JP2009119704A - Ink-jet recording device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recording device which can reduce the problems caused by an air current by making the air current between the ink-jet recording head and a material to be recorded small. <P>SOLUTION: The ink-jet recording device is equipped with the ink-jet recording head 1. The ink-jet recording head 1 makes a record on recording paper 7 while the recording paper 7 moving relatively to the ink-jet recording head 1. The ink-jet recording device has an aerodynamical power member 3 arranged so that a gap may be formed between the member and the ink-jet recording head 1, and between the member and the recording paper 7, at the upstream far from the ink-jet recording head 1 in the movement direction, and a fan 6 which sucks a part of the air flowing through the gap between the aerodynamical power member 3 and the recording paper 7 from the gap between the aerodynamical power member 3 and the ink-jet recording head 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and method, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus and method for controlling airflow in a recording unit.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, recording is usually performed while the recording head and the recording paper move relative to each other, and an air flow is generated between the recording head and the recording paper as the relative movement occurs. For this reason, there arises a problem that minute ink droplets generated along with ink ejection are caused to flow in the air current and float in the ink jet recording apparatus.

  This floating mist not only pollutes the inside of the apparatus, but also fouls the optical encoder that detects the position of the carriage that is mounted with the recording head and causes a failure of the apparatus. In addition, the floating mist may contaminate the recording paper transport device and cause image defects when transferred to the recording paper.

  In order to prevent the harmful effects of floating mist, the generated floating mist is collected by a fan and collected by a filter. Examples thereof are described in Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

  Further, the air flow generated between the recording head and the recording paper changes the landing position of the dots to be recorded, and has an effect of causing unevenness in the image and disturbing the image. The air current that disturbs the image is generated by the complex interaction of the air current generated by the relative movement of the recording head and the recording paper and the air current generated by the ejection of a large number of ink droplets.

  Patent Document 6 describes an example in which a convex portion is provided around a nozzle row to prevent airflow.

  In addition to this, the ink jet recording apparatus has a problem that the ink at the nozzle tip dries during the pause and causes clogging. This clogging can be prevented by means such as capping the head except when an image is being recorded. However, even when an image is being recorded, the clogging occurs at a nozzle that has not been used. Drying of the ink at the nozzle tip is promoted by an air flow generated between the recording head and the recording paper.

Patent Document 7 describes that a member for holding an ink solvent is provided on the surface of the head in order to prevent the nozzle from drying.
JP 7-25007 A JP 2002-361902 A JP 2002-347261 A JP-A-11-138776 JP 2004-330637 A JP-A-9-39256 JP 2003-145783 A

  As described above, conventionally, in order to prevent harmful effects caused by floating mist, floating mist is collected by a fan or the like, but it cannot be sufficiently collected. In addition, if the air is sucked with a fan for collection, a strong air current is generated, which disturbs the image.

  In order to prevent the disturbance of the image due to the airflow, methods such as providing a convex portion for preventing the airflow have been tried. However, in such a method, there is a problem that the convex portion contacts the recording paper and disturbs the image. For this reason, the convex portion must be kept away from the recording paper, and a sufficient effect cannot be obtained.

  In order to alleviate clogging due to the nozzle tip drying out, it is effective to moderate the air flow at the nozzle tip. However, if the relative speed between the recording head and the recording paper is reduced, the recording speed is reduced. . There is no known effective method for calming the air flow at the nozzle tip without reducing the recording speed. Although it is effective to provide a member for holding the ink solvent on the surface of the head, a large amount of the solvent evaporates, and a method of replenishing it becomes a problem. In particular, when a powerful fan is used to recover the mist, there is a problem that a strong wind blows, thereby speeding up drying.

  A first object of the present invention is to reduce floating mist and reduce harmful effects such as dirt in the machine.

  The second object of the present invention is to alleviate image disturbance due to airflow.

  A third object of the present invention is to alleviate clogging due to drying of the nozzle tip.

  A further object of the present invention is to suppress these problems without conflict.

  An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an ink jet recording head, and performs recording while the recording material and the ink jet recording head move relative to each other. An upstream aerodynamic member disposed upstream of the relative movement direction so as to form a gap between the inkjet recording head and the recording material; and the upstream aerodynamic member and the recording material Air flow adjusting means for sucking a part of the air flowing through the gap from the gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the airflow between the ink jet recording head and the recording material, and it is possible to suppress the internal contamination, image disturbance, and nozzle clogging, which are problems caused by the airflow, without conflicting with each other. It becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, the best mode of the present invention will be described based on examples.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a head peripheral portion of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment is a so-called serial printer in which an ink jet recording head performs printing while moving left and right on a recording sheet.

