conveyed by the conveying unit;
A liquid ejecting apparatus in which the actuator and the conveyance drive roller are electrically insulated.

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