  In FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head (hereinafter simply referred to as “recording head”) 1, a carriage 2 on which the recording head 1 is mounted, aerodynamic members 3 and 4, a flow path forming unit 5, and the like. And the fan 6.

  In this ink jet recording apparatus, the recording head 1 performs recording on the recording paper 7 while the recording paper 7 as an example of a recording material and the recording head 1 relatively move.

  The aerodynamic member 3 is an example of an upstream aerodynamic member. The aerodynamic member 3 is arranged on the upstream side in the relative movement direction of the recording paper 7 with respect to the recording head 1 so that a gap is formed between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7. These gaps become air flow paths.

  The aerodynamic member 4 is an example of a downstream aerodynamic member. The aerodynamic member 4 is arranged on the downstream side in the relative movement direction of the recording paper 7 with respect to the recording head 1 so that a gap is formed between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7. These gaps also serve as airflow paths.

  The aerodynamic member 3 and the aerodynamic member 4 may be integrally formed.

  The flow path forming unit 5 communicates the gap between the aerodynamic member 3 and the recording head 1 and the gap between the aerodynamic member 4 and the recording head 1.

  The fan 6 is an example of airflow adjusting means.

  The fan 6 sucks a part of the air (airflow) flowing through the gap between the aerodynamic member 3 and the recording paper 7 from the gap between the aerodynamic member 3 and the recording head 1. The fan 6 injects air toward the recording paper 7 from the gap between the aerodynamic member 4 and the recording head 1.

  In this embodiment, the fan 6 ejects air sucked from the gap between the aerodynamic member 3 and the recording head 1 toward the recording paper 7 from the gap between the aerodynamic member 4 and the recording head 1.

  The airflow between the aerodynamic member 3 and the recording paper 7 is sucked on the upstream side of the relatively moving recording paper 7 and jetted on the downstream side. The recording head 1 performs recording on the recording paper 7 when suction and ejection are performed.

  Here, a calculation method for the appropriate strength of the airflow to be flowed by the fan 6 will be described.

  In general, an air flow is generated between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 by the relative movement of the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7. This airflow is almost a flow called a Couette flow when no special treatment is applied. Therefore, in a state where nothing is done, the air flow is approximately a flow rate of “cross-sectional area between head sheets × relative movement speed × 1/2” as viewed from coordinates fixed to the recording head 1.

  In general, when a pressure difference is provided between upstream and downstream in a flow path between parallel flat plates, a flow called Poiseuille flow is generated. In addition, when a pressure difference is provided between the upstream and the downstream in the flow path between the parallel flat plates and the parallel flat plates are relatively moving, a flow in which the Couette flow and the Poiseuille flow are superimposed is generated.

  In the present embodiment, the air flow is sucked and jetted by the fan 6, thereby generating a pressure difference between the upstream and the downstream in the flow path between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 in the carriage 2. For this reason, the flow between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 is a flow in which the Couette flow and the Poiseuille flow are overlapped.

  The flow rate between the parallel plates is expressed by the following equation.

Q: Flow rate per unit width U: Wall speed h: Size of gap μ: Air viscosity coefficient Δp: Pressure difference between upstream and downstream l: Length of parallel plate (flow path) u: At each position of the gap Flow velocity (function of y)
y: Coordinates in the height direction of the gap Here, if an appropriate pressure difference is given, Q can be brought close to zero. Specifically, the upstream side may be set to a negative pressure, or the downstream side may be set to a positive pressure.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the upstream side is set to a negative pressure by sucking air on the upstream side, and the downstream side is set to a positive pressure by jetting air on the downstream side.

  However, even if air is sucked in a state where there is nothing, only the surrounding air is sucked and the pressure hardly changes.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the aerodynamic members 3 and 4 are provided, the gap between the aerodynamic members 3 and 4 and the recording paper 7 is narrowed, and the flow velocity of these gaps is increased by the air flow by suction and jetting. , Changing the pressure.

  Here, when the value of an appropriate pressure is calculated | required, it will become as follows.

As an example, the following numerical values are substituted into equation (1).
The viscosity of the air: 18.2 × 10- ⁶ Pa
Head flat part length: 0.03m
Head paper distance: 0.0015m
Carriage speed: 0.5m / s
When the pressure difference at which the flow rate U becomes zero is obtained, the pressure difference is 0.728 Pa. This is about 10 ⁵ atm, a 0.1mm approximately at head pressure, is very small pressure enough difficult to measure.

  In the present embodiment, such a small pressure is generated by forcibly flowing an air flow by the fan 6.

  In this embodiment, the flow rate of the airflow flowing by the fan 6 is very small, and is almost the same order as the airflow flowing between the head sheets in a normal state. An example of the approximate flow rate is shown below.

  If the flow rate is 0,

Here, when the magnitude of the positive pressure by the aerodynamic member 4 of the negative pressure and the downstream side of the upstream side by the aerodynamic member 3 designed to the same, the pressure difference Delta] p _a to be generated by one side of the aerodynamic member, as follows .

  The moving speed of the aerodynamic members 3 and 4 is the same as the moving speed of the carriage 2.

Flow rate Qa of the lower aerodynamic member, the aerodynamic member gaps h _a between the recording paper 7, the length of the gap and l _a.

  As with the recording head 1, the expression (1) can be applied to the aerodynamic member as follows.

  Therefore, for example, if the gap between the aerodynamic members 3 and 4 and the recording paper 7 is the same as the gap between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7, and the length of the aerodynamic member is 1/2 of the length of the recording head 1.

Thus, when no special treatment is performed, the airflow flowing between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 is about twice. This state can be performed with an extremely small fan 6, and the fan 6 can be mounted on the top of the recording head 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

  The optimum value of the flow rate of the airflow to be generated by the fan 6 is preferably set to the upper limit of the value shown in the above calculation and smaller than that. This is because when the airflow between the head papers is zero when viewed from the recording head 1, the airflow flows in the moving direction of the paper surface on the surface of the recording paper 7, and in the opposite direction near the surface of the recording head 1. The airflow flows and is zero on average.

  The disturbance of the image due to the airflow is more affected by the airflow near the recording head 1 than the airflow near the recording paper 7. For this reason, in order to minimize the disturbance of the image, it is preferable that the flow rate of the airflow between the head papers is not zero but slightly flows in the moving direction of the recording paper 7.

  In order to reduce the floating mist, specifically, in order to prevent the extremely small liquid droplets deviating from the normal flight trajectory due to the airflow from scattering from the space between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7, The optimal airflow is zero. In order to prevent a mist from reaching the recording paper 7 so that a liquid size slightly larger than that does not deviate from the normal flight trajectory, the air current between the head papers slightly flows in the moving direction of the recording paper 7. It is best to be.

  The effect of alleviating clogging due to drying of the nozzle tips of the recording head 1 also varies depending on the appropriate airflow rate.

  When the solvent vapor generated from the nozzle or the like is sufficiently large, it is optimal to set the airflow between the head papers to zero so that the vapor does not escape from the space between the head papers. In particular, when a humidity source (humidifying means for humidifying air to moisten the ink jet recording head) is provided, the humidity source is fully effective and the moisture consumption of the humidity source is reduced. It is optimal to make the airflow between the head papers approach zero.

  On the other hand, when there is not much solvent vapor in the space, the effect of alleviating evaporation is great by reducing the wind at the nozzle tip, and the airflow between the head papers slightly flows in the recording paper movement direction. Is better.

  In consideration of the above, it is optimal that the airflow between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 is 0 or smaller than that in the Couette flow and the recording paper 7 flows in the traveling direction. Based on this, the optimum value of the flow rate of the airflow to be sucked and ejected can be obtained by the above-described formula or the like.

  According to this embodiment, the fan 6 as the airflow adjusting means sucks the air sucked from the gap between the aerodynamic member 3 as the upstream aerodynamic member and the recording head 1, and the aerodynamic member 4 as the downstream aerodynamic member and the recording head. 1 is ejected toward the recording paper 7 through a gap with the recording medium 1.

  For this reason, the airflow between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 becomes gentle, and the generation of floating mist can be reduced. The direction of the airflow to be sucked and jetted at this time is opposite to the conventional method of collecting floating mist known in Patent Documents 1, 2, 5, etc., and reduces the generation of floating mist. .

  Further, by calming the airflow between the head 1 and the recording paper 7, the flight trajectory of the ink droplets is less disturbed by the airflow, and a beautiful image can be obtained.

  Further, since the air between the head 1 and the recording paper 7 stays, evaporation is moderated and clogging due to drying of the head end is reduced.

(Example 2)
FIG. 2 shows an apparatus similar to that of the first embodiment, in which the recording head 1 can record on the recording paper 7 while moving the carriage 2 bidirectionally (reciprocating) with respect to the recording paper 7. It is a schematic diagram which shows Example 2). In FIG. 2, the same components as those shown in FIG.

  In this ink jet recording apparatus, the recording paper 7 and the recording head 1 can relatively reciprocate.

  Further, both of the aerodynamic members 3 and 4 function so that when the relative movement direction of the recording paper 7 is changed, the other one plays a role.

  Specifically, when the recording paper 7 moves in the direction from the aerodynamic member 3 to the aerodynamic member 4, the aerodynamic member 3 functions as an upstream aerodynamic member, and the aerodynamic member 4 functions as a downstream aerodynamic member. On the other hand, when the recording paper 7 moves in the direction from the aerodynamic member 4 to the aerodynamic member 3, the aerodynamic member 3 functions as a downstream aerodynamic member, and the aerodynamic member 4 functions as an upstream aerodynamic member.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a shutter 8 for switching the direction of the airflow sent by the fan 6, a motor 9 for operating the shutter 8, and a mist collecting filter 10 are included.

  The fan 6 sends air in one direction (arrow C direction).

  The shutter 8 is used to change the positions of the intake port for taking in air flowing into the fan 6 and the exhaust port for discharging air from the fan 6.

  For example, when the recording paper 7 is moving in the direction from the aerodynamic member 4 to the aerodynamic member 3 relative to the recording head 1, the shutter 8 is disposed at the positions A and Aa. In this case, the intake port is formed at the position Ba, and the discharge port is formed at the position B.

  When the shutter 8 is at positions A and Aa, the airflow is sucked by the fan 6 through the gap between the recording head 1 and the aerodynamic member 4, and then passes through the gap between the recording head 1 and the aerodynamic member 3 onto the recording paper 7. It is injected towards.

  On the other hand, when the recording paper 7 is moving in the direction from the aerodynamic member 3 to the aerodynamic member 4 relative to the recording head 1, the shutter 8 is disposed at the positions B and Ba. In this case, the intake port is formed at position A, and the discharge port is formed at position Aa.

  When the shutter 8 is at the positions B and Ba, the airflow is sucked by the fan 6 through the gap between the recording head 1 and the aerodynamic member 3, and then passes through the gap between the recording head 1 and the aerodynamic member 4 to the recording paper 7. It is injected towards.

  The shutter 8 is integrally connected to the left and right (the position A and the position Ba, and the position B and the position Aa), and is supported at the center by a rotating shaft (not shown). And swings to the positions B and Ba.

  The motor 9 is an example of a switching unit. The motor 9 is configured such that the gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the recording head 1 communicates with the intake port and the gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the recording head 1 is the discharge port even if the direction of movement of the recording paper 7 changes. The shutter 8 is actuated in response to a change in the relative movement direction of the recording paper 7 so as to communicate with each other.

  The switching means that is a moving mechanism of the shutter 8 is not limited to a motor, and may be a solenoid or a mechanical mechanism that switches the state of the shutter 8 when the carriage 2 is moved to the left and right ends in the printer. .

  In this embodiment, the air flow adjusting means including the fan 6, the shutter 8, and the motor 9 draws air sucked from the gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the recording head 1 from the gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the recording head 1. Injected toward the recording paper 7. For this reason, there exists an effect similar to Example 1. FIG.

  In general, since the fan 6 has a large inertia, it is difficult to start, stop, and reverse the rotation rapidly. However, if the direction of the airflow is switched using the shutter 8 as in the present embodiment, the fan 6 is rapidly You can change the direction of the airflow.

  Further, since the rotation direction of the fan 6 is one direction, the fan 6 is efficient and generates less noise. If the dust-proof filter 10 that collects floating dust and mist is provided at the position on the intake side of the fan 6, the direction of the airflow is unidirectional, which prevents the collected dust from separating. be able to.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the carriage 2 of FIG. 2 viewed from the recording paper 7 side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the suction ejection ports 11 and 12 for sucking and ejecting the airflow are arranged so as to go around to the side surface of the recording head 1. By doing in this way, disturbance of the airflow in a nozzle part can be made small. Note that the optimum shape of the suction injection ports 11 and 12 differs depending on the shape of the carriage such as the aerodynamic member, and the shape shown in FIG. 3 is not necessarily optimum. For example, it may be better that the width of the suction injection ports 11 and 12 is smaller than the width of the nozzle row 1a.

  A humidity source 13 for humidifying the air to wet the recording head 1 is provided beside (in the vicinity of) the nozzle row 1a of the head. The humidity source 13 is an example of a humidifying means and is porous including water, and each nozzle is connected to the water tank on the back surface in the same manner as each nozzle is connected to the ink tank.

  Normally, even if such a mechanism is provided, not only is it necessary to replenish a large amount of water because the air between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 changes one after another and the water evaporates quickly, and the tip of the nozzle evaporates. The effect to prevent is poor. On the other hand, this embodiment is effective because the air movement is gentle when the carriage 2 moves to the right and to the left.

(Example 3)
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another embodiment (Example 3) of the present invention. 4, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 or 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In this example, air is only sucked in front of the moving carriage 2, that is, upstream in the relative movement direction of the recording paper 7, and air is not jetted downstream. This example is most suitable for a printer that performs recording only when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow D with respect to the recording paper 7.

  The fan 6 as the air flow adjusting means sucks a part of the air flowing through the gap between the aerodynamic member 3 as the upstream aerodynamic member and the recording paper 7 as the recording material from the gap between the aerodynamic member 3 and the recording head 1. . The recording head 1 performs recording on a recording paper 7 as a recording material while the fan 6 is sucking.

  In this embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide the fan 6 above the recording head 1, the carriage 2 can be made compact and the printer can be miniaturized.

  Further, since the aerodynamic member 3 facing the recording paper 7 has only to be provided on one side of the recording head 1, there is an advantage over the previous embodiment in reducing the lateral width of the printer.

  In general, when recording is performed while the carriage 2 moves in one direction, mist generated between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 is ejected rearward in the traveling direction of the carriage 2. Further, when the traveling direction of the carriage 2 is reversed, the mist drifting between the recording paper 7 and the recording head 1 is left behind and floats in a large amount.

  In contrast, in this embodiment, when recording is performed while the carriage 2 moves in one direction, the airflow between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 becomes gentle. For this reason, not only the generation of mist is suppressed, but when the traveling direction of the carriage 2 is reversed thereafter, the floating mist is sucked by the fan 6 and collected by the mist collecting filter 10. Therefore, it is possible to significantly suppress mist floating in the apparatus.

  In order to moderate the airflow between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7 and suppress the generation of mist, the airflow is jetted behind the moving carriage 2 instead of the configuration of this embodiment. Also good.

  Specifically, the downstream aerodynamic member is disposed downstream of the recording head 1 in the moving direction of the recording paper 7 so that a gap is formed between the recording head 1 and the recording paper 7. Is done. Further, a fan 6 as an air flow adjusting means jets air toward the recording paper 7 from the gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the recording head 1. The recording head 1 performs recording on a recording paper 7 as a recording material while the fan 6 is ejecting.

  However, in that case, the effect of capturing the mist drifting when the carriage 2 is reversed cannot be obtained.

(Other examples)
The above-described example is a so-called serial printer in which the recording head 1 is provided in the moving carriage 2. However, it is also effective to apply each embodiment to a so-called full multi-type printer in which an ink jet recording head having a full recording width is fixed and recording paper moves and records.

  In that case, for example, the recording head 1 may be fixed in the shape shown in FIG. 1 or 4 and the recording paper 7 may be moved.

  When a plurality of recording heads are used, such as when performing multi-color recording, air may be sucked and jetted upstream or downstream of the whole of the plurality of recording heads. You may control.

  In the above embodiment, an example of an ink jet printer in which recording paper is used as a recording material and ink is recorded on the recording paper is shown. The present invention is not limited to recording images on recording paper, but also recording images on various media such as cloth, liquids containing color materials on various materials such as glass, metal, and printed boards, functional materials, processing liquids, etc. It is also effective to apply to an industrial ink jet apparatus that jets water. That is, the recording material is not limited to recording paper, and can be changed as appropriate.

  In each embodiment, the direction of the airflow flowing between the recording paper 7 as the recording material and the recording head 1 when the fan 6 is operating is the same direction as when the fan 6 is not operating. The average flow rate of the airflow is smaller than when the fan 6 is not operating.

  For example, in the case of Example 1, the direction of the airflow flowing between the recording paper 7 and the recording head 1 when the fan 6 is operating is such that the direction of the air flow between the recording paper 7 and the recording head 1 when the fan 6 is not operating. The direction of the airflow flowing between them is the same. Further, the average flow rate of the airflow flowing between the recording paper 7 and the recording head 1 when the fan 6 is operating is the average flow rate of the airflow flowing between the recording paper 7 and the recording head 1 when the fan 6 is not operating. Smaller than the average flow rate.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the illustrated configuration is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a head peripheral portion of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram of the head peripheral portion of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram when the apparatus of FIG. 2 is viewed from the recording paper surface side. It is a schematic diagram of the head peripheral portion of the ink jet recording apparatus of Example 3 of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Inkjet recording head 3 Aerodynamic member (corresponding to upstream aerodynamic member)
6 Fan (corresponding to air flow control means)
7 Recording paper (corresponds to the recording material)

Claims (10)

In an inkjet recording apparatus that has an inkjet recording head and performs recording while the recording material and the inkjet recording head move relatively,
An upstream aerodynamic member arranged so that a gap is formed between the ink jet recording head and the recording material on the upstream side in the relative movement direction of the recording material with respect to the ink jet recording head. When,
Inkjet comprising: an airflow adjusting means for sucking a part of air flowing through a gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the recording material from a gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head. Recording device. In an inkjet recording apparatus that has an inkjet recording head and performs recording while the recording material and the inkjet recording head move relatively,
A downstream aerodynamic member disposed so that a gap is formed between the ink jet recording head and the recording material on the downstream side of the recording material relative to the ink jet recording head. When,
An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: an airflow adjusting unit that ejects air toward the recording material from a gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the ink jet recording head. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A downstream aerodynamic member disposed so that a gap is formed between the ink jet recording head and the recording material on the downstream side of the recording material relative to the ink jet recording head. Further comprising
The airflow adjusting unit further ejects air sucked from a gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head toward the recording material from a gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An ink jet recording apparatus, further comprising humidifying means for humidifying air to wet the ink jet recording head. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3.
The recording material and the inkjet recording head are relatively reciprocally movable,
The air flow adjusting means includes
With a fan that sends air in one direction,
A shutter for changing a position of an intake port for taking in air flowing into the fan and a position of an exhaust port for discharging air from the fan;
When a change in the direction of relative movement occurs, a gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head communicates with the intake port, and a gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a switching unit that operates the shutter according to a change in the direction of relative movement so as to communicate with the discharge port. The inkjet recording head has an inkjet recording head, performs recording while the recording material and the inkjet recording head move relatively, and the inkjet recording head is located upstream of the inkjet recording head in the relative movement direction of the recording material. And an inkjet recording method performed by an inkjet recording apparatus having an upstream aerodynamic member arranged so that a gap is formed between the recording medium and the recording material,
A suction step for sucking a part of the air flowing through the gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the recording material from the gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head;
And a recording step in which the inkjet recording head performs recording on the recording material when the suction is performed. An ink jet recording head that performs recording while the recording material and the ink jet recording head move relatively, and the ink jet recording head is located downstream of the ink jet recording head in the relative movement direction of the recording material; An ink jet recording method performed by an ink jet recording apparatus having a downstream aerodynamic member disposed so that a gap is formed between the recording material and the recording material,
An ejecting step of ejecting air from the gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head toward the recording material;
And a recording step in which the inkjet recording head performs recording on the recording material when the jetting is performed. The inkjet recording method according to claim 6, wherein
The ink jet recording apparatus is disposed on the downstream side in the relative movement direction of the recording material with respect to the ink jet recording head so that a gap is formed between the ink jet recording head and the recording material. A downstream aerodynamic member,
An ejection step of ejecting air sucked from the gap between the upstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head from the gap between the downstream aerodynamic member and the inkjet recording head toward the recording material;
In the recording step, the ink jet recording head performs recording on the recording material when the suction and the ejection are performed. In the ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
An ink jet recording method, further comprising a humidifying step of humidifying air to wet the ink jet recording head. The ink jet recording method according to claim 8,
The direction of the airflow flowing between the recording material and the inkjet recording head when the suction and the ejection are performed is such that the recording material and the inkjet recording head are not subjected to the suction and the ejection. When the average flow rate of the airflow flowing between the recording material and the inkjet recording head when the suction and the ejection are performed in the same direction as the airflow flowing between the recording material and the inkjet recording head, An inkjet recording method, wherein the average flow rate of the airflow flowing between the recording material and the inkjet recording head is smaller.

Images